# Cafe Society **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=460 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 461 --- ## [Muppeteer Caroll Spinney dead at 85](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muppeteer-caroll-spinney-dead-at-85/844560)
**Author:** [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muppeteer-caroll-spinney-dead-at-85/844560 "2019-12-08T23:01:21Z")
The puppeteer and voice of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch from their creation in 1969 until his retirement last year has passed on. Big Bird can say hi to Mr Hooper again… --- ## [The poor mans version of ....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-poor-mans-version-of/844055)
**Author:** [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-poor-mans-version-of/844055 "2019-12-08T22:05:58Z")
So I caught The Losers\* On TV today while tread-milling, a movie I did not know existed until I was watching it. Which at first made me think about how many movies now exist entirely of Comic book movie actors, playi… --- ## [The Elf Who Lost His Hand in a Tragic Toy Factory Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elf-who-lost-his-hand-in-a-tragic-toy-factory-accident/844511)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-elf-who-lost-his-hand-in-a-tragic-toy-factory-accident/844511 "2019-12-08T22:02:55Z")
A Christmas Miracle --- ## [Songs with Christmas as the backdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-christmas-as-the-backdrop/844410)
**Author:** [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-christmas-as-the-backdrop/844410 "2019-12-08T21:52:09Z")
I was listening to She’s Right On Time by Billy Joel, and I realized that, even though it has a few oblique references to Christmas (“turn on all the Christmas lights,” “when I set up my Christmas tree,” and two referenc… --- ## [Resolved: Quadrophenia is the best album ever recorded](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-quadrophenia-is-the-best-album-ever-recorded/844363)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-quadrophenia-is-the-best-album-ever-recorded/844363 "2019-12-08T21:02:33Z")
Uppers and downers, either way blood flows. --- ## [Jean-Luc Godard's Sympathy for the Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jean-luc-godards-sympathy-for-the-devil/844549)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jean-luc-godards-sympathy-for-the-devil/844549 "2019-12-08T17:52:54Z")
Just watched it again, and while I will always love seeing the evoluton in the studio of “Sympathy for the Devil”, what a piece of crap film. You want to make a movie of the recording of a song, make it. You want to make… --- ## [Just the Parade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-the-parade/844137)
**Author:** [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-the-parade/844137 "2019-12-08T15:52:50Z")
Would anyone else rather watch the Thanksgiving Day parade without the stoppages for performances? I mean, just a parade going by with no canned music or lip synced vocals or big dance numbers? --- ## [How affordable can decent sound recording equipment be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-affordable-can-decent-sound-recording-equipment-be/844434)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-affordable-can-decent-sound-recording-equipment-be/844434 "2019-12-08T06:12:08Z")
Of course, YMMV as far as what “decent” means here. But right now, using my laptop and headset’s microphones, the best I was able to achieve is this: The strings sound a lot tinnier than they did IRL and there’s some … --- ## [The Night They Drove Ole' Dixie Down by The Band](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-they-drove-ole-dixie-down-by-the-band/844547)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-night-they-drove-ole-dixie-down-by-the-band/844547 "2019-12-08T04:33:48Z")
Just listened to the exceptional verson on The Last Waltz. Always loved The Band and this song. I’ve always taken the as song a sympathetic portryal of southerers caught up in the war.They didn’t support, or not, slave… --- ## [Khadaji's Whatcha Reading Thread - November 2019 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2019-edition/842809)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-november-2019-edition/842809 "2019-12-08T04:33:33Z")
November… only two more months left of our teens! Yes, yes, I know I am nearly 55 but I’m holding onto this thought with BOTH hands :smiley: So right now I am reading: \*\* Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders a… --- ## [Brian Jones stays in Stones 1969 forward or Mick Taylor stays in Stones 1974 forward](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-jones-stays-in-stones-1969-forward-or-mick-taylor-stays-in-stones-1974-forward/844501)
