# Cafe Society **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=363 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 364 --- ## [Bourbon and bitters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bourbon-and-bitters/928856)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bourbon-and-bitters/928856 "2020-12-25T13:39:23Z")
Is there a name for an Old Fashioned without sugar? Mrs. L.A. just gave me a bourbon on the rocks with Angostura and Peychaud’s bitters. --- ## [The point a show hit its stride](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-point-a-show-hit-its-stride/928846)
**Author:** [@CastletonSnob1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob1)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-point-a-show-hit-its-stride/928846 "2020-12-25T13:26:47Z")
The first season of a show is almost always rough, because the writers are still getting the hang of the characters and stories. The ingredients for a great show are there, but they just can’t seem to put them together. … --- ## [Sounds of the season](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sounds-of-the-season/928639)
**Author:** [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sounds-of-the-season/928639 "2020-12-25T09:35:50Z")
I recently tried creating a poll where people could vote for as many as they liked, but I did something wrong. I hope to do better this time. Which do you like? I think I’m limited to 20. So yes, dozens are missing, … --- ## [Movies where they had to make convoluted explanations for why there was a sequel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-they-had-to-make-convoluted-explanations-for-why-there-was-a-sequel/928209)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-where-they-had-to-make-convoluted-explanations-for-why-there-was-a-sequel/928209 "2020-12-25T06:52:45Z")
so in some movies they finish it with a good sense of finality, but the movie makes money so they decide to make a sequel. when the sequel comes out there’s usually some convoluted story about why the film series is able… --- ## [Best/worst Christmas Songs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016)
**Author:** [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-christmas-songs/845016 "2020-12-25T05:57:25Z")
Christmas is almost here, and that means Christmas music being played ad naseum. What are the best/worst Christmas songs, in your opinion? --- ## [Your childhood TV crushes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-childhood-tv-crushes/921649)
**Author:** [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Replies:** 175\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-childhood-tv-crushes/921649 "2020-12-25T05:44:15Z")
Let’s say before age twelve to keep it wholesome. BTW, I’m a guy. Age 5 - Miss Robin from our local version of Romper Room Age 6 - Anne Francis from Honey West Age 6-8 - June Lockhart, Martha Kristen, Angela Cartright… --- ## [McDonald's Spamburger! Now with mayonnaise and Oreo crumbs!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-spamburger-now-with-mayonnaise-and-oreo-crumbs/928567)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-spamburger-now-with-mayonnaise-and-oreo-crumbs/928567 "2020-12-25T02:28:34Z")
Sadly, only available in China I hate mayonnaise. But I might give Spam with Oreo crumbles a chance. --- ## [Did World War II affect German beer? After the war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-world-war-ii-affect-german-beer-after-the-war/927799)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-world-war-ii-affect-german-beer-after-the-war/927799 "2020-12-25T01:06:41Z")
Did World War II affect the quality of beer in Nazi Germany? Was it rationed or in short supply? What would be the beer difference had I ordered a litre on September 1 1939 versus September 1 1943 versus September 1 1945… --- ## [Laurel and Hardy Never Fails to Disappoint](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laurel-and-hardy-never-fails-to-disappoint/928196)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laurel-and-hardy-never-fails-to-disappoint/928196 "2020-12-25T01:04:42Z")
So Laurel and Hardy are TCM’s Binary Star of the Month, and I’ve recorded a few of their shorts. I’ve watched The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case, Another Fine Mess, and The Battle of the Century. And all I got was a snicker … --- ## [Christmas carol lyrics we questioned as kids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-carol-lyrics-we-questioned-as-kids/928396)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-carol-lyrics-we-questioned-as-kids/928396 "2020-12-24T22:49:33Z")
As kids, we would sing Christmas carols without having a clue of what the words meant. It was a long time before I found out what a “round yon virgin” or a “door hymn” was. And where was “Orientare”, where three kings c… --- ## [Family Ties- Who ruined it more, the addition of Andy or Nick?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-ties-who-ruined-it-more-the-addition-of-andy-or-nick/922745)
**Author:** [@undeuxpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/undeuxpaw)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-ties-who-ruined-it-more-the-addition-of-andy-or-nick/922745 "2020-12-24T22:24:28Z")
I’m watching reruns of Family Ties and it’s currently in the third season where Elyse finds out she’s pregnant again. Up to that point, it was a pretty good show, they rotated the storylines between the parents and kids… --- ## [The best name ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-name-ever/635171 "2020-12-24T21:30:54Z")
NPR correspondent, Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, has THE best name ever. And possibly the best voice, too. When she signs off, the way she says her name and her city, Dakar, is heavenly You can hear her here. That is all. --- ## [Songs where the second part doesn't match the first part](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-second-part-doesnt-match-the-first-part/927655)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-second-part-doesnt-match-the-first-part/927655 "2020-12-24T21:21:28Z")
The difference can be musical or lyrical, or both. Usually the reason for this is simply, “We combined two different songs” but the reason isn’t really germane here. Classic example of “musical” would be “Layla”: … --- ## [Explain the Sad Puppies (Science Fiction Controversy)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-sad-puppies-science-fiction-controversy/927019)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 305\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-sad-puppies-science-fiction-controversy/927019 "2020-12-24T21:00:23Z")
My understanding of the Sad Puppies controversy has always been that a contingent of conservative science fiction writers began to resent the Hugos going to liberals who wrote from the perspective of women, LGBTQ, people… --- ## [Aw Damn! K T Oslin Died!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-damn-k-t-oslin-died/928832)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-damn-k-t-oslin-died/928832 "2020-12-24T17:32:13Z")
