# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=226 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 227 --- ## [Feedbackage!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feedbackage/142270)
**Author:** [@abdul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abdul)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feedbackage/142270 "2003-02-09T12:45:51Z")
I just wanted to comment on the ironic perfection of the “where did -age come from?” article. In addition to being well written and quite interesting (for a guy who really doesn’t care much about etymology, anyway), it’… --- ## [Why No Channel 1](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-channel-1/153116)
**Author:** [@Vito\_Powers\_Italian\_Spy\_Pilot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vito_Powers_Italian_Spy_Pilot)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-channel-1/153116 "2003-02-09T03:38:12Z")
Yo! Cecil! The Huns didn’t sack Rome! The Visigoths (410) and the Vandals (455) sacked Rome, but not the Huns. Everybody knows that in 452 Atilla met with Pope Leo I (The Great) and was convinced to leave Italy. At… --- ## [Whose face is on the $1000 bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-on-the-1000-bill/153541)
**Author:** [@jaguilar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaguilar)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-face-is-on-the-1000-bill/153541 "2003-02-08T19:32:07Z")
Regarding the response to whose face is on the $1000 bill (http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m1000.html), Salmon P. Chase was also Lincoln’s Treasury Secretary (with responsibilities for financing the Civil War.) Also,… --- ## [Yadda, yadda, yadda](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yadda-yadda-yadda/150429)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yadda-yadda-yadda/150429 "2003-02-08T08:20:39Z")
Let me be the first to point out today’s Staff Report What’s the origin of “yadda, yadda, yadda”? is the work of our newest Staff, samclem, who has just been given the official designation of Staff with all the emolument… --- ## [Loopholes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopholes/153202)
**Author:** [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loopholes/153202 "2003-02-08T05:36:13Z")
Reading “What’s the Origin of ‘Loophole’?” sent me immediately to my dictionary, where I found that “loophole” is derived from a defunct Middle English word, loupe, meaning “to peer or peek.” A loophole, then, is a peeph… --- ## [Car emissions or coal emissions - the big secret](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-emissions-or-coal-emissions-the-big-secret/147250)
**Author:** [@tourist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tourist)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-emissions-or-coal-emissions-the-big-secret/147250 "2003-02-07T23:33:57Z")
I thought the article on vehicle emissions was well written and hopefully helps raise awareness that understanding on the costs of our actions. However, I’m not sure that vehicles are the largest producers of CO2 in the… --- ## [Brontosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brontosaurus/148290)
**Author:** [@geoworld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geoworld)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brontosaurus/148290 "2003-02-07T22:50:33Z")
Being new to this place let me first say what a wonderful site it is. Now that the flattery is out of the way I must attempt to correct one of the columns I just read. In “Did dinosaurs have a separate brain in their beh… --- ## [Hiccup cause resolved!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiccup-cause-resolved/153311)
**Author:** [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiccup-cause-resolved/153311 "2003-02-06T21:29:23Z")
Cecil’s column OK, not actually “resolved” as in “100% proven,” but not dismissed as quackery either. From this article: --- ## [Getting hired as a UN Weapons Inspector](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-hired-as-a-un-weapons-inspector/151998)
**Author:** [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-hired-as-a-un-weapons-inspector/151998 "2003-02-06T16:41:38Z")
How do you become a United Nations weapons inspector? So, presumably, if you could persuade some other nation to submit your application, you might have a better chance? Since they’re standing in line in LaPorte to… --- ## [I would have predicted just about the same](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-have-predicted-just-about-the-same/147947)
**Author:** [@The\_Mac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mac)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-would-have-predicted-just-about-the-same/147947 "2003-02-06T15:25:10Z")
But it seems the used microwave was rather old indeed, for the one we have where I work, does not even make a fuss out of metal put into it. And it is running with just dry air rather often, and someone once accidentally… --- ## [Cecil - baby prodigy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-baby-prodigy/153106)
