# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=853 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 854 --- ## [Ever witnessed an unusual electrical phenomenon? Do tell.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-witnessed-an-unusual-electrical-phenomenon-do-tell/687553)
**Author:** [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-witnessed-an-unusual-electrical-phenomenon-do-tell/687553 "2014-05-04T23:33:52Z")
St. Elmo’s Fire? Ball lightning? Will o’ the wisp? It’s hard to find YouTube videos of these things. I trust Dopers to give me interesting firsthand accounts. So dooooooo tell. (pulls up chair and popcorn) --- ## [Wash your hands !](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wash-your-hands/687184)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wash-your-hands/687184 "2014-05-04T18:49:23Z")
I just returned from a week in North Carolina where I got a kick out of the standard government required hand washing posters in all of the restaurant restrooms. It starts with the words “Each Employee’s Hands …”. I’m … --- ## [Tragic soccer death in Brazil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tragic-soccer-death-in-brazil/687641)
**Author:** [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tragic-soccer-death-in-brazil/687641 "2014-05-04T16:28:29Z")
Finally, the shit has hit the fan. --- ## [Neither Mundane nor Pointless](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless/687644)
**Author:** [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neither-mundane-nor-pointless/687644 "2014-05-04T16:19:24Z")
but something I Must Share. A 99¢ eBook (free today and tomorrow) that provides a concise and easy to understand introduction to retirement planning. Targeted at millennials, it is worth reading regardless of your age. … --- ## [Monumentally stupid things you did in your youth (AKA I'm Lucky To Be Alive)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monumentally-stupid-things-you-did-in-your-youth-aka-im-lucky-to-be-alive/609598)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monumentally-stupid-things-you-did-in-your-youth-aka-im-lucky-to-be-alive/609598 "2014-05-04T11:54:33Z")
When I was a teen, I had a car that needed a new starter. Being adventurous then, I decided to replace it myself. So, I jacked my vehicle up and slid under the car to remove the old starter. There I was, under the car be… --- ## [Threaded Quarter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threaded-quarter/687520)
**Author:** [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/threaded-quarter/687520 "2014-05-04T04:07:36Z")
When I was in my early teens my friends and I would “rack-up” a bunch of free games on pinball and other machines by taping a length of thread to a quarter and slowly dropping it into the coin slot and gently moving it u… --- ## [Monument to Mary Baker Eddy's slip in 1866](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monument-to-mary-baker-eddys-slip-in-1866/687606)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monument-to-mary-baker-eddys-slip-in-1866/687606 "2014-05-04T01:06:39Z")
I was out on a bike ride today, and I saw a lot of monuments in Lynn (MA) that I’d never noticed before, including this one at the spot where Mark Baker Eddy slipped and hurt her back in 1866: http://www.itemlive.com/ne… --- ## [LA Fitness bans mom for helping son lift weights.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-fitness-bans-mom-for-helping-son-lift-weights/687547)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-fitness-bans-mom-for-helping-son-lift-weights/687547 "2014-05-04T00:18:47Z")
This seems like a massive dick move to me. No discussion or anything. They just terminate her membership and she finds out the next day? :dubious: Any gym members here? Are they all this ridiculous? I understand the g… --- ## [Little Things That Brighten Your Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-brighten-your-day/686851)
**Author:** [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-brighten-your-day/686851 "2014-05-04T00:16:46Z")
So I’m washing the dishes with the History Channel on in the background. I take a break to go to the bathroom, which takes me through the TV room, and on the way back to the kitchen I hear “…it took the Allies 3 weeks t… --- ## [Use of Canadian Debit Cards in New York City Taxis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-canadian-debit-cards-in-new-york-city-taxis/687561)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-canadian-debit-cards-in-new-york-city-taxis/687561 "2014-05-03T23:32:40Z")
My 16 year old daughter is going on a three day school trip to NYC on Monday. She asked me if she could use her bank card for taxi services. I have no idea. The direct payment system in Canada is called Interac, and I… --- ## [The Podesta report on privacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-podesta-report-on-privacy/687525)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-podesta-report-on-privacy/687525 "2014-05-03T13:36:04Z")
