# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=230 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 231 --- ## [Overused Phrases in 2021?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overused-phrases-in-2021/957010)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overused-phrases-in-2021/957010 "2022-01-03T10:40:35Z")
This HuffPost article bemoans overused phrases. But many of them seem a decade old. “Wait, what?”, “new normal”, “no worries”, “supply chain”, “you’re on mute”… are any of these actually considered current? What are s… --- ## [Interest in cartoons and pop music drives degree choice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interest-in-cartoons-and-pop-music-drives-degree-choice/956896)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interest-in-cartoons-and-pop-music-drives-degree-choice/956896 "2022-01-03T04:28:19Z")
Surprised (but shouldn’t be) to learn anime and pop is driving more young folks to study Japanese and Korean than, say, Russian or Italian. I like my hobbies but they didn’t much inform my choice of majors. --- ## [I Resolve To Start The New Year MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-resolve-to-start-the-new-year-mmp/956724)
**Author:** [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Replies:** 218\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-resolve-to-start-the-new-year-mmp/956724 "2022-01-03T04:22:40Z")
There. I’ve made a resolution and stuck it out. I know y’all are so proud of me! What? This Saturday is New Year’s Day, so this counts as a New Year thread. Here it is. Hijack away! Oh, and… Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and … --- ## [So I found this browsing a Chinese restaurant menu](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-found-this-browsing-a-chinese-restaurant-menu/957060)
**Author:** [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-found-this-browsing-a-chinese-restaurant-menu/957060 "2022-01-02T20:07:01Z")
https://i.imgur.com/BtStjRg.png My question is what do you get for a dollar? --- ## ["Tech Free" Holidays Part 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-free-holidays-part-2/956989)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-free-holidays-part-2/956989 "2022-01-02T16:26:13Z")
So, in about three hours, the SIGO and I are going to enjoy our second Tech Free holiday (Christmas Day was our first try). We’d spent 24 hours with nothing newer than 35-years old: music CDs are fine, but no DVDs, Wi-F… --- ## [What would you do? (work related, using time off)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-work-related-using-time-off/956994)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-work-related-using-time-off/956994 "2022-01-02T15:16:16Z")
These are the facts: You plan on retiring in 14 months. You receive 11 hours of Combined Time Off (CTO) per 2-week pay period. You currently have 300 hours CTO in your bank (which maxes out at 360). Upon retirement, … --- ## [Does Amazon Prime send random Christmas presents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-amazon-prime-send-random-christmas-presents/956487)
**Author:** [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-amazon-prime-send-random-christmas-presents/956487 "2022-01-02T14:09:28Z")
I have gotten two packages of chocolate, on singular pair of socks from Amazon in the last two weeks. I have ask the few people I know who might do something like that, and the strongly denied having anything to do with … --- ## [We are not alone, we’re here together. Happy Holidays to all Dopers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-alone-we-re-here-together-happy-holidays-to-all-dopers/956635)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-are-not-alone-we-re-here-together-happy-holidays-to-all-dopers/956635 "2022-01-02T04:16:20Z")
I’m glad we are all here as a community of Dopers. We are the same. And we are all different. But mostly, we are all similar. In many ways, like a family. I am grateful that we are here with each other. A big inclusiv… --- ## [Pooh goes off copyright today in US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pooh-goes-off-copyright-today-in-us/957047)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pooh-goes-off-copyright-today-in-us/957047 "2022-01-02T02:08:22Z")
The copyright on Winnie the Pooh expired yesterday. The House at Pooh Corners still has a couple years to run. The situation is different in UK since it depends on the author’s death, not the publication. My grandson … --- ## [What's your New Year's resolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-years-resolution/956955)
**Author:** [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-new-years-resolution/956955 "2022-01-02T00:36:34Z")
I’ve been noodling this for the past couple of weeks. My “original” resolutions were to lose weight and get serious about writing my book, which has been stagnating pretty much forever (I write bits here and there, get d… --- ## [Holiday Odditay](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-odditay/956987)
**Author:** [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-odditay/956987 "2022-01-01T21:02:58Z")
The company I work for observes six paid holidays\* every year - usually (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day). If a holiday with a fixed date falls on a weekend day,… --- ## [New Year, in the Central Time Zone!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-in-the-central-time-zone/957026)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2022, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-in-the-central-time-zone/957026 "2022-01-01T19:11:29Z")
Whoo hoo! Happy New Year y’all. --- ## [Beckdawrek has gotten funnier](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-has-gotten-funnier/956430)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2022, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-has-gotten-funnier/956430 "2022-01-01T05:54:45Z")
I have followed her adventures for a couple years and she has always been funny in a bizarre way, but as she adds to her cast of misfits she just gets funnier. Clarence the possum was funny on his own, but now that he’s… --- ## [Have you ever screamed? Have you ever heard someone scream?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-screamed-have-you-ever-heard-someone-scream/939717 "2021-12-31T22:34:17Z")
It’s a pretty common trope, especially in older movies. A woman sees something frightening and…just screams. (I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie where a man screamed.) But in real life, does this really happen? Have y… --- ## [The medical staff told my daughter I'm not motivated to live](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-medical-staff-told-my-daughter-im-not-motivated-to-live/956880)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-medical-staff-told-my-daughter-im-not-motivated-to-live/956880 "2021-12-31T19:47:08Z")
It’s not that I’m not motivated to live. I’m just not motivated to make the staff happy, which the staff will misinterpret because they think they have my best interests in mind. Which they might; I’m not motivated to c… --- ## [Mass Killings in the United States (2021)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-killings-in-the-united-states-2021/931469)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-killings-in-the-united-states-2021/931469 "2021-12-31T13:56:58Z")
