# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=3 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 4 --- ## [Safety precautions at the Leaning Tower of Pisa?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safety-precautions-at-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa/827428)
**Author:** [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2021, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safety-precautions-at-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa/827428 "2021-05-14T01:28:57Z")
Reading this column, and noting that it mentions a similar structure collapsed, I got to wondering if the area in the direction the tower is leaning is cordoned off for safety, or when this thing goes will there be a num… --- ## [What, no 'head'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-no-head/941851)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-no-head/941851 "2021-05-12T15:43:40Z")
Going down the rabbit hole, I came to this article. Why is it called a restroom, anyway? - The Straight Dope SDStaff Dex wrote: \[N\]ow seems like a fine opportunity to work our way through the long list of toilet euph… --- ## [Re: Sour Cream Going Bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-sour-cream-going-bad/941781)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2021, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-sour-cream-going-bad/941781 "2021-05-12T08:30:55Z")
I could have sworn there was a Cecil Adams column about how do you know sour cream had gone bad. Anyway, this is all I could find but it’s much the same thing. My question is, I know when sour cream has gone bad. I want… --- ## [Efforts to Archive Cecil's Columns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/efforts-to-archive-cecils-columns/937576)
**Author:** [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2021, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/efforts-to-archive-cecils-columns/937576 "2021-03-29T22:56:03Z")
Please forgive me if I missed a thread about this already, or if it should be brought up in another forum (I considered ATMB). So, I personally have fun reading the old columns on the web, but have found that many I rec… --- ## [RE: Are ships captains allowed to marry people at sea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-ships-captains-allowed-to-marry-people-at-sea/588307)
**Author:** [@Geedavey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geedavey)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-ships-captains-allowed-to-marry-people-at-sea/588307 "2021-03-27T04:14:59Z")
No doubt the myth’s credibility was greatly enhanced by the famous marriage scene in John Houston’s blockbuster movie The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn, featuring a scene where the Nazi ship… --- ## [How does the stock market work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-stock-market-work/853374)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-stock-market-work/853374 "2021-03-23T16:06:33Z")
Interesting during these times when companies are being harshly criticized for paying dividends. There’s only 3 things a company can do with idle cash: save it, reinvest it into the company (including buybacks), or pay… --- ## [straight dope on Billy Tipton](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-on-billy-tipton/486291)
**Author:** [@jimintex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimintex)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-on-billy-tipton/486291 "2021-03-23T15:08:53Z")
I can’t find the original thread on Billy Tipton, asking about her refusal to see a doctor and other issues. In fact, Billy visited my sister in Berkeley in the late 1980s and said that she was not feeling well. My sis… --- ## [Why is Boston called "Beantown"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boston-called-beantown/749953)
**Author:** [@Maeganspop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeganspop)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-boston-called-beantown/749953 "2021-03-06T02:19:44Z")
I read the column, but I don’t get it. It answered why a town in New England would be called “Beantown”, but why specifically Boston? Can someone enlighten me? --- ## [Roaches and cocoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roaches-and-cocoa/929466)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roaches-and-cocoa/929466 "2021-02-04T21:20:44Z")
Here: Cecil suggests: Calm yourself and pay attention to your Uncle Cecil. There are two proven approaches to dealing with la cucaracha : (1) borax, and (2) arson. Assuming your landlord objects to the latter line of a… --- ## [Which animals do not have external bilateral symmetry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-do-not-have-external-bilateral-symmetry/922259)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2021, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-animals-do-not-have-external-bilateral-symmetry/922259 "2021-01-17T04:43:23Z")
In the column about why internal organs are not symmetric within the body, Cecil mentions that 99% of animal species are externally symmetric. Which ones are not? --- ## [Brown eggs vs white eggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-eggs-vs-white-eggs/849350)
