# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=286 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 287 --- ## [re: Ed Gein as source for Hannibal Lecter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-ed-gein-as-source-for-hannibal-lecter/30354)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2000, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-ed-gein-as-source-for-hannibal-lecter/30354 "2000-08-25T19:49:15Z")
Browsing through old columns I stumbled upon this one, in which Cecil says “Gein was also one of the sources for Hannibal the Cannibal in The Silence of the Lambs.” Didn’t he mean that Gein was a source for Buffalo Bill… --- ## [Typhoid Mary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typhoid-mary/29348)
**Author:** [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2000, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typhoid-mary/29348 "2000-08-25T18:04:04Z")
There are a number of books on her, which I have looked up for you and listed here: http://whipper.abebooks.com/abep/BookSearch No need to thank me, it’s all in a day’s work! --- ## [Isn't 10 Downing Street a bit of a dump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-10-downing-street-a-bit-of-a-dump/1325)
**Author:** [@Biffer\_Spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffer_Spice)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2000, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-10-downing-street-a-bit-of-a-dump/1325 "2000-08-25T14:45:49Z")
original topic : http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_433.html Just a quick correction/addition: The PM’s house is actually a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. The PM also has other properties in the countr… --- ## [Gift horse mouth looking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-horse-mouth-looking/29753)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-horse-mouth-looking/29753 "2000-08-25T03:11:23Z")
Regarding What’s the origin of “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”?, Ken, are you sure about this? My impression of the phrase is that it means “don’t expect a free gift to be worth anything”, sort of like those “fre… --- ## [animal noises](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-noises/30306)
**Author:** [@sarahmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sarahmas)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-noises/30306 "2000-08-24T17:20:16Z")
these are the ones i remember from my high school french text book - who else used son et sens? cow - meuh rooster - cocorico pig - gron gron chicken - bok bok cat - miaou i can’t remember any others --- ## [Zionist Elders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zionist-elders/30549)
**Author:** [@PompousBastard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PompousBastard)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2000, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zionist-elders/30549 "2000-08-24T16:47:45Z")
In case anyone cares, I discovered yet another group that believes the Protocols nonsense. Check out http://www.stormfront.org --- ## [Nonoxynol-9; the bad news](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonoxynol-9-the-bad-news/30109)
**Author:** [@Yuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuck)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2000, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonoxynol-9-the-bad-news/30109 "2000-08-24T04:13:32Z")
Cecil’s column http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000630.html (“Does nonoxynol-9 protect against HIV?”) hit the proverbial nail on the head. Check out http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/mmwr/mmwr11aug00.htm for the CDC’s late… --- ## [Re: What to call the class of 2000?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-to-call-the-class-of-2000/19068)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2000, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-to-call-the-class-of-2000/19068 "2000-08-24T04:08:52Z")
The class of 2K. --- ## [Speeling Of Animal Sounds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292)
**Author:** [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2000, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeling-of-animal-sounds/30292 "2000-08-22T20:52:14Z")
Quote: The Dutch, it seems have an unusual way of hearing animals spelling what they hear. While most languages hear some kind of “moo-moo” or “mu-mu’’ from the cow, the Dutch hear a cow say 'boe” or “boeh,” which to me… --- ## [Whole word](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-word/30211)
**Author:** [@J.Romanelli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J.Romanelli)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2000, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-word/30211 "2000-08-22T05:24:40Z")
After reading all the comments about this “controversy” including my own, it occurs to me that we start with the letters and as we mature we begin to recognize more and more combinations. Certainly, an adult proficient r… --- ## [Besbol been berry berry good to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besbol-been-berry-berry-good-to-me/30197)
**Author:** [@SY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SY)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2000, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/besbol-been-berry-berry-good-to-me/30197 "2000-08-22T01:02:06Z")
Maybe I’m missing some subtle point? The ways I can think of to reach first: Hit Walk Hit batter Dropped third strike Force play Fielder’s choice Pinch runner --- ## [No such thing as jackalopes???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-such-thing-as-jackalopes/29423)
**Author:** [@Wooglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wooglin)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-such-thing-as-jackalopes/29423 "2000-08-21T18:24:34Z")
Straight Dope indeed! Well youre half right anyway. Oh Cecil, how can u possibly claim there are no such things as jackalopes? As a happy healthy and married jackalope myself, I can assure you we are nothing short of the… --- ## [Kilroy Was Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kilroy-was-here/28236)
**Author:** [@DaveoRad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveoRad)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [August 19, 2000, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kilroy-was-here/28236 "2000-08-19T10:57:13Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mkilroy.html In college one day in 1983, I trekked to a campus nook little frequented by anyone except druggies and very, very bored people (guess which one I was), and drew a Kilroy … --- ## [SD on Recycling - almost Cecil, but not quite...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-on-recycling-almost-cecil-but-not-quite/28604)
**Author:** [@Ted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ted)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2000, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-on-recycling-almost-cecil-but-not-quite/28604 "2000-08-18T22:04:15Z")
In reference to “Is recycling worth it?” Which can be found here, http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000804.html, Cecil states, Just wanted to point out to Cecil (as if he didn’t already know) that while recycling mos… --- ## [gift horse origin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-horse-origin/29759)
**Author:** [@krodine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krodine)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2000, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-horse-origin/29759 "2000-08-18T00:37:00Z")
I remember learning in school that the gift horse expression came from the story of the Trojan Horse, a “gift” that brought down the fortified city of Troy. The Greek Army wasn’t having any luck breaking into Troy, so a… --- ## [horse's mouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-mouth/29758)
