# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=302 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 303 --- ## [Spork Economy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spork-economy/1602)
**Author:** [@george\_phillips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/george_phillips)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2000, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spork-economy/1602 "2000-03-01T06:46:00Z")
Is space/weight conservation so tight the difference between a spork and an actual spoon and fork is significant? Or is it just the sheer appeal of the clever multi-function tool? Either way, I don’t see the practical ad… --- ## [A really ignorant type of question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-really-ignorant-type-of-question/744)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2000, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-really-ignorant-type-of-question/744 "2000-03-01T06:04:00Z")
In the \["\]http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a890630b.html\]\]( \[url="http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a890630b.html) water question, Cecil makes the following statement: Forgive my ignorance, but what the hell i… --- ## [What is the Grimace (The Dark Paleohistory of McDonaldLand)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-grimace-the-dark-paleohistory-of-mcdonaldland/743)
**Author:** [@Umbriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2000, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-grimace-the-dark-paleohistory-of-mcdonaldland/743 "2000-02-29T16:57:00Z")
McDonaldLand has apparently twice been covered in Cecil’s column. Once examining the origin of the Grimace (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a940429.html) and again discussing McDonald’s infringement of H.R. Pufnstuf… --- ## [Can I reuse the uncanceled stamps from my junk mail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740)
**Author:** [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2000, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-reuse-the-uncanceled-stamps-from-my-junk-mail/740 "2000-02-29T16:50:00Z")
I found this interesting, only because I’ve been considering something. Let’s say I write a letter. In the return address spot I put my intended recipient’s address; in the addresse’s spot I put a different address. The… --- ## [Duplicate posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-posts/739)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicate-posts/739 "2000-02-29T16:46:00Z")
C&Ped from Manhattan’s post in General Questions: If one is posting a message while the board is slowing down in preparation of an outage, often times one gets a “time-out” or other indication that the post did not go t… --- ## [Racing Counterclockwise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racing-counterclockwise/735)
**Author:** [@Ennius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ennius)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2000, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racing-counterclockwise/735 "2000-02-29T16:33:00Z")
–Note to JillGat: I don’t know if this column is online…I couldnt find it, at least!– Anyhoo, the technical, physical reason (I ain’t gonna vouch for any metaphysical or “traditional” reasons) that auto races are run co… --- ## [If a tree falls is there sound?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-tree-falls-is-there-sound/732)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2000, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-tree-falls-is-there-sound/732 "2000-02-29T02:54:00Z")
Well of course there’s a sound! The fact that there is no sound becouse sound can be defined as “vibrations generated in the hearing organs caused by \[the\] sound.” is irrelevant. This is one of those pointless Zen quest… --- ## [if pluto is a dog, what is goofy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-pluto-is-a-dog-what-is-goofy/730)
**Author:** [@chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chuck)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-pluto-is-a-dog-what-is-goofy/730 "2000-02-28T21:13:00Z")
If pluto is a dawg because he’s naked, and walks on all fours, and goofy is a human dawg, because he walks upright and wears cloths, then what does that make Porky Pig, who often walks upright, sometimes naked, sometimes… --- ## [5 Types of Twins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-types-of-twins/721)
**Author:** [@Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cooper)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2000, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-types-of-twins/721 "2000-02-28T20:02:00Z")
In this same column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000107.html Cecil attempts to explain why Trivial Pursuit would say there are five types of twins. However, there seems to be something missing. I understand the… --- ## [Sunday and the Lord's day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sunday-and-the-lords-day/717)
**Author:** [@biondoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biondoli)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2000, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sunday-and-the-lords-day/717 "2000-02-28T16:30:00Z")
This was an interesting article but again is lacking something that I heard. I’ve heard often than Sunday was not originally the start of the week but rather the last day. Why it has become to be the first and how this c… --- ## [Does the porn industry use Viagra?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-porn-industry-use-viagra/716)
**Author:** [@Michael\_Masterson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Masterson)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2000, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-porn-industry-use-viagra/716 "2000-02-28T06:19:00Z")
Do they use Viagra in adult movies to make the guys more impressive? --- ## [Fire and Brimstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-and-brimstone/1601)
**Author:** [@wiploc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wiploc)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2000, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-and-brimstone/1601 "2000-02-27T12:32:00Z")
The book Figures Of Speech, Twenty Ways To Turn A Phrase, discusses the nounization of adjectives for the purpose of emphasis. If you refer to a “white house” the houseness seems more important than the whiteness. To av… --- ## [Passwords](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passwords/715)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passwords/715 "2000-02-27T00:44:00Z")
If you haven’t done it since February 23rd, please check your password. As most of you know, this site was hacked and the perpetrators may have gotten ahold of member passwords. Because I know you smart asses will no dou… --- ## [Cecil off AOL?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-off-aol/714)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-off-aol/714 "2000-02-26T21:18:00Z")
I want to congradulate the SD staff on their recent departure from AOL. Many 'net people have been wondering why the smartest man in the world would even be SEEN on AOL! Looking forward to the web page improvements (so … --- ## [Same-sex marriage, second try](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-second-try/712)
