# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=2 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 3 --- ## ["Hide My Profile" option will be disabled Sunday, 7/14/2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hide-my-profile-option-will-be-disabled-sunday-7-14-2024/978175)
**Author:** [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2023, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hide-my-profile-option-will-be-disabled-sunday-7-14-2024/978175 "2023-03-13T19:15:14Z")
We’re going to disable the “Hide My Profile” option on Sunday, 7/14/2024, at roughly 8pm CDT. After this time, you will no longer be able to hide your profile and any optional information you’ve posted in it will be pub… --- ## [Straight Dope 2/3/2023: Followup - Did baby boomers wreck the planet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-2-3-2023-followup-did-baby-boomers-wreck-the-planet/979267)
**Author:** [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2023, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-2-3-2023-followup-did-baby-boomers-wreck-the-planet/979267 "2023-03-10T06:33:37Z")
Followup – Did baby boomers wreck the planet? Reducing the question to “Paul Ehrlich was wrong, we have tons of stuff actually!” is shallow, tendentious, and stupid … Terrible, shoddy work all around. – HMS\_Irruncible T… --- ## [Straight Dope 2/17/2023: Why does an induction cooktop heat iron and steel pots but not copper or aluminum ones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-2-17-2023-why-does-an-induction-cooktop-heat-iron-and-steel-pots-but-not-copper-or-aluminum-ones/979949)
**Author:** [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2023, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-2-17-2023-why-does-an-induction-cooktop-heat-iron-and-steel-pots-but-not-copper-or-aluminum-ones/979949 "2023-03-04T06:17:26Z")
Why does an induction cooktop heat iron and steel pots but not copper or aluminum ones? Because, as metals go, iron and steel – ferrous metals, to get technical – are crappy conductors. Not saying that’s the most elegan… --- ## [Evaporation from bottles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evaporation-from-bottles/980020)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evaporation-from-bottles/980020 "2023-02-24T23:12:51Z")
OH MIGHTY UNCA CECIL! I posted this a few years back, & the question decended into quibbling, with no good, convincing answer. So now, I submit it to you, Oh Font Of Universal Wisdom and Part-Time Yo-Yo Demonstrator. … --- ## [Questions for Cecil--Chinese Balloon shootdowns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-cecil-chinese-balloon-shootdowns/979662)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-cecil-chinese-balloon-shootdowns/979662 "2023-02-16T00:23:10Z")
Why are we wasting missiles? A quick burst of cannon fire would trash them as well, and be cheaper. --- ## [Cecil's New Mailbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-new-mailbag/979447)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2023, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-new-mailbag/979447 "2023-02-13T10:37:52Z")
Where is Cecil’s new mailbag? Each of the new columns ends with the following: After some time off to recharge, Cecil Adams is back! The Master can answer any question. Post questions or topics for investigation in th… --- ## [Straight Dope 1/27/2023: Could artificial intelligence replace journalists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-1-27-2023-could-artificial-intelligence-replace-journalists/978896)
**Author:** [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Replies:** 183\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2023, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-1-27-2023-could-artificial-intelligence-replace-journalists/978896 "2023-02-10T00:35:36Z")
Could artificial intelligence replace journalists? You think the main threat from artificial intelligence is that it will destroy humanity? Obviously you’re not a journalist. On hearing that the AI R&D lab OpenAI had la… --- ## [Straight Dope 1/20/2023: Have baby boomers wrecked the planet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-1-20-2023-have-baby-boomers-wrecked-the-planet/978508)
**Author:** [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Replies:** 225\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2023, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-1-20-2023-have-baby-boomers-wrecked-the-planet/978508 "2023-02-09T17:45:48Z")
Have baby boomers wrecked the planet? Eh, I’m not saying we didn’t scuff it up some. I feel bad about the Amazon rain forest, and the grandkids have been on my case about letting pollution in Asia get so gross. But give… --- ## [Straight Dope 1/13/2023: Is longtermism the world's most dangerous belief system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-1-13-2023-is-longtermism-the-worlds-most-dangerous-belief-system/978173)
**Author:** [@Cecil\_Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cecil_Adams)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-1-13-2023-is-longtermism-the-worlds-most-dangerous-belief-system/978173 "2023-02-03T18:17:48Z")
Is longtermism really the most dangerous secular belief system in the world today? Most dangerous? Piffle. Longtermism – in its extreme form, the idea that threats like evil robots destroying humanity should get priorit… --- ## [Other ways to show 3-D movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-ways-to-show-3-d-movies/246185)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-ways-to-show-3-d-movies/246185 "2023-01-13T01:34:13Z")
