# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=209 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 210 --- ## [Insurance claim for pothole damage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-claim-for-pothole-damage/961443)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2022, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-claim-for-pothole-damage/961443 "2022-03-22T00:15:38Z")
Hit a pothole and caused quite a bit of damage. I have collision insurance but I assume if I file a claim they will raise my rate just like if I hit a car, correct? --- ## [What's your social media presence like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-social-media-presence-like/960870)
**Author:** [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-social-media-presence-like/960870 "2022-03-21T18:33:49Z")
poll For purposes of the poll, let’s say message boards don’t count as social media, but feel free to comment on your message board habits also. For instance, I mostly post about my hobby and share family and friend phot… --- ## [What do you think about micro-pebble pool surfaces?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-micro-pebble-pool-surfaces/961395)
**Author:** [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2022, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-micro-pebble-pool-surfaces/961395 "2022-03-21T12:46:43Z")
I’m resurfacing my pool and choosing between traditional plaster and micro-pebbles. The micro-pebble surface looks really nice and is supposed to last longer, but I’m worried about it being rough. Opinions I’ve read onli… --- ## [My email address is a spam magnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-email-address-is-a-spam-magnet/960884)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2022, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-email-address-is-a-spam-magnet/960884 "2022-03-21T06:17:20Z")
When I retired, I stopped using my university email address for my personal correspondence (probably not a good idea to begin with, but convenient to have all my email going to the same place) and someone suggested that … --- ## [Is Ukraine to Russia similar to what Hong Kong was to China?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ukraine-to-russia-similar-to-what-hong-kong-was-to-china/961354)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ukraine-to-russia-similar-to-what-hong-kong-was-to-china/961354 "2022-03-20T17:12:57Z")
I keep hearing that Ukraine had been doing fairly well before the recent invasion. I have no idea what “fairly well” means, especially when you compare it to its overbearing next-door neighbor. I started thinking about … --- ## [Studio headphone experiences?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studio-headphone-experiences/961251)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2022, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/studio-headphone-experiences/961251 "2022-03-20T17:05:53Z")
My studio phones just died. Well, one side went out, but I suspect a repair would cost as much as a replacement. So I’m in the market for new phones. I use these for music production at a fairly serious semi-pro level… --- ## [Let's talk about Russia's (probably poorly maintained) 6,000 nuclear warheads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-russias-probably-poorly-maintained-6-000-nuclear-warheads/961321)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2022, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-russias-probably-poorly-maintained-6-000-nuclear-warheads/961321 "2022-03-20T13:08:57Z")
This war has shown that Russia’s military is a hodgepodge mess of corruption, shoddy maintenance, cutting of corners and all-around sloppiness and ineptitude. If their tires are bursting from not being maintained, and co… --- ## [Can I learn drawing from books/video/etc.? Or do you really need to go to a class?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-learn-drawing-from-books-video-etc-or-do-you-really-need-to-go-to-a-class/961223)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2022, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-learn-drawing-from-books-video-etc-or-do-you-really-need-to-go-to-a-class/961223 "2022-03-20T02:52:52Z")
I have always wanted to learn to draw and now I have the time. I have no art training (since 8th grade art class) and would be interested in the fundamentals. I am reviewing classes available at the local community colle… --- ## [Did Russia bomb aircraft repair facility in Liviv to prevent Poland transferring MIGs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russia-bomb-aircraft-repair-facility-in-liviv-to-prevent-poland-transferring-migs/961325)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-russia-bomb-aircraft-repair-facility-in-liviv-to-prevent-poland-transferring-migs/961325 "2022-03-20T00:38:05Z")
Liviv is close to Poland, and aircraft repair area seems a great place for Poland to land their MIGs they want to give to Ukraine. --- ## [What's the pragmatic case for sanctions on Russia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-pragmatic-case-for-sanctions-on-russia/961330)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2022, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-pragmatic-case-for-sanctions-on-russia/961330 "2022-03-19T18:46:32Z")
