I need to believe in something. S. Claus, the Easter Bunny, Betty Crocker, Cecil.
[handy]I need to believe in something. S. Claus, the Easter Bunny, Betty Crocker, Cecil.[/handy] …a Moderator contract, etc…
In Great Debates we discussed The Poundstonian Heresy in depth a few months back. In the thread, C K Dexter Haven reported that “Ed has said that Poundstone plied him liberally with libation during that interview, and that he (Ed) was as intoxicated as a mephitic weasel, and would have confessed to about anything, from the Jack the Ripper murders to the moon-landing hoax.”
Poundstone is a fine researcher, but not perfect. For example, on page 21 of Biggest Secrets, he states that Katharine Hepburn’s birthday is November 8th. Actually it’s May 12th – November 8th is her brother’s birthday, although for many years she claimed it as her own. I am sure Uncle Cecil would not have made the same mistake.
When I made an extensive post about a number of errors which appeared in a Straight Dope column about radio callsigns, Cecil eventually ran a comprehensive follow-up column of corrections. Later, a Staff Report column covering the supposed history of the SOS distress call appeared, which contained numerous errors and omissions. I posted my corrections for that, but this time the response was along the lines of “thinking too hard makes my head hurt” – I might be a little harsh there – and the flawed, uncorrected Staff Report lives on. Thus, I do not think these two persons are the same.
I once did a little discovery work in that area. And I know the answer. But I’ve been told it’s not for people to talk about, so I won’t. 
I guess I’m a heretic, then.
http://www.straightdope.com/art/1979/790824.gif
I’m telling you, you never want to be late with a cartoonist’s check.
Yay!
[sub]That is all.[/sub]
OMG he’s alive!!!
< techchick wavs at the insomniac Cecil >
Sure hope it’s him and not someone that hacked into the boards.
The dead live!! The dead live!! AAugh!!
Run for yr lives!
You people are too excitable.
wow, does being in the time-space of greatness get you points anywhere?
Just wanted to deprive a sycophant of this space.
You turn up to degrade these minions but when I was looking for you you were to busy having cocktails and Hookers with UncleBeer?
Bite me Adams, you loser.
Damn! Missed!
'fraid you’ve been out sycophanted there, pal.
I’m sorry, O perfect master. forgive me, I know not what I say
::grovel, grovel cringe bow stoop fall::
Just you wait, Bill H. - I’ve got my eye on you now.
OMIGAWD! IT’S CECIL!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
runs around wildly shrieking
Calms down a little. Just a little.
“Perfect Master”? I thought it would be something like “Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnivorous One”. Just about sums him up…
He was getting scared because I was getting too close to the truth:)
Nice to meet you, Mr Adams.
Disclaimer: this is in no way “official” information. The USPTO frowns upon its employees passing along any official info in this manner.
I have, at least once.
Look at it this way. Are you familiar with the phrase “patent pending”? The tradmark equivalent of this is “™”, and is usually replaced with “®” if and when the application gets approved. The application for “Cecil Adams” that was submitted by the Chicago Reader was refused just over three months after it was received. I am unable to determine what the reason was. Over the next 30 months, the Reader’s attorneys tried to get the tradmark examiner to reverse his or her opinion but was unable. Once the attorneys exhausted their options, the file was abandoned and there were no further attempts at obtaining a registered tradmark. Even though the file was abandoned, the Reader can continue to use “Cecil Adams” for as long as they please.
The difference here is the “Cecil Adams” file was abandoned and this wasn’t. In fact, the application was approved (registration #1729248) just over 9 years ago so there should be an ® instead.