# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=22 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 23 --- ## [Levon - Elton John](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/levon-elton-john/745220)
**Author:** [@DrCarioca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCarioca)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/levon-elton-john/745220 "2016-02-05T14:34:37Z")
It seems that no one, or practically no one - I did just now find 6 hits on Google - gets that “He shall be Levon” = “He shall believe on”. And he shall believe on And he shall be a good man And he shall believe on I… --- ## [Siphoning for profit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-for-profit/743852)
**Author:** [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siphoning-for-profit/743852 "2016-02-05T02:04:49Z")
In the article How does a siphon work?, there appears to be a bit of a mistake. This can be easily tested on the kitchen counter. The article claims “Since the weight of the water in hose segment BC is greater than in … --- ## [Straight Dope marks 44th anniversary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-marks-44th-anniversary/744935)
**Author:** [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2016, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-marks-44th-anniversary/744935 "2016-02-04T07:24:46Z")
Today, February 2, 2016, is the 44th anniversary of the 1972 debut of The Staight Dope ™. 44 is a numeric palindrome. And “Cecil Adams: mad Alice C” is an alphabetic palindrome. It is also a prophetic statement: o Mike… --- ## [faking own death](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faking-own-death/721743)
**Author:** [@spaceandtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spaceandtime)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faking-own-death/721743 "2016-02-03T23:50:34Z")
Hard to believe someone as astute as Cecil would make such an obvious logical error. Citing 2 unsuccessful tries at faking an abduction (and the Agatha Christie case might not qualify) & concluding a successful death-f… --- ## [Petrodollar collapse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petrodollar-collapse/744571)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petrodollar-collapse/744571 "2016-02-03T19:04:01Z")
Is the petrodollar about to tank the economy? Just wanted to say, back when people were crying that Peak Oil was heralding the end of Western civilization as we know it, who would have thought that oil being too cheap a… --- ## [Throwing watches?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwing-watches/744959)
**Author:** [@extanker59](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/extanker59)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/throwing-watches/744959 "2016-02-02T16:04:53Z")
In the post “Did avant-garde arts events of a century ago really inspire riots?”, SDStaff Ian writes “Audiences in Boston and New York, not entirely familiar with the political situation in Ireland, didn’t know exactly w… --- ## [If a 50 foot tall woman can happen in real life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-50-foot-tall-woman-can-happen-in-real-life/744720)
**Author:** [@S\_nickid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/S_nickid)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-50-foot-tall-woman-can-happen-in-real-life/744720 "2016-02-01T16:29:25Z")
I know about the square cube law, With the square cube law a 5 ft tall woman that weight 100 pounds would weight 1000 time as mush, so at 50 ft tall she would weight 100,000 pounds, This is false because human are not sq… --- ## [Toilet rolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-rolls/744843)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-rolls/744843 "2016-02-01T14:34:52Z")
Should we give up toilet paper? As of 2009, Americans were using 36 million rolls of the stuff each year, something on the order of 15 million trees.\* That figure seems far too low. It has to be a mistake. My guess i… --- ## [Saving the world with paper or plastic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-the-world-with-paper-or-plastic/743601)
**Author:** [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-the-world-with-paper-or-plastic/743601 "2016-01-31T19:48:38Z")
Cecil gives various arguments on both sides of the infamous “Paper or Plastic?” question, mentioning also that “Cloth” isn’t always the most convenient answer either. (Referring to the reusable canvas bags with which we… --- ## [TeraWatts of Energy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terawatts-of-energy/744442)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terawatts-of-energy/744442 "2016-01-31T15:00:07Z")
From the sparkling column Should we give up toilet paper?, Little Ed has edited Cecil into an error: Watts are power; Watt-hours are energy. The column’s usage is not consistent. --- ## [Worst Saint](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-saint/744348)
**Author:** [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2016, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-saint/744348 "2016-01-30T01:36:34Z")
From what it sounds like, a second miracle has been recognized for Mother Theresa, who when canonized will most likely be the best answer for the question of who was the worst saint. Criticism of Mother Teresa - Wikiped… --- ## [Bye Bye Blackbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-blackbird/744572)
**Author:** [@KittC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KittC)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bye-bye-blackbird/744572 "2016-01-29T21:24:59Z")
I always new there was more verses to this Song as my Father sang it but i was missing the one "Bluebird’ so thank you for that. I cant understand why so many so called Greats never bothered to record all the Song its a… --- ## [TP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp/743880)
**Author:** [@david\_42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/david_42)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp/743880 "2016-01-27T01:22:59Z")
36 million rolls, seems a bit low. Maybe 36 billion? Although that would be 100 rolls per person per year, which seems a bit high. --- ## [, suggesting that modern life somehow causes nearsightedness. But how? Nobody knows.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggesting-that-modern-life-somehow-causes-nearsightedness-but-how-nobody-knows/744197)
**Author:** [@Botie2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Botie2)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggesting-that-modern-life-somehow-causes-nearsightedness-but-how-nobody-knows/744197 "2016-01-26T16:55:24Z")
There is a very plausable theory based on natural selection and genetics that does explain this phenoma. It is believed the gene/genes responsible for myopia are dominant genes, but for the first 200,000 odd years peopl… --- ## [Borax and Boric Acid are not the same, but do they work they same?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/borax-and-boric-acid-are-not-the-same-but-do-they-work-they-same/587342)
**Author:** [@marbles03](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marbles03)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2016, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/borax-and-boric-acid-are-not-the-same-but-do-they-work-they-same/587342 "2016-01-26T16:18:11Z")
Hey Cecil: I went to buy Borax, but it didn’t contain Boric Acid. Will Borax still do the trick on the roaches or do I need to buy Boric Acid? --- ## [10 Lost Tribes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-lost-tribes/742617)
