# The Straight Dope obtains its 42nd anniversary **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 2, 2015, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591 "2015-02-02T10:11:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/1 "2015-02-02T10:11:26Z")
42 years ago today, on February 2, 1973, Cecil Adams – who sprang forth fully-formed from the forehead of original editor [Michael Lenehan](http://michaellenehan.com) – appeared in print for the first time, in the [debut _The Straight Dope_ column](http://www.straightdope.com/pages/faq/firstcolumn), and was joined by the Teeming Millions – subsequently subdivided into Guests, Members, Charter Members, &c., – in a fight to drive Ignorance into the sea. Or at least nudge it a little toward Lake Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/2 "2015-02-02T14:29:46Z")
42 - The Ultimate Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything. Seems appropriate for the Straight Dope! ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/3 "2015-02-02T15:59:23Z")
Orders of steak for everyone! I’ll bring out the cows in a sec . . . ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/4 "2015-02-02T17:02:05Z")
Congrats! But… “obtains”? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/5 "2015-02-02T17:21:20Z")
Happy Birthday!! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/6 "2015-02-02T18:41:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Congrats! But… “obtains”? Selling anniversaries is a good online business. Low overhead and a steady supply of new and return customers. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/7 "2015-02-02T20:06:46Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > 42 - The Ultimate Answer to Life, The Universe, and Everything. > > Seems appropriate for the Straight Dope! Maybe the Cubs really will win it all this year. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/8 "2015-02-03T00:42:48Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Congrats! But… “obtains”? It’s archaic. Like The Straight Dope. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/9 "2015-02-03T00:54:57Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DBKKry8GPpk/maxresdefault.jpg "Happy Birthday Dirge (Volga Boatmen)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBKKry8GPpk) ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/10 "2015-02-03T02:07:28Z")
Of course it’s **whitetho** posting this. :smack: He’s done it every year on the anniversary, as far as I can remember. He was the first person to successfully question our Lord High Cecil on one of his articles. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/11 "2015-02-03T04:19:15Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Of course it’s **whitetho** posting this. :smack: > > He’s done it every year on the anniversary, as far as I can remember. > > He was the first person to successfully question our Lord High Cecil on one of his articles. 😕 It’s been the 42nd anniversary _every year_ ??? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/12 "2015-02-03T22:09:07Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > 😕 It’s been the 42nd anniversary _every year_ ??? February 2nd _is_ Groundhog Day. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-obtains-its-42nd-anniversary/711591/13 "2015-02-03T22:46:05Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Maybe the Cubs really will win it all this year. Now let’s keep our shirts on. Cecil may be inerrant in vital matters of wisdom (if he errs, then we know the matter of wisdom was not vital), but if he had that sort of miracle-working power do you seriously think we’d still be struggling against Ignorance’s mighty defensive line?