# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=162 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 163 --- ## [How much of all Internet traffic is pornography?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-all-internet-traffic-is-pornography/326348)
**Author:** [@Scuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuzz)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-all-internet-traffic-is-pornography/326348 "2005-10-21T20:38:32Z")
How much of all Internet traffic is pornography? Well, that question got me going a bit. I still have no idea of the answer, but the bandwidth used in 2002 was interesting. (80,000-140,000 terabytes a month ) I happen… --- ## [Does vitamin C prevent colds, cancer, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-vitamin-c-prevent-colds-cancer-etc/327260)
**Author:** [@CanadianEh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanadianEh)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-vitamin-c-prevent-colds-cancer-etc/327260 "2005-10-21T18:06:10Z")
Dear Mr. Adams: I generally read your articles with humour in almost all cases and was surprised with this one, which you would repost an article (notice it was from April of 1985) that recommended to your general masse… --- ## [Vitamin C and disease prevention](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-and-disease-prevention/327258)
**Author:** [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-and-disease-prevention/327258 "2005-10-21T17:02:39Z")
From this Classic Cecil Ok, I take a 500mg tablet of C every day basically with the mindset that hey, it can’t hurt. One thing I had heard in a high school science class that since Vitamin C is water soluble, it’s rea… --- ## [Who are the Staff writers and](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-staff-writers-and/326141)
**Author:** [@Zengirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zengirl)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-staff-writers-and/326141 "2005-10-21T03:01:10Z")
what are their qualifications in writing? Are they writers off the boards or just picked from Straight Dope members? --- ## [How are you supposed to spell Muammar Gaddafi/Khadafy/Qadhafi?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-supposed-to-spell-muammar-gaddafi-khadafy-qadhafi/326440)
**Author:** [@daeshin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daeshin)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-you-supposed-to-spell-muammar-gaddafi-khadafy-qadhafi/326440 "2005-10-21T02:08:08Z")
This was a topic raised on the page http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_264b.html Here’s a quote from Aaron Sorkin’s script from The West Wing pilot episode. LEO McGARRY (the White House Chief of Staff) complains t… --- ## [Is it Dangerous to Jump Start a Dead Battery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-dangerous-to-jump-start-a-dead-battery/324192)
**Author:** [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-dangerous-to-jump-start-a-dead-battery/324192 "2005-10-20T00:29:09Z")
In this column -Is it dangerous to jump start a dead battery - Cecil verifies that connecting directly to both battery posts of the dead car battery may cause an explosion due to leaking hydrogen gas from the battery. I… --- ## [The Fuzz?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fuzz/326903)
**Author:** [@Ikarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ikarus)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2005, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fuzz/326903 "2005-10-19T23:12:49Z")
Why are the police called the fuzz? Firstly, Evan Morris, the word ‘fuzz’ is commonly used to describe the police round these parts (Northern UK) so Nyah. There is a kind of chicken/egg problem with the origin theory I… --- ## [Sleep Paralysis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-paralysis/326462)
**Author:** [@SteveH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveH)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-paralysis/326462 "2005-10-19T16:24:35Z")
I believe the story of a Black Hag who sat on the chests of her victims as they lay in beds used to be widespread across northern Europe. This experience is commonly explained by sleep paralysis, which occurs when the b… --- ## [Wise Men](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wise-men/300571)
**Author:** [@SteveTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveTom)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wise-men/300571 "2005-10-19T13:51:41Z")
What’s the deal with the three wise men? In this report, the questioner Ben Reeves suggested that the story of the three wise men “kind of seems like European ego boosting to me”. I’m surprised Euty didn’t pick up on t… --- ## [Re: Prisms causing fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-prisms-causing-fire/326079)
**Author:** [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-prisms-causing-fire/326079 "2005-10-18T09:00:37Z")
Prisms won’t cause a fire, but I discovered that crystal balls can. A friend gave my little sister a crystal ball. It was a hunk of glass about the size of a small melon. For a while it sat on the table in the kitchen… --- ## [Battery (dry cell) economics and unit energy pricing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-dry-cell-economics-and-unit-energy-pricing/326551)
**Author:** [@RedDawgEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedDawgEsq)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-dry-cell-economics-and-unit-energy-pricing/326551 "2005-10-17T17:03:24Z")
While searching an entirely different subject, I ran across this discussion about Duracell vs. EveryReady (or somebody). It reminded me of a question, never really answered, that I posted here many moons ago. A fresh inq… --- ## [Back to that fat lady singing again...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-that-fat-lady-singing-again/326298)
**Author:** [@Ragnhild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragnhild)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-that-fat-lady-singing-again/326298 "2005-10-17T00:09:12Z")
Have you ever heard that the expression came from the billiards halls originating some time in the 30’s or 40’s? I read somewhere that the expression was: “It ain’t over till the fat lady SINKS.” The fat lady was the … --- ## [Rosicrucians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rosicrucians/325757)
**Author:** [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2005, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rosicrucians/325757 "2005-10-15T22:56:50Z")
I think Euty wrote a very interesting piece & I learned a number of things from it. That said, I don’t believe the central questions were addressed. What is it exactly the group believes or… does? Are they a seperate … --- ## [Gas mileage with the window(s) down](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage-with-the-window-s-down/325699)
**Author:** [@ratt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratt)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2005, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage-with-the-window-s-down/325699 "2005-10-15T08:43:14Z")
I live in Texas and am less sensitive to heat than many folks, and I ride around with my driver’s side window open and the A/C off year-round. I don’t open the other windows because I don’t have power windows and would h… --- ## [What about the Rosicrucian code?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-rosicrucian-code/325747)
**Author:** [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2005, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-rosicrucian-code/325747 "2005-10-15T03:52:07Z")
The article on the Rosicrucians reminded me of a question I have had for some time. My son likes secret codes. I found a book on them and a very popular secret is the Rosicrucian and the “modified” Rosicrucian. (The cod… --- ## [the people who sell popups- their website](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-who-sell-popups-their-website/326228)
