# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=145 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 146 --- ## [Falling Bullets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falling-bullets/374109)
**Author:** [@orangephrogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orangephrogg)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falling-bullets/374109 "2006-10-01T22:12:21Z")
In reference to: Falling Bullets So. . .I was browsing through some of the classic columns and it surprised me to see that Cecil neglected to address some key points about how lethal falling bullets can be. It’s been m… --- ## [Do any other religions have holy folks born to virgins?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-other-religions-have-holy-folks-born-to-virgins/372852)
**Author:** [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-other-religions-have-holy-folks-born-to-virgins/372852 "2006-10-01T22:05:03Z")
In Cecil’s Aphids Born Pregnant, he makes a brief reference to humanity’s “one known case” of virgin birth. It seems a safe bet to say he was talking about one Jesus of Nazareth. A safe bet, that is, from a Christian poi… --- ## ["THE WHOLE NINE YARDS"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/373911)
**Author:** [@FRANK\_THE\_MAILMAN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRANK_THE_MAILMAN)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-whole-nine-yards/373911 "2006-10-01T01:39:46Z")
In Stephen E. Ambrose’s ‘‘the Wild Blue’’ 2001, It Is Mentioned As The 50 Cal. Ammo Belt Of Gunners On The B-24 Liberator. ‘‘i Fired The Whole Nine Yards’’ --- ## [dog year's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-years/373866)
**Author:** [@suzieql56](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suzieql56)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2006, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-years/373866 "2006-09-30T22:52:20Z")
Who was the person who originally thought of “dog years”? Where did the idea originate from? --- ## [Violent Crime in the UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-crime-in-the-uk/374426)
**Author:** [@Ardent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ardent)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-crime-in-the-uk/374426 "2006-09-29T23:19:17Z")
The murder rate for England and Wales is showing its first sustained fall since the 1960s, according to the annual crime figures published today. A total of 765 people were killed, including the 52 victims of the July … --- ## [Lead Poisoning and Cocoa Beans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-poisoning-and-cocoa-beans/374620)
**Author:** [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-poisoning-and-cocoa-beans/374620 "2006-09-29T18:05:27Z")
In today’s column on shaving cream and chocolate, Cecil says: If I may humbly beg the Master’s indulgence, I wonder whether any and all foodstuffs produced in the region have potentially dangerous levels of lead. I pe… --- ## [Price of Oil and Mid-East instability](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/price-of-oil-and-mid-east-instability/372865)
**Author:** [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/price-of-oil-and-mid-east-instability/372865 "2006-09-29T16:18:46Z")
What fraction of the current price of oil on the futures market is driven by current circumstances and future concerns over the new-found components in the instability in the region? I mean the war in Iraq, the stimulus … --- ## [Move over, "-gry", here comes "-dous"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-gry-here-comes-dous/374401)
**Author:** [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-over-gry-here-comes-dous/374401 "2006-09-28T15:40:24Z")
Now, instead of trying to figure out the 3 words ending in -gry, Cecil has provided a treatise on four words ending in -dous. The respondents give a bunch of other words ending in -dous, including vanadous, molybdous, m… --- ## [Equestrian Statues & Feet Raised](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equestrian-statues-feet-raised/374385)
**Author:** [@Chaim\_Jacobs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chaim_Jacobs)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equestrian-statues-feet-raised/374385 "2006-09-27T17:20:15Z")
It has admittedly been 17 years since the column, so it has perhaps slipped your mind. But Cecil once addressed the question whether, in an equestrian statue, the number of horse feet raised off the ground indicated some… --- ## [lets make a deal article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-make-a-deal-article/373598)
**Author:** [@mattwhittall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mattwhittall)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-make-a-deal-article/373598 "2006-09-26T03:49:24Z")
i still dont see how it could be 2/3 odds to pick the other door, i mean you eliminated 1 door, the remaining doors are still 50/50 statistically, however in actual practice the other door is more likely to be the prize. … --- ## [Death of Superman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-superman/373586)
