# Cafe Society **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=46 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 47 --- ## [Places that have physical gift cards with bonus cards still?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-that-have-physical-gift-cards-with-bonus-cards-still/1025651)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-that-have-physical-gift-cards-with-bonus-cards-still/1025651 "2025-12-15T22:54:10Z")
Restaurants or fast food, need physical cards for Christmas cards. --- ## [I'm going to see Alton Brown live](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-alton-brown-live/1015317)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-see-alton-brown-live/1015317 "2025-12-15T16:11:32Z")
My wife got tickets for Alton Brown’s road show in Concord, NH on Tuesday 3/11. Anybody see him before? How is his show? --- ## [Let's build a Straight Dope Christmas Spotify list](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-build-a-straight-dope-christmas-spotify-list/975749)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2025, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-build-a-straight-dope-christmas-spotify-list/975749 "2025-12-15T10:28:39Z")
If this is like all the other Spotify threads I’ve started, it will go nowhere. I’m going to build a Christmas playlist for the Straight Dope and need your help to build it. You can pick at most 3 songs to add. “Chri… --- ## [Identify a song based on a three-note riff from a commercial](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-song-based-on-a-three-note-riff-from-a-commercial/1025654)
**Author:** [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2025, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-song-based-on-a-three-note-riff-from-a-commercial/1025654 "2025-12-14T14:49:06Z")
The commercial in question is for Native deodorant. You can see it here, and the riff is at the very end (“It’s Native…”) Delete the space between the C and the Q at the end for the link since it won’t let me post it. h… --- ## [What was the first instance of using a record scratch as comic punctuation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-instance-of-using-a-record-scratch-as-comic-punctuation/487708)
**Author:** [@jefusan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jefusan)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2025, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-first-instance-of-using-a-record-scratch-as-comic-punctuation/487708 "2025-12-14T03:53:34Z")
You know the deal… someone in a movie says something at a party, or enters the wrong bar, and everyone stops talking as the music stops and the needle scratches across the record. In what movie or TV show did that first… --- ## [What songs best portray botanist journaling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-best-portray-botanist-journaling/1025637)
**Author:** [@melaniethewitch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melaniethewitch)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-best-portray-botanist-journaling/1025637 "2025-12-13T17:15:52Z")
What song encaptures the vibes? :3 My personal songs for it Oblivion Genesis Insomniac by memo boy and chakra efendi Feel the melody and Dandelion by Gabbie hannah --- ## [The Death of Bookstores](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-death-of-bookstores/1025614)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2025, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-death-of-bookstores/1025614 "2025-12-13T11:08:04Z")
It was pretty hard to miss the mass die-off of major bookstore chains, indie bookstores, and even used bookstores after about 2000. Even in Boston and Cambridge, the sudden disappearance of scads of the used bookshops th… --- ## [ID a TV episode about fantasy sports and desk poop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-a-tv-episode-about-fantasy-sports-and-desk-poop/1025647)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2025, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-a-tv-episode-about-fantasy-sports-and-desk-poop/1025647 "2025-12-13T00:37:39Z")
This recently came to mind and has been driving me crazy trying to figure it out. I saw it within the last couple of years but it could be older. Somebody who screws up a lot is trying to make up to / bond with somebod… --- ## [John Lennon was murdered 45 years ago today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-lennon-was-murdered-45-years-ago-today/1025527)
**Author:** [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-lennon-was-murdered-45-years-ago-today/1025527 "2025-12-12T22:28:15Z")
It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been so long. Like today, December 8th, 1980 was a Monday. I was 15 years old, and was watching Monday Night Football – like a lot of people, I learned about Lennon’s death from his u… --- ## [Is there a photographer in the house? (simple question about framing/cropping)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-photographer-in-the-house-simple-question-about-framing-cropping/1025170)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-photographer-in-the-house-simple-question-about-framing-cropping/1025170 "2025-12-12T17:26:30Z")
