# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=309 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 310 --- ## [America NOT named after Amerigo Vespucci!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-not-named-after-amerigo-vespucci/326)
**Author:** [@Simon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simon)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 1999, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-not-named-after-amerigo-vespucci/326 "1999-12-07T22:00:00Z")
According to Samuel Eliot Morison’s book The European Discovery of America, the Northern Voyages America is named for ‘John America’ John Cabot’s financial backer. A far more sensible explanation than that Vespucci fel… --- ## [Jimmy Crack Corn](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-crack-corn/325)
**Author:** [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 1999, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jimmy-crack-corn/325 "1999-12-07T20:34:00Z")
(Sorry this is late, but I just read the Jimmy Crack Corn article on the internet.) Unca Cece posited a couple of theories on the meaning of “cracks corn” in the “Jimmy Cracks Corn” minstrel song, both of which were of… --- ## [Copyright trap in "Copyright Traps" column?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-trap-in-copyright-traps-column/324)
**Author:** [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 1999, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/copyright-trap-in-copyright-traps-column/324 "1999-12-07T20:08:00Z")
There is a typo in: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_165.html Come now, they shouldn’t have to swear about it. Can’t they just show us one they used? Just kidding. I think there is a missing “not” in this parag… --- ## [Viruses in email](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viruses-in-email/1364)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 1999, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viruses-in-email/1364 "1999-12-06T15:42:00Z")
I may be misremembering this, but I had read that if you sent a email message that was larger than the buffer size there was a hole in several email readers that would dump the remaining text into the system where it cou… --- ## [The UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk/1346)
**Author:** [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 1999, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-uk/1346 "1999-12-06T15:30:00Z")
Oh dear. It’s the Scottish Parliament. The Welsh have an Assembly. And it hasn’t “recently been given more power” - the thing only came into existence this year. (After a nearly 300 year hiatus, that is.) Also, there … --- ## [Would is subjunctive, isn't it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-is-subjunctive-isnt-it/1343)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 1999, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-is-subjunctive-isnt-it/1343 "1999-12-06T07:11:00Z")
Today’s mailbag article, http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mwont.html , parenthetically states in the last paragraph: I was of the impression that would was the subjunctive form of will, not the past tense. E.g., “I w… --- ## [Decatur Illinois Untold Story](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decatur-illinois-untold-story/323)
**Author:** [@See\_Dee\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/See_Dee_Truth)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 1999, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decatur-illinois-untold-story/323 "1999-12-05T23:04:00Z")
Decatur Illinois once the home of Black Liberation Radio, wants to act as if now that Jessie Jackson is gone they will start to repair race relations. Wait just a dam minute! Long before Jessie Jackson put Decatur… --- ## [Trivia thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-thread/322)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 1999, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-thread/322 "1999-12-04T20:55:00Z")
I moved it to the MPSIMS forum, as it didn’t relate to a Cecil Column. Jill --- ## [Trivia Facts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-facts/321)
**Author:** [@planetjunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetjunk)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 1999, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-facts/321 "1999-12-04T03:36:00Z")
I collect useless info and put them on my websites called “TRIVIAL NEATSTUFF”. Check them out: CLICK HERE! --- ## [Kreole-speak](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kreole-speak/320)
**Author:** [@Dogbreath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogbreath)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 1999, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kreole-speak/320 "1999-12-02T23:21:00Z")
Cece becomes Mainstream! I see today’s column excerpted in the Wall Street Journal, Notable & Quotable section. Had to see what they cut in the … sections. What’s next - IPO for Straight Dope Inc? eDope? Cece to cash in … --- ## ['plot line'/development of McDonalds commercials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-line-development-of-mcdonalds-commercials/319)
