# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=181 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 182 --- ## [Blue Gods](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-gods/274089)
**Author:** [@Draupadi\_Devi\_Dasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draupadi_Devi_Dasi)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-gods/274089 "2004-11-11T06:18:08Z")
Dear Cecil, I was reading an archive peice ‘Was there really a race of blue people?’, and Krishna was mentioned. Being the daughter of a ‘knowledge manager’, and a student of the Vaisnava tradition of India, I am aghas… --- ## [Maytag Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maytag-blue/273910)
**Author:** [@Wayne\_Christopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wayne_Christopher)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maytag-blue/273910 "2004-11-11T04:53:17Z")
Don’t forget that Fritz Maytag is also the maker of Anchor Steam Beer … --- ## [Fire and Brimstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-and-brimstone/272797)
**Author:** [@OneWhomJesusLoves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneWhomJesusLoves)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-and-brimstone/272797 "2004-11-09T15:34:17Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbrimstone.html http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbrimstone.html First off, I’d like to say thanks to the staff who wrote this article (and for the whole website), its really cool… --- ## [alternative energy sources](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-energy-sources/273711)
**Author:** [@wraskin411](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wraskin411)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-energy-sources/273711 "2004-11-09T12:22:42Z")
Last year Cecil had an article showing that ethanol might very well require more energy to produce than it would ever return. Whether or not this case is right or not, the principle is certainly of critical importance … --- ## [I get to Plug a Gap in Cecil's knowledge!!! (Area codes)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-to-plug-a-gap-in-cecils-knowledge-area-codes/273551)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-to-plug-a-gap-in-cecils-knowledge-area-codes/273551 "2004-11-09T03:38:33Z")
I was browsing through my Return of the Straight Dope which I bought a while ago in my civic duty to keep this place afloat, and came across a column where Cecil admits to a lacuna in his knowledge, which I am in a posit… --- ## [Heavy Milk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-milk/272839)
**Author:** [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-milk/272839 "2004-11-09T00:01:53Z")
In this column Cecil correctly states that milk doesn’t get perceptably heavier when it freezes. But it may have felt heavier if it was more difficult to lift. It’s possible that usually the woman unconsciously took ad… --- ## [Wow, Cecil got this one REALLY wrong.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-cecil-got-this-one-really-wrong/273010)
**Author:** [@WholeNote68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WholeNote68)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2004, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wow-cecil-got-this-one-really-wrong/273010 "2004-11-08T13:03:04Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_101b.html The pitch changes because the coffee mug is heating up. Ever pour coffee into a mug that’s already hot? It doesn’t change pitch when you stir. If that pot of hot coff… --- ## [Blue Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-cheese/273191)
**Author:** [@isalom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isalom)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-cheese/273191 "2004-11-08T00:26:09Z")
“Blue” cheese doesn’t have to be blue. The University of Minnesota developed a non-colored strain of Penicillium that tastes like blue cheese but has no pigment - to avoid a sickening light blue color when the cheese is… --- ## [frozen milk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk/272835)
**Author:** [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk/272835 "2004-11-07T05:29:02Z")
Cecil responds here to the question whether frozen milk is heavier than liquid milk. Of course it doesn’t actually weigh more. But in the example given, the lady didn’t actually say it weighed more, she said it felt he… --- ## [What in the hell is that stinky fish for in the column about coffee pitch??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-in-the-hell-is-that-stinky-fish-for-in-the-column-about-coffee-pitch/272988)
**Author:** [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-in-the-hell-is-that-stinky-fish-for-in-the-column-about-coffee-pitch/272988 "2004-11-06T17:57:01Z")
In the latest Straight Dope Classic Slug’s illustration has a man listening to his coffee cup - and a woman licking a stinky, worm-infested fish. Color me confused. Did the original column have an answer to a second qu… --- ## [But what about the trip?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-what-about-the-trip/273003)
**Author:** [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-what-about-the-trip/273003 "2004-11-05T06:21:07Z")
Una, in What happens to all the stuff that goes down the toilet? you answered what happens after the stuff makes it to the treatment plant, but not how it makes the journey there. (We’ve got low-flow toilets that are of… --- ## [Hey Cecil, can we please get an update on the zinc-for-the-common-cold debate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-cecil-can-we-please-get-an-update-on-the-zinc-for-the-common-cold-debate/271316)
**Author:** [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-cecil-can-we-please-get-an-update-on-the-zinc-for-the-common-cold-debate/271316 "2004-11-05T01:11:56Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980206.html I consider myself among the more skeptical people I know. I’m really not one to get taken in easy by a placebo effect. But man, I’ll tell ya, since I discovered cold-eez… --- ## ["Was the mon landing a hoax?" Article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-mon-landing-a-hoax-article/272853)
**Author:** [@stupidfreshman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stupidfreshman)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-mon-landing-a-hoax-article/272853 "2004-11-04T22:31:42Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmoonhoax.html Hey, I’m doing a report, and tghis is one of my sources, and since the author’s name is SDSTAFF David, my English teacher questions the article’s credability, so I was … --- ## [The Column Of Poo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-column-of-poo/272636)
**Author:** [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-column-of-poo/272636 "2004-11-04T19:42:41Z")
snicker :smiley: Nicely done, Una, but you left out one thing: what’s the breakdown here? Inquiring minds wanna know: what’s the percentage of alligator poo in NYC’s daily biosolids harvest? snerk Link to Staff Re… --- ## [twisters and trailers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twisters-and-trailers/272392)
