# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=69 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 70 --- ## [Were you led to believe Santa's Reindeer were male?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-led-to-believe-santas-reindeer-were-male/217559)
**Author:** [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-you-led-to-believe-santas-reindeer-were-male/217559 "2024-12-25T16:57:43Z")
When calling off the name of Santa’s reindeer, don’t you get the impression they are all male? I mean a name like “Rudolph?” Even in the cartoon RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER, he is shown to be a “guy” because he is sep… --- ## [How strong is NATO without USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-is-nato-without-usa/1011100)
**Author:** [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-is-nato-without-usa/1011100 "2024-12-25T05:43:02Z")
I assume Trump will isolate USA, and probably pull out of NATO, so, how strong is NATO vs for instance russia without USA? There are a few Nuclear weaponed nations even without USA in NATO. But in general, surely France,… --- ## [If Ukraine is facing a troop shortage, why don't they just hire mercenaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-ukraine-is-facing-a-troop-shortage-why-dont-they-just-hire-mercenaries/1012086)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 25, 2024, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-ukraine-is-facing-a-troop-shortage-why-dont-they-just-hire-mercenaries/1012086 "2024-12-25T02:53:47Z")
I think Russia is offering $2,000 a month to soldiers. For Ukraine they could hire 100,000 mercenaries for 2k a month, that works out to 2.4 billion a year. Ukraine is spending about 100 billion a year on military in be… --- ## [Should I try metformin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-metformin/1011970)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-try-metformin/1011970 "2024-12-24T22:26:02Z")
I’m pre-diabetic. My fasting blood sugar is generally just above 100, and my last A1c reading was 5.7, up from two readings at 5.6. I already discussed it with my doctor. He says: You could certainly try metformin if … --- ## [Did the 1960's anti-Vietnam-war protests achieve anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-1960s-anti-vietnam-war-protests-achieve-anything/1000751)
**Author:** [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [December 24, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-1960s-anti-vietnam-war-protests-achieve-anything/1000751 "2024-12-24T18:35:52Z")
For those of you alive back then, did the anti-Vietnam-war protests have any effect on policies, how many people were sent to Vietnam, the decision to leave Vietnam, etc? Was there any material change due to the protests… --- ## [Time Person of the Year 2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-person-of-the-year-2024/1009507)
**Author:** [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2024, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-person-of-the-year-2024/1009507 "2024-12-23T23:46:05Z")
I just updated my Sportsperson of the Year post over on The Game Room, so I thought I would start the Time POTY discussion while I was at it. I am going to go with my original thought: the President-Elect, whoever that … --- ## [The internet isn’t dead in 2024—but it is one big churn (exploring history and causes)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-isn-t-dead-in-2024-but-it-is-one-big-churn-exploring-history-and-causes/1011882)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-internet-isn-t-dead-in-2024-but-it-is-one-big-churn-exploring-history-and-causes/1011882 "2024-12-23T17:29:32Z")
You’ve probably heard of dead internet theory. Here’s a good article on it: A key quote: “As evidence, \[author of famous post on the theory\] IlluminatiPirate offers, “I’ve seen the same threads, the same pics, and the… --- ## [Another person driving their car through a Christmas parade \[2024-12-20, Germany\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-person-driving-their-car-through-a-christmas-parade-2024-12-20-germany/1011947)
**Author:** [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2024, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-person-driving-their-car-through-a-christmas-parade-2024-12-20-germany/1011947 "2024-12-23T10:51:20Z")
--- ## [Should we be worried? Google's new digital fingerprinting scheme is coming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-worried-googles-new-digital-fingerprinting-scheme-is-coming/1011976)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-be-worried-googles-new-digital-fingerprinting-scheme-is-coming/1011976 "2024-12-23T02:26:35Z")
This article from Forbes is pretty alarming, if what it says is accurate. “Fingerprinting involves the collection of pieces of information about a device’s software or hardware, which, when combined, can uniquely ide… --- ## [How to Fix an Outlook Feature](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-an-outlook-feature/1011842)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 23, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-an-outlook-feature/1011842 "2024-12-23T00:47:43Z")
