# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=288 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 289 --- ## [The use of BC instead of a Latin acronym](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-bc-instead-of-a-latin-acronym/26887)
**Author:** [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2000, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-use-of-bc-instead-of-a-latin-acronym/26887 "2000-07-28T20:24:09Z")
In the current Classic, “Why is BC an English abbreviation while AD is a Latin one?”, Cecil states the following when browsing around in some foreign languages: Not nearly as retro, I’m afraid. As some of you might kno… --- ## [Metal in the Microwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-in-the-microwave/26710)
**Author:** [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2000, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/metal-in-the-microwave/26710 "2000-07-28T01:15:04Z")
You gave the straight dope on microwaving metal here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940923a.html I once saw on tv a man put a piece of metal inside a microwave without creating sparks. He said that as long as th… --- ## [hiccup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiccup/26713)
**Author:** [@jellie\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellie_bean)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2000, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiccup/26713 "2000-07-28T00:24:58Z")
Okay, I think that it is great that you gave alot of hot air in the speach of hiccups, but really, who accually read all of that. I am a nursing student and the explanations you gave were wonderful but like I said it was… --- ## [Television Channel 1](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-channel-1/26928)
**Author:** [@tomlonson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomlonson)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2000, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-channel-1/26928 "2000-07-27T14:26:00Z")
While Cecil is right about TV Channel 1 being dropped to make room for other users, he neglects to mention that the stations that were “Channel 1” were quite happy to move. There are some propagation problems at those fr… --- ## [Scrooge vs. Bill Gates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-vs-bill-gates/26734)
**Author:** [@DaveoRad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveoRad)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2000, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scrooge-vs-bill-gates/26734 "2000-07-27T14:16:42Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mricher.html In one old story, Scrooge and Donald have a competition to see whether Scrooge’s money can help him climb a mountain (“Old Demon Tooth”, shaped kind of like a straight ba… --- ## [Hebrew Year Numbering](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-year-numbering/26889)
**Author:** [@dubikan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dubikan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hebrew-year-numbering/26889 "2000-07-26T22:29:00Z")
I’ve never heard of years being numbered according to the destruction of the Temple. We don’t need it. The Jewish system has its own year numbering. In that numbering, we are today in Tashas (using the old Gimatria - cou… --- ## [Does a big nose help you sing better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-big-nose-help-you-sing-better/26959)
**Author:** [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2000, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-big-nose-help-you-sing-better/26959 "2000-07-26T20:45:34Z")
Concerning Does a big nose help you sing better?: One thing we learned in high school chorus (besides “don’t sing with gum in your mouth”) was that part of what makes operatic sopranos such tremendous singers is their h… --- ## [Delusional bugs!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delusional-bugs/23591)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2000, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delusional-bugs/23591 "2000-07-26T17:55:53Z")
Cecil. No mention of cocaine and/or crack? The illusion that your skin is crawling with bugs is very commonly a sign of excessive use. People from Freud to John Phillips to the crackhead who use to live on my block m… --- ## [Alarm Clock 9 minutes...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarm-clock-9-minutes/18328)
**Author:** [@hfd28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hfd28)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2000, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alarm-clock-9-minutes/18328 "2000-07-26T17:15:25Z")
I have an old alarm clock that has a 10 minute snooze. It’s an older digital panasonic, Model number RC-6130. My new alarm clock has a 9 minute snooze however. Personally, I prefer the 10 minute snooze - I like my extra … --- ## [Electron Migration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electron-migration/26101)
**Author:** [@K43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K43)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2000, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electron-migration/26101 "2000-07-26T00:54:44Z")
The Classic Column on 7/19/00 is from 7/22/94: How long does it take for electricity to travel from the generator where it is produced to the light bulb at my house? – Roberto Chevres Cecil replies: \[snip\] Incidental… --- ## [Chupacabra](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chupacabra/26209)
**Author:** [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2000, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chupacabra/26209 "2000-07-26T00:19:16Z")
Commenting on : Can the mysterious chupacabra of Puerto Rico suck the blood of farm animals? I was surprised to hear that this chupacabra legend started in Puerto Rico. A few years ago, there were many people, especiall… --- ## [Ah, but who's on the $100,000 bill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-but-whos-on-the-100-000-bill/25296)
**Author:** [@windchsr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/windchsr)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-but-whos-on-the-100-000-bill/25296 "2000-07-25T22:32:09Z")
An addendum to http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m1000.html Woodrow Wilson is on the $100,000 note, according to http://www.ustreas.gov/opc/opc0034.html#quest15 --- ## [Oak Island "money pit" solved](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oak-island-money-pit-solved/26620)
**Author:** [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2000, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oak-island-money-pit-solved/26620 "2000-07-25T20:32:46Z")
Noticed a column on the oak island “money pit” that apparently was old enough to not include the following: http://www.csicop.org/si/2000-03/i-files.html Gives a pretty convincing argument that the whole thing is pret… --- ## [Tall buildings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tall-buildings/26803)
**Author:** [@blahedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blahedo)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tall-buildings/26803 "2000-07-25T18:18:31Z")
Cecil mentions in that last column (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000721.html) that Chicago’s Sears Tower leads the world in three of four categories, with Petronas in Kuala Lumpur taking the fourth. I seemed to re… --- ## [Stuff to microwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-microwave/26689)
**Author:** [@A\_Teeming\_Millionth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Teeming_Millionth)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2000, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-to-microwave/26689 "2000-07-25T17:46:58Z")
Actually, Cecil, it’s no big deal when you microwave marshmallows, but it is kinda cool. Just take a normal bowl, toss in 3 marshmallows (mine were old and hardened, so this may vary,) and set the microwave for about a … --- ## [Squeeky Helium Voice comment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeky-helium-voice-comment/25548)
