# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=892 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 893 --- ## [Paraglide skiing down Mont Blanc](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paraglide-skiing-down-mont-blanc/678036)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paraglide-skiing-down-mont-blanc/678036 "2014-01-07T17:58:04Z")
Some very impressive footage: Speed Riding Mont Blanc on Vimeo --- ## [And THAT'S how you do public transportation.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-thats-how-you-do-public-transportation/677952)
**Author:** [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2014, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-thats-how-you-do-public-transportation/677952 "2014-01-07T13:44:16Z")
I’d be much more compelled to take public transit if it looked anything like it does in Stockholm. Moscow’s metro is not too shabby either. --- ## [I was expecting to see frostbite today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-expecting-to-see-frostbite-today/678117)
**Author:** [@pendgwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pendgwen)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-expecting-to-see-frostbite-today/678117 "2014-01-07T06:11:09Z")
Or maybe some patients with hypothermia. Since there are always a few people who ignore the safety warnings or don’t have anyplace warm to stay. Instead I got burns. So if you’re going to try that trick where you throw b… --- ## ['Long Tail' boat drag racing...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-tail-boat-drag-racing/677918)
**Author:** [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-tail-boat-drag-racing/677918 "2014-01-07T05:15:17Z")
Wow! Long tail boat drag racing! :cool: This is some insane ‘water sports’! Highly modified drag racing boats have become the new ‘poor man’s’ sport, in Thailand. The boats are of the same style ‘long tail’ boats that a… --- ## [Well, that's the most dodgy-looking logo I think I've ever seen in the wild...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thats-the-most-dodgy-looking-logo-i-think-ive-ever-seen-in-the-wild/677642)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2014, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thats-the-most-dodgy-looking-logo-i-think-ive-ever-seen-in-the-wild/677642 "2014-01-07T02:02:37Z")
I was in London last night to see in the New year (mental. I never want to be in the same place as that many humans ever again). At one point, we were herded past a row of little shops, cafes and restaurants - one of t… --- ## [The NSA is probably spying on Congress too...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nsa-is-probably-spying-on-congress-too/677938)
**Author:** [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-nsa-is-probably-spying-on-congress-too/677938 "2014-01-07T00:11:36Z")
(I put this in MPSIMS because I don’t really think there’s much to debate here and I’m sure the discussion will be civil.) CNN just put up an article detailing how Sen. Bernie Sanders just asked if the NSA is spying on … --- ## [Way to keep a secret, guys!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-keep-a-secret-guys/674277)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-keep-a-secret-guys/674277 "2014-01-06T23:55:57Z")
So I’m at a local clinic to pick up a prescription. The wait is long, so I fire up my pad to see if free wifi is available. It turns out that the clinic provides free wifi, but amongst all the other locked choices was … --- ## [Musician's bamboo flutes destroyed at U.S. customs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musicians-bamboo-flutes-destroyed-at-u-s-customs/677809 "2014-01-06T21:26:16Z")
:eek: This makes no sense. I can understand not allowing the flutes into the US. But why destroy them? What the Hell? Put them in quarantine and give the guy a chance to retrieve them. --- ## [Record-holders: The first SDMB user and the first SMDB thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/record-holders-the-first-sdmb-user-and-the-first-smdb-thread/677148)
**Author:** [@Stoned\_stoner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoned_stoner)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/record-holders-the-first-sdmb-user-and-the-first-smdb-thread/677148 "2014-01-06T16:59:41Z")
I thought I might as well make a reference source to record SMDB history (the first ever). The AOL version of SMDB doesn’t count, because it’s like a primitive version of SMDB. The first SMDB user (moderators don’t coun… --- ## [Missing man identified from random picture of homeless in the cold.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-man-identified-from-random-picture-of-homeless-in-the-cold/678028)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-man-identified-from-random-picture-of-homeless-in-the-cold/678028 "2014-01-06T15:10:11Z")