My “Mail” (akin to Outlook, but for Mac) always wants to place attachments in the body of the email itself. Is there an option to attach a file without embedding? It seems there should be an option under “Edit”, but it’s… --- ## [More polite to leave bathroom fan on or off?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-polite-to-leave-bathroom-fan-on-or-off/1011317)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-polite-to-leave-bathroom-fan-on-or-off/1011317 "2024-12-21T23:43:32Z")
After using a bathroom with the fan on and making an evil smell, is it more polite to leave the fan on when leaving to continue to take lingering smells away? Or to turn it off? --- ## [Have you ever been underwhelmed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-underwhelmed/1010764)
**Author:** [@Yelnick\_McWawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yelnick_McWawa)\ **Replies:** 231\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-been-underwhelmed/1010764 "2024-12-21T20:20:38Z")
While riding the Boston subway, I struck up a conversation with a tourist who appeared lost. After telling them how to get to the U.S.S. Constitution, they told me about their visit to Plymouth Rock and how it was a was… --- ## [Trump transfers $4B stake in DJT to a revocable trust?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-transfers-4b-stake-in-djt-to-a-revocable-trust/1011972)
**Author:** [@JoePockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoePockets)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-transfers-4b-stake-in-djt-to-a-revocable-trust/1011972 "2024-12-21T17:17:46Z")
1)I assume this stock in the trust can be dumped and cash out ? Also this stock made little cash from profit’s yet its price kept climbing closer to the election ,2) Is it possible backers from other countries let’s say … --- ## [Anyone Have Experience with Cast Iron Baseboards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-experience-with-cast-iron-baseboards/1011978)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-experience-with-cast-iron-baseboards/1011978 "2024-12-21T16:31:09Z")
OK, these are pretty uncommon today, but my house has forced hot water with cast iron baseboards. If you’ve never seen them, the are: They work just like the more common s… --- ## [Looking for advice on moving to the Philippines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-moving-to-the-philippines/1007168)
**Author:** [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2024, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-advice-on-moving-to-the-philippines/1007168 "2024-12-21T07:11:25Z")
So, I am seriously considering retiring within the next year, after 42 years of working I have had reached my goals and starting to lose my passion for going to work. Also, I have recently broke up with my longtime GF, … --- ## [Nuuk Airport -- now accepting A330 Jets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuuk-airport-now-accepting-a330-jets/1011954)
**Author:** [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuuk-airport-now-accepting-a330-jets/1011954 "2024-12-21T01:45:16Z")
This is in Greenland. Nuuk is the Capital of Greenland. I have been following the expansion project of the Nuuk airport, once only served by regional ATR propjets. Now they’ve hit the big time… I’m tempted to go the… --- ## [If an elderly person decides to move to the US to retire, what do they do for health insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-elderly-person-decides-to-move-to-the-us-to-retire-what-do-they-do-for-health-insurance/1011883)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-elderly-person-decides-to-move-to-the-us-to-retire-what-do-they-do-for-health-insurance/1011883 "2024-12-20T21:51:07Z")
If someone wants to spend their retirement years in the US but they were not born and raised here, what do they do for health insurance? They would not qualify for medicare since they didn’t pay 40 quarters worth of medi… --- ## [Cheap/free e-mail hosting from my own domain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-free-e-mail-hosting-from-my-own-domain/1011454)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-free-e-mail-hosting-from-my-own-domain/1011454 "2024-12-20T21:26:03Z")
I’ve owned and maintained a business domain, website, and e-mail address for decades. I retired three years ago, and although I want to continue to keep the site up, I no longer use the e-mail address. It’s all hosted a… --- ## [How did my computer use my credit card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-my-computer-use-my-credit-card/1011902)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2024, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-my-computer-use-my-credit-card/1011902 "2024-12-20T19:05:02Z")
When my 11 year old grandson is visiting he plays Roblox and Mario Brothers on my computer. He is quite skilled and writes/edits games. He shows me how to edit the timeline and add sound, effects, etc. So every now and t… --- ## [Why are mittens still made? Are there advantages over gloves?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mittens-still-made-are-there-advantages-over-gloves/1010666)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mittens-still-made-are-there-advantages-over-gloves/1010666 "2024-12-20T18:44:20Z")