**Author:** [@escaped](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/escaped)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-jones-stays-in-stones-1969-forward-or-mick-taylor-stays-in-stones-1974-forward/844501 "2019-12-08T04:17:23Z")
If either Jones or Taylor stayed dint the tones what direction would the ban d of went in??? --- ## [A different sort of Christmas cookie exchange](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-sort-of-christmas-cookie-exchange/844534)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-different-sort-of-christmas-cookie-exchange/844534 "2019-12-08T02:55:58Z")
I went to a cookie exchange today. Everyone in the group makes three dozen cookies and they are all set out on a table. Then we all go around and pick out a mix of the cookies presented, getting a great assortment for … --- ## [Bob Dylan Live at the Beacon Theatre NYC 11-30!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-live-at-the-beacon-theatre-nyc-11-30/844529)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-dylan-live-at-the-beacon-theatre-nyc-11-30/844529 "2019-12-08T01:20:05Z")
Got tickets for old times sake mostly, have seen him about 10 times but not since 2002. Low expectations but damn, the man has still got it at 78! I am now listening to the show I saw. Things Have Changed (Bob on guita… --- ## [Coincidence or plagiarism? Twilight zone/comic book story](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coincidence-or-plagiarism-twilight-zone-comic-book-story/752321)
**Author:** [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coincidence-or-plagiarism-twilight-zone-comic-book-story/752321 "2019-12-07T21:52:06Z")
Here’s a link to an old issue of “Strange Tales” circa 1951. http://readcomiconline.com/Comic/Strange-Tales-1951/Issue-3?id=33318 The second story bears quite a resemblance to a TZ episode from 1959. (Story-The Man wh… --- ## [Money, Marbles and Chalk. Huh?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-marbles-and-chalk-huh/844523)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/money-marbles-and-chalk-huh/844523 "2019-12-07T21:20:37Z")
I was listening to some old blues music and found this song, Money, Marbles and Chalk. Googling around a found another song by Patti Page with the same name. There are country and bluegrass tunes too. But I couldn’t rea… --- ## [AI text generator](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-text-generator/843204)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Replies:** 161\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-text-generator/843204 "2019-12-07T14:41:36Z")
Remember a few months ago Elon Musk announced that he wouldn’t be releasing a AI text generator because of it’s ability to creat fake news stories on demand? Well, it’s been released- https://talktotransformer.com/ Th… --- ## [Black Widow Teaser Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow-teaser-trailer/844302)
**Author:** [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-widow-teaser-trailer/844302 "2019-12-07T14:32:05Z")
Marvel Studios just released a teaser trailer for the Black Widow movie (coming May 1, 2020). Looks pretty promising. --- ## [Charlie X is gone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-x-is-gone/844496)
**Author:** [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-x-is-gone/844496 "2019-12-07T14:27:36Z")
Robert Walker, Jr. has died at age 79. I didn’t know he was Jennifer “Towering Inferno” Jones’s son. --- ## [Do you own/use a kitchen mortar & pestle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-use-a-kitchen-mortar-pestle/837979)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-use-a-kitchen-mortar-pestle/837979 "2019-12-07T14:08:48Z")
I watch some cooking channels on YouTube and today I watched one that featured the chef grinding some coriander seeds in a mortar & pestle. It was only notable to me because hers was huge, easily more than twice as larg… --- ## [Songs set entirely in bars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-entirely-in-bars/838238)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 101\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-set-entirely-in-bars/838238 "2019-12-06T23:37:48Z")
Naturally, the top one is Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” No song will ever set the tone of a bar better. I also love Tom Paxton’s Saturday Night. What other songs are set in a bar? --- ## [Top 10 Directors w/ 3 of their Best Movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-directors-w-3-of-their-best-movies/844486)
