# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=268 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 269 --- ## [notary sojac](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654)
**Author:** [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/notary-sojac/60654 "2001-04-06T14:18:03Z")
That phrase instantly rang a bell! As a kid visiting my grandparents I’d listen to their collection of old Spike Jones 78’s. The piece entitled “William Tell Overture” recounted a wacky horse race. At one point the annou… --- ## [7-Up and other stories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-up-and-other-stories/60870)
**Author:** [@thornz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thornz)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 6, 2001, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-up-and-other-stories/60870 "2001-04-06T12:30:23Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980529b.html didnt it also have lithium in it? And wasnt it also marketed during the depression, which was why having lithium made it so popular? --- ## ["House of the Rising Sun"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-rising-sun/59173)
**Author:** [@MaryJane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryJane)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2001, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-rising-sun/59173 "2001-04-05T03:47:37Z")
That was an excellent response. I used to wonder about the convoluted lyrics myself, now it begins to make sense. Thanks for the explanation. As a music lover surrounded by other music lovers, I plan to spread this eluci… --- ## [1506 nix nix](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1506-nix-nix/60713)
**Author:** [@Noxturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noxturne)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2001, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1506-nix-nix/60713 "2001-04-04T07:20:52Z")
Actually, this phrase did finally get an answer. I read it in a Comic’s Buyers Guide years ago. 1506 was the apartment number of a friend of Holman’s who was a womanizer. the Nix Nix was his way of warning women away fr… --- ## [The Sound Of One Hand Clapping](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/60272)
**Author:** [@Chaseman2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chaseman2000)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2001, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sound-of-one-hand-clapping/60272 "2001-04-03T06:51:22Z")
I was searching through the archives of Straight Dope, when I found this article from 1984: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_049 Entitled: What is the Sound of One Hand Clapping? After reading the article, I had… --- ## [Gas Mileage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage/60070)
**Author:** [@stevehaddock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stevehaddock)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2001, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage/60070 "2001-04-02T06:55:38Z")
The radio stuff is small change. Here’s the big question - does using the air conditioner have an effect on the gas mileage. Certainly, the air conditioner uses a lot of electricity (and gas) to run the compressor. Howe… --- ## [re: what causes eyelid twitching?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-causes-eyelid-twitching/60423)
**Author:** [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2001, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-causes-eyelid-twitching/60423 "2001-04-02T05:27:00Z")
re: Pozzzz’s inquiry about eyelid twitching and the staff reply: Stress can certainly cause this, but so can a calcium deficiency, which is also implicated often in leg cramps. Calcium supplements would help. Tonic water… --- ## [Can people really recall past lives: an update!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-people-really-recall-past-lives-an-update/59232)
**Author:** [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2001, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-people-really-recall-past-lives-an-update/59232 "2001-04-01T14:54:49Z")
In Unca Cecil’s column on reincarnation, a “Bruce Goldman, DDS” takes umberage at Cecil’s rational and funny dismissal of Bridie Murphy et al. Well, in Martin Gardner’s newest (wonderful) book From the Wandering Jew to … --- ## [Christmas Trees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-trees/59037)
**Author:** [@GonnaWin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GonnaWin)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2001, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-trees/59037 "2001-04-01T13:19:26Z")
Cecil blew part of the answer while remarking about Victorian Christmases in: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_014.html He stated that Christmas trees are of German origin, but in fact the bringing in of a green … --- ## [Car radio sapping mileage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-radio-sapping-mileage/59964)
**Author:** [@whoami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whoami)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2001, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-radio-sapping-mileage/59964 "2001-04-01T07:39:17Z")
I just wanted to say that I think there is an effect on overall mileage, however miniscule. Anyway, I took him up on his final suggestion (burn rubber while blasting some tunes). Smashing Pumpkins (in honor of that fair … --- ## [I don't mind being a dick, so...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-mind-being-a-dick-so/60290)