I haven’t lived in an extremely cold climate since childhood. I own and use gloves. Including a nice soft calf skin pair I wear on chilly winter days. Great for driving when the steering wheel is cold. They look nice wh… --- ## [Why are police breaking up Amazon strikes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-police-breaking-up-amazon-strikes/1011899)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2024, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-police-breaking-up-amazon-strikes/1011899 "2024-12-20T15:28:42Z")
At the picket line in Queens, New York, police arrested and released Anthony Rosario, a Teamsters organizer, and Jogernsyn Cardenas, one of the striking workers, and then threatened mass arrests before breaking the li… --- ## [Is the DMV / traffic department / transport office / etc. a universally horrible experience?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-dmv-traffic-department-transport-office-etc-a-universally-horrible-experience/1011753)
**Author:** [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2024, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-dmv-traffic-department-transport-office-etc-a-universally-horrible-experience/1011753 "2024-12-20T13:02:15Z")
Inspired by a four-hour odyssey to renew my driver’s license this morning… The place you have to go to to register your car or get your driver’s license, whatever you call it. Is it a terrible bureaucratic experience ev… --- ## [How to Dress for Teams Interview](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dress-for-teams-interview/1011686)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-dress-for-teams-interview/1011686 "2024-12-19T23:26:36Z")
How should I dress for an interview over Teams (with camera on). I assume dress shirt and tie. Is a jacket necessary? This is an IT position but not in a managerial role, per se. However, the role would liaison with mana… --- ## [Easement rights in Arkansas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easement-rights-in-arkansas/1011773)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easement-rights-in-arkansas/1011773 "2024-12-19T20:58:12Z")
A real estate agent purchased a land locked area of land behind my property and asked for an easement so that whoever buys it from her can access it. I have no problem with a property owner using the edge of my property … --- ## [Does divestment make a difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-divestment-make-a-difference/1011861)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-divestment-make-a-difference/1011861 "2024-12-19T19:56:29Z")
For about a year now, there have been calls for institutions to divest from businesses that are facilitating Israel’s absurdly destructive bombing campaign in Gaza. I assume the divestment is targeted at the manufacture… --- ## [Technology Increasing Student Brawls?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-increasing-student-brawls/1011690)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technology-increasing-student-brawls/1011690 "2024-12-19T18:18:55Z")
The NYT story below is about how smartphones have increased brawling at schools. Though I have no reason to doubt this, it is not like peers didn’t always sometimes encourage other people to fight. The scope is differe… --- ## [Cataracts -- what to expect in early stages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cataracts-what-to-expect-in-early-stages/1008643)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cataracts-what-to-expect-in-early-stages/1008643 "2024-12-19T17:29:36Z")
I visited my regular optometrist yesterday, as I do every year, to update my glasses prescription. I expressed a feeling that bright lights are not as bright as they used to be, and he confirmed that I have the beginning… --- ## [“It’s a free country”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-a-free-country/1011608)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-s-a-free-country/1011608 "2024-12-19T14:39:12Z")
Kennedy’s lawyer is apparently petitioning to review access to the polio vaccine which has prevented many cases of tragic illness. Like Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Siri insists he does not want to take vaccines away from anyone wh… --- ## [Help Me Replace My Windows Computer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-replace-my-windows-computer/1009420)
**Author:** [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Replies:** 141\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-replace-my-windows-computer/1009420 "2024-12-19T14:01:02Z")
There was a thread earlier this year regarding replacement of a Mac, and there are also a couple of threads regarding building a new computer or replacing parts on an existing computer. Well, I have a 2017 Windows deskt… --- ## [Do you feel guilty about taking advantage of loss leader deals for small businesses?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-feel-guilty-about-taking-advantage-of-loss-leader-deals-for-small-businesses/1011002)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2024, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-feel-guilty-about-taking-advantage-of-loss-leader-deals-for-small-businesses/1011002 "2024-12-19T07:47:25Z")
So there’s a bar down the street from me that has really good pizza and after midnight it’s half off. I was really craving some pizza late at night, so I headed over and ordered a 14" supreme (taking home half of it). Th… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=68) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=70)