# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=87 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 88 --- ## [Santa Ana's involvement - chewing gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santa-anas-involvement-chewing-gum/544069)
**Author:** [@bnole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bnole)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santa-anas-involvement-chewing-gum/544069 "2010-06-23T19:40:27Z")
Wanted to add a little tidbit to the chewing gum tale from what I’ve heard/read. Not sure of validity but ties in well with story. After defeat by the American army in the Spanish-American War, Gen’l Santa Ana, disgrace… --- ## [Didn't Native Americans give syphilis to the Europeans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-native-americans-give-syphilis-to-the-europeans/544004)
**Author:** [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2010, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/didnt-native-americans-give-syphilis-to-the-europeans/544004 "2010-06-23T11:24:25Z")
I realize this is an older column, but everything I’ve read and the documentaries I’ve seen stated that the Europeans brought smallpox and took back syphilis - specifically to Spain. --- ## [Picking up a Penny](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picking-up-a-penny/543431)
**Author:** [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picking-up-a-penny/543431 "2010-06-22T16:41:59Z")
Is it worth picking up a penny? Well, maybe for Nick L and Cecil, but it isn’t for Bill Gates. --- ## [Ed messes up the Perfect Master's perfect grammar yet again](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-messes-up-the-perfect-masters-perfect-grammar-yet-again/544050)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ed-messes-up-the-perfect-masters-perfect-grammar-yet-again/544050 "2010-06-22T11:00:03Z")
From the old column currently on the front page “The amazing history of chewing gum”: There’s a verb or something missing in the phrase “it a hundred years”. I blame the internet for ruining Mr Zotti’s editorial skills… --- ## [Cicero and the Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cicero-and-the-cicero/544005)
**Author:** [@robinfior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinfior)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cicero-and-the-cicero/544005 "2010-06-22T00:13:20Z")
\[ I was interested to read about Lorem ipsum… and to learn that it was Cicero who remains remains a key figure , it seems, in Chicago, and thankfully so. It is not so surprising that Cicero’s ‘Ethics’ should have been u… --- ## [antidotes to hot foods .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antidotes-to-hot-foods/543947)
**Author:** [@sinatra69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinatra69)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antidotes-to-hot-foods/543947 "2010-06-21T04:39:51Z")
Milk is a good one , but so is chocolate . I have found a combination of the 2 to be very effective . --- ## [What secret technology is DARPA hiding from us?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-secret-technology-is-darpa-hiding-from-us/542019)
**Author:** [@duroncrush](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duroncrush)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-secret-technology-is-darpa-hiding-from-us/542019 "2010-06-21T02:00:37Z")
A rail gun would be a great science fair project. The only problem is calling it a gun --- ## [Do martial arts actually help defend a person in real attacks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-martial-arts-actually-help-defend-a-person-in-real-attacks/539340)
**Author:** [@cttaylor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cttaylor)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-martial-arts-actually-help-defend-a-person-in-real-attacks/539340 "2010-06-20T17:02:33Z")
I have taught self-defense for over 30 years, and I have seen many examples of where correct martial arts training has indeed saved students in real attack situations. One martial arts student of mine, a banker, was in … --- ## [Do lead fishing sinkers poison the enviroment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lead-fishing-sinkers-poison-the-enviroment/305071)
**Author:** [@badgolfer78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badgolfer78)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 18, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-lead-fishing-sinkers-poison-the-enviroment/305071 "2010-06-18T05:12:15Z")
I just wish this was required reading for all hunters and fishermen around the world. It was a very enlighting article. Thanks --- ## [Tire overheating in the desert.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tire-overheating-in-the-desert/541016)
**Author:** [@kitsrball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitsrball)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tire-overheating-in-the-desert/541016 "2010-06-17T12:23:49Z")
Just a fact: tires DO get really hot in Arizona in the summer. In two years, with properly inflated and new tires, I’ve had 5 tire failures (4 were tread separation and blowouts). The road temperatures easily exceeds… --- ## [Are camp lanterns radioactive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-camp-lanterns-radioactive/317249)