In this article http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_369.html Cecil mentions different color lenses. Other ways have been introduced (tho they still rely on showing each eye slightly different images) One is to use … --- ## [Use of 'esquire' illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-esquire-illegal/235679)
**Author:** [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2022, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-esquire-illegal/235679 "2022-11-26T09:25:43Z")
I found out recently that a friend of mine from a while back has passed his local bar (without buying a round!) and joked about “Mr. \, esq.” I was told then that the use of “esquire” in the United States is ac… --- ## [Cecil's Inuit snowfall sentence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-inuit-snowfall-sentence/974984)
**Author:** [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-inuit-snowfall-sentence/974984 "2022-11-17T20:04:04Z")
Long ago, the Master was working on a sentence regarding his feelings on snow. Here’s a short snippet of the column. ''In my spare time I’ve been attempting to construct an Eskimo sentence in my basement, such as will be… --- ## [Merhan Nasseri (stuck in Paris airport)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merhan-nasseri-stuck-in-paris-airport/667906)
**Author:** [@BobbyC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobbyC)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merhan-nasseri-stuck-in-paris-airport/667906 "2022-11-13T21:23:08Z")
Just reread the Aug 20, 1998 Straight Dope column about this poor guy who had been, at that time, stuck living in the Paris airport for the past 11 years, because, after having had his papers stolen, he was a man without… --- ## [Surgery to make one taller](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-to-make-one-taller/971637)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-to-make-one-taller/971637 "2022-10-05T19:03:29Z")
I searched but couldn’t find the original article. IIRC, someone asked if there were a surgery to make oneself taller. Cecil said that there was but it wouldn’t be used just to make someone a little taller. Times have… --- ## ["Fifth Third Column" mentioned in BoingBoing comments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-third-column-mentioned-in-boingboing-comments/971522)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-third-column-mentioned-in-boingboing-comments/971522 "2022-09-13T23:32:33Z")
This column is referred to in these comments (the comments to this article) --- ## [Lyrics of Eagle's song Hotel California](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-of-eagles-song-hotel-california/459488)
**Author:** [@deedeewp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deedeewp)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2022, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lyrics-of-eagles-song-hotel-california/459488 "2022-08-25T17:35:22Z")
In this song, reference is made to ‘pink champagne on ice’ and I remeber reading somewhere that this was a drug for treatment of schizophrenia, that had to be injected cold or it was too thick to go through the hypodermi… --- ## [Fatberg column and household grease](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fatberg-column-and-household-grease/807523)
**Author:** [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2022, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fatberg-column-and-household-grease/807523 "2022-08-23T17:52:01Z")
In today’s column, Cecil points out that one primary issue is the amount of grease being dumped into the sewer system. Even before I was old enough to start cooking, my mother made it very clear that excess grease and oi… --- ## [Cecil Adams Is More Than One Person. Right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-adams-is-more-than-one-person-right/967429)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-adams-is-more-than-one-person-right/967429 "2022-08-18T18:01:40Z")
Okay, his identity will never be revealed. We and I have no problem with that. But some safe assumptions. ‘He’ is obviously more than one person. Right? Probably like, perhaps, a group of scholars right? And I unfortun… --- ## [Coca-Cola Torture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-torture/329647)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 7, 2022, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-torture/329647 "2022-07-07T01:42:25Z")
This column talked about the Coca Cola company and murder in Columbia. I remember someone telling me a tale many years ago about how in Mexcan jails the cops would get confessions by tying someone to a chair, tipping it… --- ## [Myopia and Eyestrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myopia-and-eyestrain/643212)
