# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=151 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 152 --- ## [A-oil vs B-oil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-oil-vs-b-oil/356560)
**Author:** [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-oil-vs-b-oil/356560 "2006-05-22T18:34:26Z")
Some of Cecil’s columns have been fluff lately, but this one sure strikes a fascinating, contreversial, and extremely relevant note. I’ll research this a bit more later, but i do have to say that i find it VERY doubtful… --- ## [corn and Claudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-and-claudius/134308)
**Author:** [@silicates](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silicates)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corn-and-claudius/134308 "2006-05-17T22:30:05Z")
In an old column about the nature of the word “corn” Cecil states that “Claudius…was really expanding the harbor to accommodate more wheat, thus upping the pasta supply.” As an aficionado of both pasta and Roman history,… --- ## [Link between low fiber and colon cancer -- in dispute](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-low-fiber-and-colon-cancer-in-dispute/355105)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2006, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-between-low-fiber-and-colon-cancer-in-dispute/355105 "2006-05-17T07:38:30Z")
In Cecil’s 1991 article on dietary fiber at http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_094.html, the Master states that: Well, not any more! Two large studies in the New England Journal of Medicine back in the year 2000 … --- ## [Eating placenta](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-placenta/356490)
**Author:** [@TeaBone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaBone)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-placenta/356490 "2006-05-16T23:39:12Z")
Regarding one of the Classics on eating placenta stew in this weeks Straight Dope email, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall ate placenta during the making of his River Cottage TV series. See one of the questions towards the bo… --- ## [Hydrocarbons occur on other planets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hydrocarbons-occur-on-other-planets/356622)
**Author:** [@Valteron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valteron)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hydrocarbons-occur-on-other-planets/356622 "2006-05-16T18:56:14Z")
There are some interesting details to consider regarding the theory that oil on Earth is of biological origin from ancient life. There are apparently hdrocarbons in considerable quantities on other planets in our solar … --- ## [If ignorance were corn flakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-ignorance-were-corn-flakes/356904)
**Author:** [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-ignorance-were-corn-flakes/356904 "2006-05-16T01:28:35Z")
In the corn and Claudius thread, Kat states that General Mills doesn’t make corn flakes. This is no longer true. --- ## [Global Warming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming/351715)
**Author:** [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming/351715 "2006-05-15T04:24:58Z")
Cecil’s column on global warming rather misses a lot of fundamental points. Anthropogenic Climate Change denial is dead in professional and academic climatology these days. One might as well answer “Beats me” to the qu… --- ## [inter in the ground](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inter-in-the-ground/354765)
**Author:** [@mts231f](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mts231f)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inter-in-the-ground/354765 "2006-05-14T15:26:31Z")
At http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcemeteryrights.html a staff member reports that in New Orleans some bodies are interred above ground. Since the word “inter” means to put into the ground, such a trick as above-g… --- ## [What accounts for the smell of crushed ants?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-accounts-for-the-smell-of-crushed-ants/356060)
**Author:** [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-accounts-for-the-smell-of-crushed-ants/356060 "2006-05-12T19:28:46Z")
What accounts for the smell of crushed ants? I found this very interesting. Good job Doug! --- ## [Ketchup or Catsup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-or-catsup/356139)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ketchup-or-catsup/356139 "2006-05-09T23:13:35Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_102a.html Cecil is completely wrong. The first answer isn’t interesting. :stuck\_out\_tongue: --- ## [Merkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merkins/356057)
**Author:** [@Ben\_Williams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben_Williams)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merkins/356057 "2006-05-09T23:13:24Z")
I appreciate that I have joined this debate some time after its completion. However, having asked my mother, as one does as you are living with her once more aged 39, whether she had been presented with the presidential … --- ## [Mrs O'Nazereth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-onazereth/355861)
**Author:** [@clarkpark\_twcny.rr.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkpark_twcny.rr.com)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-onazereth/355861 "2006-05-09T19:41:11Z")
Your refutation of Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ wife left out one salient point. None of the canonical gospels mentions Jesus’ bachelorhood. Mithra, Apollo, Horus, Zoroaster and others were supposedly born of mystically in… --- ## [Them bones (Geronimo's Remains)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/them-bones-geronimos-remains/356062)
**Author:** [@CJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CJJ)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2006, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/them-bones-geronimos-remains/356062 "2006-05-09T14:12:55Z")
Regarding Cecil’s column about the famous theft of Geronimo’s remains by members of Yale’s Skull and Bones: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/051111.html A Yale historian has uncovered a 1918 letter written by Winter… --- ## [Mickey Finn ingredients](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickey-finn-ingredients/353631)
**Author:** [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickey-finn-ingredients/353631 "2006-05-07T20:38:28Z")
A friend of mine told me long ago that a Mickey Finn was a drink which contained a substance which would prevent one from metabolising the alcohol in the drink, meaning the drinker would remain inebriated much longer tha… --- ## [Long fingernails in China](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2006, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-fingernails-in-china/354592 "2006-05-06T08:01:38Z")
I’ll add my experience as well: One of my supervisors is about 35-40 years old. He has one long pinky nail. I asked him why and he said, “I am not working class.” So at least some Chinese think this is the right answer… --- ## [Catsup vs. Ketchup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383)
**Author:** [@Jeffy\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeffy_Bunny)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catsup-vs-ketchup/355383 "2006-05-05T19:14:18Z")
Well, in my experience between the two are actually very different. In looking at the ingredients at my local supermarket I noticed that Ketchup has a lot of sugar and salt in it, where Catsup is made up almost entirely… --- ## [Hydrogenated Oils](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hydrogenated-oils/355578)