**Author:** [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-of-superman/373586 "2006-09-25T19:34:56Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mreeves.html Nuthin’ to say except: Damn, that’s some good Staff Reportin’. --- ## [Zebra mussels, cladophora & Lake Michigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zebra-mussels-cladophora-lake-michigan/373717)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2006, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zebra-mussels-cladophora-lake-michigan/373717 "2006-09-24T21:53:09Z")
Finally! A topic in Cecil’s column that I know something about – Lake Michigan water, cladophora and zebras. Mussels, that is: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060922.html At the risk of sounding like a boot-polish… --- ## [Vacuum Cleaner Wounds to the Penis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-cleaner-wounds-to-the-penis/373326)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-cleaner-wounds-to-the-penis/373326 "2006-09-24T18:20:10Z")
In What’s up with vacuum cleaner wounds to the penis? We hear a brief description of some cases. Well, I am related to such a case. My uncle Wayne (in reality some kind of third cousin, but he was 40 years older than m… --- ## [On cheques.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-cheques/372529)
**Author:** [@Roger\_Duprat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_Duprat)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-cheques/372529 "2006-09-24T02:15:20Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_352b.html Heard a nice story, urban legend, perhaps: An aussie internet-site sold porn, “get 35 hrs. of… for only $…”. Well, good porn is expensive, so the company went bust. So… --- ## [The origin of Honky](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802)
**Author:** [@k\_sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k_sky)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-honky/373802 "2006-09-23T03:14:50Z")
Hello, I just read your article on the origin of the word honky and would like to share what I was taught being raised in a close knit african American Family. I was taught that back in the old days white men of authorit… --- ## [Otzi the Gay Caveman and Homosexual Initiative Vienna](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otzi-the-gay-caveman-and-homosexual-initiative-vienna/373469)
**Author:** [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otzi-the-gay-caveman-and-homosexual-initiative-vienna/373469 "2006-09-22T02:00:10Z")
One of the reasons for which Cecil casts doubt on the rumour of Otzi the gay caveman is that it refers to a group called Homosexual Initiative Vienna, whose initials being HIV make it appear to be contrived. However, th… --- ## [Did Leif Erikson once live in Cambridge, Massachusetts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-leif-erikson-once-live-in-cambridge-massachusetts/372821)
**Author:** [@perolden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perolden)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-leif-erikson-once-live-in-cambridge-massachusetts/372821 "2006-09-21T20:39:54Z")
If good ol\` prof Horsford was anywhere close to being right that the old word was Norbega (which Norumbega should have been an italian beautification of), there is the fact that Norvegr and Norvega probably would be writ… --- ## [A Different Angle on Aphids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-angle-on-aphids/372718)
**Author:** [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-angle-on-aphids/372718 "2006-09-21T15:53:24Z")
Now that I’ve learned all about this thing called a Joke, thanks Khangol, I have a different question about the aphids column. When \[m\]ale and female aphids mate in autumn is the same… cell (egg?) in the mother fertiliz… --- ## [Was there an Armenian Genocide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-an-armenian-genocide/369547)
**Author:** [@bostontea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bostontea)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-an-armenian-genocide/369547 "2006-09-21T00:08:55Z")
Cecil has given the straight dope on whether there was an Armenian genocide in http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050520.html But straight dope can only be provided if both sides of a story are fully investigated. Ceci… --- ## [Futures and 'the gas that's already sitting there'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futures-and-the-gas-thats-already-sitting-there/372952)
**Author:** [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futures-and-the-gas-thats-already-sitting-there/372952 "2006-09-20T02:48:06Z")
A comment on How is the market price established for crude oil?. Cecil says: All this talk of price gouging (whatever that is) and salting away is hooey. If a servo owns a tank of petrol that they will be able to sell… --- ## [J.edgar And Homo's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-edgar-and-homos/373217)
