# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=85 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 86 --- ## [pop goes the weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-goes-the-weasel/189143)
**Author:** [@paul\_turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_turner)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2010, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-goes-the-weasel/189143 "2010-08-03T23:34:53Z")
the weasel was the iron form on which shoes and boots were made . to pop the weasel was to pawn it for money at the pawn shop .The eagle pub still exisists in city road london ,an area once known for it’s cobblers . --- ## [aunt jemima...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aunt-jemima/548520)
**Author:** [@kirsti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirsti)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aunt-jemima/548520 "2010-08-03T14:21:06Z")
im from south Carolina, and all my life i have been told that aunt jemima is a real person, that had real recipes, and was the real deal. for twenty years i have been told that the real aunt jemima was from bennetsville… --- ## [Black Irish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-irish/480019)
**Author:** [@woodland\_creature](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodland_creature)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-irish/480019 "2010-08-03T00:59:20Z")
I am an American with family history of a great deal of Irish ancestry on both sides of my family. There is a swarthy look to many people of my family on both sides. I took an autosomal DNA test through DNAtribes expec… --- ## [Bacteria from toilet flushing, and microwaving day-old pizza](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacteria-from-toilet-flushing-and-microwaving-day-old-pizza/548898)
**Author:** [@coluber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coluber)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bacteria-from-toilet-flushing-and-microwaving-day-old-pizza/548898 "2010-08-02T18:29:58Z")
I’ve got some comments on two bacteria-related columns, although they were posted more than ten years apart. The conclusion reached in “Do microwave ovens kill bacteria?” was that nuking your 4-hour-old pizza for an amo… --- ## [Pitbull Dogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitbull-dogs/494947)
**Author:** [@Smackdaddy9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smackdaddy9)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitbull-dogs/494947 "2010-08-01T19:28:39Z")
I know my own dog and he was a sweetheart dog. He was an award winning Staffordshire Terrier show dog. I left home at the age of 19 and my Mom hired the neighbor kid to watch ‘Spike’ while she was at work. One fine day… --- ## [The Philadelphia and Manhattan Projects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-philadelphia-and-manhattan-projects/548733)
**Author:** [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-philadelphia-and-manhattan-projects/548733 "2010-07-31T22:30:37Z")
Cecil’s old column on Berlitz and Moore’s The Philadelphia Experiment was based on a question that read in part: Over the years there have been a number of Comments threads with people wondering about what the third “c… --- ## [Plane on a treadmill roundup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-on-a-treadmill-roundup/446408)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plane-on-a-treadmill-roundup/446408 "2010-07-31T21:56:33Z")
Plane on a treadmill column Comments: Speaking of treadmills, read this. Plane on a Treadmill, redux A formulation of the airplane/conveyor belt problem that “works”? Planes with “0” airspeed can fly? Flight and th… --- ## [M&Ms and the illuminati](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m-ms-and-the-illuminati/547693)
**Author:** [@garic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garic)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2010, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m-ms-and-the-illuminati/547693 "2010-07-31T10:20:17Z")
But in the UK and Ireland, Snickers used to be called … Marathon. We’re all doomed. --- ## [How does the earth's rotation affect the path of a bullet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-earths-rotation-affect-the-path-of-a-bullet/547894)
**Author:** [@PeachSchnapps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeachSchnapps)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-earths-rotation-affect-the-path-of-a-bullet/547894 "2010-07-30T21:27:31Z")
Dear Cecil Your article “How does the earth’s rotation affect the path of a bullet?” contains a statement which is factually wrong. You say: “the current world record for a confirmed kill in combat is 2,430 meters, or… --- ## [What is the purpose of eyebrows?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-eyebrows/548433)
**Author:** [@Niceotope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niceotope)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-eyebrows/548433 "2010-07-30T21:01:12Z")
Doug wrote an answer to the question “What is the purpose of eyebrows?” in which he agrees with the consensus that their function is to keep moisture out of the eyes. OK, but maybe it should be mentioned that they play … --- ## [M&Ms color ratio](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m-ms-color-ratio/547944)
**Author:** [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m-ms-color-ratio/547944 "2010-07-30T14:18:44Z")
The info in the 1976 Straight Dope Classic How did they figure out the M&M color mix? must be pretty dated. I don’t remember the proportions ever being that lopsided–really, two of the colors making up 90% of the bag?–an… --- ## [Is it possible to score more than 800 on your SATs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-score-more-than-800-on-your-sats/548567)
**Author:** [@volkell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/volkell)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-score-more-than-800-on-your-sats/548567 "2010-07-30T13:49:10Z")
back at the time of this article, althouigh the scale for the sat went up only to 800, the gre went to 900. it would have been more than possible to get an 810 on the gre, but that score would have been 90 points short … --- ## [Why don't trees grow on the Great Plains? Herbivores](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-trees-grow-on-the-great-plains-herbivores/548284)
**Author:** [@Niceotope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niceotope)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2010, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-trees-grow-on-the-great-plains-herbivores/548284 "2010-07-30T09:24:28Z")
I hate to question a trusted source but I’m going to anyway. In Cecil’s “Classic Column” reply to the question entitled “Why don’t trees grow on the Great Plains?”, dated July 8, 2005, he states that a 1935 paper identi… --- ## [With Respect \[Jesus mentioned in Talmud?\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-respect-jesus-mentioned-in-talmud/548299)
**Author:** [@Bpelta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bpelta)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-respect-jesus-mentioned-in-talmud/548299 "2010-07-30T02:18:44Z")
I think Cecil may have gotten something which I regard as really important wrong and I’m only quoting two sources because I’m in a bit of a rush right now, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen other writings which also disagree… --- ## [3D Without Glasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3d-without-glasses/548070)
