# Cafe Society **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=942 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 943 --- ## [What really happened with Marcus Luttrell and operation red wings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happened-with-marcus-luttrell-and-operation-red-wings/676616)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-really-happened-with-marcus-luttrell-and-operation-red-wings/676616 "2015-12-20T10:45:37Z")
Now that a movie is coming out based on the book lone survivor, I’m guessing there will be more attention brought to this issue. I read Luttrell’s book a few years ago and liked it, but a few things stood out for me. (… --- ## [Kant and the Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kant-and-the-platypus/79645)
**Author:** [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2001, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kant-and-the-platypus/79645 "2001-09-06T02:00:02Z")
Has anyone read Kant and the Platypus by Umberto Eco? I’ve read about 100 pages and I am so board with the thing. He appears to ramble on and on about the definitions of being referencing several other Philosophers on th… --- ## [Christmas cooking - recipe for chocolate rum balls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cooking-recipe-for-chocolate-rum-balls/740890)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-cooking-recipe-for-chocolate-rum-balls/740890 "2015-12-20T04:55:32Z")
Our next door neighbour was a lovely lady who baked a lot and would hand some over the fence for “you kids” when we came home from work. She was the kind of lady who made a neighbourhood work. One of her favourite recip… --- ## [Book on Rome: SPQR by Mary Beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-on-rome-spqr-by-mary-beard/740619)
**Author:** [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-on-rome-spqr-by-mary-beard/740619 "2015-12-20T03:49:31Z")
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/SPQR-A-History-Ancient-Rome/dp/0871404230 This was well-reviewed so I thought I would give it a try. I have a layman’s interest in Rome. I have read some non fiction, as well as I… --- ## [Who seemed really old when you were a kid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-seemed-really-old-when-you-were-a-kid/740304)
**Author:** [@oara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oara)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-seemed-really-old-when-you-were-a-kid/740304 "2015-12-19T23:35:11Z")
On Mork & Mindy, when Mearth showed up and was supposed to age backward, I took this to mean that Jonathan Winters was so old as to be near death in real life, and so he was being very generous by being on a television s… --- ## [Trailer for Daredevil Season 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trailer-for-daredevil-season-2/740820)
**Author:** [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trailer-for-daredevil-season-2/740820 "2015-12-19T21:32:28Z")
The video is here but the trailer really starts at 1:30. It looks like Electra and Bullseye will be around. That should make for a good season. It doesn’t look like they’re going to get into Born Again, which I think i… --- ## [Okay, this is weird: Netflix](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-this-is-weird-netflix/740800)
**Author:** [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/okay-this-is-weird-netflix/740800 "2015-12-19T20:25:41Z")
Due to unforeseen circumstances, my bank balance is in the hole. My Netflix account got cut off a couple of days ago, since the billing didn’t go through. Because my bank account was in the hole. So it was something of … --- ## [Looking for songs/music about depression & suicide.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-songs-music-about-depression-suicide/740049)
**Author:** [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-songs-music-about-depression-suicide/740049 "2015-12-19T15:01:10Z")
Yeah, I’m becoming a one trick jackass, I’m sorry. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Then what of songs & music? How much more can they express what words alone can not? Someone somewhere must have written … --- ## [The Book of Lists (Actually, Author Kim Stanley Robinson)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-of-lists-actually-author-kim-stanley-robinson/739980)
**Author:** [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-of-lists-actually-author-kim-stanley-robinson/739980 "2015-12-19T12:57:59Z")
Okay, this is not actually about the Book of Lists at all. It’s about Kim Stanley Robinson. I’ve tried to read Red Mars. I gave up perhaps a quarter of the way in, and the book has become something of a running joke wit… --- ## [Oldest continuous movie character?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-continuous-movie-character/740684)
