# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=155 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 156 --- ## [Wolf Children](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-children/347187)
**Author:** [@banxy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/banxy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolf-children/347187 "2006-03-06T02:52:18Z")
What about Kaspar Hauser? --- ## [Drowning giraffes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drowning-giraffes/54687)
**Author:** [@May](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/May)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2006, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drowning-giraffes/54687 "2006-03-06T02:32:40Z")
In the new Outside magazine (March 2001) we find out that in addition to apes, giraffes can’t swim either. Which makes sense. Plus the expert’s name was Fish. --- ## [Human waste as fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-waste-as-fuel/345486)
**Author:** [@foobar11235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foobar11235)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-waste-as-fuel/345486 "2006-03-04T21:13:44Z")
Una, I read your recent column on human/animal waste as a possible fuel source. The column was focused on large-scale energy production. This is smaller scale, but I remembered reading this: Wired News - Jul 16, 2005 … --- ## [Cecil's column on "Why do we sleep?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-on-why-do-we-sleep/345797)
**Author:** [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-on-why-do-we-sleep/345797 "2006-03-04T00:05:05Z")
Cecil’s column on Why do we sleep? might benefit from some new research here. The article says in part: That does seem similar to theory number 3 in Cecil’s list. Perhaps the new study could be used in an update of t… --- ## [Eating Placenta](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-placenta/346883)
**Author:** [@Ling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ling)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-placenta/346883 "2006-03-03T12:27:41Z")
I just came across this column of Cecil’s on eating placentas after a Google search, while I was blogging my own experience about eating my son’s placenta. (He’s almost 4 now, but I felt the urge to write about the expe… --- ## [Feral Children](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feral-children/346638)
**Author:** [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2006, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feral-children/346638 "2006-03-03T08:55:58Z")
One thing the article didn’t mention was a documentary that was aired on the Life network a few months ago. I believe it was called “Wild Child” and cited cases of feral children. One story was of a girl in Russia who is… --- ## ["Races" and medical history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/races-and-medical-history/346753)
**Author:** [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/races-and-medical-history/346753 "2006-03-03T06:09:33Z")
After reading http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_049.html, I remembered that one possible reason why it might be important to know ones “race” (I also agree with Cecil and Franklin on this one) is for medical histor… --- ## [Sickle-cell and Tay-Sachs not caused by inbreeding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sickle-cell-and-tay-sachs-not-caused-by-inbreeding/346383)
**Author:** [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2006, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sickle-cell-and-tay-sachs-not-caused-by-inbreeding/346383 "2006-03-03T06:03:20Z")
In “Are Human Beings Still Evolving?” Cecil implies that sickle-cell anemia and Tay-Sachs disease are caused by inbreeding. Actually, in both cases the genes that cause the traits give partial immunity to diseases: mala… --- ## [ICIs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icis/346856)
**Author:** [@cabfare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabfare)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icis/346856 "2006-03-03T03:08:21Z")
\[FONT=Tahoma\]I am watching Pulp Fiction right now and I happened to have my laptop on. I Googled “adrenaline shot into the heart” and was given The Straight Dope. Just wanted to say “thanks”. \[/FONT\] --- ## [Watches set to 10:10 or 8:20](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watches-set-to-10-10-or-8-20/345320)
**Author:** [@aphable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aphable)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watches-set-to-10-10-or-8-20/345320 "2006-03-02T12:37:40Z")
Hello Brother Cecil, I was once in an advertising class that explained the phenomena of 10:10 and 8:20 set on watches in print advertisements. It is believed that the hands represent a pair of legs subliminally in one… --- ## [Driving on the left](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-on-the-left/345202)
**Author:** [@paulmarkj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulmarkj)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2006, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-on-the-left/345202 "2006-02-28T22:59:49Z")
Original article Many people ask why we drive on the left, as if we are the only ones doing it, but there are many countries that drive on the left. Being an Island, there is little reason to change, though the questio… --- ## [Nan Bullen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nan-bullen/345879)
**Author:** [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2006, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nan-bullen/345879 "2006-02-28T19:26:40Z")
One thing that could be added to this answer about Anne Boleyn is a clarification of what “strawberry-size” means exactly. In the 16th Century a strawberry wasn’t the enormous fruit we see today, but instead a tiny litt… --- ## [Peak Oil and Plastics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-oil-and-plastics/346044)
**Author:** [@HardyHarcourt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HardyHarcourt)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2006, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peak-oil-and-plastics/346044 "2006-02-25T22:13:21Z")
Dear Cecil- In reading your recent article regarding peak oil production I began to think about our beloved plastics. About how I’ve heard we use plastics for just about everything these days. About how many if not most… --- ## [Chattahooga Shale?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chattahooga-shale/345927)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chattahooga-shale/345927 "2006-02-25T01:33:11Z")
In his “peak oil” column, Unca Cecil speaks of “Chattanooga Shale”. Que? http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060224.html What is this “Chattanooga Shale”? As a Tennessean, am I missing out on a whopper of an investme… --- ## [Library history and Dewey Decimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/library-history-and-dewey-decimal/345968)
**Author:** [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/library-history-and-dewey-decimal/345968 "2006-02-24T23:23:47Z")
I just thought I’d point out that you’ve been linked to in Libraryland by Walt Crawford, quite the respected commentator on libraries and copyright issues, in the March 2006 issue of his Cites and Insights. He calls tho… --- ## [Cecil's column: Why does the UK Call itself Great Britain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-why-does-the-uk-call-itself-great-britain/345911)
