# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=4 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 5 --- ## [Mary Anne Vs. Ginger](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-anne-vs-ginger/850370)
**Author:** [@Secret\_Goldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Secret_Goldfish)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mary-anne-vs-ginger/850370 "2020-03-26T23:10:53Z")
I was confused but then I saw Stepford Wives. Ginger all the way. --- ## [In The Sound of Music, how can Capt. von Trapp be a veteran of landlocked Austria's navy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-sound-of-music-how-can-capt-von-trapp-be-a-veteran-of-landlocked-austrias-navy/565906)
**Author:** [@cesld\_msn.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cesld_msn.com)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-sound-of-music-how-can-capt-von-trapp-be-a-veteran-of-landlocked-austrias-navy/565906 "2020-03-14T04:05:48Z")
On escaping from Austria, Agathe von Trapp, who just died, said that instead of crossing mountains they just simply walked across the street and boarded a train. LINK TO COLUMN: In The Sound of Music, how can Capt. von… --- ## [On renouncing your citizenship](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-renouncing-your-citizenship/848999)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-renouncing-your-citizenship/848999 "2020-03-13T00:03:41Z")
Natural Nationality of Puerto Rico Readers may be interested to know that the High Court of Australia has recently recognized a “natural” nationality category that is separate from citizenship and precludes deportation. … --- ## [Re: What can the police lie about while conducting an interrogation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-can-the-police-lie-about-while-conducting-an-interrogation/778800)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2017, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-can-the-police-lie-about-while-conducting-an-interrogation/778800 "2017-02-10T05:23:15Z")
Re: What can the police lie about while conducting an interrogation?, I have to offer my own study of the matter. And first off, I have to say, I think the staff writer who wrote this article must’ve brought up in a con… --- ## [Y'all need to update your column on the difference between cell phone radiation and microwave ovens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yall-need-to-update-your-column-on-the-difference-between-cell-phone-radiation-and-microwave-ovens/848650)
**Author:** [@mwheinz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mwheinz)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2020, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yall-need-to-update-your-column-on-the-difference-between-cell-phone-radiation-and-microwave-ovens/848650 "2020-03-03T12:28:33Z")
The column was solid science in 2003 but that was before 5G, 4G, and maybe even 3G? At this point you can find cell phones radiating up in the 6 gHz band. Moreover, there’s an entire “cellphones cause cancer” group that … --- ## [Groucho's cigar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grouchos-cigar/848298)
**Author:** [@delucapeter7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delucapeter7)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2020, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grouchos-cigar/848298 "2020-02-25T23:21:26Z")
He did say that on the air and I saw it on his show You Bet Your Life on a classic t v channel. It wasn’t taken out and still exists. I’ve seen it many times on Classic t v --- ## [how airplanes fly.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-airplanes-fly/847658)
**Author:** [@john\_price](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john_price)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-airplanes-fly/847658 "2020-02-23T13:16:33Z")
I read your recent article about how airplanes fly. I want to add my thought. Should we start as follows: A plane is on the runway. Air pressure at 35 pounds per square inch is pushing both up and down on the wings. … --- ## [Typewriting calories measured how?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriting-calories-measured-how/847757)
**Author:** [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2020, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typewriting-calories-measured-how/847757 "2020-02-12T01:19:11Z")
Interesting column, but I’m curious as to how the US or Italian doctors mentioned could possibly measure caloric burn to 2 decimal places per minute in the 1950’s or even today? That seems shockingly accurate to me. --- ## [Social "Morays"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-morays/846956)
**Author:** [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2020, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-morays/846956 "2020-02-09T04:21:16Z")
Why are Milk Duds called Milk Duds? Plus: What do morays have to do with culture? - The Straight Dope has a second question about Social “morays”. Obligatory Far Side: I don’t remember if I got the joke when I first … --- ## [Fifth Third Bank and National Bank Naming Conventions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-third-bank-and-national-bank-naming-conventions/847298)
**Author:** [@jbaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbaker)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifth-third-bank-and-national-bank-naming-conventions/847298 "2020-02-01T21:08:41Z")
So the Cecil’s Classic posted today is “What Gives with Fifth Third Bank,” What gives with Fifth Third Bank? - The Straight Dope, about the bank’s odd name. It seems a really odd column, strangely lacking in that it doe… --- ## [Sherlock Holmes meets historical figures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-meets-historical-figures/847267)
**Author:** [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sherlock-holmes-meets-historical-figures/847267 "2020-01-31T13:12:13Z")
Column link Dex, you sneaky bastich! I caught you palming that character! Caught it back in '03, too. Sir Harry would be proud of you. --- ## [Do other languages have obscenities like those of English?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-have-obscenities-like-those-of-english/653551)
**Author:** [@jimigorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimigorilla)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2020, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-have-obscenities-like-those-of-english/653551 "2020-01-31T12:39:50Z")
In his column on vulgarities and obscenities in other languages than English Cecil gives the Dutch example: “Krijg de mazelen” (“get the measles”). That is rather a mild way of putting it. In Dutch, people can wish every… --- ## [Iron Mask and Guantanamo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-mask-and-guantanamo/847131)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2020, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iron-mask-and-guantanamo/847131 "2020-01-31T10:50:06Z")
In which the Straight Dope Science Advisory board wrote: Prescient in 2001, just before Guantanamo became famous for keeping imprisoned people who probably knew nothing, and were just caught up in the red tape. --- ## [dolphins rape](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565)
