# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=646 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 647 --- ## [COBRA question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cobra-question/781010)
**Author:** [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cobra-question/781010 "2017-02-28T20:00:51Z")
I am moving. My insurance, provided through my employer, is an “in-shop” kind, meaning that virtually all services are provided by people directly employed by the insurer, rather than, say, Blue Cross, where doctors work… --- ## [Need some legal/HIPAA advice, moderately urgent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-legal-hipaa-advice-moderately-urgent/780984)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-legal-hipaa-advice-moderately-urgent/780984 "2017-02-28T19:31:43Z")
My housekeeper’s father is very ill, and she feels he’s not getting the care he needs. She has asked me to advocate on her behalf–she doesn’t speak English well and though I’m sure there are Spanish speakers at the faci… --- ## [I need an excuse not to receive a birthday present](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-an-excuse-not-to-receive-a-birthday-present/780508 "2017-02-28T19:31:00Z")
From a cow-orker. It would be a gift certificate. \* Need answer fast!\* --- ## [What's your putzing-around store?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239 "2017-02-28T18:32:58Z")
You have 30-60 minutes to kill with a slew of stores in front of you. Do you like clothes? Housewares? Food? Department? You’re not going to buy anything, just looky-loo some time away. \*\*\*What two stores do you most li… --- ## [Writing a thesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-a-thesis/781043)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/writing-a-thesis/781043 "2017-02-28T17:35:58Z")
Is it considered ethical for someone to team up with someone else conducting research and such when writing a thesis? I know nothing about higher education just a question. --- ## ["America is better than North Korea" isn't a good argument, is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-better-than-north-korea-isnt-a-good-argument-is-it/780980)
**Author:** [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-better-than-north-korea-isnt-a-good-argument-is-it/780980 "2017-02-28T17:27:59Z")
This has come up several times during the interminable dinner-table political arguments. My father will respond to some comment about America needing to change X with something along the lines of, “Look at Syria! Or Nort… --- ## [Was child raising in the past less gender prescriptive than current practice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-child-raising-in-the-past-less-gender-prescriptive-than-current-practice/780850)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-child-raising-in-the-past-less-gender-prescriptive-than-current-practice/780850 "2017-02-28T16:49:45Z")
This dope thread about gender neutral child raising made me wonder. Other than dress did parents 100, 200 or 300 years ago have less or more rigid expectations about children should behave in modelling gendered behavio… --- ## [Who would George Washington have voted for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-george-washington-have-voted-for/780964)
**Author:** [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-george-washington-have-voted-for/780964 "2017-02-28T16:22:58Z")
Imagine in some parallel universe that General Washington duly did his two terms as the first US President, and then declared his retirement into private life, but then stayed effectively immortal up to the present day. … --- ## [Should I put off desktop PC purchase unitl new AMD Ryzen CPU chips hit the market in a few weeks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-put-off-desktop-pc-purchase-unitl-new-amd-ryzen-cpu-chips-hit-the-market-in-a-few-weeks/780290)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-put-off-desktop-pc-purchase-unitl-new-amd-ryzen-cpu-chips-hit-the-market-in-a-few-weeks/780290 "2017-02-28T16:22:40Z")
AMD has a new CPU called “Ryzen” coming out in March 2017 which will supposedly seriously challenge the price-performance of the Intel CPU i3, i5 and i7 series across the board. I’ve been looking at desktops for a month … --- ## [Legal Dopers - Can you explain this Judge Judy ending to me?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-dopers-can-you-explain-this-judge-judy-ending-to-me/588344)
**Author:** [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-dopers-can-you-explain-this-judge-judy-ending-to-me/588344 "2017-02-28T16:08:27Z")
Case in question. Two former co-workers arguing over (if I recall correctly) defendant slandering plaintiff on Facebook, plaintiff assaulting defendant. There is no definitive evidence either way, and Judge Judy is just … --- ## [Open carry experiances](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-experiances/780568)
