# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=398 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 399 --- ## [Restaurants with "service charges"--yea or nay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-service-charges-yea-or-nay/833599)
**Author:** [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restaurants-with-service-charges-yea-or-nay/833599 "2019-05-10T21:13:12Z")
Today, I went to a restaurant. When I got the check, it surprised me that they already tacked on a 5% service charge. Now this isn’t the automatic tip restaurants often place on large parties, since 5% clearly isn’t cu… --- ## [Scandalous Jujube flavors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandalous-jujube-flavors/833761)
**Author:** [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandalous-jujube-flavors/833761 "2019-05-10T20:27:37Z")
I came across a website that sells Jujubes, the popular candy of my youth. Either some prankster messed with the description, or Jujubes have gone all hipster on us. Thesite lists the flavors and colors in each box thusl… --- ## [My wife got tickets to "Hamilton"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-got-tickets-to-hamilton/833577)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-got-tickets-to-hamilton/833577 "2019-05-10T18:35:59Z")
She was on a waiting list for tickets to the touring show coming to Kansas City this summer. She just got an email today alerting her that tickets were available, she went online and after about half a dozen attempts, wa… --- ## [...In which Beowulff prepares to fight his perpetual enemy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-beowulff-prepares-to-fight-his-perpetual-enemy/833409)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-beowulff-prepares-to-fight-his-perpetual-enemy/833409 "2019-05-10T17:32:48Z")
Not Grendel this time, but bees. I am beset by bees. On average, I find 2-3 colonies a year in my yard. The price I have to pay for living in a lush oasis in the desert. I have nothing personal against the bees, and I w… --- ## [Help me with a small project on imagination (or lack thereof)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-a-small-project-on-imagination-or-lack-thereof/832991)
**Author:** [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2019, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-a-small-project-on-imagination-or-lack-thereof/832991 "2019-05-10T15:20:16Z")
I’m exploring ideas for education and building common mental spaces, and I’d like some real world data to keep improving them. In this exercise I’m going to give a prompt and a description of format for the response, and… --- ## [Scammy sounding e-mail, but is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammy-sounding-e-mail-but-is-it/833723)
**Author:** [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammy-sounding-e-mail-but-is-it/833723 "2019-05-10T14:07:59Z")
I received an e-mail to my work address from a out of state college inviting me to serve on their industry panel. It also said the position would be compensated and any travel expenses would be covered. I immediately t… --- ## [Prince Harry to marry Meghan Markle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 322\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-harry-to-marry-meghan-markle/802919 "2019-05-09T15:46:08Z")
It’s official; Prince Harry is marrying African-American actress Meghan Markle, aka Rachel Zane from Suits (she’s retiring from acting ala Princess Grace). She’ll be the first American to marry into the royal family sin… --- ## [How Were Things Wrapped In the "Olden Days"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-things-wrapped-in-the-olden-days/833664)
**Author:** [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-things-wrapped-in-the-olden-days/833664 "2019-05-09T14:40:02Z")
I was in a dollar store and looking at everything very well and securely wrapped in layer and layer of plastic. It’s a bit before my time, but I do recall a few things sold before say 1960 and they were wrapped in a box… --- ## [Are Canadians generally nicer than Americans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadians-generally-nicer-than-americans/833683)
**Author:** [@Dunmurry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunmurry)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-canadians-generally-nicer-than-americans/833683 "2019-05-09T13:35:03Z")
Well I have always thought that some people think that Canadians are nicer than Americans. Do you think this is true? Canadians seem to be less brash, less arrogant than Americans and there are probably fewer assholes th… --- ## [Netherlands: Inspiring 50](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netherlands-inspiring-50/833713)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2019, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netherlands-inspiring-50/833713 "2019-05-09T10:36:27Z")
