# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=134 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 135 --- ## [Straight Dope Cemetery Answers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-cemetery-answers/409187)
**Author:** [@rsixftunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsixftunder)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2007, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-cemetery-answers/409187 "2007-06-24T12:17:52Z")
In your response regarding cemetery rights and priviledges. I need to correct you on one very important point. Cemeteries in many states do not actually have to seek permission to move a body, if they can prove they ne… --- ## [Do you get wetter running through the rain or walking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-wetter-running-through-the-rain-or-walking/408165)
**Author:** [@ljanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ljanz)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2007, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-get-wetter-running-through-the-rain-or-walking/408165 "2007-06-24T12:09:05Z")
If it’s true that walking makes you wetter than running through rain, why do I have to increase the speed of my windshield wipers when I accelerate from a stop? When I come to a stop again, I can reduce the speed of the… --- ## [Hawk: Cutting Boards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawk-cutting-boards/407711)
**Author:** [@LivingDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LivingDog)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hawk-cutting-boards/407711 "2007-06-22T14:59:55Z")
Excellent straight dope - totally unconfused me about this massively confusing issue. The bit of humor injected into the article made it pleasurable to read. I am a teacher by occupation and now have a new benchmark for… --- ## [Hamster article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamster-article/408110)
**Author:** [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hamster-article/408110 "2007-06-22T11:52:21Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mhamsters.htm Excellent article about hamsters. I read the story of the enraged scientist dunking the murderous mama hamster in a botle of cyanide in Joel Achenbach’s Why Things Are … --- ## [Salem witches had chorea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salem-witches-had-chorea/408881)
**Author:** [@Severe\_Drought](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Severe_Drought)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salem-witches-had-chorea/408881 "2007-06-21T19:19:16Z")
Some of those accused in the Salem witch trials were from families that are known to carry Huntington’s chorea - a genetic disease where the patients convulse. Certainly to someone in that time period it would have appe… --- ## [White Spots in the Fingernails](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-spots-in-the-fingernails/406248)
**Author:** [@David\_G.Underhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_G.Underhill)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2007, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-spots-in-the-fingernails/406248 "2007-06-21T10:16:52Z")
In most cases white spots in the fingernails indicates a zinc deficiency. You cannot eat “right” and obtain enough zinc. Everyone in America that does not take a zinc supplement is zinc deficient to some extent. (If r… --- ## [Refrigerating Batteries: An Additional Concern](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-batteries-an-additional-concern/408561)
**Author:** [@RuppRider73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RuppRider73)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refrigerating-batteries-an-additional-concern/408561 "2007-06-19T14:04:08Z")
This refers to the Straight Dope Staff Report: Should batteries be refrigerated for storage? \[url=“http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbattcharge.html”\] Another thing to watch out for is when you take those batteries… --- ## [Accusers of Salem Witch Trials: Expanded Quotes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusers-of-salem-witch-trials-expanded-quotes/408189)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2007, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accusers-of-salem-witch-trials-expanded-quotes/408189 "2007-06-18T19:38:48Z")
Cecil may have been somewhat harsh on the Salem witch trial accusers: I haven’t read many cases of communities confessing to injustice within five years of their misdeeds. At any rate, here are some quotes. On the Jan … --- ## [Mercury, Vaccines, and Autism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercury-vaccines-and-autism/407261)
**Author:** [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercury-vaccines-and-autism/407261 "2007-06-18T16:05:09Z")
Regarding the column Did mercury in vaccines cause autism? Do vaccines cause autism? Boy, is Cecil going to draw the nuts out of the woodwork with this one. I thought the column had some shortcomings, although I realize… --- ## [Eelskin wallets and magnetic stripes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eelskin-wallets-and-magnetic-stripes/407611)
