# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=194 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 195 --- ## [Typographic problem in Eskimo/Tupperware column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typographic-problem-in-eskimo-tupperware-column/235244)
**Author:** [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typographic-problem-in-eskimo-tupperware-column/235244 "2004-03-19T18:59:21Z")
Quotation marks seem to have been transmogrified into { and } http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040319.html (By the way, just to get it out of the way, “Eskimo” does not mean “eaters of raw meat”, it means “snowshoe … --- ## [Is cow's milk "the worst beverage on earth?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cows-milk-the-worst-beverage-on-earth/219813)
**Author:** [@CarrotsNmySOX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarrotsNmySOX)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cows-milk-the-worst-beverage-on-earth/219813 "2004-03-19T14:29:02Z")
The article"Is cow’s milk “the worst beverage on earth?”"seems rediculous to me. Why are people arguing the health benifits and whether or not it gives you cancer? my argument for avoiding the stuff: just think about it. … --- ## [kosher pickle a vegetable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kosher-pickle-a-vegetable/235043)
**Author:** [@lexdysix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexdysix)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kosher-pickle-a-vegetable/235043 "2004-03-19T03:09:28Z")
Mr. Cecil, i was just wondering about your comment in your kosher pickle column. you stated that pickles were basically vegetables. cucumbers are technically fruits even though the common misconception places them in on… --- ## [Circle Kosher?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circle-kosher/234911)
**Author:** [@cursplat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cursplat)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circle-kosher/234911 "2004-03-18T16:20:14Z")
Cecil, Does this mean that everything at the corner Circle K is Kosher? Also, if the K with a circle is a registered trademark of Organized Kashruth Laboratories of New York, does that mean that the circled K gets a ci… --- ## [What came first, orange or oranges?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-first-orange-or-oranges/234709)
**Author:** [@locutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/locutus)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-first-orange-or-oranges/234709 "2004-03-18T13:59:01Z")
Okay, so if “The first English use of the word “orange” as a color adjective appears to have been in 1620,” then how did english-speaking people refer to the color orange before that time? --- ## [in regards to the dimensions thing...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-regards-to-the-dimensions-thing/228808)
**Author:** [@jkim78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkim78)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2004, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-regards-to-the-dimensions-thing/228808 "2004-03-18T08:59:52Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdimensions.html \<- this article… according to the superstring theory, m-theory, etc there are 10-11 dimensions… --- ## [Great Wall of China -- not visible from space...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-of-china-not-visible-from-space/233989)
**Author:** [@champale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/champale)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-of-china-not-visible-from-space/233989 "2004-03-16T04:16:42Z")
Anybody read the news today? Oh boy. It looks like the Chinese are finally admitting that the Great Wall is not, in fact, visible from space. Here’s the AP story, care of Yahoo: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u… --- ## [Iva Toguri D'Aquino](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iva-toguri-daquino/234522)
**Author:** [@DanGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanGee)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iva-toguri-daquino/234522 "2004-03-16T02:25:27Z")
Hey, I’m looking for anyone who was close to the Toguri case, in Japan and/or in the U.S. Ie: witnesses, lawyers, jurors, family, friends in L.A., scholars, etc. If you can give me some leads, I’ll be indebted. I’m resea… --- ## [Out of focus...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-focus/234377)
**Author:** [@SysRq2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SysRq2000)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-of-focus/234377 "2004-03-15T04:33:25Z")
Hi Cecil. I read your answer to W.C.'s question and I just wanted to come with a little warning. I am also able to wiggle my eyes by will, and I have been able to since the 2nd grade. Lately I have noticed that I someti… --- ## [Maturity in Liquor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maturity-in-liquor/233704)
**Author:** [@billinrio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billinrio)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maturity-in-liquor/233704 "2004-03-14T16:29:11Z")
Recently, someone asked Cecil “What’s the diff between age and maturity in liquor?”. The Cecil’s answer was incomplete and I think missed the point of what the person wanted to know, because it did not mention that for… --- ## [Great Wall of China not visible from space](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-of-china-not-visible-from-space/233983)
**Author:** [@rodbots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rodbots)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-of-china-not-visible-from-space/233983 "2004-03-13T04:31:14Z")
The Chinese government is removing the myth from a textbook. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040312/ap\_on\_re\_as/china\_great\_wall\_myth\_1 --- ## [Memes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memes/229036)
**Author:** [@Wooglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wooglin)\ **Replies:** 102\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memes/229036 "2004-03-13T00:28:38Z")
probably one of the biggest POS cecil has written to date. I understand he’s like, 90 now, and probably doesn’t get out and investigate as much as he used to, but that really sucked. It was 5 minutes of crap about some… --- ## [the bubonic plague does not come from rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bubonic-plague-does-not-come-from-rats/233770)
**Author:** [@jeffengberg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeffengberg)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bubonic-plague-does-not-come-from-rats/233770 "2004-03-12T22:35:58Z")
I saw a documentary about the origin of the black death. The authors claim that the bubonic plague could not have come from rats or fleas. THe plague must have been delivered through the air and transported by humans. I … --- ## [Storks and babies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storks-and-babies/232687)
**Author:** [@NevilleR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NevilleR)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storks-and-babies/232687 "2004-03-12T21:57:34Z")
This is a favourite illustration of statisticians. To quote \ : Now anybody who’s been around statistics for any time at all knows the folk-lore of the trade, t… --- ## [Using 'Thou' for God.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-thou-for-god/233290)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-thou-for-god/233290 "2004-03-11T23:50:12Z")
