# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=305 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 306 --- ## [Don't bug me!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-bug-me/1466)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2000, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-bug-me/1466 "2000-01-26T11:25:00Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/multrasonic.html#update While this wasn’t a part of the question, it might be helpful to let suffering parties know what does kill cockroaches and crickets. Boric acid works. It’s so… --- ## [Ultrasonic bug repellants](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-bug-repellants/472)
**Author:** [@Bletchley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bletchley)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2000, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultrasonic-bug-repellants/472 "2000-01-26T04:57:00Z")
In the current letter on Cecil’s column, he says these ultrasonic devices are useless against roaches. Has anybody dropped a bunch of roaches near these bug repellers to see what they do? I bet they don’t like it. But … --- ## [Quick Sand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sand/470)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2000, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-sand/470 "2000-01-25T22:08:00Z")
Cecil, quick sand can be a little more serious than you said in your column. I recently went hiking in Death Hollow Utah, named because of a cow that died in quick sand in a steep narrow canyon. This cow blocked the way … --- ## [Why do circles have 400 gradians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-circles-have-400-gradians/469)
**Author:** [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2000, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-circles-have-400-gradians/469 "2000-01-25T21:03:00Z")
Why do so many calculators support gradians? For something I’ve never known anyone to use, it seems to be everywhere. Who uses these? Do they still use them, or have they caught up with the ancient Babylonians, and switc… --- ## [Where does melted Candle Wax go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-melted-candle-wax-go/467)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2000, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-melted-candle-wax-go/467 "2000-01-25T06:02:00Z")
It does not seem possible that the liquid remains from a burning candle can equate to the wax that once was. (esp. dripless type) Where does it go? If some evaporates, does one find waxy build-up somewhere when it conde… --- ## [more good words...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-good-words/1445)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-good-words/1445 "2000-01-24T19:12:00Z")
… that can’t be used because they mean other things in today’s world: Titanic Enterprise Stigmata (I don’t know anyone who knew what it meant before the movie) Nikelodeon Gay Felching (on the Dope, anyway) Anyong … --- ## [OK, now I'm upset....!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-now-im-upset/1443)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2000, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-now-im-upset/1443 "2000-01-24T17:27:00Z")
I registered on this message board on January 10th, posted a reply (to Juniorbunk), and went on my merry way… Came back today to find that my username has been deleted! had to reregister and all! What gives? fool’sguin… --- ## [Black body, white noise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-body-white-noise/466)
**Author:** [@pqlier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pqlier)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2000, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-body-white-noise/466 "2000-01-24T06:13:00Z")
Surely, you jest. --- ## [why birds don't explode](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-birds-dont-explode/464)
**Author:** [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2000, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-birds-dont-explode/464 "2000-01-24T06:10:00Z")
Santa was uncharacteristically good this year, and presented his humble Beruang with not one, not two, but three of the sacred Cecil tomes. “Triumph of the Straight Dope” contains the (in)famous “exploding birds” column. … --- ## [1963 MVP's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1963-mvps/463)
**Author:** [@bigballer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigballer)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1963-mvps/463 "2000-01-23T07:21:00Z")
I was just reading some of the archives and I came across a mistake. In 1963 Jim Brown was not the NFL MVP. --- ## [Poison Ivy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poison-ivy/1442)
**Author:** [@Astro\_Hog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astro_Hog)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2000, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poison-ivy/1442 "2000-01-23T05:24:00Z")
When I was in Cub Scouts I had a den leader that said that the Native Americans would find poison ivy early on in the spring and swallow small pieces of the plant to build up an immunity to the poison ivy. The reason he … --- ## [where exactly does the sky start](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-exactly-does-the-sky-start/462)
**Author:** [@mclar32007](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mclar32007)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2000, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-exactly-does-the-sky-start/462 "2000-01-22T06:47:00Z")
Hey guy’s i’m new at this but i was reading some straight dope when i thought of this question maybe you guy’s can give me your thoughts on where exactly does the sky start thanks :-Þ Matt --- ## [You want a thought to ponder?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-a-thought-to-ponder/460)
**Author:** [@Smcdonald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smcdonald)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2000, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-want-a-thought-to-ponder/460 "2000-01-21T08:20:00Z")
Ponder this: In reference to the spoons article and funhouse mirrors stuff… If you could somehow take one of your eyeballs and point it so that it looked directly into your other eyeball, what would you see? Think abo… --- ## [The truth about Easter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-easter/456)
**Author:** [@Perderabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perderabo)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2000, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-truth-about-easter/456 "2000-01-21T06:32:00Z")
Point your browser to: http://www.snopes.com/spoons/fracture/easter.htm why is it “point”? Like if i pick up my PC and move it, i’ll change web sites? --- ## [Rx: The Eye of Horus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rx-the-eye-of-horus/1440)
**Author:** [@McJohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McJohn)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rx-the-eye-of-horus/1440 "2000-01-21T04:59:00Z")
Thanks to Jill for her cogent and well-reasoned exposition of what the hell that “Rx” thing is all about. In the 1964 edition of the Life/Science Library tome “The Body” (published, at some remove, by the good folks at … --- ## [Rabies vaccines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabies-vaccines/459)
