The Straight Dope 09/05/2003

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

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 09/05/2003

Dear Cecil:

Could you please explain how the designated hitter rule
works in the American League? I understand that the
designated hitter bats for a pitcher, but that's about
it. I have seen games where the designated hitter
suddenly plays defense. Once this happens, the pitcher
suddenly has to bat! The whole process is so confusing,
only you can make us understand. -- Ian, via the Internet

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Cecil replies:

The DH rule! Ah, the perfect topic for an end-of-summer
meta-answer, in which I convey timeless wisdom without
ever having to get out of the hammock. In fact, I'm not
even sure I want to ruffle the dendrites coming up with
original thoughts--better just to cite the baseball
sachems. (Conservative columnist and uberfan George
Will and statistics guru Bill James have both written
extensively on the DH, and three distinguished 
economists have published a scholarly paper on the
subject.) First, however, to address the question you
actually asked.

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030905.html

STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

We've all been warned by mothers/teachers/wives not
to stick forks or knives into the toaster to retrieve
stuff that's gotten jammed in there or is too short
to reach the top of the slots. Is it really possible
to electrocute yourself this way? How likely is that?
How many people actually get injured in this manner?
--Gary M. Raydon

SDSTAFF Q.E.D. replies:

Just guessing, Gary, but it sounds like you think that
electrocution by toaster is a silly female superstition
and that manly men have nothing to fear. Perhaps we can
also guess your feelings about seat belts, sunscreen,
and motorcycle helmets. Luckily, owing to generations of
mopes sticking knives into toasters, appliances and house
wiring now have safety features built into them to
protect guys like you from yourself. But nothing is
foolproof, and if you insist on doing your thing with
that knife, you're still taking a chance. 

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

STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 08/20/1982

Dear Cecil: 

Is picking one's nose harmful? Sometimes when I pick
mine, nasal hairs come out with the other stuff. In 
light of the filtering functions I have heard
ascribed to these hairs, is there any damage to the
olfactories? --Leo D., Dallas  

Cecil replies:  

The chief danger of picking your nose, Leo, is that
you will gross your friends out of existence and
wind up as a richly-deserving social pariah. Your
sense of smell is probably not in any great danger. 

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_270b.html

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