# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=46 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 47 --- ## [Smelling fear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelling-fear/658992)
**Author:** [@Keithvdw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keithvdw)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelling-fear/658992 "2013-05-23T02:15:09Z")
I’m not sure to what degree dogs and other animals SMELL fear, although there is some evidence that we do make fear-stink. But it would be entirely beside the point, because when your body language is absolutely SCREAMI… --- ## [Atomic vs Hydrogen Bombs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atomic-vs-hydrogen-bombs/657331)
**Author:** [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atomic-vs-hydrogen-bombs/657331 "2013-05-22T18:12:45Z")
Cecil, You might have mentioned that A-bombs are necessarily used to trigger the fusion in H-bombs, since they’re the only means by which the required temperatures and pressures can be attained. If I’m not mistaken, pl… --- ## [Can the candiru fish swim up your urethra?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-candiru-fish-swim-up-your-urethra/658751)
**Author:** [@Diaspora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diaspora)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-candiru-fish-swim-up-your-urethra/658751 "2013-05-22T05:51:50Z")
From the post: (emphasis mine) Another quote: (again, emphasis mine) What the hell? Surely both Cecil and this John Herman guy are both adults? And they know women don’t urinate through their vaginas? :smack: … --- ## [Glycemic index and healthy eating](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glycemic-index-and-healthy-eating/658887)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2013, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glycemic-index-and-healthy-eating/658887 "2013-05-21T11:28:35Z")
A Nov. 2001 column. Any more recent research on this? --- ## [Have we invented any new ways to write down choreography in the last 35 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-invented-any-new-ways-to-write-down-choreography-in-the-last-35-years/658721)
**Author:** [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-invented-any-new-ways-to-write-down-choreography-in-the-last-35-years/658721 "2013-05-20T14:09:08Z")
So choreography notation came up on Twitter, and of course I turned to the best source I could find. But that column is older than I am, and technology marches on. How about the technology to transcribe choreography? --- ## [Another Potential Doomsday Scenario](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-potential-doomsday-scenario/622994)
**Author:** [@Sunfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunfyre)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-potential-doomsday-scenario/622994 "2013-05-19T16:44:30Z")
I realize you were looking end-of-earth cataclysm, however I think we should consider pandemic as a possibility for the end of humankind. This could actually take place in three ways, I believe. The obvious is a deadly … --- ## [lawn mower pollution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawn-mower-pollution/658689)
**Author:** [@3wheeler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3wheeler)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawn-mower-pollution/658689 "2013-05-18T19:18:22Z")
New regs for 2012 are just more evidence of EPA “feel good” policy with no impact other than to make our dollars worth less. The fact that global warming has ceased for the past sixteen years even without global cooperat… --- ## [Oil from dinosaurs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-from-dinosaurs/656113)
**Author:** [@HenryG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryG)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-from-dinosaurs/656113 "2013-05-17T11:17:37Z")
Re: How many dinosaurs did it take to make a barrel of oil? - The Straight Dope or “How many dinosaurs does it take to make a barrel of petroleum” This article was published in 1986 and advised that a well being drill… --- ## [Year Numbers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-numbers/658226)
**Author:** [@tyles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tyles)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/year-numbers/658226 "2013-05-16T00:45:33Z")
I may be going over old ground (for some), but I just came across your discussion on http://straightdope.com/columns/read/1372/what-year-numbering-system-was-used-in-the-time-of-christ & couldn’t help but put my 2 cents … --- ## [What is Slug's illustration for the atomic/hydrogen bombs column about?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-slugs-illustration-for-the-atomic-hydrogen-bombs-column-about/657459)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-slugs-illustration-for-the-atomic-hydrogen-bombs-column-about/657459 "2013-05-15T21:26:42Z")
A beat-up guy in a foxhole, with a medic standing over him with a funnel, and a nurse rushing out of an outhouse with two buckets labelled “B.B”? Doesn’t smell like nuclear apocalypse to me? Link: What’s the differenc… --- ## [If I traveled back in time, would I get ancient diseases?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-traveled-back-in-time-would-i-get-ancient-diseases/657400)