Every now and then a family member just walks out the door and disappears. Some of the more famous cases are Edgar Allan Poe and Agatha Christie. I quoted Poe’s story below. Christie disappeared for 11 days and assumed a… --- ## [Fiat completes it's buyout of Chrysler.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-completes-its-buyout-of-chrysler/677711)
**Author:** [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiat-completes-its-buyout-of-chrysler/677711 "2014-01-06T14:57:17Z")
I was surprised to learn that yesterday Fiat completed it’s buyout of Chrysler. I’m not surprised that it happened; Fiat has wanted to complete the buyout so it can use Chrysler’s money to fund it’s own restructuring. … --- ## [Hey, I've been Membered!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ive-been-membered/677899)
**Author:** [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ive-been-membered/677899 "2014-01-06T12:27:36Z")
Thanks to whoever anonymously paid for my Membership. I have no idea when you did it; I just noticed it! :smiley: --- ## [What amenities and market solutions arise as a city grows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-amenities-and-market-solutions-arise-as-a-city-grows/677967)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-amenities-and-market-solutions-arise-as-a-city-grows/677967 "2014-01-06T05:27:10Z")
Visiting small towns, this is the rule of thumb I have come across. When a city gets to about 1000 people they develop a small general store which is usually a dollar store (family dollar or dollar general), a post offic… --- ## [The meandering musing MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meandering-musing-mmp/677469)
**Author:** [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Replies:** 337\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-meandering-musing-mmp/677469 "2014-01-06T04:36:13Z")
Happy Moonday! or Moanday for those of you who have to work today. It’s a dark cool 43 degrees outside with a projected high of 43. I guess this is as good as it gets today. I’m up too early and if this will post ins… --- ## [Your ass tastes foxy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-ass-tastes-foxy/677824)
**Author:** [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-ass-tastes-foxy/677824 "2014-01-06T04:33:08Z")
otherwise known as Walmart is recalling donkey meat following tests that showed that the product had been tainted with fox meat. :eek: Ummmm, wouldn’t the tainting be an improvement??? Not that I would be an authority… --- ## [The Cool Kids in high school, their minions, and real life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cool-kids-in-high-school-their-minions-and-real-life/476661)
**Author:** [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-cool-kids-in-high-school-their-minions-and-real-life/476661 "2014-01-06T03:15:56Z")
In high school, there were the Cool Kids. And there were the Not So Cool But Tolerated Kids (aka ‘Their Minions’). And then there was Us. (Or, depending on your particular Nerdity, “… were We.”) We weren’t Cool, and … --- ## [Futuretimeline.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futuretimeline-net/677995)
**Author:** [@Armored\_Diplomacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Armored_Diplomacy)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/futuretimeline-net/677995 "2014-01-06T03:04:11Z")
Found this site a while back and have been obsessively following it for quite some time. The site lays out a thought-provoking timeline of this century and the next few centuries, trying to forecast global events, includ… --- ## [Break the rules, then retire to avoid the consequences?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/break-the-rules-then-retire-to-avoid-the-consequences/677725)
**Author:** [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/break-the-rules-then-retire-to-avoid-the-consequences/677725 "2014-01-05T16:05:37Z")
Here’s a story from Las Vegas. Briefly, a Las Vegas police captain arranged a private ride in a police helicopter for DJ Ashba (Guns N’ Roses guitarist) and his girlfriend. This became known and was investigated. The … --- ## [Kittens of Conscience wall calendar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kittens-of-conscience-wall-calendar/677748)
**Author:** [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kittens-of-conscience-wall-calendar/677748 "2014-01-05T14:08:01Z")
So my friend showed me this calendar, and we had an argument: http://www.zazzle.com/kittens\_of\_conscience\_calendars-158624410840354647 It’s a 2014 wall calendar with pictures of cats. Except the cats are all saying va… --- ## [If SDMB was a bush on a corner and Dopers were dogs.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-sdmb-was-a-bush-on-a-corner-and-dopers-were-dogs/677738)
**Author:** [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-sdmb-was-a-bush-on-a-corner-and-dopers-were-dogs/677738 "2014-01-05T05:21:21Z")
Hey, this is mine. Every time I pass this, I’ll say it again. --- ## [For those snowed in today...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-snowed-in-today/677774)
