# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=121 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 122 --- ## [Medical/chemical question about water/orange juice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-chemical-question-about-water-orange-juice/996985)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-chemical-question-about-water-orange-juice/996985 "2024-02-02T22:32:37Z")
A nurse for my primary care physician has been telling me that I should drink lots of water. My first response was, I do already, as I drink lots of orange juice, apple juice, wine, etc. due to a dry mouth condition cau… --- ## [Ordered a new MacBook Pro, FedEx delivers an obviously empty box](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordered-a-new-macbook-pro-fedex-delivers-an-obviously-empty-box/996691)
**Author:** [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordered-a-new-macbook-pro-fedex-delivers-an-obviously-empty-box/996691 "2024-02-02T15:48:13Z")
So after much deliberation, I recently ordered a new MacBook Pro 16" from B&H Photo, for $3299. Delivery was attempted as expected on Wednesday, but the driver handed me what was an obviously tampered with box that looke… --- ## [NY Expands Its Legal Definition Of Rape](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-expands-its-legal-definition-of-rape/996961)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2024, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-expands-its-legal-definition-of-rape/996961 "2024-02-02T11:11:44Z")
They’re updating the definition so that rape can mean a wider variety of acts. The well-publicized trial of E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump probably helped the change. --- ## [What social and economic impacts would Star Trek replicator technology have?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-social-and-economic-impacts-would-star-trek-replicator-technology-have/996690)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-social-and-economic-impacts-would-star-trek-replicator-technology-have/996690 "2024-02-02T04:25:08Z")
Seems to me that if someone invented a Star Trek style replicator and was able to give humanity the ability to re-arrange essentially worthless matter (e.g. a pile of poo or a bunch of worthless rocks) into any new matri… --- ## [I've been gone from the SDMB for 20 years. What's happened?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-gone-from-the-sdmb-for-20-years-whats-happened/996625)
**Author:** [@Poldana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poldana)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-gone-from-the-sdmb-for-20-years-whats-happened/996625 "2024-02-02T03:06:37Z")
I was doing some cleaning and found one of Uncle Cecil’s books and decided to visit. I can’t even remember my original nickname from back then but mostly lurked. I’m registered under my Fark name now; I wandered over the… --- ## [The EU just approved a $54 billion aid package for Ukraine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eu-just-approved-a-54-billion-aid-package-for-ukraine/996983)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eu-just-approved-a-54-billion-aid-package-for-ukraine/996983 "2024-02-01T21:43:38Z")
Being careful how I word this in order to not get in trouble on the board, but the EU has finally reached an arrangement that would send $54 billion in aid to Ukraine. It is likely to take all the form of economic aid in… --- ## [The Betamax of Wingnuts, or, When The Wrong Format Wins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-betamax-of-wingnuts-or-when-the-wrong-format-wins/996933)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-betamax-of-wingnuts-or-when-the-wrong-format-wins/996933 "2024-02-01T21:25:03Z")
When it is possible to make wingnuts that look like this: Why would you ever make wingnuts that look like this? … --- ## [Although an RMV Rant Might be Trite](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/although-an-rmv-rant-might-be-trite/996989)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/although-an-rmv-rant-might-be-trite/996989 "2024-02-01T20:21:02Z")
OK. This is absolutely insane. Here in Massachusetts, they’ve really started pushing to use the website for most RMV transactions, including registration renewals. On October 12 I renewed my registration online. Got th… --- ## [Doctored images of Australian MP appear in newspaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctored-images-of-australian-mp-appear-in-newspaper/996909)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctored-images-of-australian-mp-appear-in-newspaper/996909 "2024-02-01T13:53:53Z")
This story is both icky and weird. Icky, because the “Photoshopped” images somehow “slipped through the cracks” to appear on the bulletin. Weird because of the phrase “sexism fury” in the headline. It just sounds awkward… --- ## [Life Imitates "No Country For Old Men"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-no-country-for-old-men/996863)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-imitates-no-country-for-old-men/996863 "2024-02-01T13:50:19Z")
In a remote-ish desert in California, it appears a drug deal gone wrong resulted in the murders of several people. It looks like many people in cars met in a very un-traveled location to transact something, and mass mur… --- ## [Brian J. Thompson has died (91)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-j-thompson-has-died-91/996872)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-j-thompson-has-died-91/996872 "2024-02-01T12:12:53Z")
Longtime Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Rochester, Professor, author of The Physical Optics Notebook and its successor The New Physical Optics Notebook, longtime editor of the… --- ## [My, my, my... my coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-my-my-my-coyote/996874)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-my-my-my-coyote/996874 "2024-02-01T03:35:43Z")
A couple of days ago our 130 lb dog alerted to something in the front yard at dusk. He went berserk and man is he loud! It was foggy but I could see it was a fox or a coyote. I have never seen a coyote around here before… --- ## [Thoughts on comments at a memorial service](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-comments-at-a-memorial-service/996832)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-comments-at-a-memorial-service/996832 "2024-02-01T01:36:41Z")
Attended a memorial service yesterday. I had only met the dead guy once. My wife was decent friends with the widow, very close friends with the widow’s cousin. I had no opinion about him other than what I heard from m… --- ## [Ad for yoga teacher helped catch killer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-for-yoga-teacher-helped-catch-killer/996875)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ad-for-yoga-teacher-helped-catch-killer/996875 "2024-01-31T23:01:59Z")
Just a weird story, but I’m glad that the apparent killer has been arrested. --- ## [The family business: Market Distribution Specialists, Inc (1984-2012)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-family-business-market-distribution-specialists-inc-1984-2012/923289)