**Author:** [@jsalgueiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsalgueiro)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-traveled-back-in-time-would-i-get-ancient-diseases/657400 "2013-05-14T23:43:05Z")
A bit off-topic here, but historically diseases didn’t always work in favour of invaders, as was the case of the New World. During the Portuguese expansion (and possibly other European empires faced similar problems), it… --- ## [Exploding anvils](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995)
**Author:** [@Nadreck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadreck)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-anvils/657995 "2013-05-12T12:39:21Z")
Regarding the mystery of exploding anvils, I refer you to this: And this: http://www.youtube.com/results?pws=0&search\_query=anvil%20shooting NOTE FROM MODERATOR: “Exploding anvils” were referenced in today’s colum… --- ## [Them Jackalopes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/them-jackalopes/657438)
**Author:** [@Santa\_Cruz\_n](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santa_Cruz_n)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2013, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/them-jackalopes/657438 "2013-05-10T13:57:56Z")
Hi, Cecil, You might also suggest to Fred that he take an expedition into the high Colorado Rockies and search for the illusive Fur-Bearing Trout. The mountain lakes are so cold up there that the fish have evolved a fu… --- ## [About those "misogynistic" monks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-misogynistic-monks/657791)
**Author:** [@waddlingeagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waddlingeagle)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-misogynistic-monks/657791 "2013-05-09T00:19:39Z")
As Cecil says, this is obviously not one of his areas of expertise. Women are not excluded from monasteries because the monks hate or fear females. Rather, quite the opposite. Being a monk is all about deprivation and pu… --- ## [DDT - Safe for Humans ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ddt-safe-for-humans/655904)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ddt-safe-for-humans/655904 "2013-05-08T16:28:27Z")
I’m not going to disagree with anything anybody says. Regarding the specific question posed by the headline “is DDT actually safe for humans”, I thought I’d mention that one of my Great-Grandfathers was killed by DDT. … --- ## [What's the purpose of the hymen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781)
**Author:** [@mikeskullman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikeskullman)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-hymen/387781 "2013-04-30T21:32:15Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3\_226.html I don’t know what it’s for either. But in regards to the college teacher’s theory, I don’t like it for the following reasons. For the vast majority of human existence, m… --- ## [Inuit, Scurvy and Vitamin C](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inuit-scurvy-and-vitamin-c/656789)
**Author:** [@GRobLewis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GRobLewis)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inuit-scurvy-and-vitamin-c/656789 "2013-05-06T18:10:15Z")
Good discussion, but you failed to make clear one essential piece of the puzzle: if you don’t eat carbohydrates, you don’t need much vitamin C. Stefansson’s 1928 experiment should have given us a clue: it’s excessive ca… --- ## [Why are public toilet seats always "U" shaped?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-public-toilet-seats-always-u-shaped/656667)
**Author:** [@southkcman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/southkcman)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-public-toilet-seats-always-u-shaped/656667 "2013-05-05T16:56:37Z")
I was always told that industrial toilet seats were U shaped so when the OSHA inspector stopped to get a drink, if the lid fell, it wouldn’t break his neck. --- ## [Ringworms and Anesthesia (part of Inuit Scurvy column)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringworms-and-anesthesia-part-of-inuit-scurvy-column/657021)
**Author:** [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringworms-and-anesthesia-part-of-inuit-scurvy-column/657021 "2013-05-05T15:10:30Z")
In the “toss-off” extra bonus question in the “Traditionally Eskimos ate only meat and fish. Why didn’t they get scurvy?” column, Morbid Curiousity asks if ringworms flee the body of a person under anesthesia, and Cecil … --- ## [radioactive smoke detector REPLY to post](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radioactive-smoke-detector-reply-to-post/561699)
**Author:** [@Flygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flygirl)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2013, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radioactive-smoke-detector-reply-to-post/561699 "2013-05-05T05:52:40Z")
RE: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/212/is-my-household-smoke-detector-emitting-radioactive-rays Regarding the last post about smoke detectors emmitting primarily alpha and gamma rays, the author talks about a… --- ## [City elevation, airports, and a altimeter setting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-elevation-airports-and-a-altimeter-setting/657220)
