The Straight Dope: Could I take down a T. rex with my Beretta 9mm pistol?

[Send questions for Cecil Adams: cecil@straightdope.com](mailto:cecil@straightdope.com) FOLLOW CECIL ADAMS ON [TWITTER]( AND [FACEBOOK](! [dope_110930_huntingtrex.gif] THREADSPOTTING: THE BEST OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE MESSAGE BOARD — 10/18/2019 So bad it was curated. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #1 — 09/30/2011 Dear Cecil: Would I be able to take down a fully-grown T. rex armed only with my Beretta 92FS 9mm pistol and a full clip? What about with a 12-gauge shotgun? — Jeramie Powers Cecil replies: At a meta level, the research department was impressed with your question, Jeramie. What with tsunamis, tornadoes, and looming sovereign debt default, the past year has taught us to be ready for anything, Little Ed observed. Sure, meeting up with a T. rex on the bike path ranks low on the likely-crisis list. However, the risk associated with box cutters was historically underestimated, too. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 08/18/2000 Dear Straight Dope: I've always liked the great outdoors, camping, boating, etc., but hate mosquitos bites just like everyone else. Although I've thought of blowing them up by flexing my muscles, let's say I have better things to do. What I'd like to know is why the bite is itchy and not painful. Other stinging insects such as bees and black flies hurt like hell. — Pat SDStaff Doug and SDStaff Jill reply: The mosquito’s goal is to take something out, namely your blood. Mosquitoes are trying to bite without you noticing until it’s too late. The itch you experience is just an aftereffect caused by your body’s immune response. The bee sticks something in — poison — to purposely make it hurt. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #2 — 09/14/2007 Dear Cecil: My dad and I were discussing how long meat kept in the freezer remains safe for consumption. He mentioned that an organization called the Explorers Club had thawed out a prehistoric woolly mammoth, cooked it, and eaten it. This seemed dubious at best to me, so I thought I'd ask that great font of wisdom, Unca Cece. Has anyone in modern times ever eaten a preserved piece of prehistory? — Garth Lewis, via e-mail Cecil replies: What’s the dubious part? Mammoth meat exists; ergo, someone’s tried to eat it. Forget Fear Factor — anyone old enough to remember when hot food was regularly served on domestic flights can tell you: some people will eat anything. [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