# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=21 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 22 --- ## [Are 150 people killed each year by falling coconuts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-150-people-killed-each-year-by-falling-coconuts/750533)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-150-people-killed-each-year-by-falling-coconuts/750533 "2016-03-31T23:49:31Z")
Link to column. Wikipedia has a pretty detailed article on Death by coconut (nice shout out to the Dope too.) It lists 16 documented instances of death by falling coconut between 1777 and 2013. --- ## [St. Patrick/Snakes Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-patrick-snakes-tangent/749446)
**Author:** [@Little\_Brother\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Brother_1)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2016, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/st-patrick-snakes-tangent/749446 "2016-03-30T21:20:56Z")
Re: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2192/if-st-patrick-didnt-chase-the-snakes-out-of-ireland-what-did I can’t boil this down to a concise “question”, but I’m still not sure I understand how Ireland remained re… --- ## [Buying Cock-Ale.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-cock-ale/750612)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2016, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-cock-ale/750612 "2016-03-30T05:17:54Z")
I honestly don’t know if this is the right section of the boards for this. But as you can see, in What’s the origin of “cocktail”? by SDStaff Gaudere, she describes Cock-Ale: Anyways, I have no intention of making it f… --- ## [More to that "newscastery sound" than just accent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-to-that-newscastery-sound-than-just-accent/750136)
**Author:** [@Meyerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meyerson)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-to-that-newscastery-sound-than-just-accent/750136 "2016-03-27T10:51:03Z")
As a radio news guy who’s spent a career encouraging journalists to sound like they’re talking, not reading – because people who sound like they’re talking about something they know have more credibility than people who … --- ## [Newscasters Voice.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newscasters-voice/749498)
**Author:** [@wreckage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wreckage)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2016, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newscasters-voice/749498 "2016-03-22T11:52:58Z")
I shall defend the English language whenever necessary! “… the rest of us slobs;…” AAAaaarrrgh!! …the rest of WE slobs… please. :wink: --- ## [If I hadn't killed 52 flies as a child?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-hadnt-killed-52-flies-as-a-child/749635)
**Author:** [@markthemechanic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markthemechanic)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-hadnt-killed-52-flies-as-a-child/749635 "2016-03-21T03:30:36Z")
I really liked this topic. I was actually looking for an answer as to how many flies there are on earth, the answer turned out to be about 17 quadrillion but that became beside the point when I also noticed on the first … --- ## [Typo in Hospital Wastewater column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typo-in-hospital-wastewater-column/747198)
**Author:** [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typo-in-hospital-wastewater-column/747198 "2016-03-20T20:48:56Z")
Dump the affluent into the sewer system? Ah, no. Just no. --- ## [Newscasters' accents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newscasters-accents/749379)
**Author:** [@Richmonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richmonde)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2016, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newscasters-accents/749379 "2016-03-19T11:52:08Z")
But, but - Midatlantic is UK DJs trying to sound American! People used to fuss about it a lot, stopped now. Other things to worry about. PS Nobody has called anybody “old chep” for years, if they ever did! Brits trying t… --- ## [Units of Measurement and E=M](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/units-of-measurement-and-e-m/748760)
**Author:** [@Murfyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murfyn)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2016, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/units-of-measurement-and-e-m/748760 "2016-03-18T22:51:38Z")
The c in the famous equation is the speed of light, typically in kilometers per second. If the unit employed is, instead, lightyears per year, c squared is one times one, or one. Thus, E=M. Which is basically what the… --- ## [what if humans became cold blooded](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-humans-became-cold-blooded/748607)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-humans-became-cold-blooded/748607 "2016-03-18T22:13:31Z")
