# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=269 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 270 --- ## [Maybe not Roosevelt...what about Churchill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-roosevelt-what-about-churchill/56202)
**Author:** [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2001, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-not-roosevelt-what-about-churchill/56202 "2001-03-23T01:18:39Z")
Okay, so you’ve proven to a pretty decent degree that Roosevelt did not know about the impending Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. However, I had heard an almost identical rumor: that Winston Churchill (or at least the B… --- ## [Lorna Doone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lorna-doone/58618)
**Author:** [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2001, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lorna-doone/58618 "2001-03-22T02:33:28Z")
Cecil, Just wanted to point something out. In your article: “Who or what are Fig Newton cookies named after?” http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980508.html You wrote: While the story was set in Western England, … --- ## [Annoyancewise use of “accuracywise”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoyancewise-use-of-accuracywise/57475)
**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoyancewise-use-of-accuracywise/57475 "2001-03-22T02:30:50Z")
Every flipping Staff Report (including the most recent one) ends with the disclaimer Can’t something be done about that? Continued exposure to the word\[sup\]1\[/sup\] accuracywise is threatening to rob me of my sanity. Is… --- ## [Anyone else bored to death of grammar questions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-bored-to-death-of-grammar-questions/58415)
**Author:** [@ModernRonin2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ModernRonin2)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2001, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-bored-to-death-of-grammar-questions/58415 "2001-03-21T23:27:45Z")
If I see one more question about the proper use of this, that or the other English word, I swear to god I’m going to hurt somone. Please, PLEASE, for the love of god, make the grammar questions stop! -Ben --- ## [a made cat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-made-cat/58431)
**Author:** [@pjcamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjcamp)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2001, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-made-cat/58431 "2001-03-21T15:24:20Z")
\>\>“Oh, you ca’n’t help that,” said the Cat: "we’re all made here\<\< Cecil has found a new one. This is the first time I’ve seen a reference to la cosa nostra in Alice. --- ## [Speed of light (from](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-light-from/58145)
**Author:** [@jjharris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjharris)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2001, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-light-from/58145 "2001-03-21T13:28:45Z")
I’m pretty sure that the meter has been altered recently so that the speed of light is exactly 300,000,000 meters per second. I remember reading this in a text at BU 2-3 years ago. Not to be picky, just FYI. Later, H --- ## [The Iceman Cometh](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iceman-cometh/58720)
**Author:** [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-iceman-cometh/58720 "2001-03-20T21:32:30Z")
Cecil Adams, fount of all wisdom and cosmic knowledge, some years ago did a column on the Neolithic man frozen in the ice of the Otztal Alps on the Austria-Italy border and nicknamed Otzi, and the allegation that he was … --- ## [Tree Growth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-growth/58727)
**Author:** [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2001, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-growth/58727 "2001-03-20T19:27:42Z")
In this column, Cecil confirms that initials carved on the side of a tree will always remain at the same height. Reason being that the tree only grows from the top - the bottom part stays put. I’ve heard this claim befo… --- ## [1912 Treats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1912-treats/58722)
**Author:** [@onigame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onigame)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1912-treats/58722 "2001-03-20T15:04:20Z")
In Cecil’s recently-reposted column, “Who or what are Fig Newton cookies named after?” http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980508.html he mentions in a parenthetical: Cecil missed the probably most coincidental tre… --- ## [re: airs weight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-airs-weight/58668)
**Author:** [@SysRq2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SysRq2000)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2001, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-airs-weight/58668 "2001-03-20T06:46:12Z")
Hi everybody im that buddy king\_al mentioned in his last post. Here’s an illustration of what he ment to say in his last post. :wink: http://212.242.221.105/AirPressVsGrav.jpg King Al suggests that if you fill his tube… --- ## [Is MSG Bad for You?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-msg-bad-for-you/57252)
**Author:** [@Healym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Healym)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-msg-bad-for-you/57252 "2001-03-19T22:58:24Z")
I wonder why Cecil didn’t elaborate a bit more on this issue. I spent far too much time researching this a few years back, and I determined the following: 1) MSG, or, more correclty “free glutamate” DOES produce a reacti… --- ## [East Pole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/east-pole/54243)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/east-pole/54243 "2001-03-19T19:53:12Z")
Also sprach Chronos: What do you mean there’s no East Pole? I thought everyone knew it’s inhabited by Wild Woozles… --- ## [Should you refrigerate batteries to make them last longer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-refrigerate-batteries-to-make-them-last-longer/58113)
**Author:** [@mok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mok)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-you-refrigerate-batteries-to-make-them-last-longer/58113 "2001-03-19T16:32:03Z")
SDStaff Ken contradicted himself by saying: and then immediately following this up with: In the first quote, he says “no chemicals are reacting” while the battery is in storage. In the second quote, he says that chem… --- ## [Why isn't Queen Elizabeth II's Husband Called King?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-queen-elizabeth-iis-husband-called-king/57434)
**Author:** [@scampering\_gremlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scampering_gremlin)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-queen-elizabeth-iis-husband-called-king/57434 "2001-03-19T16:12:53Z")
Cecil is right to cite Queen Victoria. The reason her husband Albert was prince consort instead of king is a little more interesting than plain old patriarchy. Prince consort was a new title; husbands of reigning English… --- ## [English beer not "warm"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-beer-not-warm/58210)
**Author:** [@JoeFriday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeFriday)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-beer-not-warm/58210 "2001-03-19T10:39:50Z")
Oh Cecil, I’m with you 100% on “different than” (it drives me nuts), but, puhleeze, stop with the “warm beer.” Beer is NOT served warm in Englad. Nor is it served at room temperature. It’s served at cellar temperature, … --- ## [Did Lizzie whack daddy because he sexually abused her?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-lizzie-whack-daddy-because-he-sexually-abused-her/57857)