**Author:** [@waddlingeagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waddlingeagle)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/city-elevation-airports-and-a-altimeter-setting/657220 "2013-05-02T14:49:35Z")
re: How is the city elevation shown on road signs and maps determined? - The Straight Dope I guess the followup question would be how is airport elevation determined? Student pilots are taught to compare their altimeter… --- ## [Class B Cigarettes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/class-b-cigarettes/656959)
**Author:** [@eastcheap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eastcheap)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/class-b-cigarettes/656959 "2013-05-01T23:28:27Z")
Link to article. One thing that Cecil failed to mention is that the sale of “loosies” was pretty much banned nationwide in the nineties. Since most large cigarettes were sold individually or, as best as I can recall, i… --- ## ["I say, without characters, fame lives long."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-without-characters-fame-lives-long/657179)
**Author:** [@YMK2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YMK2)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-without-characters-fame-lives-long/657179 "2013-05-01T21:27:34Z")
In this column, you cite a line from Richard III of Shakespeare, as an example of Shakespeare’s somewhat unclear writing. The quote is: The evil Richard (R3) says in earshot of the too-smart-for-his-own-good prince (P… --- ## [fubar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fubar/656992)
**Author:** [@fpost3776](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fpost3776)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fubar/656992 "2013-04-30T00:08:58Z")
the article stated that fubar meant “fucked up beyond all recognition”. That may be true BUT, a friend of mine navigated a B-24 named "tarfu baby on the Ploesti raid and he said that tarfu meant “things are really fucked… --- ## [Death by boredom](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-by-boredom/656740)
**Author:** [@hipdadiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hipdadiddy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2013, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-by-boredom/656740 "2013-04-29T04:40:41Z")
Big-time synchronicity alert! Cecil’s column on the possibility of death via boredom comes 41 years to the day after this: Dear World, I am leaving you because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving y… --- ## [Origin of 'The full nine yards'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-full-nine-yards/646876)
**Author:** [@theomacconnell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theomacconnell)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [April 28, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-full-nine-yards/646876 "2013-04-28T00:27:24Z")
Cecil, The ‘whole nine yards’ or the ‘full nine yards’ is the measure for a great kilt or Feileadh Mor. The modern kilt uses far less. I was really surprised that only a couple of comments referred to Scottish clothin… --- ## [Tit for tit and tat for tat ... meaning of](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tit-for-tit-and-tat-for-tat-meaning-of/655999)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tit-for-tit-and-tat-for-tat-meaning-of/655999 "2013-04-26T13:30:43Z")
Tit for tit and tat for tat is a 500ad greek poem “I Am Echo” I am echo if you say that then I’ll say that Tit for tit and tat for tat If you’ll be silent then I must Tit for tit and tat for tat now who could have… --- ## [Motorcycle riders and sperm counts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-riders-and-sperm-counts/656108)
**Author:** [@Ol\_Kentucky\_Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Kentucky_Shark)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2013, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-riders-and-sperm-counts/656108 "2013-04-25T13:22:50Z")
From this question: I think they may be overlooking the obvious correlation/causation problem here… especially if we’re talking about Harley riders. :rolleyes: --- ## [Is Mexican vanilla toxic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mexican-vanilla-toxic/643001)
**Author:** [@vonerlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vonerlac)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-mexican-vanilla-toxic/643001 "2012-12-10T17:23:29Z")
Regarding coumarin derived from the tonka bean: there is a blood thinner, used for heart conditions/ prevention of strokes, branded as Coumadin. I worked on the marketing of this product back in the 90’s. Imagine my sho… --- ## [Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-kamikaze-pilots-wear-helmets/656220)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-kamikaze-pilots-wear-helmets/656220 "2013-04-20T15:39:48Z")
The column, from 1994. True. This reminds me of something I heard a long time ago, so I may as well ask it. Helmets worn in fighter aircraft, and other aircraft that operate at higher altitudes, include the HGU-26/P … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=47)