# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=47 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 48 --- ## [My 2-cents on Zombies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-2-cents-on-zombies/653623)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-2-cents-on-zombies/653623 "2013-04-19T00:18:00Z")
(BTW: it would be really nice if the “Comment on this answer” button actually sent you directly to the appropriate Post New Thread editor with a link to the article) Anyway, I wanted to say that possibly the column ta… --- ## [Is it true what they say about gerbils?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-what-they-say-about-gerbils/396331)
**Author:** [@Miss\_Marple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Marple)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-what-they-say-about-gerbils/396331 "2013-04-18T02:02:05Z")
Cecil, This is a response to: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_216b.html I appreciate your seemingly authoritative response to this question and all the hands-on research that must have gone on to craft such a… --- ## [Colibri is the man!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-is-the-man/655830)
**Author:** [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colibri-is-the-man/655830 "2013-04-17T02:38:33Z")
Mad props to Colibri, star of the currently featured column on why flamingos are pink! (He’s said before he doesn’t mind being “outed”. Please forgive me, and delete this thread, if he’s changed his mind about this.) --- ## [sour cream](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sour-cream/655327)
**Author:** [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sour-cream/655327 "2013-04-16T19:11:35Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/929/why-is-there-an-expiration-date-on-sour-cream I think the much more important question on the subject of sour cream is how can they sell “Fat free sour cream”? Which seems a … --- ## [Fake Hitler Quote](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-hitler-quote/655600)
**Author:** [@DiamondStrike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiamondStrike)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-hitler-quote/655600 "2013-04-15T17:43:55Z")
Good morning all, I have been perusing the web and couldn’t find the Hitler quote about gun control anywhere. The NRA’s insistence that the quote was attributed to Hitler is beyond belief. However, in saying that, thes… --- ## [High heels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-heels/654903)
**Author:** [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2013, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-heels/654903 "2013-04-13T00:10:20Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3100/do-high-heels-put-100-times-more-stress-on-your-feet Two observations: Attempting to measure weight distribution between heel and toe by balancing on two bathroom scales - w… --- ## [Baseballs crush a skull?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseballs-crush-a-skull/618007)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseballs-crush-a-skull/618007 "2013-04-12T17:42:11Z")
Column: Can a hard-hit baseball crush your skull (revisited)? - The Straight Dope Cecil talked extensively on injuries and probability, but surprisingly failed to answer the salient question, can a baseball crush a skul… --- ## [Has a corporation ever killed someone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-corporation-ever-killed-someone/654270)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-corporation-ever-killed-someone/654270 "2013-04-12T17:33:52Z")
Column here. I think Cecil was remiss in not mentioning the United Fruit Company (now Chiquita Brands). The term “banana republic” is directly attributable to their efforts (mostly successful) to affect Central American… --- ## [Does 'Likeing' on Facebook violate "No Purchase Necessary"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-likeing-on-facebook-violate-no-purchase-necessary/655250)
**Author:** [@yukonzach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yukonzach)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-likeing-on-facebook-violate-no-purchase-necessary/655250 "2013-04-12T17:27:57Z")
I really enjoyed the thorough answer to “Why do contests say “no purchase required”?”. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2243/why-do-contests-say-no-purchase-required I don’t know if anyone else has noticed but,… --- ## [What came first, the Chicken or the Egg?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg/651558)
**Author:** [@JHuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHuff)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg/651558 "2013-04-12T09:00:51Z")
I’d like to start by saying, before actually having read the article at the link below, I had come to exactly the same conclusion, so I’m not disputing this answer. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/479/which-cam… --- ## [Counterfeit Casino Chips](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterfeit-casino-chips/510552)
**Author:** [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterfeit-casino-chips/510552 "2013-04-12T05:12:41Z")
While I agree with this article on the difficulty of manufacturing counterfeit casino checks, I would think that it would be incredibly easy to cash in $100 checks a few at a time at a busy casino. I cashed out probab… --- ## [The Hymen (Is There Such A Thing?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204)
**Author:** [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hymen-is-there-such-a-thing/388204 "2013-04-12T01:20:46Z")
Inspired by the question asked of Cecil, I asked my girlfriend about the purpose of the hymen and she, too my utter surprise, said that there is no such thing as a hymen - it is apparently a social construction to bely t… --- ## [Swedes on a Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedes-on-a-train/651522)
**Author:** [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swedes-on-a-train/651522 "2013-04-05T17:02:03Z")
Just a few words on the addendum Cecil added here at the end of his essay. Firstly, it became clear almost immediately that the crash would not have been as bad if an ATC system had been in place at the end of the line.… --- ## [Why is winter the season for colds, flu, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-winter-the-season-for-colds-flu-etc/653641)
**Author:** [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-winter-the-season-for-colds-flu-etc/653641 "2013-04-05T03:28:00Z")
Straight Dope Classic: Why is winter the season for colds, flu, etc.? - The Straight Dope In this column, Cecil answers a question about the winter months and colds. Recently published in PLOS ONE, this article explore… --- ## [Why only Romanian and Polish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-romanian-and-polish/648695)
**Author:** [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-only-romanian-and-polish/648695 "2013-04-03T01:16:30Z")
Linky. Scroll down to bottom of the Column. Why not translate into Spanish,German etc? Any specific reason? --- ## [Vikings In Chariots? Well...maybe.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vikings-in-chariots-well-maybe/278532)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vikings-in-chariots-well-maybe/278532 "2013-04-02T14:59:38Z")
