# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=280 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 281 --- ## [Cecil's column on Chinese Crisis/Opportunity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-on-chinese-crisis-opportunity/39504)
**Author:** [@noahpoah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noahpoah)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-on-chinese-crisis-opportunity/39504 "2000-11-06T23:48:54Z")
I read the new column in my local weekly, but it has apparently not yet arrived in cyberspace. Oh well, you all will see what I’m talking about soon enough. Of course, I can’t argue with Cecil’s main point, that being t… --- ## [Was there a mysterious disappearing blackjack column?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-mysterious-disappearing-blackjack-column/38767)
**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2000, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-there-a-mysterious-disappearing-blackjack-column/38767 "2000-11-05T19:05:32Z")
On page 60 of Triumph of the Straight Dope there is an illustration by the illustrious Slug. I’ll be damned if I can tell which column it’s supposed to go with, though. It appears as if a man and the turkey-like-thing\[su… --- ## [Farbeit from me to question the master, but....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farbeit-from-me-to-question-the-master-but/38650)
**Author:** [@APB9999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB9999)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2000, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/farbeit-from-me-to-question-the-master-but/38650 "2000-11-05T01:01:05Z")
Cecil’s thoughts on the sudden absence of the moon seem less well thought out than usual. I’ll refer to the numbers of his points in the column linked above. 1-2) Okay, the tides would cease, and dogs wouldn’t have anyt… --- ## [Memories of kooks past](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memories-of-kooks-past/39029)
**Author:** [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memories-of-kooks-past/39029 "2000-11-04T01:43:14Z")
Am I the only one who, upon reading Cecil’s column immediately thought of the famous Iowa State mathematics professor, Dr. Alexander Abian? His idea was to slam the moon into Venus to push it into a “near earth-like orbi… --- ## [Moon Landings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-landings/38457)
**Author:** [@William\_Ashbless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/William_Ashbless)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-landings/38457 "2000-11-03T23:23:01Z")
Cecil and company, and the teeming millions. Naturally, when I got this email (following), I immediately thought of The Straight Dope, and went searching your archive. It isn’t surprising that someone already asked the … --- ## [Is American Numbering System Illogical](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-american-numbering-system-illogical/38528)
**Author:** [@Rhomphaia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhomphaia)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2000, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-american-numbering-system-illogical/38528 "2000-11-03T01:34:21Z")
In Cecil’s answer to “What is a gazillion?” he posted a quote that included the following comment (from Doctor Math) on “what is a billion”: “In the United States, it means 10^9; in Great Britain, it means 10^12. The Br… --- ## [mt everest vs k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-everest-vs-k2/36022)
**Author:** [@df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/df)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mt-everest-vs-k2/36022 "2000-11-03T00:44:57Z")
Dont get me wrong, I have no doubt that the big E is the tallest, but lately the heighth has been reported at 29,035 feet. 7 feet higher than previously reported. Why? Because it’s most likely rising, as are the other Hi… --- ## [How far can ants see? - old question?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-ants-see-old-question/39306)
**Author:** [@jmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmonster)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2000, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-ants-see-old-question/39306 "2000-11-02T20:30:14Z")
How far can ants see? I don’t think this is a new question. Haven’t we seen this one before? --- ## [Disintegrating Chewing Gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disintegrating-chewing-gum/39428)
**Author:** [@mske](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mske)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2000, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disintegrating-chewing-gum/39428 "2000-11-02T19:23:32Z")
Dusting off something from Cecil’s achives - the article relating to Does passionate kissing cause your chewing gum to disintegrate? has another possible explanation. It is my experience that phlegm will cause gum to br… --- ## [Shooting for -- and OUT -- the Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-for-and-out-the-moon/38512)
**Author:** [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2000, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-for-and-out-the-moon/38512 "2000-10-31T03:19:03Z")
\[This SD column is not yet published on this site.\] Well, I’m no astronomer, but it seems to me that the equation r = G \* M\_sun / v^2 just says that the product of r and v^2 is independent of the sum of M\_earth and M\_mo… --- ## [poisonous bugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poisonous-bugs/38190)
