# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=410 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 411 --- ## [Question about "Mafia sheets" (printed bed linens)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-mafia-sheets-printed-bed-linens/830365)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-mafia-sheets-printed-bed-linens/830365 "2019-03-03T19:33:40Z")
I had never heard of these until today, when I was at a salvage store and saw them for sale at $2.99 a set. They’re bed linens screen-printed with bright, colorful designs and have an Indian-from-India feel. They sell … --- ## [When you order carry out from a restaurant, make sure you.....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-order-carry-out-from-a-restaurant-make-sure-you/830415)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-order-carry-out-from-a-restaurant-make-sure-you/830415 "2019-03-03T14:27:04Z")
…go to the place you ordered it from to pick it up! :rolleyes: My wife told me she ordered a couple of fish fry dinners (a Friday night staple here in the Majikal Land O’ Cheeze!) from the Pegasus restaurant. We do carr… --- ## [Science experiment for African high school?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-experiment-for-african-high-school/830311)
**Author:** [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/science-experiment-for-african-high-school/830311 "2019-03-02T23:11:30Z")
I am visiting a central African country over the summer and have been requested to do a fun instructional activity in a high school associated with my visit. Presumably science related. I work in a biotech company (orig… --- ## [I feel bad, bad ,bad twice in one day.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-bad-bad-twice-in-one-day/830366)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-bad-bad-bad-twice-in-one-day/830366 "2019-03-02T19:25:57Z")
I was walking down my hallway with four pets under and around my feet. Trying not to trip over them, it was breakfast time. Everyone was hepped up and being rambunctious. 2 cats, 2 dogs and me barely awake. Turned the co… --- ## [So I'm unemployed now....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-unemployed-now/829968)
**Author:** [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-unemployed-now/829968 "2019-03-02T00:49:46Z")
…and it sucks. I’m a prosecutor. Well, was. I have been for almost 15 years. It’s not a very stable existence, because you’re always teetering on the brink because of elections. Will my boss win, will I get rehired?… --- ## [Jewel Tea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-tea/716496)
**Author:** [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-tea/716496 "2019-03-01T21:17:11Z")
I just now spotted a UPS truck across the street and had a flashback to The Jewel Tea Companyand how every so often the guy would come to our place and my mother would order all sorts of stuff from him. It was much later… --- ## [Is Grammarly's "plagiarism detector" just a clickbait scam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-grammarlys-plagiarism-detector-just-a-clickbait-scam/830261)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-grammarlys-plagiarism-detector-just-a-clickbait-scam/830261 "2019-03-01T18:08:31Z")
I read an NYT op-ed that I wanted to respond to with a letter to the editor. The NYT guidelines call for no more than 150 words in length, so I googled a word counter and got Grammarly’s. It worked fine, but then it fl… --- ## [Pacific Northwest Dopers: How's the Storm Treating You?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-northwest-dopers-hows-the-storm-treating-you/830291)
**Author:** [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacific-northwest-dopers-hows-the-storm-treating-you/830291 "2019-03-01T17:57:05Z")
We had another half-foot at least overnight, on top of over a foot and now acquiring an icy glaze. We still have power (QED), but with the freezing rain now falling, I’m setting up the candles, wool socks, and Scotch. My… --- ## [Internet False Facts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-false-facts/830237)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-false-facts/830237 "2019-03-01T13:42:28Z")
Not "Fake news’ or Misinformation, this is unintentionally incorrect information that gets onto the Internet, almost always without a citation, then gets picked up and repeated by other internet sources until everyone be… --- ## [What could be better than:](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-better-than/830316)
**Author:** [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2019, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-better-than/830316 "2019-03-01T09:04:49Z")
Unlimited free XL \*\*Diet Mountain Dew \*\*refills? Some examples: Dennis Rodman Tucumcari New Mexico 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS But please do not limit yourself. --- ## ["Alexa, Read my Audible Book"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-read-my-audible-book/830253)
**Author:** [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2019, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexa-read-my-audible-book/830253 "2019-03-01T02:59:24Z")
Um, out loud please. --- ## [Grade 7-12 math contest sample problems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grade-7-12-math-contest-sample-problems/830308)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grade-7-12-math-contest-sample-problems/830308 "2019-02-28T20:44:55Z")
My son is going to a math contest put on by a state college and the flyer had a few sample problems but no answers. Just for fun I tried them am not that confident in my answer for the third one. -Grade 7 & 8: There ar… --- ## [Spoonful of Sugar Stockholm Syndrome](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoonful-of-sugar-stockholm-syndrome/830334)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spoonful-of-sugar-stockholm-syndrome/830334 "2019-02-28T20:31:40Z")
Ever since people started practicing medicine, it’s been known that a lot of medicines don’t taste very good. In order to make taking medicine more palatable, Greek and Roman physicians took to wiping honey around the ri… --- ## [Neighbors from hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127)
**Author:** [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-from-hell/830127 "2019-02-28T19:58:47Z")
The tenants upstairs have subjected us to constant noise, all day and all night for weeks. They didn’t have kids when they moved in a couple of months ago, but now we have children running back and forth in the apartmen… --- ## [Rocketeer changes the oil in his Fiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-changes-the-oil-in-his-fiat/828160)
**Author:** [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-changes-the-oil-in-his-fiat/828160 "2019-02-27T23:31:02Z")
Every 7000 miles or so, my 2016 Fiat 500–which I just love to drive–pops up an “oil change needed” message, with an annoying yellow reminder light. This morning I got up, put on my grubbiest clothes, and headed down to … --- ## [Satan shits out gold and jewels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satan-shits-out-gold-and-jewels/830183)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satan-shits-out-gold-and-jewels/830183 "2019-02-27T18:27:35Z")