**Author:** [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 1999, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-line-development-of-mcdonalds-commercials/319 "1999-12-01T06:09:00Z")
Okay, like many of you, I’ve been troubled by a tendency to recall and cross-correlate things that those around us ignore and forget. I’m hoping that you can help with a personal project: trying to make some sense of th… --- ## [Is Wicca a Fraud?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wicca-a-fraud/317)
**Author:** [@Rosanna\_Dennis\_Prothro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosanna_Dennis_Prothro)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 1999, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-wicca-a-fraud/317 "1999-12-01T06:03:00Z")
Dear Cecil, DON’T PANIC! I’m not a Witch out to flame you. Your description of modern Wicca is essentially correct, but it misses a point: The distinguishing feature of Wicca and other Classical-Era-revival denomination… --- ## [SDStaff Jill's mailbag this week re: Franky](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdstaff-jills-mailbag-this-week-re-franky/1340)
**Author:** [@BigRoryG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigRoryG)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 1999, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdstaff-jills-mailbag-this-week-re-franky/1340 "1999-12-01T03:55:00Z")
Me and Frank are not on the best of terms, I listen to his tunes every now and then. He ain’t my favorite either, but I don’t need to hear Jill’s libel, thank you very much. The editorialising is NOT obligatory. The leas… --- ## [I want my damn picture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-damn-picture/318)
**Author:** [@BigRoryG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigRoryG)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 1999, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-damn-picture/318 "1999-11-30T23:16:00Z")
I love Slug Signorino and frankly, I’m hurt that the SD website guys didn’t write the write code to bring up the pic for this weeks column. “C’mon, it’s not even tomorrow yet…” - Rupert If you need a graphic solution,… --- ## [Church of the Subgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/1339)
**Author:** [@Lyly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyly)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 1999, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-the-subgenius/1339 "1999-11-30T15:24:00Z")
It seems to me that ten years ago back when I was married to the idiot, there was a big surge in Bobism. He was a devout Bob fanatic. All I remember was a game perhaps named Chaos. Insanity runs in my family…mostly wit… --- ## [Goofy and Pluto (or, have you ever seen Goofy lick himself?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goofy-and-pluto-or-have-you-ever-seen-goofy-lick-himself/316)
**Author:** [@kittd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittd)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 1999, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goofy-and-pluto-or-have-you-ever-seen-goofy-lick-himself/316 "1999-11-30T11:57:00Z")
Thanks for supporting my similar answer (I always said that Pluto was a dog and Goofy was a “dawg”). Of course, Scooby-Doo would be hard to categorize, since he walks on his hind legs, sorta talks and is naked. --- ## [Sex in pigs, sneezing in the sun](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-pigs-sneezing-in-the-sun/315)
**Author:** [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 1999, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-in-pigs-sneezing-in-the-sun/315 "1999-11-30T10:07:00Z")
From the medical world (I am a medical student in Houston)… At Baylor College of Medicine, one of our professors works on contraception in animals (Dr. Bonnie Dunbar). She has pigs trained to ejaculate on command. Not o… --- ## [Misuse of Pine Cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misuse-of-pine-cleaner/314)
**Author:** [@SDFMacross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SDFMacross)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 1999, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misuse-of-pine-cleaner/314 "1999-11-30T00:45:00Z")
But don’t some of those cleaners contain nitrates and ammonia? And can’t nitrates and ammonia be used to make explosives? Perhaps what the Feds were saying when they put the use restrictions on was something like “Let’s … --- ## [Percussion Recognition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percussion-recognition/1337)
**Author:** [@keystream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keystream)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 1999, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percussion-recognition/1337 "1999-11-29T23:43:00Z")
\[cheering\] Kudos Ian! \[/cheering\] It’s nice to have someone appreciate percussionists. I was one for many years (my specialty was mallets, but I did my share of auxiliary work) and everybody always thinks it’s so easy… --- ## [Digital single formats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-single-formats/313)
**Author:** [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 1999, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-single-formats/313 "1999-11-29T20:27:00Z")
In this week’s column, http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991015.html , Cecil says: A 10-year-old cheapo stereo set of mine has a CD player touted as being able to play both “CD Albums and Singles”. Inside the vertica… --- ## [sunday worship](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sunday-worship/311)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 1999, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sunday-worship/311 "1999-11-28T15:51:00Z")
