# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=80 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 81 --- ## [Male baby ratio after wars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-baby-ratio-after-wars/565303)
**Author:** [@flaps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flaps)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-baby-ratio-after-wars/565303 "2010-12-28T21:08:41Z")
Re http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2973/are-more-male-babies-born-after-wars A higher male-to-female birth ratio after wars would not compensate for male deaths during wars. If you want an equal number of male… --- ## [Apple cider vs apple juice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-cider-vs-apple-juice/565459)
**Author:** [@EasyWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyWriter)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2010, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-cider-vs-apple-juice/565459 "2010-12-28T10:16:58Z")
Here are several more definitions which describe the difference between apple cider and apple juice. The first definition describes the difference between apple cider and apple juice as being that “Apple Cider is made by… --- ## [Is there a Santa Claus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-santa-claus/565206)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2010, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-santa-claus/565206 "2010-12-28T10:15:37Z")
Nope. Oh, sorry, thought we were fighting ignorance. --- ## [Canals on Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canals-on-mars/565461)
**Author:** [@jaknouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaknouse)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canals-on-mars/565461 "2010-12-26T23:01:54Z")
The column on the Mars canals did not mention the most interesting and plausible explanation made yet to date for this phenomenon. I forget who suggested it, but it’s out there in the webiverse somewhere. The idea is t… --- ## ["Great Wall" myth originated with Ripley's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-myth-originated-with-ripleys/565263)
**Author:** [@kauffner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kauffner)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 26, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-wall-myth-originated-with-ripleys/565263 "2010-12-26T22:22:59Z")
Arthur Waldron traced the origin the “Great Wall can be seen from the moon” myth in the book “Great Wall of China.” It was popularized by a 1932 Ripley’s Believe it or Not column (republished many times). --- ## [female pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-pope/445670)
**Author:** [@boomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boomie)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-pope/445670 "2010-12-24T21:51:00Z")
There was a female Pope, her bust was amoung the busts of other Popes until Clement VIII had her bust reworked and changed her name to Pope Zacherias in the16 th century. pope --- ## ["birthplace of the us navy"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthplace-of-the-us-navy/564956)
**Author:** [@DICK\_WAD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DICK_WAD)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birthplace-of-the-us-navy/564956 "2010-12-24T17:27:16Z")
This thread is in response to a staff report written by Tom regarding the birthplace of the US Navy. This may be a matter of semantics, but if you look at these events in chronological order the skirmish led by Benidict … --- ## [Catherine the Great and her horse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catherine-the-great-and-her-horse/565150)
**Author:** [@Carly\_Corday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carly_Corday)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catherine-the-great-and-her-horse/565150 "2010-12-23T05:22:09Z")
\[SIZE=“2”\]Cecil, it isn’t true that Catherine the Great died of a stroke while sitting on the commode, but gee, it obviously, TRULY comes from your HEART to put that out there for the curious to read and believe, along w… --- ## [Do plants grow better if you talk to them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-plants-grow-better-if-you-talk-to-them/564978)
**Author:** [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-plants-grow-better-if-you-talk-to-them/564978 "2010-12-22T01:21:38Z")
I know it’s a “classic” column, but I can still complain, right? The reason I’ve always heard for why you should talk to your plants wasn’t even mentioned in the column. It seems pretty obvious to me. Carbon Dioxide! … --- ## ["Heavier" Milk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavier-milk/564923)
**Author:** [@Beer-Belly\_Slim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beer-Belly_Slim)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavier-milk/564923 "2010-12-21T18:59:28Z")
Since there is air in milk containers, milk will slosh inside the carton when moved. Frozen milk won’t slosh, which would certainly affect how it feels when the container is handled. Its inertia would be completely diffe… --- ## [male en pointe ballet dancers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-en-pointe-ballet-dancers/564813)
**Author:** [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-en-pointe-ballet-dancers/564813 "2010-12-20T07:01:53Z")
Cecil mentioned Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in his column a while back in Why don’t male ballet dancers dance on their toes? Well, if you’re in NYC, they’re in town! Here’s a review from the New York Times: P… --- ## [hunky dory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunky-dory/518478)
**Author:** [@evad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evad)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hunky-dory/518478 "2010-12-19T23:34:23Z")
In Japanese, “Dori” means “street” --- ## [cobalt-60 in steel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cobalt-60-in-steel/563889)
**Author:** [@Jim\_Mahaffey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_Mahaffey)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cobalt-60-in-steel/563889 "2010-12-19T01:38:04Z")
Cecil, The explanation of why steel made since 1945 is radioactive has always seemed weak to me. Yes, there is a barely detectable cobalt-60 contaminant in air from above-ground weapons trests, but there are many more … --- ## [Frozen Milk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk/564268)
**Author:** [@Powers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frozen-milk/564268 "2010-12-18T18:49:36Z")
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/423/is-frozen-milk-heavier-than-liquid-milk Call me nuts, but I don’t think the lady referred to in the question meant literally “it weighs more frozen”. It stands to reason tha… --- ## [Is Cecil's first SD article on the website?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecils-first-sd-article-on-the-website/564161)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cecils-first-sd-article-on-the-website/564161 "2010-12-18T16:26:16Z")
And if not, anyone know what it was about? I’m curious as to what matter of universal significance was the catalyst that began this great journey. Was it man searching for meaning in life? An explanation of some outre… --- ## [Medicinal properties of semen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicinal-properties-of-semen/561989)