Cecil mentions hibernation but overlooks a more immediately useful aspect of ectothermy in space: reduced food and oxygen requirements. In space vessels and stations the temperature has to be controlled 100% artificial… --- ## [What's the secret of getting hard-boiled eggs to peel easily?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-secret-of-getting-hard-boiled-eggs-to-peel-easily/749230)
**Author:** [@Skyhawk37](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skyhawk37)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-secret-of-getting-hard-boiled-eggs-to-peel-easily/749230 "2016-03-18T18:40:55Z")
Answer: Salt. put a couple of pinches of salt per dozen in the water pre-boiling. --- ## [What is the source of estrogen in wastewater?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-source-of-estrogen-in-wastewater/748412)
**Author:** [@The\_Waz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Waz)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-source-of-estrogen-in-wastewater/748412 "2016-03-10T06:35:24Z")
What happens to hospital wastewater? - The Straight Dope brings up an issue that has puzzled me about the secondary effects of estrogen in the waste stream. If 12,000,000 women in the US are taking the maximum daily dos… --- ## [Say it's ain't so, Paul!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-its-aint-so-paul/746889)
**Author:** [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-its-aint-so-paul/746889 "2016-03-08T17:37:30Z")
Was Paul Bunyan a fraud? Is there really a distinction between folklore and fakelore? The Red River Lumber Company is long gone. There is no copyright. No one can claim Paul Bunyan as their own (although I’m sure Disney… --- ## [Begging the question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/begging-the-question/747779)
**Author:** [@f.coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/f.coli)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/begging-the-question/747779 "2016-03-07T02:07:15Z")
Regarding topic #2 at http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2393/would-i-find-vaudeville-on-a-map: I think insisting on the original meaning of “to beg the question” is a lost cause. It is just too common for people… --- ## [Papal Infallibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papal-infallibility/747480)
**Author:** [@blorgsnarfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blorgsnarfer)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/papal-infallibility/747480 "2016-03-03T20:58:01Z")
I agree with Cecil in part, and disagree in part. Papal infallibility is limited in the following way: The Pope must a priori declare a statement to be infallible, otherwise it is not, unless he states it anew and decl… --- ## [ATM fees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-fees/747692)
**Author:** [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atm-fees/747692 "2016-03-02T02:06:59Z")
article Some banks have started not having any physical locations and no bank owned ATM and they refund any ATM fees which is awesome. --- ## [How has emergency vehicle siren technology changed since 1977?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-emergency-vehicle-siren-technology-changed-since-1977/746154)
**Author:** [@chillycharlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chillycharlie)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-has-emergency-vehicle-siren-technology-changed-since-1977/746154 "2016-02-26T17:42:41Z")
I am trying to find proof that sirens are ineffective. The vast majority of the material I have found on Google seems to point to “a Department of Transportation study” into sirens. But this elusive study was done in 197… --- ## [Sex with an animal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-with-an-animal/746236)
**Author:** [@gejechpasu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gejechpasu)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2016, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-with-an-animal/746236 "2016-02-23T07:03:06Z")
Good evening, Simply wondering if any of your statistics take into consideration canine digital manipulation? Thanks! --- ## [Lemmings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemmings/746541)
**Author:** [@bertzpoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bertzpoet)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lemmings/746541 "2016-02-23T01:41:27Z")
I was in northern Finland a few years back and scattered all over an urban sidewalk and into the woods were dead lemmings. Perhaps it was a population crash, and such an event giving rise to the ‘suicide’ story. --- ## [If cars go electric](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-cars-go-electric/745978)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-cars-go-electric/745978 "2016-02-19T20:42:16Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3275/if-cars-go-electric-how-do-we-pay-for-highways-without-a-gas-tax Would a gas tax that’s a percentage of sale price, rather than per gallon, solve the problem? --- ## [Esperanto](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/esperanto/1676)
