# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=106 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 107 --- ## [Flight of the Bumblebee](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-of-the-bumblebee/495793)
**Author:** [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flight-of-the-bumblebee/495793 "2009-05-08T22:06:54Z")
Back in 1990, Uncle Cece addressed the issue of whether or not “Is it impossible for bumblebees to fly?” Now, we have some new information on the subject: Video about Bumblebee study Anyone have a link to information … --- ## [More on the Federal Reserve](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-the-federal-reserve/495139)
**Author:** [@ronbono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ronbono)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-the-federal-reserve/495139 "2009-05-08T20:37:25Z")
“Some people think that the Federal Reserve Banks are United States Government institutions. They are private monopolies which prey upon the people of these United States for the benefit of themselves and their foreign c… --- ## [New reference on "86"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-reference-on-86/495592)
**Author:** [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-reference-on-86/495592 "2009-05-07T23:33:51Z")
Just wanted to mention that my wife hit another cite for “86” and a number of other period restaurant codes, in a book called “America Eats”. It’s a recently published book, taken from the raw material for an unfinished … --- ## [Re: Why don't magnets stick to aluminum?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-why-dont-magnets-stick-to-aluminum/124210)
**Author:** [@mahershalal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mahershalal)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-why-dont-magnets-stick-to-aluminum/124210 "2009-05-07T21:56:43Z")
Quoth Cecil: “The difference is that in the big magnets the tiny magnets are organized, i.e., they’re all lined up with their north poles in one direction and their south poles in the opposite direction. In an ordinary … --- ## [The amazing story of Rice-A-Roni](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-story-of-rice-a-roni/495621)
**Author:** [@fluzwup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluzwup)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazing-story-of-rice-a-roni/495621 "2009-05-07T02:21:29Z")
From Why is Rice-A-Roni called “The San Francisco Treat”? - The Straight Dope, "Why is Rice-A-Roni called “The San Francisco Treat”, the staff reporter writes: “I’d like to tell you there’s an amazing story behind the l… --- ## [The Origin of "break a leg!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-break-a-leg/487303)
**Author:** [@CurtysaurusRex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtysaurusRex)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-break-a-leg/487303 "2009-05-07T00:20:21Z")
In the article about the origin of the phrase “break a leg”, I feel that not enough of the possible origins were addressed. I have always been told, and feel that it is the most sensible that I have yet heard, that the … --- ## [Death by strawberry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-by-strawberry/494213)
**Author:** [@grovberg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grovberg)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2009, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-by-strawberry/494213 "2009-05-06T12:13:28Z")
So in the article about the Mllard Fillmore Society, Cecil makes this casual statement. “But sadly, Taylor died in office after eating too many strawberries on a warm day.” Ummm…what? Is there a fatal illness caused by… --- ## [How could the Romans use corn? It's American!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-romans-use-corn-its-american/493964)
**Author:** [@Yssy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yssy)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-romans-use-corn-its-american/493964 "2009-05-05T11:52:54Z")
In Today’s classic (from 1978) Cecil says that “No historical evidence suggests that any European had encountered it (Maize) before Christopher Columbus landed in Cuba” in 1492. However there are carvings of Maize/ Indi… --- ## [Breast Size](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-size/494108)
**Author:** [@sherlock100N](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherlock100N)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breast-size/494108 "2009-05-04T21:44:03Z")
I think Cecil should update his classic column from 1983 on breast size (reprinted 4/23/09). Like the author of the orininal question in 1983, I have also noticed an apparent increase in breast size especially among col… --- ## [Did Someone From The Straight Dope E-Mail The 'Colonel' Answer To Lopate Show Today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-someone-from-the-straight-dope-e-mail-the-colonel-answer-to-lopate-show-today/326957)