I dunno how many of you are familiar with KT Oslin, but I don’t think there’s a single song of hers that I dislike. Or even feel indifferent to. 2020 just had to take another one. Sucks. --- ## [Canadian Dopers, a little help from with Bob and Doug’s Christmas song](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-a-little-help-from-with-bob-and-doug-s-christmas-song/928669)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-a-little-help-from-with-bob-and-doug-s-christmas-song/928669 "2020-12-24T17:10:21Z")
Back in the 80s, I had the Bob and Doug McKenzie album The Great White North. One of the classic tracks from that album was their Christmas song, The 12 Days of Christmas. On day six, their true love gets them 6 packs of… --- ## [Let's have a demented Christmas!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-a-demented-christmas/926691)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-have-a-demented-christmas/926691 "2020-12-24T16:50:45Z")
Help me devise a Christmas song mix to counter the insipid pap we are going to be pelted with from now until New Years Eve. I will begin with a thoughtless ode to Christmas homecomings, Linda Bennett’s An Old Fashioned … --- ## [Why is Emily Dickinson considered an important poet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-emily-dickinson-considered-an-important-poet/928563)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-emily-dickinson-considered-an-important-poet/928563 "2020-12-24T04:13:05Z")
OK, I know this is going to stir up controversy. Her pretentious mimsy little pitherings may seem profound to perhaps a 13 year old who has not yet read widely… but really, on a broader scale, do they say anything new?… --- ## [RIP - James Gunn (the science fiction writer, not the director)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gunn-the-science-fiction-writer-not-the-director/928776)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-james-gunn-the-science-fiction-writer-not-the-director/928776 "2020-12-24T02:32:10Z")
James Gunn, in addition to being a fine writer, was an editor and the founder of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction Center for the Study of Science Fiction - Wikipedia . He wrote many books about science fict… --- ## [Is Bollinger a good Champagne?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bollinger-a-good-champagne/928769)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bollinger-a-good-champagne/928769 "2020-12-24T01:06:38Z")
I will be celebrating on zoom with friends from the U.K. at 6 pm my time so I won’t already be so drunk as to not taste the difference. I’m sure I just know Bollinger from James Bond films, but is it decent enough? How d… --- ## [Is Richard Corben dead? \[He died 12-02-2020\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-richard-corben-dead-he-died-12-02-2020/927794)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2020, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-richard-corben-dead-he-died-12-02-2020/927794 "2020-12-24T00:46:50Z")
I couldn’t post earlier, so I’ll try again… I heard Richard Corbin died on the 2nd, but I haven’t seen anything in the news. Does anyone have info? --- ## [Link me some rockabilly Christmas music](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-me-some-rockabilly-christmas-music/928305)
**Author:** [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2020, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/link-me-some-rockabilly-christmas-music/928305 "2020-12-23T22:23:28Z")
Here’s Brian Setzer --- ## [Tis the Season (Green Onions)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-green-onions/928671)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-green-onions/928671 "2020-12-23T22:04:08Z")
One of my favorite Christmas “songs” is Christmas Dragnet (enjoy!). One of the running gags is the bit about the relish tray, with the scallions that most folks call green onions (but they’re really scallions). Okay, so… --- ## [Travelling Wilburys or Wings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-wilburys-or-wings/916323)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travelling-wilburys-or-wings/916323 "2020-12-23T16:34:20Z")
Which do you prefer: The Wilburys or Wings? (Not a poll on which was the better band, just which do you like better, which would you rather put on the ol’ hi-fi and listen to on any given day). poll --- ## [A little Ponchielli in Roberta Flak's "Mood"? (Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, Side 2, 1972)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-ponchielli-in-roberta-flaks-mood-roberta-flack-donny-hathaway-side-2-1972/928623)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2020, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-ponchielli-in-roberta-flaks-mood-roberta-flack-donny-hathaway-side-2-1972/928623 "2020-12-23T08:01:04Z")
“Mood” is a rather obscure and depressing piece, the last song on the album. It really stands out from the rest of the album, not necessarily in a good or bad way, but as a break in theme. Composition of this slower inst… --- ## [Can you cook wthout a recipe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-cook-wthout-a-recipe/928379)
**Author:** [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2020, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-cook-wthout-a-recipe/928379 "2020-12-23T06:24:32Z")
Do you always consult a recipe when you cook, or can you cook by “instinct”? I learned to cook mostly by watching my aunt and my grandmother, a little my bobbe, who was my aunt’s mother. My mother did a lot of basic stuf… --- ## [Recommend some heirloom vegetables](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-heirloom-vegetables/928420)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2020, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-heirloom-vegetables/928420 "2020-12-23T04:45:08Z")
Yes, I know that I’m late with my Christmas shopping, but never mind that. My mom and my uncle are both very active gardeners. This year, Mom’s been experimenting with saving seeds from some heirloom tomatoes that she … --- ## [Who said, 'Critics hate coincidences'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-critics-hate-coincidences/927359)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-said-critics-hate-coincidences/927359 "2020-12-22T22:53:28Z")
The question is in the title. --- ## [Har Mar Superstar - Mailman!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/har-mar-superstar-mailman/928592)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/har-mar-superstar-mailman/928592 "2020-12-22T16:46:04Z")
I’ll admit it - I’d never heard of him until today, when this story showed up on my Facebook feed. Wiki makes it sound like he’s rather, ahem, colorful. He can’t do his usual shtick right now, so he might as well per… --- ## ["Christmas" music....that isn't Christmas related](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music-that-isnt-christmas-related/928539)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music-that-isnt-christmas-related/928539 "2020-12-22T12:19:18Z")
Why do we hear songs such as “My Favorite Things” only at Christmas? Written for the “Sound of Music” in 1959, it wasn’t first put on a Christmas album until 1964. “Parade of the Wooden/Tin Soldiers” was written in 1897… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=362) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=364)