Ever since Ukraine was invaded, I’ve supported imposing the harshest possible economic sanctions on Russia. I mean not just on the oligarchs (who anyway deserve no mercy) but on the entire country. Supporters of sanctio… --- ## [How to charge for hair salon maintenance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-hair-salon-maintenance/961351)
**Author:** [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-charge-for-hair-salon-maintenance/961351 "2022-03-19T17:58:02Z")
The remote management of a local “salon suites” rental building has been vexed by a fairly incompetent building maintenance outfit and they’ve approached me to see what I’d charge for some specialized maintenance tasks. … --- ## [Surprising Places Where St. Patrick's Day Is Observed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-places-where-st-patricks-day-is-observed/961272)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2022, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surprising-places-where-st-patricks-day-is-observed/961272 "2022-03-19T16:57:05Z")
Yeah, happy St. Paddy’s Day (and you’ll notice that two D’s is the proper way to spell it :wink: ). I was just wondering, recently in fact. Everyone knows St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland (duh … --- ## [How do I fix my email?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-my-email/961312)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2022, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-fix-my-email/961312 "2022-03-19T03:06:09Z")
My Yahoo email was recently hijacked - a fake message was sent out to my entire contact list to look as though it came from me. If that wasn’t enough, now most of my incoming emails are going directly to trash, bypassin… --- ## [Suspicious vehicle in front of my house..What would you do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspicious-vehicle-in-front-of-my-house-what-would-you-do/570767)
**Author:** [@pyromyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pyromyte)\ **Replies:** 300\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspicious-vehicle-in-front-of-my-house-what-would-you-do/570767 "2022-03-19T02:46:09Z")
I live in a pretty typical suburban neighborhood. Last night when I was begining to fall asleep, about 11:30PM, I heard car doors slamming. At first I think nothing of it, but then I think that those doors sounded awfull… --- ## [Best Cat Ever has died. R.I.P. Vienna](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2022, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-cat-ever-has-died-r-i-p-vienna/961043 "2022-03-19T01:45:45Z")
Here is Vienna last September, on her 15th birthday. She was a part-Maine Coon, and you can barely see her bushy black tail. We adopted Vienna when she was about 1 year old, and she’d been given the name Anna, which we … --- ## [Donut-shaped planet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donut-shaped-planet/961249)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donut-shaped-planet/961249 "2022-03-18T19:47:39Z")
Apparently, according to physics, a donut-shaped planet is possible. Given that the universe (if not infinite) is really, really big, does that mean that one does exist somewhere? --- ## [Russia wants Alaska back](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-wants-alaska-back/961293)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-wants-alaska-back/961293 "2022-03-18T19:23:04Z")
Is this the most threatening thing they can come up with in response to sanctions? --- ## [A real locked (storage) room mystery! (complete with puddle of water)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-locked-storage-room-mystery-complete-with-puddle-of-water/961267)
**Author:** [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-real-locked-storage-room-mystery-complete-with-puddle-of-water/961267 "2022-03-18T14:54:17Z")
This is a crawlspace underneath my garage that we use for storage of seasonal items. \[Album\] imgur.com … --- ## [Places Where Americans Can 'Drink The Water'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-where-americans-can-drink-the-water/960859)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-where-americans-can-drink-the-water/960859 "2022-03-18T14:32:02Z")
True story. I had to have four semesters of foreign language in high school. I chose French, my father’s HS language, and the first language of his mother. In one lesson, we were taught the French word for mineral water… --- ## [Why does the Dow Jones seem to like this week's interest rate increase?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dow-jones-seem-to-like-this-weeks-interest-rate-increase/961264)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-dow-jones-seem-to-like-this-weeks-interest-rate-increase/961264 "2022-03-18T12:34:42Z")
