# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=254 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 255 --- ## [Holding the horses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-the-horses/87218)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-the-horses/87218 "2001-10-15T22:15:24Z")
In the column on Colera Belts, Cecil refers to the story of the British artilleryman whose job was to “hold the horses” during WWII, years after horses were no longer used to tow artillery. He refers to this as an apocry… --- ## [Frankincense and Myrrh](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankincense-and-myrrh/77123)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frankincense-and-myrrh/77123 "2001-10-15T21:52:23Z")
Ok – I admit it, I actually did know a lot of those things about F and M. Not the families of the plants, of course, but most of the rest. I’ve picked them up and use them because they hark back to my memories as an alta… --- ## [Genetically Modified Foods](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetically-modified-foods/86155)
**Author:** [@Nukeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nukeman)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2001, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetically-modified-foods/86155 "2001-10-15T10:51:20Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990409.html I thought this reply was a little one sided - Cecil seems to be saying that there are NO disadvantages to genetically modified crops, when in fact they could easily caus… --- ## [Re: A Penny For Your Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-a-penny-for-your-thoughts/86876)
**Author:** [@JohnNSS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnNSS)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2001, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-a-penny-for-your-thoughts/86876 "2001-10-14T14:30:05Z")
A mark was not 240 pennies, it was 100 pennies. Two hundred forty pennies was a pound. --- ## [DOs and MDs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dos-and-mds/87203)
**Author:** [@dr.no](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr.no)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dos-and-mds/87203 "2001-10-13T15:06:52Z")
There’s not even that much ideologic difference for most of us: MDs are now into holistic treatment and DOs now study materia medica (pharmacology). We can take the same licensing exams, work together, et cetera. And ye… --- ## [backward tires/fans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backward-tires-fans/86113)
**Author:** [@filth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filth)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2001, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backward-tires-fans/86113 "2001-10-13T10:57:33Z")
Long ago, I read one of Cecil’s columns regarding the optical illusion that makes rotating wheels or fan blades appear to spin in the opposite direction. Some guy wrote in claiming to have seen this, and Cecil basically … --- ## [They're called Guinea Pigs...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-called-guinea-pigs/87115)
**Author:** [@aubries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aubries)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-called-guinea-pigs/87115 "2001-10-13T03:00:32Z")
because that’s how much they used to cost. At least that’s my understanding. -Ed http://www.straightdope.com/columns/011012.html --- ## [MOVED THREAD: Mary Celeste Mystery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-thread-mary-celeste-mystery/87164)
**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2001, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-thread-mary-celeste-mystery/87164 "2001-10-13T00:35:16Z")
The thread Mary Celeste Mystery has been moved to the Comments on Staff Reports forum. bibliophage moderator GQ --- ## [Mary Celeste Mystery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-celeste-mystery/87119)
**Author:** [@sahaquiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sahaquiel)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-celeste-mystery/87119 "2001-10-13T00:29:57Z")
The best theory, in my mind, as to what happened on the Mary Celeste can be found at: http://www.deafwhale.com/maryceleste/ In short, the ship was hit by a seaquake, a maritime version of an earthquake. This shook up t… --- ## [The Meaning of "Life"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/86845)
**Author:** [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2001, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meaning-of-life/86845 "2001-10-12T22:06:53Z")
Altho this appears to be framed as a debate, it really is a question. Then maybe not. Thinking about spores, it really is alive. Altho the bacterium forms a hard, protective protein covering, there must be some metabolic… --- ## [Cholera belt](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholera-belt/86987)
**Author:** [@Blimix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blimix)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cholera-belt/86987 "2001-10-12T15:25:50Z")
I wouldn’t be too quick to dismiss Little Ed. A quick Google search on “cholera belt” turned up references to the geographic region (as well as enough information to enlighten our Mensa friend). To excerpt from a documen… --- ## [Holwell and the Black Hole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holwell-and-the-black-hole/86633)
**Author:** [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holwell-and-the-black-hole/86633 "2001-10-10T19:33:54Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mblackhole.html One hesitates to raise the issue at this time, but… That John Zephaniah Holwell should have taken a liberal view on Hinduism is not all that surprising, seeing that N… --- ## [Kegel exercises for women and urinary incontinence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kegel-exercises-for-women-and-urinary-incontinence/84471)
**Author:** [@pbmaltzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbmaltzman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2001, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kegel-exercises-for-women-and-urinary-incontinence/84471 "2001-10-10T13:04:45Z")
The woman who thought she was going to “strengthen her uterus” is very much mistaken, as the pubococcygeal muscles are the ones which, among other things, can stop urination, as they surround the urethra. I’m kind of sur… --- ## [Goosebumps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goosebumps/85398)
**Author:** [@Delta-9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delta-9)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2001, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goosebumps/85398 "2001-10-09T16:33:51Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgoosebumps.html The question is answered in the physiological sense, but why do I get them when I hear the national anthem or my favorite song? --- ## [Successful faked deaths.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-faked-deaths/83929)
**Author:** [@Formerly\_Bandersnatch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Formerly_Bandersnatch)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2001, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-faked-deaths/83929 "2001-10-09T13:47:52Z")
I’m afraid there’s really no answer to this. If the faked death was successful, no one would ever know about it. --- ## [21-gun salutes vs. funeral volleys](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-gun-salutes-vs-funeral-volleys/86159)
