# Cafe Society **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=13 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 14 --- ## [Time Travel in fiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-in-fiction/1019240)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 253\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-in-fiction/1019240 "2026-07-27T14:45:24Z")
A thread on “stuff people get wrong in movies” engendered an enthusiastic discussion of time travel, which didn’t belong there, but seemed like it might want to continue. So I’m moving it here. --- ## [Miracle Max's door](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miracle-maxs-door/1031193)
**Author:** [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2026, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miracle-maxs-door/1031193 "2026-07-27T13:08:47Z")
In The Princess Bride, after Inigo knocks on Miracle Max’s door Max opens a little door in the door to see who’s knocking. What is the name of that little door in the door? --- ## [Soft-boiled egg time](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-boiled-egg-time/1000389)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-boiled-egg-time/1000389 "2026-07-26T23:05:02Z")
I mentioned this in another thread, but I want a perfect soft-boiled egg. ‘Perfect’ means that the white is completely set, and the yolk is runny. So how do I make them? We generally have ‘jumbo’ eggs. If we can’t ge… --- ## [Book ID](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-id/679665)
**Author:** [@TheZenPaperboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheZenPaperboy)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-id/679665 "2026-07-26T22:47:11Z")
There was this book I read part of in a magazine that was an oral history type of the white collar world. The time frame was between 1985 and 1988. I do not remember what the magazine was. Maybe Harpers or The Atlantic. … --- ## [If your TV remote has preprogrammed buttons for streaming services, how many of them do you use?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-tv-remote-has-preprogrammed-buttons-for-streaming-services-how-many-of-them-do-you-use/1031820)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2026, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-your-tv-remote-has-preprogrammed-buttons-for-streaming-services-how-many-of-them-do-you-use/1031820 "2026-07-26T03:31:45Z")
My Vizio remote has Vudu, Netflix, Amazon, Xumo, Crackle, and I Heart Radio. I use Netflix and Amazon. I have no idea what Vudu, Xumo, and Crackle are. I never use I Heart Radio. --- ## [Favorite short stories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-short-stories/1030512)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-short-stories/1030512 "2026-07-26T01:00:59Z")
I was in a discussion with friends about our favorite short stories and there wasn’t a single person who could come up with an absolute favorite. We had to narrow it down to a favorite by different authors. I have six… --- ## [The Stand - 2020 miniseries (possible spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stand-2020-miniseries-possible-spoilers/928275)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stand-2020-miniseries-possible-spoilers/928275 "2026-07-25T23:09:24Z")
Premiering today on CBS All Access - looks good! Previous thread on the 1994 miniseries: The Old 'The Stand' Mini-series casting and a couple of observations And see: --- ## [A scene from Homer's Odyssey](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-scene-from-homers-odyssey/1031920)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2026, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-scene-from-homers-odyssey/1031920 "2026-07-25T22:01:13Z")
I started listening to an audiobook of The Odyssey. Not far into it there is an account of Odysseus sneaking into Troy and wandering around dressed as a beggar. The goal is to steal the Palladium, an object sacred to Ath… --- ## [Looking for "Star Fleet" tv series](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-star-fleet-tv-series/1031877)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-star-fleet-tv-series/1031877 "2026-07-25T14:03:53Z")
Checking out the new Time Portal TV on Roku, and a series titled “Star Fleet” just popped up. Supermarionation-type show set in the future, and I can’t find it on Wiki or IMDb. Somebody clue me in. --- ## [Dragnet—a new rant about an old show](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dragnet-a-new-rant-about-an-old-show/1031668)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dragnet-a-new-rant-about-an-old-show/1031668 "2026-07-25T12:56:57Z")
I’ve been seeing a lot of Dragnet lately on MeTV and without a doubt it has the worst dialogue writing and delivery I’ve ever seen on a successful show. Everyone talks at a rate like they are trying to squeeze an hour’s … --- ## [King of the Hill season 14](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-of-the-hill-season-14/1020709)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2026, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/king-of-the-hill-season-14/1020709 "2026-07-25T10:32:48Z")