**Author:** [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-continuous-movie-character/740684 "2015-12-19T08:19:10Z")
…portrayed by the same actor, I mean? I was thinking about the new Star Wars and Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, all playing characters we first saw in 1977 - 381/2 years ago. Was that the record? Then, m… --- ## [I'm going to start wearing a suit every day.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-wearing-a-suit-every-day/740807)
**Author:** [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-start-wearing-a-suit-every-day/740807 "2015-12-19T07:26:34Z")
Anybody have any advice or tips? Anybody want to slap me around and say “WHY??”. I’m mainly worried about dressing down. I don’t want to look like I’m trying to be Mr. GQ everyday. I want to look like a nicely-dressed m… --- ## [What if LOTR had an “extended universe” of books like Star Wars does](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-lotr-had-an-extended-universe-of-books-like-star-wars-does/740710)
**Author:** [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-lotr-had-an-extended-universe-of-books-like-star-wars-does/740710 "2015-12-19T07:09:39Z")
There are innumerable “Star Wars” tie-in books, from novels to comics and easy readers. They run the gamut from retelling the original story, to the clone wars, to stories of the offspring of the original characters. (… --- ## [My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Season 5 Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-season-5-thread/717173)
**Author:** [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-little-pony-friendship-is-magic-season-5-thread/717173 "2015-12-19T05:46:29Z")
Well, Season 5 of MLP:FIM was aired over the weekend and I thought it could use a thread since the long-running general My Little Pony Thread died off a while ago. The season premiere us a two-episode adventure story ti… --- ## [Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D S03E10: Maveth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s03e10-maveth/739877)
**Author:** [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s03e10-maveth/739877 "2015-12-19T05:16:12Z")
“Maveth” Directed by Vincent Misiano Written by Jeffrey Bell Did I miss it when the planet is named? I guess so. So yeah, after last week’s (AWESOME) cliffhanger we get to find out what is happening on Maveth! This is… --- ## [A Question about "The First 48"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-first-48/740828)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-the-first-48/740828 "2015-12-19T03:31:50Z")
Since this question is about a TV show I guess it goes here, It’s it not the right forum I’m sure the Mods will move it to where it belongs. I enjoy watching “The First 48” (TF48), a true crime show as opposed to the pol… --- ## [Peanuts Ensued: How do you like your goober peas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-ensued-how-do-you-like-your-goober-peas/740658)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peanuts-ensued-how-do-you-like-your-goober-peas/740658 "2015-12-19T01:44:18Z")
Just curious what kind of snack peanuts you prefer. For the purpose of this poll, this does not include peanut butter, peanut sauce or peanuts in other foods like candy bars, asian food or anything other than snack pean… --- ## [Blue Bayou restaurant (Disneyland)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-bayou-restaurant-disneyland/740332)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-bayou-restaurant-disneyland/740332 "2015-12-18T23:19:13Z")
The Blue Bayou restaurant at Disneyland is sure proud of their food. The cheapest thing on the dinner menu is $30: Portobello Mushroom and Louisiana Long-Grain Rice served with a Roasted Corn, Sun-dried Tomato, and Be… --- ## [Dumb A Haunting Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-a-haunting-question/740797)
**Author:** [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumb-a-haunting-question/740797 "2015-12-18T19:01:43Z")
OK, I just watched an episode called Demon CHild where some kid has an ‘imaginary friend’ named Man that is apparently a ghost \[duh\] and some things are notable, man gives him a picture, he plays with police cars and fir… --- ## [TV series where the penultimate episode is better than the finale](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708)
**Author:** [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-series-where-the-penultimate-episode-is-better-than-the-finale/740708 "2015-12-18T18:34:22Z")
There is an ongoing discussion in Fargo S2 about the last episodes of season 2 of Fargo (where each season essentially stands alone). The penultimate second-to-last episode was super intense and full of suspense that mad… --- ## [Writing a book about ISIS without inadvertently promoting ISIS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-a-book-about-isis-without-inadvertently-promoting-isis/740791)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-a-book-about-isis-without-inadvertently-promoting-isis/740791 "2015-12-18T18:09:29Z")
