# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) --- ## [About the Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports category](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-cecils-columns-staff-reports-category/910997)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2020, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-cecils-columns-staff-reports-category/910997 "2020-06-19T22:44:19Z")
The latest Straight Dope column by Cecil Adams will be posted here. You can comment on a column or offer questions or topics for future columns. You can also comment on Staff Reports contributed by the Straight Dope Scie… --- ## [PLEASE READ: Forum Rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-forum-rules/322298)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-read-forum-rules/322298 "2010-05-21T18:37:33Z")
If you’re new here (or even if you aren’t), please read the following threads before posting on the SDMB: FAQ - Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Boards How and when do I report a post? What’s the policy … --- ## [Hot dogs and buns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-dogs-and-buns/590598)
**Author:** [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-dogs-and-buns/590598 "2026-08-30T21:47:29Z")
Link here What puzzles me most about Cecils explanation is the assumption that it’s usual standard to buy both hot dogs and buns in (sealed in plastic) packs, instead of fresh at the meat and baker counter respectivly. … --- ## [Cancer and Talcum Powder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-and-talcum-powder/812000)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2026, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-and-talcum-powder/812000 "2026-07-28T12:11:52Z")
This week’s article. And an update: Couple suing Johnson & Johnson suing over talcum powder wins $37M. I’m not convinced of the connection myself, just this is timely. EDIT: And yes, I CAN spell “and.” Damned Fat Fing… --- ## [Hitler's Single Testicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitlers-single-testicle/930630)
**Author:** [@DoctorPurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorPurple)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitlers-single-testicle/930630 "2026-06-30T13:03:35Z")
re: Did Hitler have only one testicle? - The Straight Dope Having myself been born with only a single testicle, I have often wondered how common this is…? As a child my father took me to a doctor who told both of us th… --- ## ["Whole Nine Yards," Revisited. Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-nine-yards-revisited-again/1018291)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-nine-yards-revisited-again/1018291 "2026-06-22T01:47:37Z")
Respectfully submitted for you perusal: Article from 2022. Or you could just look up the wiki. Anyway. . . not there’s a conclusion, but the point they raise is that it doesn’t have to mean anything specific, other exa… --- ## [The third "-gry" word, revisited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-gry-word-revisited/1018455)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2026, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-gry-word-revisited/1018455 "2026-06-12T02:35:05Z")
Column on the odd case that there’s someone not familiar with it. And, no, there’s still no common “third word.” Anyway. . . some stuff I found in 1970s newspaper archives, still with no published reference predating … --- ## [Starting your own country](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/1027861)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starting-your-own-country/1027861 "2026-05-25T14:48:25Z")
Regarding this column: I’ve recently learned that in 2021, two Australian legal academics, Harry Hobbs and George Williams, published the first scholarly work on micronations, Micronations and the Search for Sovereign… --- ## [How a butterfly morphs revisited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-a-butterfly-morphs-revisited/1012731)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-a-butterfly-morphs-revisited/1012731 "2026-04-16T22:16:29Z")
Earlier column from SD Staff Doug Yanega He doesn’t actually say that the complete larva liquefies, except for the imaginal discs, but seems to imply it. Another bug expert explains it, and it seems not quite so dramat… --- ## [Cecil Crystal Balls worked](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-crystal-balls-worked/1028236)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-crystal-balls-worked/1028236 "2026-03-08T01:51:06Z")
In a column about whether or not Democracies go to war with each other- Cecil ended with two possible upcoming examples- India vs Pakistan (okay, this was being talked about back then). and Russia vs Ukraine!!! Of cou… --- ## [How useful are at-home DNA tests?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-useful-are-at-home-dna-tests/798258)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-useful-are-at-home-dna-tests/798258 "2026-02-20T23:06:56Z")
Column here. Those AncestryDNA TV commercials irk me. One lady kept saying the test determined she was from all nations, so now she didn’t know what nation to put down on forms. What the …? I am unaware of any DNA test … --- ## [Are humans meat eaters or vegetarians by nature?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/561531)
**Author:** [@JZesbaugh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JZesbaugh)\ **Replies:** 345\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-humans-meat-eaters-or-vegetarians-by-nature/561531 "2026-02-19T23:09:59Z")
I Know this is a response to an old post, but I stumbled on it. Thought I’d see what sort of response this might stir up. You Put A Baby In A Crib With An Apple And A Rabbit. If It Eats The Rabbit And Plays With The … --- ## [Chicago Lyric 25 or 6 to 4 Proven Drug Reference](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-lyric-25-or-6-to-4-proven-drug-reference/494277)
**Author:** [@philipem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/philipem)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicago-lyric-25-or-6-to-4-proven-drug-reference/494277 "2026-01-06T00:15:33Z")
I can’t believe I’m the only one with this exact reference. This is beyond all question a reference to LSD. Consider this line… “Should I try to do some more 25 or 6 to 4?” Read it as “Should I try to drop some more a… --- ## [Hanky Code Sighting! Philadelphia December 2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanky-code-sighting-philadelphia-december-2024/1012362)
**Author:** [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanky-code-sighting-philadelphia-december-2024/1012362 "2025-10-12T14:23:34Z")
https://www.straightdope.com/21341222/what-s-the-deal-with-s-m-bondage-and-discipline-etc My beloved visited me this weekend. As the weather was nice and we hadn’t been in a while, we went to South Street. Brief history… --- ## [Male Fertility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463)