**Author:** [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3d-without-glasses/548070 "2010-07-28T15:24:09Z")
From Cecil’s column: Why do you need special glasses for 3-D movies? - The Straight Dope He says: “For years one heard rumors of an experimental 3-D screen that made glasses unnecessary. (Supposedly it worked along the … --- ## [Is phi a mystical number?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-phi-a-mystical-number/547272)
**Author:** [@Metrolog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metrolog)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-phi-a-mystical-number/547272 "2010-07-26T20:24:07Z")
\*\*Is phi a mystical number? \*\* Is phi a mystical number? Yes, it is! Height of the Great Pyramid = 5813.011885 inches 5813.011885 x 1.618033988 = 9405.650803 inches Length of the Grand Gallery = 1881.130161 inches … --- ## [On the force of punches](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-force-of-punches/547664)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-force-of-punches/547664 "2010-07-25T18:36:35Z")
In reference to the current column, on force of punches, it’s apropos to point out that, yes, twelves are too much for Emmpa. --- ## [Pineapple Jello](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pineapple-jello/546878)
**Author:** [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pineapple-jello/546878 "2010-07-25T14:54:38Z")
RE this column: not that anyone cares, but since this column was written Jello has begun to make pineapple flavored Jello. So I guess there was demand. I’ve never tried it though. Has anyone? --- ## [Origin of Jeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jeep/547621)
**Author:** [@Narce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narce)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-jeep/547621 "2010-07-24T13:03:54Z")
Aside from the reasons cited by Cecil for the name not being associated with GP, it is unlikely that macho soldiers and motor pool mechanics would risk the usage of the (perhaps somewhat effeminate) “Jeepie” in nick-nami… --- ## [3-D movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-movies/547813)
**Author:** [@carlos\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlos_8)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2010, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-d-movies/547813 "2010-07-24T10:00:08Z")
Dear Cecil, I have a Fuji W1 camera, which allows me to enjoy 3D pictures, and videos, straight off its special screen, with no “silly glasses”, which some of your readers seem to find a nuisance. Technology is advancin… --- ## [33 1/3 records](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/33-1-3-records/546274)
**Author:** [@ldmallernee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ldmallernee)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/33-1-3-records/546274 "2010-07-22T16:57:03Z")
Are you well informed enough to be aware of 16" 33 1/3 records issued by the U.S. Dept. Of War Special Service Division circa 1945? Interested? --- ## [Re: In TV and movie credits, what do "star," "co-star," "guest star," etc., mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-in-tv-and-movie-credits-what-do-star-co-star-guest-star-etc-mean/546958)
**Author:** [@hughh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hughh)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-in-tv-and-movie-credits-what-do-star-co-star-guest-star-etc-mean/546958 "2010-07-21T19:54:50Z")
What about producers, executive producers and associate producers? Are there other types of producers? What does each of them do? --- ## [Do Microwave Ovens Kill Bacteria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-microwave-ovens-kill-bacteria/546886)
**Author:** [@Threbus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threbus)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-microwave-ovens-kill-bacteria/546886 "2010-07-21T14:09:47Z")
In the column from 7/16/2010- Do microwave ovens kill bacteria? - The Straight Dope I have some concerns that the answer didn’t go far enough. Although I believe the question appeared fairly straightforward, and was ans… --- ## [On Japanese soldiers of WW2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-japanese-soldiers-of-ww2/547417)
**Author:** [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2010, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-japanese-soldiers-of-ww2/547417 "2010-07-21T04:47:38Z")
How did these guys get clothes & food .? Did they wear same clothes for 29 years ? --- ## [Dry Ice Addition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-ice-addition/546879)
**Author:** [@ZeroTucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroTucker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dry-ice-addition/546879 "2010-07-19T15:34:52Z")
Hello, The article was very nicely written and covered a lot of points. One thing I would like to say thought, according to the dry ice website, dry ice was actually discovered and not invented. Dry ice the produce wa… --- ## [olly olly oxen free revisited](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olly-olly-oxen-free-revisited/546915)
**Author:** [@happy2bhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happy2bhere)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olly-olly-oxen-free-revisited/546915 "2010-07-18T03:57:41Z")
I recently took a German language course and came across some words that made me think that the old “Olly Olly oxen free” phrase is a result of the telephone game. “alle, alle, auch in frei” translates from German to En… --- ## [Budweiser - Chicken hearts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/budweiser-chicken-hearts/546534)
**Author:** [@Boobie\_the\_Rocket\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boobie_the_Rocket_Dog)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/budweiser-chicken-hearts/546534 "2010-07-16T16:55:27Z")
Cecil- You’ve been had, ol’ buddy. The “Center for Science in the Public Interest” is a logo+faxmachine group owned by the left which includes August Busch IV. Just because he sold Anheuser-Busch to Belgians doesn’t m… --- ## [Sperm trees of... Toronto?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sperm-trees-of-toronto/546860)
**Author:** [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sperm-trees-of-toronto/546860 "2010-07-16T16:19:05Z")
As a follow-up to the “Sperm Trees of Los Angeles” column, apparently they’re in Toronto, and they’re the ailanthus, or tree of heaven. --- ## [triple-ought buckshot??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-ought-buckshot/363140)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triple-ought-buckshot/363140 "2010-07-15T12:59:54Z")
Today’s “classic column” (originally run April 14, 1995) contains a reference to triple-ought buckshot: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950414b.html Is this a typo? I’ve never heard of anything bigger than doubl… --- ## [Eating cattails](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-cattails/545742)
**Author:** [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-cattails/545742 "2010-07-15T12:47:39Z")
Cattail Post I’ll add that the inner part of the stem tastes a lot like cucumber. It’s really good when eaten raw by itself. Just grab the leaves and pull them up, it’ll come right out. Wash them really well to avoid… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=84) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=86)