# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=1415 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1416 --- ## [Americans are now required to pass a test to vote. Come up with fair questions.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-now-required-to-pass-a-test-to-vote-come-up-with-fair-questions/640486)
**Author:** [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-now-required-to-pass-a-test-to-vote-come-up-with-fair-questions/640486 "2012-11-12T07:32:13Z")
Everyone’s heard at least one person say, “Man, there oughtta be a test people have to pass to prove they’re intelligent/informed/human enough to vote!” Well, in my Skald-like hypothetical, Congress has indeed passed a C… --- ## [Inclusive education - your opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inclusive-education-your-opinion/640464)
**Author:** [@Mandoline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mandoline)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inclusive-education-your-opinion/640464 "2012-11-12T07:09:02Z")
Hello! :slight\_smile: I have just joined your message board because of one reason. My name is Inna and I am from Latvia (The Baltic States). Now I am studying in the University of Latvia. I am 1st year student in the M… --- ## [What keeps you going?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/639780)
**Author:** [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-keeps-you-going/639780 "2012-11-12T05:36:03Z")
When you want to throw in the towel, jump off a bridge, and end the whole disaster, what keeps you hanging on? Anything, big or small. Family, job, wanting to be around to see the next season of your favorite TV show, t… --- ## [Help me Diagnose my Broken Washing Machine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-my-broken-washing-machine/640680)
**Author:** [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-diagnose-my-broken-washing-machine/640680 "2012-11-12T04:59:49Z")
My washer won’t spin. It just suddenly stopped and when I found it, there was a burning rubber smell emanating from it. Thinking it was the belt, I opened my machine. When I popped open the front panel, I noticed that o… --- ## [Stepping down after an affair. David Patraeus's end as CIA director](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stepping-down-after-an-affair-david-patraeuss-end-as-cia-director/640593)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stepping-down-after-an-affair-david-patraeuss-end-as-cia-director/640593 "2012-11-12T04:14:35Z")
Wiki: David Petraeus - Wikipedia He had an affair and then stepped down, apparently because of said affair. It seems the woman he had an affair with, his biographer, may have had access to his email. That’s definitely a… --- ## [Voting for someone because he's black is just as bad as NOT voting for someone because he's black.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001)
**Author:** [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Replies:** 122\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001 "2012-11-12T02:00:08Z")
Completely false, of course. And yet I know one person who brings it up on a regular basis, and I’m sure among certain groups it’s a common sentiment. The thing is, I’m sure this person (and many of those who would esp… --- ## [So I apparently own a fairly rare and relatively expensive book...what now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-apparently-own-a-fairly-rare-and-relatively-expensive-book-what-now/640531)
**Author:** [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-apparently-own-a-fairly-rare-and-relatively-expensive-book-what-now/640531 "2012-11-12T00:34:38Z")
I’m currently doing a clearout of my book collection and I am giving a few WW2 related books to a friend. On a whim I decided to check how much these books are selling for on Amazon and to my surprise at least one is sel… --- ## [E Cigarettes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-cigarettes/640605)
**Author:** [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-cigarettes/640605 "2012-11-12T00:23:27Z")
Anyone have any recommendations? A friend is having success with Njoy, but she only smokes in the evening when she drinks. I’ve maxed out on 20 - 30 strong cigarettes per day on a bad day and would like to substitute wi… --- ## [To Apologize or Not to Apologize](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-apologize-or-not-to-apologize/640110)
**Author:** [@panaccione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panaccione)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-apologize-or-not-to-apologize/640110 "2012-11-11T23:37:32Z")
That is the question. So I’ve been thinking about this girl I used to see a couple years ago and how bad I used to treat her. I never hit her or did anything particularly malicious. I was just really mean and called h… --- ## [Watch this UK Police program - how does it compare to US police?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-this-uk-police-program-how-does-it-compare-to-us-police/640411)
