# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=221 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 222 --- ## [What's the most pressing problem facing humanity that humanity did not create or make worse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-pressing-problem-facing-humanity-that-humanity-did-not-create-or-make-worse/957069)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-pressing-problem-facing-humanity-that-humanity-did-not-create-or-make-worse/957069 "2022-01-03T21:26:44Z")
Whether deliberately or otherwise. I had trouble thinking of one, but that just may be my lack of imagination. --- ## [The Economics of Gold Mining Today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economics-of-gold-mining-today/957148)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economics-of-gold-mining-today/957148 "2022-01-03T21:11:40Z")
Bored at home while isolating due to possible COVID, I was channel-surfing (yes, I’m old school) and came across a show depicting apparent gold miners in Alaska. I forgot the name of the show, but it appeared that the t… --- ## [What's the harm in letting just anyone officiate at a wedding?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-harm-in-letting-just-anyone-officiate-at-a-wedding/956897)
**Author:** [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-harm-in-letting-just-anyone-officiate-at-a-wedding/956897 "2022-01-03T18:36:06Z")
A recent thread on online ordination got me thinking about this again. To me, it’s incredibly stupid that the government limits who can officiate at a wedding, yet creates this enormous loophole that swallows the rule by… --- ## [Ever rented a coffin? Tell me about it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-rented-a-coffin-tell-me-about-it/957030)
**Author:** [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-rented-a-coffin-tell-me-about-it/957030 "2022-01-03T17:58:34Z")
It’s possible I may be in charge of planning a funeral in the near (please no) or rather distant future. The prospective dead person (my husband!) is an active Catholic and would like to be cremated and have his ashes b… --- ## [Your bank calls you up and asks for your SSN: what do you do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818)
**Author:** [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-bank-calls-you-up-and-asks-for-your-ssn-what-do-you-do/956818 "2022-01-03T12:30:07Z")
Bank calls with a concern about my account. It all sounded very legit and plausible right until the CSR asked for my social security number. I ended the call, then called the bank from a phone number I’d independently v… --- ## [Got rid of my car, now I just use Uber and Lyft. Anyone else doing this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-rid-of-my-car-now-i-just-use-uber-and-lyft-anyone-else-doing-this/956908)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-rid-of-my-car-now-i-just-use-uber-and-lyft-anyone-else-doing-this/956908 "2022-01-03T04:41:03Z")
I was working from home one day a week and then with the pandemic I am still working from home all the time and it looks like it is going to stay this way. I couldn’t be more happy about this. I have had groceries deliv… --- ## [Props for Canadians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-for-canadians/956997)
**Author:** [@civilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/civilis)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/props-for-canadians/956997 "2022-01-02T18:39:41Z")
The rest of the world doesn’t pay much attention to Canada, but I just crunched some numbers that blew me away and gave me a sense of pride and comfort for my fellow citizens for whom I feel grateful. This morning I rea… --- ## [Would you feel compelled to make a deathbed confession?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-feel-compelled-to-make-a-deathbed-confession/956872)
**Author:** [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-feel-compelled-to-make-a-deathbed-confession/956872 "2022-01-02T17:08:07Z")
Inspired by having just read about this guy, but not specific to those details. Essentially, suppose you had some deep dark secret that you had successfully kept for decades. Now you’re dying. Do you have some burning d… --- ## [Economist Predicting Return To Civility in 2022](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economist-predicting-return-to-civility-in-2022/956995)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economist-predicting-return-to-civility-in-2022/956995 "2022-01-02T15:54:32Z")
Every year, The Economist puts out an edition offering predictions of the upcoming year. In one of the columns, they predict that there will be a return to civility in 2022. Things are cyclic, and they are right this w… --- ## [Diatomaceous Earth bath mat - yea or nay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diatomaceous-earth-bath-mat-yea-or-nay/949755)
**Author:** [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diatomaceous-earth-bath-mat-yea-or-nay/949755 "2022-01-02T14:57:55Z")
My wife hates the feeling of stepping out of a shower onto a wet bath mat. I was just reading about diatomaceous earth bath mats, which seem to dry nearly instantaneously. That would seem to make her happy, but I’ve neve… --- ## [I love my wife dearly but she is a brainwashed Evangelical Trump supporter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-wife-dearly-but-she-is-a-brainwashed-evangelical-trump-supporter/956477)
