# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=701 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 702 --- ## [$190 rock wrapped in twine, wtf is this real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645 "2015-09-24T03:06:14Z")
:confused: What the actual… Huh, is this real? Why in the hell would someone buy this? --- ## [The Pope is, or has, NUTS!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-is-or-has-nuts/732302)
**Author:** [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-pope-is-or-has-nuts/732302 "2015-09-24T02:28:59Z")
Holy Shit! The Pope is driving around Washington D.C. in an OPEN MOTORCADE! :eek: This really doesn’t seem like the best idea to me. Pretty ballsy move, Pope. Hasn’t anyone shown him the Zapruder film? I don’t want to s… --- ## [Honest Gil!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-gil/732287)
**Author:** [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-gil/732287 "2015-09-24T02:13:28Z")
Gotta love Gil! --- ## [Smartphone. I'm finally getting one.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-im-finally-getting-one/730365 "2015-09-23T22:20:07Z")
I don’t talk on the phone very often. I don’t call anyone, and few people call me – and they, infrequently. In actuality, almost all of the calls I receive are from ‘Rachael’ or ‘Heather’ or whatever the Credit Card Se… --- ## [Just finished the first draft of my third novel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-finished-the-first-draft-of-my-third-novel/732338)
**Author:** [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-finished-the-first-draft-of-my-third-novel/732338 "2015-09-23T22:06:32Z")
It’s a children’s middle-grade fantasy, i.e., it’s for ages 8-12. Now all I have to do is: Add a character that I thought of halfway through, make it longer (about 3,000 words should do it), explain just why the villai… --- ## [It's like the second coming. It's Pope mania!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-the-second-coming-its-pope-mania/732290)
**Author:** [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-like-the-second-coming-its-pope-mania/732290 "2015-09-23T21:09:31Z")
Apparently the Pope is here. --- ## [Two bicyclists hit by boat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-bicyclists-hit-by-boat/731361)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-bicyclists-hit-by-boat/731361 "2015-09-23T19:48:02Z")
So that was the lead news story on the radio when I woke up, and my first thought was “How is that possible?” It turns out that a car was towing the boat, which came loose and hit the cyclists, killing one and seriously … --- ## [We'll all travel in TUBES!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-all-travel-in-tubes/731680)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-all-travel-in-tubes/731680 "2015-09-23T19:34:17Z")
Have you ever gone to the bank drive-thru, used those pneumatic tubes and thought, “that’s it! That’s the way I want to travel… Like my paychecks.” Well, now you can. The future is now… Hyperloop. --- ## [The Clock Starts - Government Shutdown 2015](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clock-starts-government-shutdown-2015/732241)
**Author:** [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-clock-starts-government-shutdown-2015/732241 "2015-09-23T19:05:38Z")
Official notices going out today informing federal employees of a possible government shutdown on October 1. When this last occurred in 2013, the notices came out about a week earlier than this one. Not sure what that … --- ## [do any general practitioners use stethoscopes anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-general-practitioners-use-stethoscopes-anymore/731550)
**Author:** [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-general-practitioners-use-stethoscopes-anymore/731550 "2015-09-23T14:24:51Z")
During my youth, my private-practice family doctor often wore a stethoscope around his neck, and monitored his patients’ heartbeat on a regular basis. (As I recall, he also sometimes wore a light attached to his forehead… --- ## [Thank you, Barry Bauman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-barry-bauman/732294)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-barry-bauman/732294 "2015-09-23T13:39:31Z")
For more than 11 years, Barry Bauman has been restoring works of art for museums for free. To date he has restored more than 1500 paintings, including works by such masters as Picasso, Rembrandt, Renoir, and Monet. \[Hi… --- ## [Treating epilepsy the normal way versus my father.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treating-epilepsy-the-normal-way-versus-my-father/732173)
**Author:** [@DaveBfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveBfd)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/treating-epilepsy-the-normal-way-versus-my-father/732173 "2015-09-23T12:13:33Z")
Here is a short background, followed by my questions to you all. Background I’m a normally functioning 27 years old who rents from my father. A few years ago I began having simple partial seizures. I’ve had the round… --- ## [want to move Lincoln-Lemington?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-move-lincoln-lemington/732050)
**Author:** [@Daniel\_Boone\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel_Boone_Fanatic)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-move-lincoln-lemington/732050 "2015-09-23T10:17:18Z")
Well do you? --- ## [IUD Stories (TMI, promise)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iud-stories-tmi-promise/566282)
**Author:** [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iud-stories-tmi-promise/566282 "2015-09-23T04:02:33Z")
Well ladies, after months of careful deliberations and one too many “Did I take my pill??” moments I finally decided on the Mirena IUD. I had it inserted a couple of weeks ago and went in this morning for my follow-up a… --- ## [Our (Canadian) democracy isn't very democratic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-canadian-democracy-isnt-very-democratic/731798)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-canadian-democracy-isnt-very-democratic/731798 "2015-09-23T03:44:44Z")
I’m mainly pissed off about the party system, which is dependent on an adversarial relationship within government. It has bugged me increasingly over the last few elections but, for some reason, the ongoing election camp… --- ## [AKRON OH. Most affordable place to live in the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/akron-oh-most-affordable-place-to-live-in-the-us/731532)
**Author:** [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/akron-oh-most-affordable-place-to-live-in-the-us/731532 "2015-09-23T03:41:13Z")
Well, at least according to trulia.com I’ve lived here since 1971. I’d have to agree. And, it isn’t a shit-hole. Pretty progressive. If you have a need for big city life, Cleveland is only 40 minutes North. --- ## [Define an Acronym](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-an-acronym/731933)
