# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=271 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 272 --- ## [Silver tooth fillings revisited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-tooth-fillings-revisited/55705)
**Author:** [@scotoma11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotoma11)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-tooth-fillings-revisited/55705 "2001-02-26T13:56:21Z")
I take my son to the dentist. He reccomends amalgam fillings, says they last longer and cost less. My wife trips, and says they are poison and lots of folks are having them removed, etc… My son trips, and wants them ch… --- ## [Downshifting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downshifting/55133)
**Author:** [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2001, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downshifting/55133 "2001-02-26T10:48:47Z")
I have an argument for downshifting, which is completely irrelevant as far as everyday driving goes, but important when you’re doing that mountain road fun driving: if you’re going fast around a corner, it’s safer to con… --- ## [Cutting Board Safety](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-safety/53650)
**Author:** [@chicknwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicknwire)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2001, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-board-safety/53650 "2001-02-26T08:19:13Z")
Might be nit-picking, but being in the industry, I know for a fact that plastic does indeed absorb water. Not ALL plastic does, but most will, especially those referred to as “engineering grade” that possess higher physi… --- ## [Dalmatians as fire dogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dalmatians-as-fire-dogs/55064)
**Author:** [@Rebecca\_Henson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebecca_Henson)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2001, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dalmatians-as-fire-dogs/55064 "2001-02-25T08:43:39Z")
One of the reasons dalmatians are fire dogs is that 10% of them are deaf due to the crushing inbreeding needed to get white dogs with black spots. They weren’t as distracted by the noise of the death screams, sirens, etc… --- ## [Rolling Rock Beer 33](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-rock-beer-33/55649)
**Author:** [@padron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/padron)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2001, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rolling-rock-beer-33/55649 "2001-02-25T06:37:07Z")
Origianl column link is: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_044 I had heard a different story about what the 33 on the label means. This story always sounded like a great explanation. In fact, after reading your c… --- ## [The Killer Fog Fogs SDSTAFF's Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-killer-fog-fogs-sdstaffs-mind/54803)
**Author:** [@NYCFin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYCFin)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-killer-fog-fogs-sdstaffs-mind/54803 "2001-02-25T00:24:44Z")
Just a gentle nudge in the direction of awareness…Stephen King spells his name with a PH, and the name of his short story was “The Mist,” not “The Fog.” Thought you might like to know. --- ## [FIRE!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire/53225)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire/53225 "2001-02-23T21:46:57Z")
I fear that the only good to come of the demise of Fire Magazine is that Cecil can get away with this. --- ## [Where TV channel 1 really went](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-tv-channel-1-really-went/55576)
**Author:** [@fill\_ant\_throw\_pissed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fill_ant_throw_pissed)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-tv-channel-1-really-went/55576 "2001-02-23T15:12:19Z")
when tv’s were first released, a channel 1 WAS on the dial,but in my humble experience as a licensed television tech,i believe the story of “where it went” differs from cecil’s reply. when VHF was the only television bro… --- ## [What is Aluminum?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-aluminum/53537)
**Author:** [@Jonbooi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonbooi)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-aluminum/53537 "2001-02-22T22:46:38Z")
What exactly is aluminum? I thought the internationally accepted name for this metal was ALUMINIUM? --- ## [Was a model's penis visible in a 1975 Sears catalogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-models-penis-visible-in-a-1975-sears-catalogue/54529)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2001, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-a-models-penis-visible-in-a-1975-sears-catalogue/54529 "2001-02-22T07:24:50Z")
I checked out the 200% enlargement and can only conclude that the glans is merely the lowest tip of a pinecone shaped shadow projected by the left pant leg mostly onto the right pant leg. --- ## [Downshifting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downshifting/55339)
**Author:** [@gedwards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gedwards)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downshifting/55339 "2001-02-21T15:10:00Z")
Just a note on Cecil’s column about downshifting. All the talk about the physics of cornering is great, but mostly misses the point. Use your brakes to slow down, whether on the track or on the street. (I assume the “rac… --- ## [Just a comment on a column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-a-comment-on-a-column/55047)
**Author:** [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2001, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-a-comment-on-a-column/55047 "2001-02-21T06:29:21Z")
Was just poking through some old columns and saw this: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_098.html National pride eh? Perhaps that’s what the government would like people to think. :wink: --- ## [How far before spin directions are random?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-before-spin-directions-are-random/54542)
**Author:** [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-before-spin-directions-are-random/54542 "2001-02-20T21:36:40Z")
In Do black holes rotate east to west?, Chronos writes How far before the directions are randomized? Are spins within the Milky Way, including our solar system, more-or-less aligned with the galactic rotation? What abo… --- ## [Does any animal besides humans commit suicide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/52729)
**Author:** [@pqgenie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pqgenie)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-animal-besides-humans-commit-suicide/52729 "2001-02-20T03:52:50Z")
From Does any animal besides human commit suicide?: …there are many social insects with sterile, suicidal soldiers or workers–for example, termite soldiers that explode their bodies, which are filled with sticky guts, i… --- ## [MOVED - Dalmatians as fire dogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-dalmatians-as-fire-dogs/55065)
**Author:** [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2001, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moved-dalmatians-as-fire-dogs/55065 "2001-02-19T08:56:45Z")
The thread «Dalmatians as fire dogs», started by Rebecca Henson, has been moved to the «Comments on Staff Reports» forum. moderator, «Comments on Cecil’s Columns» --- ## [Splitting hairs on cutting boards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splitting-hairs-on-cutting-boards/54162)
