# Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=88 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 89 --- ## [The mountain on the Paramount logo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mountain-on-the-paramount-logo/540911)
**Author:** [@Drew\_Kit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Kit)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mountain-on-the-paramount-logo/540911 "2010-06-02T19:41:58Z")
What mountain is depicted in the Paramount logo?- January 4, 2002 Another Scottish oddity may hold some interest for the forum. I assume Cecil is correct that Mount Ben Lomond in Utah is the mountain in the Paramount m… --- ## [sail faster than the wind](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sail-faster-than-the-wind/539890)
**Author:** [@davmor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davmor)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sail-faster-than-the-wind/539890 "2010-06-02T16:46:36Z")
A fast sailboat, e.g. a boat that has a lot of sail and sits high on the water, can sail faster than the wind speed. Multihulls (catamarans and trimarans) sail faster than monohulls because a monohull must sit low in the… --- ## [Swiss Bank Accounts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-bank-accounts/541088)
**Author:** [@DORFMONT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DORFMONT)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swiss-bank-accounts/541088 "2010-06-02T16:28:58Z")
The IRS has recently gotten access to the highest depositors in UBS after a threat to nationalize UBS deposits in the US. There is an ongoing campaign to have everyone reveal their overseas bank account information. The … --- ## [Phoebe Snow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phoebe-snow/541519)
**Author:** [@ArkRed1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArkRed1)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phoebe-snow/541519 "2010-06-02T14:42:22Z")
Many a hobo rode, or was “cradled in the arms of Phoebe Snow” when it ran. The late golden voice of the southwest, Utah Phillips, sang about the train Phoebe Snow on his album Good Though. --- ## [Did Native Americans cut off the noses of adulterous wives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-native-americans-cut-off-the-noses-of-adulterous-wives/540568)
**Author:** [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-native-americans-cut-off-the-noses-of-adulterous-wives/540568 "2010-05-28T22:23:27Z")
Re: Did Native Americans cut off the noses of adulterous wives? I\* don’t know if this is the right forum for this but I cannot imagine that pitting The Master is not ill advised…\* Cecil comes off as very defensive with… --- ## [Straight Dope Chicago is even better than Straight Dope Universal, at least for now](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-chicago-is-even-better-than-straight-dope-universal-at-least-for-now/541054)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-chicago-is-even-better-than-straight-dope-universal-at-least-for-now/541054 "2010-05-28T17:33:12Z")
Over the past few weeks Cecil has penned 2 articles about mysterious freshwater submarines, the fine points of the demolition of buildings and a how-to guide to turning around your local school. This last topic (formerl… --- ## [The Mystery of Mary Celeste](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-mary-celeste/540096)
**Author:** [@sollyflood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sollyflood)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mystery-of-mary-celeste/540096 "2010-05-28T14:24:26Z")
I enjoyed reading your article on the Mary Celeste. There is a lot less bunk in this article than most of the theories bandied around cyberspace these days. At the risk of offending the forum moderators, I would like t… --- ## [native american cut noses of wives](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/native-american-cut-noses-of-wives/541025)
**Author:** [@lakohana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lakohana)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 28, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/native-american-cut-noses-of-wives/541025 "2010-05-28T04:04:44Z")
The author of this article has not posted his/her references regarding this subject so viewers may do more research. Much of what has been submitted is false and stereotypes Native Americans. I am Odawa from the First N… --- ## [The naked truth about Kilts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-naked-truth-about-kilts/540895)
**Author:** [@Drew\_Kit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drew_Kit)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-naked-truth-about-kilts/540895 "2010-05-27T23:17:59Z")
What do Scotsmen wear under their kilts? - March 24, 1995 As another Scottish weirdo, I can confirm “true Scotsmen” don’t wear anything under the kilt, but that fact hides a more interesting story. Tartan was outlawed… --- ## [How about the Fartenburg?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-the-fartenburg/539451)