**Author:** [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2000, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poisonous-bugs/38190 "2000-10-31T01:52:13Z")
Moderators: I checked and didn’t find a thread on this topic. Please delete my post if I missed something. I notice that this answer seems to rely on “group selection.” Of course, “individual selection,” a la Richard Da… --- ## [faster-than-light phase velocity -- another analogy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-than-light-phase-velocity-another-analogy/38959)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2000, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faster-than-light-phase-velocity-another-analogy/38959 "2000-10-30T23:21:47Z")
In the recent mailbag column http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mphasevel.html, Karen made the now-legendary “Speed of Bus” analogy to explain how the phase-velocity could be greater than c while the group (packet) velo… --- ## [very unimaginative post (What will they call the class of '00?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-unimaginative-post-what-will-they-call-the-class-of-00/38852)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2000, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-unimaginative-post-what-will-they-call-the-class-of-00/38852 "2000-10-30T18:11:07Z")
Well this is boring but here in aus, they are currently calling this year ‘the class of two thousand’ and the decade ‘the oooies’ very unimaginative post --- ## [Penile elongation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penile-elongation/38933)
**Author:** [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2000, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penile-elongation/38933 "2000-10-30T16:39:37Z")
If the methods listed in Cecil’s article don’t do it for you, try this: http://www.chinatimes.com.tw/english/elife/89102905.htm Text below: Taiwan Chi Kung Masters Use Penises to Pull Truckful of People TAIPEI, Oct 2… --- ## [The anti-polar Mecca](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-polar-mecca/36902)
**Author:** [@jhp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jhp)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2000, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-anti-polar-mecca/36902 "2000-10-30T11:18:48Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001013.html mentiones the problem of where Muslems face to pray. At the anti-polar of Mecca, (which would be at sea among the Marshal Islands), wouldn’t the shortest distance to Mec… --- ## [Nutrisweet/Gulf War Syndrome? Whoa...Deja Vu](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutrisweet-gulf-war-syndrome-whoa-deja-vu/38130)
**Author:** [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2000, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutrisweet-gulf-war-syndrome-whoa-deja-vu/38130 "2000-10-28T19:27:11Z")
Is it just me, or has this all been done before? Back in the old days, when I first got AOL, I discovered the joy of the Straight Dope columns. One of the first columns I ever read, and one of the only ones that I still … --- ## [Picture on Main Board Changed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picture-on-main-board-changed/38685)
**Author:** [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picture-on-main-board-changed/38685 "2000-10-28T17:40:04Z")
Tell me I’m just having a bad day. What with kids getting ready for Halloween at school, etc, I might be delusional. Did the picture on the main page change from this morning 'til tonight? Was that kid shooting somethin… --- ## [Does a Hammer Fall Faster Than a Feather?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-hammer-fall-faster-than-a-feather/38703)
**Author:** [@Bob\_Murphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Murphy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2000, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-hammer-fall-faster-than-a-feather/38703 "2000-10-28T12:42:36Z")
I was browsing the archives and noticed a certain “babynous” asking whether his physics professor had been correct in saying that (in a vacuum) a feather and hammer fall at the same rate. Babynous thought that “the total… --- ## [Freezing Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freezing-water/38537)
**Author:** [@Collidingworlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Collidingworlds)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2000, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freezing-water/38537 "2000-10-27T20:05:50Z")
Hi Cecil, I just read your article questioning which freezes faster, hot water or cold water. I’d like to enlighten your readers. Water changes temperature at a constant level providing the heat or cooling source remain… --- ## [Bazooka Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bazooka-joe/37218)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2000, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bazooka-joe/37218 "2000-10-27T17:22:45Z")
Since he’s a kid, there’s only one explanation for how he lost an eye: he shot himself in the eye with a BB gun! :wink: --- ## [Baseballs on Airplanes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseballs-on-airplanes/38490)
