# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=140 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 141 --- ## [Split infinitives...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/split-infinitives/390192)
**Author:** [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/split-infinitives/390192 "2007-02-03T22:59:22Z")
I don’t know who writes Cecil’s headlines, but… Doesn’t s/he know how to correctly write a sentence? To badly screw up English grammar causes my head to quickly get sore. I hope the headline-writer is going to earnest… --- ## [Hitler a Christian?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-a-christian/386104)
**Author:** [@doodinthemood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doodinthemood)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitler-a-christian/386104 "2007-02-03T05:17:28Z")
There was a very comprehensive report on the matter, then at the end, they went and blew it :smack: “Do you know what? Hitler was a vegetarian!” and in one line they buy in to another Hitler urban myth. As good a conc… --- ## [Why are there green lights under escalators?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-green-lights-under-escalators/390312)
**Author:** [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2007, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-green-lights-under-escalators/390312 "2007-02-03T05:08:01Z")
Regarding lights under escalators, …that is a funny cartoon. --- ## [Flying pigeons in a plane.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-pigeons-in-a-plane/390268)
**Author:** [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-pigeons-in-a-plane/390268 "2007-02-02T23:54:17Z")
Regarding this Cecil colum: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_144.html I would like to point out that airplanes do have an “open window” while in flight. You can take a look at it here: (scroll about halfways … --- ## [Cellphone towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellphone-towers/390435)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cellphone-towers/390435 "2007-02-02T22:53:23Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_290a.html New towers don’t always have to be built in urban areas. Our church’s steeple hosts several cellphone transmitters, and the church gets several thousand dollars a year … --- ## [Straight Dope's 34th Anniversary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dopes-34th-anniversary/390518)
**Author:** [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dopes-34th-anniversary/390518 "2007-02-02T13:02:21Z")
February 2, 2007 marks the 34th anniversary of The first Straight Dope column, which appeared on this date in 1973. No doubt spontaneous celebrations are breaking out worldwide. Bring pie. Anti-ignorance pie. --- ## [candirú columns referenced online](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candiru-columns-referenced-online/390407)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/candiru-columns-referenced-online/390407 "2007-02-01T13:35:28Z")
Cecil Adams, the Celestial Master, grows in Street Cred every day, by leaps & bounds. Somebody cites his candirú columns as a source. The Cecil Documents– http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000519.html http://www.st… --- ## [Solving the Phillip's screw's problems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solving-the-phillips-screws-problems/389334)
**Author:** [@That\_creates\_more\_Q\_s\_than\_A\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_creates_more_Q_s_than_A_s)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solving-the-phillips-screws-problems/389334 "2007-01-31T21:23:58Z")
Phillip’s screwdrivers Somehow, that doesn’t help, since power screwdrivers are just as inept at removing Phillip’s screws as manual ones. But there is a solution, in that many screw heads have both a Phillips star an… --- ## [Three phase power](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-phase-power/390203)
**Author:** [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-phase-power/390203 "2007-01-31T20:14:27Z")
Recent Straight Dope Classic on electrical power Not that I would suggest that Cecil is wrong: not for a moment. But I feel that he may have glossed over some of the intricacies of three phase power. And if his story … --- ## [Breach of nuclear-powered submarine's reactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breach-of-nuclear-powered-submarines-reactor/390311)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breach-of-nuclear-powered-submarines-reactor/390311 "2007-01-31T19:48:20Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_228b.html The Master was perhaps a trifle too dismissive of this concern. I understand that the Navy still checks up on the wreck of the USS Scorpion from time to time; what abou… --- ## [Clinking of glasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinking-of-glasses/389917)
**Author:** [@renaissance622](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renaissance622)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clinking-of-glasses/389917 "2007-01-31T19:37:23Z")
I heard a story in bartending class about the origin of the clinking together of glasses as in toasting. Winetasters first view the hue of the drink. then grasp the glass and feel its coolness. Next they smell it to get … --- ## [More volts + amps and watts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-volts-amps-and-watts/390200)
**Author:** [@wakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wakes)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2007, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-volts-amps-and-watts/390200 "2007-01-31T07:14:16Z")
Dear Cecil, I read an article in a computer magazine the other day which said american cabling also could not deliver enough amps along with (because of?) the low voltage power design so a computer with two high end vid… --- ## [FYI: Civilian nuclear accidents continue to occur](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-civilian-nuclear-accidents-continue-to-occur/388635)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fyi-civilian-nuclear-accidents-continue-to-occur/388635 "2007-01-30T17:57:52Z")
Smaller accidents occurred in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s: Wikipedia has an interesting list of civilian nuclear accidents. For example, two Japanese workers died after a 1999 incident. The International Atomic Agency h… --- ## [How far can bullets travel when fired into water? Answer Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-bullets-travel-when-fired-into-water-answer-here/389070)
**Author:** [@Zeroed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeroed)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2007, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-bullets-travel-when-fired-into-water-answer-here/389070 "2007-01-30T10:10:18Z")
To the Very Bottom --- ## [110v v 240v](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110v-v-240v/389956)
**Author:** [@zhorik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zhorik)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/110v-v-240v/389956 "2007-01-29T20:40:06Z")
Dear Cecil, according to wikpedia Originally Europe was electrified at 110-120 V like North America, but after World War II, regulators decided to increase it to 220-240 V to reduce the amount of copper used for wiring … --- ## [Mutiny on non-Navy ship: missing conspirator allegedly found](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mutiny-on-non-navy-ship-missing-conspirator-allegedly-found/389627)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2007, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mutiny-on-non-navy-ship-missing-conspirator-allegedly-found/389627 "2007-01-29T04:28:01Z")
