# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=117 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 118 --- ## [200 mpg carburetor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/200-mpg-carburetor/464876)
**Author:** [@miles.lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miles.lowry)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/200-mpg-carburetor/464876 "2008-09-24T23:51:37Z")
Any updates on this one? Back in 1989 some of this was true, but now, 20 years later, gas is taking a bite. I realize taht the 200 MPG car is not here yet but any idea what the current record is? --- ## [Re Sunni vs Shi'ite](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-sunni-vs-shiite/464930)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-sunni-vs-shiite/464930 "2008-09-24T04:43:26Z")
The last line of today’s staff report on Sunni vs Shi’itessays something like “I’ll never take our free press for granted again.” From what I hear from friends in the Middle East (Qatar, at least), Aljazeera is more ope… --- ## [Dropping a bullet in a non-vacuum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-bullet-in-a-non-vacuum/461975)
**Author:** [@Trout24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout24)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-bullet-in-a-non-vacuum/461975 "2008-09-23T21:24:22Z")
Cecil says that, in a vacuum, a bullet fired from a gun in a horizontal direction will hit the ground after one dropped from the same height due to curvature of the earth (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1373). … --- ## [Emergency Sirens...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-sirens/464277)
**Author:** [@alsires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alsires)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-sirens/464277 "2008-09-23T16:15:53Z")
Having busted through many a traffic light going as quickly as possible on my way to the local donut shoppe… I will have to say that we often just used our fingers, not some study, to determine which siren to use. The a… --- ## [More on Mary Shelley and Frankenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-mary-shelley-and-frankenstein/464797)
**Author:** [@NChevalier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NChevalier)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2008, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-mary-shelley-and-frankenstein/464797 "2008-09-23T13:12:59Z")
I know this discussion was a long time ago (2001), but I just found the question on whether Mary Shelley actually wrote Frankenstein and felt compelled to add a few details to your otherwise fine response. To start with… --- ## [Cecil is mistaken, coke does not disolve aluminum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-is-mistaken-coke-does-not-disolve-aluminum/464257)
**Author:** [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-is-mistaken-coke-does-not-disolve-aluminum/464257 "2008-09-21T01:52:31Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1158/why-doesnt-coke-dissolve-the-can The column either says or implies that Coke will dissolve aluminum. Whether Coke lines their cans with food grade plastic is irrelevant to t… --- ## [Colorado and nuns in shopping carts...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-and-nuns-in-shopping-carts/463534)
**Author:** [@annernangq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annernangq)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colorado-and-nuns-in-shopping-carts/463534 "2008-09-17T20:51:10Z")
At one point in Colorado, was the fact that you were NOT allowed to push a nun in a shopping cart actually supposed to be outlawed, but it was a bill that wasn’t approved? I have looked it up all over the internet, and … --- ## [zombie army](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombie-army/462528)
**Author:** [@irspariah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irspariah)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zombie-army/462528 "2008-09-16T05:01:18Z")
Sic Will Smith on them. Link: How would the U.S. military fight a zombie army? --- ## [Cosleeping suffocation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cosleeping-suffocation/463690)
**Author:** [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cosleeping-suffocation/463690 "2008-09-15T13:50:37Z")
This is one I’ve been wondering about for a long time. What does Cecil mean by his closing statement? I have my own guess, but I don’t want to pollute the waters. --- ## [Rum, sodomy, and the lash](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rum-sodomy-and-the-lash/462257)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rum-sodomy-and-the-lash/462257 "2008-09-15T01:49:57Z")
In his most recent column \[del\]Ed\[/del\] Cecil takes on those tales of “buggery” in the British Royal Navy. I just thought I’d add the following, from the naval Articles of War. and dated 1757. These statements named … --- ## [Aluminum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum/462893)