**Author:** [@Sedna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sedna)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/1021463 "2025-07-29T15:01:56Z")
re: Are male fertility rates shrinking? - The Straight Dope It’s been over 20 years since this column was written. Have there been any updates? Are male fertility rates continuing to decline? Does anyone have any ide… --- ## [Sacagawea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacagawea/776190)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2025, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacagawea/776190 "2025-07-23T17:10:01Z")
Link to Staff Report I dunno if Bibliophage is still around, but I enjoyed this staff report. Well done. --- ## [So what did happen to the settlers at Roanoke?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-did-happen-to-the-settlers-at-roanoke/517434)
**Author:** [@msean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msean)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-did-happen-to-the-settlers-at-roanoke/517434 "2025-06-07T13:37:46Z")
There’s an excellent and more detailed discussion of this in “A Voyage Long And Strange”. --- ## [Bullets fired in the air](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullets-fired-in-the-air/363162)
**Author:** [@LBarker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LBarker)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullets-fired-in-the-air/363162 "2025-05-21T17:54:54Z")
Think bullets fired into the air won’t kill you when they come down? Check out the following, from the Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5350a2.htm The CDC folks were called on to … --- ## [Welcome!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome/16)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome/16 "2025-05-19T19:35:29Z")
Hi, folks, and welcome to the “Comment on Cecil’s Columns” folder. Though the Boss is still far from comfortable with this computer thing, we’ve persuaded him to check in periodically to read your comments about his colu… --- ## [Instances where Wikipedia references the Straight Dope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-wikipedia-references-the-straight-dope/1016471)
**Author:** [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instances-where-wikipedia-references-the-straight-dope/1016471 "2025-04-02T00:51:36Z")
I was looking at this Wikipedia site after going down a rabbit hole and noticed that The Straight Dope is listed as a reference. I thought I’d search for other instances (on pages which aren’t about The Straight Dop… --- ## [Looking for old staff report on Vaccination](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-old-staff-report-on-vaccination/1013666)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-old-staff-report-on-vaccination/1013666 "2025-02-03T11:20:24Z")
Way, way back when I was writing staff reports as a member of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board, I took a question from someone who was dubious about vaccinating their child. I enlisted a doctor friend to write a … --- ## ["Pompatus" revisited: Steve Miller Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pompatus-revisited-steve-miller-speaks/1012345)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pompatus-revisited-steve-miller-speaks/1012345 "2024-12-31T05:24:53Z")
Nothing really new, but here’s a quick video with Jimmy Fallon where he mentions it. Steve’s looking a lot like Jerry Springer these days. :open\_mouth: --- ## [See Spot run](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-spot-run/697776)
**Author:** [@David\_Ehrlich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Ehrlich)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/see-spot-run/697776 "2024-11-10T19:24:54Z")
I must take some issue with your analysis of “See Spot run”. The object of the verb see is ‘Spot run’, not ‘Spot’. Had I wanted to say “See Spot,” I could have said just that. “Spot run’ is a clause, the object of the… --- ## [jumping people revisited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-people-revisited/80261)
**Author:** [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2024, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jumping-people-revisited/80261 "2024-09-24T18:38:03Z")
A while back Cecil wrote a column responding to a question about what would happen if everyone in China jumped off their chairs at once. In a related vein comes this story ( http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010907/sc/li… --- ## [Mrs. Cecil Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-cecil-adams/1005658)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-cecil-adams/1005658 "2024-09-07T21:31:06Z")
What do we know about her? ~Max --- ## [Straight Dope sighting at Not Always Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-sighting-at-not-always-right/1005813)
**Author:** [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-sighting-at-not-always-right/1005813 "2024-08-17T23:30:12Z")
Any of youse guys wanna fess up to being the contributor of this story? I assume the column referenced is this one: --- ## [Will The Master follow up on my Lake Michigan Submarine Question?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-master-follow-up-on-my-lake-michigan-submarine-question/978509)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2024, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-master-follow-up-on-my-lake-michigan-submarine-question/978509 "2024-08-09T23:16:56Z")
Years ago, I asked Unca Cecil about the Mystery Submarine found in Lake Michigan & nearby waters. Sadly, the original column may not be online anymore. :frowning: But I have also heard that yet another mystery submarine… --- ## [S&H Stamps. Anyone remember them from their heyday?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-h-stamps-anyone-remember-them-from-their-heyday/969427)
**Author:** [@EDOK9Trainer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EDOK9Trainer)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/s-h-stamps-anyone-remember-them-from-their-heyday/969427 "2024-06-24T20:23:38Z")
So anyone here old enough to have collected these stamps back in the 60’s and 70’s? As kids my sister, brothers and I collected them and added them to their books for later use. I see on this Wiki article that it came … --- ## [Sarsaparilla: A Question of Taste](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarsaparilla-a-question-of-taste/238377)
**Author:** [@pufnstuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pufnstuff)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sarsaparilla-a-question-of-taste/238377 "2024-05-28T16:29:49Z")
In reference to Today’s article on the sarsaparilla soft drink, Cecil commented that the drink is still popular around Pittsburgh (yes, I know it was from 1977, thus possibly now erroneous) but i have lived in the are… --- ## [Re: Tarred and Feathered, 29-Apr-1988](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-tarred-and-feathered-29-apr-1988/339807)
**Author:** [@mrsmuckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrsmuckers)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2006, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-tarred-and-feathered-29-apr-1988/339807 "2006-01-20T01:01:05Z")
In reference to the column “Has anyone actually ever been tarred and feathered?” from 29-Apr-1988, Jesus tells a story in the new testament of the Bible (The Message version) about a man who planted a vineyard and turned… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=1)