# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=383 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 384 --- ## [Are name brand items better than cheaper options? (Dollar Tree vs. Name Brand Stores)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-name-brand-items-better-than-cheaper-options-dollar-tree-vs-name-brand-stores/833755)
**Author:** [@sta3535](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sta3535)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-name-brand-items-better-than-cheaper-options-dollar-tree-vs-name-brand-stores/833755 "2019-07-29T02:42:49Z")
I’ve always wondered if certain items are better (in quality) if they’re bought from the mall, instead of Walmart? Now, I’ve bought clothing & items from Walmart in the past, and they’ve lasted to this day. I just don’t… --- ## ["Ain't no female fix my man a plate. Mmmm, mmmmm..."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-no-female-fix-my-man-a-plate-mmmm-mmmmm/837629)
**Author:** [@Stuntman\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuntman_Mike)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aint-no-female-fix-my-man-a-plate-mmmm-mmmmm/837629 "2019-07-29T01:50:48Z")
Do you present yourself differently to different people, or in different situations? I work in financial services, and my desk in within earshot of two black women. That quote above is an excerp from a conversation bet… --- ## [The Start of The MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-start-of-the-mmp/837443)
**Author:** [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Replies:** 169\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-start-of-the-mmp/837443 "2019-07-29T01:29:16Z")
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 73 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 92 and who knows what might happen accordin’ to TWPTB. Seriously, it may or may not be stormy this afternoon. I do no… --- ## [How to make a dream catcher (by request)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-dream-catcher-by-request/256085)
**Author:** [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-dream-catcher-by-request/256085 "2004-07-21T00:31:42Z")
A dream catcher is a work of art, so most of the specifics about it – colors, materials, size, ornamentation – are up to you. You might want to look around on the web to get some ideas. \> Here’s a link to some traditio… --- ## [Wild flowers in your yard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-flowers-in-your-yard/837635)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wild-flowers-in-your-yard/837635 "2019-07-28T21:05:19Z")
This time of the year Ohio is strewn with many tall wildflowers along the country roads. I don’t have any in my yard anymore since the county filled the ditch and put in drain pipes. But in front of the woods next door I… --- ## [Lightsail - sail unfurled](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsail-sail-unfurled/837726)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsail-sail-unfurled/837726 "2019-07-28T20:25:35Z")
The Planetary Society’s Lightsail 2 spacecraft has scuccessfully deployed its sails: Brian --- ## [This week in Science (Fiction)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-week-in-science-fiction/837752)
**Author:** [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-week-in-science-fiction/837752 "2019-07-28T13:35:00Z")
So I’ve seen a few articles about advances in Science lately and a thought pops up about the SF feel to them. Some people in Berkeley have come up with 3D printed liquid magnets. I read that phrase a few times and it st… --- ## [Idiotic douchebro drunk wins defamation award](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiotic-douchebro-drunk-wins-defamation-award/837728)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiotic-douchebro-drunk-wins-defamation-award/837728 "2019-07-28T04:17:57Z")
This is so weird—seems way too murky to prevail: https://www.inforum.com/news/4041197-Oxbow-Country-Club-some-members-defamed-former-West-Fargo-man-jury-awards-over-2-million-in-damages And how can a jury divvy up fault… --- ## [Life with an “Alternative” fuel vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-with-an-alternative-fuel-vehicle/836307)
**Author:** [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-with-an-alternative-fuel-vehicle/836307 "2019-07-27T17:46:28Z")
This thread is open to any vehicle not solely fueled by gasoline (Petrol for the international crowd)… Diesels, hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, any variety of Electric, human power, biodiesel, wood gasification, natural g… --- ## [When you see/meet someone, do you subconsciously/consciously make a note of their nationality?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-see-meet-someone-do-you-subconsciously-consciously-make-a-note-of-their-nationality/837599)