The White House just released a report on big data and individual privacy, authored by a committee headed by John Podesta. It’s fascinating reading. While most of it is about governmental use of data collection and analy… --- ## [Just in case you were running out of things to be scared of, a new SARS-like virus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-were-running-out-of-things-to-be-scared-of-a-new-sars-like-virus/655001)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-were-running-out-of-things-to-be-scared-of-a-new-sars-like-virus/655001 "2014-05-03T12:53:07Z")
source The good news is that it doesn’t seem to be transmitted via the air from person to person so it appears “\[COLOR=#000000\]\[FONT=Verdana\]that people must come into direct contact with the virus, such as by touching… --- ## [Time DOESN'T heal all wounds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-doesnt-heal-all-wounds/687487)
**Author:** [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-doesnt-heal-all-wounds/687487 "2014-05-03T12:40:18Z")
They say time heals all wounds, but that is complete bullshit. I haven’t talked to my ex in years (we’ve been apart 15) but for some reason we started talking on facebook tonight. It might as well have been last week! … --- ## [I just posted in Great Debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-posted-in-great-debates/687426)
**Author:** [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-posted-in-great-debates/687426 "2014-05-02T23:43:08Z")
because it got my “Irish” up. I rarely go there, don’t see the sense of it. It was a New Topic I reacted to. Can we get that list annotated with hot peppers like on a Chinese food menu? --- ## [I adopted a rescue dog. She is quite the project.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-adopted-a-rescue-dog-she-is-quite-the-project/686033)
**Author:** [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-adopted-a-rescue-dog-she-is-quite-the-project/686033 "2014-05-02T23:26:01Z")
Last Saturday I adopted a 2 year old Black Lab who has a little bit of something mixed in, maybe Shepherd. She is black (duh) with some gray hair on the back of her rear legs, some on her tail, and a white star on her c… --- ## [I'm afraid of my grass.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-of-my-grass/687478)
**Author:** [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-afraid-of-my-grass/687478 "2014-05-02T23:24:43Z")
A couple years ago, I got chigger bites really bad after walking around my backyard for just 10 minutes or so. If you’ve never had them… Let me tell you they itch worse than anything on the planet and it lasts for sever… --- ## [Footage of the 26th street retaining wall collapse - Baltimore](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/footage-of-the-26th-street-retaining-wall-collapse-baltimore/687471)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/footage-of-the-26th-street-retaining-wall-collapse-baltimore/687471 "2014-05-02T21:04:57Z")
Holy Moses that’s harsh. One guy is standing there helplessly as his car is leaning too far to be saved by the time he gets there. --- ## [Do kids keep or rebel against their parents beliefs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kids-keep-or-rebel-against-their-parents-beliefs/687458)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-kids-keep-or-rebel-against-their-parents-beliefs/687458 "2014-05-02T20:58:24Z")
According to this article: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/05/parents-political-beliefs/361462/ they dont. Basically the article discusses parents who have very strong political beliefs who then really … --- ## [RIP Windows XP: 2001 - 2014](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659)
**Author:** [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-windows-xp-2001-2014/685659 "2014-05-02T20:11:26Z")
Windows XP, the venerable Microsoft operating system, died today after being taken off of life support. It was 13 years old. XP was the child of pillar-of-the-community NT and town-drunk ME. This unlikely amalgamation l… --- ## [The Concert and the Essay (A Relationship Story)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-and-the-essay-a-relationship-story/687512)
**Author:** [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concert-and-the-essay-a-relationship-story/687512 "2014-05-02T18:46:02Z")
So, I figure I should get this out somewhere just for a broad analysis and to see what people think. Anyways, as the thread title may have indicated, I have 2 tickets for a concert tonight. They were purchased late last… --- ## [Winter was brutal on the plants this year.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winter-was-brutal-on-the-plants-this-year/686787)