**Author:** [@Onamission](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onamission)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-people-who-sell-popups-their-website/326228 "2005-10-14T17:09:54Z")
An interesting website you may want to know about and visit. www.popupads.com These are the people that sell popupads. I’m responding to a message that traced back to this group which all of the people can relate to- ha… --- ## [Pcp](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcp/326195)
**Author:** [@kayen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayen)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pcp/326195 "2005-10-14T06:47:48Z")
Try substituting alcohol into that ‘litany’ of horrors. PCP is a classic case of attributing directly to a drug things that would otherwise be automatically attributed to the individual or other factors if the drug in t… --- ## [Bazooka Joe's Eyepatch](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bazooka-joes-eyepatch/324234)
**Author:** [@Phatso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phatso)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bazooka-joes-eyepatch/324234 "2005-10-13T22:19:18Z")
Cecil says here that the Topps people told him Joe still has use of both his eyes and just wears an eyepatch because of how stylin’ it looks. I seem to remember a teacher of mine in middle school telling us that pirates… --- ## [first start for the f word](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-start-for-the-f-word/326009)
**Author:** [@stlwrkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stlwrkin)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-start-for-the-f-word/326009 "2005-10-13T22:05:00Z")
cecil, i wanted to comment on an article i read about the f word. from what i read in your article, the f word and the middle finger raising actually goes back even further. if i remember correctly it started back in … --- ## [Why Do Pigeons Bob Their Heads (New Approach)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pigeons-bob-their-heads-new-approach/326038)
**Author:** [@jjkbozo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjkbozo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pigeons-bob-their-heads-new-approach/326038 "2005-10-13T11:58:13Z")
Apologies for reviving this old thread but it was the one that compelled me to become a suscriber. On the peripheral vision/balance debate I think the question one should ask on the subject is “Why DON’T birds bob their … --- ## [Lawn dhemicals not hazardous to pets? I disagree.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawn-dhemicals-not-hazardous-to-pets-i-disagree/325965)
**Author:** [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawn-dhemicals-not-hazardous-to-pets-i-disagree/325965 "2005-10-12T21:43:05Z")
Here’s the link. http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_026.html This column from 1975 got quoted in another thread about posting signs about non-existant hazards. I read Cecil’s column, and he seems to be saying he d… --- ## [On searches and Internet traffic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-searches-and-internet-traffic/325226)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-searches-and-internet-traffic/325226 "2005-10-12T12:52:23Z")
In Cecil’s recent column on Internet porn, I think he might be looking at the wrong statistic. He compares number of searches for various topics, but not amount of traffic for them. It seems quite likely, though, that … --- ## [Cecil is Unamerican!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-is-unamerican/325496)
**Author:** [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-is-unamerican/325496 "2005-10-11T21:41:40Z")
A clue in his latest column: Were he USAn he’d surely have said “My ass”. --- ## [I Know the Sound of One Hand Clapping!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/324106)
**Author:** [@Pocahontas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pocahontas)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-know-the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/324106 "2005-10-11T19:51:11Z")
Not only that, I can do it too–clap one hand that is. I read the 1983 column and researched the koan interpretation of “one hand clapping.” There sure was a lot of verbal explanation required of physical gestures! That’… --- ## [Comment on "What is the hottest part of a flame?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-what-is-the-hottest-part-of-a-flame/325541)
**Author:** [@Alexandros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexandros)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-on-what-is-the-hottest-part-of-a-flame/325541 "2005-10-11T00:17:58Z")
Hello Straight Dope Team! This is my first posting, nice to be with you! I just read the above-mentioned article and saw the graph that accompanies it. In the article the answer given is that the hottest part of the f… --- ## [DO NOT HUMP on wagons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-hump-on-wagons/325327)
**Author:** [@willbick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willbick)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-hump-on-wagons/325327 "2005-10-10T21:57:44Z")
my dad invented various versions of the hydraulic retarder used to control wagons whilst working for Dowty engineering in the UK. I dont think he would consider the products of his work to be ‘gimmicks’! They made Dowty … --- ## [Give the man a hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-the-man-a-hand/325210)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2005, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-the-man-a-hand/325210 "2005-10-10T03:18:44Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/051007.html Fess up, Cecil. When you took matters into your own hands, did you “take matters into your own hands”? :wink: --- ## [Water into Gasoline: yes, but is it possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-into-gasoline-yes-but-is-it-possible/323525)
**Author:** [@Sequent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sequent)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-into-gasoline-yes-but-is-it-possible/323525 "2005-10-09T23:51:48Z")
Regarding this week’s featured column: Is there a pill that can turn water into gasoline? Cecil says: Really? Is this true? I would think that the easiest way to prove this guy a con would be to demonstrate, scientifi… --- ## [Is God angry at Mississippi: per Newman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-god-angry-at-mississippi-per-newman/324701)
**Author:** [@IUchem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IUchem)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2005, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-god-angry-at-mississippi-per-newman/324701 "2005-10-07T05:52:11Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_401.html I hope this link works. If not, help is greatly appreciated! I mean this mostly as a joke, since it is likely only coincidence (rather than synchronicity) that the upda… --- ## [Idiosyncrasies of the Dutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncrasies-of-the-dutch/323115)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiosyncrasies-of-the-dutch/323115 "2005-10-06T19:35:35Z")
Regarding today’s column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050923.html Boy, I’ve always thought of the netherlands as a sort of European sanctuary – you could hole up there if you were an Anabaptist or Rene Descarte… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=161) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=163)