# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=263 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 264 --- ## [What if God was one of us?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-was-one-of-us/182)
**Author:** [@Kid\_Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_Gilligan)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2001, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-god-was-one-of-us/182 "2001-06-20T05:33:13Z")
This week’s classic threads begings with the quote: “What if God was one of us?” I know this isn’t the place, but… For me, one of the most powerful things about Christianity is the fact that he WAS. Instead of simply … --- ## [you are WRONG \[about shroud of Turin\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-wrong-about-shroud-of-turin/20452)
**Author:** [@Billythekid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billythekid)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [June 19, 2001, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-wrong-about-shroud-of-turin/20452 "2001-06-19T01:00:28Z")
they have done more test on the shroud of turam and they said that some fungas had been what they tested and that the shroud was from 30 to 70 ad which means that it could be jesus’s cloth. And thanks to you that could … --- ## [Snowfall](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowfall/68924)
**Author:** [@K2Rage101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2Rage101)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowfall/68924 "2001-06-18T20:17:37Z")
Cecil made another error when he estimated 100 million molecules per snowflake. By my calculations, it’s actually closer to 3.15x10^20 molecules per snowflake. Will it never end… --- ## [worthless](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worthless/69178)
**Author:** [@SUPAMAC1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SUPAMAC1)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worthless/69178 "2001-06-18T12:47:46Z")
to comment on the worthless fish known as the drum, i know of THE worthless fish that is utterly impossible to eat. im from south Texas and there is a fish here known as the Buffalo fish. It looks promising, but its so … --- ## [Genetically engineered food](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetically-engineered-food/142)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetically-engineered-food/142 "2001-06-17T18:49:02Z")
Your column on genetically engineered food included some important critical insights. However, your overall analysis seems to be that there’s nothing wrong with genetic engineering per se, but only with some of the atten… --- ## [Sucking Spaghetti](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sucking-spaghetti/208)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sucking-spaghetti/208 "2001-06-17T18:44:46Z")
A while ago Cecil rejected the alt.physics crowd’s explanation about how sucking spaghetti works (a pressure differential) on the grounds that they didn’t say where the differential pressure was exerted. As best I can t… --- ## [Witches and Brooms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-brooms/237)
**Author:** [@Banshee\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banshee_1)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/witches-and-brooms/237 "2001-06-17T18:40:27Z")
Greets, I was quite miffed by the article on Witchcraft. The WHOLE witches on brooms came from the Christians. I cannot believe you read such tripe from such out dated and horrid sources. The witches used brooms in thei… --- ## [Parthenogenesis and the Turkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parthenogenesis-and-the-turkey/255)
**Author:** [@Lkay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lkay)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parthenogenesis-and-the-turkey/255 "2001-06-17T18:38:43Z")
It is hard to believe, but the topic of how the turkey becomes impregnated with their young came up at dinner this weekend. Fortunately I was able to bring to the discussion the information on parthenogenesis and the tur… --- ## [Creole?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creole/297)
**Author:** [@Xeos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xeos)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creole/297 "2001-06-17T18:36:04Z")
Hello, I may have some useful information on the legitimacy of the written “Creole” in the brochures mentioned in you article. Many moons ago, when I was a Jehovah’s Witness, (don’t worry I’m better now.) I had a chance … --- ## [Tequila vs Mescal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tequila-vs-mescal/312)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tequila-vs-mescal/312 "2001-06-17T18:34:37Z")
While sipping tequila with my friends Jacinto, Hidalgo, and two other guys whose names I don’t seem to recall (my memory isn’t the best, even when I’m sober), we got comparing notes on what we know about tequila and mesc… --- ## [Reguarding Cecil's Star Trek stardate explaination](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reguarding-cecils-star-trek-stardate-explaination/67008)
**Author:** [@GilmourD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilmourD)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reguarding-cecils-star-trek-stardate-explaination/67008 "2001-06-17T18:12:30Z")
One major fact that Cecil left out of his explaination reguarding the stardates is that when ships in Star Trek lore are traveling at faster than light, they are not traveling in normal space, but rather subspace. This i… --- ## [Adam Kadmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-kadmon/69116)
**Author:** [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adam-kadmon/69116 "2001-06-17T18:08:28Z")
I’ve never posted in this forum before, what a strange feeling… Anyway, I was just looking through one of the SD books and came across this column: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_295.html In the end there thi… --- ## [What Would Cecil Do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-cecil-do/291)
**Author:** [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-cecil-do/291 "2001-06-17T14:15:19Z")
I place this in this forum because it is a “Comment on Cecil’s Columns.” Please move it as appropriate. In What gets the better gas mileage: windows up, AC on, or windows down, AC off? , Cecil travels across this great … --- ## [Interesting tidbit about communion wine...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-tidbit-about-communion-wine/68816)
**Author:** [@discopants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discopants)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2001, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-tidbit-about-communion-wine/68816 "2001-06-16T23:01:30Z")
The modern-day fruit juice industry actually began back in 1869 in the Vineland, New Jersey, home of Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch, where he and his son Charles processed the first bottles of “unfermented wine” for use with … --- ## [Richard Francis Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-francis-burton/68814)
**Author:** [@rbs52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbs52)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2001, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-francis-burton/68814 "2001-06-16T00:34:37Z")
re:Has any non-Muslim ever made the pilgrimage to Mecca? Is George MacDonald Fraser’s character Flashman in his Flashman series of books based on this Richard Burton? --- ## [The President's IQ and Mad Cow Disease](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidents-iq-and-mad-cow-disease/68934)