**Author:** [@bill.linton828\_gmail.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bill.linton828_gmail.com)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-lost-tribes/742617 "2016-01-22T02:53:12Z")
Another way of looking at the counting of the tribes of Israel is that the two tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) were counted as half tribes (see Joshua 14:2-3). So we have Joseph’s 11 brothers each with a tribe, a… --- ## [Surefire way to stop a hangover.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surefire-way-to-stop-a-hangover/741864)
**Author:** [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surefire-way-to-stop-a-hangover/741864 "2016-01-21T22:54:39Z")
The article “How can I avoid a holiday hangover?” missed an easy one: Don’t drink booze in the first place … --- ## [Blood. Eggs. Semen.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-eggs-semen/742490)
**Author:** [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-eggs-semen/742490 "2016-01-21T18:02:53Z")
I hate myself for writing this, but - reading Cecil’s column from 8 Jan 16, Can Blood Be Used As An Egg Substitute - I couldn’t stop myself - and believe me, I tried - from recalling an earlier Cecil column which discuss… --- ## [Paper or Plastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-or-plastic/743602)
**Author:** [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paper-or-plastic/743602 "2016-01-20T23:36:39Z")
Column Link When we can get plastic bags, we use them for our small garbage cans located around the house. When we can’t get them, we end up buying small plastic bags for our small garbage cans. I actually use collapsa… --- ## [Re: Female breasts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-female-breasts/681338)
**Author:** [@valleyJim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/valleyJim)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-female-breasts/681338 "2014-02-25T21:33:19Z")
Hi Cecil, I am sorry to say that you missed the mark a little in your response to this one. All of the points you brought up were valid, however you missed one, that I think may be more important than all of the others… --- ## [Helicopters and their rotation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helicopters-and-their-rotation/743548)
**Author:** [@Harvey\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_B)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helicopters-and-their-rotation/743548 "2016-01-20T02:44:55Z")
In a “classic” question that is re-appearing again on the main page (see here), Cecil seems to give a great explanation to something that was not even asked. The inquirer wanted to know why a chopper doesn’t spin around… --- ## [Colitis/as](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colitis-as/743642)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colitis-as/743642 "2016-01-20T02:06:37Z")
This is the first thing I thought of when I heard that colitis was one of the causes of Glenn Frey’s death. I know it’s tasteless to say it (but that’s never stopped me before.) --- ## [Flavored Cough Syrup...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavored-cough-syrup/742373)
**Author:** [@Major\_Matt\_Mason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Matt_Mason)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavored-cough-syrup/742373 "2016-01-18T15:22:22Z")
As a lad, our pharmacist in Cleveland came up with some prescription cough syrup that was orange flavored. Wonderful stuff! Never seen it since we moved back to Philly in 1967, though… -MMM- --- ## [Why is the Mona Lisa so famous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mona-lisa-so-famous/743309)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-mona-lisa-so-famous/743309 "2016-01-18T03:38:55Z")
Link to Staff Report It’s famous for precisely the same reason that the works of Shakespeare, Mozart, Homer et al are famous. They’ve been adjudged the pinnacle of their respective disciplines. And if the Mona Lisa is … --- ## [Why Do Photographers Ask You to Say "cheese"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-photographers-ask-you-to-say-cheese/741802)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-photographers-ask-you-to-say-cheese/741802 "2016-01-16T15:31:53Z")
Link. “What do photographers tell people to say in other languages? Don’t ask me; I don’t get out much. If the Teeming Millions want to chime in with their experiences abroad, now’s the time.” I asked the wife what Tha… --- ## [Crime scene investigators and chalk outline](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-scene-investigators-and-chalk-outline/652689)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crime-scene-investigators-and-chalk-outline/652689 "2016-01-16T06:34:28Z")
I would like to suggest an amendment to Cecil’s column “Do crime scene investigators really draw a chalk line around the body?”. It is anecdotal, as are Cecil’s sources, but with one source who is familiar with many cas… --- ## [Scorpion - Hot water freezes faster than cold](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scorpion-hot-water-freezes-faster-than-cold/742455)
**Author:** [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scorpion-hot-water-freezes-faster-than-cold/742455 "2016-01-16T00:04:06Z")
Ack. I know Scorpion has gone off the rails (literally in the subway episode) in terms of crazy action sequences for a bunch of geeky folks (we need to fix a satellite in Antarctica – and they’re there in a blink), but … --- ## [The Dead Sea Scrolls -- What Happened](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dead-sea-scrolls-what-happened/742934)
**Author:** [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2016, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dead-sea-scrolls-what-happened/742934 "2016-01-14T13:58:41Z")
The article on the Dead Sea Scrolls was written a bit after the great controversy about the scrolls came to a head. After the scrolls were discovered, they were moved to what was then called the Palestine Archaeological… --- ## [Brilliantly written \[Mona Lisa\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brilliantly-written-mona-lisa/546753)
**Author:** [@Megs11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Megs11)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brilliantly-written-mona-lisa/546753 "2016-01-13T15:33:06Z")
\[COLOR=“Purple”\]Hi, Just wanna say that this article on Mona Lisa is very well written. Congrats on its success!! Regards, Megha:)\[/COLOR\] --- ## [What would the Earth look like if humans disappeared?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-earth-look-like-if-humans-disappeared/741910)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2016, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-earth-look-like-if-humans-disappeared/741910 "2016-01-12T18:48:02Z")
Cecil’s column: What would the earth look like if humans disappeared? - The Straight Dope I’ve read the Alan Weisman book he refers to, The World Without Us, and it’s fascinating. One point Cecil doesn’t mention is tha… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=23)