**Author:** [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brown-eggs-vs-white-eggs/849350 "2020-11-15T22:42:30Z")
While signing in today someone had posed this very question. Their bottom line answer was there is no difference other than shell color. This is complete bullshit . The research department must have spent about 5 minut… --- ## [What are the seven basic literary plots?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-seven-basic-literary-plots/855679)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-seven-basic-literary-plots/855679 "2020-10-14T16:24:39Z")
What are the seven basic literary plots? Ronald Tobias attributed the idea of 69 plots to Kipling. For those who enjoy Kipling (and it was probably mentioned at the time), here is the reference: --- ## [After the 1929 stock market crash, did investors really jump out of windows?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-the-1929-stock-market-crash-did-investors-really-jump-out-of-windows/852953)
**Author:** [@mdcatdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdcatdad)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/after-the-1929-stock-market-crash-did-investors-really-jump-out-of-windows/852953 "2020-10-26T22:11:43Z")
My father (who was 26 at the time of the Crash, once told me, “People jumped out of a window because they lost 6 of their $7 million”. To me, that suggests that they had no hope of holding on to what they had left. --- ## [About Presidential Pardons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-presidential-pardons/920712)
**Author:** [@Ptolomy57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptolomy57)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-presidential-pardons/920712 "2020-09-15T17:29:04Z")
In this thread Can Congress override a presidential pardon? - The Straight Dope regarding the question of Presidential pardons, it is mentioned how Ford pardoned Nixon: Yet, how could Ford pardon Nixon who was not yet fo… --- ## [Article June 25, 2010: How does the earth’s rotation affect the path of a bullet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-june-25-2010-how-does-the-earth-s-rotation-affect-the-path-of-a-bullet/824423)
**Author:** [@kertmoore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kertmoore)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-june-25-2010-how-does-the-earth-s-rotation-affect-the-path-of-a-bullet/824423 "2020-09-10T14:23:19Z")
I cannot imagine any property of physics that would account for the earth spinning at 1040 mph at the equator amounting to 1,525 ft. per second would cause a targeting adjustment of only a few inches. A formula can be cr… --- ## [Which part is Cecil's reply and which part is C K Dexter Haven's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-part-is-cecils-reply-and-which-part-is-c-k-dexter-havens/854878)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-part-is-cecils-reply-and-which-part-is-c-k-dexter-havens/854878 "2020-09-03T15:37:23Z")
In the column “Followup: the last you’ll ever read about the Ark of the Covenant!” it reads, I’m having trouble determining which part of the column was written by Cecil and which was written by Dex. Dex’s signature do… --- ## [Podunk, MA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podunk-ma/919371)
**Author:** [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podunk-ma/919371 "2020-09-01T15:23:29Z")
The Cecil Adams column Where is Podunk? was recently posted to the Straight Dope front page again. Turns out, if you bring up East Brookfield, MA on Google Maps, you can find Podunk Road and Podunk Pike. So, even in 20… --- ## [Problem with "Why are there so many mattress stores?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-why-are-there-so-many-mattress-stores/745133)
**Author:** [@Zarquon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarquon)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-why-are-there-so-many-mattress-stores/745133 "2020-07-10T23:04:43Z")
Interesting article, but there’s something wrong with the logic. “What accounts for this? It’s your classic oligopoly, where the market is dominated by just a few makers — think familiar names like Serta, Sealy, et al.… --- ## [Is MSG bad for you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-msg-bad-for-you/847850)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-msg-bad-for-you/847850 "2020-07-27T15:48:25Z")
I’m seeing Is the food additive MSG bad for you? - The Straight Dope today. Which is interesting in a historical sense, but should have been put out to pasture long ago. --- ## [Straight Dope gets a shout out in popculture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-gets-a-shout-out-in-popculture/854039)
**Author:** [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2020, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-gets-a-shout-out-in-popculture/854039 "2020-07-10T21:51:04Z")
This one: \[Froot Loops Changed Toucan Sam, and Cereal Lovers Are Not Pleased\](Are the different colors of Froot Loops different flavors? - The Straight Dope \[URL="Froot Loops Changed Toucan Sam, and Cereal Lovers Are N… --- ## [What is consciousness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-consciousness/851389)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [June 28, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-consciousness/851389 "2020-06-28T23:49:40Z")