**Author:** [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2000, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeeky-helium-voice-comment/25548 "2000-07-25T02:24:59Z")
Unless I totally SNAFU this link, the column I’m referring to is http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mheliumsqueak.html In it, Just as an aside, has anyone heard the one about the chemistry professor who did the xenon… --- ## [Malfunctioning GFIs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malfunctioning-gfis/26294)
**Author:** [@JoeyBlades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyBlades)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2000, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malfunctioning-gfis/26294 "2000-07-24T22:03:42Z")
Anyone know the background behind Cecil’s comment in the “Straightdope Classics” article “What does a ground fault interrupter do?” http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940812b.html Cecil wrote: I’m not aware of fre… --- ## [Take out the TCP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-out-the-tcp/26567)
**Author:** [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2000, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-out-the-tcp/26567 "2000-07-24T18:14:14Z")
With regards to the correspondent who asks: \>\>I am confused about the “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, take out T-C-P” \>\>part. What exactly happens when you take out T-C-P? I was wondering if the said millionth stopped to consider the… --- ## [Smartest guy in world...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-guy-in-world/26383)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2000, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartest-guy-in-world/26383 "2000-07-24T15:57:49Z")
I came across something recently related to an old topic. The column Why did William Sidis, the world’s (2nd) smartest human, achieve so little in life? (10-Dec-1999) The previous discussion The Smartest Guy in the w… --- ## [Dr Levitt falls for UL](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-levitt-falls-for-ul/25329)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2000, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-levitt-falls-for-ul/25329 "2000-07-24T06:48:09Z")
Just my opinion. http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_385.html --- ## [Second Hand Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-hand-smoke/21502)
**Author:** [@shawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shawk)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2000, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-hand-smoke/21502 "2000-07-24T05:30:26Z")
I recall reading that smoking in the hallway outside an Ames test lab will trigger a false positive for carcinogens. While not proof that there is a connection between second hand smoke and cancer, at least should be ea… --- ## [Cuban by birth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuban-by-birth/25949)
**Author:** [@Yuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuck)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuban-by-birth/25949 "2000-07-24T03:52:58Z")
In Cecil’s column at http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940617b.html (“How did the U.S. get a naval base in Cuba?”) he says that the children of Haitian refugees born at the base are “Cubans.” Actually he attributes … --- ## [tennis scoring](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scoring/25460)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Squires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Squires)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2000, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tennis-scoring/25460 "2000-07-24T03:26:57Z")
Cecil says that tennis scoring was based on 60, and the divided by four, the points became 15, 30, rounded off to 40…game. I don’t quite get that explanation re: rounding off 45 to 40. It throws things out of whack. Fu… --- ## [Your favorite misheard lyric](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-misheard-lyric/26375)
**Author:** [@Saysha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saysha)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2000, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-misheard-lyric/26375 "2000-07-23T23:32:38Z")
Everyone knows some one that stands by a lyric that they think is right. My friend Darcee used to say: “Well, that’s how I say it” Used to drive me BATS!! Her best one (of many) was Aerosmiths Walk This Way: “Born to s… --- ## [Technical description of GFI's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-description-of-gfis/26488)
**Author:** [@cheshirecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheshirecat)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2000, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-description-of-gfis/26488 "2000-07-23T18:15:28Z")
Cecil says that “If volts in exceeds volts out by more than a certain percentage, that means some of the current is taking a detour,…” He’s right about these things comparing currents, but they are in “amps”, NOT “volts… --- ## [Defacing Pennies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defacing-pennies/25698)
**Author:** [@SouthpawLefty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouthpawLefty)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2000, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/defacing-pennies/25698 "2000-07-22T03:13:26Z")
I have a follow-up question concerning a response given by SDSTAFF Mac on whether or not it is legal to put a hole in a quarter and sell it. After providing the legal citation, SDSTAFF Mac stresses that “And the critical… --- ## [Tin Foil Hats, et al.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tin-foil-hats-et-al/21790)
**Author:** [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2000, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tin-foil-hats-et-al/21790 "2000-07-21T18:43:32Z")
Cecil’s column on the alleged shielding properties of Tin Foil Hats – not yet online as I write this, but when it is, it should be at Tin Foil Hat column – reminded me of a couple of early radio history anecdotes. In th… --- ## [The Chandler Wobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chandler-wobble/25966)
**Author:** [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-chandler-wobble/25966 "2000-07-21T16:09:53Z")
I just heard a story on NPR this morning on the Chandler wobble, a phenomenon that causes the Earth to wobble slightly as it spins. A while back, Cecil had a column on the very same wobble, in which he says, Well, look… --- ## [Gerbil Stuffing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gerbil-stuffing/26000)
**Author:** [@SeaWench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaWench)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2000, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gerbil-stuffing/26000 "2000-07-20T19:47:03Z")
i was just wanting to comment on the gerbil stuffing legend. now i dont know if it is a legend because i have heard it from a nurse also. and yes that could be an exageration or something of that sorts but after visiting… --- ## [Eels, piranahs, candiru, oh my....god you have got to be kidding me!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eels-piranahs-candiru-oh-my-god-you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me/20368)
**Author:** [@Quisling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quisling)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eels-piranahs-candiru-oh-my-god-you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me/20368 "2000-07-19T22:23:33Z")
I don’t know about everyone else here but it seems to me that the article concerning a fish protective security system is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard of in my life!!! The following ideas are why I think t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=287) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=289)