**Author:** [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winter-was-brutal-on-the-plants-this-year/686787 "2014-05-02T16:18:48Z")
So the snow is finally gone, and spring is here. It seems like the local flora got hit much harder than normal this last winter. Oh, there’s the usual victims: our decorative grass spike died, like it does every winter… --- ## [Weird surnames](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-surnames/686877)
**Author:** [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-surnames/686877 "2014-05-02T14:50:46Z")
I’m borrowing this idea from another thread. Anybody got any examples of what at least some might consider to be weird surnames? I’ll start: my wife once knew someone with the last name Glasscock. I once saw that last na… --- ## [Pensacola's big ole storm, and floods and fires.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pensacolas-big-ole-storm-and-floods-and-fires/687470)
**Author:** [@prettydorky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prettydorky)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pensacolas-big-ole-storm-and-floods-and-fires/687470 "2014-05-02T14:26:30Z")
It’s all anyone is talking about 'round here, so I thought I’d share with the boards! Here in Pensacola, we experienced a helluva storm on Tuesday night. In our house, I was in the kitchen grating up some cheese when t… --- ## [Northern Ireland Troubles--Gerry Adams Arrested for Murder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-ireland-troubles-gerry-adams-arrested-for-murder/687402)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-ireland-troubles-gerry-adams-arrested-for-murder/687402 "2014-05-02T13:28:21Z")
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been arrested by Northern Ireland police in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville. Mrs McConville, a 37-year-old widow and mother-of-10, was abducted from her flat in the Div… --- ## [I hate drinking with strangers - what a weekend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-drinking-with-strangers-what-a-weekend/687186)
**Author:** [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-drinking-with-strangers-what-a-weekend/687186 "2014-05-02T09:34:46Z")
Well, I went out drinking this weekend. The night ended awfully - but the point of the night was to celebrate my girlfriend’s 21st birthday, which we were unable to celebrate a month ago because she was studying abroad. … --- ## [I am so done with this pregnancy thing.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-done-with-this-pregnancy-thing/686220)
**Author:** [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-so-done-with-this-pregnancy-thing/686220 "2014-05-02T08:19:23Z")
I’m huge, waddling everywhere, can’t wear goddam thing, eat like a vacuum cleaner on amphetamines and keep saying and doing stupid shit for no reason. Everything hurts, I just want to sleep, and the dog is overprotective… --- ## [Teaching kids to stand up to bullies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teaching-kids-to-stand-up-to-bullies/687100)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teaching-kids-to-stand-up-to-bullies/687100 "2014-05-02T05:13:08Z")
I have a son in the 6th grade. Their are the occasional boys who decide to pick on him and give him trouble. Now I’m not worried about anything difficult. My son is extremely physically capable, plays football, hockey, a… --- ## [We envy our nations' rivals because...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-envy-our-nations-rivals-because/687428)
**Author:** [@Batistuta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batistuta)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-envy-our-nations-rivals-because/687428 "2014-05-02T00:29:51Z")
So every nation/society has traditional rivals. These rivalries come in many shapes but they invariably exist. In my case, I will write about the rivalry between Western Europe and the USA. While this is quite a friendly… --- ## [Scary Stuff on TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-on-tv/687414)
**Author:** [@delsina363](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delsina363)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scary-stuff-on-tv/687414 "2014-05-01T21:45:49Z")
I just watched a show on the ID Channel. Two young girls were coming home from their church choir practice, and being like every show on this channel, they encounter a stranger, and no good comes of it. One ends up mur… --- ## [NBA commish Adam Silver "knocked it out of the park" - heh](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-commish-adam-silver-knocked-it-out-of-the-park-heh/687356)
**Author:** [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2014, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-commish-adam-silver-knocked-it-out-of-the-park-heh/687356 "2014-05-01T21:25:20Z")
Was listening to Mike and Mike on ESPN radio this morning and Mike Greenberg said that a few times. The use of a baseball metaphor in this situation made me chuckle. Saying Silver “hit nothing but net” or “nailed one f… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=852) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=854)