The Straight Dope 09/20/2002

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

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 09/20/2002

Dear Cecil:

What's up with menopause? As a woman in her late 40s
experiencing hot flashes and other signs of the looming
cessation of menstruation, I'm wondering why women lose the
ability to reproduce while men retain it, at least
theoretically, until death. Not that I'm going to miss the
pill, tampons, etc., but there's a lack of symmetry here
that bothers my sense of aesthetics. Please advise. --Kitty
Phelan, Chicago

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Cecil replies:

I know it doesn't seem fair, ma'am, but look at the bright
side. Would you rather be part of the primary target
demographic for Viagra?

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/020920.html


STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

Who was King Pyrrhus and what happened during his Pyrrhic
victory? --Julio Comello, Toronto, Ontario 

SDSTAFF Ken replies:

Pyrrhus, king of Epirus in Greece, started the whole "win at
any cost" battle strategy. Born around 310 BC, he is
generally recognized as one of the greatest generals of
antiquity, "great" being defined in those days as "capable
of making sure nobody on the other side was left standing."
Trouble was, after Pyrrhus got done, a lot of people on his
side weren't feeling so hot either.

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


STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 04/14/1978

Dear Cecil: 

Recently the "I, Claudius" series on public television had
an episode where Claudius gains the popularity of the masses
by building a harbor to bring more corn to Rome. The
Encyclopedia Britannica also refers to this. But wasn't corn
domesticated in the Americas? And weren't American plants in
short supply in B.C. (Before Columbus) Rome? And wouldn't it
be fun to embarrass PBS and EB by pointing out that in Rome
there was no corn? --J.T., Baltimore  

Dear J.:  

There's
nothing I'd enjoy more than humiliating the two overrated
institutions you mention, but I'm afraid you're the only
target in range at the moment. "Corn" comes from the Latin
word for grain (granum), and through the ages it's been used
indiscriminately for whatever grain happens to predominate
in a particular region.

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_102.html

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