**Author:** [@azcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/azcat)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2000, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseballs-on-airplanes/38490 "2000-10-27T16:37:11Z")
Here http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_144.html, Cecil says, among other things, that if you toss a baseball upwards while in an airplane in flight, the weight of the plane doesn’t change because you exerted an equ… --- ## [drum fish answer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drum-fish-answer/36777)
**Author:** [@sally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sally)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2000, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drum-fish-answer/36777 "2000-10-27T15:55:36Z")
yes, Jill, it is sad that fatdrag0n is fishing in a lake in missouri. it’s just too bad that people actually have to live in the “fly-over zone,” isn’t it? the government should just pave over the whole thing and make it… --- ## [Re: What's with news reports about things traveling faster than light](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-with-news-reports-about-things-traveling-faster-than-light/38348)
**Author:** [@Mark\_IV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_IV)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2000, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-whats-with-news-reports-about-things-traveling-faster-than-light/38348 "2000-10-27T07:25:05Z")
\*\* Straight Dope Staff Report What’s with news reports about things traveling faster than light\*\* --- ## [Is THIS why Islam succeeded?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-why-islam-succeeded/37940)
**Author:** [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2000, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-why-islam-succeeded/37940 "2000-10-26T07:44:10Z")
For those of you just tuning in… Some years ago, Cecil wrote a column, explaining why Christianity achieved wide-spread and enduring popularity, while numerous other contemporary religions had faded away: http://www.st… --- ## [Shrimp, sushi, etc.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-sushi-etc/37661)
**Author:** [@sublemon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sublemon)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2000, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrimp-sushi-etc/37661 "2000-10-26T03:48:35Z")
SDS Staff Hawk Wrote in his answer to the question about the black line on shrimp: “Shrimp colon is far from the grossest form of seafood. Ever heard of ama ebi? It’s a type of sushi that presents a raw prawn on a small… --- ## ["Behold this creature that walks like a man...it wants ketchup on its hot dog!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behold-this-creature-that-walks-like-a-man-it-wants-ketchup-on-its-hot-dog/33722)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2000, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/behold-this-creature-that-walks-like-a-man-it-wants-ketchup-on-its-hot-dog/33722 "2000-10-26T02:04:42Z")
In saying that no self-respecting Chicago hot dog seller would offer ketchup, Cecil asserted in one of the Books that that is what the hot dog seller would be thinking if anyone asked for ketchup. What was Cecil paraph… --- ## [25 or 6 to 4 hair-splitting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-or-6-to-4-hair-splitting/37430)
**Author:** [@DropOfaHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DropOfaHat)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2000, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/25-or-6-to-4-hair-splitting/37430 "2000-10-26T01:03:06Z")
Okay, I’m being VERY picky, but somebody’s got to say it: SDSTAFF Songbird’s take on “25 or 6 to 4” seems to be very much on the money - EXCEPT for the small fact that “25 or (2)6 minutes to 4 a.m.” would NOT be “3:35 or… --- ## [Science v. Anecdotes (re: Aspartame)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-v-anecdotes-re-aspartame/38099)
**Author:** [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-v-anecdotes-re-aspartame/38099 "2000-10-25T19:58:12Z")
This is in reponse to the following column: Did Aspartame cause Gulf War Syndromw? (The Classic column posted today). I was going to come in here and blast Cecil for not checking all of the facts. I have a seizure dis… --- ## [Slug's cartoon for the "penile enlargement" column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slugs-cartoon-for-the-penile-enlargement-column/37576)
**Author:** [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slugs-cartoon-for-the-penile-enlargement-column/37576 "2000-10-25T17:07:41Z")
Again, no link yet. I seem to jump the gun a lot. So, is the lady in bed averting her eyes from a botched surgery or is she looking in the way that his member appears to be pointing? --- ## [Tandems!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tandems/36645)
**Author:** [@UncaStuart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncaStuart)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tandems/36645 "2000-10-25T05:30:37Z")
Nice concise, comprehensive answer by Veg to the question, “On a tandem bike, who does more work, the person in front or in back?” Speaking as a captain, I can say that steering and braking in hilly areas definitely put… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=279) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=281)