**Author:** [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twisters-and-trailers/272392 "2004-11-04T18:39:25Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_096b.html Just a few added comments. Most cities are primarily grounded in cement, the streets, sidewalks, buildings, etc. Houses and buildings are often built on a slab. Bricks,… --- ## [Tunguska black hole reconsidered](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunguska-black-hole-reconsidered/252532)
**Author:** [@Jenkoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenkoul)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunguska-black-hole-reconsidered/252532 "2004-11-01T19:19:01Z")
Cecil – In your generally well-informed February '03 column exploring the cause of the cataclysmic Tunguska Event of June 30th, 1908, you note the following possible explanation in passing: QUOTE: 5. It was a black ho… --- ## [Phenotype vs Genotype](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phenotype-vs-genotype/270243)
**Author:** [@netajs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netajs)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2004, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phenotype-vs-genotype/270243 "2004-11-01T05:09:34Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/manimalmidget.html The phenotype is the expression of the genotype. For example, a person with brown eyes could have a genotype that codes for blues eyes and brown eyes. Brown eyes… --- ## [Geo. Washington killing French delegation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geo-washington-killing-french-delegation/271865)
**Author:** [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geo-washington-killing-french-delegation/271865 "2004-11-01T02:40:30Z")
In this column, Cecil says that George Washington was “an inexperienced militia officer in 1754” when he was officer in charge of a group of sodiers who killed a small French military detachment in Ohio. My question … h… --- ## [Daddy Long Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daddy-long-legs/946)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daddy-long-legs/946 "2004-10-31T23:42:52Z")
Our friend Doug Yanega, in the Dept of Entomology (that’s insects, you ignoramus) at U of Cal, sends us comments on Dogster’s Mailbag item: Is a Daddy Long Legs the most poisonous spider?http://www.straightdope.com/mailb… --- ## [Teddy Roosevelt's Posthumous Medal of Honor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teddy-roosevelts-posthumous-medal-of-honor/271843)
**Author:** [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2004, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teddy-roosevelts-posthumous-medal-of-honor/271843 "2004-10-30T11:53:20Z")
In “Have We Ever Had A Killer In The White House?”, Cecil says (bolding mine) So…what’s the “long story”??? --- ## [Camel Spiders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813)
**Author:** [@\_Hip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Hip)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-spiders/239813 "2004-10-27T16:58:22Z")
Hi, I’m new here but love your board already!! I wanted to refer to the following SD article about camel spiders http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcamelspider.html which states “They’re not quite as big as your ha… --- ## [Uranium in false teeth unhealthy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uranium-in-false-teeth-unhealthy/270373)
**Author:** [@phybre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phybre)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uranium-in-false-teeth-unhealthy/270373 "2004-10-27T00:47:27Z")
In this article, Cecil says: I’m afraid I must contest this. It was not until 1958 that low amounts of ionizing radiation were considered dangerous. 1958 was the year that the United Nations Scientific Committee on the… --- ## [Immortal Sharks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immortal-sharks/270696)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immortal-sharks/270696 "2004-10-26T21:48:27Z")
Yay! I’m the first to comment on today’s piece! At the end, Unca Cecil asks parentheticlly “Does she think sharks are immortal?” Of course sharks aren’t immortal! Poroises are immortal. Which is why it’s against the la… --- ## [Who's a Pepper????](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-pepper/270011)
**Author:** [@CaryGMcC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaryGMcC)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-pepper/270011 "2004-10-26T21:45:07Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdrpepper.html Now, my personal thoughts/opinions/guesses as to the actual flavourings of this hallowed old soft drink: This could rank as an “urban legend,” but one flavouring ingr… --- ## [What instrument is cannon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-cannon/266450)
**Author:** [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-instrument-is-cannon/266450 "2004-10-26T15:48:44Z")
In the Staff Report Is there a guy in the orchestra whose only job is playing the triangle, wood block, and wind chimes?, Ian writes: What instrument is “cannon”? Does it use gunpowder? Are people regularly hurt? Does … --- ## [Proving that the earth is round](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proving-that-the-earth-is-round/271107)
**Author:** [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proving-that-the-earth-is-round/271107 "2004-10-25T20:15:11Z")
If anyone is interested in checking out Cecil’s second proof that the earth is round, you’ll have a chance this Wednesday evening, October 27, when a total lunar eclipse will be visible in North and South America, as wel… --- ## [Are popups effective marketing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-popups-effective-marketing/269501)
**Author:** [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-popups-effective-marketing/269501 "2004-10-25T20:07:41Z")
In What’s Up With Popup Ads?, I was a bit disappointed that Cecil didn’t address what, to me, is the more interesting question: “How can infuriating potential customers in this manner possibly sell product?” --- ## [Big hairy lightning balls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-hairy-lightning-balls/264945)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-hairy-lightning-balls/264945 "2004-10-25T16:49:34Z")
I have to admit that I was again disapointed by a recent column of Cecil’s. The subject of this one is ball lightning: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040917.html The gist of this one is that when asked whether Ba… --- ## [Killing bugs with soap](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-bugs-with-soap/265710)
**Author:** [@Fanny\_May](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fanny_May)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2004, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-bugs-with-soap/265710 "2004-10-25T08:43:39Z")
Can you kill bugs by squirting them with Ivory soap? 13-Apr-1984 I think the soap does more than reduce surface tension to help them drown. Soap makes the lungs pucker up, the same as inhaling laundry detergent dries yo… --- ## [Why don't we ever see midget animals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-ever-see-midget-animals/270785)
**Author:** [@Chotii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chotii)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-ever-see-midget-animals/270785 "2004-10-24T04:00:14Z")
In the Staff Report How Come We Never See Midget Animals?: The author says Actually, dwarfism is well known in cattle. In this article about dwarfism in cattle, the author states: Well now, I’ve never raised cattle… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=180) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=182)