# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=310 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 311 --- ## [Praying Mantises](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-mantises/1301)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 1999, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-mantises/1301 "1999-11-22T21:24:00Z")
In reference to http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mmantis.html, I’m going to go crazy remembering where I heard this, but I recently heard that observation of praying mantises in the wild shows that the females do no… --- ## [Empire State](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-state/304)
**Author:** [@marklyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marklyon)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 1999, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empire-state/304 "1999-11-22T14:18:00Z")
A penny dropped off the empire state would land four floors below, killing nobody. --- ## [Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish/1297)
**Author:** [@JT\_Trousdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JT_Trousdale)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 21, 1999, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish/1297 "1999-11-21T20:17:00Z")
I am a new to Straight Dope, but would like some closure on a topic: Sleeping Fish. Do fish sleep? --- ## [Should I leave My Computer On?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-leave-my-computer-on/1293)
**Author:** [@MarkSerlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarkSerlin)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 1999, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-leave-my-computer-on/1293 "1999-11-19T23:45:00Z")
It may also be noted that some programs, like AOL, if left running in the background, on a computer which is left running constantly can degrade. Then you have to reboot to restore the program to the origonal configurati… --- ## [Height of Mt. Everest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/height-of-mt-everest/1292)
**Author:** [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 1999, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/height-of-mt-everest/1292 "1999-11-19T22:11:00Z")
This is in reference to the column “Which is taller, Everest or K2?” at www.straightdope.com/mailbag/meverest.html According to http://cnn.com/NATURE/9911/12/everest.taller.ap/index.html an expedition led by Bill Crous… --- ## [RUSSIAN ROULETTE](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette/303)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 1999, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-roulette/303 "1999-11-17T00:28:00Z")
I suspect that the act of “russian roulette” is just another in a long line of alledged and unsavory activities that one country attributes to another that they feel is somehow “savage” or otherwise “below” them. We Amer… --- ## [Prince Andrew's surname](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-andrews-surname/301)
**Author:** [@areynaldos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/areynaldos)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 1999, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-andrews-surname/301 "1999-11-16T19:40:00Z")
In http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_136.html Cecil wrote: “They were swept out by royal proclamation in 1917 and replaced with Windsor, and for once the royal family name and surname were identical. Elizabeth II… --- ## [10 Downing Street](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-downing-street/300)
**Author:** [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 1999, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-downing-street/300 "1999-11-16T16:44:00Z")
I’m sure almost all of Cecil’s research on the home of the British Prime Minister is up to his usual impeccable standards. However… ‘Number 10 is one of only three remaining houses on Downing, the other two being numbe… --- ## [NEED NEW MODERATORS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-moderators/299)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 1999, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-new-moderators/299 "1999-11-15T06:37:00Z")
There’s a tiny link there on the top of the page that leads to a “SDMB job announcement.” We need more moderators! Since some of the sharpest contributors frequent this forum, I just wanted to put it in here in case you … --- ## [28-Aug-98 Concerning naming a baby before leaving the hospital.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/28-aug-98-concerning-naming-a-baby-before-leaving-the-hospital/298)
**Author:** [@markstevengelter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markstevengelter)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 1999, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/28-aug-98-concerning-naming-a-baby-before-leaving-the-hospital/298 "1999-11-14T12:29:00Z")
The most famous example of not naming babies on the spot would be the Street family of Idaho. Picabo, I believe, chose her own name (and screwy spelling) aroung age five; I remember that she had a brother who was allowed… --- ## [28-Aug-98 Concerning naming a baby before leaving the hospital.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/28-aug-98-concerning-naming-a-baby-before-leaving-the-hospital/1291)
**Author:** [@markstevengelter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markstevengelter)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 1999, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/28-aug-98-concerning-naming-a-baby-before-leaving-the-hospital/1291 "1999-11-14T12:29:00Z")
The most famous example of not naming babies on the spot would be the Street family of Idaho. Picabo, I believe, chose her own name (and screwy spelling) aroung age five; I remember that she had a brother who was allowed… --- ## [CE marking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ce-marking/296)
**Author:** [@pandora3617](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pandora3617)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 1999, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ce-marking/296 "1999-11-13T06:59:00Z")
i HATE to argue with unca cece, but are you sure on that? i work for pcec, which stands for philips Consumer Electronics company. . . and in electronics literature, the consumer electronics branch is sometimes referred t… --- ## [Cleveland/New Jersey](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleveland-new-jersey/1289)
**Author:** [@Julie\_Tabouleh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julie_Tabouleh)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 1999, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleveland-new-jersey/1289 "1999-11-12T21:30:00Z")
In your column about Cleveland, you made New Jersey joke. I am so sick and tired of people making fun of New Jersey. New Jersey is NOT just Six Flags and the Turnpike. People from here dont have big accents, we dont call… --- ## [The Mystery of Oak Island](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-oak-island/295)
**Author:** [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 1999, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-oak-island/295 "1999-11-12T13:47:00Z")
I am very interested in the Oak Island mystery, and have been since I was a boy. My father introduced the story as a scary ghost story about pirates and the Holy Grail. What I am wondering is, how many people out there h… --- ## [Reflections on spooning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reflections-on-spooning/294)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 1999, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reflections-on-spooning/294 "1999-11-12T13:43:00Z")
In response to the spoon reflection column http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_082.html I would like to mention that in any spoon my own reflection always looks exactly like Jon Lovitz. I was wondering if anyone e… --- ## [Are we 15 years off?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-15-years-off/293)
