# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=100 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 101 --- ## ["Dowsing" works for metal water pipes and cable](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dowsing-works-for-metal-water-pipes-and-cable/510433)
**Author:** [@levans999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levans999)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dowsing-works-for-metal-water-pipes-and-cable/510433 "2009-09-18T16:40:44Z")
I love Cecil and his posts… and like Rush Limbaugh he’s right most of the time, but on this one there’s a slice of error. As a skeptical educator for the past 41 years I would not have believed it had I not seen it from… --- ## [Summer in Ireland](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-in-ireland/510347)
**Author:** [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-in-ireland/510347 "2009-09-18T16:37:46Z")
From the Is it true summer in Ireland starts May 1? column: Underlining added …being very closely \[WHAT\] to the weather statistics??? (I’m guessing ‘tied’, but Kevin Trenberth once beat me savagely for implying that … --- ## [Water "Wishing"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-wishing/510558)
**Author:** [@Jeff\_McCrea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_McCrea)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-wishing/510558 "2009-09-18T13:00:40Z")
You can say what you want about water witching but I know from my own experience that it works although I couldn’t explain why. I’ve also seen and agree with the posted explainations. The closest I come to any mystic bel… --- ## [Comment on: Do mice fear the scent of a cat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-do-mice-fear-the-scent-of-a-cat/510413)
**Author:** [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-do-mice-fear-the-scent-of-a-cat/510413 "2009-09-17T22:25:43Z")
Yes, mouse drinks are alive and well. http://www.junch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/babymicewinelarge.jpg It’s a health food (in Asia, many disgusting things are eaten to prolong male erections, i.e. “stamina.”) I… --- ## [The Whole Nine Yards - from Vietnam??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards-from-vietnam/510436)
**Author:** [@JenE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JenE)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards-from-vietnam/510436 "2009-09-17T20:14:47Z")
We started a family discussion on the origin of the phrase “the whole nine yards” last night. My daughter asked about the phrase, though I don’t know what prompted her particular interest. I looked around on the web, an… --- ## [Dixie: From someone who knows the truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dixie-from-someone-who-knows-the-truth/509084)
**Author:** [@Enigmatus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enigmatus)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dixie-from-someone-who-knows-the-truth/509084 "2009-09-17T01:37:41Z")
Dixie was named because of the persecution of French settlers who came to North America on chartered ships from France to escape religious and political persecution in France. They landed in a place they named Acadia ( … --- ## [Marie Antoinnette / Let them eat cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marie-antoinnette-let-them-eat-cake/509614)
**Author:** [@blankk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blankk)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2009, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marie-antoinnette-let-them-eat-cake/509614 "2009-09-15T08:51:59Z")
Commenting on column Did Marie Antoinette really say “let them eat cake”? - The Straight Dope Recently I read that, in addition to Marie Antoinnette’s never having spoken the words (or at least, not having originated th… --- ## ["Brothers and sisters I have none, but that mans father is my fathers son'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brothers-and-sisters-i-have-none-but-that-mans-father-is-my-fathers-son/510044)
**Author:** [@ammozon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ammozon)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brothers-and-sisters-i-have-none-but-that-mans-father-is-my-fathers-son/510044 "2009-09-14T16:43:51Z")
The way I heard the story is: Two men were hunting in the woods, when they spotted a man hanging dead up in a tree. The 1st man says “Brothers and sisters I have none, but that mans father, is my fathers son”; what is th… --- ## [Ear Lobe Creases](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-lobe-creases/508871)
**Author:** [@dfs1000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dfs1000)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-lobe-creases/508871 "2009-09-12T16:22:14Z")
I have heard of the connection between ear lobe creases and heart attacks and thought the crease may be indicative of the power of the individual’s heart to pump blood to “fill” the lobe, much like a new butterfly pumps … --- ## [Does saying "To settle a bet" make Cecil more or less inclined to answer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-saying-to-settle-a-bet-make-cecil-more-or-less-inclined-to-answer/509562)