Or so goes my latest hypothesis, as explained below: First, I happened to start my Dope reading today with Size of bowel movement. Then in Stupid/Useless rules your work has that nobody follows, That got me thinking, … --- ## [Sight gag involving "John 3:14" sign?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sight-gag-involving-john-3-14-sign/823575)
**Author:** [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 27, 2019, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sight-gag-involving-john-3-14-sign/823575 "2019-02-27T04:46:29Z")
I have a memory of a joke in a TV show or movie where someone is at a (sporting?) event holding up a sign saying “John 3:14” (instead of the more typical “John 3:16”). I think the joke was that the event was snake-them… --- ## [More, bad, bad, bad Perils of Pauline er, beckdawrek!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-bad-bad-bad-perils-of-pauline-er-beckdawrek/830061)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-bad-bad-bad-perils-of-pauline-er-beckdawrek/830061 "2019-02-26T16:33:59Z")
So ’ Trooper’ the ticket getting/ fever causing feline had to go to his forever home this morning. I boxed him up and added a carabiner for extra protection against escape. He rode real well to the shelter. As he has a … --- ## [Automatically generate portmanteaus and rhymes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatically-generate-portmanteaus-and-rhymes/830227)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2019, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatically-generate-portmanteaus-and-rhymes/830227 "2019-02-26T05:38:58Z")
Portmanteau & Rhyme Generator uses machine learning to do what some of us have to try to not do in public. For example: Pointless + Meeting generates morondezvous and “superfluous discuss” down in the rhyme section. Wr… --- ## [“A Horse is Down on Ice!”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horse-is-down-on-ice/830178)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-horse-is-down-on-ice/830178 "2019-02-26T00:14:20Z")
I was rummaging through files on an old computer, and I came across this true story from 2007, which I repost exactly as written then, only changing one word. I suspect any person who’s ever done horse care has a similar… --- ## [Oh, so THAT'S what gout feels like!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-so-thats-what-gout-feels-like/828769)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-so-thats-what-gout-feels-like/828769 "2019-02-25T22:44:03Z")
Lotsa pain in my feet, especially the left. And especially since I found that ALDI delivers a tasty and cheap braunschweiger (liver sausage). I remembered that organ meats are a trigger, and daughter thinks I shoulda l… --- ## [IRS Error in your favor, collect $20,000](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-error-in-your-favor-collect-20-000/830175)
**Author:** [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-error-in-your-favor-collect-20-000/830175 "2019-02-25T22:33:03Z")
Yesterday our tax refund arrived into our checking account. We were expecting about thirty bucks. Instead, we got almost $20,000 (!). Yeah, yeah- I know. Don’t spend it, just assume it’s a mistake. But the thing is, we’… --- ## [Payless Shoes - closing all 2100 US stores](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payless-shoes-closing-all-2100-us-stores/829669)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/payless-shoes-closing-all-2100-us-stores/829669 "2019-02-25T21:19:55Z")
I’ve bought my shoes at Payless since elementary school. It’s the only shoe store I’ve ever used. Who buys shows online? I would never buy shoes without trying them on. I will never buy shoes online. I guess JC Penney … --- ## [10 year old boy dies on Verruckt waterslide @Schlitterbahn KC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113)
**Author:** [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-boy-dies-on-verruckt-waterslide-schlitterbahn-kc/762113 "2019-02-25T20:50:03Z")
Story here : Home Following this closely as the company has plans for a South Florida park in the next few years. --- ## [The 'Negro Motorist Green Book' (1936-1967)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-negro-motorist-green-book-1936-1967/829349)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-negro-motorist-green-book-1936-1967/829349 "2019-02-25T19:50:11Z")
Wasn’t surprised to find that something like this was published, but I previously had not known about them, never having been a ‘negro’, nor a motorist in that time frame. But I can see how this would have been a must-h… --- ## [Why can't these plumbing/sewage systems handle toilet paper?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-these-plumbing-sewage-systems-handle-toilet-paper/830046)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-these-plumbing-sewage-systems-handle-toilet-paper/830046 "2019-02-25T16:43:06Z")
In the US it’s almost universal practice to put used toilet paper into the bowl along with the … uh … rest of the stuff. However, in several countries (e.g., Chile and Argentina, which I recently visited) the common pra… --- ## [Suddenly.....For no apparent reason.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-for-no-apparent-reason/830058)
**Author:** [@CerebrAl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CerebrAl)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-for-no-apparent-reason/830058 "2019-02-25T16:15:06Z")
While working, in my office, This song popped into my head and I was singing it. :smack: I was a little surprised and wondered where I had heard it. I still don’t know where, but I know it was a very long time ago. It m… --- ## [I Love My Dentist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-dentist/830139)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-love-my-dentist/830139 "2019-02-25T15:07:58Z")
Or group of dentists. They are open 6am-8pm 365 days a year, Sundays and holidays included. If you don’t mind possibly not getting the dentist who normally sees you, this is very convenient. Last weekend, a holiday weeke… --- ## [California couple charged with torture after police rescue 13 children.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724)
**Author:** [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children/806724 "2019-02-25T14:14:33Z")
Jesus Christ. What the hell is wrong with people. From the link: “A couple in California was charged with torture after their thirteen malnourished children were rescued from a house on Monday. Some of the children,… --- ## [There's a hole in my back, Dear Lisa, a hole!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-hole-in-my-back-dear-lisa-a-hole/830064)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 25, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-hole-in-my-back-dear-lisa-a-hole/830064 "2019-02-25T14:09:55Z")
Last August I had a couple of bumps suddenly appear on the back of my neck, oozing puss. I have a typical pasty Scottish complexion, and I live in sunny Saskatchewan, so I’m well aware of the risks of skin cancer. Went… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=409) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=411)