Concerning the worshipping of the 7th day (Sat) in Judaism and the Lord’s Day (Sun) in Christianity… …shouldn’t that happen just once per year? After all, the day after the 7th day is the 8th day, not the 1st all over … --- ## [The Blair Witch Project](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blair-witch-project/1330)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 1999, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-blair-witch-project/1330 "1999-11-28T05:00:00Z")
I thought Blair Witch was good, but I didn’t know it was fake when I saw it. In fact I saw it long before all the hype started and I didn’t know ANYTHING about it (I snuck into a test screening). Even though knowing it … --- ## [What's so hot about ice beer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-hot-about-ice-beer/310)
**Author:** [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 1999, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-so-hot-about-ice-beer/310 "1999-11-28T02:25:00Z")
Column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/950901.html Just wondering, does ice beer still exist today? …and remember, duct tape fixes all your problems, big and small. Fun with HTML (tutoral) : The True Sequal Giv… --- ## [Fast asleep](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-asleep/1323)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 1999, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-asleep/1323 "1999-11-27T20:45:00Z")
In Ian’s mailbag column http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfastasleep.html , he gives several of examples of “fast” being used to mean something steady or unchanging (steadfast, colorfast, etc.). Just thought I’d add … --- ## [Percussion Recognition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percussion-recognition/309)
**Author:** [@keystream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keystream)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 1999, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percussion-recognition/309 "1999-11-27T07:39:00Z")
\[cheering\] Kudos Ian! \[/cheering\] It’s nice to have someone appreciate percussionists. I was one for many years (my specialty was mallets, but I did my share of auxiliary work) and everybody always thinks it’s so easy… --- ## [What does it mean when "X percent chance of rain" is predicted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-when-x-percent-chance-of-rain-is-predicted/308)
**Author:** [@leftshifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftshifter)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 1999, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-when-x-percent-chance-of-rain-is-predicted/308 "1999-11-27T01:39:00Z")
From the (U.S.) National Weather Service’s Weather Service Operations Manual (Chapter C-11, section 8.3.1, if you care): A POP (probability of precipitation) forecast is the the likelihood of occurrence of a precipitati… --- ## [Vacuum cleaners](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-cleaners/307)
**Author:** [@Ponster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponster)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 1999, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-cleaners/307 "1999-11-26T09:44:00Z")
Shouldn’t it mention it the " What’s up with vacuum cleaner wounds to the penis? "piece that this is just an urban legend? Yes, I know that it may have happened to someone’s brother, father… but every year to so many me… --- ## [Dr. Pepper and Muzak](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-pepper-and-muzak/306)
**Author:** [@David\_God\_of\_Frogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_God_of_Frogs)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 1999, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-pepper-and-muzak/306 "1999-11-25T09:39:00Z")
\\\\\\In both the article of Muzak and the one on Dr Pepper Cecil says that there are down times i… --- ## [Malaria v's Bubonic plague](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malaria-vs-bubonic-plague/305)
**Author:** [@MAEDBH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MAEDBH)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 1999, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malaria-vs-bubonic-plague/305 "1999-11-23T17:57:00Z")
I know that malaria is the biggest killer of humans over all throughout history but during bubonic plague pandemics was it a bigger killer? --- ## [Antimatter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antimatter/1309)
**Author:** [@johnnyt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnnyt)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 1999, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antimatter/1309 "1999-11-23T03:18:00Z")
Before I get flamed… yes, I know Star Trek is science fiction, but its concepts are supposed to be based on science fact. Then again, that may be the cause of my confusion. Supposedly, a matter-antimater reaction gives y… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=308) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=310)