Which is better (when using a DSLR): Should I take as wide a picture as possible (or reasonable) and then crop the picture to bring attention to the subject? -or- Frame the subject as well as possible when snapping t… --- ## [ID this time signature for me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-time-signature-for-me/1025602)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-time-signature-for-me/1025602 "2025-12-11T23:26:24Z")
Further to Fly by Paul Simon. Main verse sounds like 3/4, 6/4, or 12/4 and then I can’t even clock what’s going on in the chorus. --- ## [Raul Malo, leader singer of the Mavericks, dies at 60](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raul-malo-leader-singer-of-the-mavericks-dies-at-60/1025559)
**Author:** [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raul-malo-leader-singer-of-the-mavericks-dies-at-60/1025559 "2025-12-11T21:43:29Z")
Very sad to hear this - their concerts were terrific. Apparently he was fighting two different kinds of cancer. --- ## ["Rudolph" T.V. Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rudolph-t-v-special/43518)
**Author:** [@poohpah\_chalupa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poohpah_chalupa)\ **Replies:** 828\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rudolph-t-v-special/43518 "2025-12-11T18:44:14Z")
On the Island of Misfit Toys, in addition to Charlie-In-The-Box and a choo-choo train with square wheels (among others), there was a red-haired rag doll. What was her name and why was she a misfit? Also, the (flying) Li… --- ## [Jeff Goldblum Oz ad edited?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeff-goldblum-oz-ad-edited/1025611)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeff-goldblum-oz-ad-edited/1025611 "2025-12-11T17:47:36Z")
I just saw this ad for Xfinity The beginning shows an overhead shot of Jeff Goldblum walking to his car from opening night for “Wicked for Good,” and we hear a voice-over “My son is already in the car” - w… --- ## [Why is the verse of Dr Seuss so difficult for anyone else to do well?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-verse-of-dr-seuss-so-difficult-for-anyone-else-to-do-well/1025604)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-verse-of-dr-seuss-so-difficult-for-anyone-else-to-do-well/1025604 "2025-12-11T14:27:39Z")
I’ve seen quite a few examples of verse written in an attempt to mimic the style of Dr Seuss - from amateurs, a lot and it’s nearly always cringe, but even in produced works where presumably there were professionals task… --- ## [Have some All in the Family episodes been edited?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-some-all-in-the-family-episodes-been-edited/297708)
**Author:** [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-some-all-in-the-family-episodes-been-edited/297708 "2025-12-11T11:45:38Z")
To remove Archie Bunker’s most egregious racial epithets? I’ve heard this, but a google search doesn’t bring up any answers. It seems unlikely that Archie’s racial slurs would be acceptable for the 70’s but not now. A… --- ## [Name your all-time three favorite novels, in order. No more than three, please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-all-time-three-favorite-novels-in-order-no-more-than-three-please/1025316)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-your-all-time-three-favorite-novels-in-order-no-more-than-three-please/1025316 "2025-12-11T07:26:48Z")
Has this been done before? Probably. I dunno. Whatever. As mentioned, please rank your selections. And, I know it’s difficult, but please mention only three. Three shall be the number thou shalt submit, and the number … --- ## [Movies into TV series](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-into-tv-series/1025438)
**Author:** [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-into-tv-series/1025438 "2025-12-11T05:02:27Z")
Imagine you’ve written the screenplay for a movie that doesn’t get picked up by a studio but someone has the bright idea that this screenplay, lightly transformed, would make for a good TV series. You’d have to re-couch … --- ## [Grammy-nominated gospel and opera singer Jubilant Sykes dead at 71; mentally ill son charged with his murder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-nominated-gospel-and-opera-singer-jubilant-sykes-dead-at-71-mentally-ill-son-charged-with-his-murder/1025598)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 11, 2025, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammy-nominated-gospel-and-opera-singer-jubilant-sykes-dead-at-71-mentally-ill-son-charged-with-his-murder/1025598 "2025-12-11T00:23:05Z")
This is a horrible situation. He was nominated for a Grammy for his 2010 recording of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass, and he does a breathtaking rendition of “Mary, Did You Know?”. Rest, good and faithful ser… --- ## [Transformers (cartoon/film/movie franchise) Cosmology and Biology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transformers-cartoon-film-movie-franchise-cosmology-and-biology/1025574)
