# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=246 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 247 --- ## [Words ending in "-gry"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-ending-in-gry/104056)
**Author:** [@hyjyljyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyjyljyj)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-ending-in-gry/104056 "2002-04-29T21:32:16Z")
At http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_251.html we find a mildly amusing but utterly unnecessary wild goose chase about the non-riddle “Besides angry and hungry, what is another English word ending in -gry?” I would… --- ## [Jonah: Fact or Fiction???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonah-fact-or-fiction/82304)
**Author:** [@lwburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lwburns)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2002, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jonah-fact-or-fiction/82304 "2002-04-29T15:26:27Z")
I teach a 5th grade religion class at my church and we recently got into a discussion regarding Jonah, the whale, and taking the Bible literally. I told the kids that it was nearly impossible for a whale to swallow a hu… --- ## [The Anarchist Cookbook, Banana Peels and copyright](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anarchist-cookbook-banana-peels-and-copyright/106074)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anarchist-cookbook-banana-peels-and-copyright/106074 "2002-04-28T07:17:54Z")
In this column, Cecil alludes to a certain William Powell who has pleaded with the copyright holder of the Anarchist Cookbook to stop publishing his work. Powell had written this treatise in 1969 at the age of 19. “Con… --- ## [Cryptozoology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptozoology/105713)
**Author:** [@Boadiccea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boadiccea)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptozoology/105713 "2002-04-28T05:59:36Z")
No, I have no idea how old this article is, a friend of mine sent me the link. However, Iwould like to comment. I do not call myself a cryptozoologist, though I do consider myself an Elficologsit. Many may consider it t… --- ## [Angels can do cute stunts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-can-do-cute-stunts/105984)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2002, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/angels-can-do-cute-stunts/105984 "2002-04-27T17:58:20Z")
Did medieval scholars argue over how many angels could dance on the head of a pin? Isn’t it interesting to see how medieval theologists anticiptaed ideas that are, at least similarly, debated by modern physics, if in a… --- ## [Origin of Yard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-yard/105896)
**Author:** [@jiHymas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jiHymas)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2002, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-yard/105896 "2002-04-27T02:21:05Z")
The Master states (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_024.html) that no-one knows how “yard” originated. OK, but it is interesting to note that standardization was thought sufficiently necessary that it was mentione… --- ## [Jesus H. Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ/103464)
**Author:** [@elias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elias)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2002, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ/103464 "2002-04-27T01:51:44Z")
Dear Cecil and friends As I learned in school, IHS meaning the first three signs of the word “IESus” in ancient greek has been understood later on by the latin speeking Romans as an abbreviation of “Iesus Hominum Salva… --- ## [Hybridization of mosquitoes et al.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hybridization-of-mosquitoes-et-al/105582)
**Author:** [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hybridization-of-mosquitoes-et-al/105582 "2002-04-26T21:39:31Z")
In Does the mosquito’s hum alternate between D and F?, Doug says that different species of mosquitos that live in the same area would have different pitches to avoid inter-species mating. Obviously mosquitos wouldn’t wa… --- ## [Christ's Middle Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christs-middle-name/101992)
**Author:** [@Jetstream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jetstream)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christs-middle-name/101992 "2002-04-26T18:11:56Z")
You, sir, have been reading far too much Robert Fulghum :smiley: --- ## [Washing lettuce](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washing-lettuce/104524)
**Author:** [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washing-lettuce/104524 "2002-04-25T20:17:47Z")
In Cecil’s answer to whether dead vegetables excrete, I was surpised not to see him comment on the questioner’s mother’s assertion that iceberg lettuce doesn’t need to be washed because it is the one variety that does no… --- ## [What Happened to the Staff Reports?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-staff-reports/101156)
**Author:** [@malber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malber)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-staff-reports/101156 "2002-04-25T17:00:47Z")
There hasn’t been one in about a month and a half. -malber --- ## [How did cheese originate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-cheese-originate/105222)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2002, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-cheese-originate/105222 "2002-04-25T12:26:41Z")
From http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcheese.html – “Butter, now, is a bit different. Butter is typically made of chilled cream or milk, churned lightly to separate the fat from the caseous and serous parts. Those p… --- ## [Lusty Kings: Right of the First Night](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lusty-kings-right-of-the-first-night/102197)
**Author:** [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2002, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lusty-kings-right-of-the-first-night/102197 "2002-04-25T12:22:31Z")
In doing some reading for school, (yes, I can hear you all say: "Lauren? Actually doing schoolwork? :eek:) I came across a small tidbit that might shed some light on the “right of the first night”, if not that it occure… --- ## [Jesus's true name](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuss-true-name/105294)
**Author:** [@DaveoRad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveoRad)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2002, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesuss-true-name/105294 "2002-04-25T12:17:26Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_035a.html I don’t remember the author or title, but when I was taking Russian Literature we read a story based on the Gospel of St Matthew (with big differences). Jesus was referr… --- ## [Straightdope books](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straightdope-books/105224)
**Author:** [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straightdope-books/105224 "2002-04-25T03:42:10Z")
Anyone know when Cecil will release the next straightdope book? I seem to remember the preface in the last book saying he would release a new book every two years. That was in 1999. Any word? --- ## [Dripping pipes in Murfreesboro](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dripping-pipes-in-murfreesboro/105131)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dripping-pipes-in-murfreesboro/105131 "2002-04-25T00:02:26Z")