I know I have already discussed this staff report. But I have just one more question concerning it. As we’ve discussed, the plural form of the personal pronoun “you” came to be used as a term of respect, first for social… --- ## [A comment on pathological liars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-comment-on-pathological-liars/233670)
**Author:** [@Tokyo-John](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tokyo-John)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2004, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-comment-on-pathological-liars/233670 "2004-03-11T14:05:25Z")
Dear Cecil, I once had a conversation with a pathological liar and got a pretty good clue as to what made him tick. He said reality was like a television, and all he was doing was changing the channels. I’m no psychia… --- ## [What's up with all of these old columns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-all-of-these-old-columns/233529)
**Author:** [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-all-of-these-old-columns/233529 "2004-03-11T04:21:07Z")
Have there just not been any good questions asked lately, or what? For the past several weeks, we’ve just been getting “reruns.” --- ## [Orange](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange/233475)
**Author:** [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orange/233475 "2004-03-10T20:17:18Z")
So, whaqt was the color orange called in Enlish before 1620? --- ## [The Lottery and Annuity Calculations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lottery-and-annuity-calculations/231556)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2004, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lottery-and-annuity-calculations/231556 "2004-03-10T03:38:29Z")
Regarding http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mlottery.html, when I plug $50,000 for 20 years into my calculator and calculate the PV using 8.92%, I get a PV of just over $459,000, not $500,000. I think the correct disc… --- ## [Lottery: Number picking tips](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-number-picking-tips/231524)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery-number-picking-tips/231524 "2004-03-06T14:22:46Z")
In Dex’s presentation of If I win the lottery, should I ask for a lump sum or an annuity?, he ducks the question of whether there are better numbers to pick. I don’t play the lottery (lousy odds, lousy investment) but i… --- ## [Penn. Dept of Agriculture.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-dept-of-agriculture/232325)
**Author:** [@Tarkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarkin)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-dept-of-agriculture/232325 "2004-03-04T15:44:14Z")
In the classic article about the Penn. Dept of Agriculture, cecil says that Pennsalvania has the right to interefere with interstate commerce, and no one can stop them. Doesn’t the Constition of the United States say th… --- ## [what are the seven basic literary plots](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-seven-basic-literary-plots/232427)
**Author:** [@brian\_the\_stilt\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brian_the_stilt_guy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-seven-basic-literary-plots/232427 "2004-03-04T14:01:16Z")
There’s more to this than Cecil has uncovered. I read in the New York Times a few years back that the basic plots that get listed as the seven are usually Faust, Romeo and Juliet, Orpheus, and four otheres that I cannno… --- ## [Monty Hall Problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-hall-problem/1193)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monty-hall-problem/1193 "2004-03-04T11:45:59Z")
In the words of Cecil, he “screwed this one up” on the first reply. Interestingly, the prominent mathematician Paul Erdos gave a similar answer to this question; the contestant should be indifferent to switching as the … --- ## [A bit of media outlet trivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bit-of-media-outlet-trivia/232342)
**Author:** [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bit-of-media-outlet-trivia/232342 "2004-03-03T17:19:39Z")
the column The Tribune Company operates at least 26 TV stations including WGNO, the ABC affiliate in New Orleans. --- ## [Leap day is not the 29th of February!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leap-day-is-not-the-29th-of-february/230924)
**Author:** [@thowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thowan)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leap-day-is-not-the-29th-of-february/230924 "2004-03-03T15:16:19Z")
In the Straight Dope Classic “When do leap-day babies celebrate their birthdays?” ( http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a960209.html ) Cecil has unexpectedly displayed an embarrasing ignorance as to which day is actual… --- ## [Chewing Gum mess](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-mess/232242)
**Author:** [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2004, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-mess/232242 "2004-03-03T12:36:15Z")
Good-day, There is a bit of a typo in Cecil’s chewing gum column. You can see it repeats the remainder of the paragraph starting with the patent number. Of course, it’s not a Cecil mistake. I thinks a copy-boy is go… --- ## [origins of "whole nine yards"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-whole-nine-yards/229450)
**Author:** [@yohann1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yohann1138)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origins-of-whole-nine-yards/229450 "2004-03-03T04:45:18Z")
The site mentions that the origins of this phrase are from the use of fabric for certian events but i think this is the true answer from a good friend of mine: "I know it authoritatively, having served in the military. … --- ## [Who Owns the Media?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-media/231451)
**Author:** [@sgboone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sgboone)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2004, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-media/231451 "2004-03-02T18:03:40Z")
undefinedI just want to say that Clear Channel, 2/26/04, has choked off Howard Stern. While I’m hardly a fan of his, I respect his 1st Amendments rights. The speech police are in full force, next, the thought police, boo… --- ## [Mammals, Tongues and Earth Worms.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammals-tongues-and-earth-worms/232087)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammals-tongues-and-earth-worms/232087 "2004-03-02T16:30:40Z")
From Cecil Adams’ column 12-Apr-1974: Cite. Now, I know Cecil Adams was probably joking here. So whatever he says has to be put in that context. But aren’t earth worms mammals? And do earth worms have anything even re… --- ## [Of Coupons & Trading Stamps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-coupons-trading-stamps/230029)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-coupons-trading-stamps/230029 "2004-03-02T16:26:37Z")
Cecil’s column on coupon value (see link provided) http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_329c.html lacks some explanation. Like, why don’t trading stamps show a value? (And, who even has trading stamps today???) U… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=193) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=195)