**Author:** [@damarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damarp)\ **Replies:** 189\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-wife-dearly-but-she-is-a-brainwashed-evangelical-trump-supporter/956477 "2022-01-02T04:39:15Z")
My wife got ‘saved’ in 1974 during a period in our short marriage when we were separated. It was of no concern to me at the time but now she had been deluded by her Evangelicalism into supporting the evil monster, Dona… --- ## [When did LASER become laser?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-laser-become-laser/957041)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-laser-become-laser/957041 "2022-01-02T04:20:33Z")
Most people here (but, maybe not all) know that LASER is an acronym. It stands for Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. When LASERs were first invented, the name was always capitalized. But, at some point… --- ## [How should I use GPS and mapping for long trips](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-use-gps-and-mapping-for-long-trips/855644)
**Author:** [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-use-gps-and-mapping-for-long-trips/855644 "2022-01-02T03:22:15Z")
Don’t need answer fast (in fact, I’m not sure there is a definitive answer). A little background: I live in Los Angeles. Every Christmas, I spend a few days with my family in Northern California, about 2 1/2 hours nor… --- ## [The KIC 8462852 alien megastructure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862)
**Author:** [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862 "2022-01-01T22:23:28Z")
I think it’s interesting that the alien-megastructure hypothesis has been ruled out because an alien megastructure would dim all EM wavelengths equally, so it must be dust (to explain the lower IR absorption). Like how w… --- ## [Do you have have stickers on your laptop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-have-stickers-on-your-laptop/957020)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2022, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-have-stickers-on-your-laptop/957020 "2022-01-01T18:40:59Z")
I got a new MacBook Air this year and it’s been sticker free even though my previous Windows laptop was heavily stickered. Haven’t decided if I want to put stickers on the MacBook yet, but I’m leaning towards it. --- ## [Should Physician-Assisted Suicide be legal throughout the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-physician-assisted-suicide-be-legal-throughout-the-us/956686)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-physician-assisted-suicide-be-legal-throughout-the-us/956686 "2021-12-31T20:55:49Z")
This question appeared in Great Debates 15 years ago, but I think attitudes may have changed over the years. Should Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) be legal throughout the US? Only 20% of states now allow it. poll --- ## [Proper ratio of red wine to egg nog. (Hint: It's zero)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-ratio-of-red-wine-to-egg-nog-hint-its-zero/956729)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-ratio-of-red-wine-to-egg-nog-hint-its-zero/956729 "2021-12-31T00:51:09Z")
We are having Christmas dinner with my wife’s Parents and Aunt, who I generally find unpleasant. They are kind of dumb and opinionated and watch a lot of Fox News. And other than trips to Walmart, I can probably count … --- ## [Why is Apple TV+ so clunky to use?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-apple-tv-so-clunky-to-use/956817)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-apple-tv-so-clunky-to-use/956817 "2021-12-30T19:01:48Z")
Is Apple just that arrogant, or am I just too stupid to find what I’m looking for? Two problems jump out right away: There is no search feature, so you have to scroll through everything to find what you want to watch. T… --- ## [All praise for December (December anti-mini-rant)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-praise-for-december-december-anti-mini-rant/956043)
**Author:** [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-praise-for-december-december-anti-mini-rant/956043 "2021-12-30T12:29:27Z")
Although there are anti-rant threads, here is one specifically for December. Mosquitoes have disappeared. Pollen is gone. The lawn and garden have been put to bed for the winter. And the local classical radio station… --- ## [Uploading pictures to Walgreens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uploading-pictures-to-walgreens/956859)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uploading-pictures-to-walgreens/956859 "2021-12-30T00:48:28Z")
I want to print a picture at Walgreens. The end result will be a 4"x6" photo. Does my photo HAVE to be 4"x6" to start with if I want my picture to come out looking right? What happens if my image is not 4x6? I assume Wal… --- ## [I need less (hair) color in my life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-less-hair-color-in-my-life/956583)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-less-hair-color-in-my-life/956583 "2021-12-29T23:18:45Z")
