# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=111 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 112 --- ## [How do you become a dual citizen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-become-a-dual-citizen/475288)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2009, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-become-a-dual-citizen/475288 "2009-01-23T09:07:05Z")
Regarding “How do you become a dual citizen?” : Is it possible for a person born in the United States to hold dual citizenship from birth? That is, by sole virtue of one or both parents, to hold dual citizenship in the… --- ## [Killing Vampires](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-vampires/482412)
**Author:** [@rejected\_apollo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rejected_apollo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-vampires/482412 "2009-01-22T05:05:44Z")
Concerning classic question: What’s the Best Way to Kill a Vampire? Hello there! I was just wondering what Cecil’s sources were for this. Reason being that I’ve been doing a great deal of research on this subject rece… --- ## [Monty Hall Problem Revisited Again Again!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-hall-problem-revisited-again-again/479220)
**Author:** [@BadgerMountain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BadgerMountain)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-hall-problem-revisited-again-again/479220 "2009-01-21T15:35:39Z")
I played out all possible cases and outcomes and I find that the odds are even that the contestant will win if they switch or stay. I believe that the error in the accepted solution presents itself in the case where the… --- ## [Defeating Nanobots](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defeating-nanobots/482171)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defeating-nanobots/482171 "2009-01-20T21:23:36Z")
I’m fascinated by this query. Basically, he wanted to know if the nanobots were in his body, how could he get rid of them. His thought was something to do with blowing up his microwave. (Ummmmmm. . .hmmmmnnnn) I thin… --- ## [Are there really "pushers" on Tokyo subways?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-pushers-on-tokyo-subways/480616)
**Author:** [@BlogD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlogD)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-pushers-on-tokyo-subways/480616 "2009-01-18T14:30:44Z")
Are there really “pushers” on Tokyo subways? Probably the article was accurate in 1977, but not any more. You don’t see two-door subway cars these days. Even 3-door cars aren’t very common; 4-door cars tend to be the no… --- ## [Is "The Wizard of Oz" a satire of the French revolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-wizard-of-oz-a-satire-of-the-french-revolution/480757)
**Author:** [@dysmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dysmas)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-wizard-of-oz-a-satire-of-the-french-revolution/480757 "2009-01-16T19:05:15Z")
According to his son and his widow, the Oz books started as nothing more than a collection of stories told by L. Frank Baum to his young niece (Dorothy) who was dying (I believe of leukemia). He would sit by her beds… --- ## [How does ejaculation work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-ejaculation-work/480103)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-ejaculation-work/480103 "2009-01-16T13:36:05Z")
Quite well, thank you. Seriously, Gfactor, good job! I learned a lot, and the last paragraph made me laugh out loud. --- ## [Can animals sense earthquakes? Yes!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-animals-sense-earthquakes-yes/476887)
**Author:** [@joubaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joubaur)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-animals-sense-earthquakes-yes/476887 "2009-01-16T04:45:14Z")
I remember in 1989, the Loma Prietta quake in California was predicted several days in advance by a gentleman from the USGS. He got in trouble for it afterword because he used the animal method. His boss’ told him to nev… --- ## [What about the rest of Willie's inquiry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-rest-of-willies-inquiry/481405)
**Author:** [@Manhunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manhunter)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-rest-of-willies-inquiry/481405 "2009-01-16T00:01:51Z")
Interesting exchanges regarding “Let them eat cake”, but Willie of Chicago also asked: Is the line in a class with Humphrey Bogart’s “Play it again, Sam”–i.e., bogus? — -Willie H., Chicago :confused: --- ## [Money Laundering](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-laundering/480564)
**Author:** [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-laundering/480564 "2009-01-15T04:06:43Z")
In today’s column, the Perfect Master mentions that … Another good example is taxi services, which also handle a lot of cash and provide hard-to-measure services. At least back in the 80’s, the Chicago mob laundered a … --- ## [Why do people say Jesus H Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-jesus-h-christ/481084)