**Author:** [@Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guevara)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-why-does-the-uk-call-itself-great-britain/345911 "2006-02-24T18:37:31Z")
In Cecil’s column on why the UK Calls Itself Great Britain ( http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5\_153.html ) I couldn’t help notice that, as i proud Brit myself, Cecil missed the more simple explaination. Far from di… --- ## [Does ball lightning really exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ball-lightning-really-exist/345897)
**Author:** [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-ball-lightning-really-exist/345897 "2006-02-24T12:35:00Z")
To comment on this thread: Does ball lightning really exist? A recent article on MSNBC (I know, not the premiere scientific source, but still): Scientists create ball lightning in lab --- ## [Animals and suicide](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-and-suicide/344119)
**Author:** [@BabyNuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabyNuke)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-and-suicide/344119 "2006-02-22T20:11:46Z")
I had to reply to this article: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbugsuicide.html I’ll agree, that’s probably true for nearly all animals, but there’s atleast one exception. Dolphins do seem to commit suicide. Some… --- ## [fossilize me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossilize-me/345305)
**Author:** [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fossilize-me/345305 "2006-02-21T16:23:01Z")
OK, so I get the idea of freezing, mummifying, lithification, and the amber bit, but can someone explain the chemistry/mechanics of peat bog preservation? http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_042.html --- ## [the long words](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-words/343844)
**Author:** [@goies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goies)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2006, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-long-words/343844 "2006-02-21T14:35:19Z")
Ok, I’m just wondering… How the heck do you use antidiestablishmentarianism, floccinaucinihilipilification, and pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (I’m not sure i spelled those rite) in a sentence. I was also … --- ## [Is cell phone use in cars really dangerous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cell-phone-use-in-cars-really-dangerous/343855)
**Author:** [@priscamor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priscamor)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cell-phone-use-in-cars-really-dangerous/343855 "2006-02-21T00:51:19Z")
If it doesn’t cause cancer, does it fry the user? “Suzzanna Decantworthy published an article in her Wymsey Weekend column that described how to cook an egg with two cell phones. From the article: “Many students, and ot… --- ## [Why does head hair grow...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-head-hair-grow/344883)
**Author:** [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-head-hair-grow/344883 "2006-02-19T01:13:34Z")
In reference to this column: Why does head hair grow indefinitely but other body hair doesn’t? The lady referenced at the end of the column as Diane Witte is actually Diane Witt. I googled her to see if I could find an… --- ## [Does Crime Pay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-crime-pay/343927)
**Author:** [@beatlesnumber9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatlesnumber9)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-crime-pay/343927 "2006-02-17T20:47:24Z")
One thing you can’t deny, prisoners have access to dental and health care and millions of honest working people do not. --- ## [Criminals profit from crime](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminals-profit-from-crime/344614)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminals-profit-from-crime/344614 "2006-02-17T18:25:37Z")
No one else has anything to say, so I’ll start by thanking gfactor for his second guest appearance amongst the Staff Reports, and for a job well done: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcriminalprofit.html --- ## [Frankie Valli--a Eunuch/Castrato???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankie-valli-a-eunuch-castrato/344562)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2006, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankie-valli-a-eunuch-castrato/344562 "2006-02-17T10:24:10Z")
(This quote is from this Straight Dope classic by Cecil Adams.) So Cecil Adams says Frankie Valli is a castrato? Is this true? He was actually castrated as a child to be a tenor as an adult?? I want to think Cecil Adam… --- ## [21 years old topic but 3172 on the $5 bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-years-old-topic-but-3172-on-the-5-bill/344773)
**Author:** [@Iesous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iesous)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2006, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-years-old-topic-but-3172-on-the-5-bill/344773 "2006-02-16T11:34:15Z")
On topic Is the Trilateral Commission the secret organization that runs the world? 06-Nov-1987 This is about the 3172 hidden within the Bush on the back of the old 5 dollar bill. I’m not sure which you will debate ha… --- ## [On bears and menstruating women](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bears-and-menstruating-women/344459)
**Author:** [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2006, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bears-and-menstruating-women/344459 "2006-02-16T00:37:15Z")
(See Cecil’s column here) The line that struck me in this column was: Let’s assume, just for a moment, that bears really couldn’t care less about menstruating women, and that the average woman’s period happens once ev… --- ## [Seeing stars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-stars/344624)
**Author:** [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-stars/344624 "2006-02-15T16:57:04Z")
From this thread, it didn’t really go into much detail about why physical exertion may cause these little moving stars in ones vision. I’m only 26, so probably not close to retirement in anyone’s books at the moment. Wh… --- ## [About "Why do men have nipples?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-why-do-men-have-nipples/344399)
**Author:** [@40DollarBlueGenes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/40DollarBlueGenes)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-why-do-men-have-nipples/344399 "2006-02-14T16:11:30Z")
I read your comment on this issue and thought I could help. It’s believed now that men have nipples because of the lack of something to kill the tissue. A gene called SRY, which is usually found on the Y chromosome (th… --- ## [How does a calculator percent key work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-calculator-percent-key-work/343796)
**Author:** [@Tamnir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamnir)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-calculator-percent-key-work/343796 "2006-02-13T21:41:14Z")
Indeed, the inner workings of the “%” key on calculators is mysterious to many. Googled and found this Straight Dope entry, so I was hoping to finally know everything there is to know about that “%” key, but I am afraid,… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=154) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=156)