**Author:** [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-second-try/712 "2000-02-26T21:11:00Z")
We’re having some sort of technical problem with the “same sex” thread, you can’t read any of the replies after the one on the end of the first page, so I’ve alerted the techs, closed the thread, and started this new one… --- ## [Jaywalking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jaywalking/1599)
**Author:** [@scottsimon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scottsimon)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2000, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jaywalking/1599 "2000-02-26T19:29:00Z")
Dogster, I’d like to propose that the term may not be “jaywalking”, but rather “J-walking”. My personal theory on this (I’m going to ask you to visualize, so close your eyes. No, wait, maybe just one eye…) is that say y… --- ## [Run vs. Walk controversy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-vs-walk-controversy/709)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-vs-walk-controversy/709 "2000-02-26T15:26:00Z")
OK, look, I was reading the raining thing and if it was better to run than walk (under the Straight Dope classics) and I found this piece of information; “One obvious caveat. If enough rain falls on you, whether because… --- ## [Photic sneeze reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/1597)
**Author:** [@boyld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boyld)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2000, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/1597 "2000-02-26T04:06:00Z")
I was reading about the photic sneeze reflex, and was quite interested in the topic since I am one of the minority of people who are blessed with this genetic trait. I say blessed without a hint of sarcasm because I thin… --- ## [ruts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruts/708)
**Author:** [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2000, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruts/708 "2000-02-25T22:41:00Z")
What was the Wheel spacing of the model T and other early auto’s I would think that they would have the same problem as wagons --- ## [31 july 92 "B" batteries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/31-july-92-b-batteries/707)
**Author:** [@Bill\_Anderson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Anderson)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2000, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/31-july-92-b-batteries/707 "2000-02-25T19:33:00Z")
Hi, hey it turns out that “B” batteries were quite the thing at one time, actually for quite some time. They were used to provide plate voltage for portable tube-type equipment until transistors came along. Common types … --- ## [When you first return to the Boards after the recent outage...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-first-return-to-the-boards-after-the-recent-outage/1596)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 24, 2000, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-first-return-to-the-boards-after-the-recent-outage/1596 "2000-02-24T01:09:00Z")
Note in the upper left, a little blue link (under the STRAIGHT DOPE logo) to an important Announcements. And here is the entire text of the announcement from Ed Zotti: \<\< More on this later, but we strongly advise all … --- ## [Snake Handling: Cecil Left Some Stuff Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-cecil-left-some-stuff-out/706)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2000, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snake-handling-cecil-left-some-stuff-out/706 "2000-02-23T23:53:00Z")
Cecil did a fine job of explaining the phenomenon of snake handling, but he left some important information out. First, the passage to which he refers, Mark 16:17-18, and indeed most or all of Mark 16 (I can’t give the … --- ## [USA Democracy or Republic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-democracy-or-republic/1587)
**Author:** [@chatchy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chatchy)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-democracy-or-republic/1587 "2000-02-21T17:11:00Z")
For definitions of a Democracy and Republic, see ‘The Federalist Papers’ #10 To learn which the USA is, see ‘The US Constitution’ Article #4 Section #4. --- ## [Proper Perversions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-perversions/705)
**Author:** [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-perversions/705 "2000-02-21T16:56:00Z")
Cecil’s not much of a pervert, is he? First and foremost, foot fetishism really has nothing to do with BDSM. The two certainly can ‘cross’ but don’t necessarily. Second, The pony play he talks about here “equus eroticu… --- ## [Places in the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-in-the-us/1582)
**Author:** [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-in-the-us/1582 "2000-02-21T16:51:00Z")
Re: How many cities are there in the U.S.? I came up with 23,437. My source was a ZIP file (I think from the USPS) of a list of places in the US. (I cut out the American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and other non-50-states areas… --- ## [Social Security taxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-taxes/695)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-taxes/695 "2000-02-21T16:34:00Z")
Maybe I’m missing some of the subtleties of Cecil’s recently reprinted column on Social Security, but it seems to me his numbers didn’t add up. The question points out that the surplus money being collected (via taxation… --- ## [Supercooled Liquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supercooled-liquid/694)
**Author:** [@Cobalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cobalt)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supercooled-liquid/694 "2000-02-21T16:09:00Z")
Cecil wrote: “A supercooled liquid, the term applied to glass for many years, has been rapidly chilled past its normal freezing point and become apparently solid without assuming the regular crystalline structure typical… --- ## [Potassium Chloride](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-chloride/693)
**Author:** [@Loren\_Pechtel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loren_Pechtel)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-chloride/693 "2000-02-21T14:12:00Z")
There is a big difference between potassium chloride in salt subsistute and potassium chloride as used in lethal injection–namely, injection. The same amount of potassium spread over time doesn’t pose the danger that it … --- ## [Potassium Chloride](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-chloride/1581)
**Author:** [@Loren\_Pechtel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loren_Pechtel)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-chloride/1581 "2000-02-21T13:42:00Z")
There is a big difference between potassium chloride in salt subsistute and potassium chloride as used in lethal injection–namely, injection. The same amount of potassium spread over time doesn’t pose the danger that it … --- ## [magnetism with aluminum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetism-with-aluminum/692)
**Author:** [@biondoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biondoli)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2000, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magnetism-with-aluminum/692 "2000-02-21T13:01:00Z")
There was something I didn’t see addressed which I feel definately needs attention. The explanation on electron polarity is great but missing something. Metals are generally conductors which means that electrons flow fre… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=301) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=303)