Mr Watts---- I live in Murfreesboro! I didn’t even know anybody else in this town read the SD. E-mail me! :slight\_smile: --- ## [Does a dripping faucet keep the pipes from freezing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-dripping-faucet-keep-the-pipes-from-freezing/104510)
**Author:** [@il\_Topo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/il_Topo)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2002, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-dripping-faucet-keep-the-pipes-from-freezing/104510 "2002-04-24T21:17:17Z")
After providing an excellent answer to this question at http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpipefreeze.html ,the following statement was made: Although true, isn’t this pretty much a moot point in northern climes wher… --- ## [Rats!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rats/104219)
**Author:** [@pinkflowerdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkflowerdog)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rats/104219 "2002-04-24T18:04:39Z")
You left out cats as a remedy for vermin infestation–for my money, the most effective and efficient form of rodenticide available; environmentally friendly, too (well, except for the cat litter). --- ## [Tree poop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-poop/104725)
**Author:** [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2002, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-poop/104725 "2002-04-23T00:16:02Z")
Re: Plant excrement It’s not too much of a stretch to consider autumn leafs “tree poop”, considering that all spring and summer they “ejaculate” their green & yellow dusty sperm (aka pollen) all over the place. :D:D:D --- ## [Cockroach Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-death/99668)
**Author:** [@Ranger1959](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger1959)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2002, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-death/99668 "2002-04-22T21:21:01Z")
Cecil: You are slipping on the borax. Since cost and deadliness are not barriers and cockroaches are known to have survived nuclear bomb tests, I recommend freezing their little tushes off. Although I find many variet… --- ## [Sleeping on your Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleeping-on-your-child/104616)
**Author:** [@Kaimah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaimah)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleeping-on-your-child/104616 "2002-04-22T21:15:15Z")
As to the column concerning the dangers of sleeping with an infant in your bed, I have a counter-point to the Biblical answer given. In Maya Angelou’s “I know Why the Caged Bird SIngs”, she gives an account of one of th… --- ## [Dew care and attention](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dew-care-and-attention/104905)
**Author:** [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2002, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dew-care-and-attention/104905 "2002-04-22T06:18:04Z")
In column http://www.straightdope.com/columns/020419.html Cecil failed to mention the most obvious plant excretion process. Dew on grass in the morning is the liquid excretion of the grass during the night. Grass runs … --- ## [Jesus' Real Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-real-name/104420)
**Author:** [@JCDenton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JCDenton)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2002, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-real-name/104420 "2002-04-21T03:25:33Z")
I had heard an arabicization/hebrewization combonation calling him Yeshua (the hebrew spelling of joshua) al-Nazareth, Yeshua bin Nazarath (son of nazareth :-S) and Yeshua bin Joseph (with the hebrew equivelant of joesep… --- ## [Even and odd street numbers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-and-odd-street-numbers/101829)
**Author:** [@GrahamAsher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrahamAsher)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2002, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-and-odd-street-numbers/101829 "2002-04-19T12:55:29Z")
In http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_433.html, Cecil is wrong to say ‘having even and odd numbers on opposite sides of the street is an American practice’ - implying that it is not a British practice. In fact it is… --- ## [High Altitude farting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-altitude-farting/104002)
**Author:** [@fgarriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fgarriel)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2002, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-altitude-farting/104002 "2002-04-18T13:40:08Z")
“Do you toot more at high altitude?”, 12-Apr-1996 http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a960412.html In this column, Cecil says that lower external air pressure may result in your inards seeking equilibrium in the form … --- ## [Why pidgeons bob their heads.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pidgeons-bob-their-heads/66)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-pidgeons-bob-their-heads/66 "2002-04-17T19:20:56Z")
I agree with your theory that pidgeons bob their heads, when walking, in order to maintain balance. It seems to me that if they did so in order to maintain visual focus, they would have to bob their heads when flying as … --- ## [Ollie ollie outs in free free free](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ollie-ollie-outs-in-free-free-free/1124)
**Author:** [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ollie-ollie-outs-in-free-free-free/1124 "2002-04-17T12:08:26Z")
In this week’s newspaper column on late-surrendering Japanese soldiers (not yet posted to the site), Cecil asks, “What’s the matter, these guys never heard of ‘ollie ollie outs in free free free’?” I’d guess that no the… --- ## [Why don't Americans say "Street"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-say-street/103201)
**Author:** [@Balor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balor)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-americans-say-street/103201 "2002-04-17T11:06:25Z")
In http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_433.html Cecil Adams calls the residence of the British Prime Minister “10 Downing”. This is perfectly correct in the American language, but to English speakers it sounds odd .… --- ## [Sex with animals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-with-animals/103263)
**Author:** [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-with-animals/103263 "2002-04-16T18:40:18Z")
This article here: hot animal sex I would just like to say that I am bitterly disapointed that I wasn’t consulted on this. --- ## [Re: Coca-Cola no longer made with sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-coca-cola-no-longer-made-with-sugar/103325)
**Author:** [@Ljaym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ljaym)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-coca-cola-no-longer-made-with-sugar/103325 "2002-04-16T16:03:13Z")
Hey Cecil, thanks for putting my mind at rest; I thought I may have been going insane. I have lived in Canada my whole life, and always been an avid Coke drinker. Living close to the US border much of that time, I have… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=245) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=247)