**Author:** [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565 "2020-01-28T16:39:50Z")
but how do dolphins identify females vs males? --- ## [What to Call A Male Ballet Dancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-call-a-male-ballet-dancer/840899)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-call-a-male-ballet-dancer/840899 "2020-01-14T20:50:38Z")
The answer given by Cecil was correct back in my day (early-mid 80’s) but sometime in the twenty-teens the term “ballerino” has indeed become popular. It used to mean only the "primo"or “noble” of an Italian troupe, b… --- ## [No more columns from Cecil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-columns-from-cecil/833016)
**Author:** [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-columns-from-cecil/833016 "2020-01-14T18:42:43Z")
Denizens of the dope, hail, and well met. In one of the threads I was following a Doper mentioned in passing that no more columns would be forthcoming from the Master, Cecil Adams himself. My precious copy of “The Stra… --- ## [Free Masonry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-masonry/821328)
**Author:** [@The\_Constitution](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Constitution)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-masonry/821328 "2020-01-10T23:31:00Z")
regarding Freemason presidents – George Washington was a mason. The incredibly beautiful masonic lodge in Alexandria, Virginia is dedicated to him. --- ## [Can you get drunk on Listerine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-drunk-on-listerine/797903)
**Author:** [@gmonsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gmonsen)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-drunk-on-listerine/797903 "2020-01-08T01:58:52Z")
The response to the question, “Can you get drunk on Listerine?,” glossed over too readily the fact that Listerine can be used as a way to be in possession of alcohol in places where it otherwise would be forbidden. I spe… --- ## [Jesus' half-siblings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-half-siblings/818437)
**Author:** [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-half-siblings/818437 "2019-12-22T19:16:32Z")
The Master’s column “Did Jesus have siblings?” may have missed a slight bit … and This is from The Lost Books of the Bible … and there’s a 'Dope on this "What’s up with the “lost books of the Bible”? … maybe the Apos… --- ## [Re: Boston Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-boston-charlie/845185)
**Author:** [@johasco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johasco)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-boston-charlie/845185 "2019-12-21T18:01:20Z")
In a search for the words to the largely unknown third verse to Pogo’s “Deck us All,” I came upon this column from 1981: What are the lyrics to Walt Kelly’s classic carol, “Deck Us All With Boston Charlie”? - The Straig… --- ## [RE: what did Jesus look loke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-did-jesus-look-loke/845165)
**Author:** [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-what-did-jesus-look-loke/845165 "2019-12-21T13:40:05Z")
I’m surprised Cecil didn’t pursue this further–since Jesus was Jewish(and there was not a lot of intermarriage) wouldn’t his hair been darker, curlier, and his nose would have been different, and darker eyes --- ## [What’s up with 666, the “mark of the beast”?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-666-the-mark-of-the-beast/844658)
**Author:** [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-666-the-mark-of-the-beast/844658 "2019-12-12T18:53:25Z")
Sadly, many people forget that 6x6 is the lumber of the beast. --- ## [Cecil's Classics "Could you be frozen solid, then broken into a million pieces?" -Rebuttal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-classics-could-you-be-frozen-solid-then-broken-into-a-million-pieces-rebuttal/843502)
**Author:** [@24KARAT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/24KARAT)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2019, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-classics-could-you-be-frozen-solid-then-broken-into-a-million-pieces-rebuttal/843502 "2019-11-25T09:06:54Z")
“the skull wouldn’t shatter. Interesting, but I was skeptical that a skull filled with gel closely replicated the real thing” -Gotta be frozen 100% within & without. Yea, gel absorbs therefore how could it shatter (not… --- ## [Why was America named after Amerigo Vespucci?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-america-named-after-amerigo-vespucci/841841)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2019, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-america-named-after-amerigo-vespucci/841841 "2019-11-11T03:23:43Z")
Re: Why was America named after Amerigo Vespucci? I have another fact, I would like to submit. The article also talks about the Latin (or other) origin of the name. And I recall reading some place the English name ‘Emer… --- ## [The Dope gets cited in the Washington Post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dope-gets-cited-in-the-washington-post/841511)
**Author:** [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dope-gets-cited-in-the-washington-post/841511 "2019-10-11T14:45:50Z")
On the topic of kangaroo courts. Enjoy. --- ## [What is first decade of 21st century called?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-first-decade-of-21st-century-called/624364)
**Author:** [@Keith\_Lyons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Lyons)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-first-decade-of-21st-century-called/624364 "2019-10-11T01:43:55Z")
Dear All: It is commonly referred to as “the 9/11 decade” – in US journalism, pencil & electronic press, political science, & history books; but generally not so outside of the United States. Sincerely: – Keith Lyons … --- ## [Laundering money](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laundering-money/841261)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laundering-money/841261 "2019-10-05T00:07:59Z")
In today’s column, Cecil says, “In one infamous smurfing case a ring of middle-aged women placed over $25 million of Florida drug money into assorted California banks.” I realize this was 10 years ago, but a cursory goo… --- ## [Who's America's Top Judge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-americas-top-judge/567246)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2019, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-americas-top-judge/567246 "2019-10-04T04:39:52Z")
Link to Staff Report Nice job, Elendil’s Heir. Informative and well written. Is this your first staff report? I don’t recall seeing others from you… --- ## [What to do with your body](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644)
**Author:** [@tavaritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavaritz)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-your-body/840644 "2019-09-27T14:24:34Z")
Hello. Regarding the article: There’s two possibilities that are not mentioned in this articlae at all. Organ harvest and scientific specimen. Organ harvest: Even if you old and feeble you still have skin, bone and… --- ## [NS Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ns-savannah/840188)
**Author:** [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ns-savannah/840188 "2019-09-16T19:37:05Z")
Re: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3294/why-not-nuclear-powered-cruise-ships/?undefined&undefined I once worked for the company that engineered the NS Savannah. It was part of our logo. When it was still in … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=5)