The Straight Dope should get a Nobel or a Pulitzer or whatnot

I know it's kind of a cop out to make a blog entry that is just entirely referential like this, but it just struck me that "The Straight Dope" deserves some props. I get an email once in awhile with some SD teasers, and I almost always take a look. I mean, he/they have been at it for decades, answering the dumbest and cleverest of questions, and never losing the wit. Example:

Dear Cecil:

You may not think the following question is too cosmic, but let's face it, the topics you address in your column seldom are. How come some belly-buttons are "innies" and some are "outies"?

— M.E.L., Los Angeles

Now tell me honestly you aren't itching to know the answer? Okay, it's here. 

SD originated in the Chicago Reader, one of those great free metro weeklies that are mostly ads and always have a nice snarky tone in their editorial content. (One of many things that make big cities more fun that small towns.) Over the years, "Cecil Adams" has developed books, radio features, websites, movies? Religions? I don't know. But he's prolific. "Cecil" is a ficticious character - I think - and the columns are written by a guy named Ed Zotti - I think - but that matters not. It's heinously entertaining for anyone with an inquiring mind. 

Here are a few more teasers - questions that Cecil anwers for you:


Holy cow, how could one resist seeking more wisdom on these topics at www.straightdope.com. Go now, and thank me later...

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