# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=223 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 224 --- ## [Tungus Effect - Alternative Explanation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tungus-effect-alternative-explanation/160877)
**Author:** [@Thoth93](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thoth93)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tungus-effect-alternative-explanation/160877 "2003-03-17T12:54:38Z")
Not included in Cecil’s column is a recent theory that the blast was caused by pressurized, underground gases. A pertinent link to a discussion of this theory is: http://www.spacedaily.com/news/deepimpact-02q.html A re… --- ## [Ear wax/roaches crawl in](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-wax-roaches-crawl-in/161887)
**Author:** [@fordfam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fordfam)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ear-wax-roaches-crawl-in/161887 "2003-03-17T03:25:58Z")
Roaches do crawl in. I know. Lidocaine stopped the roaches movement, killing it. I was almost 2 hours in hospital having it removed. Extremely hard to get out. Can they go further than the ear drum? --- ## [Four-colour map theorem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-colour-map-theorem/161437)
**Author:** [@Gordon\_Bennett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Bennett)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-colour-map-theorem/161437 "2003-03-16T22:42:08Z")
Take a piece of paper. Place three dots in random positions. Join them all to each other by random lines that (a) don’t go over the edge of the paper; (b) dont go through the paper; and © don’t cross. Place a fourth dot… --- ## [Europe/Asia dichotomy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europe-asia-dichotomy/160344)
**Author:** [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/europe-asia-dichotomy/160344 "2003-03-16T07:38:31Z")
Reference: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_166a.html I believe the answer given was incomplete and imprecise. I must say that I am depending on what Isaac Asimov postulated (or compiled?) in one of his essays. … --- ## [Holocaust Deniers and "Extermination"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holocaust-deniers-and-extermination/161414)
**Author:** [@ejh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ejh)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holocaust-deniers-and-extermination/161414 "2003-03-15T21:02:07Z")
original article I have no idea what German words these holocaust deniers argue about – that would be more relevant – but David glosses over philological reality a bit when he claims that it’s silly to talk as if “exter… --- ## [RE: Teflon, Velro, and TANG](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-teflon-velro-and-tang/159767)
**Author:** [@Isaac\_Cashman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isaac_Cashman)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-teflon-velro-and-tang/159767 "2003-03-14T19:10:52Z")
The staement "There is a link between the development of the Atom Bomb and the development of teflon has a high truth value. I am not toally sure of the details but depending on how one wants to classify it teflon is eit… --- ## [When multiple locomotives pull a train...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-multiple-locomotives-pull-a-train/160542)
**Author:** [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-multiple-locomotives-pull-a-train/160542 "2003-03-14T18:57:16Z")
I just wanted to mention that (in North American practice, at least), cabless units are called either B units, or (wait for it) ‘Cabless Units’ - calling them ‘Drones’ doesn’t seemed to be a common practice. B units are… --- ## [Duns/Dunce Caps: um, source please?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duns-dunce-caps-um-source-please/161365)
**Author:** [@ejh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ejh)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duns-dunce-caps-um-source-please/161365 "2003-03-14T16:10:00Z")
I’d heard before that “Dunce” came from Duns Scotus, whose scholastic theology fell out of fashion in the Renaissance. But never that he personally advocated wearing pointy hats to increase one’s wisdom. I’m not quite … --- ## [whats the danger of butane gas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-danger-of-butane-gas/161352)
**Author:** [@C2lin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C2lin)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-danger-of-butane-gas/161352 "2003-03-14T15:52:54Z")
hi readers.concerning of my health,if i was inhaling butane gas,what will the side effect be? will i have brain damage? and can you tell me how it will happen?and what is the other sympotms if you kept inhaling butane ga… --- ## [Circulating Insects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116)
**Author:** [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circulating-insects/161116 "2003-03-14T02:51:39Z")
Question: In the Do insects have circulatory systems like other creatures? article dated 13-Mar-2003 the question starts: I can, of course, only speak for myself, but how may of you have a running bet with a good frie… --- ## [One Hand Clap](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hand-clap/160732)
**Author:** [@Necromantix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromantix)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hand-clap/160732 "2003-03-13T15:35:02Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_049 I dunno if anyone else has posted this, but here goes. Sound of one hand clap Is not so hard to figure Fap fap fap fap fap Oh, by the way, the Haiku in the article isn’t a… --- ## [The Tungus Event](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tungus-event/158425)
**Author:** [@Rogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rogg)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2003, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-tungus-event/158425 "2003-03-13T10:28:21Z")
The second theory offered for what caused the Tungus devestation: “2. The object was a comet and thus produced minimal debris, since a comet’s head is mostly dust and ice. This theory remains popular…” What is meant b… --- ## [Why are we in space?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-in-space/159346)
**Author:** [@roncarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roncarol)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-we-in-space/159346 "2003-03-13T01:19:02Z")
Cecil is usually right on the money, but he missed by at least a parsec this time. While he covered all the reasons NASA would cite to keep us taxpayers from revolting, he left out what they (and DOD) don’t want us to k… --- ## [Re: When your leg falls asleep?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-when-your-leg-falls-asleep/156243)
**Author:** [@Nim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nim)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-when-your-leg-falls-asleep/156243 "2003-03-12T22:40:03Z")
Quote from Cecil: “Fortunately, the blood continues to flow normally when your limbs fall asleep,” Is it dangerous when your leg falls asleep? If it’s not the lack of circulation that’s the problem, then why does thes… --- ## [Clear Metals - Exist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-metals-exist/157480)
**Author:** [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clear-metals-exist/157480 "2003-03-12T19:27:26Z")
About this report Is this considered a metal? and does that mean there are clear or tranlucent metals? --- ## [Life of Riley](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-of-riley/1441)