**Author:** [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-lizzie-whack-daddy-because-he-sexually-abused-her/57857 "2001-03-19T06:32:39Z")
Reading John Corrado’s analysis of the Borden murders made me think of yet another true crime show I caught on cable about the case. One “expert” interviewed stated that Lizzie must have been sexually assaulted by her f… --- ## [What is a mojo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-mojo/55596)
**Author:** [@maribert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maribert)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-mojo/55596 "2001-03-19T04:15:35Z")
There is a completely different aspect to a “mojo.” “Mojo” derives from the Spanish word “mojar” (to dunk) and means a sauce in which to dunk food. Especially famous is “mojo picón” from the Canary Islands, a hot spic… --- ## [About changing eye color...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-changing-eye-color/58539)
**Author:** [@KhalaBlade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KhalaBlade)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-changing-eye-color/58539 "2001-03-19T03:19:38Z")
On the topic of eyes changing color, Cecil mentions that eyes change color pretty rarely and usually later in life. I do not know how usual this is, but I’m 15 and my eyes shift constantly. When I wake up my eyes are usu… --- ## [burnt water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burnt-water/56040)
**Author:** [@lisaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisaski)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burnt-water/56040 "2001-03-17T21:11:27Z")
I was reading Cec’s answer about why water doesn’t burn. My question is–if water is a major by-product of burning, how come more planets don’t have water. I must of been asleep in science class for this one. --- ## [warp drive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warp-drive/38645)
**Author:** [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warp-drive/38645 "2001-03-16T19:44:50Z")
\<\ **Author:** [@netster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netster)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2001, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-poisonous-creature-on-earth/55723 "2001-03-16T19:33:00Z") Starrer Doug suggested that the most poisonous creature on Earth is the taipan snake. However I remember reading in Readers Digest some time back that the most poisonous creature is a marine creature, the Box Jellyfish … --- ## [Refridgerate Batteries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refridgerate-batteries/58241)
**Author:** [@JaymesD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaymesD)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2001, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/refridgerate-batteries/58241 "2001-03-16T17:51:34Z")
Let’s not become too scientific. I store my batteries in the refridgerator for two reasons: I know where they are, especially when one is going dead and I need another without delay. It is a cool controlled environment… --- ## [Felis Sylvestris Cattus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felis-sylvestris-cattus/56384)
**Author:** [@Nathaniel\_DesH\_Petrikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nathaniel_DesH_Petrikov)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felis-sylvestris-cattus/56384 "2001-03-16T16:24:42Z")
I seem to remember hearing that, in ancient Rome, “felis” indicated one animal, and “cattus” another; and that one of them (I believe “felis”) bore little resemblance to what we now think of as a cat. Perhaps you could s… --- ## [Batteries that boil.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batteries-that-boil/58225)
**Author:** [@TST](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TST)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2001, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batteries-that-boil/58225 "2001-03-16T15:00:20Z")
In http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbattcharge.html, SDSTAFF Ken says: I beg to differ. While a defective car battery can get very hot, indeed hot enough to start a fire and/or explosion, this is not why it was (an… --- ## [Singer's Vibrato](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-vibrato/58133)
**Author:** [@LEEJAE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LEEJAE)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2001, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-vibrato/58133 "2001-03-16T13:32:48Z")
An even, and regular vibrato in a singer’s voice is indeed evidence of a well trained voice, but not because it is a highly technical and developed SKILL. Vibrato is a natural occurance in the voice, something that will … --- ## [Video to DVD](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-to-dvd/57134)
**Author:** [@bungie\_us](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bungie_us)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2001, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-to-dvd/57134 "2001-03-15T23:29:13Z")
RE: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mvideotape.html The one thing I’d say is that 5 years is probably a lot longer than we’ll have to wait to easily transfer video to DVD. Right now you can order (and perhaps even … --- ## [Different Colored Eyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-colored-eyes/53055)
**Author:** [@Hallo\_Space\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hallo_Space_Girl)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2001, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-colored-eyes/53055 "2001-03-15T02:48:34Z")
David Bowie’s eyes aren’t different colors cuz he’s a freak of nature. When he was a kid, he tried to steal this boy’s girlfriend, cuz he thought he was hot shit. The boy slapped David in the eye, which caused his retna … --- ## [Origin/meaning of SOS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-sos/58031)
**Author:** [@Jimdotcom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimdotcom)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2001, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-meaning-of-sos/58031 "2001-03-15T01:52:36Z")
While the answer might be tecnically correct; SOS has acquired a new meaning among recreational sailors. Sin Or Swim --- ## [Cowlicks and Cecil's appearance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowlicks-and-cecils-appearance/56564)
**Author:** [@VileOrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VileOrb)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2001, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cowlicks-and-cecils-appearance/56564 "2001-03-14T16:54:01Z")
I just want to say that because of his comment on Cowlicks, we all now know that Cecil is losing hair. One more clue as to what he looks like. --- ## [Do Americans get less vacation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-americans-get-less-vacation/56523)
**Author:** [@voivoed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voivoed)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2001, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-americans-get-less-vacation/56523 "2001-03-14T15:13:20Z")
Link to column: Do Americans get less vacation than… I’m a Brazilian that has been living in the US for almost 5 years. In Brazil, you get full 30 days of vacation after a year. The thing is, these 30 days are calenda… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=268) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=270)