# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=202 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 203 --- ## [Querty in Typewriters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/querty-in-typewriters/215065)
**Author:** [@Samanantics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Samanantics)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/querty-in-typewriters/215065 "2003-11-27T15:05:37Z")
I read in “The Art of Looking Sideways” by Alan Fletcher that the standard typewriter keyboard is in it’s present state because of a sales technique. The typewriter salesperson could demonstrate how “easy” the new equip… --- ## [Amazon Women](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-women/215533)
**Author:** [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-women/215533 "2003-11-27T14:52:05Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mamazon.html My theory: There’s something about women who kick ass that people find sexy and that captures the imagination. Witness Xena, Warrior Princess and Charlie’s Angels. 30… --- ## [Origin of "Roach"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-roach/213075)
**Author:** [@Mikeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeee)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-roach/213075 "2003-11-27T14:51:54Z")
I always assumed that a joint “butt” is called a roach because of it’s appearance. It’s small, brown and kind of shiny and therefore bears a striking resemblance to a cockroach. Link to column: What’s the origin of the… --- ## [Got/Gotten Dear Cecil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-gotten-dear-cecil/214670)
**Author:** [@LouSheehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouSheehan)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-gotten-dear-cecil/214670 "2003-11-26T15:17:26Z")
‘We’ve got ten thousand dollars for laboratory equipment.’ Why not just ‘We have ten thousand dollars for laboratory equipment’? Isn’t the word ‘got’ incorrect in the prior sentence? I recall a few years ago the Commo… --- ## [who wrote the bible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-the-bible/215342)
**Author:** [@nocturn36](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturn36)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-the-bible/215342 "2003-11-26T13:34:19Z")
I think to be fair to the authors we need to look back to ancient Sumeria. The Enuma Elish Tablets are in the British museum for those who are curious. They predate the bible by a min of 1000 years. The Atrahasis Story a… --- ## [Freezing hot water - reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freezing-hot-water-reprise/151791)
**Author:** [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freezing-hot-water-reprise/151791 "2003-11-25T17:35:54Z")
It brings me no pleasure to dredge up this old chestnut again. The article, “Which freezes faster, hot water or cold water?” http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_098b.html was, I thought, well tackled by Cecil. Th… --- ## [Tickling yourself](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tickling-yourself/181192)
**Author:** [@regbarkley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regbarkley)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tickling-yourself/181192 "2003-11-25T14:32:18Z")
This is the biggest bunch of BS I have ever heard. I can easily tickle myself, so can most ticklish people I know. If you can’t do it, you just aren’t trying hard enough. --- ## [Krishna is blue why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/krishna-is-blue-why/215102)
**Author:** [@One\_Bad\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_Bad_Kitty)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/krishna-is-blue-why/215102 "2003-11-25T12:24:50Z")
link to article: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980724.html If I remember correctly, isn’t the color blue associated with infinity and immortality? I could have sworn… :confused: --- ## [brown hair?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-hair/214982)
**Author:** [@Martijn\_Hover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martijn_Hover)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-hair/214982 "2003-11-24T15:31:50Z")
Here’s what I read in one of cecil’s columns http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_317b.html: it seems to me, we might just as plausibly conclude that the reason our hair is brown (most people, anyway) is that it enab… --- ## [witches and broomsticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/190839)
**Author:** [@Martijn\_Hover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martijn_Hover)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2003, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-broomsticks/190839 "2003-11-24T11:49:18Z")
Re Cecil’s column on witches and broomsticks: A little scandal has apparentlyu erupted recently concerning the Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 Broom that was for a short period sold as a toy to young fans of the Harry Potter bo… --- ## [one more thing about drinking seawater](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-thing-about-drinking-seawater/212132)
**Author:** [@gallant205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallant205)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-more-thing-about-drinking-seawater/212132 "2003-11-23T21:34:42Z")
Ok, i understand that drinking ANY amount of seawater will definitely dehydrate you, and so that’s out. So now we come to the situation of the poor soul who has diligently read today’s item and a year from now finds him… --- ## [DOG TAGS ?? why the notch on the end ??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-tags-why-the-notch-on-the-end/214856)
**Author:** [@l337\_h0b0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/l337_h0b0)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-tags-why-the-notch-on-the-end/214856 "2003-11-23T20:54:23Z")
OK now you got me you told us why we got dog tags and where they came from BUT what about the Notch ?? what is it for ?? --- ## [Boogers in general](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boogers-in-general/214760)
**Author:** [@Ivan\_Starokapustin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivan_Starokapustin)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boogers-in-general/214760 "2003-11-23T01:22:37Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbooger.html The article about DNA from boogers was lacking in only one thing. The omission form the answer of the contents of a boogers. What exactly do boogers consist of? Whats … --- ## [Debeaked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debeaked/214513)
**Author:** [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debeaked/214513 "2003-11-22T02:37:05Z")
In Cecil’s column on cage-free chickens, he states that both free-range and caged chickens are ‘typically debeaked’. :eek: D-d-debeaked? Does that mean what it sounds like? :eek: (This seemed to happen to Daffy Duck a … --- ## [Why the lame columns lately?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161)
**Author:** [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-lame-columns-lately/32161 "2003-11-22T02:06:57Z")
For about a year now, I have noticed that as I peruse old articles, they have been edited. Invariably it seems, the once-sharp wit has either been removed, or replaced with a lame parody of Leno-esque overexplication. N… --- ## [Bezos de-Boobed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bezos-de-boobed/214503)