**Author:** [@jbaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbaker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myopia-and-eyestrain/643212 "2022-06-12T22:04:53Z")
Twenty years on, what’s the straight dope on myopia and eyestrain? See Will sitting too close to the TV, reading with bad light, etc., ruin your eyes? - The Straight Dope. --- ## [Carob & Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carob-chocolate/237561)
**Author:** [@Qburn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qburn)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carob-chocolate/237561 "2022-06-03T20:01:47Z")
In Is carob really healthier than chocolate? , this 25 year old article misses the fact that chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, a metabolite of caffeine. Carob contains no caffeine and only trace amounts of th… --- ## [Tube through the Earth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tube-through-the-earth/508787)
**Author:** [@gork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gork)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tube-through-the-earth/508787 "2022-05-16T22:26:51Z")
I performed this calculation about 10 years ago. If I recall correctly, it was a surprisingly short trip - 13 minutes or 23 or 32 or something like that. The velocity at the center was incredible. The other assumption yo… --- ## [What does the G in G-string stand for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870)
**Author:** [@LFenwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LFenwick)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2022, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-the-g-in-g-string-stand-for/211870 "2022-05-15T20:00:30Z")
I was always under the impression that is stood for the Grafenberg area, or G-spot, as in Dr. Ernst Grafenberg’s research findings—?:wink: Link to column: What does the G in G-string stand for? – CKDH --- ## [Falling trough the center of the earth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falling-trough-the-center-of-the-earth/203730)
**Author:** [@ras2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ras2000)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/falling-trough-the-center-of-the-earth/203730 "2022-05-14T22:14:00Z")
In the column http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_165.html, \*\* the Man\*\* says that one will eventually stop at the center, due to air resistance. But since air resistance is a function of (among other things) the spe… --- ## [Passenger landing a plane safely](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passenger-landing-a-plane-safely/648352)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passenger-landing-a-plane-safely/648352 "2022-05-11T16:30:26Z")
Column: Has a passenger ever landed a plane after the pilot was incapacitated? - The Straight Dope I wonder if there are any examples of the opposite–an inexperienced passenger taking the controls in an emergency, lead… --- ## [Disneyworld legal status](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyworld-legal-status/963082)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2022, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disneyworld-legal-status/963082 "2022-04-20T22:56:11Z")
Wasn’t there a column that touched upon Disneyworld’s legal status? A recent news item reminded me of it: --- ## [How do they test placebos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-test-placebos/962548)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2022, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-test-placebos/962548 "2022-04-18T12:45:15Z")
I’d be surprised if no one has asked Cecil this, but I can find nothing on it. How do they test placebos? How are they sure that, say, a sugar pill, will have no effect on the condition they’re investigating? They can… --- ## [When Cecil Adams is wrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-cecil-adams-is-wrong/952302)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-cecil-adams-is-wrong/952302 "2022-03-15T18:31:17Z")
Did Cecil Adams ever offer a mea culpa for any article? A recent topic on this subject was whisked away to the cornfields. I have saved some of the (non-offending) replies. :slight\_smile: I too thought he soft-pe… --- ## [Time Travel is impossible because](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-is-impossible-because/829218)
**Author:** [@Stylkng](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stylkng)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-is-impossible-because/829218 "2022-01-22T15:28:13Z")
Time travel is impossible If we were to travel ahead in time because of the constant evolution of bacterias and virusus we would be attacked and killed by bacteria that our bodies couldnt handle if we traveled back in … --- ## [Browns gas for ICE - not totally without merit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/browns-gas-for-ice-not-totally-without-merit/945924)
**Author:** [@wils2021](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wils2021)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/browns-gas-for-ice-not-totally-without-merit/945924 "2021-08-30T17:02:31Z")
Dear Cecil, I have something stuck in my craw (not claw, CRAW!). Years ago you debunked the notion of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen into brown’s gas using a cars electrical system, only to reburn it for better… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=3)