# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=165 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 166 --- ## [dry vs wet ageing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-vs-wet-ageing/317860)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-vs-wet-ageing/317860 "2005-08-27T09:45:01Z")
In What’s the big deal about aged beef and Angus beef? Una makes the comment: I don’t know if your usage of typical is the same as mine but by far the most common method of ageing beef in the US is now wet ageing. Ver… --- ## [Toothpaste - fluoride, whitening](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpaste-fluoride-whitening/310674)
**Author:** [@LouWebGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouWebGuy)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpaste-fluoride-whitening/310674 "2005-08-27T03:08:46Z")
Interesting article (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050701.html) on toothpaste, but I’m surprised that manufacturers don’t goose the fluoride level and market that distinction. Unsolicited testimonial for one white… --- ## [Nuclear NearMisses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-nearmisses/318716)
**Author:** [@Big-Ole-Steve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big-Ole-Steve)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-nearmisses/318716 "2005-08-26T18:23:08Z")
Based on the Article: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050826.html Fascinating article. Being 7 at the time, I was totally unaware anything went down at all, and had only heard Able Archer mentioned in passing. The… --- ## [Able Archer Headline](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/able-archer-headline/318720)
**Author:** [@Dan\_Kirklin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Kirklin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/able-archer-headline/318720 "2005-08-26T17:42:51Z")
“Was the United States and the Soviet Union on the Brink of Nuclear War?” Well, it’s interesting to learn just how close they was. If they was any closer maybe they’d have become singular and the grammar of that headline… --- ## [Seeds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeds/318674)
**Author:** [@openmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/openmind)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeds/318674 "2005-08-26T02:57:18Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_212.html Again an old topic, but the one that brought me here, have just watched a film by G. Edward Griffin - A World Without Cancer - The Story of Laetrile In this film it seem… --- ## [Gun Control](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-control/318672)
**Author:** [@openmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/openmind)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-control/318672 "2005-08-26T02:51:50Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041105.html Well I do see it is an old post, however the answer to the original question is a straight no. Original acts came in the 19th Century I can’t remember the specifics, but … --- ## [High-rise spiders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-rise-spiders/317806)
**Author:** [@stucook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stucook)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-rise-spiders/317806 "2005-08-24T22:15:07Z")
Your answer to the question “How do the spiders outside an upper-story window in a high-rise get there?” seems to imply that the spiders that reside on the upper stories of high-rise buildings are tiny. I can tell you f… --- ## [How and why is beef aged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-and-why-is-beef-aged/318351)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-and-why-is-beef-aged/318351 "2005-08-24T22:08:44Z")
I’d always thought the optimum goal of the meatpacking industry was to kill the animal, render and butcher the meat, and get it to the consumer ASAP in the interest of freshness and safety. But I’ve notice that beef is… --- ## [Lava Lamps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-lamps/317669)
**Author:** [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lava-lamps/317669 "2005-08-24T19:00:20Z")
In his column,, Cecil writes: “As Cecil’s more venerable readers know, the lava lamp was one of the three indispensable components of the properly furnished 60s apartment, the other two being a black-light poster and a … --- ## [comment about cecil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-about-cecil/317677)
**Author:** [@jimmy2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmy2x)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2005, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comment-about-cecil/317677 "2005-08-22T13:21:03Z")
here is the thread i want to comment on How much money is there? With the U.S. borrowing so much, why aren’t we broke? Dear Cecil: How much U.S. currency (cold cash) is in circulation around the world? Who decides how… --- ## [Toast falling downwards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toast-falling-downwards/314756)
**Author:** [@Xijhing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xijhing)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2005, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toast-falling-downwards/314756 "2005-08-20T10:09:23Z")
I haven’t checked to see if anyone else had posted on the following subject, but Mythbusters, a program which I believe is on the Discovery Channel, did a test on this “myth” and found that when buttered side is up on th… --- ## [How much wood????](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-wood/317871)
**Author:** [@mikey1969](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikey1969)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2005, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-wood/317871 "2005-08-20T09:54:48Z")
In answer to the ‘How much wood would a woodchuck chuck?’ question posed here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_083a.html I have determined that it is exactly 4 cords, no more, no less. You’re welcome, please r… --- ## [A bald-faced omission](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bald-faced-omission/317744)
**Author:** [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bald-faced-omission/317744 "2005-08-19T14:40:12Z")
In this week’s column, The Great Master seems to miss one crucial point of the question. Of course the kid’s bald. Wait until a year or so and it’ll start growing in. :smiley: --- ## [Have Great Britain's restrictive gun laws contributed to the rise in violent crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-great-britains-restrictive-gun-laws-contributed-to-the-rise-in-violent-crime/316709)
**Author:** [@fybo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fybo)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2005, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-great-britains-restrictive-gun-laws-contributed-to-the-rise-in-violent-crime/316709 "2005-08-19T12:13:48Z")
Have Great Britain’s restrictive gun laws contributed to the rise in violent crime? http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041105.html Handguns were banned after and atrocious incident at a school in Scotland. Akin to Col… --- ## [arostolder and the sound of one hand clapping](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arostolder-and-the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/316134)