**Author:** [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-this-uk-police-program-how-does-it-compare-to-us-police/640411 "2012-11-11T21:48:21Z")
A couple of weeks ago I created a thread asking if any of you would watch this, and quite a few of you did so. Thus I have picked an excellent police program you can watch on Youtube here. Note that while you will lear… --- ## [Veterans Day! Am I supposed to fly the flag Sunday or Monday or both?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-am-i-supposed-to-fly-the-flag-sunday-or-monday-or-both/640655)
**Author:** [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-am-i-supposed-to-fly-the-flag-sunday-or-monday-or-both/640655 "2012-11-11T21:11:01Z")
Veterans Day! Am I supposed to fly the flag Sunday, Nov. 11th, or Monday, Nov. 12th, or both days? --- ## [Tell your tales of running a franchise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-tales-of-running-a-franchise/640714)
**Author:** [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-tales-of-running-a-franchise/640714 "2012-11-11T20:32:34Z")
Reason for thread: I reckon I am not gonna be in my current job for much longer, for uninteresting reasons. So I’m looking for other kinds of job, and I was thinking of opening a franchise\*. But I don’t want to discus me… --- ## [Best comfortable shoe for walking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-comfortable-shoe-for-walking/640113)
**Author:** [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-comfortable-shoe-for-walking/640113 "2012-11-11T17:48:48Z")
It’s that time where my shoes are starting to wear out and it’s time to start searching for a new pair. I always get Rockports. And, I have been pretty happy with them. They’re not terrible looking, they’re comfortable, … --- ## [Tell me about murder mystery dinners...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-murder-mystery-dinners/640538)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-murder-mystery-dinners/640538 "2012-11-11T17:37:49Z")
I’ve always heard of one but I am invited to one next month. How exactly do they work? I imagine them like a game of clue. Good/bad? Tell me your experiences. --- ## [Interferon therapy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interferon-therapy/640616)
**Author:** [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interferon-therapy/640616 "2012-11-11T17:17:58Z")
Coming soon to a vein near me… a year’s worth of injections that are going to make me feel like I have the flu the whole time. How fun, especially because I have a bit of a needle phobia. Anyone have experience with thi… --- ## [Your favorite hair color](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-hair-color/639823)
**Author:** [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-hair-color/639823 "2012-11-11T16:55:40Z")
So what hair color do you prefer on the opposite gender (or same gender for our gay Dopers)? For me it’s gotta be in order: Redheaded women. Definately redheads, from a very early age. Black hair, although raven-hair… --- ## [What's your favorite written language to look at (not necessarily read)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-written-language-to-look-at-not-necessarily-read/640483)
**Author:** [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-written-language-to-look-at-not-necessarily-read/640483 "2012-11-11T16:54:59Z")
I love to look at Thai. It makes me feel introspective and peaceful. --- ## [Startinga Business In a Recession-Are Your Chances Better or Worse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startinga-business-in-a-recession-are-your-chances-better-or-worse/640679)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/startinga-business-in-a-recession-are-your-chances-better-or-worse/640679 "2012-11-11T15:05:50Z")
I was just watching a local news story, about a couple who just launched a new business-I wish them all the luck in the world. What I’m wondering-are your chances of success actually better in a recession? After all in … --- ## [Why do I get snarky comments for buying breakfast at work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355)
**Author:** [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-get-snarky-comments-for-buying-breakfast-at-work/640355 "2012-11-11T14:34:50Z")
I work in a hospital office which does project management on all construction in and around the facility. Every morning I don’t have an early meeting, I’ll take 10 minutes to run to the cafeteria, grab a ham, egg, and ch… --- ## [Would you chip your kids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-chip-your-kids/640461)
**Author:** [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-chip-your-kids/640461 "2012-11-11T09:00:13Z")
Talking about the county chipping our recycle bins got me thinking. People chip their pets so if they get lost the vet or animal shelter can scan them and return them to their owners. Would you chip your kids if it mea… --- ## [Was this comment out of line?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-comment-out-of-line/640393)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-comment-out-of-line/640393 "2012-11-11T08:56:39Z")