**Author:** [@rcburket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rcburket)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eelskin-wallets-and-magnetic-stripes/407611 "2007-06-18T02:01:03Z")
I didn’t undertake this as an experiment, but I have had exclusively “eelskin” wallets for about ten years now, stuffed with every kind of card in current usage, some in stacks and some right between eelskin partitions. … --- ## [Aquatic ape out of date](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aquatic-ape-out-of-date/406818)
**Author:** [@iouatp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iouatp)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2007, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aquatic-ape-out-of-date/406818 "2007-06-15T11:59:13Z")
Aquatic ape response is out of date. There is a broken link at the bottom of the page that should point to here. Also a critique of that critique might be worth pointing to, which can be found here. --- ## [What's the origin of the question mark](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-question-mark/407769)
**Author:** [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-question-mark/407769 "2007-06-13T22:00:07Z")
What’s the origin of the question mark? An excellent report that answered lots of questions I’d never thought to ask in a clear and concise manner. I’ve looked up information on some of the punctuation marks on wikipedi… --- ## [anti-semitic smurfs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitic-smurfs/406336)
**Author:** [@mberow2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mberow2)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2007, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-semitic-smurfs/406336 "2007-06-13T03:59:00Z")
I never watched or read the cxartoon, so I can’t say whether anti-semitism is present or not. I can say that the argument you presented against it is weak and invalid. Your statement was, “But Peyo couldn’t have intend… --- ## [a defender of the Protocols of Zion- Oscar Wilde's Lord Alfred Douglas?!?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-defender-of-the-protocols-of-zion-oscar-wildes-lord-alfred-douglas/407693)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-defender-of-the-protocols-of-zion-oscar-wildes-lord-alfred-douglas/407693 "2007-06-12T23:44:18Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mzionprotocol.html From the report: A few even managed to explain away the evidence of plagiarism. Segel relates that Lord Alfred Douglas, an anti-Semitic leader in London, said that… --- ## [Tesla and broadcast power](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-and-broadcast-power/407315)
**Author:** [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2007, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-and-broadcast-power/407315 "2007-06-12T01:39:57Z")
In Cecil’s column, he discusses the concept of broadcast power, but dismisses it as a rather elaborate pipe dream: It appears that MIT may have something to say about that: Okay, not 26 miles, but it’s a start, isn’t… --- ## [USPS barcode updates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2007, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usps-barcode-updates/406488 "2007-06-10T06:28:52Z")
What do U.S. Postal Service bar codes mean? Perhaps this report needs some minor updating. They’re here. The barcode numbers are divided into these groups, and any printed code can contain only the ZIP (5 digits), ZI… --- ## [Floating Islands](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floating-islands/406440)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/floating-islands/406440 "2007-06-10T04:10:26Z")
There are lots of Floating Islands in fiction, if not in real life. There’s a floating coral island in one of Carl Barks’ Uncle Scrooge stories. And there’s the sort-of island with the trapped Spanish Galleon on it in th… --- ## ["Real" Louie, Louie lyrics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-louie-louie-lyrics/406683)
**Author:** [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-louie-louie-lyrics/406683 "2007-06-09T02:35:16Z")
Well when I was growing up we had a decidedly different view of the lyrics and I could tell you they bore no resemblance to the Richard Berry original, which is still one of my favorite oldies as is his song “Have Love, … --- ## [Coke with sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-with-sugar/406681)
**Author:** [@angusmcmasters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angusmcmasters)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-with-sugar/406681 "2007-06-08T23:20:16Z")
I was trying to comment on the Coke story but after clicking on Comment, your boards just take me to a page to make a new thread, so here I am. For those fellow Coke lovers who miss Coca Cola with real sugar, look for P… --- ## [Interesting detail about Cecil...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-detail-about-cecil/407262)
**Author:** [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-detail-about-cecil/407262 "2007-06-08T20:02:48Z")
…in the first line of this week’s column about the presumed link between autism and vaccines: \[QUOTE=Cecil\] While expounding the other day on the lost antiseptic mercurochrome… \[/quote\] (Emphasis mine) The Mercuroch… --- ## [Re: "What's the story behind Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven?'"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-the-story-behind-led-zeppelins-stairway-to-heaven/407184)
