JAMAIS VU NEWS
THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- MAY 9, 2026
If you are weary from reading the current news each day, looking back on some forgotten news of yore may be an interesting sashay. It's an excercize in Jamais vu (when you’re in a familiar situation but suddenly feel as if you’re experiencing it for the very first time). In essence, old news becomes new news.
Going way back, medieval scholars called 536 CE the worst year to be alive. “That year, a massive volcano erupted filling the air with volcanic ash. The sun didn’t shine in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia for eighteen whole months. That summer, temperatures dropped more than thirty degrees in parts of Europe and Asia (it even snowed in China), so crops failed, leading to widespread famine, starvation, and economic stagnation. The climate still hadn’t recovered five years later when the first bubonic plague broke out, wiping out up to half the population of the Eastern Roman Empire.” (https://historyfacts.com/world-history/fact/536-was-the-worst-year-to-be-alive/)
On a lighter note, a new health trend could lead to a longer life – nonnamaxxing. “It's the idea that anyone can maximize their life if they just embrace the habits of Italian grandmas. This includes ditching social media, eating homemade everything, wearing cotton nightgowns, and welcoming unhurried lunches with friends.” Add in walking everyday, lending a hand when possible, embracing aging, and connecting with community. (https://www.self.com/story/nonnamaxxing-health-longevity)
If one of those Italian grandmas plans a relaxing trip to the country of Holland they might wind up being frustrated. That's because Holland does not exist. “The Netherlands has always been the country’s official name, whereas Holland refers only to two provinces. In 2020, the Dutch government stopped using Holland in international marketing to avoid confusion.” (https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/Why-Holland-isnt-Holland-anymore-the-surprising-rebrand-of-a-nation)
Motoring in the USA can also be confusing. If you are cruising a street in Colorado you may be breaking the law. “Be aware As you breeze through the streets of Westminster, Colorado.” The law states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle past a traffic control point three times in the same direction within any three-hour period between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.” More odd traffic laws at: https://interestingfacts.com/weird-traffic-laws/.
Rather than drive around, Grandma could hitchhike. It would help if she has a trait shared by about one-third of the population – hitchhiker's thumb. “Also known as flexible thumb or hypermobile thumb, hitchhiker’s thumb is a condition in which the thumb can bend backward at a greater angle than normal, typically more than fifty degrees. ”Hitchhiker’s thumb isn’t typically painful and doesn’t inhibit the use of the hands.” See a photo at: https://interestingfacts.com/rarity-of-physical-traits/.
If Grandma is tempted to fire up a stogie while traveling around, a popular candy could be a deterrent. In 1927 PEZ was invented as an alternative to smoking. “ They were marketed to adults with a slogan: 'Smoking prohibited, PEZing allowed!'”
Eventually, PEZ switched gears and started marketing the product as candy. “PEZ targeted a new demographic: children. In 1957, after experimenting with pricey dispensers, PEZ released dispenser that featured a three-dimensional head atop a rectangular case. Since then PEZ has gone on to produce some 1,500 different novelty-topped dispensers.” Americans annually consume three billion PEZ candies. (https://interestingfacts.com/fact/pez-candy-was-created-to-help-people-quit-smoking/)
By the way, some of those vintage PEZ dispensers are worth a lot of money these days. “Soft head PEZ Disney dispensers are rare, and pretty valuable to collectors today. Certain characters are especially sought after. A soft head Mickey Mouse, for instance, sold for a whopping $6,000. Dumbo is another pricey soft head Disney character PEZ dispenser that sold for $2,728.00. The Captain Hook soft head PEZ dispenser is also a treasure, with one reeling in more than $2,000. (https://www.chowhound.com/1933848/vintage-pez-dispensers-value/)
Finally, with Mother's Day tomorrow, it's interesting to learn about the history of the day. Oddly, the woman who invented the holiday spent her life fighting against it. “Anna Jarvis, the Philadelphia woman behind the holiday in 1908, started Mother's Day to honor her late mother and advocate for better healthcare for women and children. As Mother's Day celebrations picked up steam, other states around the nation wanted to join in. But Jarvis grew upset that the meaning of the holiday was being lost. Jarvis spent the rest of her life fighting to bring back the true meaning of Mother's Day until she died in 1948.” (https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/anna-jarvis-mothers-day-philadelphia-1908-history/)
Be that as it may, the history of the holiday is nice to know. However, an article summed up the modern recognition of Mothers Day very well. “Remember that the original intent of the holiday is to celebrate your mother, everything that she has done for you and everything that women have accomplished and been able to achieve, and what they can still continue to do. Moms everywhere ought to be celebrated 365 days a year.”
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.