**Author:** [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transformers-cartoon-film-movie-franchise-cosmology-and-biology/1025574 "2025-12-10T22:55:00Z")
Continuing the discussion from Is it possible to be racist against AIs?: I started off a new thread because I was worried that this was getting too off-topic for the original thread in GD. While the origin of the Trans… --- ## [Ersatz Burritos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ersatz-burritos/1025512)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ersatz-burritos/1025512 "2025-12-10T22:49:06Z")
I’ve been seeing an ad for Spam tacos. Then my daughter made King Ranch cassrole tonight. I like it because leftovers can be rolled in a tortilla. Yeah, my Ersatz Burrito. You? (Only one problem, there was none left… --- ## [It warms the heart-In praise of hot cereals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-warms-the-heart-in-praise-of-hot-cereals/1025561)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-warms-the-heart-in-praise-of-hot-cereals/1025561 "2025-12-10T19:55:27Z")
I just had a bowl of Wheatena-delicious! What hot cereals have you tried and/or liked? --- ## [What has Debbie Harry got on her right hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-debbie-harry-got-on-her-right-hand/982596)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-debbie-harry-got-on-her-right-hand/982596 "2025-12-10T16:54:08Z")
What has Debbie Harry got on her right hand? Spoilered because Debbie Harry: Summary --- ## [Frank (Electrical Contractor) on Holmes on Homes died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-electrical-contractor-on-holmes-on-homes-died/1025578)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-electrical-contractor-on-holmes-on-homes-died/1025578 "2025-12-10T13:51:23Z")
Frank started on the first episode of Holmes on Homes and appeared in all Mike’s other shows. DIY’ers usually tie into the house’s electrical. Frank often had to replace the panel to eliminate overloaded circuits and re… --- ## [Famous actors who have played their eponyms?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-actors-who-have-played-their-eponyms/1025506)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-actors-who-have-played-their-eponyms/1025506 "2025-12-10T04:17:03Z")
After getting back from a screening of Hamnet, I was disappointed to discover that Anne Hathaway has never played the character of Anne Hathaway (for who she was apparently explicitly named after). I know I said eponym … --- ## [Why do I find, "Celluloid Heroes," so moving?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-find-celluloid-heroes-so-moving/1025475)
**Author:** [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-find-celluloid-heroes-so-moving/1025475 "2025-12-10T00:34:01Z")
I picked up a vinyl copy of The Kinks’, “One for the Road,” recently and was listening to it tonight, so that’s the version that’s fresh in my mind. I swear that every time I hear this song (any version) I’m weeping by … --- ## [Is the "Peanuts" theme (Linus and Lucy) Christmas Music?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-peanuts-theme-linus-and-lucy-christmas-music/676305)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 170\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-peanuts-theme-linus-and-lucy-christmas-music/676305 "2025-12-09T18:09:36Z")
The 24 hour Christmas Music Radio station and the piano player at the restaurant I was at last night think so. Do you? Link here if you aren’t sure what song I mean. --- ## [Cinderella - Lesley Ann Warren](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinderella-lesley-ann-warren/1025514)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2025, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinderella-lesley-ann-warren/1025514 "2025-12-08T23:27:30Z")
I was watching Secretary which had Lesley Ann Warren in it and that started me thinking about her starring in Cinderella. I googled a bit of it (YouTube) and it was in color! Was it colorized, I could have sworn it was … --- ## [Podcasts you both love and hate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podcasts-you-both-love-and-hate/1025153)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podcasts-you-both-love-and-hate/1025153 "2025-12-08T23:15:50Z")
I’ve been listening to the Prancing Pony podcast, which is what got me started on this thought. They do a deep dive on Tolkien’s work: The Hobbit, LOTR, the Simarillion. Really excellent word-nerdery and detailed analysi… --- ## [Old Music Friday with Owen Cutts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-music-friday-with-owen-cutts/1025496)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-music-friday-with-owen-cutts/1025496 "2025-12-08T23:00:48Z")
This gentleman is talented and hilarious. The whole channel is entertaining but the Old Music Fridays are the best. Deep this. (Pink Floyd) Or this. (Dusty Springfield) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=47)