A very old and (I thought) dear friend silently de-firended me on Facebook yesterday. Now, she and I have always agreed to disagree on politics. In fact, just the other day we were chatting on another friends line about… --- ## [If I ate a usual amount of food I'd be obese](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ate-a-usual-amount-of-food-id-be-obese/640344)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-ate-a-usual-amount-of-food-id-be-obese/640344 "2012-11-11T06:24:33Z")
I am not totally sedentary but I’m not running daily marathons either, I walk several miles a day or sometimes every other day depending(far more than anyone else I know and they mock me for it). Yet I rarely feel hungry… --- ## [Little kids with Type 1 diabetes- chatting, support, memories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-kids-with-type-1-diabetes-chatting-support-memories/640507)
**Author:** [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-kids-with-type-1-diabetes-chatting-support-memories/640507 "2012-11-11T03:45:06Z")
Everyone’s probably bored of me saying this, but we have a four-year-old with diabetes, and three years post-diagnosis there are still tons of challenges. Right now we’re going through a heavy all-I-want-is-carbs stage w… --- ## [Childrens punishment in school. Kintergarden, right or wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-punishment-in-school-kintergarden-right-or-wrong/639468)
**Author:** [@suomy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suomy)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childrens-punishment-in-school-kintergarden-right-or-wrong/639468 "2012-11-11T01:50:23Z")
Short and simple but will provide the details. My 5 year old son was standing in line with his other classmates. Him and another student leaned out of line to see why their line had stopped. Their temporary teacher who w… --- ## [Exercise Question - Why skip a day?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercise-question-why-skip-a-day/640594)
**Author:** [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercise-question-why-skip-a-day/640594 "2012-11-11T01:23:33Z")
I’m new to exercising, I just joined my local Planet Fitness which just opened Friday. In one of the side rooms they have a 30 minute workout. 10 machines and rest, takes 30 minutes to complete. Sign on the wall says … --- ## [What's the best way to stick it to teenage "trick or treaters"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497)
**Author:** [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-stick-it-to-teenage-trick-or-treaters/639497 "2012-11-11T00:53:40Z")
Okay, SDMB friends, which is the best bogus treat to give teenagers who come to the door looking for candy even though they don’t even have a damn costume on? a) gold foil-wrapped bouillion cubes b) individual packets … --- ## [power steering hose](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-hose/640582)
**Author:** [@dawood40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dawood40)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-steering-hose/640582 "2012-11-10T22:39:23Z")
i have replaced my powersteering hose by a remanufactured one ,i have filled the ps oil done almost everything but now my problem is when i stop the car and turn the wheels to the right or left side there is a snorin… --- ## [I'm tired of looking through BrainyQuotes because...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-looking-through-brainyquotes-because/640551)
**Author:** [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-tired-of-looking-through-brainyquotes-because/640551 "2012-11-10T21:26:53Z")
I can’t find it. What is that Thomas Jefferson quote about revolution being the responsibility of the people if government isn’t addressing valid needs? (As in, a deadlocked congress.) I think that’s how it goes. --- ## [Long Islanders: Explain to us why Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is considered so incompetent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-islanders-explain-to-us-why-long-island-power-authority-lipa-is-considered-so-incompetent/639795)
**Author:** [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-islanders-explain-to-us-why-long-island-power-authority-lipa-is-considered-so-incompetent/639795 "2012-11-10T19:09:32Z")
I live in NYC. I’ve listened to many storm recovery reports from government officials over the past several days. These things are usually incredibly diplomatic. Heroes are lavished with praise, and villains, be they pub… --- ## [Looking for some advice regarding refinancing a mortgage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-advice-regarding-refinancing-a-mortgage/639913)
**Author:** [@Blunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blunt)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 10, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-advice-regarding-refinancing-a-mortgage/639913 "2012-11-10T15:19:43Z")
I purchased a condo 3 years ago, am looking into mortgage refinancing options, and am hoping for some advice and/or steers on some good resources to do a little research on my own. I’ve contacted a couple banks, and I’m… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=1414) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=1416)