The Straight Dope 09/26/2003

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

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 09/26/2003

Dear Cecil:

Oft have we all heard the aged whodunit cliche "The
butler did it!" But when did the butler ever do it?
I've never heard of the butler actually having done
it. How did this cliche become the cliche it became
if there were never any butlers who did it?
--Brian J. Wright, via e-mail

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Cecil replies:

Of course butlers do it. How do you think they make little
butlers? What you really want to know is whether the butler
in a whodunit ever actually committed the murder
(detective-story rule number seven says it must always be a
murder), and what writer was initially responsible for this
cliche most foul. Which, with apologies to Agatha Christie,
is the last detective-story cliche you'll read in this
column. Little Ed and I initially connived to cram it full
of Conan Doyle-isms, but halfway through I looked at him and
said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yes," he admitted. "The plot sickens."

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/030926.html

STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

Traditionally, people mount a horse from the left side
(although today, we train them to accept someone
getting on them from both sides). I was always told
that this was because knights used to wear their swords
on heir right leg, which they then had to keep straight
when mounting. Thus, they bent their left leg into the
stirrup and were able to swing their right leg over
straight. However, recently I have noticed that whenever
I see knights depicted in paintings or movies, the sword
is typically on the left side. Can you help me figure
this one out? What is the straight dope on why people
traditionally mount horses on the left side?
--Heather Hipp, Atlanta, GA

Guest contributor EddyTeddyFreddy replies:

We'd better begin by acknowledging the obvious, Heather.
The fact is that most people don't mount a horse from
the left side. Most people call a cab. People having
some acquaintance with horsemanship, however, know that
the left side is the horse's "near" side while the right
side is the "off" side. This is often explained in terms
of swords, but we're then obliged to acknowledge obvious
fact #2: While a fair number of people still ride horses,
you're living in one tough neighborhood if you need to
do so while wearing a sword.

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


STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 04/23/1982

Dear Cecil: 

I have this problem of being underweight. I'm a male, 
22, 5'10", and weigh only 125 pounds. I don't know what
the cause of it is, but whatever I eat and whatever I 
do I can't seem to gain any weight. I have taken some
weight-gaining tablets and drinks, but they don't help.
I have just started some body building, which might 
help, but I doubt it. People tell me my metabolism must
be going too fast. So my questions are: (1) Is my
metabolism going too fast? (2) If it is, when will it
slow down? (3) Do you have any advice that will help me
gain at least ten pounds? --R.E., Washington

Cecil replies:  
You realize, R., that yours is a problem two-thirds of 
North Americans would love to have. Not that that's much 
comfort, I'm sure. I've heard this "fast metabolism"
stuff for years, and as far as I've been able to discover
it's nonsense. Differences in basal metabolic rate (a 
easure of the rate at which the body burns energy while
at rest) per unit of body weight among healthy individuals
of the same sex are relatively minor. Major differences
are usually accounted for by some disorder like
hyperthyroidism. If you have any suspicions in this regard,
see a doctor.  

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_275c.html

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