**Author:** [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-saying-to-settle-a-bet-make-cecil-more-or-less-inclined-to-answer/509562 "2009-09-10T19:48:50Z")
I notice a lot of questioners say they want Cecil to settle a bet. Would that make him more inclined to answer? Do we have any statistics? My own inclination would be to prefer simple requests for information, but then… --- ## [Quite impressive \[ETA: What is fire?\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-impressive-eta-what-is-fire/509414)
**Author:** [@SHAAMBHAVI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SHAAMBHAVI)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quite-impressive-eta-what-is-fire/509414 "2009-09-09T17:57:11Z")
well to be really frank, when i got up one day a question arose in my mind… what exactly is fire? i thought it to be plasma the net gave same old results of encyclopaedia. then i found this really amazing site. and i… --- ## [Sucker Bets 102: Minneapolis is west of the Missippi and St. Paul east of it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sucker-bets-102-minneapolis-is-west-of-the-missippi-and-st-paul-east-of-it/509347)
**Author:** [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2009, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sucker-bets-102-minneapolis-is-west-of-the-missippi-and-st-paul-east-of-it/509347 "2009-09-09T11:19:19Z")
Nope, since the Mississippi river runs east at that point, and each spans the river, both cities lie north of it and both cities lie south of it. My son was born north of the Mississippi river, since Minneapolis Women’s … --- ## [bar bets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-bets/509269)
**Author:** [@volkell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/volkell)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-bets/509269 "2009-09-08T18:50:47Z")
there is a similar bet in ny that you can go from manhattan to the bronx without crossing water. a tiny bit of ny county is actually attached to the mainland. --- ## [Mosquitos and DEET](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitos-and-deet/508093)
**Author:** [@Dickerman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dickerman)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitos-and-deet/508093 "2009-09-06T13:52:51Z")
I’d like to comment on the column about mosquitoes and blood type: Do mosquitoes prefer certain blood types? Plus: Do tall men get more skin cancer? - The Straight Dope The fourth paragraph says: This is what I’ve alw… --- ## [Warmth at the top of buildings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warmth-at-the-top-of-buildings/508632)
**Author:** [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warmth-at-the-top-of-buildings/508632 "2009-09-04T15:16:08Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/153/is-it-warmer-at-the-top-of-tall-buildings Is it possible Connie V. was referring to indoor temperatures? In an enclosed space, warmer air is less dense and will rise, after … --- ## [How do they measure snowfall?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-measure-snowfall/507838)
**Author:** [@MeliMelMel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeliMelMel)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-measure-snowfall/507838 "2009-09-04T15:08:30Z")
I have also heard, and I do not know if it is true…but I have HEARD that the meteorologists at the news stations use a large, square transparent object called a window. Gosh, I hope I spelled that correctly. Here in Ut… --- ## [Feynman on Abomb/xrays through glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feynman-on-abomb-xrays-through-glass/508508)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feynman-on-abomb-xrays-through-glass/508508 "2009-09-03T18:03:43Z")
Early, amazing confirmation about xrays through glass: From Richard Feynman - Wikipedia (no prime source given): \[…\]at the Trinity bomb test. Feynman claimed to be the only person to see the explosion without the very … --- ## [Nitrogen in tires.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitrogen-in-tires/508707)
**Author:** [@Fotomontage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotomontage)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2009, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nitrogen-in-tires/508707 "2009-09-03T12:08:21Z")
I’d have to agree with this being a lot of misleading hype. The roughly 22% Oxygen that is in the air that we breath is only 3% smaller than the Nitrogen molecules which make up 78% of our air. One would be hard presse… --- ## [Tall men and skin cancer.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tall-men-and-skin-cancer/508695)
**Author:** [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tall-men-and-skin-cancer/508695 "2009-09-02T23:21:36Z")
Related column: Tall men are less likely to wear long sleeved shirts, as they are hard to find and expensive. --- ## [Not true! Mosquito bite vs blood type (expanded title)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-true-mosquito-bite-vs-blood-type-expanded-title/508177)
**Author:** [@asright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asright)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2009, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-true-mosquito-bite-vs-blood-type-expanded-title/508177 "2009-09-01T12:43:00Z")
Hey, what gives? You have reported falsely on the mosquito favoritism! The researchers never contacted me! As far as mosquitoes go, I am better than fresh, hot, fried chicken smothered with honey! I don’t have type O blo… --- ## [Would alignment of the planets cause catastrophe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-alignment-of-the-planets-cause-catastrophe/507136)
