The Straight Dope 08/02/2002

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The Straight Dope -- By Cecil Adams
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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 08/02/2002

Dear Cecil:

I believe the "pacemaker danger" signs people put up around
microwave ovens are silly and baseless. Surely they spring
from some lawyer worried about a suit. Please tell us the
real deal. -- Nukem All, Houston

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Cecil replies:

Here at the Straight Dope we speak to the universal human
condition. However, we recognize that a large part of our
audience consists of baby boomers who, judging from the
mail, are getting pretty long in the tooth. Consider the
trend in subject matter:

- '70s. How do I get rid of the aphids in my
marijuana plants? 

- '80s. I don't want to boink near as often as I
used to. 

- '90s. Kids these days. 

- '00s. Pacemakers. 

Sure, the pacemaker thing is a little premature. But I
understand your feelings, Nuke. No harm being prepared.

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/020802.html


STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

A friend and I were talking about how easy it is to bullshit
ignorant people even though one may be very ignorant in that
particular subject matter themselves. So we decided to bet a
small sum of money whether we can bullshit each other. We
each gave each other four obscure facts of knowledge and we
have to find out the one that is bullshit. The one I believe
is bullshit is that the Mary-Poppins-coined word
"supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is really a term
regarding Irish whores. Thus far my research into the
subject has turned up an author named Eric P. Hamp, who has
various Celtic stuff that mentioned the word in question.
However, I can't find the exact text. Please help me win a
bet. --Aaron Frale 

SDSTAFF Euty replies:

Sadly, the exact origin of the word
"supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" may never be pinned
down, so this will be, for the time being at least, an
incomplete report. But we do know this--it considerably
predates the 1964 Disney movie Mary Poppins in which it was
prominently featured. 

For more, see: 
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/msupercali.html


STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 09/17/1976

Dear Cecil: 

My high school gym teacher used to tell us that peristalsis
was so dandy that a human being could swallow water while
standing on his head. He was always going to show us, but
never did. Tell me if my gym teacher lied--considering what
he told us about sex, I have my doubts. --E.Y., Los Angeles
 
Dear E.:

Why the doubts? It's 100% possible to have sex
while standing on your head. It's also possible to drink
while standing on your head, and now that I think about it
there's a very close relationship between having sex while
standing on your head and drinking. Whatever your gym
teacher had in mind, I'm telling you that's one classroom
demonstration I would not have slept through.

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_081.html

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