**Author:** [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-mind-being-a-dick-so/60290 "2001-04-01T03:22:54Z")
In Cecil’s latest column, there is the sentence: “No doubt that why rumors of such an episode persist” (italics mine). I usually don’t like to nitpick (OK, I do), but come on - if I can catch the error, why can’t Cecil a… --- ## [CAR SAPPING MILEAGE](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-sapping-mileage/60205)
**Author:** [@revelstonejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/revelstonejoe)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-sapping-mileage/60205 "2001-03-31T17:27:29Z")
If that guy was really an engineer I think he could have figured that question all by himself. --- ## [Income tax debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/income-tax-debate/60139)
**Author:** [@octo1212](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octo1212)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2001, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/income-tax-debate/60139 "2001-03-31T16:37:36Z")
i wanted to look up a resource to find out if the 16th amendment was actually ratified…apparently it has nothing to do with Ohio, but KENTUCKY…Kentucky’s senate allegedly signed it in…but it was voted against 20 to 9…so … --- ## [House of the rising sun](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-rising-sun/60208)
**Author:** [@revelstonejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/revelstonejoe)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-the-rising-sun/60208 "2001-03-31T03:54:18Z")
In this staff report: House of the Rising Sun If the mother was a tailor I had always thought she had sewn my new blue jeans. If she sold them why didn’t she just sew a new pair??? (link added - Jill) \[Edited by JillGa… --- ## [What do flies \*get\* out of umm... droppings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-flies-get-out-of-umm-droppings/60006)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2001, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-flies-get-out-of-umm-droppings/60006 "2001-03-30T19:47:36Z")
I can’t believe I’m asking this… but per the SD homepage’s question of the day re files liking sugar vs poo. What exactly is it that files find so attractive about poo and what are they getting out of it? Protein, carbo’… --- ## [Definition of the meter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-the-meter/57942)
**Author:** [@TST](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TST)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2001, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-the-meter/57942 "2001-03-30T13:57:39Z")
Now I’m puzzled. The older definition of a meter in terms of so many wavelengths of a particular kind of light seems to require the ability to observe waves, but doesn’t seem to require an accurate clock. However, accord… --- ## [Do you catch more flies with sugar than you do with, ah, fecal matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-catch-more-flies-with-sugar-than-you-do-with-ah-fecal-matter/59859)
**Author:** [@K43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K43)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2001, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-catch-more-flies-with-sugar-than-you-do-with-ah-fecal-matter/59859 "2001-03-29T12:58:47Z")
I have always heard the saying as “You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar” meaning that people cooperate better if you use praise rather than criticism. --- ## [A comment and a question on Swiss cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-comment-and-a-question-on-swiss-cheese/59223)
**Author:** [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2001, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-comment-and-a-question-on-swiss-cheese/59223 "2001-03-29T11:56:00Z")
Unca Cece on Swiss cheese First off, Cecil says about the holes in Swiss cheese that “It’s a beautiful, natural process, with the advantage that it enables cheese makers to charge good money for a product that by law is… --- ## [If Earth Stopped Spinning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-earth-stopped-spinning/59224)
**Author:** [@Synthoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Synthoid)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-earth-stopped-spinning/59224 "2001-03-28T17:05:31Z")
This message is in reference to an old SD by Cecil concerning the effect of the Earth not spinning. While Cecil correctly notes that there is little change in gravity, there is another obvious effect that Cecil does not… --- ## [More Staff Reports from Moi](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-staff-reports-from-moi/58559)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2001, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-staff-reports-from-moi/58559 "2001-03-28T05:42:53Z")
I obviously need to finish this stack of staff reports I’m working on. Here are some of the topics: How do flamingos in the zoo retain their pink color? Where do Mexican Jumping beans come from and what are they? Where d… --- ## [Steroid Inhalers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steroid-inhalers/59695)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2001, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steroid-inhalers/59695 "2001-03-27T18:51:48Z")