**Author:** [@felix\_penfold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/felix_penfold)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2001, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splitting-hairs-on-cutting-boards/54162 "2001-02-19T03:34:23Z")
I once had a rubber cutting board and it stunk. I mean that most literally. It smelled funny…especially when it was wet. I chucked the sucker after only a few uses. The finest cutting board I own is made of marble. It c… --- ## [Universal/Cosmic Spin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-cosmic-spin/53870)
**Author:** [@ihrkelings](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ihrkelings)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-cosmic-spin/53870 "2001-02-18T21:34:43Z")
I have the vague thought that Uranus spins opposite from the relative direction Earth spins. Any thoughtful analysis or follow-up would be appreciated. --- ## [Is life afire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-afire/53622)
**Author:** [@Axel\_Wheeler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Axel_Wheeler)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-life-afire/53622 "2001-02-17T02:34:27Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a971212.html Turning the question “Is fire alive?” on its head, perhaps the better question is “Is life afire?” Life fundamentally involves oxidation, so perhaps one good way to deal… --- ## [Classics Scholar?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classics-scholar/54755)
**Author:** [@bungie\_us](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bungie_us)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classics-scholar/54755 "2001-02-17T01:01:09Z")
In http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010216.html Cecil wonders if Letraset was hiring classics scholars back in the olden days of the 60s. I don’t know about that, but I will share one little observation of mine about … --- ## [Re: Can camels swim?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-can-camels-swim/36473)
**Author:** [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2001, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-can-camels-swim/36473 "2001-02-16T23:25:58Z")
Sloths (to my knowledge) can swim. But I was wondering, what about birds? They’re animals, and I doubt a sparrow (example) could do a breast stroke really well. Prove me right/wrong! Edit by CKDextHavn: Link to the Ma… --- ## [Most Popular Religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-religion/54748)
**Author:** [@Kyberneticist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyberneticist)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-popular-religion/54748 "2001-02-16T15:12:11Z")
In regards to: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mreligio.html Say Euty, would you happen to know of a place where rough statistics further back in time can be retrieved? I am curious now as to who has been winning t… --- ## [Dust Mites and Dead Skin and Pillows, Oh My!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-mites-and-dead-skin-and-pillows-oh-my/54640)
**Author:** [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2001, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dust-mites-and-dead-skin-and-pillows-oh-my/54640 "2001-02-15T21:15:19Z")
Cecil did a column last year entitled, “Does a mattress double its weight due to dust mites and their debris? (07-Apr-2000).” If you distill the column down to one word, that word would be, “no.” However, just today I r… --- ## [Digit Evolution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digit-evolution/53409)
**Author:** [@Lego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lego)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digit-evolution/53409 "2001-02-15T19:53:36Z")
The answer given was incorrect. More digits is primitive. The earliest animals with legs, like Icthyostega and Acanthostega from late Devonian Greenland, had more than five digits. Acanthostega had EIGHT fingers per hand… --- ## [Origin of the word "bloody"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-word-bloody/54167)
**Author:** [@Ian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-word-bloody/54167 "2001-02-15T19:51:27Z")
You may well be correct about the origin of “bloody”, but you’re wide of the mark regarding its level of offensiveness. In England “bloody” is just about the least offensive swear word that exists. No-one bats an eyelid … --- ## [Was the Mayflower just used for when Columbus used it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-mayflower-just-used-for-when-columbus-used-it/52331)
**Author:** [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-mayflower-just-used-for-when-columbus-used-it/52331 "2001-02-15T15:07:08Z")
In this weeks column, Is it possible to diet with beer?, Cecil mentions he recieved the question “Was the Mayflower just used for when Columbus used it?” This struck me as a clumbsy, but potentially interesting question… --- ## [More on Scarborough Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-scarborough-fair/51403)
**Author:** [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 15, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-on-scarborough-fair/51403 "2001-02-15T13:53:56Z")
Thanks for explaining the spice references in Scarborough Fair. Can you help with another line from the song? The second verse starts with: “Tell her to make me a cambric shirt” Now, my dictionary tells me that “cambr… --- ## [Mount Athos date question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mount-athos-date-question/53834)
**Author:** [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mount-athos-date-question/53834 "2001-02-14T00:57:22Z")
In the article on the Mt. Athos monastery http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010209.html It says that However in an article in the August 1999 issue of Smithsonian http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issue… --- ## ["pushers" on Tokyo subways](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pushers-on-tokyo-subways/52245)
**Author:** [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2001, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pushers-on-tokyo-subways/52245 "2001-02-13T15:28:13Z")
Does anyone remember the (really, really old) Straight Dope about the “pushers” (oshiya) on the Tokyo subways whose job it supposedly is to cram as many commuters as possible into crowded subway cars during rush hour? An… --- ## [Why is oxygen usually in the form O2?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-oxygen-usually-in-the-form-o2/51730)
**Author:** [@Chava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chava)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-oxygen-usually-in-the-form-o2/51730 "2001-02-12T23:42:45Z")
Carbon has 6 protons, not 12. The atomic mass of carbon-12 is 12 because it has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. The common isotope of oxygen, oxygen-16, has 8 protons and 8 neutrons. The number of protons and the number of ele… --- ## [Has \[i\]any\[/i\] country gone fully metric?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-i-any-i-country-gone-fully-metric/53968)
**Author:** [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2001, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-i-any-i-country-gone-fully-metric/53968 "2001-02-11T20:10:33Z")
In the colum on the metric system http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_013.html Cecil explores the reasons why we (the US) has failed to adopt the SI system (for the sake of this post I am treating metric and SI as be… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=270) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=272)