**Author:** [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-directors-w-3-of-their-best-movies/844486 "2019-12-06T21:15:57Z")
(in order) Vittorio De Sica -Umberto D -Shoeshine -Bicycle Thieves Luchino Visconti -La Terra Trema -Bellissima -Rocco and His Brothers Robert Bresson -Pickpocket -A Man Escaped -Au hasard Balthazar Frank Ca… --- ## [Hot Toddy Recipes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-toddy-recipes/844370)
**Author:** [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hot-toddy-recipes/844370 "2019-12-06T20:35:25Z")
Woke up with a sore throat a couple of days ago, so I’ve been sipping hot toddies throughout the day. We make ours with 1/2 cup whiskey 1 dash of brandy 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 big ass squirt of honey fill the cup up… --- ## [Put your favorite musicians in a single band; would it work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383)
**Author:** [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/put-your-favorite-musicians-in-a-single-band-would-it-work/844383 "2019-12-06T18:06:23Z")
For me it’s Roger Daltry on vocals, Frank Zappa and Mark Knopfler on guitar, John Entwhistle on bass, and Levon Helm on drums. I’m not sure they’d mesh very well. Roger and John would obviously be fine. Knopfler and L… --- ## [Songs Where the Snare Hits Before the Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-snare-hits-before-the-two/843645 "2019-12-06T17:39:07Z")
In the songs Transformation by Nona Hendrix, Chameleon by Herbie Hancock, and Soul to Squeeze by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the snare drum doesn’t always hit on the two and four, but comes in just before the two during t… --- ## [The Who return to Cincinnati](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-who-return-to-cincinnati/844450)
**Author:** [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-who-return-to-cincinnati/844450 "2019-12-06T17:12:44Z")
Hard to believe it’s been 40 years since the tragedy at Riverfront. I was a young teenager but I remember it well. I’ve never been to a big concert with festival seating, and I’m probably past that age point where I wo… --- ## [63 Up](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/63-up/844451)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/63-up/844451 "2019-12-06T16:49:38Z")
In 1963, director Michael Apted did a BBC program called “7 Up” where he interviewed a diverse group of British 7-year-olds, and the program was so popular, he’s come back every 7 years to do updates. “56 Up” was disapp… --- ## [Penn & Teller Fool Us - New Season](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666)
**Author:** [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Replies:** 214\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/penn-teller-fool-us-new-season/835666 "2019-12-06T15:42:13Z")
I hope Dopers will continue to watch and offer guesses on how the tricks were done. None of the tricks on tonight’s episode were all that impressive, but does anyone have any idea how P&T did that trick for David Copperf… --- ## [Electric guitar dopers - could use some help diagnosing an issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-guitar-dopers-could-use-some-help-diagnosing-an-issue/844448)
**Author:** [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-guitar-dopers-could-use-some-help-diagnosing-an-issue/844448 "2019-12-06T15:41:13Z")
The test equipment: 1977 Martin D18 (surprise!) with an after-market pickup Standard guitar cord Electric guitar (1964 Rickenbacker, in case anyone is interested. The quasi-Telecaster with a single pickup. I forget t… --- ## [Gift ideas for a book lover (other than specific books or gift cards)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-ideas-for-a-book-lover-other-than-specific-books-or-gift-cards/844379)
**Author:** [@Meltdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meltdown)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gift-ideas-for-a-book-lover-other-than-specific-books-or-gift-cards/844379 "2019-12-06T14:21:17Z")
I’m looking to get a gift for my wife’s brother-in-law, and I know he’s an avid reader, but I don’t know what specific books he’s read. A gift card would probably be the most practical solution, but sometimes giving one… --- ## [Soups au gratin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soups-au-gratin/844414)
**Author:** [@DannyBeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DannyBeans)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soups-au-gratin/844414 "2019-12-06T13:10:45Z")
After dinner the other night, my wife got to wondering why French onion soup is the only one that seems to be served au gratin. A search for recipes brings up a lot of soups with “au gratin” in their names, but only Fre… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=459) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=461)