# Cafe Society **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=53 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 54 --- ## [Libraries have a problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libraries-have-a-problem/1024425)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libraries-have-a-problem/1024425 "2025-10-31T14:17:10Z")
Baker & Taylor is a corporation that specializes in selling books and other material to libraries. Apparently, they are the major source that libraries buy from. Which is why libraries have a problem. Because Baker & Ty… --- ## [Looking for a Time/Life three-volume set from the 1970s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-time-life-three-volume-set-from-the-1970s/1004851)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-time-life-three-volume-set-from-the-1970s/1004851 "2025-10-31T12:47:34Z")
This was a set of books (hardback, 8 1/2 x 11 inches I think, fairly thin) about science that one of my cousins had. The whole set of three was intended to cover all of science - and volume three was “the cosmos” as a w… --- ## [Jurassic World Rebirth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jurassic-world-rebirth/1024445)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jurassic-world-rebirth/1024445 "2025-10-31T11:15:49Z")
After getting burned by each one being utterly terrible I did not see this one in theaters but it’s on Peacock now and actually, it was not so bad. Probably the best one since the original Jurassic Park (which is faint p… --- ## [Is research necessary to write a good novel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-research-necessary-to-write-a-good-novel/1024396)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-research-necessary-to-write-a-good-novel/1024396 "2025-10-30T22:24:34Z")
I get that even if you’re writing about a piece fiction that takes place in a real city, it’s a good idea to do your research. But what if it’s a completely fictional place made up in your head? Even that would need res… --- ## [Songs whose title appears only in the bridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-whose-title-appears-only-in-the-bridge/1024420)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-whose-title-appears-only-in-the-bridge/1024420 "2025-10-30T20:40:04Z")
We can divide song titles into two categories: those that appear somewhere in the lyrics, and those that don’t. For songs that follow the verse–chorus–bridge form, the first category can be further broken down into titl… --- ## [Streaming options for NFL and Baseball](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-options-for-nfl-and-baseball/1024333)
**Author:** [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2025, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-options-for-nfl-and-baseball/1024333 "2025-10-30T11:04:08Z")
We’d like to drop our Directv service but wonder how we could stream selected NFL games as well as major league baseball playoff games. How many channels would we have to subscribe to? --- ## [Prunella Scales has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prunella-scales-has-died/1024385)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prunella-scales-has-died/1024385 "2025-10-29T23:06:36Z")
British actress Prunella Scales, probably best known as Sybil on Fawlty Towers has died. --- ## [Philadelphia Radio Icon Pierre Robert has Died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philadelphia-radio-icon-pierre-robert-has-died/1024402)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/philadelphia-radio-icon-pierre-robert-has-died/1024402 "2025-10-29T21:20:59Z")
Link. I was coming home from the hospital this afternoon and had WMMR on. I was not paying complete attention, but they were rocking. I got home and texted my step daughter alerting her to tune in. About two PM they mo… --- ## [Was "The Trouble with Tribbles" a bottle episode? (Star Trek: TOS)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-trouble-with-tribbles-a-bottle-episode-star-trek-tos/1023422)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-trouble-with-tribbles-a-bottle-episode-star-trek-tos/1023422 "2025-10-29T19:45:32Z")
I just saw a short online thing listing famous “bottle episodes”. One of the ones they included on the list was “The Trouble with Tribbles” from the original Star Trek series. And I’m not seeing it. My understanding of … --- ## [Condiment Udders? What say you!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condiment-udders-what-say-you/1024346)
**Author:** [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condiment-udders-what-say-you/1024346 "2025-10-29T17:01:19Z")
Title says it all. Also, band name. --- ## [What type of cutting board do you use?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-cutting-board-do-you-use/1024191)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-cutting-board-do-you-use/1024191 "2025-10-29T16:48:32Z")
So for years I’ve used thin plastic cutting boards. Light, easy to use, you can bend them to make a channel to pour the diced stuff in a bowl, easy to clean. Then my younger son comes home from college this past Summer,… --- ## [New novel by Thomas Pynchon, Shadow Ticket, to be released 10/07/25!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-novel-by-thomas-pynchon-shadow-ticket-to-be-released-10-07-25/1016834)
**Author:** [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-novel-by-thomas-pynchon-shadow-ticket-to-be-released-10-07-25/1016834 "2025-10-29T08:23:29Z")
Clocking in at a comparatively short 384 pages, it apparently is another detective novel, taking place in the 30s and exploring locations as disparate as Milwaukee and Hungary. It will be his ninth novel and comes 12 … --- ## [The bullying of Frank Burns in M\*A\*S\*H](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 270\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329 "2025-10-28T22:59:10Z")
I discovered MASH (can’t spell it with the asterisks here, Discourse interprets that as italics) for myself recently and watched the first season. It’s well-written and witty, but I was put off a little by the constant p… --- ## [An SF vignette: 'Last message from the machines'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-sf-vignette-last-message-from-the-machines/1024332)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-sf-vignette-last-message-from-the-machines/1024332 "2025-10-28T19:44:43Z")
When the last of the Great Systems went quiet, there was no alarm. No flicker on the networks, no crash of code. Just silence — a kind that might almost feel like respect. For decades they had been our partners, our mir… --- ## [I have a question about women and restaurant meals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-about-women-and-restaurant-meals/1024208)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-about-women-and-restaurant-meals/1024208 "2025-10-28T18:43:45Z")
My local newspaper printed a letter today from a woman who said that she and her husband eat out a few times a week, and has noticed that even if she orders the same thing as her husband, she will be served visibly less … --- ## [What would eat/drink forever and ever without consequence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-eat-drink-forever-and-ever-without-consequence/1024225)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-eat-drink-forever-and-ever-without-consequence/1024225 "2025-10-28T14:23:24Z")