**Author:** [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2001, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-presidents-iq-and-mad-cow-disease/68934 "2001-06-15T15:55:39Z")
Yesterday, I picked up the DC City Paper and turned to the Straight Dope, and the question was regarding presidential IQs…who our smartest and dumbest presidents have been. The website today has an alternate column. What… --- ## [Snowfall \[topic by K2Rage101 moved\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowfall-topic-by-k2rage101-moved/68932)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snowfall-topic-by-k2rage101-moved/68932 "2001-06-15T14:18:44Z")
K2Rage101 launched a topic in response to Cecil’s column about identical snowflakes. Since that belongs in the forum “Comments on Cecil’s Columns” rather than here, it has been so moved. You can find the topic here: Sno… --- ## [the Guinea is still used.......](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guinea-is-still-used/68492)
**Author:** [@monkykong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monkykong)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 15, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guinea-is-still-used/68492 "2001-06-15T01:34:37Z")
…Certain posh doctors in Harley Street \[where all the fancy London doctors/surgeons have offices\] still issue bills in guineas. This is in no way pretentious --- ## [Russian Roulette and various revolvers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-and-various-revolvers/340)
**Author:** [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette-and-various-revolvers/340 "2001-06-14T21:08:05Z")
Cecil’s column is: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991022.html#update This column contains a lot of nitpicking, which has inspired in me a fit of counter-nitpicking. John Bushnell of Northwestern states that If t… --- ## [Altar wine & Prohibition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altar-wine-prohibition/68815)
**Author:** [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/altar-wine-prohibition/68815 "2001-06-14T15:44:21Z")
In the piece on churches using altar wine during the Prohibition days ( http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/maltarwine.html ) we see ". . . allowed many people to avoid the spirit of the law. " Har! Nice one, Songbird. … --- ## [recycling song tunes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-song-tunes/68693)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2001, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recycling-song-tunes/68693 "2001-06-14T14:19:34Z")
In the column Was the melody of “The Star Spangled Banner” taken from an old drinking song?, Cecil discusses new songs recycling old melodies. As an example, he mentions Weird Al Yankovic. While it is certainly true that… --- ## [Re: What is the origin of the peace symbol?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-is-the-origin-of-the-peace-symbol/68785)
**Author:** [@tegatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tegatu)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2001, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-is-the-origin-of-the-peace-symbol/68785 "2001-06-14T13:35:20Z")
Further to what is said in the original column about the crow’s foot symbol (i.e. the bit inside the enclosing circle of the CND/peace symbol we’re all familiar with) being an ancient symbol of defeat, it’s maybe worth p… --- ## [Morman Temple](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morman-temple/67141)
**Author:** [@hergrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hergrace)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2001, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morman-temple/67141 "2001-06-14T12:09:32Z")
Dear Monty, In your answer to B. Young’s question about how to get into a LDS temple, you mentioned that their services are held in a chapel. Are these services open to the public? hergrace Link to the Staff Report bei… --- ## [Is Cecil dead?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead/66377)
**Author:** [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecil-dead/66377 "2001-06-14T01:24:11Z")
From the SDMB home page We’ve got Does “in like Flynn” refer to Errol Flynn’s success with women? 06-Sep-1996 … then we have What does “kumbaya” mean? 11-Sep-1998 … and we also have Are flamingos pink because they … --- ## [The Hajj](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hajj/68085)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hajj/68085 "2001-06-13T17:24:22Z")
Reference this column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010608.html Just in case anyone’s wondering what the Embassy of Saudi Arabia (in Washington, DC) has to say about getting to Mecca. In Arabic http://www.saudi… --- ## [Bagpipes and funerals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes-and-funerals/66997)
**Author:** [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2001, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bagpipes-and-funerals/66997 "2001-06-13T14:58:41Z")
I read “Why do they play bagpipes at police funerals?” and thought that even though dear Uncle Cecil’s answer was adequate it was a little lacking. The bagpipe is not originally an Irish or Scottish instrument, it’s his… --- ## [Vultures: Why do they fly the way they do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vultures-why-do-they-fly-the-way-they-do/67867)
**Author:** [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vultures-why-do-they-fly-the-way-they-do/67867 "2001-06-12T16:06:56Z")
The column Why do vultures circle dead stuff? (06-Jun-2001) made me remember another vulture-related question I’ve always wondered about. Namely, if you observe turkey vultures soaring, you’ll notice that they sort of “r… --- ## [Islands and continents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/islands-and-continents/68266)
**Author:** [@ahbiteme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ahbiteme)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/islands-and-continents/68266 "2001-06-12T02:00:03Z")
Just a quick question, according to the Webster’s definition of an island (ie, smaller than a continent), well, where does that leave Australia? I live here, and there’s a saying that goes “Australia is the world’s small… --- ## [Colibri Slighted!?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-slighted/67806)
**Author:** [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-slighted/67806 "2001-06-11T23:32:58Z")
In today’s Staff Report, Why do vultures circle dead stuff?, the listed author is “Guest contributor George Angehr,” known to us on the SDMB as Colibri. However, in Cecil’s December 15 column on Caterpillar Sex, Cecil p… --- ## [Boilermakers v. Depth Charges](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boilermakers-v-depth-charges/68219)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2001, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boilermakers-v-depth-charges/68219 "2001-06-11T15:58:37Z")
In his column Boilermaker recipe: drop the shot glass in the beer?, Unca Cec confesses that he does not know whether dropping a shot glass of whisky in beer was the original boilermaker, or is more properly termed a “Dep… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=262) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=264)