**Author:** [@arostolder\_optonline.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arostolder_optonline.net)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arostolder-and-the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/316134 "2005-08-18T23:51:27Z")
re: sound of one hand clapping the only possible answer to" what is the sound of one hand clapping" is," the sound of one hand clapping" --- ## [Garlic and Mosquitoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garlic-and-mosquitoes/317307)
**Author:** [@Illui\_Nifloh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illui_Nifloh)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garlic-and-mosquitoes/317307 "2005-08-18T22:00:18Z")
In your column of September 04, Cecil correctly stated that garlic does not repel mosquitoes. However, he missed the opportunity to answer a question that was not asked, namely, whether garlic repels other natural blood … --- ## [Schick and gillette](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schick-and-gillette/317410)
**Author:** [@virgosailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/virgosailor)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schick-and-gillette/317410 "2005-08-18T21:57:12Z")
I read with some interest, about the quality of shavers today. I currently reside in Mainland China… (Australian) I dont know whether I am unusual in the way I grow my facial hair, but I have not found a decent disposab… --- ## [Jesus H. Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ/315095)
**Author:** [@popeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/popeman)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ/315095 "2005-08-16T21:49:56Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_033 As every good Catholic knows, it was Mary’s conception which was immaculate, not our Lord and haploid Savior’s. Cecil’s phone line to God must have had a bad connection when … --- ## [Irish Potato Famine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-potato-famine/316785)
**Author:** [@grrrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grrrace)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-potato-famine/316785 "2005-08-16T04:37:05Z")
I’m not an expert on the subject or anything, but wasn’t the Irish Potato Famine mentioned in this column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050812.html a prototypical example of a famine that was not principally of … --- ## [Classic: The Whole 9 Yards...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-the-whole-9-yards/298411)
**Author:** [@CharlieN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CharlieN)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-the-whole-9-yards/298411 "2005-08-15T15:07:24Z")
Hey all, Concerning this classic on the origin of the phrase “the whole 9 yards”: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_252.html I understand that it’s origins come from WW2 (or maybe 1) fighter/bomber pilots, when t… --- ## [Getting worms from eating sushi?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-worms-from-eating-sushi/316157)
**Author:** [@girlgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/girlgenius)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2005, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-worms-from-eating-sushi/316157 "2005-08-15T07:58:59Z")
Hello Straight Dope, Thanks for all your great work fighting ignorance. Every little bit of truth helps! I have been told than when eating sushi – or any form of raw fish – to make liberal use of the ginger and wasabi… --- ## [American Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-pie/316248)
**Author:** [@Burkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burkey)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-pie/316248 "2005-08-15T02:59:48Z")
Link to column: What is Don McLean’s song “American Pie” all about? l I agree with just about all that has been said about this 1971 song’s imagery and its meaning: the loss of simple innocence in popular music during … --- ## [Cecil's sentence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-sentence/316742)
**Author:** [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-sentence/316742 "2005-08-14T21:56:24Z")
From the Natural born killers column. Is this a correct sentence? --- ## [What is it with cats and catnip?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cats-and-catnip/316865)
**Author:** [@cat-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cat-man)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-with-cats-and-catnip/316865 "2005-08-13T15:57:32Z")
i would like to add some - \*Ivan \* is NOT the only cat who likes olives. MY late cat, Muchtar (“head-of-the-town” in Arabic), was CRAZY about green olives. Not Spanish olives, but Israeli. There must be something in… --- ## [Why is tennis scoring so weird?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tennis-scoring-so-weird/316798)
**Author:** [@mgeiger99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mgeiger99)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tennis-scoring-so-weird/316798 "2005-08-13T14:21:04Z")
Dear Cecil, I have a follow-up question to your answer regarding the scoring used in tennis. My question revovles around the use of 40 rather than 45. You state “the four points when 15, 30, 45 (which we abbreviate to… --- ## [Junk Mail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-mail/316713)
**Author:** [@acornett1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acornett1)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/junk-mail/316713 "2005-08-12T18:58:41Z")
I’ve known alot of people who subscribe to all manner of junk mail and save it throughout the year to use as fuel in their fireplaces in the winter. --- ## [Why are the police called cops, pigs, or the fuzz?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-police-called-cops-pigs-or-the-fuzz/316622)
**Author:** [@fybo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fybo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-the-police-called-cops-pigs-or-the-fuzz/316622 "2005-08-12T18:34:18Z")
Why are the police called cops, pigs, or the fuzz? http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcop.html I am a Police Constable in Scotland, UK, and the general opinion of where the word “cop” came from is Constables On Patro… --- ## [Subliminal Advertising meets Natural Disasters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subliminal-advertising-meets-natural-disasters/316730)
**Author:** [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subliminal-advertising-meets-natural-disasters/316730 "2005-08-12T16:35:27Z")
Maybe it’s just a coincidence that we had the classic column on subliminal messages so recently, but I couldn’t help but notice Slug’s illustration in this weeks column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050812.html A… --- ## [Were ancient tombs really booby-trapped?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-ancient-tombs-really-booby-trapped/316289)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-ancient-tombs-really-booby-trapped/316289 "2005-08-12T14:10:03Z")
Kudos to dropzone for the well-written and entertaining Were ancient tombs really booby-trapped? Staff Report. I especially liked the throwaway at the end about Scrooge McDuck and Carl Barks. I thought it should have bee… --- ## [Easy lucid dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-lucid-dreams/316239)
**Author:** [@tbonavia1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tbonavia1)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-lucid-dreams/316239 "2005-08-09T15:23:25Z")
I experienced what are known as lucid dreams when I kept a nicotine patch on at night while trying to quit smoking. After two nights of this I left the patch off at night and had no such dreams, then put it on again the … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=164) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=166)