The trailer is out --- ## [Navel Oranges are so much better today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navel-oranges-are-so-much-better-today/1031861)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navel-oranges-are-so-much-better-today/1031861 "2026-07-25T00:42:36Z")
I quit buying oranges for several years. Peeling was such a chore and I disliked the bitter, thick white stuff. I’ve bought Navel Oranges (every week) from Walmart this summer. They peel easily. There’s no need to score… --- ## [Jeana Keogh (1980s ZZ Top Girl) diagnosed with tongue cancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeana-keogh-1980s-zz-top-girl-diagnosed-with-tongue-cancer/1031881)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeana-keogh-1980s-zz-top-girl-diagnosed-with-tongue-cancer/1031881 "2026-07-24T22:23:34Z")
Link. For those of us who remember, she was the brunette in the videos. Doesn’t sound particularly good. Kymberly Herrin, one of the blondes, died in 2020 of undisclosed causes, but her obit mentioned donating to brea… --- ## [Glasgow School of Art](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasgow-school-of-art/816292)
**Author:** [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasgow-school-of-art/816292 "2026-07-24T20:14:43Z")
Since it’s an ongoing news story, this could possibly go in MPIMS, but the fire that has destroyed Mackintosh’s art school is possibly the worst destruction of an important piece of architecture that I can remember in my… --- ## [Classical music that used a blues shuffle beat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-that-used-a-blues-shuffle-beat/1031802)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-that-used-a-blues-shuffle-beat/1031802 "2026-07-24T10:32:56Z")
Is there any classical music, say pre-1900, that used that classic blues shuffle beat? I think it’s a triplet beat that skips the middle note of the triplet, right? Or, maybe a 6/8 time signature that skips 2 and 5? A… --- ## [We now live in an alternate reality (The weirdest Mandela effect yet)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-now-live-in-an-alternate-reality-the-weirdest-mandela-effect-yet/1031829)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-now-live-in-an-alternate-reality-the-weirdest-mandela-effect-yet/1031829 "2026-07-24T02:28:03Z")
There’s a scene in Moonraker where Jaws steps out of his escape pod after escaping from the shuttle and he meets a cute girl. I remember this girl wearing braces. This is apparently not true. This wouldn’t bother me so m… --- ## [The Business of Hollywood Sequels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-business-of-hollywood-sequels/1031856)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-business-of-hollywood-sequels/1031856 "2026-07-23T18:38:48Z")
Chronos forwarded an interesting hypothesis on a different thread. Namely, that successful movie franchises usually end with two final bad movies: a first bad movie where audiences watch it based purely on the reputation… --- ## [An airplane movie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airplane-movie/1031855)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-airplane-movie/1031855 "2026-07-23T18:04:22Z")
Just thought of this movie while fuming about the Qatari jet: a new design of a jet is sitting out on the tarmac, and a guy, possibly the designer, does whatever raises the nose gear. The nose crashes to the runway. A qu… --- ## [German translation in "Marathon Man" (1976)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-translation-in-marathon-man-1976/1031806)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 23, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-translation-in-marathon-man-1976/1031806 "2026-07-23T17:59:35Z")
Not that it’s actually needed for the scene, but inquiring minds wanna know. Near the beginning of the movie a car driven by a man named Szell stalls, and an already highly POed motorist (Rosenbaum, whose car repairs ha… --- ## [Toy Story 5: Rise of the LLMs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-story-5-rise-of-the-llms/1024790)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-story-5-rise-of-the-llms/1024790 "2026-07-22T21:45:10Z")
Toy Story is on tap for summer, 2026, and it looks like the main cast will all be back! Logline: Bonnie is going to get a new toy called Lily Pad, a touchpad ‘friend’ who will try to separate her from her other toys. #Me… --- ## [Avatar is basically Aliens but from the perspective of the Aliens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-basically-aliens-but-from-the-perspective-of-the-aliens/1031714)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avatar-is-basically-aliens-but-from-the-perspective-of-the-aliens/1031714 "2026-07-22T21:34:24Z")