**Author:** [@thegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thegreen)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-say-jesus-h-christ/481084 "2009-01-13T14:31:48Z")
From http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/30/why-do-folks-say-jesus-h-christ IHS would in fact look like IHC in some Greek scripts, as in Byzantine Greek, where sigma is written C. Whether that’s the answer, I don’t… --- ## ["In A Coon's Age"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-coons-age/480592)
**Author:** [@reliance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reliance)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-coons-age/480592 "2009-01-12T22:15:14Z")
Your Staff Report dated 25/5/04 has dissolved my puzzlement about this phrase which (being English and there being no raccoons in England), I had not come across before, other than to have read it in one of my favourite … --- ## [Why do cockroaches die on their backs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cockroaches-die-on-their-backs/477849)
**Author:** [@Virgil\_Tibbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Virgil_Tibbs)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cockroaches-die-on-their-backs/477849 "2009-01-11T22:35:06Z")
In this thread, Cecil gives three possible explanations. The first and last are entirely plausible, but the second is either completely specious or so highly complicated that my tiny brain is unable to comprehend it. To… --- ## [Silver spoon in the champagne? What about spumante?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-spoon-in-the-champagne-what-about-spumante/478733)
**Author:** [@ekokontis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekokontis)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-spoon-in-the-champagne-what-about-spumante/478733 "2009-01-11T19:42:05Z")
This is in response to Will a silver spoon in the neck preserve your leftover New Year’s Eve bubbly? When I studied abroad and lived with a house mother in Florence, Italy, she left a silver spoon in the neck of a bottl… --- ## [Why is winter the season for colds, flu, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-winter-the-season-for-colds-flu-etc/423299)
**Author:** [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-winter-the-season-for-colds-flu-etc/423299 "2009-01-11T16:30:14Z")
Classic Article This is a front page story on yahoo right now. And I just like this quote. --- ## [Proofreading in the Yellowstone volcano article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proofreading-in-the-yellowstone-volcano-article/479652)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proofreading-in-the-yellowstone-volcano-article/479652 "2009-01-08T21:49:29Z")
In the article about the Yellowstone volcano, Is Yellowstone Park sitting on a supervolcano that’s about to blow?, Cecil mentions that the Yellowstone supervolcano, while potentially problematic should it supererupt, is … --- ## [Rabid Bats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabid-bats/480382)
**Author:** [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabid-bats/480382 "2009-01-08T15:47:25Z")
But if you’re surrounded by x number of bats, and you’re bitten by one of them, is the chance that you were bitten by a rabid bat 1/2 of 1%? Or are rabid bats more likely to munch on you? --- ## [Traffic flow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traffic-flow/479623)
**Author:** [@Ishmael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ishmael)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traffic-flow/479623 "2009-01-07T21:23:15Z")
Cecile just sent out a “classic” form 06/17/83, concerning back-ups on freeways. While I certainly appreciate the answer given (which was informative), I think that there are some other factor(s) at work, besides psycho… --- ## [The Law that Never Was](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-law-that-never-was/479922)
**Author:** [@LatexDucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LatexDucky)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-law-that-never-was/479922 "2009-01-06T21:03:11Z")
There is an old question here about the 16th amendment that reviews the Ohio argument against the 16th amendment. This argument seems irrelevant but there exists a better argument by William Benson; the non-ratification… --- ## ["Corning Beef"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corning-beef/479646)
**Author:** [@loridooley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loridooley)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corning-beef/479646 "2009-01-06T19:51:55Z")
What a great answer for “How Do You Corn Beef?” ~~ Sounds pretty disgusting but with a little horseradish, mmm good! Thank you so much for the info! loridooley --- ## [Relieving Yellowstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relieving-yellowstone/479913)