**Author:** [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-the-fartenburg/539451 "2010-05-27T12:47:59Z")
Of course you cannot use farts like a rocket with the flatulant as the missile. Any frat boy would be able to tell you that you have an insufficient power to weight ratio, although he would lie about the control nozzle. … --- ## [Who was Phoebe Snow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-phoebe-snow/540721)
**Author:** [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-phoebe-snow/540721 "2010-05-26T02:37:10Z")
In Cecil’s column, he stated that Phoebe Snow was a creation for the Lakawana Railroad. That is true, but there was also a jazz/blues/folk singer of the same name back in the 1960s 1970s who was know for singing various … --- ## [New Staff Reports?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-staff-reports/540377)
**Author:** [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-staff-reports/540377 "2010-05-25T15:36:01Z")
I’ve noticed for the last few weeks that the SD front page’s “Recent Additions” has had only the weekly and Classic columns, no new Staff Reports. My hunch is that this related to Dex, who coordinates Staff Report assig… --- ## [John The Conkeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-the-conkeroo/540324)
**Author:** [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2010, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-the-conkeroo/540324 "2010-05-24T02:52:28Z")
About time for a review on the correct plant ID for Cecil’s classic John the Conkeroo answer, and I’d suppose he knows it, as it is specifically mentioned on the Wiki page for the topic. Gotta say, botanically speaking,… --- ## [2-letter scrabble words](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-letter-scrabble-words/539229)
**Author:** [@slugbiker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slugbiker)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-letter-scrabble-words/539229 "2010-05-22T23:57:11Z")
Responding to the updated answer to “What are the permissible two-letter words in Scrabble?”, the official list continues to change. There WERE 96 official words until March 1, 2006, at which time 5 new words (FE KI OI … --- ## [Odd descriptor in Sam Cooke article](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-descriptor-in-sam-cooke-article/539889)
**Author:** [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-descriptor-in-sam-cooke-article/539889 "2010-05-22T18:58:49Z")
“… Cooke met Linda Boyer, a 22-year-old Eurasian…” What does “Eurasian” mean in this context, and what earthly relevance does it have to the events of that night? --- ## [Highest poker hand ever beaten by a higher one](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highest-poker-hand-ever-beaten-by-a-higher-one/538576)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highest-poker-hand-ever-beaten-by-a-higher-one/538576 "2010-05-22T00:12:42Z")
Sorta inspired by the latest Straight Dope Classic reprint In “Cincinnati Kid,” what hand did Steve McQueen lose to a straight flush?. I was curious what’s the highest poker hand ever reliably documented has having lost … --- ## [Martial arts training and muggers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-arts-training-and-muggers/538794)
**Author:** [@hazmatdance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazmatdance)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martial-arts-training-and-muggers/538794 "2010-05-21T22:50:21Z")
I’ve trained martial arts for years and my quick take is that YES they can help but you have to train for longer than 3 months. Remember, you might have 3 months of karate but that mugger might have 25 years of mugging e… --- ## [Slate references Cecil.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-references-cecil/540162)
**Author:** [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slate-references-cecil/540162 "2010-05-21T22:04:10Z")
The column in question. The Slate piece. Did Vikings really wear horned helmet? --- ## [Cecil's Classic Columns aren't prophetic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-classic-columns-arent-prophetic/540286)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecils-classic-columns-arent-prophetic/540286 "2010-05-21T18:36:29Z")
Three or four days each week, we run one of Cecil’s old columns, called “classic.” These are run for amusement and a sense of history, but are not generally revised to reflect the time lapse. So, sometimes they contain … --- ## [Can elephants jump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elephants-jump/540276)
**Author:** [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-elephants-jump/540276 "2010-05-21T17:16:20Z")
I was wondering if elephants can jump. There’s a Staff Report on the subject: But I noticed that it paled in comparison to the answer from David Feldman’s “Imponderables” book of the same name: http://www.cbsnews.com… --- ## [Getting away from it all](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-away-from-it-all/539286)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-away-from-it-all/539286 "2010-05-21T14:26:59Z")