**Author:** [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-those-snowed-in-today/677774 "2014-01-05T05:10:46Z")
it could be worse - this is what “heavy snowfall” looks like in Russia. --- ## [Bogus 3rd-World "Medical" Services?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bogus-3rd-world-medical-services/677791)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bogus-3rd-world-medical-services/677791 "2014-01-05T04:55:50Z")
I just read a travel book by a guy who went to Africa, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc. He was traveling rough-taking the transport that the poor locals took. In Bangladesh he saw all kinds of weird procedures being do… --- ## [Man with No Brains Arrested for Selling Same](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-with-no-brains-arrested-for-selling-same/677804)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-with-no-brains-arrested-for-selling-same/677804 "2014-01-05T01:58:22Z")
Story here. But some guy in Indiana stole 60 brains that had belonged to dead mental patients and tried to sell them on eBay. The handover was supposed to be in a Dairy Queen. I do like CNN’s question heading: “Is it co… --- ## [99 very interesting facts about soil that are absolutely true in my mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-very-interesting-facts-about-soil-that-are-absolutely-true-in-my-mind/675585)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/99-very-interesting-facts-about-soil-that-are-absolutely-true-in-my-mind/675585 "2014-01-04T20:41:27Z")
In honor of today being World Soil Day (12/5), I’ve got some very, very interesting facts about soil I’d like to share with you. And being that they are “facts,” you can be sure that I think they’re true. Feel free to ad… --- ## [Physically Disabling the microphone in original iphone Earbuds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physically-disabling-the-microphone-in-original-iphone-earbuds/677895)
**Author:** [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physically-disabling-the-microphone-in-original-iphone-earbuds/677895 "2014-01-04T19:20:25Z")
First off, I know the chances of the NSA spying on me are slim to none, I’m exceptionally boring… That said, it’s the principle of the thing, their blatant disregard for privacy and Constitutional Rights is infuriating,… --- ## [Do you see "minus one degree" or "minus one degrees"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-minus-one-degree-or-minus-one-degrees/677844)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-see-minus-one-degree-or-minus-one-degrees/677844 "2014-01-04T14:50:13Z")
I just thought of this silly silly thing when pondering the fact that one degree above zero is just “one degree.” I instinctively thought of saying “minus one degrees” or “negative one degrees”, but realized there’s no … --- ## [Best Ted Talk ever! Compost fueled cars!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ted-talk-ever-compost-fueled-cars/677858)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2014, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ted-talk-ever-compost-fueled-cars/677858 "2014-01-04T06:36:33Z")
A lot of TED talks are great stuff some not so much. I love the Onion’s take on this Ted Talk aboutcompost fueled cars. Don’t want to just leave a drive by link with a few short words as an intro and expect you to open… --- ## [Cool truck](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-truck/677798)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-truck/677798 "2014-01-04T05:23:56Z")
Literally. A Chevy Silverado pick-up truck had its body removed and replaced with sculpted ice for a Canadian Tire ad \[documentary linked\] for their Eliminator battery. They froze the battery to -40º and used it in the… --- ## [Say hello to Dr. Henry Metzger!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-dr-henry-metzger/677750)
**Author:** [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-hello-to-dr-henry-metzger/677750 "2014-01-04T00:30:44Z")
…our New Year’s rescue from the local kitty jail. He’s affable, cross-eyed and kind of goofy looking and our vet says he’s going to be enormous, so with any luck he’ll grow into his name. In compliance with Doper statut… --- ## [What's with the crashing Fedex trucks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-crashing-fedex-trucks/677796)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-crashing-fedex-trucks/677796 "2014-01-04T00:10:22Z")
A Fedex truck crashed and burned in Seattle in May, 2013. Another Fedex truck crashed north of Seattle in June. This morning a Fedex truck rolled over near Seattle in Bellevue. (Incidentally, a Fedex truck rolled ove… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=891) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=893)