# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=251 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 252 --- ## [Nephilim, or, How to Read](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nephilim-or-how-to-read/95567)
**Author:** [@yonderboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yonderboy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2001, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nephilim-or-how-to-read/95567 "2001-11-29T20:47:49Z")
When I hear a friend tell a story of something we experienced together – even if it only occurred a moment before the telling – I often have the eerie impression that I am part of the audience instead of an actor. There’… --- ## [follow-up question on telegrams](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-up-question-on-telegrams/95882)
**Author:** [@Distopos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Distopos)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-up-question-on-telegrams/95882 "2001-11-29T06:14:19Z")
Regarding John R’s question about sending telegrams: Is it still possible to send a telegram? Does Western Union use telegraph wires to transmit the message between offices? Wouldn’t that be a kick? Since they (surely) … --- ## [How to call a jihad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-call-a-jihad/95879)
**Author:** [@Distopos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Distopos)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-call-a-jihad/95879 "2001-11-29T05:48:20Z")
The answer given to Plyman’s question about Jihad What are the rules for declaring a jihad? 13-Nov-2001 ) was disappointingly incomplete. Unfortunately I can only set the record in the general direction of straight sin… --- ## [Smallpox Eradication](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648)
**Author:** [@Don\_Entz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Entz)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2001, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox-eradication/95648 "2001-11-28T20:24:29Z")
Smallpox was officially declaerd eradicated in October 1979, NOT in 1980 like your column stated. --- ## [Nice job on the turtle essay, Unca Cece](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-on-the-turtle-essay-unca-cece/93805)
**Author:** [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-job-on-the-turtle-essay-unca-cece/93805 "2001-11-28T19:44:33Z")
Not only is it sparklingly interesting and informative, telling us things we weren’t even aware we desperately needed to know, you also managed to get somebody else to write the whole article for you. Seems to me if you … --- ## [Does Cecil believe Kinsey's findings on race & penis size?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cecil-believe-kinseys-findings-on-race-penis-size/94950)
**Author:** [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cecil-believe-kinseys-findings-on-race-penis-size/94950 "2001-11-28T18:40:59Z")
In this column, Cecil cites Dr. Kinsey, adding the caveat, “These figures must be regarded with caution. There were more than 2,500 white male respondents, but only 59 black males.” This has led to a rather silly debate … --- ## [Do we have to have gold to back the currency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-have-to-have-gold-to-back-the-currency/95403)
**Author:** [@pati12812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pati12812)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2001, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-have-to-have-gold-to-back-the-currency/95403 "2001-11-28T13:30:12Z")
I was talking with some friends, and I got this brainstorm…If U.S. is going into a recession, why can’t we just print up more money…My friends shot me down, and said that we (The Fed. reserve) has to have gold or another… --- ## [origin of Turkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-turkey/94595)
**Author:** [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-turkey/94595 "2001-11-28T00:53:36Z")
Re: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mturkey.html Just a few points to add: In Hebrew, the bird is known as hodu, which is the Hebrew name for India. In Hebrew the word for corn is tiras. According to Klein, in hi… --- ## [Iwo Jima Copyright - moved to General Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iwo-jima-copyright-moved-to-general-question/95609)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iwo-jima-copyright-moved-to-general-question/95609 "2001-11-27T23:37:08Z")
The topic “Iwo Jima Copyright” has been moved to the forum called GENERAL QUESTIONS. It’s a good first post, giftedest, and welcome to the Boards. It’s just in the wrong forum. Here’s a link: Iwo Jima copyright --- ## [More jet contrail info.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-jet-contrail-info/93316)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-jet-contrail-info/93316 "2001-11-27T02:48:40Z")
More of just an FYI: Some interesting data came out of the 9/11 plane grounding, which provided a chance to observe otherwise clear skies and only a few planes. Cecil’s column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000… --- ## [Giving thanks for diseases](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-thanks-for-diseases/94857)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/giving-thanks-for-diseases/94857 "2001-11-26T19:33:22Z")
Nitpick time. In the column on the origin of Thanksgiving ( http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_147.html ), Cecil talks about the Pilgrims and local Indians getting together to “chow down, play volleyball, and excha… --- ## [Looney Tunes theme](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looney-tunes-theme/91587)
**Author:** [@coolestwhiteboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolestwhiteboy)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2001, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looney-tunes-theme/91587 "2001-11-26T15:38:16Z")
I discern parts of “The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down” in Professor Longhair’s “Crawfish Fiesta.” Is it possible that Professor Longhair actually viewed a Looney Tunes before recording his tune in 1979? Or did the passage we… --- ## [The dingo ate my baby](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dingo-ate-my-baby/75725)
**Author:** [@Oystaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oystaman)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2001, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dingo-ate-my-baby/75725 "2001-11-23T07:03:50Z")
This is a comment on this column http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000922.html Just recently (around May this year) there was a highly visible case of a dingo eating a human child. The Gage family were on holiday on … --- ## [the Devil and goats: what was unca Cecil smoking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-devil-and-goats-what-was-unca-cecil-smoking/93784)
**Author:** [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2001, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-devil-and-goats-what-was-unca-cecil-smoking/93784 "2001-11-23T02:31:11Z")
Is it just me, or does Cecil’s answer to the goat and devil question demonstrate a remarkable incoherence? It seems like his basic answer to the question is, “I don’t know” (!), followed by a bizarre, rambling, stream of… --- ## [Necronomicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necronomicon/71094)
**Author:** [@AlexxKay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlexxKay)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2001, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/necronomicon/71094 "2001-11-21T08:06:04Z")
I ran across a copy of HPL’s pamphlet, History of the Necronomicon in the Brandeis University Library – filed as non-fiction! Not sure if the librarian was deliberately joking, or just taken in by the format, but this is… --- ## [Nephilim and the Combat Myth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nephilim-and-the-combat-myth/94418)