**Author:** [@gluon1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluon1)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bezos-de-boobed/214503 "2003-11-21T17:32:49Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mamazon.html I’m not certain whence the idea about Jeff Bezos naming Amazon.com because he views the internet as “a great river of commerce”. A former high-up amazon staffer, q.v. htt… --- ## [On the term "86'd"...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919)
**Author:** [@jbock220](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbock220)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-term-86d/213919 "2003-11-21T00:59:51Z")
Interestingly enough, just last night a neighbor mentioned 86 coming from some WWII era plane. Just thought I’d throw that in there. --- ## [oddball keys on PC's.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-keys-on-pcs/214312)
**Author:** [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oddball-keys-on-pcs/214312 "2003-11-20T15:30:13Z")
Report “One suspects that some oddball keys were put on the PC keyboard (or to be more precise, included in the ASCII character set, most of which found its way onto the PC keyboard) because the developers figured they’… --- ## [Did Carlos Make It All Up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-carlos-make-it-all-up/148783)
**Author:** [@Artemius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemius)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-carlos-make-it-all-up/148783 "2003-11-18T19:17:10Z")
:slight\_smile: It may be true what Cecil says about Carlos making it all up. The topic certainly stirs up a lot of controversy. Why isn’t there similar bashing of the authors of the Bible? After all: --- ## [South Side of town](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-side-of-town/213786)
**Author:** [@Thrillhouse15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrillhouse15)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-side-of-town/213786 "2003-11-18T02:20:17Z")
When I was an undergrad in geography, we talked about how, in a large number of midsize cities (ie 20,000-200,000), the nicest part of town is often the west side, and the lowest income area is often the east side. This… --- ## [Hypnotizing Chickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypnotizing-chickens/213809)
**Author:** [@One\_Bad\_Kitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_Bad_Kitty)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypnotizing-chickens/213809 "2003-11-18T00:35:45Z")
I recently read your article about hypnotizing chickens (from back in '82). Like you said, it is true, and who could ever doubt you?!? Another method is to tuck their little head underneath their wing (tame chickens wi… --- ## [What is it about cats that makes them such good house pets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-cats-that-makes-them-such-good-house-pets/210049)
**Author:** [@singularity77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singularity77)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-about-cats-that-makes-them-such-good-house-pets/210049 "2003-11-17T17:54:44Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpetcats.html “given how little practical purpose most of them serve) as cats and dogs” I have to refute the context of this… Most urban dwellers probably own animals for the sheer … --- ## [Potemkin villages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potemkin-villages/213268)
**Author:** [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potemkin-villages/213268 "2003-11-17T14:44:10Z")
Well, color ME confused. I always thought “Potemkin villages” were a Soviet thing, albeit named after an 18th century bigwig who may or may not have invented them, so imagine my surprise upon reading a column entitled D… --- ## [thank you! folding paper 6+ times](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-folding-paper-6-times/213453)
**Author:** [@lizztigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizztigger)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2003, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-folding-paper-6-times/213453 "2003-11-17T09:20:09Z")
this really annoying girl in my school insisted you can’t fold paper more then 6 or 7 times, no matter how big it was, and i insisted you can, now this girl ir sooo annoying, she ALWAYS gets straight A’s and when she got… --- ## [Fish out of water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-out-of-water/207408)
**Author:** [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-out-of-water/207408 "2003-11-17T03:57:01Z")
For completeness, it should also be noted that fish are cold-blooded and humans are warm-blooded. All other things being equal, warm-blooded critters need more oxygen. --- ## [Sure, its all "mass hysteria"!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-its-all-mass-hysteria/206699)
**Author:** [@madrok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrok)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sure-its-all-mass-hysteria/206699 "2003-11-16T20:16:29Z")
The big hullabaloo about “mass hysteria” is a great overblown case of…mass hysteria! I don’t see people getting hysterical, do you? Its used as a cover for all sorts of nasty goings-on (e.g. child abuse, cult worship) … --- ## [cecil's answers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-answers/213505)
**Author:** [@Galo\_Aguirre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galo_Aguirre)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-answers/213505 "2003-11-16T17:06:35Z")
Quick question: Has Cecil ever answered a question with just a simple yes or no? And has he printed it just like that? Like for a very stupid question or something? I think it would be funny if somebody had wri… --- ## [Different Curves: Baseball v beach ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-curves-baseball-v-beach-ball/210843)
**Author:** [@OnesNZeros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OnesNZeros)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-curves-baseball-v-beach-ball/210843 "2003-11-15T14:13:25Z")
Why does a baseball break in the direction of the spin, but an air-filled ball like a beach ball break against the spin? Hypothesis #1. With such a low density, the leading face of the ball pushes (“frictions” for lack … --- ## [The Origin of OK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413)
**Author:** [@venusnair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/venusnair)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-ok/210413 "2003-11-15T13:56:23Z")
Regarding the info on OK, what heard was that during the early days of Ford, there used to be a Quality engineer called Otto Kraus, and after inspection, he used to sign his initials on the bonnet as OK. --- ## [Mary Magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-magdalene/210853)
**Author:** [@abeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abeck)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-magdalene/210853 "2003-11-13T22:32:04Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980918.html “Only in fairly recent times have people speculated that Mary and Jesus were lovers, e.g., The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (Baigent et al, 1982), the dream sequence in… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=201) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=203)