The Straight Dope: Why did mystery writer Agatha Christie mysteriously disappear?

[Send questions for Cecil Adams: cecil@straightdope.com](mailto:cecil@straightdope.com) FOLLOW CECIL ADAMS ON [TWITTER]( AND [FACEBOOK](! [820402rescan.gif] THREADSPOTTING: THE BEST OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE MESSAGE BOARD — 08/30/2019 It's the (pre)flight of the Monarchs [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #1 — 04/02/1982 Dear Cecil: Here is a question that will satisfy the curiosity of anyone who has ever read an Agatha Christie novel or seen one of her books as a movie or play. What is known about her mysterious "disappearance"? (1) When did she disappear? (2) Where was she (at home, on a trip, etc.)? (3) Was foul play suspected? (4) How old was she? (5) Could she have engineered her own disappearance to be dramatic in keeping with her novels? (6) Is she now presumed dead? — Linda D., Baltimore Cecil replies: Inasmuch as Agatha Christie was buried in an English churchyard in 1976, I think it’s pretty safe to assume she’s dead. However, you never know with these mystery writers [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 11/23/2004 Dear Straight Dope: I went fishing for salmon for the first time in my life last year in Washington along a beautiful quiet river with about 100 or so other anglers. Besides depositing beer cans, cigarette butts, fish guts, fast food trash, hundreds of yards of fishing line and multitudes of hooks, etc., I quickly noticed that due the rocky nature of the stream bottom anglers commonly broke their lines several times per session. Most of these "sportsmen" used lead weights on the end their lines. Considering that this has been happening every year for 30 (?) years or so there is probably a truckload of submerged lead lurking there. Does this practice pose a risk to the environment? Is lead really the most suitable material for this endeavor? — Mike SDStaff Una replies: Two things you might find surprising: First, lead fishing weights have a long history — the Egyptians used lead net sinkers 5,000-7,000 years ago (reference 2). Second, perhaps the greatest danger posed by lead fishing tackle is neither to fish nor humans, but to birds. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #2 — 07/02/1999 Dear Cecil: The other night I was talking with a friend who worked at a bar in Arizona where most of the hicks got shots of tequila. As they got drunker they would ask to have "the worm" (bleagh) along with their shot. My questions are: What kind of worm is that thing? Does drinking/eating the worm make you drunker? And how did the worm end up in the tequila? — Beth L. Grover, via the Internet Cecil replies: You probably think this is some ancient Mexican tradition, right? Not unless your idea of ancient is 1950. We even know who invented the practice. Various reasons are given for it, but I say it all boils down to: Let’s see if we can get the gringos to eat worms. [Click here]( for more. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [View this message as a webpage](. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To advertise on The Straight Dope, contact Rich Hummel at rhummel@suntimes.com [Privacy Policy/Terms of Use]( • [Unsubscribe]( © 2019 Straight Dope, LLC. 30 N Racine Ave. Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60607