# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=130 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 131 --- ## [just a thank you](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-a-thank-you/422534)
**Author:** [@anjel3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anjel3)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-a-thank-you/422534 "2007-10-13T00:34:47Z")
My family has just started a home bible study and one of the kids ask WHO WROTE THE BIBLE? well, I needed some help and found very good answers here. we will use the info you all share again I’m sure again thank you an… --- ## [Is it better to fill your tire with oxygen instead of air?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-better-to-fill-your-tire-with-oxygen-instead-of-air/421242)
**Author:** [@megas\_alexandros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/megas_alexandros)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-better-to-fill-your-tire-with-oxygen-instead-of-air/421242 "2007-10-12T13:32:13Z")
I’m new here, so i don’t really no what I’m doing, but I noticed that in this column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070216.html cecil says nitrogen effuses (exits a small leak) slower than oxygen. But N2 weighs l… --- ## [women's urinals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-urinals/422059)
**Author:** [@soyperiodista](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soyperiodista)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/womens-urinals/422059 "2007-10-11T04:45:17Z")
I am a student at the University of Oregon, and I live in an older residence hall. The second-floor women’s restroom has two women’s urinals. The other women’s floor doesn’t though… I wonder why. --- ## [Be A Clown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-a-clown/422187)
**Author:** [@MONCAIDO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MONCAIDO)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-a-clown/422187 "2007-10-11T00:38:34Z")
So If Aurthur Freed Was Such A Great Song Writer, Why Did He Not Write His Own Song Instead Of Out And Out Stealing Someone Else’s Work??? I Don’t Care If He Was The Boss, Stealing Is Stealing And He Should Have Been Sue… --- ## [Cigarettes and GIs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-and-gis/422213)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cigarettes-and-gis/422213 "2007-10-10T18:32:18Z")
The classic Cecil column that was just posted, Did cigarettes distributed to WWII GIs kill more men than died in battle?, is not one of his better efforts. After all that frumphing around with overgeneralized numerology… --- ## [Bridie Murphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridie-murphy/421934)
**Author:** [@dhony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhony)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridie-murphy/421934 "2007-10-10T17:57:09Z")
I’ve just read the article below re Bridie Murphy. http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_287.html I only heard of this case for the first time yesterday, and having found it interesting, decided I would like to know m… --- ## [What are the long term health effects of marijuana?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-long-term-health-effects-of-marijuana/422222)
**Author:** [@B.C.Pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.C.Pool)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2007, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-long-term-health-effects-of-marijuana/422222 "2007-10-10T16:40:24Z")
Cecil, Most of the information on your post “What are the long term health effects of marijuana?” I would agree with, but one part isn’t correct. I worked for over 20 years in psychiatric/chemical dependency units and … --- ## [Was the QWERTY keyboard purposely designed to slow typists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-qwerty-keyboard-purposely-designed-to-slow-typists/421915)
**Author:** [@norwegianwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norwegianwood)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-qwerty-keyboard-purposely-designed-to-slow-typists/421915 "2007-10-08T22:26:08Z")
Original: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_248.html It is mentioned in the answer, that the typewriter was invented by Christopher Sholes in the late 1860s (in 1868 I believe). But actually the Danish priest an… --- ## [Radioactive cigarettes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radioactive-cigarettes/420819)
**Author:** [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2007, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radioactive-cigarettes/420819 "2007-10-07T04:38:42Z")
In today’s column there’s that bit about C. Everett Koop and the radioactive cigarettes which it seems nobody can find an attribute. The only place I’ve ever seen this appear was in Jack Herer’s book about hemp, “The Em… --- ## [Why are dinosaurs so big?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-dinosaurs-so-big/420689)
**Author:** [@SmokinMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmokinMom)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-dinosaurs-so-big/420689 "2007-10-06T20:53:52Z")
Cecil, I am new here, but thought I’d offer some constructive criticism on your answer to this question. While your research and knowledge base are impressive, you left out the obvious answer: Q: Why are dinosaurs so … --- ## [great new article by Gfactor about ad flyers.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-new-article-by-gfactor-about-ad-flyers/420055)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2007, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-new-article-by-gfactor-about-ad-flyers/420055 "2007-10-06T06:02:56Z")
Thanks dude, for this about unwanted advertising"flyers": http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msolicitation.html This will answer quite a few threads around here. Now if I can only get my local Gov’t to write up a law … --- ## [Twain's use of 'hard-boiled'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twains-use-of-hard-boiled/420800)
**Author:** [@Steve\_Sullivan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Sullivan)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2007, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twains-use-of-hard-boiled/420800 "2007-10-04T03:47:58Z")
The essay by your staff member Gfactor on the origin of ‘hard-boiled’ (excerpted below) was fascinating, especially in its reference to an essay by Mark Twain (whom I have adored all my life) as its first identified appe… --- ## [Re Rabbit Teeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-rabbit-teeth/420019)
**Author:** [@JonBray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonBray)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-rabbit-teeth/420019 "2007-10-03T15:21:29Z")
\ As a vet I can say that unfortunately malocclusion is not a “once in a while” thing in rabbits - apart from vaccinations malocclusion related problems are probably the single biggest reason why they … --- ## [Possession is 9/10ths of the Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possession-is-9-10ths-of-the-law/391478)
**Author:** [@jeffT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeffT)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possession-is-9-10ths-of-the-law/391478 "2007-10-02T02:38:55Z")
You’ve got me foxed here in your explanation. If Pierson caught the fox as history tells, why do you say “Pierson sued Post for the value of the fox”?. Surely Post sued Pierson? --- ## [What about dead wolves, deer, rabbits, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-dead-wolves-deer-rabbits-etc/419541)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-dead-wolves-deer-rabbits-etc/419541 "2007-09-28T18:55:40Z")