**Author:** [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-carry-experiances/780568 "2017-02-28T15:44:25Z")
I’ve had a conceled carry permit for years, and now they’re not even required in my state, Idaho, but I’ve never tried open carry before. I’ve just gotten a new pistol which is fairly uncomfortable to try to concel and I… --- ## [re: the Myth of Gender-Neutral Parenting (letter to the editor)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-myth-of-gender-neutral-parenting-letter-to-the-editor/780640)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-the-myth-of-gender-neutral-parenting-letter-to-the-editor/780640 "2017-02-28T14:43:40Z")
The following is a letter sent to Newsday in response to their printing of op ed article “The Myth of Gender-Neutral Parenting”, available here. Newsday declined to print this letter. Neuroscientist Debra Soh does a di… --- ## [Sex! (tee-hee!)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-tee-hee/780946)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-tee-hee/780946 "2017-02-28T01:57:29Z")
Is it possible to talk about sex with giggling or making jokes? \[Serious question\] --- ## [Advice sought on dehumidifiers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-dehumidifiers/780681)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-sought-on-dehumidifiers/780681 "2017-02-28T00:39:03Z")
Humidity here is usually above 80%. As I type it’s 91% and that makes both cold and warm temperatures suck. So I’m looking to reduce humidity, preferably in an apartment of about 1000 square feet but at least in a room o… --- ## [Female only elite military units - What should their names be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-only-elite-military-units-what-should-their-names-be/780559)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-only-elite-military-units-what-should-their-names-be/780559 "2017-02-27T23:12:25Z")
I think it’s foolish and physically harmful to try and have women meet the same physical requirements as men in elite military units. Women should have their own elite military units. If this policy was adopted what sh… --- ## [Building a house -- what should I make sure I get at construction time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034)
**Author:** [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-house-what-should-i-make-sure-i-get-at-construction-time/780034 "2017-02-27T22:25:43Z")
I’m in the planning stages of building a house on the Olympic Peninsula (Washington state). I’m soliciting ideas for what I want to include during the construction stage, when it’s a lot easier to do things with wiring,… --- ## [The REAL reason to deport immigrants...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-reason-to-deport-immigrants/780643)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-reason-to-deport-immigrants/780643 "2017-02-27T21:43:19Z")
…is ultimately get those on “government assistance” to do those low paying jobs “nobody wants.” Right? --- ## [Dog advice needed! Barking for attention...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-advice-needed-barking-for-attention/780803)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-advice-needed-barking-for-attention/780803 "2017-02-27T21:27:43Z")
Ok Dopers with dog experience, I’m turning to you for help since I, as more of a cat person, am at a loss for advice or useful wisdom for my friend and her dog problem, so I promised her I’d ask the smartest people I kno… --- ## [What food item has your family eating considerably more of in this past year?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-food-item-has-your-family-eating-considerably-more-of-in-this-past-year/780921)
**Author:** [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-food-item-has-your-family-eating-considerably-more-of-in-this-past-year/780921 "2017-02-27T21:26:37Z")
For us, it’s greek yogurt…and honey. The four of us go through two large tubs of greek yogurt in a week nowadays. if you’d like to share, what has disappeared from your pantry/fridge? --- ## [Advice/Commiseration for the Inevitable End of my Marriage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-commiseration-for-the-inevitable-end-of-my-marriage/721316)
**Author:** [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-commiseration-for-the-inevitable-end-of-my-marriage/721316 "2017-02-27T21:02:37Z")
My Wife and I met in high school and were close friends but had a falling out and did not speak for several years. We started talking again when we saw each other at the funeral of a mutual friend, during this period she… --- ## [How do I get my senile dog to stop barking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-senile-dog-to-stop-barking/780551)