Uncle Cecil: Just a quick comment on your column about steroids, especially the inhalers for asthma. You’re pretty much right on the money that they do reduce asthmatic exacerbations, and that we cannot consider them si… --- ## [Animal attacks on menstruating women](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-attacks-on-menstruating-women/59386)
**Author:** [@Ginkgo100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ginkgo100)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2001, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-attacks-on-menstruating-women/59386 "2001-03-26T21:25:05Z")
I had never heard of bears attacking menstruating women, but I have heard that iguanas, of all things, may do so. Female iguanas are innocent, but women of child-bearing age should be careful around male iguanas, which a… --- ## [Boiling H2O in microwave on TV Newsmagazine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiling-h2o-in-microwave-on-tv-newsmagazine/58629)
**Author:** [@KeithB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithB)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boiling-h2o-in-microwave-on-tv-newsmagazine/58629 "2001-03-26T15:46:53Z")
Since the mailbag contains this article: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmicroboil.html I thought I would post this here. Does anyone know of a story relating to this on one of the Dateline/20-20 type shows last w… --- ## [Different than vs. different from](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-than-vs-different-from/53753)
**Author:** [@nemo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nemo1)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2001, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-than-vs-different-from/53753 "2001-03-26T06:33:44Z")
This is certainly not worth a thread by itself, but there’s no existing thread where this observation belongs. In the recent column on Eskimo vocabulary, http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010202.html, Cecil Adams sur… --- ## [Sly Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sly-slug/55724)
**Author:** [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sly-slug/55724 "2001-03-26T03:15:46Z")
After a couple of days of looking at Slug Signorino’s drawing of worms escaping a hapless surgery recovery, I discovered that he snuck his signature in with the worms (Well, a worm creates the “S” and the rest of the let… --- ## [March Hare = marsh hare = Nutria?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-hare-marsh-hare-nutria/58861)
**Author:** [@Axel\_Wheeler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Axel_Wheeler)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2001, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-hare-marsh-hare-nutria/58861 "2001-03-26T00:23:08Z")
If Erasmus’ original expression was “marsh hare”, could he have been referring to a nutria? For a description of this entirely mad beast by one Cecil Adams (a tad mad himself), check out: http://www.straightdope.com/cla… --- ## [Monkey Brains](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monkey-brains/57253)
**Author:** [@jeff\_turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeff_turner)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2001, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monkey-brains/57253 "2001-03-25T21:19:30Z")
Hello, In the early 80’s a series of documentaries called “Faces of Death” were all the rage with us morbid teens. Either the first or second, “Faces of Death II” included the ritual that is described in Cecil’s latest c… --- ## [Cloud weight weasling.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloud-weight-weasling/57773)
**Author:** [@rhinobird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhinobird)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloud-weight-weasling/57773 "2001-03-25T00:59:35Z")
He weaseled out. Clouds do have weight. Saying that they float and therefore have no weight is poppycock. Next I suppose he’ll say fish have no wieght either because they float (in water). --- ## [O2 vs. O3](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o2-vs-o3/52599)
**Author:** [@cheezfri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezfri)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2001, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o2-vs-o3/52599 "2001-03-24T08:49:40Z")
I think I have a handle on how 02 (oxygen) is different from O3 (ozone). But what about this new drink from Clearly Canadian? It says it’s super oxygenated. So obviously it doesn’t have O3 in it, but is it H2O? It can’t … --- ## [Wrapped Up Like a Deuce ... again...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrapped-up-like-a-deuce-again/58449)
**Author:** [@JD\_Fensty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JD_Fensty)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2001, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrapped-up-like-a-deuce-again/58449 "2001-03-23T22:50:22Z")
OK, I know this one constantly rears it’s ugly head. But I’ve never seen this proposed before… I just got finished listening to an old Chuck Berry song I’d never heard before, “A Deuce.” The gist of the song, is Chuck … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=267) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=269)