# In My Humble Opinion **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=973 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 974 --- ## [Programming language book recommendations for each language](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programming-language-book-recommendations-for-each-language/706546)
**Author:** [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/programming-language-book-recommendations-for-each-language/706546 "2015-01-04T22:59:02Z")
Dear sweet, intelligent, lovely, innocent and fellow Straight Dope participants, users and people! :slight\_smile: :slight\_smile: :slight\_smile: Let this thread be our programming language books recommendation thread ple… --- ## [IMHO, this is MPSIMS II.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-this-is-mpsims-ii/20532)
**Author:** [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-this-is-mpsims-ii/20532 "2015-01-04T20:43:54Z")
but that’s just my Humble Opinion. Couldn’t fit all the junk in one forum, too hard to control eh? The mindless stupidity is overflowing… (oh, yeah, i suppose i set myself up for some great ones now too.) :slight\_smile: … --- ## [AKM (AK-47) compatibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/akm-ak-47-compatibility/708954)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/akm-ak-47-compatibility/708954 "2015-01-04T18:04:17Z")
I’m actually looking for a factual answer, but this thread may turn into IMHO. Note that I am not currently in the market for an AKM, and am just asking out of curiosity. I used to have a Maadi AKM back in the '80s, wh… --- ## [Fan CFLs flicker when off - unsafe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-cfls-flicker-when-off-unsafe/708957)
**Author:** [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-cfls-flicker-when-off-unsafe/708957 "2015-01-04T18:00:01Z")
When we bought our house a few years ago, we replaced a chandelier light in the living room with a ceiling fan. This weekend, I finally got around to installing a light kit on the fan. That went smoothly except that when… --- ## [Kleenex with a prostate exam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kleenex-with-a-prostate-exam/707839)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kleenex-with-a-prostate-exam/707839 "2015-01-04T16:13:04Z")
Not to hijack this thread . . . Guys: Has your doctor given you a tissue before a prostate exam? I assume it’s just in case you have an orgasm. Now ok, I happen to be gay, and the doc happens to be very goodlooking . . … --- ## [Fred Phelps died last May. Has the Westboro picketing stopped?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-died-last-may-has-the-westboro-picketing-stopped/708934)
**Author:** [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-died-last-may-has-the-westboro-picketing-stopped/708934 "2015-01-04T15:19:46Z")
My theory is that the old man had his whole family under a firm grip of Stockholm Syndrome, and I wonder what happened to the family since his death. A quick Google search suggested there have not been any major picketin… --- ## [Online communities that you could recommend (where else could we find you))](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-communities-that-you-could-recommend-where-else-could-we-find-you/708941)
**Author:** [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-communities-that-you-could-recommend-where-else-could-we-find-you/708941 "2015-01-04T13:39:25Z")
I have greatly benefited from online discussion platforms, especially related to programming and computer hardware. Now, I would like to name a few of them so that you may get to know what you did not know previously: g… --- ## [Tell me some stuff about VOIP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-some-stuff-about-voip/700712)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-some-stuff-about-voip/700712 "2015-01-04T12:00:30Z")
I may have a new job soon which requires me to use a VOIP phone which they will supply. How does this work exactly? Will it probably simply be able to be used with my current internet connection, or will I need to pay … --- ## [Recommend something for us to do on our 15th Anniversary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-something-for-us-to-do-on-our-15th-anniversary/708536)
**Author:** [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-something-for-us-to-do-on-our-15th-anniversary/708536 "2015-01-04T11:33:16Z")
We’ll be married 15 years in the Spring. We want to do something unique & memorable. Dinner and a movie just won’t do. No parties, skydiving, or bungee jumping. Just the two of us. Nothing we have to travel far to … --- ## [Any thoughts or advice for a first-time parent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-or-advice-for-a-first-time-parent/707726)
**Author:** [@MrLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrLee)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-or-advice-for-a-first-time-parent/707726 "2015-01-04T10:46:14Z")
Hey all. I’m going to be a Dad for the first time in (or around) February. For those parents out there…What’s the one most important pearl of wisdom or piece of advice which you were told, or wish you had been told? T… --- ## [Water purification systems for the home - recommendation needed please.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-purification-systems-for-the-home-recommendation-needed-please/708933)