The title says it all. I would think higher interest rates meant higher debt expenses for companies which translated into lower earnings. There must be someone that I’m missing here, or the market increase has absolutely… --- ## [Temperpedic Mattress - $7.5k - Worth it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temperpedic-mattress-7-5k-worth-it/949742)
**Author:** [@bernardch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernardch)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temperpedic-mattress-7-5k-worth-it/949742 "2021-09-02T01:35:29Z")
Did a board search and found several threads from 2007-09, and then a few mentions 2-3 years ago. Curious to know if Dopers that responded back then feel the same way. Wife and I are in the market for a new mattress. … --- ## [Poster appreciation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poster-appreciation/961148)
**Author:** [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 18, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poster-appreciation/961148 "2022-03-18T02:10:59Z")
In light of the thread about gdave saying he’s leaving, it occurs to me that maybe we could show some appreciation to other posters and build community. Which posters do you enjoy, for whatever reason? I’ll start. @pu… --- ## [What do you believe firmly with zero evidence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-firmly-with-zero-evidence/960129)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 299\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-firmly-with-zero-evidence/960129 "2022-03-17T21:30:55Z")
Personally, I’m sure that certain prominent GOPers (Trump, Lindsay Graham, Marco Rubio, and very possibly dozens of others) have been blackmailed (possibly by Putin) into taking the positions they have. I’m not sure that… --- ## [Prime Ministers go to Kyiv. Crazy, dangerous move](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prime-ministers-go-to-kyiv-crazy-dangerous-move/961102)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prime-ministers-go-to-kyiv-crazy-dangerous-move/961102 "2022-03-17T20:14:59Z")
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa arrived in Ukraine and are headed to Kiev, the Polish PM’s … --- ## [What does Elon Musk bring to the party?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-elon-musk-bring-to-the-party/961202)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-elon-musk-bring-to-the-party/961202 "2022-03-17T17:02:00Z")
I don’t mean this as a discussion of Musk, the man. It is not a debate about his politics, social views, or overall demeanor. What I am getting at is, what does Musk do that adds value to his ventures? I was watching … --- ## [What happened to "credibility"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-credibility/961029)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-credibility/961029 "2022-03-17T16:25:20Z")
I used to think the #1 rule in expressing your thinking was that if you said something–anything!–that was demonstrably false, you would no longer be believed by a large number of people, and if you did it twice, your abi… --- ## [Talking to HR - bad idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-to-hr-bad-idea/955965)
**Author:** [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2022, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-to-hr-bad-idea/955965 "2022-03-17T05:02:27Z")
Hi - I’m a software engineer who has been at a big Silicon Valley software company for 19 years. I’m 59. I’ve had great reviews for 17 of those years, been awarded stock, gotten bonuses per normal for all that time. Un… --- ## [Should Ukraine attack Russia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-ukraine-attack-russia/960855)
**Author:** [@mjmartin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mjmartin)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-ukraine-attack-russia/960855 "2022-03-16T21:25:49Z")
I heard a former US general (at least I think he was, I have listened to so many commentators lately) today make the case that Ukraine and/or NATO needed to take action to distract Russia from Ukraine. Some good ideas he… --- ## [At what point is it appropriate to give an expecting couple a congratulations card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-is-it-appropriate-to-give-an-expecting-couple-a-congratulations-card/961060)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-is-it-appropriate-to-give-an-expecting-couple-a-congratulations-card/961060 "2022-03-15T23:55:09Z")
A woman in church whom I consider a friend has just announced on her Facebook wall that she’s 15 weeks pregnant. Is now the time to give her a congratulations card, or does protocol dictate that I wait until closer to t… --- ## [How smart is (are) your cat(s)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-smart-is-are-your-cat-s/960197)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-smart-is-are-your-cat-s/960197 "2022-03-15T21:47:38Z")
We have two cats, a brother and sister from the same litter. Both are very good-natured cats, but the male is extremely friendly and engages with people much more than his sister, who is somewhat more aloof in general. H… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=208) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=210)