**Author:** [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relieving-yellowstone/479913 "2009-01-06T10:19:14Z")
Is Yellowstone Park sitting on a supervolcano that’s about to blow? I’m just curious if anything can be done to relieve the pressure, such as drilling a hole near the magma area to let some of the steam and pressure an… --- ## [Is anybody in charge of keeping satellites from colliding?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-in-charge-of-keeping-satellites-from-colliding/478773)
**Author:** [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-in-charge-of-keeping-satellites-from-colliding/478773 "2009-01-05T18:28:45Z")
Not that the article was incomplete, but I was expecting at least a passing reference to Kessler Syndrome. (New Registration, I’ve lurked a while…) --- ## [Comment on Cecil's article about "SQUAWS"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-cecils-article-about-squaws/479880)
**Author:** [@Chippewa\_in\_Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chippewa_in_Michigan)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-cecils-article-about-squaws/479880 "2009-01-05T03:39:50Z")
Straight Dope staff, You read it again, The question was NOT does squaw mean vagina there is nothing offensive about vaginas. The question was does squaw mean “cun\_”? Indians do not find vaginas offensive. It’s too bad… --- ## [Kway is the Chippewa word meaning Woman not Vagina](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kway-is-the-chippewa-word-meaning-woman-not-vagina/479900)
**Author:** [@Chippewa\_in\_Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chippewa_in_Michigan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kway-is-the-chippewa-word-meaning-woman-not-vagina/479900 "2009-01-05T03:23:13Z")
Kwea or Quay, pronounouned kway is the word meaning woman it does not mean vagina. It is usuallaly used at the ending of a name to denote female. The word for vagina in Chippewa is “pungee” but you will never see that w… --- ## [We Are Human beings Not Squaws and Chiefs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-human-beings-not-squaws-and-chiefs/479895)
**Author:** [@Chippewa\_in\_Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chippewa_in_Michigan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-human-beings-not-squaws-and-chiefs/479895 "2009-01-05T02:27:16Z")
How would you like to be called racsist names? To see a website that says it’s ok to be called rascist names, like squaw and chief whoever answered that thread wrote “you should read it again Cheif” I am not a chief and … --- ## [Does "Squaw" mean "Cun\_"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-squaw-mean-cun_/479884)
**Author:** [@Chippewa\_in\_Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chippewa_in_Michigan)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-squaw-mean-cun_/479884 "2009-01-05T02:25:22Z")
Straight Dope staff, You read it again, The question was NOT does squaw mean vagina there is nothing offensive about vaginas. The question was does squaw mean “cun\_”? Indians do not find vaginas offensive. It’s too bad… --- ## [Does "Squaw" mean "Cun\_"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-squaw-mean-cun_/479885)
**Author:** [@Chippewa\_in\_Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chippewa_in_Michigan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-squaw-mean-cun_/479885 "2009-01-05T02:24:19Z")
:dubious:Straight Dope staff, You read it again, The question was NOT does squaw mean vagina there is nothing offensive about vaginas, Cecil. The question was does squaw mean “cun\_”? Indians do not find vaginas offensi… --- ## ["squaw"!!!!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squaw/479881)
**Author:** [@Chippewa\_in\_Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chippewa_in_Michigan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squaw/479881 "2009-01-05T02:22:15Z")
Straight Dope staff, You read it again, The question was NOT does squaw mean vagina there is nothing offensive about vaginas. The question was does squaw mean “cun\_”? Indians do not find vaginas offensive. It’s too bad… --- ## ["squaw"!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squaw/479882)
**Author:** [@Chippewa\_in\_Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chippewa_in_Michigan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squaw/479882 "2009-01-05T02:21:45Z")
:dubious:Straight Dope staff, You read it again, The question was NOT does squaw mean vagina there is nothing offensive about vaginas. The question was does squaw mean “cun\_”? Indians do not find vaginas offensive. It’… --- ## [I just discovered "Comment on this answer" really...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-comment-on-this-answer-really/478673)
**Author:** [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-discovered-comment-on-this-answer-really/478673 "2009-01-05T01:43:43Z")
…just takes one to a forum where one can comment on almost anything, perhaps. If/when there should ever be an upgrade shouldn’t “Comment on this answer” drag along a URL or something that connects the comment with the a… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=110) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=112)