**Author:** [@Salieri2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salieri2)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-of-riley/1441 "2003-03-12T14:00:05Z")
Tin Pan Alley, Shmin Pan Alley. My cat’s name is Riley. I figure she sleeps, what, eighteen or nineteen hours out of the twenty-four, and spends the rest lurking, playing, eating, getting petted and bullying the \[ten tim… --- ## [Modern Latin coinages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-latin-coinages/155160)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2003, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-latin-coinages/155160 "2003-03-12T07:11:14Z")
Or should that be pecuniatica? :wink: In bibliophage’s current Staff Report on Latin roots, he includes a list of several modern additions to the Latin language. But some of them seem decidedly odd. For instance, Engl… --- ## [Re: Why do men have nipples?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-why-do-men-have-nipples/156455)
**Author:** [@Nim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nim)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-why-do-men-have-nipples/156455 "2003-03-12T00:46:22Z")
Why do men have nipples? Quote from Cecil: “In other words, nipples are just one of those sexually neutral pieces of equipment, like arms or brains, that humans get regardless of sex.” Nipples are as sexually neutral … --- ## [MUed locomotives](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mued-locomotives/160595)
**Author:** [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mued-locomotives/160595 "2003-03-12T00:40:28Z")
www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmultiloco.html Bibliophage has it mostly right, but I do want to poin out a couple of inaccuracies. In North American parlance, a locomotive with a prime mover and no cab is a B unit, not … --- ## [Fuckin' A](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-a/157863)
**Author:** [@Nist-Uk-TAS-1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nist-Uk-TAS-1982)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuckin-a/157863 "2003-03-12T00:05:48Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfuckina.html Could it not be from the Irish? I mean I come from England and when I go over to Ireland you soon pick up that ‘aye’ is used instead of ‘yes’, therefore Fuckin’ A would … --- ## [Chuck Barris](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-barris/153463)
**Author:** [@alewbail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alewbail)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-barris/153463 "2003-03-11T23:50:49Z")
Regarding the Chuck Barris column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030207.html Like Cecil, I also assume that “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” is fiction. However, at least one thing in the movie rang true. Sorr… --- ## [How do fire investigators determine the cause of a blaze? 04-Mar-2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fire-investigators-determine-the-cause-of-a-blaze-04-mar-2003/158404)
**Author:** [@Screech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Screech)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fire-investigators-determine-the-cause-of-a-blaze-04-mar-2003/158404 "2003-03-11T18:54:06Z")
Several years ago we had a kitchen fire and the Fire Marshall determined the cause to be mice chewing on a box of kitchen matches in a drawer also containing towels. Strange but true. Just commenting on the fact that t… --- ## [Cecil's Column Made It To the "Breaking News" page on "Fortean Times"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-made-it-to-the-breaking-news-page-on-fortean-times/159224)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-made-it-to-the-breaking-news-page-on-fortean-times/159224 "2003-03-11T13:20:00Z")
Fortean Times is the magazine of unexplainable events & phenomena. Cecil’s Column on the Tungusta Event made it to their webpage. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030228.html See “Breaking News” for March 5, 2003 h… --- ## [Language variations....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-variations/160363)
**Author:** [@angelical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/angelical)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/language-variations/160363 "2003-03-11T02:39:41Z")
“…it is estimated that the languages started to differentiate about 3000 BC” It occured to me that this is more-or-less like the Bible story of the Tower of Babel. Interesting… http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mlat… --- ## [Where does Belly button lint come from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-belly-button-lint-come-from/159975)
**Author:** [@gaz\_biz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaz_biz)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-belly-button-lint-come-from/159975 "2003-03-11T01:04:46Z")
Cecil: Your navel is one of the few places on your body where perspiration has a chance to accumulate before evaporating. Lint from your clothing, cottons especially, adheres to the wet area and remains after the moistur… --- ## [Menses and the Lunar Cycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menses-and-the-lunar-cycle/229)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/menses-and-the-lunar-cycle/229 "2003-03-11T00:43:35Z")
Cecil’s latest article, http://www.straightdope.com/columns/990924.html , says: What an experiment like this might fail to take into account is LIGHT CUES. Remember that experiment somebody-or-other did several years a… --- ## [Do some people remain alert--but paralyzed--under anesthesia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-remain-alert-but-paralyzed-under-anesthesia/160198)
**Author:** [@tom254](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tom254)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-some-people-remain-alert-but-paralyzed-under-anesthesia/160198 "2003-03-11T00:39:21Z")
I read your article about this. My dad had this happen to him 2 times. Once when he was 10 . he had to have a pin put in his leg after a car hit him and broke his leg. Another time was after he was around 40 or so he ha… --- ## [Eyes open while sneezing...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyes-open-while-sneezing/156852)
**Author:** [@thepsychogrinch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thepsychogrinch)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2003, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eyes-open-while-sneezing/156852 "2003-03-10T05:44:04Z")
OK, I don’t know about the rest of you people, but maybe it’s because I’ve had sinus problems all my life, or maybe it’s because I had nothing better to do. But both me & my sister are able to keep our eyes open while s… --- ## [Nielsen Ratings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nielsen-ratings/156583)
**Author:** [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nielsen-ratings/156583 "2003-03-10T04:09:15Z")
This column talks about using “People Meters” to accurately measure viewing habits. I’m wondering about what the standards are, with regards to consider whether a program is being watched. Suppose, on Super Bowl Sunday… --- ## ["Photic sneeze reflex"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284)
**Author:** [@Pixoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixoid)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284 "2003-03-09T16:00:36Z")
This thread is in regard to: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_303.html I’m not sure on the scientific accuracy of this one, but I was once told (AP Bio class, coincidentally, but not by the teacher) that the ner… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=222) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=224)