**Author:** [@krodine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krodine)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2000, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horses-mouth/29758 "2000-08-18T00:35:55Z")
Interesting column but didn’t answer the question. I’m pretty sure the term “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” comes from the story of the Trojan horse. The invading armies presented this giant wooden horse to Troy … --- ## [How come the Chandler wobble hasn't dampened out? - question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-the-chandler-wobble-hasnt-dampened-out-question/27689)
**Author:** [@Ted](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ted)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2000, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-the-chandler-wobble-hasnt-dampened-out-question/27689 "2000-08-17T21:03:19Z")
How come the Chandler wobble hasn’t dampened out? 03-Dec-1999 Cecil mentions that there are two leading theories as to why this occurs, one is seasonal variations and the other is planetary disturbances, such as earthq… --- ## [function of eyebrows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/function-of-eyebrows/29762)
**Author:** [@kevals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevals)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/function-of-eyebrows/29762 "2000-08-17T19:14:57Z")
In addition to being helpful in treading water, eyebrows are essential in portraying many of our moods and emotions. They are a key to facial expressions and basically tell us about how a person regards or feels about so… --- ## [The Gum Subject](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gum-subject/29540)
**Author:** [@bonniegayle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonniegayle)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 17, 2000, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gum-subject/29540 "2000-08-17T01:39:02Z")
In refrence to the ‘what makes gum fall apart?’ subject, I just have to add that there was a woman who chewed the same piece of gum for her entire life. She’s even in the guiness book of world records. Either she’s lying… --- ## [Five kinds of twins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-kinds-of-twins/29274)
**Author:** [@Spider\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spider_Woman)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2000, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/five-kinds-of-twins/29274 "2000-08-16T17:31:35Z")
Dear Cecil, I was writing an e-mail to my cousin this morning, who is the daughter of my mother’s fraternal twin. It got me to thinking about a book on twins I had read many years ago, that had discussed a possibility o… --- ## ["Bloody"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bloody/29433)
**Author:** [@vilms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vilms)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2000, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bloody/29433 "2000-08-16T15:58:27Z")
I’m sure no-one cares but, as children, we were told that “bloody” was a corruption of the exclamation “By My Lady!”. We didn’t believe it either. --- ## [Soap and Protein](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-and-protein/29435)
**Author:** [@LazarusLong42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LazarusLong42)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2000, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soap-and-protein/29435 "2000-08-16T12:56:04Z")
For the record, this is from the latest classic column, Does Soap Need Time to Work? I found this semi-hilarious because, well, I do immunohistochemistry as part of my job, and I also do protein purification/analysis. … --- ## [Ask Jeeves vs. Uncle Cecil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-jeeves-vs-uncle-cecil/28824)
**Author:** [@mikehardware](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikehardware)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2000, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-jeeves-vs-uncle-cecil/28824 "2000-08-16T00:15:23Z")
My wonderful wife bought me a copy of “Just Curious, Jeeves” for my birthday (just to help me last until a new Straight Dope book is published, of course.) There it was on page 39: To keep things in perspective, on pag… --- ## [What is this decade, anyway?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-decade-anyway/29457)
**Author:** [@Samwise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Samwise)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 15, 2000, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-decade-anyway/29457 "2000-08-15T17:09:49Z")
Cecil & Millions: Do forgive me if this has been said before; I didn't take that much time to make sure. There's a wonderful name for this decade, with a nice little double meaning. Using the term 'naught' for 0, we a… --- ## [Genetically Altered Food Hysteria?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetically-altered-food-hysteria/28862)
**Author:** [@harrmill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harrmill)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetically-altered-food-hysteria/28862 "2000-08-14T22:22:54Z")
Can someone out there please explain to me the current public hysteria over genetically altered food? I do not yet see the harm in creating plant material that is either more nutritious, or more resistant to drought or p… --- ## [my previous post heading should read - problem with cecil's dowsing explanation.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-previous-post-heading-should-read-problem-with-cecils-dowsing-explanation/28931)
**Author:** [@jabberwalkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabberwalkie)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2000, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-previous-post-heading-should-read-problem-with-cecils-dowsing-explanation/28931 "2000-08-14T19:01:40Z")
it seems i used quotation marks for dowsing. (“dowsing”) so it did not show up… --- ## [photic sneeze reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/28631)
**Author:** [@ajbiegen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajbiegen)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2000, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/28631 "2000-08-14T18:48:51Z")
Cecil, I remember seeing years ago in one of your columns your statement that the photic sneeze reflex serves no purpose. Indeed it does! Remember that mother nature (okay, evolution) is a miser and anything that doesn’… --- ## [on bumblebees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284)
**Author:** [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-bumblebees/29284 "2000-08-14T18:17:11Z")
In the recent mailbag column about bumblebees, I have to differ on one statement, specifically: I currently have a bumblebee colony living on my deck. They have bore a hole into a post at a height of 10 feet or so. I w… --- ## [Break A Leg](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/break-a-leg/28833)
**Author:** [@MrChowWow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrChowWow)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2000, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/break-a-leg/28833 "2000-08-14T14:39:44Z")
Anyone who has taken a theatre class knows that the vertical curtains on either side of the stage (which mask the backstage) are called LEGS! When an actor enters the stage and crosses downstage (towards the audience… --- ## [Break a Leg](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/break-a-leg/28580)
**Author:** [@Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stewart)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2000, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/break-a-leg/28580 "2000-08-14T14:23:00Z")
I found the answer to the question about the origins of “Break a Leg” rather unsatisfying. Specifically, I had a problem with some of the dates involved. It is stated that the phrase has been common since, “the early 190… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=285) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=287)