# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=12 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 13 --- ## [What's the origin of the chef's hat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-chefs-hat/796637)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-chefs-hat/796637 "2017-10-04T23:50:38Z")
Thought there was a thread already for this 1999 Staff Report, but couldn’t find it. I noticed a misspelling in the first paragraph: “The chef’s hat originated when a royal cook in the emply of King Henry VIII started… --- ## [Why are there so few forms of cutlery? The thread asks.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-forms-of-cutlery-the-thread-asks/797631)
**Author:** [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-few-forms-of-cutlery-the-thread-asks/797631 "2017-10-03T13:30:24Z")
Why are there are so few forms of cutlery? The thread asks. Why are there so few kinds of cutlery? - The Straight Dope There’s lots of forms. Take a gander at this thread from a few months ago. https://www.google.com/… --- ## [Is the West kidding itself about the good intentions of Islam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-kidding-itself-about-the-good-intentions-of-islam/796977)
**Author:** [@Narble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narble)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-west-kidding-itself-about-the-good-intentions-of-islam/796977 "2017-09-27T03:14:52Z")
I have a comment to make on this article. I watched an documentary by a historian on the history of Islam, Judaism and Catholicism. Please keep in mind as I continue my post that the Catholic church’s beliefs and practi… --- ## ["Which country has the most generous free-speech protections?" Trivia!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-most-generous-free-speech-protections-trivia/796427)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-country-has-the-most-generous-free-speech-protections-trivia/796427 "2017-09-22T16:34:13Z")
In the most recent column, “Which country has the most generous free-speech protections?”, Cecil writes: Indeed, this reader (not the correspondent in the original letter, for the record) was aware of that example. But… --- ## [Iceburgs and Audubons \[lettuce and the French guy\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iceburgs-and-audubons-lettuce-and-the-french-guy/796755)
**Author:** [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iceburgs-and-audubons-lettuce-and-the-french-guy/796755 "2017-09-19T19:46:51Z")
Article in question:"Is iceberg lettuce a drug?’ Yeah … so … did the subjects get high? That’s a bad link in the article … should be http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/864/was-naturalist-j-j-audubon-really-the-… --- ## [light... is absorbed and reflected ... only the higher energy wavelengths can do this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-is-absorbed-and-reflected-only-the-higher-energy-wavelengths-can-do-this/795707)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-is-absorbed-and-reflected-only-the-higher-energy-wavelengths-can-do-this/795707 "2017-09-17T18:00:08Z")
Bzzzzt. Only the shorter wavelengths can … what ? Be reflected? Be absorbed? Be absorbed and reflected and seen? Red blood looks blue when seen through milk. Ok. And what color is the rest of you? Why does it look d… --- ## [Declarations of War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declarations-of-war/795783)
**Author:** [@TMavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TMavenger)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/declarations-of-war/795783 "2017-09-16T00:23:29Z")
If I’m not mistaken, a requirement for membership in the United Nations is that the nation pledge not to go to war without UN authorization except in the case of an unprovoked attack. I don’t think it’s a coincidence tha… --- ## [Are male fertility rates falling?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-male-fertility-rates-falling/287276)
**Author:** [@jester21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jester21)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-male-fertility-rates-falling/287276 "2017-09-14T20:53:29Z")
Link Falling reproduction rates… world overpopulation… where’s the problem? --- ## [Salem witch trials NOT because of Ergot...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salem-witch-trials-not-because-of-ergot/284714)
**Author:** [@J.Michael\_Reiter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J.Michael_Reiter)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salem-witch-trials-not-because-of-ergot/284714 "2017-09-14T02:02:41Z")
Hi ya’ll. J. Michael Reiter here. Listen, folks, I just read the article on The Salem Witch Trials and the root cause of them not being from Ergot or Ergotic Alkaloid ingestion. I think you are all wet, for it not … --- ## [Eckener Did Not Command the Hindenburg on its Final Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eckener-did-not-command-the-hindenburg-on-its-final-flight/795862)