**Author:** [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-see-meet-someone-do-you-subconsciously-consciously-make-a-note-of-their-nationality/837599 "2019-07-27T17:20:10Z")
Okay, I’m bored right now. :smiley: I don’t know if this is just a local Hawaii thing (because of our multi-ethnic mix) or because I’m Asian (Okinawan/Japanese), but when I see/meet someone for the first time, do you ma… --- ## [Relationship/Friendship Comfort Levels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relationship-friendship-comfort-levels/837488)
**Author:** [@sta3535](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sta3535)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relationship-friendship-comfort-levels/837488 "2019-07-27T15:42:30Z")
Some people may “hold back” on certain things just because they’re dating someone. For example: Farting, burping, & even going to the bathroom in the same house may be considered “taboo” to some people. However, “breaki… --- ## [Really ugly buildings in Eastern Europe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-ugly-buildings-in-eastern-europe/837546)
**Author:** [@Marcus\_Flavius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus_Flavius)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2019, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-ugly-buildings-in-eastern-europe/837546 "2019-07-27T08:52:16Z")
I’m currently close to a placed called Constanta, loacated in Romania near the black sea, for work related reasons. This entire town is basically a giant eyesore. Ugly architecture absolutely everywhere you look, both ‘M… --- ## [Tribble on the horizon, Captain!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribble-on-the-horizon-captain/837679)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2019, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tribble-on-the-horizon-captain/837679 "2019-07-26T21:04:18Z")
Science Division LLC is making interactive Tribbles. You will be able to control them through your smartphone. Personally, I’m waiting for interactive Space Herpes to come out. --- ## [Trump and the spoofed presidential seal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-the-spoofed-presidential-seal/837663)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-the-spoofed-presidential-seal/837663 "2019-07-26T16:24:09Z")
Laughed at this yesterday: Short version: Trump gave a speech at a conservative student event. Behind him, the event folks were showing an image of the Presidential seal. but, in their all-too-quick Google-Image sea… --- ## [Ross Perot is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ross-perot-is-dead/836781)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2019, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ross-perot-is-dead/836781 "2019-07-26T05:26:10Z")
Billionaire and former presidential candidate Ross Perot dies at 89. I always wanted to pronounce his name ‘pee-rott’. (But then, I want to pronounce Hercule Poirot’s ‘poy-rott’.) --- ## [Anyone notice or think they've noticed anything weird during this heat wave?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-notice-or-think-theyve-noticed-anything-weird-during-this-heat-wave/837387)
**Author:** [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-notice-or-think-theyve-noticed-anything-weird-during-this-heat-wave/837387 "2019-07-25T22:53:18Z")
I live in the South and I commute long distances for work. Anyone notice any odd things during this heat wave going on right now? Birds I feel like I see so many birds I usually don’t see on the roads and stuff. I don’t… --- ## [My Medical Theory...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-medical-theory/835739)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-medical-theory/835739 "2019-07-25T19:23:00Z")
As many of you may know by now, I have a couple of medical theories that I have been trying to share with other people for some time now. I think you are all aware of my theory of a medicine to combat violence (although … --- ## [I am re-wiring my house.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-re-wiring-my-house/777334)
**Author:** [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-re-wiring-my-house/777334 "2019-07-25T16:37:56Z")
To get you up to speed: Bought this house 2 years ago. Mistake #1, which I take responsibility for, was not getting a complete and dedicated electrical inspection. Mostly out of ignorance, I assumed that the inspector… --- ## [I absolutely LOVE the stench of my own gas.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-absolutely-love-the-stench-of-my-own-gas/837555)
**Author:** [@Stuntman\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuntman_Mike)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-absolutely-love-the-stench-of-my-own-gas/837555 "2019-07-25T13:55:09Z")
Reeks like sweet garbage. I just ruined a woman’s lunch here in the office. --- ## [Random misspellings you've encountered in the wild](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-misspellings-youve-encountered-in-the-wild/826339)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-misspellings-youve-encountered-in-the-wild/826339 "2019-07-25T03:39:18Z")