**Author:** [@cplschnapps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cplschnapps)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-baby-prodigy/153106 "2003-02-06T07:53:59Z")
While surfing the SD archive, I came across a column called “Did Queen Victoria really say We Are Not Amused…” in which Cecil stated that “we (royal we) did not arrive until 72 years after she checked out” It was byline… --- ## [Divorce rates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/divorce-rates/150652)
**Author:** [@Jus\_Checkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jus_Checkin)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/divorce-rates/150652 "2003-02-06T00:20:03Z")
How can it be that divorce rates are higher for women than they are for men? Unless Gay marriages are being included in this study, it just doesn’t jive. Maybe we need the Straight Dope on Cecil’s answer. :confused: … --- ## [Social Security Cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-cards/151290)
**Author:** [@Bill\_Patterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Patterson)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2003, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-cards/151290 "2003-02-05T04:31:12Z")
On January 27, Cecil the Omniscient wrote about Social Security Cards being used as de facto national identification cards and neglected to mention that the I-9 certification required since 1985 of every employee specifi… --- ## [Who's responsible for the 'Indian' label ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-the-indian-label/152786)
**Author:** [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-the-indian-label/152786 "2003-02-05T03:36:49Z")
I’m an Indian (and not the American kind.) Is is Columbus’s mistake that the term coined for natives on the American continents are called “Indians” ? --- ## [Re: "Did astronaut Neil Armstrong muff his historic "one small step" line?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-did-astronaut-neil-armstrong-muff-his-historic-one-small-step-line/152245)
**Author:** [@Jiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jiminy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-did-astronaut-neil-armstrong-muff-his-historic-one-small-step-line/152245 "2003-02-05T02:34:09Z")
In regards to Mr. C.'s answer to the “one small step for (a) man” question, the famous Armstrong line was actually supposed to be a haiku except Neil just didn’t say the last line for some unknown reason. Oh, and, by th… --- ## [Columbus and "Indian"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-and-indian/152814)
**Author:** [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus-and-indian/152814 "2003-02-05T01:49:06Z")
Staff report What would American aboriginal people have been called if this “Indian” thing hadn’t happened? (I searched, but couldn’t find any previous discussion. If you find one, cool. Link me.) --- ## [Hooray! 1337 is no longer /\<3V/L!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-1337-is-no-longer-3v-l/147740)
**Author:** [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hooray-1337-is-no-longer-3v-l/147740 "2003-02-04T15:45:10Z")
Leetspeek Huzzah for Cecil and the end of “leet”!!! Once an older generation starts to pay attention to and recognize the latest kids fad, it’s only a matter of time before the kids realize us old farts have taken an i… --- ## [Was the answer to the "male porn stamina" question a bit too simple?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-answer-to-the-male-porn-stamina-question-a-bit-too-simple/152142)
**Author:** [@kip70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kip70)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-answer-to-the-male-porn-stamina-question-a-bit-too-simple/152142 "2003-02-04T14:23:15Z")
Dear readers, First of all, my condolences to all for what happenend with the Columbia. Today we’re remembering the big disaster we had exactly 50 years ago here in Holland, when the dykes broke during a storm and 1836 … --- ## [Male lactation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-lactation/152462)
**Author:** [@BritPopTart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BritPopTart)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2003, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-lactation/152462 "2003-02-04T07:37:08Z")
The Classic Straight Dope question “Why Do Men Have Nipples?” has the comment: but (and this is not to contradict Our Cecil, by any means ;)) I got a set of scary links of (probably bogus! :dubious:) pictures and artic… --- ## [Chuck Yeager](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-yeager/152453)
**Author:** [@Galo\_Aguirre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galo_Aguirre)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chuck-yeager/152453 "2003-02-03T06:57:16Z")
The article about kemosabe mentions a charles yeager. Could this be Chuck Yeager, the first person to break the sound barrier? Just curious. http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_061.html --- ## [How do courts swear atheists?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-courts-swear-atheists/147946)
