# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=267 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 268 --- ## [Shakey's pizza](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakeys-pizza/61642)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2001, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakeys-pizza/61642 "2001-04-19T12:22:23Z")
In today’s Staff Report, at http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpizza.html, Dex says: I’d heard the story that pizza really took off in the United States when the Shakey Brothers opened their chain of Pizza Parlors. A… --- ## [David Bowie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie/62512)
**Author:** [@eniac18000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eniac18000)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2001, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-bowie/62512 "2001-04-19T06:47:36Z")
It’s unforunate that David Bowie’s newest album “Bowie at the Beeb” hadn’t yet been released when songbird wrote \<\\> ( http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmajorto.html ). Oth… --- ## [100,000 dollar bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-000-dollar-bill/62502)
**Author:** [@eniac18000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eniac18000)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-000-dollar-bill/62502 "2001-04-19T05:11:05Z")
SDSTAFF Div forgot to mention the 100,000 gold certificate in her reply to “Whose face is on the $1,000 bill?” ( http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m1000.html ) Poor Woodrow…pictured on a bill that, while illegal to o… --- ## [Chalk outline around the body](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-outline-around-the-body/62194)
**Author:** [@Jack\_Hannon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Hannon)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chalk-outline-around-the-body/62194 "2001-04-18T22:32:53Z")
Many years ago, a body was dumped in the parking lot of the Apartment complex my father lived in. Whatever teh results of the investigation, there was a clear outline left in classic TV fashion. For years afterwards, no… --- ## [gorillas eat their poop, I'd rather eat meat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gorillas-eat-their-poop-id-rather-eat-meat/60866)
**Author:** [@korigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/korigan)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2001, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gorillas-eat-their-poop-id-rather-eat-meat/60866 "2001-04-18T00:09:41Z")
Concerning the collumn wether or not we are vegetarian by nature. Im a student in anthropology and primatology: I can tell all of you bruxelle srout lovers that chimps kill smaller monkeys fairly often, and they eat them… --- ## [How do the Chinese use computers (update)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-chinese-use-computers-update/59375)
**Author:** [@ridwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ridwan)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-chinese-use-computers-update/59375 "2001-04-16T14:32:54Z")
I’m not well acquainted with Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) but in many respects Japanese is easier and they do get on the computer. Japanese uses three (or arguably four now, considering romanization or “romanji”) wri… --- ## [antidisestablishmentarianism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antidisestablishmentarianism/61469)
**Author:** [@rintinscrabbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rintinscrabbleweed)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2001, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antidisestablishmentarianism/61469 "2001-04-16T12:45:53Z")
qv… the present political climate invites a new version of this word: ‘re-establishmentarians’ favor and advocate the establishment of a religious government for the US. also known as ‘evangelicals’, these people and po… --- ## [I do catch flies with vinegar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-catch-flies-with-vinegar/61044)
**Author:** [@nthomas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nthomas)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-do-catch-flies-with-vinegar/61044 "2001-04-15T22:30:58Z")
At http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mflyhoney.html SDSTAFF Doug wrote: In southern California, I have discovered, you do catch flies with vinegar! Whether you get as many as you would with syrup or shit, I couldn’t … --- ## [Re: Who invented the smiley face?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-who-invented-the-smiley-face/62)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2001, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-who-invented-the-smiley-face/62 "2001-04-14T20:37:16Z")
I can sleep soundly, now I know the truth. Something else is disturbing my otherwise perfect slumber, however: What’s the origin of Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman? I read somewhere that the “What? Me worry?” guy is old… --- ## [WW2 pizza](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ww2-pizza/61668)
**Author:** [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ww2-pizza/61668 "2001-04-14T16:18:16Z")
Pizza’s popularity certainly mushroomed (sorry) in the 1950s. However, I’ve heard that this can be traced back to many soldiers in World War II being exposed to it in the Little Italies of the east coast while waiting … --- ## [Rolling Rock Myth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-rock-myth/60142)