After the worst retirement possible, in which I left the workforce on December 31, 2019 to go to all those conventions I never got a chance to go to and visit all those places I never got a chance to go to…well, y’all kn… --- ## [Suicide pods now legal in Switzerland](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-pods-now-legal-in-switzerland/955740)
**Author:** [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Replies:** 168\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-pods-now-legal-in-switzerland/955740 "2021-12-29T23:01:10Z")
This news has been making its way around a couple forums and chats that I frequent: Suicide pods being developed in Switzerland, providing users with a painless death - National | Globalnews.ca I’m not sure how I feel a… --- ## [Should I trade cars with my parents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-trade-cars-with-my-parents/956571)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-trade-cars-with-my-parents/956571 "2021-12-29T20:47:35Z")
I have a 2008 Altima with 118k miles. They have a 2010 Sentra with 96k. They will be trading it in sometime this year. To help me out, Mom suggested that we sell our cars to each other for $1 and I keep the Sentra and t… --- ## [Windows network backup software](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-network-backup-software/956867)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-network-backup-software/956867 "2021-12-29T19:03:17Z")
I’m investigating software to back up 3 TB from network drives and four Windows servers. What software do you recommend, or for that matter, not recommend? Thanks. --- ## [The Log4j vulnerability : what response have you seen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-log4j-vulnerability-what-response-have-you-seen/956040)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-log4j-vulnerability-what-response-have-you-seen/956040 "2021-12-29T17:14:18Z")
The CVE-2021-44228 vulnerability is serious because it’s being exploited already, allows arbitrary code execution, and the library in question may be present in any system that is (directly or indirectly) based on Java. … --- ## [Are you familiar with the term ‘granny parking’ and if so, how would you define it? (Upd name: Batman parking)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-familiar-with-the-term-granny-parking-and-if-so-how-would-you-define-it-upd-name-batman-parking/955513)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 177\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-familiar-with-the-term-granny-parking-and-if-so-how-would-you-define-it-upd-name-batman-parking/955513 "2021-12-29T16:24:32Z")
Or if you’re not familiar with the term, what would you guess it to mean? My wife and I were in the car with our younger son who was driving on his learner’s permit, when my wife told him to ‘granny park’. I asked her w… --- ## [Banking question re:endorsements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banking-question-re-endorsements/956829)
**Author:** [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banking-question-re-endorsements/956829 "2021-12-29T14:55:27Z")
My brother goes by his nickname, has for years, it was on his work badge, if you google him by that name you’ll find him. His partner has always paid her half of the household expenses with a check written to Last name.… --- ## [Tell me about greenhouses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-greenhouses/956747)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-greenhouses/956747 "2021-12-29T00:43:37Z")
I can talk my missus into letting me have a greenhouse, but I should probably keep it in the 8ft x 10ft range or smaller for now. Depending on where I put it, I can give it 5 – 10 hours of direct sunlight. I’m in Denve… --- ## [Do Spanish-speaking people often use the phrase "mi vida" often to refer to their loved ones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spanish-speaking-people-often-use-the-phrase-mi-vida-often-to-refer-to-their-loved-ones/956749)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spanish-speaking-people-often-use-the-phrase-mi-vida-often-to-refer-to-their-loved-ones/956749 "2021-12-29T00:36:51Z")
While watching Disney’s Encanto on Christmas Eve when it came out on Disney+, I heard a couple of characters refer to one of their loved ones as “mi vida,” my life, which I think is an adorable thing to say. Is that com… --- ## [New Android smartphone doesn't synch calendar with old smartphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-android-smartphone-doesnt-synch-calendar-with-old-smartphone/956702)
**Author:** [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-android-smartphone-doesnt-synch-calendar-with-old-smartphone/956702 "2021-12-28T19:03:58Z")
Am I the first to post a “Got a new phone for Christmas and something doesn’t work?” thread? Anyway, here it goes: Got a Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 (Android 11) and transferred the data and apps from my old Huawei P8 lite (Andr… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=220) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=222)