**Author:** [@bearded\_oneder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bearded_oneder)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2007, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-the-story-behind-led-zeppelins-stairway-to-heaven/407184 "2007-06-08T10:47:09Z")
Robert Plant Interview, NPR, Fresh Air from WHYY, August 24, 2004 - Interview Source Re: The ‘meaning’ of “Stairway To Heaven” - “It’s onomatopoeic. I was thinking about, uh, the need for a more … a sort of more organ… --- ## [Pilots don't say "Roger Wilco," arggh](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pilots-dont-say-roger-wilco-arggh/404904)
**Author:** [@Smart\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smart_Alex)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2007, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pilots-dont-say-roger-wilco-arggh/404904 "2007-06-08T10:17:36Z")
I hate to accuse the Straight Dope staff of propagating Hollywood fumbles, but the article at http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mroger.htm has pilots saying “roger wilco.” :smack: Having survived three years of milita… --- ## [how to write 1990 in roman numerals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-write-1990-in-roman-numerals/405257)
**Author:** [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-write-1990-in-roman-numerals/405257 "2007-06-07T14:04:11Z")
The column mentions automatic number translation via software What is the proper way to style Roman numerals for the 1990s? (23-Feb-1990) The Oracle database software (to\_char function, RN number format element) does t… --- ## [Japan Train Pushers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-train-pushers/407098)
**Author:** [@picklewiggle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picklewiggle)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2007, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-train-pushers/407098 "2007-06-07T11:20:10Z")
I’ve lived in Japan for a while and thought I would elaborate on the train pushers. While I do not live and work in the busiest districts I do get out some and have never seen anyone I would define as a train pusher. T… --- ## [if all the chinese jumped at once, what would happen? - not much!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-all-the-chinese-jumped-at-once-what-would-happen-not-much/406901)
**Author:** [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-all-the-chinese-jumped-at-once-what-would-happen-not-much/406901 "2007-06-05T22:13:39Z")
Cecil’s column: If all Chinese jumped at once, would cataclysm result? (06-Apr-1984) From radio station Deutsche Welle: A German science TV show wondered what would happen if many people jumped at once, and convinced 5… --- ## [Spiders and ears](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-ears/405508)
**Author:** [@crazycooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazycooter)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2007, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiders-and-ears/405508 "2007-06-02T09:16:10Z")
Why the fuss with the spiders, anyway? I had a spider in my ear before too. It was not fun. Happened back in 1997. I opened my big garage door enough to duck under it, as i had done hundreds of times before. Something … --- ## [Fast-Acting Toxins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-acting-toxins/404607)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2007, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-acting-toxins/404607 "2007-06-02T01:38:22Z")
I have a question that’s been bugging me for a long time, and today’s column on fast-acting poisons ( http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070518.html ) seems the appropriate reason to air it. In the original Edmund O’Br… --- ## [What was your phone exchange?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-phone-exchange/403257)
**Author:** [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2007, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-your-phone-exchange/403257 "2007-05-31T21:25:28Z")
Uncle Cecil’s latest reminded me of the phone exchange we had when I was a kid. Do you remember one (or more)? Mine was DAvenport. My dad resisted shifting to 32 for a long time. At least it seemed like a long time t… --- ## [Drum recipes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drum-recipes/406199)
**Author:** [@lifestudent55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lifestudent55)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drum-recipes/406199 "2007-05-31T15:47:27Z")
I agree with your article about freshwater drum. The web link that’s supposed to bring up recipes for drum is a dead link though (404 error). I wonder if those recipes may be posted someplace else. I did find a recipe f… --- ## [A rare slip - Cecil misses the point on "decades"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rare-slip-cecil-misses-the-point-on-decades/405749)
**Author:** [@GeorgeBrooks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GeorgeBrooks)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rare-slip-cecil-misses-the-point-on-decades/405749 "2007-05-30T22:31:50Z")
I have been a devotee of Cecil for years. But I have recently bumped into his discussions regarding the issue of when the new millenium started, and when the the new century and new decade starts. We read some of the… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=133) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=135)