**Author:** [@brovolone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brovolone)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/define-an-acronym/731933 "2015-09-23T03:37:37Z")
I kept seeing “IIRC” here on SDMB, went to Google it and discovered it means “if I really cared.” There are plenty of acronyms being used on the Internet. What are some acronyms that you saw, and subsequently had to G… --- ## [It's about time I caught a giant house spider!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-about-time-i-caught-a-giant-house-spider/732180)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-about-time-i-caught-a-giant-house-spider/732180 "2015-09-23T02:54:08Z")
Here’s one I caught a few years ago. I’d only seen one this year – and it was outside on the wood pile. I finally found one inside las night. We shared a shower. Actually, only part of a shower. I called The Missus … --- ## [Does the USA own the Moon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765)
**Author:** [@Consequences](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Consequences)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-usa-own-the-moon/731765 "2015-09-23T02:21:51Z")
The USA was the first nation to step on and plant a flag on the moon. Therefore by doing so, does the USA own the Moon? If something were discovered below the Moon’s surface, such as Oil or Diamonds, would ownership of … --- ## [IRONMAN! (Lake Tahoe)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ironman-lake-tahoe/732123)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ironman-lake-tahoe/732123 "2015-09-23T02:03:04Z")
Yep MPSIMS. My Wife finished the Lake Tahoe IronMan triathlon last night. 16 hours 23 minutes. 140.6 miles. Long day for every one. Up at 3am, back to the hotel at midnight. Just being the pit crew/Sherpa wears me t… --- ## [Have moose and deer divided up Canada](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-moose-and-deer-divided-up-canada/732145)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2015, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-moose-and-deer-divided-up-canada/732145 "2015-09-23T00:45:09Z")
I was driving west on the Trans Canada Highway over Lake Superior, and I noticed something odd. All the animal warning signs from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay, were warnings about moose crossings. And from Thunder B… --- ## [Funeral for 13,000 at Andersonville Prison Camp.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-for-13-000-at-andersonville-prison-camp/731927)
**Author:** [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funeral-for-13-000-at-andersonville-prison-camp/731927 "2015-09-22T20:47:30Z")
Today a funeral was held for the 13,000 Union prisoners who died in Andersonville Prison Camp in Georgia 150 years ago during the Civil War. My great-great-grandfather Patrick Coleman was one of them. He was an immigran… --- ## ["... in our/your prayers": is this ever meant literally?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-our-your-prayers-is-this-ever-meant-literally/732152)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-our-your-prayers-is-this-ever-meant-literally/732152 "2015-09-22T20:05:09Z")
It’s common for people to say (or post, FTM) to people who are suffering or who have suffered some terrible tragedy that they are in their prayers, or they are praying for them or the like. Sometimes people ask other peo… --- ## [Acquaintance using baby talk and acting childlike. What gives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-using-baby-talk-and-acting-childlike-what-gives/731667)
**Author:** [@DaveBfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveBfd)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acquaintance-using-baby-talk-and-acting-childlike-what-gives/731667 "2015-09-22T15:56:51Z")
A good friend of mine has started dating a fairly nice 23 year old girl recently. The rest of our circle of friends are stuck trying to figure out how to understand and deal with her. She talks in a high pitched voice,… --- ## [Pluto has fleas... UFOs, that is](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluto-has-fleas-ufos-that-is/732139)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pluto-has-fleas-ufos-that-is/732139 "2015-09-22T14:31:41Z")
This was such a wonderful piece of sillywoo I had to pass it along. It followed in the chain after watching the new NASA simulated flyover of Pluto, assembled from the incoming high-res images. If it takes you ten secon… --- ## [New dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dog/731504)
**Author:** [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-dog/731504 "2015-09-22T09:14:16Z")
Welcome to the family Quinn, a 6 month old doberman mix. Quinn joins fellow dobermans Drago and Annie and standard poodle Maggie, giant schnauzer Sophie and German shepherd Andy. Getting to know the other dogs. StG --- ## [If you're having a bad day just remember, it could be worse!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-having-a-bad-day-just-remember-it-could-be-worse/731845)
**Author:** [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-having-a-bad-day-just-remember-it-could-be-worse/731845 "2015-09-22T03:01:40Z")
This bird had a worse day! --- ## [Anybody know whatever happened to "Joyce K., Seattle"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-whatever-happened-to-joyce-k-seattle/731808)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-whatever-happened-to-joyce-k-seattle/731808 "2015-09-22T02:29:53Z")
Dopers who have been reading the column since the early Chicago Reader days, or the paperback books, may recall that many early questions to Cecil were submitted by “Joyce K., Seattle”. I’ve always wondered if she ever j… --- ## [I wonder how our (American) society would treat these kids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-how-our-american-society-would-treat-these-kids/732158)
**Author:** [@Brodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brodi)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-how-our-american-society-would-treat-these-kids/732158 "2015-09-22T01:59:37Z")
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/boys-who-only-develop-penis-when-they-hit-age-12 Before you shout BS, the boys have a rare condition called 5-Alpha Reductase Deficiency. --- ## [Attention--Rhymer Enterprises' days are numbered](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-rhymer-enterprises-days-are-numbered/732078)
**Author:** [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attention-rhymer-enterprises-days-are-numbered/732078 "2015-09-22T01:31:13Z")
ATTENTION – ATTENTION – TO ALL DOPERS This is a public service announcement. I have decided to overthrow Rhymer Enterprises. To this end, I have assembled the most formidable fighting force ever seen in this universe … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=700) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=702)