In Has there ever been a mutiny aboard a U.S. naval vessel?, the Master describes the March 1970 Columbia Eagle incident, where a munitions ship was hijacked and delivered to Cambodia. According to Wikipedia, there are… --- ## [The Sperm Trees of Los Angeles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sperm-trees-of-los-angeles/389654)
**Author:** [@Ostrichus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrichus)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2007, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sperm-trees-of-los-angeles/389654 "2007-01-27T06:31:21Z")
In light of the subject matter’s obscurity and generally odious nature, I am posting this thread somewhat reluctantly. However, when I read in Cecil’s bonus column Sperm Trees of Los Angeles that others had similarly re… --- ## [Bullets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullets/387708)
**Author:** [@riknpat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riknpat)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2007, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bullets/387708 "2007-01-23T07:56:54Z")
Thanks for the interesting bit on bullets fired from land to water. A final question - can the underwater pistols be fired from above water and does the act of entering the water -straight in or at an angle-impede their… --- ## [Lawyers are nicer than sharks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-are-nicer-than-sharks/389028)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2007, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-are-nicer-than-sharks/389028 "2007-01-23T05:14:09Z")
Pentagon shamefully backed away from the very reasonable condemnation of the US law firms representing Guantanamo detainees. American lawyers undo the injustices inflicted by the American soldiers who fight and die in Af… --- ## [four zeppelin symbols](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-zeppelin-symbols/388958)
**Author:** [@saintvendetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saintvendetta)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2007, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-zeppelin-symbols/388958 "2007-01-23T03:05:39Z")
ive done countless research over these symbols as i am a zeppelin extremist but on fact eludes me. What does the fifth symbol mean? the symbol i refer to is the one with the three triangles. the triangle is from sandy de… --- ## [Radiation and Chernobyl.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radiation-and-chernobyl/388894)
**Author:** [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radiation-and-chernobyl/388894 "2007-01-22T23:12:14Z")
Cece. You should do your homework better. BBC’s Horizon did a program on this recently. It seems the total number of deaths that can be attributed to the ‘meltdown’ is all of - 56. --- ## [Tesla and Broadcast Power](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-and-broadcast-power/387081)
**Author:** [@leigoinofdiscord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leigoinofdiscord)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tesla-and-broadcast-power/387081 "2007-01-21T23:56:26Z")
Broadcast Power and Tesla: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_274.html Although I’d never take issue with the facts issued by TSD I sometimes contest opinions. The opinion that Tesla was a bit of a crackpot who f… --- ## [Side column on pole shift](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-column-on-pole-shift/387744)
**Author:** [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/side-column-on-pole-shift/387744 "2007-01-20T23:52:29Z")
Unca Cece deals with a few of the possible effects of a pole shift in today’s column. One of them is that magnetic compasses won’t be the most reliable instruments for a while. Bad news for boy scouts, but in this age … --- ## [Rocks On the Roof](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocks-on-the-roof/388644)
**Author:** [@rcburket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rcburket)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocks-on-the-roof/388644 "2007-01-20T03:07:22Z")
I think the topic on “Why are there rocks on flat roofs?” has to qualify as a minor masterpiece, or classic. Maybe not even minor. The question, which never occurred to me, came from a ten-year-old. The three-part ans… --- ## [ouija](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija/388251)
**Author:** [@hereKittyKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hereKittyKitty)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija/388251 "2007-01-19T18:29:09Z")
i was trying to just make a comment on cecile’s answer on the Ouija Board, I’m not sure if I’m doing this right by selecting a new thread… but here goes. In my personal experience in using an Ouija board, with my eyes c… --- ## [Another Underwater Gun Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-underwater-gun-question/388186)
**Author:** [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-underwater-gun-question/388186 "2007-01-16T22:34:02Z")
Link: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgununderwater.htm (Nice report, btw, Bricker!) So, guns designed to be used underwater are better than their normal counterparts in water. How about the reverse? Do guns design… --- ## [Another aspect of magnetic poles shifting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-aspect-of-magnetic-poles-shifting/387821)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-aspect-of-magnetic-poles-shifting/387821 "2007-01-15T18:01:39Z")
The article on shifting magnetic poles didn’t answer two questions of mine, one of which was discussed to some extent years ago: Would the shifting magnetic poles cause the Van Allen radiation belts to collapse, coveri… --- ## [Must Comment on Monty Hall sub riddle/logic trick](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-comment-on-monty-hall-sub-riddle-logic-trick/387506)
**Author:** [@TheAtomicMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheAtomicMoose)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-comment-on-monty-hall-sub-riddle-logic-trick/387506 "2007-01-15T17:28:25Z")
this is a sub riddle on the the monty hall page which has so far not met any opposition, ill paraphrase: “Two children are coming over your house for some reason. The first child walks in the door, she is a female. What… --- ## [Sealand back in the news](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sealand-back-in-the-news/387988)
**Author:** [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sealand-back-in-the-news/387988 "2007-01-15T13:35:20Z")
The “country” of Sealand was mentioned in Cecil’s 1990 column on How do I go about starting my own country? Sealand is currently for sale, resulting in an interesting roster of potential buyers, including a music-sharing… --- ## [Great column on ground water today.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-column-on-ground-water-today/386862)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2007, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-column-on-ground-water-today/386862 "2007-01-11T22:11:33Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/070105.html I really enjoyed the parts on the underground rivers and their formations. I was happy to see Cecil address the using up of a limited resource as far as some ancient aqui… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=139) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=141)