# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=195 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 196 --- ## [Is it true you don't have to pay the federal tax on your phone bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-you-dont-have-to-pay-the-federal-tax-on-your-phone-bill/231883)
**Author:** [@Fatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fatman)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-you-dont-have-to-pay-the-federal-tax-on-your-phone-bill/231883 "2004-03-02T16:22:28Z")
AT: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_335a.html it suggests you do not have to pay your fed tax on the phone bill. My understanding --from others-- the phone company just add the unpaid amount to your NEXT phone… --- ## [Interesting trivia not mentioned in the Chewing Gum history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-trivia-not-mentioned-in-the-chewing-gum-history/231991)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2004, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-trivia-not-mentioned-in-the-chewing-gum-history/231991 "2004-03-02T11:30:09Z")
While the history of chewing gum as reported is accurate, I’m surprised that a piece of interesting trivia was left unchewed. The report mentions that the inventor Thomas Adams was a key figure in the creation & marketi… --- ## [Possible error in guinea vs pound column?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-error-in-guinea-vs-pound-column/231292)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2004, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-error-in-guinea-vs-pound-column/231292 "2004-03-02T09:15:19Z")
Reading the Master’s column In Britain, what’s the difference between a pound and a guinea?, he states So, 1 guinea in '63 is 20 shillings, and then 1 guinea in '95 is 30 shillings. This is then called an “inflationar… --- ## [Sherlock Holmes and guineas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-guineas/231320)
**Author:** [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-and-guineas/231320 "2004-03-02T04:00:39Z")
In the column In Britain, what’s the difference between a pound and a guinea?, the questioner mentions that he came across these terms in Sherlock Holmes stories. The questioner could reasonable be left with the quest… --- ## [One other factor to consider that wasn't mentioned](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-other-factor-to-consider-that-wasnt-mentioned/231572)
**Author:** [@cantripnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantripnet)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-other-factor-to-consider-that-wasnt-mentioned/231572 "2004-02-29T02:24:05Z")
One other factor to consider that wasn’t mentioned was taxes and tax brackets They create an additional factor that is non trivial for prizes under 8 million or so. For example if you are single and win 3 million dolla… --- ## [Petition Against Media Consolidation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-against-media-consolidation/231619)
**Author:** [@FuzzyWuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyWuzzy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-against-media-consolidation/231619 "2004-02-28T14:37:25Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040227.html Cecil sez: \> Civic groups are still railing against the recent relaxation of federal rules \> that limit companies’ ability to own both newspapers and TV stations in \> t… --- ## [404 error on the pygmy article.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/404-error-on-the-pygmy-article/231442)
**Author:** [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/404-error-on-the-pygmy-article/231442 "2004-02-27T18:16:52Z")
As the title states, I get a 404 error when I try to read the “Are Pygmies human?” article. I do not get this error with the other articles. Here is the Url. http://www.straightdope.com/straightdope/columns/040220.htm… --- ## [Mr Jones Maybe More](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-jones-maybe-more/231387)
**Author:** [@kj1235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kj1235)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-jones-maybe-more/231387 "2004-02-27T00:48:43Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmrjones.html Something is happening here but I don’t what it is… but there’s got to be a connection b.n the Counting Crow’s Mr. Jones and Bob Dylan’s Ballad of a Thin Man. I read wh… --- ## [Picking up pennies...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picking-up-pennies/231084)
**Author:** [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picking-up-pennies/231084 "2004-02-26T16:17:35Z")
I’ve seen a couple of different treatments on this question, that generally use the same method of boiling it down, which is quite a good one. (Estimates on a plausible rate of picking up pennies will vary, of course.) … --- ## [Picking up Pennies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picking-up-pennies/231225)
**Author:** [@clarencex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarencex)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picking-up-pennies/231225 "2004-02-26T13:01:39Z")
This calculation is way off. It assumes that, since it takes 5 seconds to pick up a penny, you could pick up 720 in an hour. Try it. You’ll be huffing and puffing after about 50. Try bending over and picking up a p… --- ## [mojo / mojo wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mojo-mojo-wire/230783)