**Author:** [@FriendRob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendRob)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nephilim-and-the-combat-myth/94418 "2001-11-21T02:22:29Z")
Strangely enough, I just read a book by Neil Forsyth, The Old Enemy, that discusses the Nephilim story as a variant of a common “combat myth” from the mid-east dating from about 2000 BC. There are versions from Sumer, As… --- ## [Consciousness and AI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consciousness-and-ai/94356)
**Author:** [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consciousness-and-ai/94356 "2001-11-20T23:30:17Z")
For those who found Cecil’s latest on consciousness interesting, you may want to read up on Neural Network Simulators, which have been pretty successful at modeling “learning” behavior at a very very very basic level. Th… --- ## [Jesus H. Christ! Have you no sense of history?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ-have-you-no-sense-of-history/93810)
**Author:** [@danson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danson)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-h-christ-have-you-no-sense-of-history/93810 "2001-11-20T20:46:59Z")
With regard to what the H. stands for in Jesus H. Christ, Samuel Clemens provides that information. When he was a youth, he was a printer’s assistant, back in the days when pages were set up of small lead letters carefu… --- ## [Yams & Sweet potatoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yams-sweet-potatoes/93493)
**Author:** [@k.os](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k.os)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2001, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yams-sweet-potatoes/93493 "2001-11-20T06:03:38Z")
This is in reference to this column. I often use this site when I have food interrogations. I found that page on sweet potatoes and yams. According to the page, there are a couple of other vegetables that are in the cat… --- ## [New Car Smell](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car-smell/94204)
**Author:** [@onigame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onigame)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-car-smell/94204 "2001-11-20T05:20:07Z")
Cecil tried to answer the question on where that “new car smell” comes from: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990528.html I believe this question is answered in one of Dave Feldman’s “Imponderables” books. (Right… --- ## [Ask this about conciousness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-this-about-conciousness/93968)
**Author:** [@gregmaster5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregmaster5)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2001, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-this-about-conciousness/93968 "2001-11-19T21:55:31Z")
The real question to ask about personal conciousness , is 'why are you peering out of your eyes, and not the other guys eyes, why are you inside of your brain and not the other guys brain… Why am I me and not him, so to… --- ## [Turtlecania](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtlecania/93982)
**Author:** [@juanjuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/juanjuan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turtlecania/93982 "2001-11-18T14:57:25Z")
My wife tells me she just read to her second-grade class that sea turtles can’t retract their heads. True? --- ## [Yams & Sweet Potatoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yams-sweet-potatoes/93703)
**Author:** [@mgreenspan47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mgreenspan47)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2001, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yams-sweet-potatoes/93703 "2001-11-18T03:03:01Z")
In Africa, perhaps, yams account for multiple births. In the Trobriand Islands in the South Pacific (east of Papua New Guinea) they reputedly account for a vibrant sex life. Each spring, the islanders hold a two week Yam… --- ## [Disney movies and their subliminal erotica](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disney-movies-and-their-subliminal-erotica/92073)
**Author:** [@spando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spando)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disney-movies-and-their-subliminal-erotica/92073 "2001-11-18T01:41:40Z")
See article at http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdisneyperv.html Just a minor comment: The cases of subliminal shenanigans are supposedly divided into three categories, labelled A, items that were mischievously inse… --- ## [MOVED - Turtlecania](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-turtlecania/93997)
**Author:** [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-turtlecania/93997 "2001-11-17T22:56:25Z")
The thread «Turtlecania», started by juanjuan, has been moved to the «Comments on Cecil’s Columns» forum. moderator, «Straight Dope Message Board» --- ## [The Impact of Chineese and Chairs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impact-of-chineese-and-chairs/93978)
**Author:** [@RkshE54](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RkshE54)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2001, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impact-of-chineese-and-chairs/93978 "2001-11-17T22:36:50Z")
Nicley put Cecil. I like the lil hints of sarcasm that u put in yur answers. The one thing that i dont agree with is the part where you said that it wouldn’t throw the world off balance if everyone got up on their chairs… --- ## [Jihad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jihad/93122)
**Author:** [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2001, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jihad/93122 "2001-11-17T16:30:40Z")
From What are the rules for declaring a jihad?: From the WSJ: Jihad vs. Crusade So apparently, John’s comments are technically correct but misleading. Yes, the Qu’ran used Jihad in the context of internal struggle, b… --- ## [Kudos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos/93845)
**Author:** [@Grievar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grievar)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2001, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kudos/93845 "2001-11-17T02:22:52Z")
I’m not 100% about this, but I have collected from across the net that “kudos” is both singular AND plural. HOWEVER, there is a pronunciation difference. The singular has a voiceless “ss” sound and the plural has the… --- ## [smallpox](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox/92634)
**Author:** [@dr\_france](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_france)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smallpox/92634 "2001-11-16T22:51:48Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011109.html anthrax, schmanthrax. big deal. anthrax may be an ok germ for causing panic in people shaken by the reality of terrorism when they thought they were safe, but its not a go… --- ## [Why the shower curtain pulls in...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shower-curtain-pulls-in/93613)
**Author:** [@bmccready](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmccready)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shower-curtain-pulls-in/93613 "2001-11-16T22:32:17Z")
Cecil, I just read the whole chain on the ‘shower curtain thing’ David Schmidt’s article on Scientific American ( http://www.sciam.com/askexpert/physics/physics62/index.html ) and I believe that there are more than a f… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=250) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=252)