# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=28 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 29 --- ## [sneeze fetish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-fetish/720586)
**Author:** [@bertzpoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bertzpoet)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-fetish/720586 "2015-05-22T13:18:13Z")
A comedian once said that she heard sneezing brought forth many of the same body reactions as orgasm – which is why she kept a vial of snuff by her bedside. I like sneezing into the sun – four or five times, I’m good to… --- ## [Does negative political campaigning work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-negative-political-campaigning-work/720416)
**Author:** [@Charmbrights](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charmbrights)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2015, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-negative-political-campaigning-work/720416 "2015-05-20T11:00:32Z")
Worked fine in the UK General Election on 15th May. At least it did if you were a Conservative. Almost every party was doing it, so it didn’t work so well for Labour. It got a lot of votes for the new boys on the bloc… --- ## [Etymology vs. entymology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-vs-entymology/122590)
**Author:** [@fgarriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fgarriel)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-vs-entymology/122590 "2015-05-20T01:53:16Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msupercali.html I think that’s a typographical error, but I’m not a writing expert. Sorry if I’m wrong! --- ## [Latest on TSEs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-on-tses/720046)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-on-tses/720046 "2015-05-19T17:18:00Z")
Today’s column What’s the story on prions, which supposedly cause mad cow disease? - The Straight Dope from 2001 leaves the prion question kind of up in the air. What is the latest info? --- ## [Passover & Cornstarch Column Oddity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passover-cornstarch-column-oddity/716299)
**Author:** [@Bayside1951](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayside1951)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passover-cornstarch-column-oddity/716299 "2015-05-19T16:58:21Z")
Given its primary audience would be Jews, this column has an interesting reference: “around 10th or 11th Century AD.” Rather than identifying a year as BC or AD, Before Christ or Anno Domini, Year of Our Lord, many reli… --- ## [How safe is the cloud?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-is-the-cloud/720121)
**Author:** [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-safe-is-the-cloud/720121 "2015-05-19T16:35:47Z")
Today’s column about the safety of the cloud left out some other hazards to data. What happens if your cloud provider goes out of business? In 2013, Nirvanix went out of business, leaving customers two weeks to retriev… --- ## [Kopi Luwak and civet cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kopi-luwak-and-civet-cats/719695)
**Author:** [@Thphizikil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thphizikil)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2015, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kopi-luwak-and-civet-cats/719695 "2015-05-16T13:21:28Z")
Possibly the most expensive coffee is not this one, but another. Elephant Dung Coffee: Smooth, Rich and Expensive From the news that I saw originally a few years ago, the elephants were very well-treated, almost pamper… --- ## [What are the "Seven Seas"? - fact check](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-seven-seas-fact-check/717679)
**Author:** [@motie38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motie38)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-seven-seas-fact-check/717679 "2015-05-11T19:56:28Z")
Not sure why this 1999 article showed up as a recent addition on the home page, but since it’s there, and I read it, and the inaccuracy at the bottom of the article apparently has been there for 15 years, I might as well… --- ## [haa any infidel made the pilgrimage to Mecca?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haa-any-infidel-made-the-pilgrimage-to-mecca/719732)
**Author:** [@Messy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Messy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haa-any-infidel-made-the-pilgrimage-to-mecca/719732 "2015-05-11T08:09:28Z")
The answer, while accurate, was wrong. Burton went in disguise. Some Jewish members of the Mossad have done it, too, but they were in disguise as well. What the guy was asking, AFIK, was has anyone, like the Archbishop … --- ## [Longest word in English (or Welsh for that matter :-) )](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-word-in-english-or-welsh-for-that-matter/718675)
**Author:** [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-word-in-english-or-welsh-for-that-matter/718675 "2015-05-10T13:27:11Z")
Re: What does antidisestablishmentarianism mean? I thought every grade-school kiddie knew what it meant :dubious: in addition to how to spell it. I did. Would this word be more common knowledge in England? How about … --- ## [Milk in First?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milk-in-first/716728)
**Author:** [@Tim\_Orr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_Orr)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2015, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milk-in-first/716728 "2015-05-10T12:13:38Z")
There’s a book, “The Lady Tasting Tea: How Statistics Revolutionized Science in the Twentieth Century,” by David Salsburg, that dealt with this issue. The story goes that an English lady insisted she could taste the diff… --- ## [When does it become OK to dig up a human body?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-it-become-ok-to-dig-up-a-human-body/719698)
**Author:** [@bertzpoet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bertzpoet)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2015, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-it-become-ok-to-dig-up-a-human-body/719698 "2015-05-10T11:08:11Z")
Under orthodox Jewish law, there is no statute of limitation. All Jewish graves are sacred however ancient. Much struggle over this issue occurs in archaeological digs. See http://www.jlaw.com/Articles/heritage.html c… --- ## [What are the nine eskimo words for snow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-nine-eskimo-words-for-snow/590282)
**Author:** [@Ornithikos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornithikos)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2015, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-nine-eskimo-words-for-snow/590282 "2015-05-10T08:08:31Z")
Why was the goal of Cecil’s noble foray into Eskimo bowdlerized to read “Look at all this freaking snow”? I remember the original text quite well, and have often improved a bad day by quoting the current approximation (… --- ## [What do you call a word that spells a different word backwards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-word-that-spells-a-different-word-backwards/718966)
**Author:** [@Bumpos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumpos)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-word-that-spells-a-different-word-backwards/718966 "2015-05-09T05:03:45Z")
If it hasn’t already been suggested, a word that spells a different word when read backwards should be a margana. --- ## [Male Fertility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/719589)