**Author:** [@araybold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araybold)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2017, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eckener-did-not-command-the-hindenburg-on-its-final-flight/795862 "2017-09-09T03:30:37Z")
Re: Did Others Fly Across the Atlantic Before Lindbergh In passing, this article mentioned that Dr. Hugo Eckener was in command of the Hindenburg on its final flight, but he was not aboard. Max Pruss was the captain on … --- ## [UFO research and the Fermi paradox](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ufo-research-and-the-fermi-paradox/794655)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ufo-research-and-the-fermi-paradox/794655 "2017-09-06T18:41:20Z")
Very interesting column. For more on the paradox (including a lengthy list of theories as to why we haven’t heard from aliens just yet): Fermi paradox - Wikipedia --- ## [Bird Feeding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-feeding/795561)
**Author:** [@Pastor\_Bruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pastor_Bruce)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-feeding/795561 "2017-09-06T01:58:30Z")
I do have 19 bird feeders out and 3 of them have suet in them and we make our own suet plugs and plugs… They both have crunchy peanut butter in them and we have a few birds that like them both. :slight\_smile: Pastor Bru… --- ## [UK violent crime](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-violent-crime/793960)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2017, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-violent-crime/793960 "2017-08-28T07:45:14Z")
The current front-page article is a classic about whether violent crime rose / is high in the UK due to gun control and (lack of) self-defense laws: Have great britains restrictive gun laws contributed to the rise in vio… --- ## [SEAL team six column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seal-team-six-column/794862)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seal-team-six-column/794862 "2017-08-27T20:03:35Z")
Question was: Article made no mention of the fact that SEAL team six/DEVGRU is the elite team of the SEALs, made up of SEALs from other teams who have shown exceptional talent (only about 8% of SEALs make it to DEVGR… --- ## [Re: Does ball lightning really exist? = Yes!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-does-ball-lightning-really-exist-yes/576620)
**Author:** [@panzersiddhartha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panzersiddhartha)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-does-ball-lightning-really-exist-yes/576620 "2017-08-25T19:11:49Z")
This topic confused me greatly. I was glad to see the question and was expecting a swift “Does Australia really exist? We have about as many witnesses, but one can never be completely sure until we see it ourselves.” … --- ## [The mystery of consciousness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-consciousness/792330)
**Author:** [@GRobLewis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GRobLewis)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2017, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-consciousness/792330 "2017-08-25T12:29:42Z")
“Thought” experiment: Individual neurons function in a relatively straightforward way; you can look up the details but basically they combine signals from other neurons to produce an output signal to still other neurons… --- ## [Where is the Ark of the covenant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-ark-of-the-covenant/669374)
**Author:** [@Don\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-ark-of-the-covenant/669374 "2017-08-23T01:02:27Z")
Thank you for this explanation, which is exactly what I was looking for. I don’t think the aliens from space theory is all that far-fetched. What is more far-fetched, that aliens from space spoke to the Hebrews through… --- ## [Bats and Balls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bats-and-balls/720385)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bats-and-balls/720385 "2017-08-19T15:42:29Z")
I think the staffer dropped the ballon this one, by not actually answering the question. He comments the relationship between force, mass and acceleration without, and the tradeoff between them in terms of how force get… --- ## [Let's talk Net Neutrality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-net-neutrality/793971)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-net-neutrality/793971 "2017-08-19T02:05:08Z")
Cecil addressed the Net Neutrality debate in this week’s column. He said: We already have, and always have had, a tiered Web. My Internet speed is dependent upon what I pay my ISP; faster service costs more money. T… --- ## ["I knew I had to keep him talking"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-knew-i-had-to-keep-him-talking/793688)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-knew-i-had-to-keep-him-talking/793688 "2017-08-18T02:27:52Z")