**Author:** [@Blackbeard3220](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackbeard3220)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2001, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-rock-myth/60142 "2001-04-14T05:50:09Z")
Hey All, I’m a native of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It’s the birthplace of golf legend Arnold Palmer and famous children’s television personality Mr. Rogers. The banana split was invented here and the first professional foo… --- ## [Fortune Cookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fortune-cookies/60028)
**Author:** [@jmchicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmchicago)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2001, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fortune-cookies/60028 "2001-04-13T23:13:17Z")
If you steam a fortune cookie for a few minutes, it will soften and become flexible again. This makes it possible to open and reclose even the best formed cookies. --- ## [your moon hoax article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-moon-hoax-article/56901)
**Author:** [@dahow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dahow)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-moon-hoax-article/56901 "2001-04-13T22:50:43Z")
that was the most unintelligent argument i have ever read. anyone who believes that man walked on the moon in 1969 (no one has the tech ability to do it today surely not in 69)is an idiot. --- ## [Military secret weapons!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-secret-weapons/61108)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-secret-weapons/61108 "2001-04-13T20:06:39Z")
In Cecil’s latest article, at http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010406.html, he states: If acoustic weapons are under secret development by the military, how do we know about 'em? :confused: --- ## [The OZ Suicide](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oz-suicide/61763)
**Author:** [@HJG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HJG)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-oz-suicide/61763 "2001-04-13T17:09:06Z")
I’ve known about this rumor for many years now – I used to work in a video store and we took a laser-disk copy of the WofOz and put it up on the big screen. While you can indeed see, what we determined to be an osterich… --- ## ["Republican dogma"....huh?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-dogma-huh/61540)
**Author:** [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2001, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-dogma-huh/61540 "2001-04-13T12:21:32Z")
In the Staff Report What is the origin of “notary sojac”? I came across the perplexing phrase: I thought it was a joke or something, but there’s no other reference to it. I’ve always thought of The Straight Dope as fi… --- ## [full soda cans on RR tracks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-soda-cans-on-rr-tracks/61726)
**Author:** [@whoami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whoami)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2001, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/full-soda-cans-on-rr-tracks/61726 "2001-04-12T18:01:05Z")
We used to put soda cans on the tracks. I guess due to the jostling of the tracks as the train approached (shaking the pressurized contents), and the friction and pressure of the train wheel as it hit the can - the can w… --- ## [Circumcision - whose penis is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-whose-penis-is-it/57788)
**Author:** [@Hugh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hugh)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumcision-whose-penis-is-it/57788 "2001-04-11T22:02:37Z")
Cecil is wrong that John Taylor’s discovery of the highly innervated ridged band of the foreskin has never been formally published. (Taylor, J.P., A.P. Lockwood and A.J.Taylor, The prepuce: Specialized mucosa of the peni… --- ## [Sound Pressure Levels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sound-pressure-levels/61076)
**Author:** [@WashU77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WashU77)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2001, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sound-pressure-levels/61076 "2001-04-11T13:04:02Z")
In a recent column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010406.html Cecil mentions a sound level of 200 Decibels. Here’s a pointless question. Why would this not me stated as 20 Bels? Does the ‘Deci’ part of the term no… --- ## [Running the heater makes a car MORE efficient](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-the-heater-makes-a-car-more-efficient/60358)
**Author:** [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-the-heater-makes-a-car-more-efficient/60358 "2001-04-10T23:06:51Z")
Okay, here’s some nitpicking. Running the heater will help cool the engine so it will actually improve gas mileage slightly. --- ## [Newlywed Legend - That'd be the butt, Bob, Solved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newlywed-legend-thatd-be-the-butt-bob-solved/61381)