**Author:** [@Brodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brodi)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-senile-dog-to-stop-barking/780551 "2017-02-27T20:34:35Z")
I have a 9 year old, 75lb, Lab/Pyrenees/Anatolian mix that developed “Canine Cognitive Dysfunction” at the young age of 6. At the time we took him to the vet due to random weight loss, small short lived bouts of confusio… --- ## [Would a leopard and a cougar be evenly matched opponents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-leopard-and-a-cougar-be-evenly-matched-opponents/780831)
**Author:** [@Marcus\_Flavius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus_Flavius)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-leopard-and-a-cougar-be-evenly-matched-opponents/780831 "2017-02-27T20:23:30Z")
In a physical confrontation, would these two cats be evenly matched? Cougars have a slight weight advantage (average male cougar-137lbs, average male leopard 130lbs). But leopards are small “big cats” while cougars are t… --- ## [Advice for Selling Vintage Guitar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-selling-vintage-guitar/780919)
**Author:** [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-selling-vintage-guitar/780919 "2017-02-27T20:03:23Z")
I have come into possession of a 1940s vintage Gibson guitar. My MIL ought it new during the War. She is finally ready to part with it and wants me to sell it well. It has some cosmetic finish damage, an original case,… --- ## [Have You Ever Been To A Trump Property?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-a-trump-property/780633)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-to-a-trump-property/780633 "2017-02-27T18:53:34Z")
Have any Dopers ever stayed in/lived in a Trump hotel/residential property? Played golf at one of his golf courses? Turned a few cards at one of his casinos? What was it like? --- ## [Vertigo and ear crystals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertigo-and-ear-crystals/780566)
**Author:** [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertigo-and-ear-crystals/780566 "2017-02-27T18:25:26Z")
My father occasionally gets vertigo (room spinning and make him nauseated) and self-diagnosed via the internet of having ear crystals fall out of place. Has anyone experienced this and seen a doctor? Were they able t… --- ## [Dr. Joel Fuhrman and the Nutritarian diet. Real or scam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-joel-fuhrman-and-the-nutritarian-diet-real-or-scam/780900)
**Author:** [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-joel-fuhrman-and-the-nutritarian-diet-real-or-scam/780900 "2017-02-27T02:29:11Z")
You see this guy on PBS all the time. I had that channel on in the background while I was doing some work today, and was wondering if anyone knew if this guy was for real or not. Poking around on the internet, I found … --- ## [Nat'l Max. Speed Limit/ Drive 55](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natl-max-speed-limit-drive-55/780734)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natl-max-speed-limit-drive-55/780734 "2017-02-27T02:24:57Z")
Don’t laugh but the way I always viewed this law was that the U.S. citizenry was being “asked” to make a sacrifice for the good of the country. Historically there many other times when sacrifices were asked of us when … --- ## ["Unprecedented" has no moral weight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unprecedented-has-no-moral-weight/780901)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unprecedented-has-no-moral-weight/780901 "2017-02-27T02:06:55Z")
All it means is that it hasn’t been done before, at least not by “us.” It can mean, depending on context, that there is a weight of well-considered historical precedent suggesting that it is not a good idea. But it can j… --- ## [Ethics of quitting without giving notice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-quitting-without-giving-notice/780672)
**Author:** [@MedellinMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MedellinMike)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2017, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-of-quitting-without-giving-notice/780672 "2017-02-27T02:03:38Z")
I’m looking for some opinions here. I thinking of quitting without giving my two weeks’ notice. Here’s the situation… I’ve only been working at this company for about 7 weeks (since the 1st week of January). For various… --- ## [Small details that are deal breakers in large purchases...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-details-that-are-deal-breakers-in-large-purchases/780852)
**Author:** [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-details-that-are-deal-breakers-in-large-purchases/780852 "2017-02-26T23:53:13Z")
What minor things, things which are not necessarily involved in the performance or price in the specific item, affect your decision to purchase said item? Going to go car shopping soon. One of the items I’m bringing wit… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=645) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=647)