**Author:** [@APB9999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB9999)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2000, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabies-vaccines/459 "2000-01-21T04:38:00Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mrabies.html#update The above rabies column didn’t answer the question: Why is the dog vaccine so much cheaper than the human? They’re both rabies antigens, right? Are they prepared … --- ## [Rabies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabies/1439)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2000, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabies/1439 "2000-01-21T03:53:00Z")
Rabies does not kill “virtually everybody who contracts it”. There are no confirmed surviviors of this disease. There were reports of a Turkish man surviving a case of rabies, but the rabies diagnosis is now considered … --- ## [Words Ending In -gry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-ending-in-gry/452)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2000, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-ending-in-gry/452 "2000-01-19T22:04:00Z")
I found this on the Internet Public Library \IPL FARQ: -gry Words\ \ \ \Words that end in -gry\ For reasons that we can’t determine, the “-gry question” is turning up … --- ## [Cecil Slapping Some Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-slapping-some-loser/450)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-slapping-some-loser/450 "2000-01-19T20:43:00Z")
This isn’t a comment about any specific column, so there’s no link. What ever happened to the “Cecil Slapping Some Loser” sketch? It used to be on the homepage, and then when you went to this week’s column there was a s… --- ## [Madam Eve, House Whip](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madam-eve-house-whip/449)
**Author:** [@Gene\_Kraus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gene_Kraus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2000, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madam-eve-house-whip/449 "2000-01-19T20:41:00Z")
Hmmmm. Interesting article but the cartoon isn’t a fit. Madam Eve may be involved in an activity that is entirely legal. If she is a professional Domme (scenespeak for someone who is a Dominatrix for hire in the Bondage &… --- ## [YKK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ykk/445)
**Author:** [@The\_Ryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Ryan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2000, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ykk/445 "2000-01-19T02:10:00Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_209.html Or perhaps it’s a veiled allusion to Y2K… --- ## [Was Hitler Christian?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-hitler-christian/1422)
**Author:** [@Cessandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cessandra)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2000, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-hitler-christian/1422 "2000-01-19T00:50:00Z")
David answers this question in today’s Mailbag Answers. I have one further question. A certain someone in my life (known for pulling “facts” out of thin air) would have me believe that Hitler’s parents were, in fact, Jew… --- ## [New rule added to SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rule-added-to-sdmb/444)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2000, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rule-added-to-sdmb/444 "2000-01-18T21:36:00Z")
I wanted to let you all know that a new rule has been added to the Straight Dope Message Board. In this forum “Comments on Cecil’s Columns,” use of alternate screen names has either not occurred or not created problems t… --- ## [Why NFL refs wear bands...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-nfl-refs-wear-bands/1417)
**Author:** [@Hammar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hammar)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2000, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-nfl-refs-wear-bands/1417 "2000-01-18T12:55:00Z")
I’ve never been an NFL ref but when I did High School officiating the band over the fingers was a short hand method to remember what is happening on the field. As an Umpire (lined up behind the defense) your job was to s… --- ## [Avenge my death Kimba, I mean Simba](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avenge-my-death-kimba-i-mean-simba/443)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2000, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avenge-my-death-kimba-i-mean-simba/443 "2000-01-18T08:29:00Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991224.html (added link - Jill) FINALLY! someone to put Disney in their place! even they are not immune to admitting when they are wrong before the great Cecil Adams! but I can’t bel… --- ## [ravens and writing desks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ravens-and-writing-desks/442)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ravens-and-writing-desks/442 "2000-01-18T04:02:00Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970418.h tml http://www.straightdope.com/columns/970530.h tml Why didnt Unca Cecil take seriously the answer “They both have inky quills”? I came up with that myself when I was i… --- ## [Copyright Infringements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-infringements/441)
**Author:** [@Brood\_McEto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brood_McEto)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2000, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-infringements/441 "2000-01-17T16:14:00Z")
I have seen and noticed the other day that religious groups have various logos on t-shirts and other clothing that is an apparent copyright infringement. In particular, a lady was wearing a shirt that said Christ in the … --- ## [Partial Pressure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partial-pressure/440)
**Author:** [@perkitl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perkitl)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2000, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/partial-pressure/440 "2000-01-17T07:09:00Z")
Can anyone explain in laymans terms what partial pressure is in relation to oil refining? --- ## [Anal Retention](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-retention/439)
**Author:** [@perkitl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perkitl)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2000, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-retention/439 "2000-01-17T07:06:00Z")
Does anyone know what anal retention is? --- ## [Urine and Asparagus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-and-asparagus/438)
**Author:** [@Phillies\_Phan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phillies_Phan)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-and-asparagus/438 "2000-01-16T15:36:00Z")
At the end of Unk Cec’s column on urination he notes that one shouldn’t drink their urine after eating asparagus. Why? Does asparagus make it smell bad? It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten asparagus and don’t remembe… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=304) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=306)