**Author:** [@Beruang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beruang)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 1999, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-15-years-off/293 "1999-11-11T17:23:00Z")
Re: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_376.html I seem to recall reading, maybe 20 years ago, that some historian had made a disturbing discovery. According to him, the monks that kept track of the years in the Dar… --- ## [What's a 'penguinist?'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-penguinist/292)
**Author:** [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 1999, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-penguinist/292 "1999-11-11T03:49:00Z")
Cecil uses this word in one of his columns \[about states of matter\] but my dictionary only lists the bird. --- ## [Flavors of fruit loops/cookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-fruit-loops-cookies/1287)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 1999, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flavors-of-fruit-loops-cookies/1287 "1999-11-11T00:08:00Z")
Reading your column concerning the flavors of Fruit Loops made me remember something you might be able to help me out with. Mother’s Cookies makes circus animal cookies coated in frosting. Half of them are pink and the o… --- ## [lottery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery/290)
**Author:** [@Bernard\_Oppetit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bernard_Oppetit)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 9, 1999, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lottery/290 "1999-11-09T12:32:00Z")
Cecil, I have read your inspired comments about winning the lottery, and I agree with them. However, isn’t it a good idea to play number combinations which are the least payed by others ? Of course, you don’t increase … --- ## [Gas mileage, A/C vs. no A/C](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage-a-c-vs-no-a-c/289)
**Author:** [@TBone2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBone2)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 1999, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage-a-c-vs-no-a-c/289 "1999-11-08T19:36:00Z")
The URL for this subject is http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_393.html What did I miss here? Ignoring all the mileage data and automobile descriptions, etc. for a moment, didn’t Cecil describe the SD tests as havi… --- ## [WWW](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/www/1286)
**Author:** [@Entropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Entropy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 8, 1999, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/www/1286 "1999-11-08T13:21:00Z")
i was taught that the web was the result of the networking of computers at universtiy hospitals and cwru in cleveland, ohio. have i been lied to? or is someone now trying to take credit for something that isn’t theirs? i… --- ## [Great Wall of China Observed in Space](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-of-china-observed-in-space/287)
**Author:** [@Ver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ver)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 1999, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-of-china-observed-in-space/287 "1999-11-06T21:03:00Z")
In this article, Cecil states that he doesn’t know who originally stated that the Great Wall of China was the only man-made object observable from space. The answer is Mr. Ripley of “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” fame. Rec… --- ## [45s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/45s/286)
**Author:** [@BigStar303](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigStar303)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 1999, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/45s/286 "1999-11-06T03:45:00Z")
Since I’m sure Cecil never wants to be less than 100% correct, I caught him on this one…the sort of thing anal rockers like myself would notice. Cecil said: \<\< A few musical geniuses were incapable of writing a second-… --- ## [Why do soldiers rally around a standard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-soldiers-rally-around-a-standard/1273)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 6, 1999, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-soldiers-rally-around-a-standard/1273 "1999-11-06T02:57:00Z")
RE: http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mstandar.html I agree standards were useful to keep fighting units together, but I think more importantly, the standard bearer always stayed with the leader so their men knew wher… --- ## [extinguishing streetlights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinguishing-streetlights/285)
**Author:** [@ganley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ganley)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 1999, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extinguishing-streetlights/285 "1999-11-05T20:12:00Z")
I just noticed an old column about streetlights going out as people walk by, and sadly, noticed that the topic was never really resolved. URLs: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/941028.html and http://www.straightdop… --- ## [Re: Are Aphids Born Pregnant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-aphids-born-pregnant/283)
**Author:** [@Kat2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat2)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 1999, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-aphids-born-pregnant/283 "1999-11-05T13:49:00Z")
In the article’s reply, Cecil states that there is one virgin birth known to a human. Is that referring to Mary, mother of Jesus, or is there someone else? If so, how did it supposedly happen? How did scientists verify i… --- ## [Malt Liquor Maunderings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malt-liquor-maunderings/1272)
**Author:** [@Jo3sh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jo3sh)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 1999, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malt-liquor-maunderings/1272 "1999-11-05T01:55:00Z")
The difference between beer and malt liquor, at least here in California, is largely a legalistic quibbling. There is some legislated percentage of alcohol by volume (3.6%?) at which a beverage stops being beer and must … --- ## [The U shaped public toilet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-shaped-public-toilet/282)
**Author:** [@cbreeber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbreeber)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 1999, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-u-shaped-public-toilet/282 "1999-11-04T13:52:00Z")
I don’t often consider myself and Cecil wrong, but I was inspired in a public toilet the other day. The reason the seats are U shaped is because many public toilets don’t have a tank; they just have a pipe that comes hor… --- ## [Jerry Lewis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis/281)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 1999, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerry-lewis/281 "1999-11-04T04:13:00Z")
Alrighty, before poor, overworked JillGat blows a gasket reminding us, the article may be found HERE http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991001.html . You’re welcome, Jill. :slight\_smile: (Thank you, Capn Crud.) A few … --- ## [Major Deegan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-deegan/1271)
**Author:** [@Jojomojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojomojo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 1999, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-deegan/1271 "1999-11-03T22:51:00Z")
Http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mdeegan.html ok I have lived in NY for 14 years and that has always been a curiosity to me. Now that I know I think we should change it cuz that guy didnt deserve a highway! We should… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=309) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=311)