# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=307 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 308 --- ## [Mormon underwear?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-underwear/1387)
**Author:** [@Bubba\_blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bubba_blue)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2000, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mormon-underwear/1387 "2000-01-06T19:38:00Z")
What’s the scoop on this? Must Mormons wear special underwear all the time, or is it only worn when entering the chapel/temple? http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmormonwed.html --- ## [Jerry Lewis and the French](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-and-the-french/405)
**Author:** [@chakolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chakolate)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis-and-the-french/405 "2000-01-06T19:20:00Z")
Seems to me I heard that the reason the French loved Jerry Lewis was that the French actor who did the voice-over was very, very talented and made Lewis funnier than he actually was. When the French actor died, so did Le… --- ## [Why not? I ask, why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-i-ask-why/404)
**Author:** [@Bletchley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bletchley)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2000, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-i-ask-why/404 "2000-01-06T07:27:00Z")
Cecil adopts a laissez-faire attitude about the surgeon general wanting to wear a uniform and then somehow exerting pressure on other PHS employees to follow suit and wear a uniform, concluding his essay by saying, “why … --- ## [Chandler Wobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chandler-wobble/403)
**Author:** [@JBENZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBENZ)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2000, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chandler-wobble/403 "2000-01-06T05:41:00Z")
Cecil sez that being off by a mile when you drop a nuke on Beijing is no big deal. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991203.html#update Mebbe so…but I would respectfully submit that if you’re trying to nuke a missile… --- ## [Piss Shiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-shiver/402)
**Author:** [@BigRoryG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigRoryG)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2000, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-shiver/402 "2000-01-05T22:50:00Z")
Could it not be that the shiver is from the release of endorphins fromhaving completed a natural process? We get one when we f\*\*k, why not when we pee. We have saved ourselves from urinary tract infection, and mild to mo… --- ## [10/31/97: On "Gilligan's Island" what was Mrs. Howell's first name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-31-97-on-gilligans-island-what-was-mrs-howells-first-name/401)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2000, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-31-97-on-gilligans-island-what-was-mrs-howells-first-name/401 "2000-01-05T21:29:00Z")
The San Fernando Valley Folklore Society maintains an excellent website debunking many urban legends. Barbara Mikkelson’s columns in particular are terrific, if not quite as terrific as Unca Cece. (Check out her column d… --- ## [Silver Spoons in Champagne Bottles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-spoons-in-champagne-bottles/400)
**Author:** [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-spoons-in-champagne-bottles/400 "2000-01-05T20:16:00Z")
I hesitate to question The Master’s wisdom, but I believe there was a flaw in the experiment to determine whether a silver spoon stuck in the neck of a champagne bottle prevents the fizz from going flat. (I would really … --- ## [Strongest muscle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-muscle/1386)
**Author:** [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2000, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strongest-muscle/1386 "2000-01-05T15:40:00Z")
From various nursing courses, it had been my understanding that the strongest muscle in the human body was the uterus. I’ve read accounts of doctors having their fingers broken when they chose their exam moments less tha… --- ## [Blue Moon = Bad Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-moon-bad-mojo/399)
**Author:** [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2000, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-moon-bad-mojo/399 "2000-01-05T15:26:00Z")
In his “Blue Moon” column – yeah, I know it’s from 1977, but the update was just posted on the site today – Cecil wrote: Well, of course, if you get two full moons in a lunar month, that’s got to be a really bad omen…… --- ## [Asthma inhalers (May 29, 1998)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthma-inhalers-may-29-1998/398)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2000, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/asthma-inhalers-may-29-1998/398 "2000-01-05T04:32:00Z")
In the May 29, 1998 column, the merits and drawbacks of steroid-based asthma inhalers were discussed. When I was diagnosed with asthma, I was given a prescription for an inhaler called Isuprel. This stuff was great: two … --- ## [Low Dose Smoking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-dose-smoking/397)
**Author:** [@ElvisP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisP)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2000, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-dose-smoking/397 "2000-01-05T04:13:00Z")
\<\< In February of 1995 (Yes, I know that was a long time ago, but I am a very slow typist) Cecil wrote \<\ **Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-post-links/1384 "2000-01-04T20:00:00Z") Please, gang, when you are starting a new topic, please post the link to the Mailbag Answer that you are commenting on? This will help us all stay on the same page, make it clear for everyone. You post the link by copy… --- ## ["...A MAN..." article - forgot something!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-man-article-forgot-something/396)
**Author:** [@tpuffies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tpuffies)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2000, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-man-article-forgot-something/396 "2000-01-04T19:07:00Z")
One thing you seemed to leave out, Cecil, was that Armstrong must have been asked a skillion times about what his impression of the “lost a” – how about a quote from the lips of the lips that uttered it? Granted, you ha… --- ## [Y2K bug?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y2k-bug/1383)
**Author:** [@technomom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/technomom)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2000, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/y2k-bug/1383 "2000-01-04T14:36:00Z")
Today’s Mailbag answer lists the date at the top as 1900-01-03. So, did Cecil get bit by the Y2K bug or are you folks just pulling our collective legs? JoAnn --- ## [cars difficult to buy????](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-difficult-to-buy/1382)
**Author:** [@dobos67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dobos67)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2000, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cars-difficult-to-buy/1382 "2000-01-04T13:10:00Z")
this is for the person that asked “why is it difficult to buy a car”. car salesmen pushy?what you need to do my friends is go visit your local SATURN retailer. we will help you find the car that you want. no hassles no c… --- ## [$300 Semi-Annual Raise versus $1000 Annual Raise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-semi-annual-raise-versus-1000-annual-raise/395)