**Author:** [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-someone-from-the-straight-dope-e-mail-the-colonel-answer-to-lopate-show-today/326957 "2009-05-04T04:13:30Z")
Mundane comment about a question answered on the airwaves today: Why is “colonel” pronounced “kernel”? Other than an occasional crossword clue, you really don’t see or hear the Straight Dope mentioned quite often in pub… --- ## [Pitt bulls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitt-bulls/495136)
**Author:** [@imagoodgirl\_not1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imagoodgirl_not1)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitt-bulls/495136 "2009-05-03T13:49:04Z")
I have just a few things to say about pitts…I WAS deathly afraid of pitts until my son came home with a pup and let me tell you i would be lost without them… A few things about pitts that people seem to forget about is, … --- ## [About Staff Report "Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-staff-report-do-ostriches-really-bury-their-heads-in-the-sand/490838)
**Author:** [@troublemonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troublemonkey)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-staff-report-do-ostriches-really-bury-their-heads-in-the-sand/490838 "2009-05-02T16:43:44Z")
About Straight Dope Staff Report: Do ostriches really bury their heads in the sand? The staff report did not mention what I always understood to be the origin of this fallacy. I’ve used it over and over as an example … --- ## [The 'E' word](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-e-word/493401)
**Author:** [@wilmaxwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wilmaxwell)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-e-word/493401 "2009-05-01T19:02:52Z")
Cecil, much as I enjoy your thoughts, why do you continue to use the word ‘Eskimo’ to denote Innuits? Are you aware that this is the equivalent of refering to Afro Americans as ‘niggers’? --- ## [Does beet sugar contain a WWII poison?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beet-sugar-contain-a-wwii-poison/494209)
**Author:** [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beet-sugar-contain-a-wwii-poison/494209 "2009-05-01T17:45:52Z")
Was the beet sugar vs. cane sugar dessert tasting a blind taste test? Did each taster prefer all three of one sample to all three of the other sample? Was there “palate cleansing” in between? I tried doing blind taste… --- ## [heterosexual anal sex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-anal-sex/492646)
**Author:** [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heterosexual-anal-sex/492646 "2009-04-29T18:34:59Z")
I’m amazed and quite frankly very suspicious about the first of the two quoted statistics about incontinence subsequent to anal sex. I’m convinced that if this really happened (especially in anything approaching the pro… --- ## [Why do men have nipples?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/492649)
**Author:** [@johna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johna)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-men-have-nipples/492649 "2009-04-29T16:15:25Z")
The reason this question was asked is because of a misunderstanding of evolution. Evolution does not get rid of “useless” attributes. It only promotes useful ones, where “useful” means “allows you to produce as many babi… --- ## [Mayaguez/ Fillmore Column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558)
**Author:** [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayaguez-fillmore-column/494558 "2009-04-29T14:46:21Z")
From the Millard Fillmore Society Column I assumed that Mayaguez referred to the Mayagüez Incident involving the Khmer Rouge. In context though, that wouldn’t seem to be the case as Fillmore seems to have been success… --- ## [Update on Colony Collapse Disorder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/update-on-colony-collapse-disorder/493427)
**Author:** [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/update-on-colony-collapse-disorder/493427 "2009-04-29T13:51:25Z")
I saw this article today which made me think of the Staff Report on honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder The article says the collapses are being caused by a parasite known as “Nosema Ceranae” From the article The articl… --- ## [capitalism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalism/494714)
**Author:** [@jimigorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimigorilla)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalism/494714 "2009-04-29T11:29:05Z")
Now I am not a capitalist by any definition, but isn’t all this borderline criminal? --- ## [Difference between white and brown eggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-white-and-brown-eggs/489394)
**Author:** [@WKRamsey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WKRamsey)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-white-and-brown-eggs/489394 "2009-04-29T08:50:14Z")
The Egg Nutrition Board’s opinion notwithstanding, brown eggs are NOT just laid by chickens with red feathers. When I was young we had several hundred White Rock chickens, whose feathers were–WHITE, and their eggs BROWN… --- ## [Cecil, please study up on the signs of cyanide poisoning!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-please-study-up-on-the-signs-of-cyanide-poisoning/494565)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-please-study-up-on-the-signs-of-cyanide-poisoning/494565 "2009-04-27T22:56:15Z")