**Author:** [@Albrecht\_Conz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albrecht_Conz)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mojo-mojo-wire/230783 "2004-02-26T01:11:30Z")
In this column which I read a while ago (and for some reason or other the page is unavailable right now) there’s a discussion of the term “mojo.” The definition given there fits in well with the term “mojo wire” as used … --- ## [Sacagawea article and race descriptors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacagawea-article-and-race-descriptors/231151)
**Author:** [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sacagawea-article-and-race-descriptors/231151 "2004-02-25T21:04:50Z")
In bibliophage’s Sacagawea, he consistantly uses the term Indian to describe the people living in the US who were there before the Europeans got there. Then, in one sentence only, we get the term Native American: I’m … --- ## [Dex downplays Sacagawea's significance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dex-downplays-sacagaweas-significance/230278)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2004, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dex-downplays-sacagaweas-significance/230278 "2004-02-25T06:29:14Z")
In this staff report, Dex downplays the contributions of Sacagawea to the Lewis and Clark expedition. One key function that Dex mentions is that Sacagawea was, “important as a peace symbol”. Symbol shmybol. A female i… --- ## [Antimatter and the big bang?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antimatter-and-the-big-bang/229020)
**Author:** [@jkim78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkim78)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antimatter-and-the-big-bang/229020 "2004-02-24T18:21:27Z")
This thread regards the anti-matter item: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mantimatter.html and the supposed matter/antimatter asymmetry. I’ve had a kind of an idea? call it a theory if you will… for several years no… --- ## [What's with publishers' sweepstakes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-publishers-sweepstakes/230915)
**Author:** [@K43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K43)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-publishers-sweepstakes/230915 "2004-02-24T16:19:31Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_338.html Since the original column in 1984, direct mail has undergone several revolutions, in particular the sale of lists and, of course, SPAM. The name and address of someone w… --- ## [Pygmies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pygmies/230241)
**Author:** [@TheAndyChrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheAndyChrist)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pygmies/230241 "2004-02-24T15:57:34Z")
Greetings… In Cecil’s article about pygmies and whether or not they are a different species, Cecil says the following - \*\*Anyone reviewing Coon’s evidence, though, which mostly has to do with superficial physical charac… --- ## [What's the origin of the myth that cats can suck the breath out of babies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-myth-that-cats-can-suck-the-breath-out-of-babies/229630)
**Author:** [@rjewell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjewell)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-myth-that-cats-can-suck-the-breath-out-of-babies/229630 "2004-02-24T03:19:06Z")
I’ve got a theory about cats stealing babies breaths. Babies drink milk. Kitties love milk. Babies breaths smells like milk. Kitties try to find the source of the milky smell, they put their noses (and whole heads) int… --- ## [Maximum Bra Size Comercially available](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-bra-size-comercially-available/22072)
**Author:** [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-bra-size-comercially-available/22072 "2004-02-23T23:24:39Z")
Cecil once wrote about Maximum Bra Size Comercially available ( http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_087.html ) If he was correct then, he needs to update the answer now. I wear a 48 H. It is off the rack and not the… --- ## [murderers: butlers vs. gardeners](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murderers-butlers-vs-gardeners/229734)
**Author:** [@Albrecht\_Conz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albrecht_Conz)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murderers-butlers-vs-gardeners/229734 "2004-02-23T20:45:49Z")
I enjoyed the column on butlers as killers: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030926.html Still I wonder - in German the saying is “the killer is always the gardener.” Does this variant exist in English too? There is… --- ## [So let's say I wanted to make $50k a year](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-say-i-wanted-to-make-50k-a-year/229998)
**Author:** [@fgarriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fgarriel)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-lets-say-i-wanted-to-make-50k-a-year/229998 "2004-02-23T17:02:31Z")
… by clipping coupons. 1 coupon = 1/20 of 1 cent 20 coupons = 1 cent 1 dollar = 100 cents = 2000 coupons 50,000 dollars = 100,000,000 coupons That’s roughly 400,000 coupons a day if you take off weekends and 11 or s… --- ## [Questions about Noah's meat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-noahs-meat/229671)