In THIS charming Mailbag Missive, it was implied that Viking use of chariots was an anachronism, created by poor scholarship. What about Thor? the Norse Storm God supposedly was transported across the sky in a chariot d… --- ## [Is it worth it to pick up a penny?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-pick-up-a-penny/654319)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2013, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-worth-it-to-pick-up-a-penny/654319 "2013-04-02T08:53:23Z")
This one has bothered me for thirty years. Yes, he makes a good case for the monetary value of picking up a penny, but Cecil completely ignores the intangible way that picking up a single penny can improve your fortun… --- ## [Armadillos and Leprosy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armadillos-and-leprosy/356)
**Author:** [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2013, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armadillos-and-leprosy/356 "2013-04-02T07:10:27Z")
In February, Cecil answered a question about whether armadillos carried leprosy. It seems to contain a few errors that would best be rectified by sending a couple of his army of researchers to Bergen in Norway (send them… --- ## [Is There a God? \[About dietary rules\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-god-about-dietary-rules/654398)
**Author:** [@Syd\_Nixon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syd_Nixon)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-god-about-dietary-rules/654398 "2013-04-02T06:58:44Z")
Uncle Cecil, you got it wrong (at least by four years). Contrary to what you have been led to believe, contrary to what you have been told is in Vatican Council II, contrary to whatever impression or statement that was g… --- ## [Cecil's column about those awful, sugary "Peeps"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-about-those-awful-sugary-peeps/654521)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-column-about-those-awful-sugary-peeps/654521 "2013-04-01T18:03:51Z")
… alas, doesn’t exist. Hence, no link. --- ## [SHC \[Spontaneous Human Combustion\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shc-spontaneous-human-combustion/654026)
**Author:** [@VARUN\_MOHAN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VARUN_MOHAN)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2013, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shc-spontaneous-human-combustion/654026 "2013-04-01T07:45:29Z")
Hii Cecil, I read your explanation about Spontaneous human combustion… I have an idea… SHC can happen if the victim accidentally puts cigarette-fire to mouth, having enough alcohol to track the flame to the stomach… Sorr… --- ## [Coca Cola started in Columbus Georgia, not Atlanta?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-started-in-columbus-georgia-not-atlanta/654256)
**Author:** [@whateveryousay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whateveryousay)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coca-cola-started-in-columbus-georgia-not-atlanta/654256 "2013-03-30T01:00:37Z")
Presumably, it’s impossible to post a reply to this post Is it true Coca-Cola once contained cocaine? - The Straight Dope which is actually WHY I finally bothered to register. It’s bothered me every time I’ve seen it. … --- ## [Do pads and helmets increase rather than prevent football injuries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pads-and-helmets-increase-rather-than-prevent-football-injuries/651715)
**Author:** [@oogabooga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oogabooga)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pads-and-helmets-increase-rather-than-prevent-football-injuries/651715 "2013-03-26T05:04:31Z")
One thing Im always infuriated about is the seemingly complete ignorance about neck injuries when the subject of helmets comes up. Absolutely, a helmet will reduce direct head injuries (like being shot at by a hockey puc… --- ## [Paedophilia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paedophilia/653000)
**Author:** [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 24, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paedophilia/653000 "2013-03-24T00:12:52Z")
In his latest column Cecil talks about paedophilia using statistics presumably from the US. See http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3097/how-common-is-pedophilia When one stretches the net slightly larger to inclu… --- ## [Do twins have identical DNA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-twins-have-identical-dna/653603)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-twins-have-identical-dna/653603 "2013-03-23T11:03:45Z")
I am undergoing raging cognitive dissonance. In Cecil’s (early?) 2001 masterpiece Do twins have identical DNA? a reader humbly approached the Master and said that $20 hung in the balance on DNA identification of who is … --- ## [Are hurricanes getting worse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-hurricanes-getting-worse/652462)
**Author:** [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-hurricanes-getting-worse/652462 "2013-03-23T04:12:22Z")
Are hurricanes getting worse? \[QUOTE=Cecil Adams\] But you know what? I’d just as soon keep mum about that. \ Hurricane Sandy, by scaring the daylights out of the New York media people who set the national agenda… --- ## [If a chicken and a half can lay an egg and a half in a day and a half, how many hens to lay six eggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-chicken-and-a-half-can-lay-an-egg-and-a-half-in-a-day-and-a-half-how-many-hens-to-lay-six-eggs/652918)
**Author:** [@fatboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fatboy)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 23, 2013, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-chicken-and-a-half-can-lay-an-egg-and-a-half-in-a-day-and-a-half-how-many-hens-to-lay-six-eggs/652918 "2013-03-23T02:55:15Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/915/if-a-chicken-and-a-half-can-lay-an-egg-and-a-half-in-a-day-and-a-half-how-many-hens-to-lay-six-eggs-in-six-days Hi, Let me first say that I started reading SD only recently,… --- ## [I don't get Cecil's Julio Iglesias joke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-cecils-julio-iglesias-joke/649483)
**Author:** [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-cecils-julio-iglesias-joke/649483 "2013-03-22T02:52:05Z")
In this column on the flat tax, Cecil says that “the flat tax is like a date with Julio Iglesias. It takes you a while to realize you’ve been screwed.” I don’t get it. I’ve scanned the Wikipedia page on Julio, and noth… --- ## [What exactly is fire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-fire/652991)
**Author:** [@ChrisEvilgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisEvilgenius)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-fire/652991 "2013-03-21T20:50:01Z")
While the Encyclopaedia Britannica definition is pretty poor and Cecils version is a clear improvement (apart from the “in the presence of heat” bit), surely the real point is what do you see when you’re looking at the f… --- ## [Fire and gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-and-gravity/653458)
**Author:** [@mbrice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbrice)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-and-gravity/653458 "2013-03-20T18:28:12Z")
Interesting experiment, demonstrating the effect of gravity on a flame: Set candle in closable glass jar. Light candle. Close jar. Drop jar from 10 feet or so above floor level. Station football player–preferably tight… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=48)