I’m writing a book about ISIS (the terrorist organization.) At the same time that I want people to read and be educated about ISIS, I also don’t want to give ISIS what could essentially be free publicity and advertiseme… --- ## [Quantico: anybody else watching this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantico-anybody-else-watching-this/733621)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quantico-anybody-else-watching-this/733621 "2015-12-18T17:56:30Z")
Quantico I rarely watch tv, I have no time for a show that’s merely ‘watchable’ I need to care about the characters, the plot and the writing to bother investing time recording and then watching them. I realize pilots … --- ## [She Gets Revenge- American Horror Story episode 10 \[spoiler alert\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-gets-revenge-american-horror-story-episode-10-spoiler-alert/740666)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/she-gets-revenge-american-horror-story-episode-10-spoiler-alert/740666 "2015-12-18T17:15:50Z")
So I have been watching this one week-by-week instead of in a glurge on Netflix. It may be the best one of all, it incorporates the elements of all the previous installments while presenting new ideas as well. Lady Gaga… --- ## [Knitters: Implications of different yarn weights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-implications-of-different-yarn-weights/740655)
**Author:** [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knitters-implications-of-different-yarn-weights/740655 "2015-12-18T16:37:05Z")
So I’m finally just breaking down and making myself a Tom Baker Dr. Who scarf. I realize I’m 40 years out of date, but screw that. As the man himself once said, what’s the point in being a grownup if you can’t act chil… --- ## [What is the alphabetical "last song" on your device?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-alphabetical-last-song-on-your-device/739342)
**Author:** [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-alphabetical-last-song-on-your-device/739342 "2015-12-18T15:22:03Z")
I figured since we all spilled on what was/were our first songs alphabetically (and numerically), it would be fun to find out our last ones. Mine is “Zomby Woof” by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. --- ## [Dystopian novels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dystopian-novels/739923)
**Author:** [@nymeria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nymeria)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dystopian-novels/739923 "2015-12-18T10:28:18Z")
Any suggestions? --- ## [Symbolic Significance of the Zombie in Early 21st Century Popular Culture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbolic-significance-of-the-zombie-in-early-21st-century-popular-culture/740596)
**Author:** [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/symbolic-significance-of-the-zombie-in-early-21st-century-popular-culture/740596 "2015-12-18T05:45:38Z")
Monsters of various types, as depicted in fiction, can represent the fears and uncertainties of an audience by giving physical form to a threatening idea. Dracula, written in late Victorian times, may have represented t… --- ## [Getting back into SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-back-into-sf/740477)
**Author:** [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-back-into-sf/740477 "2015-12-18T03:30:32Z")
I’ve recently started reading speculative fiction again after a long drought – the last time I was reading SF regularly was in the late 90s when I was in high school. I liked then: David Brin, Ben Bova, the Foundation s… --- ## [What's this Tom Lehrer joke?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-tom-lehrer-joke/740724)
**Author:** [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-this-tom-lehrer-joke/740724 "2015-12-18T03:26:33Z")
The preamble part of Tom Lehrer’s song George Murphy: It was from his That Was The Year That Was, which came out in 1965… so it’s likely not a dig at JFK… what was going on in Massachusetts at the time that this refere… --- ## [Egg-nog and Christmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egg-nog-and-christmas/740564)
**Author:** [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/egg-nog-and-christmas/740564 "2015-12-18T02:29:23Z")
In my experience, egg-nog is associated exclusively with Christmas and the holiday season. I suspect you would have a tough time even finding it in my local supermarket at other times of year. So how did egg-nog come to … --- ## ["Cthulhu in the Moon" and Lovecraft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulhu-in-the-moon-and-lovecraft/740509)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cthulhu-in-the-moon-and-lovecraft/740509 "2015-12-18T00:58:53Z")
Question One: Do any of the rest of you see “Cthulhu in the Moon?” I couldn’t find any pictures of it, but here’s a picture of the full moon… The body of Cthulhu is the dark area to the left and below, and the tentacl… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=941) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/cafe-society/15.md?page=943)