Mass killings in the United States, 2021 Four or more dead (Suicides Indicated by an asterisk) By a single killer (The killer is charged, or would have been charged had he lived.) By any criminal means ==2021== 9 … --- ## [Marking a map with interesting places — Google, or other?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marking-a-map-with-interesting-places-google-or-other/956960)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marking-a-map-with-interesting-places-google-or-other/956960 "2021-12-31T04:01:41Z")
Through the years as I’ve heard of or interesting places, I would put a pin on my Google map. I have over 1,000 places marked. But GMaps appears to have lost many of them. 4 pictures to follow. So, two questions: What… --- ## [For those who like identifying old scientific instruments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-like-identifying-old-scientific-instruments/956849)
**Author:** [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-who-like-identifying-old-scientific-instruments/956849 "2021-12-31T03:54:03Z")
The RHS needs your help. --- ## [Amendment to "Head up their ass."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amendment-to-head-up-their-ass/956567)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2021, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amendment-to-head-up-their-ass/956567 "2021-12-31T01:32:33Z")
A particular subcategory of head up their ass people occurred to me today. I do not exclude myself form occasional membership in the head up my ass club. But I think there is a particular subcategory of the procto crania… --- ## [Dealing With Online Trolls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-online-trolls/956889)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-online-trolls/956889 "2021-12-30T19:41:44Z")
I was listening to comedy radio, and a woman was talking about massive multiplayer games. I do not play these myself. The speaker had played these for twenty years and said 85% of players had mainly positive experience… --- ## [I guess I wasn't clear when I booked a vet appointment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-wasnt-clear-when-i-booked-a-vet-appointment/956841)
**Author:** [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-guess-i-wasnt-clear-when-i-booked-a-vet-appointment/956841 "2021-12-30T07:42:11Z")
Yesterday, I booked a vet appointment for my cat. The appointment was for today. My very elderly and very blind cat has been stumbling around the house lately (not unusual, though she’s typically more surefooted), but … --- ## [About Pixel, or, the life of a dog \[pet loss\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-pixel-or-the-life-of-a-dog-pet-loss/956821)
**Author:** [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-pixel-or-the-life-of-a-dog-pet-loss/956821 "2021-12-30T07:32:38Z")
CW: pet death My dog Pixel passed today. He had acute kidney failure and there was nothing else to do. I’d like to tell you a bit about Pixel, if you’ll bear with me. Pixel was a street dog. He was captured on the stre… --- ## [Mosquitoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/956892)
**Author:** [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mosquitoes/956892 "2021-12-30T06:37:58Z")
I understand a swarm of them, I have been in situations where there have been many all trying to desanguinate me. That, I think is fair: they need to survive and to survive they need to have my blood. But tonight, they … --- ## [My friend Mike passed about an hour ago from COVID](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-friend-mike-passed-about-an-hour-ago-from-covid/956681)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2021, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-friend-mike-passed-about-an-hour-ago-from-covid/956681 "2021-12-30T01:09:48Z")
My friend Mike passed about an hour ago. I’m still trying to process this. I knew him for 44 year. He was a regular at our Thanksgiving and New Years. Our kids called him Uncle Mike. We hung out, gamed, worked on wooden… --- ## [Celebrating Christmas alone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrating-christmas-alone/956582)
**Author:** [@notadoctorshh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notadoctorshh)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/celebrating-christmas-alone/956582 "2021-12-29T23:13:54Z")
To my fellow soloists out there–how do y’all get into the “Christmas spirit” when you live alone? I have no work tonight and am thinking of ways to enjoy Christmas eve. Not really in the mood to go out bar-hopping–any fu… --- ## [What did you get for Christmas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-get-for-christmas/956730)
**Author:** [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-you-get-for-christmas/956730 "2021-12-29T16:32:15Z")
Let me see your loot, man! My daughter gave me an Emperor’s New Groove tree ornament, some makeup (that’s always fun), and a nice hardcover edition of The Haunting of Hill House. (Nice, that is, except for the two fore… --- ## [Give unreliable travel advice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-unreliable-travel-advice/946920)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-unreliable-travel-advice/946920 "2021-12-29T12:54:34Z")
In this thread, you are asked to give sketchy travel advice. Thus, for your visit to Canada: Canadians love to hear your ideas for how they can improve things by making them more American. Refer specifically to Trum… --- ## [New Kitty! (Wanna suggest names?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kitty-wanna-suggest-names/918450)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kitty-wanna-suggest-names/918450 "2021-12-29T02:53:04Z")
I have adopted a talkative little baby house panther and I’m so excited I can barely form a coherent sentence. He’s handsome and special, and the first kitty I chose for my very self on my own, for me with absolutely no… --- ## [God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - where does the comma go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen-where-does-the-comma-go/956700)
**Author:** [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen-where-does-the-comma-go/956700 "2021-12-29T00:51:04Z")
It’s worth your time watching this, I promise you! --- ## [We're having an early Christmas tomorrow, and I feel crummy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-having-an-early-christmas-tomorrow-and-i-feel-crummy/955919)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-having-an-early-christmas-tomorrow-and-i-feel-crummy/955919 "2021-12-29T00:12:38Z")
Long story made short: I told my parents this evening that I probably wouldn’t make it tomorrow (sore throat, achy, no appetite) and my mother said, “Oh, you don’t feel THAT bad.” Yes, I do, and I don’t really want to … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=229) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=231)