**Author:** [@aileendid418](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aileendid418)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hydrogenated-oils/355578 "2006-05-05T18:43:27Z")
Kind of funny that this was posted this week as I’ve just read up on the difference between partially and fully hydrogenated oils last week. I did it because I saw that Crisco has come out with a trans fat free shorteni… --- ## [Knocking someone out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knocking-someone-out/355555)
**Author:** [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knocking-someone-out/355555 "2006-05-05T15:46:49Z")
Referring to this column FWIW, a knockout shot to the head is the most difficult way to do it, and it’s the most dangerous to the recipient. As Cecil mentioned, that causes injury to the brain itself, and if that injur… --- ## [Was there an Indian curse that presidents elected in "0" years would die in office?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-an-indian-curse-that-presidents-elected-in-0-years-would-die-in-office/352601)
**Author:** [@lowkey\_but\_high\_locks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lowkey_but_high_locks)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-an-indian-curse-that-presidents-elected-in-0-years-would-die-in-office/352601 "2006-05-05T07:28:59Z")
Just some related info. The legendary Shawnee chief Cornstalk (whom I might be distantly related) is said to have placed a curse on Point Pleasant West Virginia with his dieing breath when he and his son were murdered by… --- ## [Rock Around The Clock/Rock and Roll](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-around-the-clock-rock-and-roll/353981)
**Author:** [@PeterJermyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeterJermyn)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2006, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-around-the-clock-rock-and-roll/353981 "2006-05-05T06:55:07Z")
In the correction at the bottom of the story of Rock and Roll, it mentions that some of the Beatles have recorded RocK Around The Clock. I believe that this is incorrect. They MAY have played it in the Cavern Days, on on… --- ## [Uh, Cec? A bull's wang is not a "secondary sex charateristic"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-cec-a-bulls-wang-is-not-a-secondary-sex-charateristic/355333)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-cec-a-bulls-wang-is-not-a-secondary-sex-charateristic/355333 "2006-05-04T20:09:38Z")
From this column: Do McDonald’s Milkshakes contain seaweed?, in the section “The Canadians Have a Word for It”, Unca Cec writes: \[QUOTE=The Perfect Master\] Readers may recall our discussion last year of the plight of t… --- ## [Cecil and a time warp (Saturated Fats)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-and-a-time-warp-saturated-fats/355228)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-and-a-time-warp-saturated-fats/355228 "2006-05-03T17:28:16Z")
So, then. In today’s (5/3/06) classic column on Saturated Fats. the header is March 1, 1988 but Cecil’s comments includes ‘Prior to 1990…’ Apparently our Perfect Master is so perfect he sees all that comes ahead of him… --- ## [Calculating calories: There's just a bit more to it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-calories-theres-just-a-bit-more-to-it/354348)
**Author:** [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-calories-theres-just-a-bit-more-to-it/354348 "2006-05-02T23:55:49Z")
Cecil’s take on calorie calculation matches up with the common wisdom, but according to this slightly more recent article written by a food scientist, calorie calculation is a bit more sophisticated than that. Have a re… --- ## [global warming or ICE AGE](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-or-ice-age/354569)
**Author:** [@awarakomski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awarakomski)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-or-ice-age/354569 "2006-05-02T19:15:01Z")
dear mr c your and all the others avoid one objective fact. the mother ship’s orbit is entering a region where solar radiation will diminish. as it has on a regular cyclical basis like clock work. indeed the next ice ag… --- ## [Dead Man's Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-hand/355087)
**Author:** [@arcticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arcticbear)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-mans-hand/355087 "2006-05-02T16:05:28Z")
On a websearch I found Cecil Adams answer to what a Dead Man’s Hand was. According to him the fifth card was the deuce of spades. This is highly debatable. We may never really know what the fifth card was, however the… --- ## [Using "The Conqueror"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-conqueror/354731)
**Author:** [@ixchel5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ixchel5)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2006, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-the-conqueror/354731 "2006-05-01T12:08:04Z")
We’re going to show The Conqueror as a springboard for our demonstration against nuclear testing in Bloomington, Ind. at the Buskirk Chumley Theatre. It fits so well-we’re calling it an End-of-the-World Premier. Ghengi… --- ## [Fastidious ants from the future](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastidious-ants-from-the-future/352649)
**Author:** [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastidious-ants-from-the-future/352649 "2006-04-28T14:00:41Z")
I just read the staff report on Ants. I have but one question. Today is April 14, 2006. How did Staffer Doug write his column on April 20, 2006? A comment on the report, when I was a child, our neighbor, who came west … --- ## [global warming or ICE AGE](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-or-ice-age/354570)
**Author:** [@awarakomski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awarakomski)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2006, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming-or-ice-age/354570 "2006-04-28T10:58:43Z")
dear mr c your and all the others avoid one objective fact. the mother ship’s orbit is entering a region where solar radiation will diminish. as it has on a regular cyclical basis like clock work. indeed the next ice ag… --- ## [The pros and cons of becoming a eunuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-becoming-a-eunuch/354296)
**Author:** [@tonkytonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonkytonk)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2006, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pros-and-cons-of-becoming-a-eunuch/354296 "2006-04-28T06:05:38Z")
The original article is at http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_058.html I noticed that Cecil doesn’t seem to really answer the question here. While I am not an expert on the subject, I can share my personal experien… --- ## [Smoking Statistics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-statistics/354520)
**Author:** [@AMJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AMJo)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2006, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smoking-statistics/354520 "2006-04-28T02:38:40Z")
Re: Thank you for dying. About 46 million Americans smoke, or about 15%. I’m assuming that proportion is probably similar in other developed countries. So if smokers died at the same rate as non-smokers, about 15% of… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=150) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=152)