# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=212 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 213 --- ## [La bamba lyrics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-bamba-lyrics/189605)
**Author:** [@Thoams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thoams)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2003, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-bamba-lyrics/189605 "2003-07-23T23:24:32Z")
this about the lyrics of la bamba Your translation is a bit off Gracia means grace, not funny. I have taken a high school spanish for 2 years and know this. How did u get funny anyways? funny makes no sense at all(a… --- ## [0.999~](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/0-999/187946)
**Author:** [@cronu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cronu)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/0-999/187946 "2003-07-23T22:54:11Z")
I was stunned that this topic should reappear in my life after lying dormant for decades, and then not just once but twice in the last month. The second time this month was the Straight Dope entry. The first time was in… --- ## [Why is a turkey called a turkey.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-turkey-called-a-turkey/186186)
**Author:** [@ravib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ravib)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-turkey-called-a-turkey/186186 "2003-07-23T18:35:14Z")
Original Column SDSTAFF bibliophage wrote in this article that the Tamil word for a peacock is “tuka”. Tha popular Tamil word for a peacock is “mayil” and of the numerous poetical allusions used, none match “tuka”. The … --- ## [Halogen Bulbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halogen-bulbs/189615)
**Author:** [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2003, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halogen-bulbs/189615 "2003-07-22T14:01:00Z")
OK, the ballast is responsible for the hum in fluorescent lights (which, BTW, I happened to have known), but what I don’t know is what caues the hum in halogen bulbs. There is no ballast, that I know of. Or is there? --- ## [Why did you make light of health when discussing dietary laws?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-make-light-of-health-when-discussing-dietary-laws/188778)
**Author:** [@Maria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maria)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-you-make-light-of-health-when-discussing-dietary-laws/188778 "2003-07-22T03:00:38Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mjewishislamdiet.html Isn’t it obvious from your list that every dietary law listed, except for alcohol, is based on a simple premise: Germy foods are bad. Rats, pigs, bugs, catfish, … --- ## [Just one shoe by the side of the road? - Typo in Search result](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-one-shoe-by-the-side-of-the-road-typo-in-search-result/189991)
**Author:** [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-one-shoe-by-the-side-of-the-road-typo-in-search-result/189991 "2003-07-21T19:59:54Z")
As I happened to be searching the Archive for something else, I came across this link, which has a typo in the title in the search results: Why do you always see just one show by the side of the road? The typo doesn’t … --- ## [historical Jesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-jesus/187047)
**Author:** [@Leon\_Zitzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leon_Zitzer)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-jesus/187047 "2003-07-21T16:42:44Z")
Your report on how Jesus died is the standard scholarly position, but there are many things wrong with it. I will focus on two. It is wrong to say that there is a historical context for the priests or any Jewish leader… --- ## [Rebecca Romijn-Stamos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebecca-romijn-stamos/187973)
**Author:** [@bryanmcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmcc)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rebecca-romijn-stamos/187973 "2003-07-21T05:39:10Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030711.html So, was Rebecca Romijn-Stamos wearing anything other than blue body paint in the new X-Men movie? --- ## [Will a silver spoon in the neck preserve your leftover New Year's Eve bubbly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-silver-spoon-in-the-neck-preserve-your-leftover-new-years-eve-bubbly/185095)
**Author:** [@jacobcoughlan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobcoughlan)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2003, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-silver-spoon-in-the-neck-preserve-your-leftover-new-years-eve-bubbly/185095 "2003-07-21T02:53:08Z")
The experiment did not match the original question: Original Q: “I have been told by someone who claims to know that you can preserve the carbonation in a half-consumed bottle of champagne by hanging a silver spoon ups… --- ## [yellow bellies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-bellies/187554)
**Author:** [@signalcamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/signalcamp)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-bellies/187554 "2003-07-20T23:33:46Z")
The source of meaning of yellow for cowardice is from April 1775 on the bridge in Lincoln between Lexington Concord outside Boston. The yellow vested redcoats, the 10th Lincolnshire Foot, had been ordered to check terror… --- ## [Goldfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goldfinger/188459)
**Author:** [@Sn2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sn2)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goldfinger/188459 "2003-07-20T14:40:08Z")
Just a few comments about the Goldfinger article. In the book (I recommend reading these, they’re a lot of fun and fast reads) Flemming has Auric Goldfinger painting women but he has to leave the area over the spine unp… --- ## [De Ja Vu theory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-ja-vu-theory/187593)
**Author:** [@Orfeo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orfeo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-ja-vu-theory/187593 "2003-07-19T22:35:01Z")
Howdy all, I friend recently put me onto this site and i saw cecils write up on de ja vu and i thought i’d add my 2 cents as i came up with my own theory (which i’m sure there are many). A friend was recently telling m… --- ## [Cat spray and lovely things like infection of anal sacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-spray-and-lovely-things-like-infection-of-anal-sacs/188145)
**Author:** [@Fop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fop)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-spray-and-lovely-things-like-infection-of-anal-sacs/188145 "2003-07-19T22:13:53Z")
I’m talking about this column. After reading Cecil bash cats on columns from times past I decided to post a short answer. 'Another source of kitty odor is an infection of the anal sacs, yet another dubious feature of t… --- ## [?kid friendly site?????](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-friendly-site/186593)
**Author:** [@mablache](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mablache)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kid-friendly-site/186593 "2003-07-17T13:22:36Z")
I was SHOCKED to see the cartoon of a near naked woman, and read this prase about a “brick shithouse” on the home page. We have this listed as a link for children to use to ask scientific questions. I am not sure that we… --- ## [Aluminum { causes } dementia ???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-causes-dementia/185358)