**Author:** [@Gleipner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleipner)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-alignment-of-the-planets-cause-catastrophe/507136 "2009-08-31T21:36:20Z")
One could answer the planet question with a plain “no”. Or, as Cecil did, explain why “no” is the correct answer. I would like to get out my bazooka and kill the dead mosquito some more. So, I hereby submit to y’all: … --- ## [Bystander CPR - Some more factoids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bystander-cpr-some-more-factoids/508128)
**Author:** [@D50W](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D50W)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bystander-cpr-some-more-factoids/508128 "2009-08-31T21:26:29Z")
Has widespread CPR training resulted in more lives saved? Nice summary of the current understanding of CPR in the community… Having done some research work in the area, I have a couple of comments and clarifications: … --- ## [re: Is it true "W" can be used as a vowel? September 11, 1987](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-is-it-true-w-can-be-used-as-a-vowel-september-11-1987/507399)
**Author:** [@landroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/landroid)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-is-it-true-w-can-be-used-as-a-vowel-september-11-1987/507399 "2009-08-30T19:37:12Z")
I am a bit late to the game here as this article was published quite some time ago (came across it via the “random”, which is an awesome feature). I remember a linguists professor in college stating that, contrary to po… --- ## [Re: Can you legally photograph people in public without permission?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-can-you-legally-photograph-people-in-public-without-permission/507416)
**Author:** [@Igor70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Igor70)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-can-you-legally-photograph-people-in-public-without-permission/507416 "2009-08-29T19:58:37Z")
Cecil says (in Can you legally photograph people in public without permission) that you can legally, at least (not necessarily without getting a punch in the face) photograph people in public, and “You can even publish … --- ## [Viewing the aurora](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viewing-the-aurora/507894)
**Author:** [@dobieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dobieman)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2009, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viewing-the-aurora/507894 "2009-08-29T08:07:31Z")
As to the time of the year when it’s most likely to see one, we are now moving into that series of months. From about mid-May to about the end of August, it’s generally too light to see them. They may be there, regardl… --- ## [Purell Cocktails](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purell-cocktails/508049)
**Author:** [@mmb7v](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmb7v)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purell-cocktails/508049 "2009-08-28T20:29:00Z")
I spent some time on a psych ward when I was in nursing school and all of the gel hand sanitizer dispensers had to be changed to foam dispensers and put in the nurses station because alcoholics started pumping it out int… --- ## [Cecil goofed on his math](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-goofed-on-his-math/508003)
**Author:** [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-goofed-on-his-math/508003 "2009-08-28T16:21:40Z")
In Cecil’s article, “When’s the best time to see the aurora borealis?”, Cecil states: But the column was written December 6, 1974. That left enough time for 2 complete 11-year cycles before 2001, no matter where the … --- ## [Chicken and a half.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-and-a-half/506039)
**Author:** [@solovus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solovus)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-and-a-half/506039 "2009-08-27T01:56:01Z")
Reference to this Column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/915/if-a-chicken-and-a-half-can-lay-an-egg-and-a-half-in-a-day-and-a-half-how-many-hens-to-lay-six-eggs-in-six-days The answer is clearly two hens, but… --- ## [Kemosabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kemosabe/507418)
**Author:** [@g88smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g88smith)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kemosabe/507418 "2009-08-26T03:04:20Z")
Cecil you are obviously the smartest man in the world! I am sitting on the deck of our home on Mullett lake which is the site of the old camp Kemo sabe, later known as Lone ranger camp . The well where the horses were w… --- ## [Economy-sized Nuclear Plants](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economy-sized-nuclear-plants/506394)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economy-sized-nuclear-plants/506394 "2009-08-25T19:52:02Z")
From today’s column ( If Europe gets its power from bus-size nuclear reactors, why can’t we? - The Straight Dope ): “Still, let’s acknowledge the larger point: major manufacturers are trying to come up with economy-size… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=99) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=101)