**Author:** [@LeoS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeoS)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-camp-lanterns-radioactive/317249 "2010-06-17T07:54:14Z")
The article on radioactive mantles is quite informative. It mentions that ‘some streets in London are lit with gas even now’ This isn’t really true, although there are some gas lights to be seen in the royal parks- … --- ## [Re: Are you required to report "Illegal Income" on your tax return?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-you-required-to-report-illegal-income-on-your-tax-return/541647)
**Author:** [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 16, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-you-required-to-report-illegal-income-on-your-tax-return/541647 "2010-06-16T16:15:19Z")
Article: Are you required to report “illegal income” on your tax return? - The Straight Dope. There are a lot of states that require tax stamps to be placed on illegal drugs. I always wonder about the legality of this. … --- ## [New version of the Guinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-guinea/542941)
**Author:** [@Swiftie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swiftie)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-version-of-the-guinea/542941 "2010-06-14T00:19:27Z")
We British are still working on revising our currency. Because so many prices end in 0.99, the Monster Raving Loony Party proposed introducing a new £0.99 coin, to avoid the odd pennies that you’d otherwise end up with. … --- ## [Whats-with-publishers-sweepstakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-publishers-sweepstakes/542764)
**Author:** [@DrifterToo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrifterToo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-publishers-sweepstakes/542764 "2010-06-13T05:51:56Z")
Cecil, I must respectfully disagree with you on this one. You say that entries are treated equally whether or not they accompany subscriptions. Many years ago, fed up with come-ons from Publisher’s Clearinghouse, I per… --- ## [Lime Jello brain waves?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lime-jello-brain-waves/542876)
**Author:** [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lime-jello-brain-waves/542876 "2010-06-13T01:28:04Z")
An interesting anecdote related to this column: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2942/can-brainwaves-be-detected-in-lime-jell-o Years ago I worked in a general hospital, the only real hospital along a 300 mile … --- ## [what is light](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-light/542611)
**Author:** [@Johnk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnk)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-light/542611 "2010-06-12T09:03:21Z")
Can’t light be a wave like water or sound? Electricity is the flow of electrons through a conductor. Maybe light flows through some unknown substance, like dark matter or energy and doesn’t really travel at all. Link t… --- ## [Kumbayah](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kumbayah/542783)
**Author:** [@King\_Michael\_Allen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Michael_Allen)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kumbayah/542783 "2010-06-11T22:52:48Z")
Lets brake it down; kumba means;come by here, Yah is short Yahweh…! So you are oonly asking that YAHWEH , Creator of to come and bless you. And the AllaluYah means praise ye YAHWEH. And I would have to agree with it bein… --- ## [In Britain, what's the difference between a pound and a guinea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-britain-whats-the-difference-between-a-pound-and-a-guinea/541898)
**Author:** [@gwtw11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwtw11)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2010, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-britain-whats-the-difference-between-a-pound-and-a-guinea/541898 "2010-06-11T04:06:29Z")
Cecil, when did you last pick up a British newspaper and find something advertised in guineas? I’m guessing round about 1969. I can’t think of any other contemporary usage of the term “guinea” in the monetary sense oth… --- ## [the dearth of knowledge that we are suffering from](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dearth-of-knowledge-that-we-are-suffering-from/540447)
**Author:** [@JJohanPallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JJohanPallen)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-dearth-of-knowledge-that-we-are-suffering-from/540447 "2010-06-10T03:27:21Z")
To Mr. Cecil Adams, Here is my contribution to the good work that you are doing to eradicate the dearth of knowledge that we are suffering from. …none is as good for a human baby as its mother’s milk. …the pronoun for… --- ## [Those Wacky Kids from MIT](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-kids-from-mit/541979)
