# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=198 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 199 --- ## [Applesource](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applesource/224739)
**Author:** [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applesource/224739 "2004-01-22T13:31:11Z")
Apparently I lost my connection right as I was starting this thread. From Dex’s Johnny Appleseed column: LOL! Good one. My sources show only 127,296 square miles in all of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana, so he mus… --- ## ['Flesh-colored' in John the Conqueroo column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-colored-in-john-the-conqueroo-column/225329)
**Author:** [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flesh-colored-in-john-the-conqueroo-column/225329 "2004-01-22T00:00:43Z")
Not to get all PC on Cecil’s, um, tuckus, but I’m having a little trouble interpreting in the column “What is the “John the Conqueroo” made famous by blues Singers?” http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_318.html ‘… --- ## [Today's D & D rerun](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-d-d-rerun/221942)
**Author:** [@doomraisin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doomraisin)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-d-d-rerun/221942 "2004-01-20T23:31:10Z")
September 26, 1980? C’mon, when was the real date? He’s talking about personal computers and Pentium chips in this thing, so it surely isn’t 1980. --- ## [Do decapitated heads briefly remain conscious? Cecil: No. Languille: You called?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-decapitated-heads-briefly-remain-conscious-cecil-no-languille-you-called/218128)
**Author:** [@armaghetto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armaghetto)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-decapitated-heads-briefly-remain-conscious-cecil-no-languille-you-called/218128 "2004-01-18T21:54:36Z")
So in this column: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_221a.html Cecil puts forth “…the fatal blow in a beheading induces immediate unconsciousness, even though the brain may not actually expire for several minutes.… --- ## [Smiles and frowns, more or less](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiles-and-frowns-more-or-less/224798)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smiles-and-frowns-more-or-less/224798 "2004-01-18T20:49:29Z")
Less muscles? Less muscles? I never thought I’d see the day when Cecil would use this sort of fractured grammer. --- ## [What is the plural of "penis"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-plural-of-penis/223637)
**Author:** [@tccIII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tccIII)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-plural-of-penis/223637 "2004-01-18T01:35:04Z")
What a wonderful answer! Thanks for being careful about Latin and other plurals but also acknowledging that usage over the years means that sometimes ‘incorrect’ forms are to be preferred. --- ## [Eyebrow raised ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrow-raised/224680)
**Author:** [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2004, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyebrow-raised/224680 "2004-01-17T03:22:22Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/meyebrowmites.html “While debating the existence of bedbugs …”? What’s the debate, that they’re a conspiracy of mattress makers? --- ## ["Long Winded"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-winded/224762)
**Author:** [@sudont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sudont)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2004, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-winded/224762 "2004-01-16T15:00:07Z")
Dear SDSTAFF Dex, Please continue to be “long-winded” in your answers. Let the complainers watch TV. --- ## [Fabulous Answer! (but...nuncle?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-answer-but-nuncle/223714)
**Author:** [@Petermatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petermatt)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-answer-but-nuncle/223714 "2004-01-16T07:52:35Z")
What a joy to read, with an abundance of both wit and erudition! I’m particularly thankful for all the additional information not specifically called for in the original question. Obviously, “bibliophage” bubbles over … --- ## [The origin of the term 86'd](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-the-term-86d/214424)
**Author:** [@DDuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DDuffy)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-the-term-86d/214424 "2004-01-15T18:06:35Z")
The most historically verifiable origin for 86’d comes from Delmonico’s, the first restaurant in New York City, in the 1830’s. (The restaurant opened in 1834) There were over 300 entrees on the menu and the 86th item was… --- ## [The biology of Eskimo people](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biology-of-eskimo-people/224595)
**Author:** [@gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gentle)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biology-of-eskimo-people/224595 "2004-01-15T16:10:08Z")
I find Cecil’s column Why do Eskimo people stay there? somewhat vague and incredible. I have been talking to a med student about this, and she’s amazed by the claims, but I’ve not been able to find any cites to back them… --- ## [Signorino's mole man and Ricola's alp man; separated at birth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signorinos-mole-man-and-ricolas-alp-man-separated-at-birth/224435)
**Author:** [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signorinos-mole-man-and-ricolas-alp-man-separated-at-birth/224435 "2004-01-14T20:44:21Z")
In another forum, (GQ? CS?) it was said that the man in the lumpish costume in the new Ricola® cough drop commercials was an Alp, perhaps the Matterhorn. Then I saw Slug Signorino’s rendering of a mole person. Mole peop… --- ## [The Mole People](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mole-people/223666)
**Author:** [@yaggayagga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yaggayagga)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mole-people/223666 "2004-01-12T14:31:36Z")
I’m very pleased that the film ‘Dark Days’ was mentioned in today’s Straight Dope, in reference to New York’s underground dwellers. Anyone with an iota of compassion would be well served to watch this film. It also featu… --- ## [Getting away from it all ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-away-from-it-all/223405)
**Author:** [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-away-from-it-all/223405 "2004-01-11T11:36:32Z")
Today’s classic column suggests 48 degrees, 30 minutes south, 120 degrees, 30 minutes west as a quiet spot. But look at the date on that column-4/15/77! What do you want to bet that someone’s built a damn floating hotel … --- ## ['Cincinnati Kid' poker hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cincinnati-kid-poker-hand/223222)
**Author:** [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2004, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cincinnati-kid-poker-hand/223222 "2004-01-10T12:04:24Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_309a.html This importance of this question escapes me. I usually find the entertainment-related questions pretty lacking in punch, compared to some good hard science. But even I… --- ## [Another "mole people" question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mole-people-question/223789)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2004, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-mole-people-question/223789 "2004-01-10T08:17:21Z")
The January 9 question about “mole people” makes this comparison: “homeless people who live in subway tunnels, sucking down electricity and other resources for free a la Ellison’s Invisible Man.” I never read Invisible … --- ## [the g-string thingyeah so,](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-g-string-thingyeah-so/223586)