Regarding the where are all the dead pigeons column, I’ve wondered the same thing about dead deer and large game as well as predator remains. I’ve walked in the woods all of my life and save for an occasional antler or … --- ## [What is the definition of "down"? (revisited)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-definition-of-down-revisited/420655)
**Author:** [@EdThelen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdThelen)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-definition-of-down-revisited/420655 "2007-09-27T13:22:20Z")
re: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgeoid.html A further ?related? question - At middle latitudes, say latitude 40.81739, the latitude of the Allen Telescope Array, the gravitational vector added to the rotatio… --- ## [What is Rosicrucianism all about?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-rosicrucianism-all-about/420059)
**Author:** [@scaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scaro)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2007, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-rosicrucianism-all-about/420059 "2007-09-25T12:18:21Z")
Just a few comments on your post on Rosicrucianism which might assist to improve it. Aleister Crowley was in the Ordo Templis Orientis and HS Lewis of AMORC was really only an honorary member. Lewis received recognitio… --- ## [Can some people extinguish streetlamps by means of their bodily emanations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-people-extinguish-streetlamps-by-means-of-their-bodily-emanations/415982)
**Author:** [@staylorpi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/staylorpi)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-some-people-extinguish-streetlamps-by-means-of-their-bodily-emanations/415982 "2007-09-22T00:59:03Z")
Re: Can some people extinguish streetlamps by means of their bodily emanations? 28-Oct-1994 I was a Private Investigator from 1990 to 2005. This involved lots of night travel on Long Island parkways. From about 1995 to … --- ## [Handedness in cats.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handedness-in-cats/419828)
**Author:** [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handedness-in-cats/419828 "2007-09-20T16:34:25Z")
Okay, Cecil did, as usual, give an informative and entertaining answer to a question about hand (paw) preference in cats, and went on to address other creatures as well. But, I’m getting tired of the incessant whining f… --- ## [Metric America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metric-america/410487)
**Author:** [@curiousme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curiousme)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metric-america/410487 "2007-09-20T00:49:49Z")
Cecil’s article mentioned that America is currently trying to adopt the metric system. I did not know this, but I personally have felt for many years that we should update. I mean why not join the rest of the world? I fe… --- ## [Staff report on condoms \[retitled\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staff-report-on-condoms-retitled/419415)
**Author:** [@greenpod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenpod)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/staff-report-on-condoms-retitled/419415 "2007-09-19T17:29:30Z")
When you listed the odds of a man getting HIV from oral sex you did not mention if it was while having sex w/an HIV positive partner or a partner from the general population–which is it? --- ## [RE: Why Fire Hydrants Don't Freeze](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-why-fire-hydrants-dont-freeze/418893)
**Author:** [@nvisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nvisco)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-why-fire-hydrants-dont-freeze/418893 "2007-09-18T21:45:58Z")
For what it’s worth… Another interesting point to some is that, because the valve is located so far underground, if a car shears off the hydrant in an accident, water does NOT come shooting up like a fountain (as seen i… --- ## [Why do we copy Yawns?? !](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-copy-yawns/406346)
**Author:** [@Juninho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juninho)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-copy-yawns/406346 "2007-09-18T19:17:03Z")
I like the theory that although we don’t know why we yawn the reason we might trigger it off in each other is that we would be in the same setting that caused the initial yawn. BUT I have experiences which ‘disprove it’… --- ## [Eating mammoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-mammoth/419198)
**Author:** [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-mammoth/419198 "2007-09-17T19:49:26Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070914.html Very informative. Two consecutive great columns, worthy of the glory days. --- ## [Cats sucking babies' breath](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-sucking-babies-breath/418973)
**Author:** [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-sucking-babies-breath/418973 "2007-09-17T15:04:36Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_081.html Wow, Cecil, you really punted on that one. Thanks for the child-safety advice, but I was rather looking forward to hearing about the origin of the myth that cats can suc… --- ## [J Edgar Hoover's grave](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-edgar-hoovers-grave/419311)
**Author:** [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2007, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-edgar-hoovers-grave/419311 "2007-09-15T22:39:45Z")
According to Cecil’s column Was J. Edgar Hoover a cross-dresser?, the former FBI director is buried next to his longtime companion Clyde Tolson. findagrave.com has a picture of Hoover’s grave, which appears to depict a f… --- ## [Bibliophage Gets Some Recognition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bibliophage-gets-some-recognition/419229)
**Author:** [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bibliophage-gets-some-recognition/419229 "2007-09-15T19:56:47Z")
Well, ok, it’s the Straight Dope that gets the name recognition, but we all know it was bibliophage’s stunningly well done article that caught the attention of the World Wide Word man! Good Job! --- ## [On Grateful Dead folklore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-grateful-dead-folklore/418779)
**Author:** [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-grateful-dead-folklore/418779 "2007-09-14T15:25:11Z")
In recent mainpage reproduction of a classic SD column, Cecil answers the question of where The Grateful Dead got their name. In it, he discovers and expounds upon the folklore from which their name was inadvertently de… --- ## [On the title of the vocabulary column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-title-of-the-vocabulary-column/418805)
**Author:** [@Pret-a-Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pret-a-Poster)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-title-of-the-vocabulary-column/418805 "2007-09-13T17:21:03Z")
Does the average American student have less vocabulary today than in days gone by?Is that a correct usering of “less”? Shouldn’t it be “fewer”? :wink: Seriously, though, I’ve heard of people having a limited vocabular… --- ## [Water and Lightning Strikes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-lightning-strikes/418356)
**Author:** [@Lily2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lily2)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-and-lightning-strikes/418356 "2007-09-13T13:51:35Z")
Uh, Tampa is not on the ocean. That person was either swimming in Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico… Thanks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=129) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=131)