In this column commenting on the possibility of cyanide in beet sugar, Cecil queries: Unfortunately, when one does expire from cyanide poisoning, they tend to turn quite pink and die. Like carbon monoxide when it comb… --- ## [Indus Valley script](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indus-valley-script/494306)
**Author:** [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indus-valley-script/494306 "2009-04-27T18:28:37Z")
Why we cannot decipher the indus script ?? we may be close to it. --- ## [Who decided women should shave their legs and underarms?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-women-should-shave-their-legs-and-underarms/357727)
**Author:** [@maryam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maryam)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-women-should-shave-their-legs-and-underarms/357727 "2009-04-27T18:19:44Z")
URL: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_012.html The trend might have orginated during the crusades from the Muslims. Islam requires adult male and females to trim or shave thier pubical hair every month, apart fro… --- ## [Is it safer not to sign the back of your credit cards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safer-not-to-sign-the-back-of-your-credit-cards/492438)
**Author:** [@drheaton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drheaton)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safer-not-to-sign-the-back-of-your-credit-cards/492438 "2009-04-27T18:12:54Z")
The staff have a very rosy view of the credit card world. Now that the recession is deeper, do they still believe: “These cards were a good deal for all concerned” ??? and then staff report talks about merchants and… --- ## [How do chastity belts work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-chastity-belts-work/494472)
**Author:** [@basophil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basophil)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-chastity-belts-work/494472 "2009-04-27T16:11:03Z")
From Cecil’s answer: “Some Asian and African cultures practiced female infibrillation, in which a woman’s labia were bound together with rings or wires or the like.” That would be “infibulation”. Infibrillation means…… --- ## [How can I avoid getting old?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-avoid-getting-old/493820)
**Author:** [@vladimirnabokov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vladimirnabokov)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-avoid-getting-old/493820 "2009-04-27T04:21:07Z")
I have to interject a couple of points regarding the answer to this question, which I found a little misleading. Stop thinking While not thinking may slow the aging process down so far as superficial attributes (wrink… --- ## [cigarette smoking vs. tanning - a minor correction to the statistics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-smoking-vs-tanning-a-minor-correction-to-the-statistics/493407)
**Author:** [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarette-smoking-vs-tanning-a-minor-correction-to-the-statistics/493407 "2009-04-25T22:48:13Z")
I would never dare suggest that Cecil Adams was wrong, but in What’s more likely to cause cancer, smoking or tanning? (April 17, 2009) I see the following: By my calculations, this is incorrect. I come up with this n… --- ## [Meaningless numbers in smoking/tanning cancer comparison](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-numbers-in-smoking-tanning-cancer-comparison/493408)
**Author:** [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meaningless-numbers-in-smoking-tanning-cancer-comparison/493408 "2009-04-22T14:26:21Z")
In this column, Cecil came to the following conclusion: This statement is completely worthless unless we’re given the base percentages in the first place. For instance, if he’s increasing his chance of getting cancer … --- ## [machine guns on war planes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-guns-on-war-planes/493509)
**Author:** [@countrybill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/countrybill)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-guns-on-war-planes/493509 "2009-04-21T15:25:29Z")
Near the end of WW1, in May of 1917 The US war department held competitive tests of guns by different inventors with the purpose of purchasing them. John M. Browning submitted several guns at that time, one was a 30 cal.… --- ## [Empire State Buliding experiment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-state-buliding-experiment/493382)
**Author:** [@beccaspice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beccaspice)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-state-buliding-experiment/493382 "2009-04-20T21:58:33Z")
I dropped a quarter off the Empire State Building because I heard that too. (I wasn’t trying to kill anybody, I just didn’t believe it). There were no body bags, ambulances, or even a chip in the sidewalk when I got to t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=105) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=107)