**Author:** [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2024, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-family-business-market-distribution-specialists-inc-1984-2012/923289 "2024-01-31T20:00:43Z")
It wasn’t until the plane hit cruising altitude that Teri realized she was having problems. Earlier in the morning, everything was fine, delightful even. She and her husband, John, had been preparing for their vacation…… --- ## [The sea around Newfoundland is littered with shipwrecks. One has just re-surfaced](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sea-around-newfoundland-is-littered-with-shipwrecks-one-has-just-re-surfaced/996768)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2024, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sea-around-newfoundland-is-littered-with-shipwrecks-one-has-just-re-surfaced/996768 "2024-01-31T10:55:44Z")
Part of a shipwreck, likely from the 19th century, has emerged on a beach in Newfoundland. May have come to light due to erosion from Hurricane Fiona. Naval historians are excited. --- ## [What's my obligation to art?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-obligation-to-art/996615)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-obligation-to-art/996615 "2024-01-31T04:48:39Z")
I’ve dreamt, at least 4 times of a particular painting. At first I thought it was the Cover of Lennon’s Imagine album. The second dream I realized it’s an angel. Clouds. The clouds have thinned out in subsequent dream… --- ## [Be cool! Be blue! Argyria as a choice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-cool-be-blue-argyria-as-a-choice/996781)
**Author:** [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/be-cool-be-blue-argyria-as-a-choice/996781 "2024-01-30T19:01:05Z")
Argyria is a condition that turns your skin blue, or grey, or something in between. It is caused by absorbtion of collodial silver, which is a tincture containing elemental silver in molecular form. It was sometimes pres… --- ## [Actual working Starfleet-style communicator to go on sale](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-working-starfleet-style-communicator-to-go-on-sale/724501)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-working-starfleet-style-communicator-to-go-on-sale/724501 "2024-01-30T17:10:34Z")
Ooo, shiny! And very tempting… --- ## [Hotels near LAX](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotels-near-lax/996628)
**Author:** [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotels-near-lax/996628 "2024-01-30T14:56:32Z")
I am flying overseas in August. I will be overnighting at LAX. Does anyone have recommendations for places to stay near the airport? This is a vacation so I want to relax for a bit and have planned the departures in the … --- ## [Local school board cancels school because of an eclipse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-board-cancels-school-because-of-an-eclipse/996738)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-school-board-cancels-school-because-of-an-eclipse/996738 "2024-01-30T09:00:16Z")
Well, sort of. My local school board has decided the total solar eclipse of April 8 will be dangerous. So a PA day has been moved from April 22 to April 8 so the kids aren’t subjected to all the danger. The period of … --- ## [This company is planning to use AI to communicate with animals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-company-is-planning-to-use-ai-to-communicate-with-animals/996828)
**Author:** [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-company-is-planning-to-use-ai-to-communicate-with-animals/996828 "2024-01-30T05:04:15Z")
https://www.earthspecies.org Earth Species Project is a non-profit dedicated to using artificial intelligence to decode non-human communication. We believe that an understanding of non-human languages will transform o… --- ## [I just want you to know who I am](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-you-to-know-who-i-am/996840)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-want-you-to-know-who-i-am/996840 "2024-01-30T02:14:52Z")
"I don’t want the world to see me, 'Cause I don’t think they’d understand, When everything is made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am"\* I figured it out. Of course it was a seizure that caused it. A song … --- ## [Zyppah (Happy Z backwards) sleep apnea device commercials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zyppah-happy-z-backwards-sleep-apnea-device-commercials/996826)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zyppah-happy-z-backwards-sleep-apnea-device-commercials/996826 "2024-01-30T01:29:30Z")
If you listen to Sirius XM then you’ve probably heard these commercials whose spokesman is Jimmy from apparently south Boston. The company that owns the Zyppah brand is based in California. While I highly doubt that t… --- ## [Where is the best place for direct consultation for home repair / DIY questions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-best-place-for-direct-consultation-for-home-repair-diy-questions/996841)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-best-place-for-direct-consultation-for-home-repair-diy-questions/996841 "2024-01-30T01:00:48Z")
As evidenced by other threads I’ve created, both here and elsewhere, I as a new homeowner who’s not handy have had questions about certain aspects of home repair and maintenance. Right now, it’s about smoke detectors, wi… --- ## [So the Chief Justice of Canada and I were going head-to-head in a debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-chief-justice-of-canada-and-i-were-going-head-to-head-in-a-debate/996460 "2024-01-29T20:49:13Z")
We were arguing about a decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council called Brooks-Bidlake. I was submitting that it was highly relevant to the case before the Supreme Court, but he was sceptical. And then I … --- ## [It was supposed to be so easy!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-supposed-to-be-so-easy/996790)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-was-supposed-to-be-so-easy/996790 "2024-01-29T20:38:18Z")
Or, technology strikes again. Sigh. Just spent a few of the remaining hours of my life getting a new Epson Ecotank ET-4800 printer/scanner set up and running the way I want it to. Not all that difficult in principle, … --- ## [Ever seen stalagmites on your icecubes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-stalagmites-on-your-icecubes/961187)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-seen-stalagmites-on-your-icecubes/961187 "2024-01-29T18:45:47Z")
I made some ice recently and was surprised to see “stalagmites” that had grown from the surface of the cubes. I’d never seen/heard of such a thing, but online I found that it i… --- ## [Thugs attacking robot delivery carts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thugs-attacking-robot-delivery-carts/988576)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thugs-attacking-robot-delivery-carts/988576 "2024-01-29T16:59:04Z")
I’ve seen numerous videos of people tipping those food delivery robots over and prying off the locked lid. And now that it is on YouTube and TikTok it will only increase. Have the designers totally overlooked this proble… --- ## [Are you a Turtle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-turtle/996723)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2024, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-turtle/996723 "2024-01-29T15:07:28Z")
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