**Author:** [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-purification-systems-for-the-home-recommendation-needed-please/708933 "2015-01-04T09:01:27Z")
I’m posting this question for friends who live in the city of Flint, MI, which has had ongoing contaminated water woes for a while. They are concerned about health and also taste. But mostly health. Water quality issues … --- ## [Cataracts? But I'm only 31?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cataracts-but-im-only-31/708770)
**Author:** [@SaraNH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaraNH)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cataracts-but-im-only-31/708770 "2015-01-04T07:01:38Z")
Hi all… I have a question for anyone who has gone through the operation and can comment about their results? I know everyone is different but being so young I am terrified that my vision is going to change drastically… I… --- ## [Intelligence and Age: science and philosophy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligence-and-age-science-and-philosophy/708874)
**Author:** [@thanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thanatic)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligence-and-age-science-and-philosophy/708874 "2015-01-04T07:00:45Z")
why does it seem like scientists: mathematicians, chemists, physicists (the hard sciences) technical stuff it seems like people in those fields do their best work in there earlier years, early to mid 20s. why in philos… --- ## [Do you pray regularly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pray-regularly/708555)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pray-regularly/708555 "2015-01-04T06:08:55Z")
I was taught to pray before bed every night. It’s become a comfort to me over the years. Sometimes its just a short thank you for a productive and uneventful day. Other times it may involve a problem or crises in my life… --- ## [WTC: who's been there?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-whos-been-there/81271)
**Author:** [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtc-whos-been-there/81271 "2015-01-04T03:03:24Z")
I have. A bunch of times. The first time was when I was 18, me and Ronnie, and we found out they serve beer at the observation deck refreshment stand. Of course they shouldn’t have served it to us, but it was lovely … --- ## [Short Jail Term or Humiliation - Your Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-jail-term-or-humiliation-your-call/80038)
**Author:** [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-jail-term-or-humiliation-your-call/80038 "2015-01-04T01:14:57Z")
Can’t find an online link for this story yet - I’ll post one if one turns up - but I heard this on the radio this morning. A woman who had shoplifted (from Home Depot, IIRC) was given a choice by the judge - 3 days in ja… --- ## [Milk & Cookies with the Man in the Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milk-cookies-with-the-man-in-the-moon/21364)
**Author:** [@Peta\_Tzunami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peta_Tzunami)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/milk-cookies-with-the-man-in-the-moon/21364 "2015-01-04T00:38:33Z")
I thought I’d post this not because its any great question, but because it was something I thought interesting to know… Since all of our own videos are packed as well as the DVD player for our move (whimper), the other … --- ## [Yet even more cover songs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-even-more-cover-songs/21710)
**Author:** [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-even-more-cover-songs/21710 "2015-01-03T23:39:00Z")
While going through my record collection, I came across some interesting cover (or remakes, if you will) songs. Some are good, some bad, most have never gotten anywhere near a popular chart, or even a radio station: “… --- ## [What's the best thing you've picked out of the trash?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-youve-picked-out-of-the-trash/79960)
**Author:** [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-youve-picked-out-of-the-trash/79960 "2015-01-03T23:35:58Z")
Our neighborhood has a monthly bulk trash pickup where people can put anything they don’t want on the curb and the city will haul it away. Since, as everyone knows, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, it pays to s… --- ## [You've got the power of Captain Marvel. Do you ever go back to being Billy Batson?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-the-power-of-captain-marvel-do-you-ever-go-back-to-being-billy-batson/708232)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-got-the-power-of-captain-marvel-do-you-ever-go-back-to-being-billy-batson/708232 "2015-01-03T22:54:37Z")
