The Straight Dope 12/24/2004

The Straight Dope -- By Cecil Adams
http://www.straightdope.com

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 12/24/2004

Dear Cecil:

Was Einstein a plagiarist? Several articles have been written saying he
was. What do you think? --mcsage1, via e-mail

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Cecil replies:

This letter will raise two questions in the mind of the average reader:

1. You mean to tell me that in 1905, when Albert Einstein published his
groundbreaking paper, there were, assuming that every cribber requires a
cribbee, two people on the planet who understood the theory of special
relativity?

2. Never mind plagiarism--whatever happened to Einstein's brain, which,
when last discussed in this column : The Straight Dope:  Einstein's
Brain (1987), was housed in a cardboard box in a doctor's office outside
Kansas City, Missouri?

Patience. We shall address both matters. Plagiarism first.

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041224.html

STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

I have heard of five temperature measurements: Celsius (centigrade),
Fahrenheit, Kelvin, Rankine, and Reaumur. How did so many scales arise?
I know certain ones are goods for certain things (i.e., 0 Celsius is
when water freezes, 0 Kelvin is absolute zero, etc.). But why are there
so many, how did they arise, and can't you use one of them for all
temperature purposes? --Josh G., Louisville, Kentucky

Guest contributor hibernicus replies:

You haven't heard the half of it. In addition to the Reaumur scale,
which you mentioned, the roll-call of now-obsolete temperature scales
includes the Newton, Romer, Delisle, Leyden, Dalton, Wedgewood, Hales,
Ducrest, Edinburgh and Florentine scales. In the 18th century, it was
common to have up to four temperature scales (in one example, Newton, De
Lisle, Reaumur and Fahrenheit) inscribed on the backing board of a
thermometer.

Today, the only scales in everyday use are the Celsius and Fahrenheit
scales, and (mainly for scientists and engineers) the Kelvin and Rankine
scales. Reaumur may be familiar to readers of 19th-century Russian and
French novels; the others are largely forgotten.

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

STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 02/20/1987

Dear Cecil:

I've noticed that the lobbies of many older buildings are adorned with
what appear to be numerous swastikas. Were these an Indian symbol or
something before Adolf made them famous? --Scott P., N. Oak Park

Cecil replies:

You are absolutely right, Scott--and believe me, for most of the
Teeming Millions, this isn't something that happens every day. The
swastika was employed by various American Indian tribes, notably the
Navahos, for whom it was a sort of good luck sign. I recall once seeing
a picture of the young Jackie Kennedy (then Bouvier) wearing a costume
decorated with swastikas for some kind of Indian pageant. Or maybe she
was going to become a professional wrestler; my memory is somewhat
vague. At any rate, the swastika was widespread throughout the ancient
world, particularly in India, where it remains in common use by Hindus,
Jainas, and Buddhists. Originally it probably symbolized the sun
circling through the sky, although many other explanations have also
been offered. Up until the 20th century its significance was generally
benign.

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_156.html

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