# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=203 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 204 --- ## [Swallowed by a Black Hole?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swallowed-by-a-black-hole/212221)
**Author:** [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swallowed-by-a-black-hole/212221 "2003-11-13T19:29:53Z")
What would happen if you were swallowed by a black hole? Cecil says: "For reasons that I confess are not entirely clear to me, when a black hole grows to enormous mass, it becomes less dense. " Basically, the radius of… --- ## [pathological liars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pathological-liars/212626)
**Author:** [@cat303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cat303)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pathological-liars/212626 "2003-11-12T18:37:40Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_094b.html Hi, I found this link whilst researching what leads people to lie, sometimes when its obvious they are lying. My partner (ex!) is trying to seek help for this problem a… --- ## [Thoughts on the Holy Grail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-the-holy-grail/166462)
**Author:** [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-the-holy-grail/166462 "2003-11-11T15:00:19Z")
In his 1993 book The Sign and the Seal : The Quest for the Lost Ark of the Covenant, Graham Hancock asserts that the the word grail, or graal is actually a referance to the Ark of the Covenant itself. I highly suggest… --- ## [Petard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petard/211720)
**Author:** [@kapntoad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapntoad)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petard/211720 "2003-11-11T12:43:24Z")
I’m surprised that none of the articles I’ve read on Le Petomaine mentioned that his name apparently translated to “The Fartist”. What does it mean to be hoisted on your own petard? --- ## [Kennedy's \_Profiles in Courage\_](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kennedys-_profiles-in-courage_/211889)
**Author:** [@OkProf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OkProf)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2003, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kennedys-_profiles-in-courage_/211889 "2003-11-11T08:07:19Z")
Uhm, Cecil, not to be picky, but that’s spelled “principle controversy.” A “principal” is something entirely different. But since you know everything, you might want to alert the folks at Webster and American Heritage an… --- ## [How to Avoid Being Struck by Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-avoid-being-struck-by-lightning/209785)
**Author:** [@weatherman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/weatherman)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-avoid-being-struck-by-lightning/209785 "2003-11-11T04:42:54Z")
A certain Rolf and I were discussing the effects of the aforementioned Lightning. We talked of Ball Lightning, St. Elmo’s Fire, and the eerie static feeling that victims notice before a strike. What would happen if yo… --- ## [old stuff - things crawling in ears](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-stuff-things-crawling-in-ears/212338)
**Author:** [@hcellie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hcellie)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-stuff-things-crawling-in-ears/212338 "2003-11-10T14:13:51Z")
i was checking out the archives today.i ran into the story about thingys climbing in peoples ears,and,while several irritating ear invaders were mentioned i think the most dangerous one was left out.Known as Ceti Eels,th… --- ## [Force Fields](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/force-fields/209919)
**Author:** [@Zer0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zer0)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/force-fields/209919 "2003-11-10T13:51:55Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mforcefield.html After reading this article, I thought I had heard of a force field being created in a 3M factory. The guy that discovered it was David Swenson. http://www.amasci.co… --- ## [How and why cats purr](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-and-why-cats-purr/211040)
**Author:** [@Djinna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Djinna)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-and-why-cats-purr/211040 "2003-11-09T19:28:45Z")
Why do cats purr? Why do Cheshire cats grin? Or, page 7 of the paperback edition of The Straight Dope (1986 edition, at least). I’m not really so concerned with the “why” part of the question - the utility of a purrin… --- ## [In like Flynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-like-flynn/211707)
**Author:** [@Craig234](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craig234)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-like-flynn/211707 "2003-11-08T15:39:30Z")
I saw the column on the origin of ‘In like Flynn’, but I’ve seen many uses of the similar ‘In like Flint’, enough to warrant a followup discussion about this alternative. I’d heard that it referred to the James Coburn mo… --- ## [First Caesarian Section](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-caesarian-section/211673)
**Author:** [@kiwiboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwiboy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-caesarian-section/211673 "2003-11-07T17:45:45Z")
Just a minor commment on Cecil’s old column on Caesarian Sections . Since 1976 the name of the skilful surgeon who performed a successful C-seciton has now been revealed to be Jacob Nufer who successfully performed the … --- ## [Miss Lillian](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-lillian/211625)
**Author:** [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-lillian/211625 "2003-11-07T17:23:57Z")
No doubt this should have been titled “Missing Lillian” --- ## [Curve Balls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curve-balls/210679)
**Author:** [@LeRoy\_Alaways](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeRoy_Alaways)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curve-balls/210679 "2003-11-07T17:05:10Z")
Wow, I made the straight dope. If anyone would like a PDF of my dissertation please e-mail me at lwalaways@mac.com As for the story. I left out the best part of the R.W. Madden in the New Yorker. He also included the… --- ## [all about roundworms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-about-roundworms/211809)
**Author:** [@lemonade366](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lemonade366)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-about-roundworms/211809 "2003-11-07T16:18:49Z")
Hi Cecil, I was reading your column with the guy who (erroneously) asked if ringworms evacuate the body while someone is under anesthesia- here’s the link (it’s at the bottom of the page): http://www.straightdope.com/co… --- ## [Microwave radiation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-radiation/211539)
**Author:** [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-radiation/211539 "2003-11-07T15:20:50Z")
Cecil’s latest mailbag certainly put my mind at rest, i’ve always been a little paranoid of Microwaves. The question remains though, what about when you open the oven door? Aren’t you exposed to the remaining (unabsorbe… --- ## [microwave radiation in countries where electrical frequency is different](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-radiation-in-countries-where-electrical-frequency-is-different/210869)