Inspiring Fifty NL 2019: 50 trailblazing women transforming tech against all odds One of my friends is there. I’m not going to name her, but she’s done very well, and I hope you’ll join me in wishing her further success… --- ## [Funeral attendance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-attendance/833593)
**Author:** [@Stuntman\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuntman_Mike)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2019, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-attendance/833593 "2019-05-09T07:01:32Z")
It’s the age old wonder… if I died tomorrow, who would show up at my funeral? Wife attended her uncle’s funeral last week, and apparently she estimated roughly 100 people were at the service. That’s had her wondering f… --- ## [Beckdawrek is island hopping in a bad, bad, bad way!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-is-island-hopping-in-a-bad-bad-bad-way/833678)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-is-island-hopping-in-a-bad-bad-bad-way/833678 "2019-05-08T22:07:30Z")
I’m cruising to town. It’s lightly raining this morning. I’m going to see if my mural looks as good as I thought it did yesterday when I finished. On all sides of me there is water. A major river, a set of man-made lake… --- ## [May 6th, 1975](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-6th-1975/833557)
**Author:** [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-6th-1975/833557 "2019-05-08T04:53:04Z")
On that day, 44 years ago, my fiance and I went to the court house and got our marriage license. about an hour or so later, Omaha was hit with an F4 tornadothat did 250 million dollars in damage in the 18 minutes it was… --- ## [Beckdawrek doesnt like to do bad, bad, bad laundry!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-doesnt-like-to-do-bad-bad-bad-laundry/833528)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-doesnt-like-to-do-bad-bad-bad-laundry/833528 "2019-05-07T23:47:45Z")
Mr.Wrekker rolled in here Saturday morning. He’s been fishing and staying as his lake house. He’s had a succesful trip by the looks of things. We have fish in the freezer for days (ugh). This bright shiny morning he sta… --- ## [The grave of the Elephant Man has been Discovered](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grave-of-the-elephant-man-has-been-discovered/833546)
**Author:** [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grave-of-the-elephant-man-has-been-discovered/833546 "2019-05-07T03:11:32Z")
Well according tothis story it has. I have doubts. Maybe Amelia Earhart is there as well with Lord Lucan. --- ## [Breaking: 2 Dead, 4 Injured--Shooting at University North Carolina at Charlotte](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-2-dead-4-injured-shooting-at-university-north-carolina-at-charlotte/833292)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-2-dead-4-injured-shooting-at-university-north-carolina-at-charlotte/833292 "2019-05-07T03:07:27Z")
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article229873794.html This kind of violence on college campuses is much more common than previously. --- ## [Criminal Law: You've violated your bail..go to jail or plead guilty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminal-law-youve-violated-your-bail-go-to-jail-or-plead-guilty/833274)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criminal-law-youve-violated-your-bail-go-to-jail-or-plead-guilty/833274 "2019-05-06T19:42:41Z")
We’ve touched upon it in other threads, but I wonder if anyone has experience and/or actually challenged this common practice. Say a person is arrested and charged with a misdemeanor crime. We will say battery. There … --- ## [Skin Cancer Awareness Month - Go get that mole checked out for free.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-cancer-awareness-month-go-get-that-mole-checked-out-for-free/833579)
**Author:** [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-cancer-awareness-month-go-get-that-mole-checked-out-for-free/833579 "2019-05-06T18:33:53Z")
Today is Melanoma Monday, part of a month-long effort to get people to help themselves prevent cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology is offering free screenings through the SPOTme program. If you have a suspicion … --- ## [I didn't listen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-listen/832957)
**Author:** [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-didnt-listen/832957 "2019-05-06T15:50:20Z")
Motivated by this article in my RSS feed this morning, I googled an old friend today. Mmmmm, okay, “friend” is probably a strong word. “Crazy bastard I used to hang around with when I was young and even stupider” is unw… --- ## [Birch Bayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birch-bayh/833351)
