The Straight Dope: Why don't we bomb the Afghan poppy fields?

[View this message as a web page] [The Straight Dope] 10/07/2016 Dear Cecil: Why haven't we bombed the poppy fields in Afghanistan, wiping out the world's largest source of opium and blocking the exportation of heroin that's killing so many Americans? — Billy from Philly Cecil replies: Hearts and minds, Billy, hearts and minds. We can't just go around unloading death from above on everyone and everything we don't like. Or at least we shouldn't. For more, see: [ STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 08/28/2000 Dear Straight Dope: Who was Sadie Hawkins, and why did she get a dance named after her? — Michael Witry SDStaff Dex replies: Sadie Hawkins' fame is not really from the dance, but from the race. She was a creation of cartoonist Al Capp in his strip Li'l Abner, set in the hillbilly town of Dogpatch, which started in 1934. Sadie first appeared in the daily strips of November 15-30, 1937. After a brief build-up, "What is Sadie Hawkins Day? Why does it inspire such terror in our Hero?" the strip explains: Sadie Hawkins was the daughter of one of the earliest settlers of Dogpatch, Hekzebiah Hawkins. She was the homeliest gal in all them hills. … For 15 years, [she] had failed to catch a husband. Her pappy, in desperation, one day called together all the eligible bachelors of Dogpatch." He declared Sadie Hawkins Day. For more, see: [ STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC — 09/12/2003 Dear Cecil: I'm sort of surprised that you dismiss the work of Freud as mere quackery in your recent column about B.F. Skinner. No doubt Freud's theories and the therapeutic effectiveness of psychoanalysis remain open and controversial issues. But accusing the father of psychoanalysis and one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century of quackery is simply "Freud-bashing" and serves no purpose. — T. Mehr, via the Straight Dope Message Board Cecil replies: I never accused Freud of mere quackery. On the contrary, I think most fair-minded folk nowadays would agree that Freud elevated quackery to a whole new level. Phrenology, animal magnetism, and the like have been consigned to the dustbin of history, but you'll still find intelligent people praising Freud's pioneering contributions to our understanding of the human mind. To adapt General Bosquet's remark about the Charge of the Light Brigade: Freudian theory may be magnificent, but it ain't science. For more, see: [ YOUR AD HERE! Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks. For rates and details contact Rich at [rhummel@suntimes.com]. Copyright © 2016 Sun-Times Media, LLC. This email was sent by The Straight Dope, Sun-Times Media, LLC., 350 N. Orleans, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654 [Unsubscribe/update preferences] This email was sent to {EMAIL}. To change or update your newsletter subscription preferences, or to unsubscribe from all Chicago Reader and Straight Dope newsletters and promotional communications, [click here]. Please allow 72 hours for this change to take effect.