**Author:** [@green\_ambrosia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_ambrosia)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-g-string-thingyeah-so/223586 "2004-01-10T02:52:47Z")
hi there. firstly, i have to say that i love reading all the stuff you write, it gives me something to do when i’m sitting here bored shitless. not that anything here is even remotely boring, but it just, you know, i don… --- ## [flipperless pinball machines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipperless-pinball-machines/223184)
**Author:** [@scholz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scholz)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flipperless-pinball-machines/223184 "2004-01-09T21:50:49Z")
Cecil, you should have mentioned Pachinko. It’s quite popular in Japan. Pachinko is a mixture between slot machine and pinball. The player is quite passive while playing pachinko. He or she is only controlling the spee… --- ## [Colitas in the Eagle's Hotel California-1997](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colitas-in-the-eagles-hotel-california-1997/201700)
**Author:** [@whit3hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whit3hawk)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2004, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colitas-in-the-eagles-hotel-california-1997/201700 "2004-01-09T06:53:16Z")
:slight\_smile: Somehow while driving on a dark desert highway with the cool wind in my hair, probably in a convertible with the top down, I can’t imagine the "Warm smell of colitas’ as being the tip of marijuana cigs. F… --- ## [What are the four common English words ending in "-dous"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185)
**Author:** [@suborbitcom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suborbitcom)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-four-common-english-words-ending-in-dous/223185 "2004-01-09T01:00:32Z")
Original staff report: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_236.html Cecil mentioned “Jeopardous” was no longer in the dictionary. I have found it in many modern dictionaries - not to mention dictionary.com. --- ## [Origin of the term "bullpen" in baseball](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-term-bullpen-in-baseball/222160)
**Author:** [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-term-bullpen-in-baseball/222160 "2004-01-08T22:18:05Z")
Nice column, except that in item #2, Cecil mentions that the infamous Black Sox players were able to see a jail cell firsthand. Only if they were in jail before their trial, because IIRC they were found not guilty in co… --- ## [Twice as Much Money - Where can I get some of that](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twice-as-much-money-where-can-i-get-some-of-that/223167)
**Author:** [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2004, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twice-as-much-money-where-can-i-get-some-of-that/223167 "2004-01-07T06:29:26Z")
I’ve got a couple - where do I apply? --- ## [Why isn't flash photography permitted in museums?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-flash-photography-permitted-in-museums/204081)
**Author:** [@Newtons\_Lawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtons_Lawyer)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-flash-photography-permitted-in-museums/204081 "2004-01-06T20:28:27Z")
If flash bulbs were still in use your argument would have some validity. It’s the year 2003 and if your sole source of income were from the sale of flashbulbs you would starve to death. If ultraviolet is such a threat th… --- ## [Exodus 38:4 in "Jews no longer sacrifice animals" report](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exodus-38-4-in-jews-no-longer-sacrifice-animals-report/221873)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exodus-38-4-in-jews-no-longer-sacrifice-animals-report/221873 "2004-01-06T16:00:58Z")
Dex’s Staff Report from last April at http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msacrifice.html, which deals with the slow changeover from animal sacrifice to prayer in Judaism, contains the following passage: I looked up Ex… --- ## [In what language do deaf people think?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-language-do-deaf-people-think/221128)
**Author:** [@mherbold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mherbold)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-language-do-deaf-people-think/221128 "2004-01-04T16:00:53Z")
Very well written article and nimbly avoids some heated topics such as oralism. One thing I would like to point out is that recent research shows that babies learn to process visual cues earlier than audio cues. What t… --- ## [Napoleon's Little Buddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleons-little-buddy/222272)
**Author:** [@Nick\_Kopernik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nick_Kopernik)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleons-little-buddy/222272 "2004-01-03T20:12:53Z")
First post here; not sure if you all get this picky, but was anybody else confused by the reference this week to Vignali’s descendants being in possession of Napoleon’s supposed penis? Cecil’s answer referred to Vignali… --- ## [Number of transatlantic flights before Lindbergh](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-transatlantic-flights-before-lindbergh/185501)
**Author:** [@baclightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baclightning)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-transatlantic-flights-before-lindbergh/185501 "2004-01-03T18:52:19Z")
In the excellent reply about flights across the Atlantic prior to Charles Lindberghs’ http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtransatlantic.html the author notes, “I’ve come across various estimates of exactly how many me… --- ## [You want victory cabbage with that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-victory-cabbage-with-that/221985)
**Author:** [@hipdadiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hipdadiddy)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-victory-cabbage-with-that/221985 "2004-01-03T01:20:24Z")
Does it depress anyone else as much as it does me that Cecil no longer has to go all the way back to World War I to dredge up instances of patriotic idiocy like renaming sauerkraut “Victory Cabbage”? http://www.straightd… --- ## [Classic, 7/3/81](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-7-3-81/221507)
**Author:** [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-7-3-81/221507 "2004-01-02T19:47:02Z")
(mailing of 12/26) http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_302a.html Obviously a typo by an acolyte, This was done between the 1968 and 1969 seasons, after “The Year of the Pitcher” where Yaz won a batting title with… --- ## [Gilded Age?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilded-age/219958)
**Author:** [@cindelicato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cindelicato)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilded-age/219958 "2004-01-02T02:29:13Z")
Please keep in mind: Princeton Economics Proffesor Paul Krugman is far from unbiased in his opnions of the current economy of the US. His assesments are routinely challenged and demonstrated false by Donald Luskin, al… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=197) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=199)