Linky: Where can I go to REALLY get away from it all? - The Straight Dope Is Russia still offering to send a sufficiently rich/suicidal person on a circumlunar flight, or was the program dropped after there were no take… --- ## [Roger McGuinn on Usenet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-mcguinn-on-usenet/540047)
**Author:** [@DerekBlank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DerekBlank)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-mcguinn-on-usenet/540047 "2010-05-20T15:11:32Z")
Relative to today’s question “Did Glen Campbell play lead guitar on “Eight Miles High”?”, can anyone explain how Roger McGuinn got on Usenet to answer the original question in 1977 when Usenet was created in 1980? If th… --- ## [Sam Cooke Explanation Incomplete](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-cooke-explanation-incomplete/539897)
**Author:** [@dkuva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dkuva)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sam-cooke-explanation-incomplete/539897 "2010-05-20T07:55:03Z")
Although that may be the quick newspaper blurb summary of Sam Cooke’s demise, it makes no sense in light of reality. First – Sam Cooke was seen with a large roll of money on the night he was killed. Why on earth would … --- ## [crazy yet possible \[pyramid on dollar bill\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-yet-possible-pyramid-on-dollar-bill/539529)
**Author:** [@jjjkkklll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjjkkklll)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-yet-possible-pyramid-on-dollar-bill/539529 "2010-05-19T22:20:23Z")
Im thinking that it could be possibly (refering to that pyramid on back of dollar) that it could be a sort of tool directing those who have certain types of experiances mabey tool of some philosophical work. there is so… --- ## [Why are saxophones made in different keys?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-saxophones-made-in-different-keys/539495)
**Author:** [@ggraham500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ggraham500)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-saxophones-made-in-different-keys/539495 "2010-05-19T21:00:43Z")
comment … hmmm true C is 256 hz not 263 hz --- ## [pacing and trotting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacing-and-trotting/539965)
**Author:** [@ringarooma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ringarooma)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacing-and-trotting/539965 "2010-05-19T13:09:48Z")
I don’t see why dog trotters are faster than dog pacers and therefore quite the opposite from horses. Think that’s wrong , Cecil. ‘Today, many Standardbreds race much faster … with several pacing the mile within 1 minut… --- ## [An Infinite Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-infinite-question/522588)
**Author:** [@General\_Derangement](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/General_Derangement)\ **Replies:** 156\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-infinite-question/522588 "2010-05-18T16:15:16Z")
Regarding the ancient column (all the way back in '03) on .999 being equal to 1, “An infinite question: Why doesn’t .999~ = 1?”, in which the answer was that it IS equal to one, I gotta say, I’m spotting some faulty logi… --- ## [Male ballet dancers en pointe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-ballet-dancers-en-pointe/128127)
**Author:** [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/male-ballet-dancers-en-pointe/128127 "2010-05-17T15:29:13Z")
Some more modern choreographers HAVE arranged for men to dance en pointe. Case “en pointe” (heh): Mark Morris. Anyone who’s seen his annual holiday classic, The Hard Nut, has been awed by men (in drag) en pointe, in add… --- ## ["Hurrah" and Genghis Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurrah-and-genghis-khan/539405)
**Author:** [@taqasim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taqasim)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurrah-and-genghis-khan/539405 "2010-05-15T14:33:01Z")
This answer centered mainly on the “hep” in “hep hep hurrah,” inconclusively musing that the expressions could come from herders’ calls. Which seems very plausible to me. However, I did read recently that “hurrah” or… --- ## ["If blue, red, and yellow are primary colors, why do color TVs use blue, red, and green?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-blue-red-and-yellow-are-primary-colors-why-do-color-tvs-use-blue-red-and-green/533270)
**Author:** [@Sinisterniik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinisterniik)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2010, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-blue-red-and-yellow-are-primary-colors-why-do-color-tvs-use-blue-red-and-green/533270 "2010-05-13T07:26:55Z")
Sharp just released a new RGBY TV (or Red, Green, Blue, Yellow TV). In a previous Cecil article he addressed how to to use RGB to create all the colors as well as RBY, the primary colors. Now, Sharp is touting this new … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=87) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/comments-on-cecils-columns-staff-reports/7.md?page=89)