**Author:** [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2001, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/21-gun-salutes-vs-funeral-volleys/86159 "2001-10-08T17:57:16Z")
Regarding this column: What’s the origin of the 21-gun salute? In the last paragraph, Ian seems to be confusing funeral volleys with 21-gun salutes. This was addressed by micco in this thread with this link. --- ## [Un Chien Andalou](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-chien-andalou/85002)
**Author:** [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2001, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/un-chien-andalou/85002 "2001-10-08T11:41:28Z")
All I can say is that I saw this film and immediately realized it was a calf’s eye. Mainly because I had the dubious pleasure of dissecting same in 6th grade AND 8th grade…interesting short flick though. :smiley: Oh yea… --- ## [RE: Pop goes the weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-pop-goes-the-weasel/85575)
**Author:** [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2001, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-pop-goes-the-weasel/85575 "2001-10-08T10:35:36Z")
Cecil’s answer on the origins of the weasel makes sense, but in light of his answer, another question is raised; where does the monkey come into it, and why is it chasing the weasel around the cobbler’s bench? --- ## [ivy league](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivy-league/85789)
**Author:** [@Robb\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb_S)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2001, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivy-league/85789 "2001-10-08T07:46:11Z")
just a small correction - it’s a league of eight undergraduate colleges, not eight universities. (and dartmouth isn’t a university.) --- ## [I Love Cecil's Columns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-cecils-columns/85987)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Carpenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Carpenter)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2001, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-cecils-columns/85987 "2001-10-07T21:26:42Z")
They are the first message boards I ever posted too. I love the answers to the questions and the cartooning on his title pages are hilarious. I used to think, “Pop Goes the Weasel” meant that the weasel was shot with a … --- ## [abracadabra! Old column magically appears.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abracadabra-old-column-magically-appears/84896)
**Author:** [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2001, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abracadabra-old-column-magically-appears/84896 "2001-10-07T13:42:25Z")
If Cecil can make an old column appear http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990326.html Then it’s only fair to conjure up cmkeller’s original column of comments http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?thread… --- ## [What about antigravity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-antigravity/85765)
**Author:** [@flickerwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickerwolf)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2001, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-antigravity/85765 "2001-10-07T12:36:35Z")
Well, what if we put a cat or a piece of toast into space, where there are multiple floors…If the the cat and/or toast land, where would it be…or if not, would they just perpetually spin in the absolute center of the roo… --- ## [Origin of the F word](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-f-word/85101)
**Author:** [@Lost\_In\_Reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lost_In_Reality)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-f-word/85101 "2001-10-05T22:59:11Z")
While reading a poem in English class which contained the word Fuck we began to discuss whether it is ok to use the word in everday context. Somehow we changed topics to the origin of the word, it seems like we do this w… --- ## [What's the word for when you can't think of the word?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-when-you-cant-think-of-the-word/85046)
**Author:** [@MachPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MachPi)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-word-for-when-you-cant-think-of-the-word/85046 "2001-10-05T12:22:56Z")
No mention was made of the French, dammit, and you know they have a phrase for it: ‘presque vu.’ source: “Gravity’s Rainbow” by Thomas Pynchon --- ## ["Whole Nine Yards" Resolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-nine-yards-resolution/85254)
**Author:** [@ety3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ety3)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2001, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-nine-yards-resolution/85254 "2001-10-05T11:59:35Z")
I’m sure this is stirring up a huge can of worms (where’d that phrase come from?), but is Cecil planning a “Nine Yards” follow-up? I searched for some sort of resolution on the boards but got nowhere. To throw in my two… --- ## [One hand clapping](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hand-clapping/85361)
**Author:** [@kke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kke)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2001, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hand-clapping/85361 "2001-10-05T10:47:09Z")
Is actually possible and quite easy. You hold your thumb against your middle finger, possibly supporting them with the ring finger. You keep your index finger relaxed and throw your hand down fast and stop the motion su… --- ## [Sound of one hand clapping - posted by kke, moved](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sound-of-one-hand-clapping-posted-by-kke-moved/85401)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sound-of-one-hand-clapping-posted-by-kke-moved/85401 "2001-10-04T16:57:32Z")
kke, welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, glad to have you here. Your post is a response to a column by Cecil, and so has been moved to the forum “Comments on Cecil’s Columns” so that interested parties may resp… --- ## [Zeppelin symbols](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeppelin-symbols/81771)
**Author:** [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2001, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeppelin-symbols/81771 "2001-10-03T15:35:28Z")
Regarding http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mledzeppelin.html Somewhere in the mid-'70s, a stoner classmate of mine did his English 101 speech on Led Zep, and claimed Plant’s symbol indicated his voice was as soft as … --- ## [Hat etiquette](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-etiquette/82980)
**Author:** [@TheIncredibleHolg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheIncredibleHolg)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hat-etiquette/82980 "2001-10-03T14:54:24Z")
In his article “Why do men take their hats off to show respect but women don’t?” (http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mhatsoff.html), Songbird writes: Poor guy! Or could it be that you meant “coiffure”? --- ## [Shock treatment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shock-treatment/82988)
**Author:** [@coolestwhiteboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolestwhiteboy)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2001, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shock-treatment/82988 "2001-10-03T11:57:31Z")
Cecil is right when he says electroshock is used and/or justified when the patient is otherwise doomed. My mother suffered a couple of strokes a few years back that affected her little physically but put her into a conti… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=253) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=255)