**Author:** [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 7, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-radiation-in-countries-where-electrical-frequency-is-different/210869 "2003-11-07T07:16:49Z")
QED did a nice job of explaining the risk of microwave radiation in this column: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmicromesh.html But back in 2001, I posted the following question: http://boards.straightdope.com/sd… --- ## [Mary Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-smith/209469)
**Author:** [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-smith/209469 "2003-11-05T23:41:05Z")
In column http://www.straightdope.com/columns/031024.html The Illustrious Master finishes off with the comment If you have a look at the US census on boy’s names http://www.census.gov/genealogy/names/dist.male.first yo… --- ## [Boogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boogie/210851)
**Author:** [@flycow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flycow)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boogie/210851 "2003-11-05T11:57:51Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_288.html Thank you so much for the etymology of bugger and bogeyman. May I put my 5 cents in too? Nearly all the terms for music that came out of the black community mean origin… --- ## [Are horses also sent to dog food makers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-horses-also-sent-to-dog-food-makers/209136)
**Author:** [@trekiejc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trekiejc)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2003, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-horses-also-sent-to-dog-food-makers/209136 "2003-11-05T03:57:55Z")
Hello, I read the artical Are horses really made in to glue? and was wondering, Do horses get put in those cans of dog food? I noticed that when my dog gets that food, he finds something that crunches in it sometimes.… --- ## [Handwriting and graphology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handwriting-and-graphology/209690)
**Author:** [@aadenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aadenny)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handwriting-and-graphology/209690 "2003-11-04T23:18:17Z")
I’m British, and I think I’m fairly good about identifying the handwriting of mainstream Americans. Or at least, Anglo-Saxon Americans - and most of my girlfriends (and many, many adult friends) have been American, for… --- ## [Cecil Cited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-cited/210274)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-cited/210274 "2003-11-04T20:14:25Z")
Evan Morris, normally the all-knowing proprietor of The Word Detective column, decided in the current (Oct. 26, 2003) column to bow to his superior when it came to the origin of “pompatus”. http://www.word-detective.com… --- ## [What does "wau" mean in place names like Milwaukee, Waukegan, and Waupaca?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wau-mean-in-place-names-like-milwaukee-waukegan-and-waupaca/210231)
**Author:** [@gmeazell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gmeazell)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-wau-mean-in-place-names-like-milwaukee-waukegan-and-waupaca/210231 "2003-11-04T06:06:07Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_286b.html In Cecil’s answer, he states that all North American Indian languages were oral. I’ve always been told that the Cherokee language was written. Were the people telling m… --- ## [Curve Balls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curve-balls/210653)
**Author:** [@sherlock100N](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sherlock100N)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curve-balls/210653 "2003-11-04T02:30:37Z")
I remember seeing a demonstration on Ripley’s or some such show that proved the ball does actually curve. A barrier was placed between the pitcher and catcher such that only if the ball curved could it make it over the … --- ## [Chance of rain 'always' correct](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-rain-always-correct/210962)
**Author:** [@wicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wicket)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-rain-always-correct/210962 "2003-11-03T15:26:57Z")
Cecil, How careless to have opened yourself up with such absolutes as “On the question of how reliable the figures are, the amazing truth is that they are absolutely 100 percent reliable all the time”. Not to be nitpic… --- ## [Curve Balls and Middle Relief](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curve-balls-and-middle-relief/210652)
**Author:** [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curve-balls-and-middle-relief/210652 "2003-11-03T01:48:30Z")
From this week’s column: Yeah, maybe Grady Little will take that lesson with him to his next job, eh? --- ## [Multiple Personality Disorder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-personality-disorder/205329)
**Author:** [@JonathanTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonathanTheRed)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-personality-disorder/205329 "2003-11-02T21:35:16Z")
I’m surprised that Cecil would write a column on MPD/DID without mentioning State of Wisconsin v. Mark A. Peterson. Peterson met Sarah (last name withheld), an alleged sufferer of MPD, on June 9, 1990. Two days later, h… --- ## [Camel, Eye Of Needle.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-eye-of-needle/205304)
**Author:** [@steve\_jonesuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steve_jonesuk)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-eye-of-needle/205304 "2003-11-02T21:07:44Z")
There’s probably already a thread on this. But I didn’t see one. The original discussion: The Eye Of The Needle was the nickname of a small gate-within-the-main-gate on the entrance to walled cities. The assertion was m… --- ## [multi-orgasmic men?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-orgasmic-men/209798)
**Author:** [@Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyger)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-orgasmic-men/209798 "2003-11-02T00:43:25Z")
In the column “Who gets the most pleasure from sex, the man or the woman?” (05-Jan-1990: an oldie, but a goodie) Cecil states that ‘women can have multiple orgasms without having to rest in between’ and ‘Young men can ha… --- ## [The Origin of Horny](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-horny/208925)
**Author:** [@Qburn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qburn)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-origin-of-horny/208925 "2003-11-01T17:22:42Z")
This thread makes reference to phallic examples in ‘western’ culture. Phallic references are prolific in many cultures. This is a picture of chac , the important Mayan rain god. Many Mayan walls are adorned with multi… --- ## [Viral contagion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viral-contagion/210131)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viral-contagion/210131 "2003-11-01T13:41:01Z")
Cece is just wrong. For many a viral crud you are most contagious a day or more before clinical symptoms occurs … a week for parainfluenza, and through peak symptoms. Source- American Academy of Pediatrics “Red Book” 20… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=202) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=204)