I watched Avatar Fire and Ice (or whatever it’s called) and I finally figured out what always sort of put me off about the series. It’s basically the Aliens series but through the eyes of the Xenomorphs. The main diffe… --- ## [How seriously should I take this warning about defrosting vacuum-sealed fish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-seriously-should-i-take-this-warning-about-defrosting-vacuum-sealed-fish/1031827)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2026, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-seriously-should-i-take-this-warning-about-defrosting-vacuum-sealed-fish/1031827 "2026-07-22T00:57:13Z")
So, I often get videos from this food scientist in my YouTube feed. She seems like she really knows her stuff, and I like how she makes no-nonsense videos that cut through all the BS and myths of food quality and safety. … --- ## [North African merguez sausages)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-african-merguez-sausages/1013265)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-african-merguez-sausages/1013265 "2026-07-21T02:36:39Z")
I’ve told this before, but… Back in the late-'80s, Trader Joe’s sold North African merguez sausage. I think those were the spiciest sausages I’ve ever eaten. Naturally, they were discontinued. After moving up here, a… --- ## [Trifle possibilities?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trifle-possibilities/1031325)
**Author:** [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trifle-possibilities/1031325 "2026-07-21T02:33:21Z")
I have been unexpectedly turned into the host of a 4th of July party, which is fine but a bit short notice as I tend to start the menu planning / shopping / sous-chef prep a week or two in advance, and yet here we are, o… --- ## [Please show me "a small limestone house", like the one the Angstroms bought in Rabbit Is Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-show-me-a-small-limestone-house-like-the-one-the-angstroms-bought-in-rabbit-is-rich/1031740)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-show-me-a-small-limestone-house-like-the-one-the-angstroms-bought-in-rabbit-is-rich/1031740 "2026-07-20T22:36:57Z")
Partway through Rabbit Is Rich, Harry and Janice buy a small two-story stone house with two bedrooms, presumably a servants’ house left over from the time when the entire neighborhood belonged to a single grand country e… --- ## [The Bear on Hulu](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bear-on-hulu/967470)
**Author:** [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Replies:** 229\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bear-on-hulu/967470 "2026-07-20T17:53:45Z")
Anyone watching this show? Jeremy Allen White plays a chef who moves back to Chicago to run his brother’s restaurant after his brother commits suicide. It’s a failing restaurant, they have no money, and his brother owe… --- ## [What if anyone could make perfect films and shows?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anyone-could-make-perfect-films-and-shows/1031718)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anyone-could-make-perfect-films-and-shows/1031718 "2026-07-20T16:20:56Z")
An app appears on every smart phone and computer in the world today. It allows you to create any film or show exactly the same in every way as a normally made one. You wouldn’t know it was artificially generated but for … --- ## [Movies where characters learn a foreign language all too quickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-characters-learn-a-foreign-language-all-too-quickly/1031107)
**Author:** [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2026, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-characters-learn-a-foreign-language-all-too-quickly/1031107 "2026-07-20T13:38:31Z")
I just recently watched Robinson Crusoe (1997 Pierce Brosnan) and thought, how awfully quickly Friday learned English. He even learned the word “spirit”. Another example, in my dive into old movies, Enemy Mine (1985) c… --- ## [What's the strangest venue you've ever seen for an established or up-and-coming act?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-strangest-venue-youve-ever-seen-for-an-established-or-up-and-coming-act/1031762)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-strangest-venue-youve-ever-seen-for-an-established-or-up-and-coming-act/1031762 "2026-07-19T15:47:33Z")
From my own personal standpoint, it was a small college gym that AFAIK has never hosted a rock concert before or since, and it was Cheap Trick a couple years after they hit their prime. The only thing I remember about i… --- ## [The Plastic Age/Kids' Sci-Fi Anthology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-plastic-age-kids-sci-fi-anthology/317924)
**Author:** [@AmyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmyG)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2026, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-plastic-age-kids-sci-fi-anthology/317924 "2026-07-19T04:54:32Z")
I swear that I remember reading a short story when I was a little kid (elementary school, early or mid 1980s) that I think was called “The Plastic Age” (no, it’s not the book by Percy Marks). I don’t remember much, exce… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=14)