Pallas Athena – Queen of Olympus, Deity of Wisdom, and Castrator of Zeus – has recently discovered that Russian bellicosity, the rise of ISIL, and the cancellation of Selfie are all the doing of that Asgardian wanker Odi… --- ## [You're a professor. Students decide to skip the final exam.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-professor-students-decide-to-skip-the-final-exam/708734)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-professor-students-decide-to-skip-the-final-exam/708734 "2015-01-03T21:37:55Z")
OK, here’s a hypothetical: You are a professor in a university. The students in your class have all maintained an “A” average so far - near 100% in all of their grades. The final exam counts for 20 percent of the total… --- ## [Dr. Bronners Soap](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-soap/708659)
**Author:** [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-soap/708659 "2015-01-03T21:21:04Z")
I was at Costco yesterday and noticed a big bottle of Dr. Bronners Peppermint soap for $10. I’ve never used their products but the price seemed very good so it jumped into my cart. Smells very nice, but so far I’ve only… --- ## [Similarly-shaped geographical places](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similarly-shaped-geographical-places/708471)
**Author:** [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/similarly-shaped-geographical-places/708471 "2015-01-03T20:19:28Z")
Recently I was struck by how similarly Nigeria and the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal) are shaped. Other than rectangular places like Colorado & Wyoming, what other similarly-shaped places can you think of? --- ## [Physical side effects of THC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-side-effects-of-thc/708815)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-side-effects-of-thc/708815 "2015-01-03T18:09:40Z")
I have looked all over the internet and can’t find anything that seems to match my experience. Most of the reports I read seem to be biased one way or the other and are not dealing with my issues anyway. I believe it i… --- ## [Entourage 2008 with yosemite \[problems\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entourage-2008-with-yosemite-problems/708803)
**Author:** [@gracefulstrength](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracefulstrength)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entourage-2008-with-yosemite-problems/708803 "2015-01-03T17:36:47Z")
I just upgraded to yosemite on my iMac. Now entourage 2008 won’t receive any email. I already updated my passwords. Comcast said as is right at their end. My iphone and ipad work email still work. Any notions? Thanks! --- ## [What food do you take on the airplane to eat during the flight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-food-do-you-take-on-the-airplane-to-eat-during-the-flight/708807)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-food-do-you-take-on-the-airplane-to-eat-during-the-flight/708807 "2015-01-03T12:54:07Z")
The trip discussed hereis finally coming to pass on Monday. It will be about 2.5 hours on Southwest Airlines. I have all my ducks in a row re the flight itself (I guess those would be flying ducks) thanks in part to the … --- ## [Should the USA annex Alberta?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-annex-alberta/708094)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-the-usa-annex-alberta/708094 "2015-01-03T05:59:36Z")
Alberta is the Texas, the Kentucky, possibly the Venezuela, or maybe the Saudi Arabia of Canada: a petro-state where the Conservatives always win elections. Of all of Canada, Alberta seems the most in line with mainstre… --- ## [Quick question about this home value over time graph](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-question-about-this-home-value-over-time-graph/708813)
**Author:** [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-question-about-this-home-value-over-time-graph/708813 "2015-01-03T03:11:25Z")
Take a look at the graph at this link: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/121-E-Ohio-St-Indianapolis-IN-46204/2113400483\_zpid/ (No this is not a property I’m actually considering purchasing. :wink: ) Notice how the grap… --- ## [What is it exactly that makes first names sound feminine or masculine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-exactly-that-makes-first-names-sound-feminine-or-masculine/708733)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-exactly-that-makes-first-names-sound-feminine-or-masculine/708733 "2015-01-03T02:40:02Z")
Normally an literate English speaking person is usually able to tell a female from a male first name just by the way it sounds even if they have never encountered that exact name before. I have found this even holds true… --- ## [What's with this Amazon reviewer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-this-amazon-reviewer/708801)
**Author:** [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-this-amazon-reviewer/708801 "2015-01-03T02:00:23Z")
This person has posted dozens of bad reviews just in the last month on Amazon, and none are verified purchases. They all follow a formula, a complaint about how shitty the product is, followed by a sentence about a frie… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=972) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/in-my-humble-opinion/14.md?page=974)