**Author:** [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 8, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-wacky-kids-from-mit/541979 "2010-06-08T20:37:59Z")
Funny column–“As to whether your rail gun would win the science fair, I’d say that would depend where you pointed it, wouldn’t you?,” indeed. The beer cooler high atmosphere camera kit is another recent offering from… --- ## [Does passionate kissing cause your chewing gum to disintegrate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-passionate-kissing-cause-your-chewing-gum-to-disintegrate/541427)
**Author:** [@Sedaray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sedaray)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-passionate-kissing-cause-your-chewing-gum-to-disintegrate/541427 "2010-06-07T15:54:28Z")
reply to: Does passionate kissing cause your chewing gum to disintegrate? - The Straight Dope (“comment on this answer” just sends me back to the forum homepage) To get chewing gum out of hair, peanut butter - or prob … --- ## [about my rooster](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-my-rooster/541500)
**Author:** [@rhonda\_doan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhonda_doan)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2010, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-my-rooster/541500 "2010-06-05T09:18:50Z")
i have a road inland red rooster and he crowes every 15 min i have been find for him but i wont ever get read of him i have tried putting him in complete darkness but he still crowes Link to Staff Report: Why do rooste… --- ## [What is the origin of tipping?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-tipping/542030)
**Author:** [@Sragde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sragde)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2010, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-tipping/542030 "2010-06-05T07:51:22Z")
Comment on: What is the origin of tipping? In Latvia we have 7-10-12-15 percent gratuity to the bill. --- ## [Triglycerides and Energy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-and-energy/541998)
**Author:** [@jsmaine22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsmaine22)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/triglycerides-and-energy/541998 "2010-06-05T01:59:52Z")
Everybody knows lowering triglycerides is a good thing, right? But I’m thinking, if you decrease your level of circulating triglycerides you’re lowering a potent source of available energy and hence the propensity to fat… --- ## [The Guinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guinea/541948)
**Author:** [@BritinUS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BritinUS)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guinea/541948 "2010-06-04T17:15:33Z")
Although there is no coin in circulation currently, the Guinea is not quite as dead as you infer. The current value of the guinea is GBP 1.05 The Guinea still lives on in prizes and purses, particularly in horse racing … --- ## [What's the most expensive thing in the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-in-the-world/541790)
**Author:** [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-expensive-thing-in-the-world/541790 "2010-06-04T17:01:42Z")
My ex-wife. (Sorry, just had to take the easy joke-- nothing serious to add :). Column here. --- ## [Spruce Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spruce-goose/541391)
**Author:** [@boxcar23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boxcar23)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spruce-goose/541391 "2010-06-04T16:21:12Z")
Regarding the answer to the question in the July 2002 about the Spruce Goose seaplane. It was my understanding that for Howard Hughes to fulfill his contract and avoid more congressional scrutiny it had to fly.So he flew… --- ## [Malt Liquor and Cheap Wine Drunkenness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malt-liquor-and-cheap-wine-drunkenness/541307)
**Author:** [@scvblwxq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scvblwxq)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malt-liquor-and-cheap-wine-drunkenness/541307 "2010-06-04T15:04:54Z")
I have run into 2 people that cannot drink malt liquor, and one says she also cannot drink rotgut cheap wine, it makes her violent, yet she can drink good wine with no problems even with a higher total consumption of alc… --- ## [Why does a blow to the testicles cause nausea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-blow-to-the-testicles-cause-nausea/541045)
**Author:** [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-blow-to-the-testicles-cause-nausea/541045 "2010-06-03T19:49:21Z")
I’m wondering to myself about the methodology used for collecting this data. What defines a “serious” injury? I suspect it may be skewed; if I took a baseball to the mouth in little league, my mum would have been more i… --- ## [Okay, So What Was the 'Big Bopper's' FULL Name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-what-was-the-big-boppers-full-name/540926)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-so-what-was-the-big-boppers-full-name/540926 "2010-06-03T16:01:55Z")
Concerning this Cecil Column, I quote: Cecil replies: Forgive me for nitpicking, but so what does the J.P. stand for? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=86) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=88)