**Author:** [@grg88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grg88)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-causes-dementia/185358 "2003-07-16T17:50:36Z")
In http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_216a.html Our Cecil revisits the supposed linkage between Aluminum and Alzheimer’s. I’m disappointed that the phrase “co-incidence does not imply causation” or similar doesnt a… --- ## [Headless consciousness/Conscious headlessness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headless-consciousness-conscious-headlessness/188343)
**Author:** [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headless-consciousness-conscious-headlessness/188343 "2003-07-16T14:19:31Z")
Cecil appears not to have researched this one particularly well, preferring to rely solely on his own logic in the manner of a Greek sage. New Scientist deubunks the Lavoisier myth but provides plenty of other convincin… --- ## [Recent article on electrocution...why so angry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015)
**Author:** [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-article-on-electrocution-why-so-angry/188015 "2003-07-16T11:52:48Z")
Recently a reader asked about eh ins-and-outs of electrocution. He admitted to a morbid curiosity. Cecil gave his usual learned answer, but ended by calling the person who asked the question an asshole. I thought this… --- ## [gravity particle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravity-particle/187766)
**Author:** [@gte135q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gte135q)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravity-particle/187766 "2003-07-15T17:00:25Z")
Its mentioned in the Speed of Gravity response that gravity can and has been considered a particle of sorts as light is. How can this be, it could not have mass or energy because it would slowly deplete an object that r… --- ## [Zeno's Paradox in the 1 = .999... article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenos-paradox-in-the-1-999-article/187827)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zenos-paradox-in-the-1-999-article/187827 "2003-07-15T16:03:09Z")
In today’s Straight Dope article at http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030711.html, Cecil writes: I contend that it is impossible that Zeno created this paradox! After all, the meter wasn’t invented until then 18th c… --- ## [orbit speeds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orbit-speeds/184061)
**Author:** [@bri1600bv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bri1600bv)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orbit-speeds/184061 "2003-07-15T14:52:54Z")
Cecil said something that confused me. He said that you need an increased velocity to have a higher orbit. I may be confused, but I thought as you increased the orbital radius it would require a DECREASE in velocity of… --- ## [sleep tight...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-tight/188031)
**Author:** [@dinoboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinoboy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-tight/188031 "2003-07-15T13:32:05Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msleepti.html A few words on the orgin of the phrase, “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite”: I think that your explanation of the “commonly accepted” rope bed reference is a bit… --- ## [W\*nker](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/w-nker/188338)
**Author:** [@JeffMutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffMutt)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/w-nker/188338 "2003-07-15T08:25:03Z")
Re: Why doesn’t 0.999~ = 1.0 (or thereabouts) I was surprised to note Cecil’s use of the word “wanker” in one of the early paragraphs. Far from being offended by such gratuitous use of the “w” word, I became curious as … --- ## [Cecil's House o'Values](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-house-ovalues/188176)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-house-ovalues/188176 "2003-07-14T11:22:38Z")
From the blurb for the book “The Straight Dope” at Cecil’s House o’Values \[emphasis mine\] If it’s the last book you’ll ever need to buy, why does Cecil have four other books for sale:\[ul\]\[li\] Triumph of the Straight … --- ## [Is liver poisonous](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-liver-poisonous/187232)
**Author:** [@Xiphos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xiphos)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-liver-poisonous/187232 "2003-07-13T14:59:32Z")
Liver It can be worse than that! The livers of canivores tend to be enriched in Vitamin A, which sounds fine except that Vit. A is more poisonous than cyanide taken chronically. Certainly hunting people who have canivor… --- ## [The Feingold Diet to cure ADHD????](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feingold-diet-to-cure-adhd/178247)
**Author:** [@calliarcale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calliarcale)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-feingold-diet-to-cure-adhd/178247 "2003-07-13T07:25:01Z")
I was astonished to see this claim in the recent Staff Report Does corn cause hyperactivity in kids? Rather than actually answer the basic question, the Staff Report chose instead to advance the premise that artificial … --- ## [Hiccups](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiccups/188032)
**Author:** [@WildChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildChild)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2003, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiccups/188032 "2003-07-13T00:23:00Z")
While searching the archives I came across a post dated in '96 (if anyof you would like to find it), that said that Ulcerative Colitis can be one of the causes of hiccups. Can anyone please tell me how the two can be re… --- ## ["Built like a brick shithouse"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/built-like-a-brick-shithouse/186269)
**Author:** [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2003, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/built-like-a-brick-shithouse/186269 "2003-07-12T08:07:09Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030704.html Good heavens, is this really used to refer to a shapely woman in the US?! Is this true all over the US? Cecil mentions the UK and Australia as places where this phrase on… --- ## [dioxins in liver and oysters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dioxins-in-liver-and-oysters/187307)
**Author:** [@Darwin626](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwin626)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dioxins-in-liver-and-oysters/187307 "2003-07-12T02:06:37Z")
I would like to support Cecil’s statement that Oysters contain high levels of Cadmium. I have participated on a scientific study to determine the pesticide, herbicide, dioxin, PAH and heavy metal content of oysters, cra… --- ## [Goddess of Democracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddess-of-democracy/187853)
**Author:** [@signalcamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/signalcamp)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 12, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddess-of-democracy/187853 "2003-07-12T00:01:20Z")
A yellow river doth not a yellow people make, nor yellow mud a race. Colored earths make flowers, foods and artifacts, maybe, and race is made towards water, shelters. Blue earth, green people, red river folks, black and… --- ## [Computer Speed (4th July 2003)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-speed-4th-july-2003/186277)
**Author:** [@bright\_blue\_shorts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bright_blue_shorts)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-speed-4th-july-2003/186277 "2003-07-11T11:15:51Z")
Back in 1994, I remember seeing a programme celebrating the 25th anniversary of the moon landings. They went through the history of the Apollo space programme and there is one great fact I remember. The computers they w… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=211) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=213)