**Author:** [@Argos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argos)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newlywed-legend-thatd-be-the-butt-bob-solved/61381 "2001-04-10T15:19:51Z")
This might be old news but I believe the orgins of the story have been sorted out. The page listed below has a discussion of the origin to the legend along with an MPEG of the actual show (The Newlywed Game, 1977) with t… --- ## [Did Mary Shelley not write](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mary-shelley-not-write/59020)
**Author:** [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 10, 2001, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-mary-shelley-not-write/59020 "2001-04-10T00:12:25Z")
Ohhh, Son of Dex, you had me until your last line! “Woo hoo. Those wacky Victorian women.” Mary Shelly was born 1797, wrote “Frankenstein” 1816. Mary Shelley Queen Victoria was born 1819, became Queen 1837. Queen Vi… --- ## [How to stop telemarketers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-telemarketers/61398)
**Author:** [@klg19](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klg19)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stop-telemarketers/61398 "2001-04-09T21:03:16Z")
Back in September of 1996, Cecil answered one of the Teeming Millions who wanted to know how to guarantee success in stopping the calls of telemarketers. Not even Cecil’s ponderous brain could have foreseen almost 5 year… --- ## [Sing a Song of Sixpence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sing-a-song-of-sixpence/60942)
**Author:** [@Dreama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dreama)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2001, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sing-a-song-of-sixpence/60942 "2001-04-09T14:45:08Z")
Collected off of http://www.snopes.com (Urban Legend Site). This urban legend turned out to be true: A Pocket Full of Wry Claim: The nursery rhyme ‘Sing a Song of Sixpence’ originated as a coded message used to recruit… --- ## [The coyote and the bird-- Scientific results!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coyote-and-the-bird-scientific-results/60607)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2001, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coyote-and-the-bird-scientific-results/60607 "2001-04-09T12:10:12Z")
I’m referring, of course, to the recent column Did Wile E. Coyote ever catch the Road Runner?. Purely coincidentally, the last homework assignment in the relativity class here at Montana State (assigned before Cecil’s co… --- ## [ETAONI SHRDLU](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etaoni-shrdlu/59208)
**Author:** [@BVCC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BVCC)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 9, 2001, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etaoni-shrdlu/59208 "2001-04-09T02:40:30Z")
Dear Cecil, In reporting the result of his letter-counting project, your correspondent Skip Newhall say, “You will notice that the order of n and i is reversed from that in etaoin, though the counts differ by less than … --- ## [Great Wall as seen from Space](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-as-seen-from-space/61260)
**Author:** [@SDFMacross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SDFMacross)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2001, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-as-seen-from-space/61260 "2001-04-08T17:40:13Z")
Cecil was rigfht for the most part on that column on the Great Wall–they showed pictures of the Earth as seen from the moon in a Histroy Channel show on the Great Wall to illustrate that fact–but Vecil was (I am loathe t… --- ## [more about foo and bar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-about-foo-and-bar/61116)
**Author:** [@soso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soso)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2001, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-about-foo-and-bar/61116 "2001-04-07T12:45:28Z")
For more information about the Stoverisms “foo” and “bar”, briefly mentioned in the column, check out the links below. I am a little shocked that, despite the regularity with which “foo” and “bar” are still employed in … --- ## [poisoned cat claws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poisoned-cat-claws/61114)
**Author:** [@SnowCat66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnowCat66)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2001, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poisoned-cat-claws/61114 "2001-04-07T12:07:37Z")
I just read a staff report on whether cats have poison in their claws. The person who answered it suggested that the person who wrote it might be allergic to cats, or perhaps the cat had a kind of disease. I have my own … --- ## [The Coyote did "run over" the roadrunner, sort of...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coyote-did-run-over-the-roadrunner-sort-of/60161)
**Author:** [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2001, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coyote-did-run-over-the-roadrunner-sort-of/60161 "2001-04-06T16:46:32Z")
In the Tiny Toons cartoon, “How I Spent My Vacation” the mailman (who is the roadrunner) grabs a letter then jumps into the back of a mail van. The van, with a large “I brake for Coyotes” bumper sticker revs up and runs … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=266) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=268)