**Author:** [@DUKEOFNY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DUKEOFNY)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/j-edgar-and-homos/373217 "2006-09-19T17:18:31Z")
I Can Easily Understand The Rumors And Half Truths And Out Right Falsehoods That Abound In This Instance.i Have Had A Few Male Friends For The Past 25-30 Years, We Go On Vacations Together Wihtout Women In Accompaniment,… --- ## [Real Price of Oil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-price-of-oil/372844)
**Author:** [@skeikyabooti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skeikyabooti)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-price-of-oil/372844 "2006-09-18T20:56:28Z")
Sheesh Cecil, In your Sept. 15, 2006 article on the price of oil, you say: “gas prices a generation from now, maybe sooner, will make the cost of a fill-up today look amusingly cheap.” I guess everybody is allowed to … --- ## [666 Numerology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-numerology/359738)
**Author:** [@Zeku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeku)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2006, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/666-numerology/359738 "2006-09-18T12:06:22Z")
“In the bible, six is traditionally a number of incompleteness, failure, imperfection. God creates the world in seven days, so seven is the number of fullness, completion, perfection; but six is short of perfection.” Ac… --- ## [Aquatic Ape Theory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aquatic-ape-theory/373096)
**Author:** [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aquatic-ape-theory/373096 "2006-09-17T20:11:11Z")
Interesting radio programme on the BBC (narrated by Sir David Attenborough) discussing the Aquatic Ape Theory: Includes some enlightening comments from Elaine Morgan herself on the development of Hardy’s ideas. (Colu… --- ## [Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zeppelins-stairway-to-heaven/373064)
**Author:** [@emon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emon)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-zeppelins-stairway-to-heaven/373064 "2006-09-17T14:38:30Z")
Stairway to heaven is in fact a hard song to decipher at first, because it speaks about one thing a lot of us can be ignorant about as human beings. I agree with you Cecil, there is a relation with Quantum Mechanics and … --- ## [Cecil's Religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-religion/372737)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-religion/372737 "2006-09-17T06:00:27Z")
Here, http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_223.html, Cecil quips that there is “one known occurance” of human parthenogenesis. I feel like I’ve seen similar such quips and references in the past, though. Like this o… --- ## [RE: Is homemade sushi dangerous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-is-homemade-sushi-dangerous/372383)
**Author:** [@angryredplanet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angryredplanet)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-is-homemade-sushi-dangerous/372383 "2006-09-17T03:54:21Z")
I just wanted to share a clarification on the article Is homemade sushi dangerous?, since I have just been clarified myself! The word sashimi does not refer to sushi… exactly. When I lived in Hawaii, my mother used to… --- ## [Re autoerotic asphyxiation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-autoerotic-asphyxiation/371940)
**Author:** [@NYCParamedic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYCParamedic)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-autoerotic-asphyxiation/371940 "2006-09-16T18:38:43Z")
Have had a fair number of these, usually fatal-- why it works is because of several factors, physiologial, psychological and pathological-- physiologically, the cord serves to reduce oxygenation to the brain, thus havi… --- ## [return to Marilyn vos Savant...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-marilyn-vos-savant/372521)
**Author:** [@graeme\_Westbury\_wilts\_UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/graeme_Westbury_wilts_UK)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-marilyn-vos-savant/372521 "2006-09-16T18:32:51Z")
Re: your question dd 10 apr 2004 - sorry for the delay in posting but I only recently discovered your site!! The question was: (from Marilyn vos Savant etc…) “Suppose you make $10,000 a year. Your boss offers you a cho… --- ## [Re: Welsh Indians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-welsh-indians/371902)
**Author:** [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-welsh-indians/371902 "2006-09-14T17:09:11Z")
In this column debunking the Welsh Indians myth, Cecil states: Was the gene mixing always in that direction? IOW, were there never any Mandan men doing the nasty with white women? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=144) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=146)