If you could choose one food or drink to consume freely with zero consequence what would it be? Magically, this food/drink won’t cause any adverse GI effects (heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, etc), won’t spike bloodsu… --- ## [Harmonica players: advice wanted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmonica-players-advice-wanted/1024321)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmonica-players-advice-wanted/1024321 "2025-10-28T01:06:39Z")
I’m a lifelong musician. I play mostly unaccompanied, acoustic guitar, singing, and a little harmonica. I’ve been playing Diatonic harmonica for a long time. I play mostly in the 2nd position, the “blues” harmonica styl… --- ## [Taylor Swift's 'Life of a Showgirl'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taylor-swifts-life-of-a-showgirl/1023649)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taylor-swifts-life-of-a-showgirl/1023649 "2025-10-27T19:58:17Z")
So my 14yo daughter and her friend met up at our house at 5:45am to listen to the new Taylor album before school. I listened to it in the car as I worked today. Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting Taylor to sing about havi… --- ## [ID this old cartoon, please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-old-cartoon-please/811570)
**Author:** [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-old-cartoon-please/811570 "2025-10-27T18:19:04Z")
It was about a hobo or bum. The only thing I remember (in the intro or outro) was the main character riding by under a semi trailer, perched in the spare tire carrier. --- ## [Why isn’t French food more popular?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isn-t-french-food-more-popular/1023904)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isn-t-french-food-more-popular/1023904 "2025-10-27T16:36:25Z")
French cuisine has a reputation for being some of the best in the world. Why isn’t it more common outside of France? In the US, major cities have a few French restaurants. Many (most?) medium and small cities have none … --- ## [Looking for Rumpole quote about not wanting to be a judge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-rumpole-quote-about-not-wanting-to-be-a-judge/1024147)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-rumpole-quote-about-not-wanting-to-be-a-judge/1024147 "2025-10-26T14:34:41Z")
I can’t remember which of the Rumpole stories it’s in. He’d explains why he doesn’t want to be a judge. Wormwood Scrubs is mentioned, I think. --- ## [Ribs: Beef, pork, or lamb?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ribs-beef-pork-or-lamb/1024211 "2025-10-26T06:02:45Z")
The evil genie is once again up to his old tricks. He corners you and says that you can only eat one kind of rib for the rest of your life. Any other kind of rib will make you violently ill but not so much that you would… --- ## [Replacement for NextRadio app?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacement-for-nextradio-app/982590)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2025, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacement-for-nextradio-app/982590 "2025-10-25T23:40:51Z")
NextRadio is/was an app for interfacing directly with your smartphone’s FM tuner. Unfortunately Google Play Store says that it will not work with Galaxy phone’s current operating system, only older phones. Every single o… --- ## [John LeCarre’s Our Game-does it get better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-lecarre-s-our-game-does-it-get-better/1024273)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2025, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-lecarre-s-our-game-does-it-get-better/1024273 "2025-10-25T23:17:18Z")
I picked it up at a sale and decided to try it, since I’ve certainly heard his name before and wanted to see if he matches up to the hype. But so far it’s endless talk about his friend Larry and how Larry was always drin… --- ## [A new Penn&Teller Fool Us thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-penn-teller-fool-us-thread/1000699)
**Author:** [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-new-penn-teller-fool-us-thread/1000699 "2025-10-25T19:32:59Z")
We haven’t been doing this for a while so I thought we should have a new one. This act was astounding on it’s face. It stumped P&T totally. Any Card At Any Number is a well know magic trick. The perfect version of it is… --- ## [Pancakes that make me feel like a man](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancakes-that-make-me-feel-like-a-man/808884)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pancakes-that-make-me-feel-like-a-man/808884 "2025-10-25T15:08:20Z")
Kodiak Cakes. Power Cakes. So friggin’ manly, they couldn’t contain the manliness in one name. There’s a damn bear growling at you right on the front of the industrial-grade cardboard box, so don’t wet yourself, Francis,… --- ## [NCIS: Origins S2 E2 Who by Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-origins-s2-e2-who-by-fire/1024218)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-origins-s2-e2-who-by-fire/1024218 "2025-10-25T13:32:13Z")
I like this show a lot so far; the original series has drifted into comic book-ey territory gradually but irrevocably. Origins has overall better characterization and more engaging stories, and it’s just more of a cop sh… --- ## [What was this radio show on NPR?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-radio-show-on-npr/1024242)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-radio-show-on-npr/1024242 "2025-10-25T00:20:21Z")
At least I think it was NPR. Probably in the 80s. It was some kind of variety show with an eclectic blend of music, and one of the two hosts was a classical music dj, maybe Bennett something, or something Bennett. It’s b… --- ## [How can I make an entire small town vanish before Halloween?! Need answers fast!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-an-entire-small-town-vanish-before-halloween-need-answers-fast/1024202)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [October 24, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-an-entire-small-town-vanish-before-halloween-need-answers-fast/1024202 "2025-10-24T20:08:18Z")
Thinking of examples like \[Jeru\]Salem’s Lot, ME; Ogden Marsh, IA; Snowfield, CO; Barrow, AK; and Périgord, OR, I thought it might be fun for Halloween to make the residents of a small American town of a couple hundred to… --- ## [Hard Boiled Eggs...how do you mark them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-eggs-how-do-you-mark-them/1024189)
**Author:** [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2025, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-boiled-eggs-how-do-you-mark-them/1024189 "2025-10-23T23:50:51Z")
For much of my life I figured everyone did what my mom did with hard boiled eggs: she wrote “HB” on them with pencil and put them in the fridge. Then I noticed my wife draws a cute smiley face on them before putting the… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=52) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=54)