**Author:** [@DaveoRad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveoRad)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/esperanto/1676 "2016-02-18T14:04:10Z")
Thanks, Monty, for an interesting discussion of Esperanto ( http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mesperanto.html ). There were a couple of typos in the paragraph from The People’s Almanac. “Moderno” should be “moderna”.… --- ## [Do Crocodiles Shed Tears (revisited)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-crocodiles-shed-tears-revisited/746349)
**Author:** [@jbaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbaker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-crocodiles-shed-tears-revisited/746349 "2016-02-17T16:58:10Z")
Cecil’s updated post on this topic, http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2390/do-crocodiles-shed-tears-revisited, states that there is no physiological basis for crocodile tears. Obviously the old tale that crocodil… --- ## [Cecil's old column on pesticides needs to updated](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-old-column-on-pesticides-needs-to-updated/746217)
**Author:** [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-old-column-on-pesticides-needs-to-updated/746217 "2016-02-15T17:47:26Z")
Link: my-marijuana-plants-have-bugs-what-do-i-do I know that this was written and later updated some time ago but things have changed drastically since then and I would hate for someone to happen upon that column and us… --- ## [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2331/why-are-milk-duds-called-milk-duds-plus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/http-www-straightdope-com-columns-read-2331-why-are-milk-duds-called-milk-duds-plus/745661)
**Author:** [@Vincetheotherone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vincetheotherone)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2016, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/http-www-straightdope-com-columns-read-2331-why-are-milk-duds-called-milk-duds-plus/745661 "2016-02-12T21:51:46Z")
I’ve always believed that the origin of Milk Duds came from Malted Milk Ball duds. If you eat enough malted milk balls you will eventually encounter a non-crunchy “dud”. They are so good you wish they could make them on … --- ## [Nagasaki and Hiroshima](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nagasaki-and-hiroshima/744841)
**Author:** [@Noslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noslap)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nagasaki-and-hiroshima/744841 "2016-02-12T01:34:48Z")
Cecil, while your reply to the question how did Hiroshima and Nagasaki recovered so quickly, after doomsday predictions were claiming that those cities would be uninhabitable for thousands of years is already some 12 … --- ## [Was the Apollo moon landing a hoax? (March 31, 2000)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-apollo-moon-landing-a-hoax-march-31-2000/630768)
**Author:** [@madkaugh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madkaugh)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-apollo-moon-landing-a-hoax-march-31-2000/630768 "2016-02-12T01:23:22Z")
Mythbusters did an excellent episode on this topic. XKCD points out that if NASA faked the moon landing, they’ve royally screwed up faking the following forty years. http://m.xkcd.com/1074/ --- ## [Is a pregnant goldfish called a twit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pregnant-goldfish-called-a-twit/745186)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-pregnant-goldfish-called-a-twit/745186 "2016-02-11T00:09:36Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2385/is-a-pregnant-goldfish-called-a-twit Archives of The Straight Handful (http://pub31.ezboard.com/bgdop) are available in the msg board archive sections of The Drum, in the Ar… --- ## [avant-garde rioting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avant-garde-rioting/745452)
**Author:** [@tovens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tovens)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avant-garde-rioting/745452 "2016-02-09T20:23:29Z")
In addition to the two events mentioned, there was also a celebrated performance in Vienna on March 31, 1913, two months before the Stravinsky performance. Pieces from Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Alexander Zemlinsky, … --- ## [You are refreshingly funny](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-refreshingly-funny/745298)
**Author:** [@GreyWolf4424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreyWolf4424)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-refreshingly-funny/745298 "2016-02-06T15:24:04Z")
But of course you already knew that :slight\_smile: Just an intro to Cecil. Ole wolf here. Semi- RED (sorta retired and extremely dangerous) HAM radio op Fellow writer and published martial artist free style Tai chi a… --- ## [Ni-Cad Battery Answer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ni-cad-battery-answer/17)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ni-cad-battery-answer/17 "2016-02-05T22:43:56Z")
Unc Cece had it “half-right” on his Ni-Cad Battery answer recently published. I used to manage a two-way radio shop. Now, as you can imagine, Ni-Cad batteries were very popular for the handheld radios, as you could simp… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=22)