**Author:** [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birch-bayh/833351 "2019-05-06T15:39:39Z")
My adopted home state of Indiana had a nice send off to Birch Bayh today. I’ll be the first to say it. He looked like Dean Wormer. Godspeed Senator. Thanks for the amendments. Let’s get the popular vote one passed in y… --- ## [Sliding into May in the MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sliding-into-may-in-the-mmp/833214)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 178\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sliding-into-may-in-the-mmp/833214 "2019-05-06T02:36:40Z")
The first third of 2019 is pretty much wrapped up. Now what? Are you planning your summer vacation? Just muddling thru? Oblivious to the passage of time? Amazed that it’s 2019 - why did the 90s rush by so fast?? :eek… --- ## [Another candidate for a Darwin Award](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-for-a-darwin-award/833481)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-candidate-for-a-darwin-award/833481 "2019-05-05T19:13:18Z")
An idiot fell 70 feet into Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii. He was eventually rescued. Why is he an idiot? Because the fucking moron climbed over a barrier to get a better look, that’s why. They should have left him there unti… --- ## [Selling the Boat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-the-boat/833509)
**Author:** [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-the-boat/833509 "2019-05-05T16:10:17Z")
As part of our continuing transition from living in Connecticut to living in Florida, we are now selling Beluga. She’s a 1993 Magregor 26s, trailer sailor, and while she was a great boat on Long Island Sound she just n… --- ## [Beckdawrek and the Siamese and a bad, bad, bad adventure!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-siamese-and-a-bad-bad-bad-adventure/833108)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beckdawrek-and-the-siamese-and-a-bad-bad-bad-adventure/833108 "2019-05-05T15:03:58Z")
Being the smartest(in my own mind) and bestest cat slave, I know house-cats ‘Shall NEVER be out of doors, yea, verily’ They are safer from varmints and disease. But theses cats REALLY want to go out. These snooty, snowf… --- ## [Serendipity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serendipity/322346)
**Author:** [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Replies:** 259\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2019, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serendipity/322346 "2019-04-11T11:59:06Z")
Saturday morning I went up to a local park to do a little hiking around. On the way, because I wasn’t paying close enough attention, I took a wrong turn. Because I took that wrong turn I found a gas station with gas at $… --- ## [Strange Spanish law on stolen property.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-spanish-law-on-stolen-property/833398)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-spanish-law-on-stolen-property/833398 "2019-05-04T23:00:13Z")
Today’s NY Times has a story about a painting stolen stolen by the Nazis (actually it was a forced sale although that didn’t play a role in the ruling) and now in a Spanish museum. The heirs of the original owner sued i… --- ## [Chinese puzzle balls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-puzzle-balls/833449)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-puzzle-balls/833449 "2019-05-04T22:34:18Z")
I had never heard of this art form. Concentric sculpted balls: the inner balls were sculpted through the holes in the outer balls. Up to 12 concentric layers of spheres. Long before the invention of the Dremel. Mind b… --- ## [Why do people answer amazon product questions, "I don't know"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-amazon-product-questions-i-dont-know/820465)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-answer-amazon-product-questions-i-dont-know/820465 "2019-05-04T20:54:10Z")
On product pages at amazon there’s a place to ask factual questions about a product, such as,\* what is it made of, how many batteries does it take, is it waterproof.\* Not opinions–that’s what the reviews are for. You can… --- ## [Do you ever see random spirals when you're high?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-see-random-spirals-when-youre-high/833454)
**Author:** [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-see-random-spirals-when-youre-high/833454 "2019-05-04T02:15:45Z")
Title really says it all. Got news this morning that my mom has lymphoma. She’s had dementia for about 8 years now, a little longer than is the normal life expectancy. She still might make it, but… not wanting to piss of… --- ## [Greetings from Mount Kilauea :)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greetings-from-mount-kilauea/761533)
**Author:** [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Replies:** 162\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greetings-from-mount-kilauea/761533 "2019-05-04T01:46:11Z")
Helicopter caught an active volcano smiling at us. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=397) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=399)