The Straight Dope 05/28/2004

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

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THE STRAIGHT DOPE 05/28/2004

Dear Cecil:

Boston Globe columnist Ellen Goodman recently wrote, "After all, those
of us who remember when birth control was illegal and when 10,000
American women a year died from illegal abortions don't have to imagine
a world without choices. We were there." I write a blog about life after
abortion, and one of my co-bloggers says that the claim of 10,000 deaths
is well known to be an urban legend. However, Ellen Goodman is a famous
journalist, and she clearly believes that it is the truth. Is it?
--Emily of After Abortion, via e-mail

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Cecil replies:

No. Establishing exactly how many women died due to botched illegal
abortions is obviously impossible, since many of these deaths likely
weren't reported as such. However, even a generous reading of the
statistics we do have indicates that Goodman is off by a factor of ten;
a stickler might say she blew it by a ratio of 250 to 1. It's not like
this is a news flash, either. A reasonable approximation of the annual
total in the 60s has been public knowledge for 35 years.

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040528.html

STAFF REPORT

Dear Straight Dope:

What is the origin of pig Latin?  Fritz Horisk

SDSTAFF samclem replies:

First, a test:  

Which of the following is NOT pig Latin?

1.  Hammus Alabamus 
2.  Hoggibus, Piggibus 
3.  Ixnay 
4.  Amscray 
5.  Ofay 
6.  Igpay Atinlay 
7.  Wig-ge you-ge go-ge 
8.  "dunghill for unguem" 

And the answer is (drumroll)  . . .

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

STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC - 08/22/1980

Dear Cecil: 

This has been bugging me for years and now I've finally run out of
patience. If you don't tell me the answer I'll go nuts and start voting
for Republicans. Can you tell this ignorant slut who still calls films
"movies" just what in the world is a "mise-en-scene"? This will make
film criticism a trifle less impenetrable and make me more confident at
parties that feature white wine. --C.L.A., Chicago

Dear C.:

Don't fret about it, honey. The only guy I ever knew who understood what
mise-en-scene meant also used to use the word "albeit" in casual
conversation. Talk about your alien beings. 

For more, see:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_372a.html

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