Original column: What is consciousness? Well, I feel mean making comments about this column, since it’s not like he was going to solve the question. But anyway, it’s just a couple of friendly notes: How humans are tr… --- ## [Going Bananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-bananas/853364)
**Author:** [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-bananas/853364 "2020-05-08T01:38:33Z")
Column of May 18, 2018 Cecil completely ignored the most obvious source of the phrase “going bananas”: apes going crazy for bananas. I don’t have a cite but it’s just common sense. --- ## ["We really don't like using numbers that were invented before 1980."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-really-dont-like-using-numbers-that-were-invented-before-1980/852169)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-really-dont-like-using-numbers-that-were-invented-before-1980/852169 "2020-04-29T18:13:31Z")
My thread title is a wonderful quote Uncle Cecil used in one of his columns, but I lack the Google-fu to track it down properly. Does anybody remember the column in which this quote was used? --- ## [Do poisonous spiders lurk under toilet seats?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-poisonous-spiders-lurk-under-toilet-seats/852487)
**Author:** [@clevecallison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clevecallison)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 27, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-poisonous-spiders-lurk-under-toilet-seats/852487 "2020-04-27T00:15:42Z")
Regarding the non-existent “medical” Journal JUMA, I’m surprised that the SD Staff Report did not mention the meaning of the acronym that was widely shared in my college days, “Jump Up My Ass”. Appropriate for the topic. … --- ## [Classic Cecil takes on snakebite treatment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-cecil-takes-on-snakebite-treatment/852608)
**Author:** [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classic-cecil-takes-on-snakebite-treatment/852608 "2020-04-26T16:30:37Z")
I don’t know who chooses Cecil’s Classics to revive (Tuba?) but the current one “Is setting yourself on fire a good way to treat snakebite?” is wonderful. Classic Cecil indeed and full of great lines as well as informat… --- ## [Stewart Sandwiches](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stewart-sandwiches/852188)
**Author:** [@Creeker\_68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creeker_68)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stewart-sandwiches/852188 "2020-04-20T14:08:48Z")
Stewert Sandwiches were controlled by two former Navy reservists, Ted Broecker and Van Hugh Cunningham, initially both franchisees. They started buying out other franchises and eventually made a run for the parent compa… --- ## [Bad link in column](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-link-in-column/851554)
**Author:** [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2020, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-link-in-column/851554 "2020-04-11T11:51:52Z")
Today’s column (anvil/piano deaths) has a link at the bottom that purports to reference a followup column, but instead points to a very nice SDSAB by JillGat about a dentist and AIDS. --- ## [Where have you gone Cecil Adams? Our nation turns its Covid-19 eyes to you.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-you-gone-cecil-adams-our-nation-turns-its-covid-19-eyes-to-you/850124)
**Author:** [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2020, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-you-gone-cecil-adams-our-nation-turns-its-covid-19-eyes-to-you/850124 "2020-04-08T14:15:05Z")
Look. Stuff is happening. Things are getting strange. People have questions. The Straight Dope is needed now more than ever. Forget the ownership/retirement thing. Time to do what you do best. Debunk, inform, amuse. F… --- ## [Infectious diseases and vaccines (This season's flu)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infectious-diseases-and-vaccines-this-seasons-flu/804765)
**Author:** [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infectious-diseases-and-vaccines-this-seasons-flu/804765 "2019-08-20T17:47:27Z")
Re Cecil’s column this week: With the additional news that this year’s flu vaccine is not really all that helpful, is it worthwhile to have the shot? Or is it best just to skip it this year? --- ## [How does the Queen Elizabeth answer her phone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114)
**Author:** [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2020, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-queen-elizabeth-answer-her-phone/494114 "2020-03-28T04:48:34Z")
Inspired by the “Do famous celebrities get junk mail?” thread A friend of mine and I once tried to figure out how Queen Elizabeth answers her phone. I mean, after all, there’s no way she’s never used a telephone in her … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=4)