Just post whatever misspelled words you’ve seen, no explanation necessary. That said, I’ll explain that this was inspired by the following misspelling I just encountered on Facebook: empravise --- ## ["Let's name this thing what we already call that thing." English language stoopidity.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-this-thing-what-we-already-call-that-thing-english-language-stoopidity/837351 "2019-07-25T01:47:19Z")
We who speak English have 26 letters at our disposal and an infinite number of ways to arrange those letters. Why, then, must we call a stringed instrument a mandolin and a kitchen slicer a mandoline? We couldn’t be ars… --- ## [Neil Armstrong -first man on moon has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-armstrong-first-man-on-moon-has-died/632631 "2019-07-25T01:22:11Z")
Another great American is gone. :frowning: Breaking News. He was 82. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/25/us-usa-neilarmstrong-idUSBRE87O0B020120825 --- ## [Goofy criminals, part 12](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goofy-criminals-part-12/836744)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goofy-criminals-part-12/836744 "2019-07-25T01:10:33Z")
In Gresham, OR, just east of Portland, a guy broke into a home along with his cat, Spaghetti. Ryan Bishop went straight for the gold, pulling clean clothes out of the dryer and donning. . .a Christmas onesie. He also dre… --- ## [My First Dog Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-dog-fight/837495)
**Author:** [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-dog-fight/837495 "2019-07-25T00:54:26Z")
I’ve got that crew of four Dachshunds I keep bragging about and I’ve been watching them play and run and hunt and kill all manor of small wildlife for many years. But I’ve never seen them turn on one another. Till tonigh… --- ## [Does anyone have a crush on Beckdawrek??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-crush-on-beckdawrek/837447)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [July 25, 2019, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-have-a-crush-on-beckdawrek/837447 "2019-07-25T00:08:12Z")
As y’all know, she’s been having some health problems and is feeling low. The work crush thread hasn’t helped because she says nobody has had a crush on her since fourth grade. This I find hard to believe, but she does… --- ## [Old-school cars and post-millennials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-school-cars-and-post-millennials/837510)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-school-cars-and-post-millennials/837510 "2019-07-24T22:53:33Z")
30 Old-School Car Features Those Under 30 Might Never Have Seen Before Every time I drive the MG, I think about how a young person would react to being given the chance to drive it. First, you can’t even start it if i… --- ## [Beckdawrek and the bad, bad, bad Doctors visit-(or Dafuq? Dude nurse!)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-bad-bad-bad-doctors-visit-or-dafuq-dude-nurse/837253)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-bad-bad-bad-doctors-visit-or-dafuq-dude-nurse/837253 "2019-07-24T21:13:17Z")
I’m not happy. I have to go the clinic. I wake up Wednesday un-well. Glucose is screwy. Need to eat but I’m nauseated. I force food down :frowning: So off I go. I get there and check in. I need an injection. My blood sug… --- ## [Jim Bouton's passing, and the Billy Graham rule](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-boutons-passing-and-the-billy-graham-rule/837355)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-boutons-passing-and-the-billy-graham-rule/837355 "2019-07-24T18:09:00Z")
Jim Bouton was a MLB pitcher who in 1971 wrote “Ball Four” the first tell-all sports book. Previously, sport books were whitewashes, portraying the athletes as grown up Boy Scouts who went to bed early and never drank an… --- ## [Why isn't this a thing? (Or is it?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-this-a-thing-or-is-it/837497)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-this-a-thing-or-is-it/837497 "2019-07-24T13:01:42Z")
I was enjoying a beer yesterday when the bartender came up behind me and began massaging my shoulders/neck. She only did it for maybe ten seconds, but it was surprisingly pleasant, and it got me wondering. Why don’t ba… --- ## [At age 31, am I at the "time-perspective" midpoint of my life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-age-31-am-i-at-the-time-perspective-midpoint-of-my-life/837463)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2019, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-age-31-am-i-at-the-time-perspective-midpoint-of-my-life/837463 "2019-07-24T03:47:23Z")
I was thinking about something last night: It’s often said that the older you get, the more quickly time flies by. A professor at my college once asserted that once you get to middle age, seven years flies by like nothin… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=382) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=384)