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Cecil Adams
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== Personal details == Adams states that he has "never been photographed", and while there is at least one photo captioned with his name, the image is of [[Ed Zotti]], who fulfilled Adams's publicity engagements.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Piper | first = Paul S. |date=February 1995 | title = What makes Cecil Adams the world's greatest reference librarian? | journal = [[American Libraries]] | volume = 26 | issue = 2 |page=147 | issn = 0002-9769 | oclc = 854299 }}</ref> Previous editors include Mike Lenehan and [[Dave Kehr]]. In his columns, Adams has revealed a few details of his purported personal life, including the existence of a Mrs. Adams (the [[FAQ]] section on his website states that chance references to "Mrs. Adams" may refer to his mother), that he has a brother-in-law, and that he has either children or dwarves as helpers.<ref name="SDfaq">{{cite web | url = http://www.straightdope.com/who-is-this-man-called-cecil-adams/ | title = The Straight Dope: Who is this man called Cecil Adams? | access-date = February 22, 2019 | work = StraightDope.com | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | archive-date = February 22, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190222204613/http://www.straightdope.com/who-is-this-man-called-cecil-adams/ | url-status = live }}</ref> He has a brother.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Cecil|title=What is a felo-de-se?|url=https://www.straightdope.com/21341299/what-is-a-felo-de-se|work=The Straight Dope|date=17 August 1973|publisher=Sun-Times Media, LLC|access-date=2024-10-24|archive-date=16 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616032006/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/127/what-is-a-felo-de-se|url-status=live}}</ref> He is an accomplished traveler, and currently resides in [[Chicago|Chicago's]] 47th Ward.<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20100923.php | title = Are Chicago streets swept frequently so the city can collect more fines? | date = 2010-09-23 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] Chicago | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2010-10-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100926131740/http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20100923.php | archive-date = 2010-09-26 | url-status = dead }}</ref> He is also [[left-handed]]<ref name="SDfaq" /> and may be balding<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21341915/does-sex-make-your-acne-worse | title = Does sex make your acne worse? | date = 1992-08-28 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070515044930/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_217.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and [[colorblind]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21341613/who-decided-red-means-stop-and-green-means-go | title = Who decided red means "stop" and green means "go"? | date = 1986-03-07 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070502124052/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_152.html | url-status = live }}</ref> He mentions having taken a class with [[Northwestern University]] English professor [[Bergen Evans]],<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21343738/what-s-so-great-about-shakespeare | title = Why is William Shakespeare considered the greatest English language writer of all time? | date = 2005-10-14 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070503003553/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/051014.html | url-status = live }}</ref> mentions once working as an [[electrician|electrician's]] [[apprentice]],<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21342179/how-come-the-u-s-uses-120-volt-electricity-not-240-like-the-rest-of-the-world | title = How come the U.S. uses 120 volt electricity, not 240 like the rest of the world? | date = 1992-11-20 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-05-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070518184128/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_292.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and a railroad machinist's helper.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3176765#post3176765|title=Cecil! Tell us about you smashing the building with the crane! - Straight Dope Message Board|access-date=May 23, 2010|archive-date=March 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306025420/http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=3176765#post3176765|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also mentions attending a [[Catholic school]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21342323/why-is-the-heart-considered-the-center-of-love-and-affection | title = Why is the heart considered the center of love and affection? | date = 1996-02-16 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2007-09-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200449/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_271.html | url-status = live }}</ref> He is of [[Irish people|Irish]] descent,<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21342241/who-are-the-black-irish | title = Who are the "black Irish"? | date = 1993-07-30 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2008-02-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080213175711/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_077.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and relaxes with [[Pink Floyd]] and [[Baileys Irish Cream|Baileys]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Adams | first = Cecil | url = https://www.straightdope.com/21344045/can-binaural-beats-improve-your-mood | title = Can binaural beats improve your mood? | date = 2010-07-30 | work = [[The Straight Dope]] | publisher = [[The Chicago Reader]] | access-date = 2024-10-24 | archive-date = 2010-08-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100802161708/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2949/can-binaural-beats-improve-your-mood | url-status = live }}</ref>
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