Should overdose victims be kept awake and ambulatory? (2004) It’s a media meme not just restricted to overdose victims. Crime victims are reported the same way “I knew I had to keep him talking if I was ever going to g… --- ## [Did someone really sell the Brooklyn Bridge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-someone-really-sell-the-brooklyn-bridge/792093)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2017, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-someone-really-sell-the-brooklyn-bridge/792093 "2017-08-11T02:38:38Z")
Link to Staff Report Great column by Gfactor but the formatting is very misleading. The quote from the 1914 Lincoln Daily Star is obviously the following: However the formatting makes the quote to appear to run on to … --- ## [Where AREN'T the Navy SEALS "effective?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-arent-the-navy-seals-effective/792846 "2017-08-07T18:30:14Z")
The Sea? No problem! Air? Piece o’ cake! Land? Who isn’t! --- ## [If you refrigerate bananas do they become poisonous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-refrigerate-bananas-do-they-become-poisonous/792760)
**Author:** [@ianc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianc)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-refrigerate-bananas-do-they-become-poisonous/792760 "2017-08-07T01:49:14Z")
Not nitrogen, plants turn that gas into proteins, and nitrogen is hard to get in an absorbable form for plants. A lot of fertilisers boost nitrogen. The gas involved in ripening fruit is ethylene. A main part of natura… --- ## [Kyrie eleison upon us](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyrie-eleison-upon-us/792547)
**Author:** [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyrie-eleison-upon-us/792547 "2017-08-06T02:31:59Z")
In case anyone is wondering why Kyrie eleison is sometimes Englished as “Lord have mercy upon us”, blame Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry VII and Edward VI. He was one of the greatest prose writers in… --- ## [cow gas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-gas/792486)
**Author:** [@abandaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abandaman)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2017, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cow-gas/792486 "2017-08-03T23:50:32Z")
so many people worry about gas from cows ;do they not realize that cows in north America simply \[or painfully\] replaced millions of buffalo that once happily roamed the plains,or don’t buffalo fart? --- ## ["Italians Bought Brooklyn Bridge" - earliest cite (so far) of Brooklyn Bridge being sold - 1902](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italians-bought-brooklyn-bridge-earliest-cite-so-far-of-brooklyn-bridge-being-sold-1902/792289)
**Author:** [@Lew\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lew_Archer)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italians-bought-brooklyn-bridge-earliest-cite-so-far-of-brooklyn-bridge-being-sold-1902/792289 "2017-08-03T15:25:36Z")
Forgive me if this has already been resolved: I searched the site via Google, and didn’t see anything that updated this. I just finished reading Cecil’s ‘Did someone really sell the Brooklyn Bridge?’ article, which note… --- ## [Does quantum mechanics prove the universe is conscious?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-quantum-mechanics-prove-the-universe-is-conscious/792382)
**Author:** [@Neil\_in\_Chicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neil_in_Chicago)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-quantum-mechanics-prove-the-universe-is-conscious/792382 "2017-07-30T01:43:03Z")
Yeah, it’s pretty unlikely that “a portion of stellar motion is volitional”, but it’s impressive that the guy got a publication out of it. And Olaf Stapledon does remain awesome. BUT You didn’t give enough weight to t… --- ## [Driverless cars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driverless-cars/790701)
**Author:** [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driverless-cars/790701 "2017-07-27T19:27:45Z")
From the new column: “How soon can we expect driverless cars?” … This seems nuts to me. My Galaxy smartphone can’t even do voice recognition properly, and we’re banking that a car will be able to drive itself safely in … --- ## [RE: Arkansaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-arkansaw/792173)
**Author:** [@mbrice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbrice)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-arkansaw/792173 "2017-07-27T15:04:39Z")
Is it pretty much the same story for Mackinac/Mackinaw? --- ## [Was the Venus flytrap brought to earth by a meteor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-venus-flytrap-brought-to-earth-by-a-meteor/791870)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-venus-flytrap-brought-to-earth-by-a-meteor/791870 "2017-07-26T19:28:55Z")
Link to Staff Report. Doug comments: There are no scientists puzzled about the Venus flytrap, only “scientists.” Brilliant and well worth stealing! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=13)