# Errr.... \*ahem\*... Is there a Cecil Adams?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 26, 2000, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907 "2000-07-26T15:00:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Girl\_Next\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@Girl\_Next\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_Next_Door)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/21 "2000-07-26T23:26:37Z")

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Olentzero, the “Yes, Virginia…” reference was priceless. You are brilliant.

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**Author:** ![Yue\_Han](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/eada6e/32.png) [@Yue\_Han](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yue_Han)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/22 "2000-07-26T23:34:27Z")

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Hey Olentzero

it’s good to be back. My home computer didn’t used to be able to access the Dope with any convenient speed, so I barely tried all summer break. Apparently, though, the new software runs a lot faster on my POS, so I’m back. I just recently found out about Wally, which was a real bummer, but at least I’m back among friends.

Sorry for the hijack.

–John

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**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/23 "2000-08-01T17:17:23Z")

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Don’t let Coldfire catch you asking this. He’s apt to respond with a biting “Duh”.

I have no doubts, myself though, having been personally welcomed.

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**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/24 "2000-08-01T17:41:17Z")

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**Olentzero** - job very well done.

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**Author:** ![MetallicAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@MetallicAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MetallicAsh)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/25 "2000-08-01T18:13:14Z")

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Just because there is/was a legal battle over ownership of the name does not necessarily mean that the entity in question does not exist.

As an example (and I have no source to cite), I had heard that the whole fuss about the-artist-once-again-known-as-Prince was really precipitated by an argument with his record lablel. They still owned the rights to “Prince”, so he just remonikered himself until their rights expired.

If the Chicago Reader had an exclusive contract with Cecil Adams and filed suit to prevent him from publishing under that name elsewhere, it does not necessarily mean he isn’t a real person.

…then again…does Prince count as a real person? 🙂

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/26 "2000-08-01T18:25:40Z")

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Ed Zotti’s claims that he isn’t Cecil Adams are about as convincing as Clark Kent’s claims that he isn’t Superman.

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**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/27 "2000-08-01T18:44:04Z")

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_sob_

Uncle Sam knows Uncle Cecil’s little secrets.

_sob_

[http://tess.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=doc&state=qd69jf.2.1](http://tess.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=doc&state=qd69jf.2.1)

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**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/28 "2000-08-01T18:48:56Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by KeithT \*  
> **[http://tess.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=doc&state=qd69jf.2.1](http://tess.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=doc&state=qd69jf.2.1)**

Unca Cecil is _ **dead** _?!?! 😕

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**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/29 "2000-08-01T19:00:26Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Montfort \*  
> \*\*Unca Cecil is _ **dead** _?!?! 😕 \*\*

Nay, child! As long as we keep him alive in our hearts, he lives.

Besides, the dead are remarkably uncommunicative (Psychic Hotlines notwithstanding). If Cecil were dead, how would he write the Straight Dope articles and books? Trust me. My grandmother has been dead for almost twenty years. If any dead person were to write, it would have been her, and I haven’t received a single letter in all these years – not even a postcard!

~~Baloo

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**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/30 "2000-08-01T19:06:08Z")

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His name is Cecil Adams.

His name is Cecil Adams.

(etc.)

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**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2000, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/errr-ahem-is-there-a-cecil-adams/26907/31 "2000-08-01T20:20:35Z")

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Amen, **Olentzero** , amen.

::wipes away a tear of gratitude and sighs::

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