**Author:** [@chunda21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chunda21)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-courts-swear-atheists/147946 "2003-02-02T15:57:44Z")
Query - OK, atheists are allowed to make an affirmation under penalty of perjury, but what about devout Christians who actually READ the Bible? Hypocritical, ain’t it, to take an oath on a document that explicitly forbid… --- ## [Cecil, you're wrong on "ollie ollie oxen free"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-youre-wrong-on-ollie-ollie-oxen-free/151988)
**Author:** [@cobra427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cobra427)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-youre-wrong-on-ollie-ollie-oxen-free/151988 "2003-02-02T03:23:25Z")
Cecil, The phrase that gets slurred by very young kids while playing Hide and Seek, when there is a winner and everyone out hiding needs to come in to start a new game is, “All in. All in. All outs in free.” --- ## [Unstable Orbits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-orbits/151734)
**Author:** [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-orbits/151734 "2003-01-31T20:37:54Z")
Hi people, it is stated in the recent report: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mlunarrotate.html that: “An orbit can be considered as a balance between gravity and centrifugal force” \ “But these forces aren’… --- ## [Can concert promoters legally search you ...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-concert-promoters-legally-search-you/150317)
**Author:** [@Pucky\_Schumer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pucky_Schumer)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-concert-promoters-legally-search-you/150317 "2003-01-31T18:45:05Z")
This column, http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_151.html, said: And: My question: Why all the fuss over someone who went to Columbia? (I don’t know how the grad got into the friend’s pocket, but I can see how it… --- ## [Jesus H. Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ/151674)
**Author:** [@lady\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lady_j)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ/151674 "2003-01-30T20:06:30Z")
Being that I spent most of my young life in fear of hell, purgatory, and nuns with rulers, I would say that the “H” in “Jesus H. Christ” is a way to get around taking the Lord’s name in vain. It’s like saying fudge inst… --- ## [Space station rotation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-station-rotation/147657)
**Author:** [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-station-rotation/147657 "2003-01-30T18:22:56Z")
Why does spinning a space station create artificial gravity? Minor correction here. The author states: I’m sure the author meant to say “…away from the center of the space station.” Otherwise a well-written and inform… --- ## [Baby Boomers, Gen X'rs and Gen Y'rs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boomers-gen-xrs-and-gen-yrs/150760)
**Author:** [@lothos2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lothos2002)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-boomers-gen-xrs-and-gen-yrs/150760 "2003-01-30T05:46:48Z")
In his column about divorce Cecil says: This left me wondering what are the time frames for Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y? :dubious: This could become a major existencial crisis for me. What is my appr… --- ## [Ha ha ha.. ha ha ha... ha ha! \*croak\*](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-croak/150980)
**Author:** [@LostOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LostOne)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-croak/150980 "2003-01-28T01:55:40Z")
(\*note before commenting on my lame thread title try to imagine me saying it with Vizzini’s voice in The Princess Bride) :wink: I was flipping through The Straight Dope and came across this intresting column (p207 of th… --- ## [Why do pigeons bob their head - extended answer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pigeons-bob-their-head-extended-answer/144371)
**Author:** [@Hybris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hybris)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pigeons-bob-their-head-extended-answer/144371 "2003-01-28T00:43:35Z")
Hi there. As Walter Pigeon briefly answered, the pigeons bob their head because they feel good. However, most of you would probably find this answer slightly confusing. Let me explain. I live in Norway, where we have a… --- ## [A Comment on the Eskimo/Snow thing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-comment-on-the-eskimo-snow-thing/150580)
**Author:** [@TeanBean316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeanBean316)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 27, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-comment-on-the-eskimo-snow-thing/150580 "2003-01-27T17:50:56Z")
I just found the Straight Dope site and happened upon the following two columns: What are the nine Eskimo words for snow? And Are there nine Eskimo words for snow (revisited)? I found both columns really quite funny, … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=225) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=227)