**Author:** [@Tron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tron)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-fertility/719589 "2015-05-09T00:32:06Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2581/are-male-fertility-rates-shrinking Just curious: it’s been over a decade since this article and I wonder if trends continue as they did 10 years ago… Has there been any dev… --- ## [Spaced Out Vaccines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spaced-out-vaccines/718702)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spaced-out-vaccines/718702 "2015-05-06T12:30:23Z")
I am posting in response to a specific part of this column What are vaccines saving us from, exactly? - The Straight Dope I wanted to do a separate thread from the one I saw on the first page because it addressed a spe… --- ## [follow up on paper money being dirty/ hand sanitizers causing superBo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-up-on-paper-money-being-dirty-hand-sanitizers-causing-superbo/719151)
**Author:** [@annsanity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annsanity)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2015, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/follow-up-on-paper-money-being-dirty-hand-sanitizers-causing-superbo/719151 "2015-05-03T15:49:13Z")
I dunno… I know this asks specifically about hand sanitizer causing superbugs but I feel like concern for personal health and hygiene is implied here. So how about it? Can sanitizing our hands, homes, shopping carts, e… --- ## [Suicidal Dentists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-dentists/717708)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicidal-dentists/717708 "2015-05-02T14:12:30Z")
Article in question. I do believe that dentists have a high suicide rate. Why do I believe this? Because they suffer so much from depression. They are, after all, always looking down in the mouth. --- ## [Are flamingos pink because they eat shrimps?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-flamingos-pink-because-they-eat-shrimps/718280)
**Author:** [@david\_42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/david_42)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-flamingos-pink-because-they-eat-shrimps/718280 "2015-05-02T14:10:01Z")
Might want to update this, because “However, a few studies have found that people who take beta-carotene supplements may have a higher risk for conditions such as cancer and heart disease” and “There is also some evidenc… --- ## [An era of straitened resources](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-era-of-straitened-resources/719093)
**Author:** [@Lazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-era-of-straitened-resources/719093 "2015-05-02T12:30:13Z")
In his most recent column, Cecil states that we live in “\[a\]n era of straitened resources, where the only responsible course is to ask the public to give more and get by with less…” What are the “straitened resources” w… --- ## [K vs W in Radio Callsigns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/k-vs-w-in-radio-callsigns/718890)
**Author:** [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/k-vs-w-in-radio-callsigns/718890 "2015-05-01T14:54:19Z")
Exploring Cecil’s post on K and W in radio call signs. So audio radio transmission started in the 20’s, right? Let’s set that aside and look at the morse era. In the 1912 and forward years, people were using Morse. I … --- ## [Taxing the Amish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxing-the-amish/718857)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxing-the-amish/718857 "2015-05-01T14:52:19Z")
It should be noted that in addition to the taxes mentioned in this column, Amish are exempt form the Obamacare/Roberts \[del\]penalty\[/del\] tax. --- ## [What was the last declared War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-last-declared-war/716092)
**Author:** [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-last-declared-war/716092 "2015-04-22T04:45:52Z")
^ Cecil Column on Declaring War --- ## [Whooping Cough Vaccine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whooping-cough-vaccine/717331)
**Author:** [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2015, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whooping-cough-vaccine/717331 "2015-04-22T03:24:20Z")
In What are vaccines saving us from, exactly? - The Straight Dope Cecil mentions Whooping Cough Vaccine. Coincidentally I was last weekend talking to a family friend whose entire family had just had whooping cough. But… --- ## [eliminating factory farms: impossible or just diffiicult?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-factory-farms-impossible-or-just-diffiicult/716688)
**Author:** [@sbunny8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sbunny8)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-factory-farms-impossible-or-just-diffiicult/716688 "2015-04-20T21:44:08Z")
Cecil makes a strong argument that, while giving up meat would certainly free up lots of resources, it would be difficult to convince people to give up meat willingly. But difficult doesn’t equate to impossible. Consid… --- ## [Sale of Alaska](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-of-alaska/717956)
**Author:** [@BCDeb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BCDeb)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sale-of-alaska/717956 "2015-04-20T02:34:26Z")
This topic is derived from Cecil’s column posted today, about the sale of US shale oil to pay off the national debt. Cecil suggested other assets the US could liquidate more easily, one of which is Alaska. I thought “W… --- ## [Intentional transmission of AIDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intentional-transmission-of-aids/717833)
**Author:** [@Nadreck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadreck)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2015, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intentional-transmission-of-aids/717833 "2015-04-19T23:06:20Z")
Interesting that this particular article is brought back now. A few weeks ago, Brazilian press was in an uproar due to the so-called “clube do carimbo” (lit: “rubber-stamp club”), a subculture within the gay community th… --- ## [What do you call a word that spells a different word backwards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-word-that-spells-a-different-word-backwards/717927)
**Author:** [@SisterofMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterofMax)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-word-that-spells-a-different-word-backwards/717927 "2015-04-19T15:43:30Z")
Immediately after reading about this on The Straight Dope, I read in an article on MSN.com that an anagram that spells different words backwards and forwards (evil - live, for example) is called a semordnilap. --- ## [Supressing sneezes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supressing-sneezes/717881)
**Author:** [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supressing-sneezes/717881 "2015-04-17T01:14:38Z")
The person who asked the question about suppressing sneezes wrote, “I have a habit of containing my sneezes by quickly holding my nose and shutting my mouth.” There’s another way to stifle a sneeze – curl your upper lip… --- ## [Balcony bread?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balcony-bread/717821)
**Author:** [@toefungus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toefungus)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balcony-bread/717821 "2015-04-16T16:40:16Z")
If you’re the sort of person who’d eat that bread then maybe you deserve it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=29)