**Author:** [@DRUSILLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRUSILLA)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum/462893 "2008-09-13T16:04:05Z")
I read the info about shiny side in/out about aluminum wi regards to potatoes - what about covering a dish which contains tomatoe sauce? Does the aluminum stick to sauce/cheese, as in lasagna, on the shiny side or dull… --- ## [Women on ships long ago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-on-ships-long-ago/462277)
**Author:** [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-on-ships-long-ago/462277 "2008-09-13T15:41:47Z")
\[sup\]Hoping this is the right forum\[/sup\] From Cecil’s Column about rum and pegging: Given that most men were not bisexual and being there was an actual law against sodomy, it seems the obvious solution would be to bri… --- ## [Plane on a treadmill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-on-a-treadmill/463223)
**Author:** [@Peabot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peabot)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-on-a-treadmill/463223 "2008-09-13T04:00:53Z")
I want to one up on Cecil’s explanation on why this question confuses so many people and why the answer really is so simple…that the plane DOES take off. First, in Cecil’s column she mentions, “Relatively speaking…”…yes… --- ## [Question about Brown's Gas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-browns-gas/463370)
**Author:** [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-browns-gas/463370 "2008-09-13T00:21:17Z")
In today’s column Can you really get better gas mileage using your alternator to make Browns Gas, Cecil shows that turning gas into hydrogen is quite inefficient and would be a waste of time. Having never heard of Brown… --- ## [exploding mosquitoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-mosquitoes/462308)
**Author:** [@ksweetman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ksweetman)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-mosquitoes/462308 "2008-09-12T02:25:02Z")
I’ve tried that bit with tensing my muscle when a mosquito is biting me, and perhps I didn’t tense it enough or something, but the darn thing just filled up and then flew off. I always thought that the whole thing was a … --- ## [herod's evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herods-evil/463190)
**Author:** [@wigwag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wigwag)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herods-evil/463190 "2008-09-12T00:32:17Z")
well, this herod no doubt did some pretty unsavoury things, but i think you’ll find that massacring the innocents wasn’t one of them. you’re confusing him with ‘herod the great’. this guy, claudius’ friend, was ‘herod ag… --- ## [Planet X](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planet-x/461429)
**Author:** [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/planet-x/461429 "2008-09-11T18:46:38Z")
I was a little disappointed in Cecli’s column on Planet X. It was solid science, but I was hoping that either the question or the answer had mentioned Zecharia Sitchin, one of my favorite nutjobs, and author of books lik… --- ## [Is chiropractic for real or just quackery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-for-real-or-just-quackery/454449)
**Author:** [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2008, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chiropractic-for-real-or-just-quackery/454449 "2008-09-10T06:47:34Z")
Regarding this article: Is chiropractic for real or just quackery? Anecdotes follow. In 1988 I injured my back - I didn’t know how to lift things properly at the time, and had a 3-day project where I screwed my back u… --- ## [XKCD and the Treadmill Mouseover](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-and-the-treadmill-mouseover/462697)
**Author:** [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2008, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-and-the-treadmill-mouseover/462697 "2008-09-10T04:36:21Z")
In today’s xkcd comic, if you mouseover the comic, the airplane/treadmill debate is referenced. It made me laugh!!:stuck\_out\_tongue: Sorry, forgot to mention that this is referring back to the much maligned Cecil colum… --- ## [Weird Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-laws/461663)
**Author:** [@DevLaVaca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DevLaVaca)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-laws/461663 "2008-09-10T02:32:00Z")
In Staff Report: Are those weird laws you hear about for real?, GFactor uses the wrong term. Malum in se is something that is inherently wrong. It means “evil in itself”. Malum prohibitum is the term you want to use. --- ## ["What's up with 'broadcast power'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-broadcast-power/460986)
**Author:** [@J.Neil\_Schulman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J.Neil_Schulman)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-broadcast-power/460986 "2008-09-08T20:44:13Z")
It turns out that Cecil was wrong and Tesla was right about broadcast power. Intel demonstrated it this week. See story at http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080821/ts\_alt\_afp/usitinternetenergychipcompanyintel;\_ylt=A0WTUdj… --- ## [The Airplane and the Treadmill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-airplane-and-the-treadmill/406573)