**Author:** [@royboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/royboy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicinal-properties-of-semen/561989 "2010-12-17T16:10:44Z")
Cecil just did a column Is semen an antidepressant? - The Straight Dope addressing the question, “Is semen an antidepressant?”. I don’t know, other than from Cecil, about that. I can address another of the reputed prop… --- ## [Ice Cubes vs Water Temp](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cubes-vs-water-temp/563714)
**Author:** [@looppr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/looppr)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cubes-vs-water-temp/563714 "2010-12-15T23:18:11Z")
The way I heard about this topic was that one should always use the hot water tap when filling ice cube trays so that the cubes would freeze faster and would be clearer. Never was it suggested that the water actually be … --- ## ["Canali" on Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canali-on-mars/562852)
**Author:** [@Madame\_De\_Farge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madame_De_Farge)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canali-on-mars/562852 "2010-12-15T14:46:27Z")
Your article on the Mars canals says that canali is Italian for “channels”, but the English-speaking translators change it to “canals”. Actually, canali (plural of canale, can mean either, and can also mean “ducts” or “… --- ## [Killing slugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-slugs/560877)
**Author:** [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-slugs/560877 "2010-12-14T21:34:27Z")
This is inspired by Cecil’s column about killing slugs with salt. Mike McGrath of You Bet Your Garden tells of his favorite anti-slug method. Simply lay a board on the ground near the place you suspect the slugs are sk… --- ## [RE: Does Nutmeg have hallusenigenic properties?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-does-nutmeg-have-hallusenigenic-properties/563767)
**Author:** [@doobsy420](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doobsy420)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-does-nutmeg-have-hallusenigenic-properties/563767 "2010-12-13T19:43:47Z")
Cecil missed one crucial part: It has to be REAL Nutmeg (ie: not the stuff you buy in the spice isle at the grocery store, must be REAL shaved off the nut, nutmeg) ETA: Link to column - Is nutmeg hallucinogenic? - The S… --- ## [In what language do deaf people think?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-language-do-deaf-people-think/563867)
**Author:** [@ireland5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ireland5)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-language-do-deaf-people-think/563867 "2010-12-13T16:45:49Z")
I must take issue with a few comments in this post. Cathy Malvern asked what language the deaf dream in. She then says, “But since deaf people cannot hear, they can’t learn how to speak a language.” This is totally and c… --- ## [Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire/563940)
**Author:** [@Kurtis\_Morin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kurtis_Morin)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire/563940 "2010-12-13T15:46:13Z")
I was surfing the web and came across your comment about fire, your answer was ok but maybe needs more. Fire is indeed nothing more than Oxidation, the binding of an Oxygen molecule with another molecule for instance Ca… --- ## [Thermostat setback column didn't address multimode systems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermostat-setback-column-didnt-address-multimode-systems/562928)
**Author:** [@dennishiding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dennishiding)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermostat-setback-column-didnt-address-multimode-systems/562928 "2010-12-12T19:29:10Z")
In most cases I think the conclusion of the article that setting the thermostat back at night reduces energy consumption is correct. I think that there are multi-mode heating systems where the second mode (used to boo… --- ## [Salvaging radiation-free steel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvaging-radiation-free-steel/563649)
**Author:** [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salvaging-radiation-free-steel/563649 "2010-12-11T00:26:56Z")
Nothing to say aboutthe column. I just wanted to congratulate Slug for some of the most gratuitous accompanying artwork ever. Excelsior! --- ## [Weight gain and hormones](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-gain-and-hormones/554076)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-gain-and-hormones/554076 "2010-12-10T20:39:00Z")
I would like to comment on today’s column: Do fat people get that way because of a hormone condition? - The Straight Dope. Although I certainly would not argue with his main contention: if you expend more energy than yo… --- ## [Do lobsters scream when put in boiing water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lobsters-scream-when-put-in-boiing-water/561171)
**Author:** [@Major\_Lee\_White](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Lee_White)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lobsters-scream-when-put-in-boiing-water/561171 "2010-12-08T19:03:27Z")
I recently read Do lobsters feel pain when put in boiling water? and I don’t know much about much, but I didn’t really understand all that stuff, but my question is,“Do lobsters scream when put in boiling water?” --- ## [Re: The Classic Do ultrasonic bug repellers work? from March 18, 1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-classic-do-ultrasonic-bug-repellers-work-from-march-18-1977/562783)
**Author:** [@jo-ro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jo-ro)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-classic-do-ultrasonic-bug-repellers-work-from-march-18-1977/562783 "2010-12-06T22:58:22Z")
Some years ago, after reading a newspaper article that they worked, I bought two of those devices (they came as a pair) and installed them under my kitchen sink, where cockroaches, earwigs and the occasional mouse were f… --- ## [Not that I know \[edited: Spiders\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-i-know-edited-spiders/562906)
**Author:** [@MEDMISTON](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEDMISTON)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-that-i-know-edited-spiders/562906 "2010-12-06T21:30:12Z")
WHen I was a little girl, I was very animal friendly, and I used to play with 20 to 30 of these spiders at a time. I wa never bit and they were actually very cute. It could have just been my age and mentality, but from m… --- ## [Capsaicin as a pain reliever](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-as-a-pain-reliever/263)
**Author:** [@TheIncredibleHolg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheIncredibleHolg)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capsaicin-as-a-pain-reliever/263 "2010-12-05T22:50:02Z")
In his classic column “Will a squirt of WD-40 cure your creaking joints?” ( http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4\_129.html ) Cecil mentions the home remedy of putting pepper into your shoes to keep your feet warm. He … --- ## [Re: Is semen an antidepressant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-is-semen-an-antidepressant/562755)
**Author:** [@jo-ro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jo-ro)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-is-semen-an-antidepressant/562755 "2010-12-03T03:24:00Z")
Geez, Cecil, I think you may have missed the point. I think this guy (and maybe millions of other male readers) was asking about\*\* oral\*\* ingestion. :rolleyes: Can’t speak for the recipient, but it definitely tends t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=79) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=81)