**Author:** [@FabioClone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FabioClone)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-noahs-meat/229671 "2004-02-23T07:25:51Z")
This staff column raises some more questions for me. According to this, God gave Noah permission to eat animals right after disembarking from the ark. Now supposedly there were only two of each species left on Earth, r… --- ## [Jimi Hendrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix/229834)
**Author:** [@The\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dude)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2004, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimi-hendrix/229834 "2004-02-23T05:53:29Z")
Hi Everyone!! This is my first post here so I guess that makes me a newbie to these boards. Anyway, I’m a long time reader/fan of Cecil’s. I’ve been reading The Straight Dope ever since the only way to do so meant runn… --- ## [Pygmies and Belgium](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pygmies-and-belgium/230416)
**Author:** [@elestat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elestat)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pygmies-and-belgium/230416 "2004-02-23T05:25:15Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040220.html Please let me correct Cecil on one historical point. He cites the selling of a Pygmy slave by a Belgian official servant. By 1904, Congo was still a private property of … --- ## [Pre-Noah Vegetarians? Not So Fast ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-noah-vegetarians-not-so-fast/229076)
**Author:** [@nomoser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nomoser)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-noah-vegetarians-not-so-fast/229076 "2004-02-22T19:27:34Z")
The Staff reporter suggested that this question was an “easy one” – I’m not so sure. Here are a few reasons why it is anything but clear that, according to the Bible, all people before Noah were vegetarians. The Staf… --- ## [meat and vegetables](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-and-vegetables/229065)
**Author:** [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meat-and-vegetables/229065 "2004-02-22T19:20:10Z")
From Were Adam and Eve vegetarians? 17-Feb-2004 There are many translations of the bible, so we should make clear which translation is being used. The venerable King James Version (which I do not read) seems to use “… --- ## [Eating flesh with its life-blood in it.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-flesh-with-its-life-blood-in-it/230438)
**Author:** [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-flesh-with-its-life-blood-in-it/230438 "2004-02-22T14:47:44Z")
Referring to “Were Adam and Eve vegetarians?” http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/madamvegan.html I would have to question the idea that eating flesh with the lifeblood is no longer prohibited. “You are to abstain fr… --- ## [Reporting "illegal income" on your tax return](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reporting-illegal-income-on-your-tax-return/229024)
**Author:** [@The\_PHB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_PHB)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2004, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reporting-illegal-income-on-your-tax-return/229024 "2004-02-22T08:09:50Z")
Cecil’s classic column \[here\] says that the IRS invites people to declare embezzled or other illegal income because “income-tax evasion is often the only thing prosecutors can pin on big-time crooks”. In the UK, it does… --- ## [Tipping](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping/229628)
**Author:** [@binky1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/binky1)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tipping/229628 "2004-02-20T22:47:03Z")
Whether or not communist countries have successfully abolished the practice, New Zealand and Australia do not have a culture of tipping, despite having the same British heritage as the US. The only people who ever tip i… --- ## [Revising Classic Columns (Hendrix)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revising-classic-columns-hendrix/229828)
**Author:** [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/revising-classic-columns-hendrix/229828 "2004-02-20T19:13:38Z")
sorry if this seems overly picky… Cecil’s column about Jimi Hendrix releasing posthumous albums was posted today as a “classic.” It carried the date of 10-Oct-1975, but in the last paragraph he wrote: “You may remember… --- ## [Californium is cheap compared to this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/californium-is-cheap-compared-to-this/229002)
**Author:** [@discoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discoman)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/californium-is-cheap-compared-to-this/229002 "2004-02-20T00:21:27Z")
From a 1999 Nasa page Kinda puts that mint condition Spiderman #1 in it’s place, don’t it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=194) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=196)