**Author:** [@BreakFight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BreakFight)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-airplane-and-the-treadmill/406573 "2008-09-08T06:41:30Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060203.html I would like to question again this topic upon the nature of a plane achieving flight. Firstoff, a plane creates lift through drag force, which is achieved through the tu… --- ## [Is time travel possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-time-travel-possible/462573)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-time-travel-possible/462573 "2008-09-08T04:49:44Z")
I remember reading a column about whether or not time travel is possible(I’m sure another doper can find the URL). I’m still a little confused. I have a long corridor in my basement that connects one part of my house … --- ## [Buggery in the Royal Navy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buggery-in-the-royal-navy/462397)
**Author:** [@jdowland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdowland)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buggery-in-the-royal-navy/462397 "2008-09-07T20:50:54Z")
Cecil - I read with interest your column on buggery in the British Navy, and wonder if are familar with Lenny Bruce’s classic routine “Thank You Mask Man”. In it, the Lone Ranger asks the townspeople to give him Tonto th… --- ## [Street lights going out...in Martin TN at The Reserve at UTM](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-lights-going-out-in-martin-tn-at-the-reserve-at-utm/462469)
**Author:** [@ToMMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToMMan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2008, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/street-lights-going-out-in-martin-tn-at-the-reserve-at-utm/462469 "2008-09-07T09:54:59Z")
Yeah I noticed for the last 20 years–street lights going out as I approached them–and then they come back on. So I walk back to them and they go out again. So sometimes I watch them as other people walk by or drive by a… --- ## [Baby Pigeons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-pigeons/459426)
**Author:** [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-pigeons/459426 "2008-09-05T21:01:11Z")
I happened to be walking along the street today, with the kids and Ms. Attack, and we heard a kerfluffle under a store awning. We looked up and saw a flimsy minimalist nest in the corner of the awning, and a grownup pige… --- ## [Falling Cats - Another Viewpoint](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falling-cats-another-viewpoint/461526)
**Author:** [@Pel2na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pel2na)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2008, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falling-cats-another-viewpoint/461526 "2008-09-05T10:33:42Z")
In his column about Falling Cats Cecil definitely has a point (but if he wears a hat no one will know) about dead cats not being reported to the Vet. But he ignores the corollary - cats that fell from great heights, live… --- ## [English Word Bloody](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-word-bloody/459972)
**Author:** [@laurencepostgate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laurencepostgate)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-word-bloody/459972 "2008-08-28T19:51:26Z")
RE: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbloody.html My grandmother always taught me Bloody is so profane because it is an abbreviated version of: By My (or Our) Lady (referring to the Virgin Mary) and therfore taking… --- ## [Shark, You're what's for dinner: How quickly can sharks pick up on blood in the water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shark-youre-whats-for-dinner-how-quickly-can-sharks-pick-up-on-blood-in-the-water/460078)
**Author:** [@jricsod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jricsod)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shark-youre-whats-for-dinner-how-quickly-can-sharks-pick-up-on-blood-in-the-water/460078 "2008-08-25T19:09:56Z")
The calculations in the example assume that the bleeder is stationary with the water current washing the blood downstream. Most shipwrecked and immersed victims will drift with the stream. This brings you back to diffus… --- ## [Sears Catalogue, Men's Briefs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sears-catalogue-mens-briefs/460913)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sears-catalogue-mens-briefs/460913 "2008-08-25T17:49:55Z")
Re: the 1975 Sears Catalogue Men’s Briefs photo, I remember that one pretty well. My uncle, whose sensibilities tended towards the lowbrow, had a copy of the catalog and a 45 single of a novelty song someone had recorde… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=116) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=118)