**Author:** [@PatronAnejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatronAnejo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2000, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/300-semi-annual-raise-versus-1000-annual-raise/395 "2000-01-04T08:45:00Z")
Cecil writes in hiscolumn of 10 April 1992, Strictly speaking, the annualized hike per year is $900 (the second semi-annual salary hike is not retroactively applied to the previous semester, thus raises incurred over t… --- ## [Earth poles shifting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earth-poles-shifting/394)
**Author:** [@areynaldos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/areynaldos)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2000, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earth-poles-shifting/394 "2000-01-04T05:35:00Z")
For the first time, it seems Cecil got it wrong. The disaster that Noone mentions is that the Earth is going to shift 90 degrees from its axis. Of course this would cause major catastrophes (Velikovsky style). This is no… --- ## [Presidential names](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-names/393)
**Author:** [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-names/393 "2000-01-03T23:12:00Z")
In http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_308.html a reader claims that U.S. Presidents alternate between normal names (John, Richard, James) and unusual names Dwight, Lyndon, Gerald). The recent run of Ronald, George … --- ## [The Big Apple](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-apple/392)
**Author:** [@lyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lyre)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2000, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-apple/392 "2000-01-01T23:20:00Z")
According to Luc Sante in his excellent work of New York History, “Low Life : Lures and Snares of Old New York” (http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0679738762) says that New York, back when ev… --- ## [Winning the lottery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winning-the-lottery/384)
**Author:** [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2000, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winning-the-lottery/384 "2000-01-01T06:39:00Z")
I had to read http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_189.html several times before I understood, though Cecil’s second and third explanations finally made it through my skull. I now accept the counter-intuitive results… --- ## [Weird Bible stories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-bible-stories/383)
**Author:** [@RobRoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobRoy)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 1999, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-bible-stories/383 "1999-12-31T05:07:00Z")
I have a strong interest in the Bible as a historical documnet and welcome comments about various strange passages in the Old Testament. Respectfull comments from Born Agains AND Velikovskians are welcome. Who did Cain … --- ## [Definition of a prime number](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-a-prime-number/382)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 1999, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-a-prime-number/382 "1999-12-30T14:05:00Z")
On the front page is a response by an SD staff member to the question of whether 0 is even or odd. They go on to comment on the status of 1. Now, the definition they give is “having no divisors except itself and 1.” The… --- ## [Another reason your recorded voice sounds "worse"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-reason-your-recorded-voice-sounds-worse/1379)
**Author:** [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 1999, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-reason-your-recorded-voice-sounds-worse/1379 "1999-12-29T21:29:00Z")
Today’s mailbag article, http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mrecordvoice.html , addresses the issue of why the way you hear your voice inside your own head sounds different from the way others hear your voice (bone reso… --- ## [If Pluto is a dog, what is Goofy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-pluto-is-a-dog-what-is-goofy/381)
**Author:** [@Welldigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welldigger)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 1999, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-pluto-is-a-dog-what-is-goofy/381 "1999-12-29T03:49:00Z")
What no one has ever noticed is that there is an element of race relations allegory going on here. Pluto is a dog, but is Mickey’s pet and wears a collar. Goofy is a dog, yet no one’s pet. Mickey represents whites in A… --- ## [Making a model car go straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-model-car-go-straight/380)
**Author:** [@Crunchy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 1999, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-a-model-car-go-straight/380 "1999-12-28T06:27:00Z")
I am building a model car, it has to travel 10 metres, but I am sure the car will not go striaght. Do I need large/small wheels? or is it the angle of wheel relative to the ground/car? Any suggestions to help make my m… --- ## [potassium chloride](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-chloride/371)
**Author:** [@J.P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J.P)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 1999, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-chloride/371 "1999-12-28T06:26:00Z")
Hello!!! I read your article on “the straight dope” that was put on the net last week. My concern is that I have a water softener and I use Potassium Chloride as a softening agent rather than Sodium Chloride. The produ… --- ## [percussion in orchestra](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percussion-in-orchestra/1378)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 1999, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percussion-in-orchestra/1378 "1999-12-28T05:04:00Z")
Dear folks, As many percussionists may tell you, most of the reason playing percussion in orchestras is difficult (assuming for the sake of argument that it can sometimes be, if one chooses to define it as such), is sim… --- ## [Is it wet? (Chandler wobble)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wet-chandler-wobble/378)
**Author:** [@rvanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rvanders)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 1999, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-wet-chandler-wobble/378 "1999-12-28T04:20:00Z")
While Cecil’s answer was quite correct, there is a tiny (actually miniscule) point that I must correct: The question to ask is not “Is Chandler Wobbling dampening?” but rather whether it is DAMPING. While it seems to be … --- ## [William Sidis was too smart for his own good; I know the feeling.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-sidis-was-too-smart-for-his-own-good-i-know-the-feeling/373)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 1999, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-sidis-was-too-smart-for-his-own-good-i-know-the-feeling/373 "1999-12-28T03:28:00Z")
Here’s my story: I coasted through high school without so much as cracking a book. I then went to the Universtiy, where I majored in Health Services Administration (I was going to be an HMO Executive). Then I decided th… --- ## [Helpgry! I'm frustratedgry!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpgry-im-frustratedgry/372)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 1999, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helpgry-im-frustratedgry/372 "1999-12-28T03:21:00Z")
I can’t seemgry to locategry that columngry. Stopgry me fromgry going crazygry! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=306) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=308)