# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=910 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 911 --- ## [THÅGGEN: The Made-Up IKEA Product Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thaggen-the-made-up-ikea-product-thread/673835)
**Author:** [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thaggen-the-made-up-ikea-product-thread/673835 "2013-11-17T19:01:18Z")
Browsing through the IKEA site always inspires one-part, “Ohh! I want that” and one-part confusion and/or mockery over their product names. I’m American, so foreign languages and letters with accents above them are inhe… --- ## [Nail biting Dopers, gather 'round....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-biting-dopers-gather-round/673893)
**Author:** [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nail-biting-dopers-gather-round/673893 "2013-11-17T17:40:19Z")
My front teeth used to look like this. The bottom edge was very thin, sharp, almost translucent. I used those sharp thin edges as a precision chisel in biting my nails. Then a small piece of my front teeth broke off, and… --- ## [Etymologies of some famous tech names](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymologies-of-some-famous-tech-names/673917)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymologies-of-some-famous-tech-names/673917 "2013-11-17T04:04:58Z")
This was pretty interesting. For example, in connection with the Nintendo entry I learned that Yakuza, the Japanese mafia, translates as 8-9-3, a losing hand in a blackjack like card game. Here is part of the entry … --- ## [Being the Boss....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-the-boss/673987)
**Author:** [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2013, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-the-boss/673987 "2013-11-17T01:07:53Z")
Since about 1989, every position I’ve held, I’ve been the “director”, “manager” or what have you managing people from as few as 12-15 to as many as 300 at a time. Some of my philosophies: (Please feel free to critique) … --- ## [Extreme STOL airplane lands on ship](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extreme-stol-airplane-lands-on-ship/673975)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/extreme-stol-airplane-lands-on-ship/673975 "2013-11-16T21:00:05Z")
Unlike an aircraft carrier, the ship had obstructions on the front and back, and railings on the side. http://www.aircraftowner.com/video/extreme-small-plane-landing-on-a-ship-at-sea Arguable better video: … --- ## [US Air kicks blind man off of airplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-air-kicks-blind-man-off-of-airplane/673980)
**Author:** [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-air-kicks-blind-man-off-of-airplane/673980 "2013-11-16T18:12:44Z")
Story here. I’m confused on some points. Did the dog wiggle a little, or was it pacing up and down the aisle? Were the people kicked off of the plane, or did they walk out in protest? Either way, sounds like a shitty … --- ## [Animal Cruelty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-cruelty/674062)
**Author:** [@JimNightshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimNightshade)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-cruelty/674062 "2013-11-16T17:38:18Z")
The link: The thesis: Is this animal cruelty? The Claim: “No” The Prediction: Thread closure. The Conclusion: Mods have no humor. The follow up: Why is this so? --- ## [Current examples of the "high class" Southern (US) accent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-examples-of-the-high-class-southern-us-accent/96718)
**Author:** [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-examples-of-the-high-class-southern-us-accent/96718 "2013-11-16T16:06:09Z")
As far as I know there are two basic types of southern accents, the everyday "typical’ southern accent we associate with country music stars and primary stump speeches. (Notice how Bill Clinton and Al Gore turned into Je… --- ## [Do cars still come in colors where you are?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cars-still-come-in-colors-where-you-are/673878)
**Author:** [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cars-still-come-in-colors-where-you-are/673878 "2013-11-16T13:58:09Z")
Fifty Shades of Gray must have been more influential than I realized. Since somebody pointed it out to me a few days ago, I’ve been amazed at how many cars are black, white, or gray. (Especially if you lump silver in wit… --- ## [Another way to tell engineers from physicists (not a joke)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-engineers-from-physicists-not-a-joke/673852)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-way-to-tell-engineers-from-physicists-not-a-joke/673852 "2013-11-16T13:41:07Z")
I was reading an article about automotive fuel economy and an engineer was making the point that to conserve gas, minimize acceleration because acceleration uses a lot of fuel. It occurred to me that a physicist would s… --- ## [Stray cats attacking you in your own home!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cats-attacking-you-in-your-own-home/673897)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stray-cats-attacking-you-in-your-own-home/673897 "2013-11-16T10:31:35Z")
Dear pent house I never thought it could happen to me… Oh no wait, anyway yea my wife told me some neighbor said they woke up to a stray cat inside attacking them in bed, I was like psst right? But then last night I ru… --- ## [Mindflex - Using "brainwaves" to move a foam ball?? I don't think so.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mindflex-using-brainwaves-to-move-a-foam-ball-i-dont-think-so/673808)
**Author:** [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mindflex-using-brainwaves-to-move-a-foam-ball-i-dont-think-so/673808 "2013-11-16T09:15:19Z")
Mindflex (Wikipedia article) (Mattel promo) Anyone played around with this? Do you really think it uses “brainwaves” to move the ball? I don’t think so. I’d never heard of this game before, but someone had one this la… --- ## [Shooting at LAX Terminal 3](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858)
**Author:** [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-lax-terminal-3/672858 "2013-11-16T05:55:45Z")
Apparently some guy walked up to the security checkpoint with a rifle and opened fire. Two people in custody. Reports of injuries but no deaths. The airport is currently under lockdown. --- ## [You've heard of the BRICs. Say hello to the MINTs.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-heard-of-the-brics-say-hello-to-the-mints/673871)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-heard-of-the-brics-say-hello-to-the-mints/673871 "2013-11-16T05:55:07Z")
If you like your jargon as much as I do, you’ve got to keep up with those wacky Wall Street types. \*\* Source --- ## [My sister has died.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-has-died/673944)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-has-died/673944 "2013-11-16T02:05:09Z")
Last week, in fact, of complications related to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It’s a disease she carried for some 30 years after diagnosis, and you usually die from something else. Her last four years were a seri… --- ## [My baby is gone (dog)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-is-gone-dog/673816)
**Author:** [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-baby-is-gone-dog/673816 "2013-11-16T02:01:55Z")
On Friday, I had to put down my little girl, Sadie Mae. It was a roller coaster ride, especially the last day, of the vets finding something that was treatable, to her having seizures, and back and forth. Ended up bein… --- ## [SF Turns Into Gotham City For 5-yo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-turns-into-gotham-city-for-5-yo/674006)
**Author:** [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-turns-into-gotham-city-for-5-yo/674006 "2013-11-16T01:50:51Z")
Little kid tells the Make-A-Wish foundation that he wants to be a superhero so they turn him into “Batkid”. People respond with great enthusiasm - something like 12,000 folks volunteering to help out and make it a fun o… --- ## [Bunch of kids trash vacation home and tweet it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bunch-of-kids-trash-vacation-home-and-tweet-it/669331)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bunch-of-kids-trash-vacation-home-and-tweet-it/669331 "2013-11-15T22:57:14Z")
Ex-NFL player Brian Holloway, who played for New England and Los Angeles (or…Oakland?), has a vacation home in upstate New York. Over Labor Day weekend, 300-400 kids showed up and had a big party in the home, trashing it… --- ## [I think I got a free tank of gas.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-got-a-free-tank-of-gas/673994 "2013-11-15T22:18:35Z")
Stopped by a gas station Tuesday night. The store was closed but you could still use the pumps if you have a credit card. I put my card in, entered my zip code and all that other stuff. The pump accepted my information a… --- ## [Epigenetic changes as biological clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epigenetic-changes-as-biological-clock/674017)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/epigenetic-changes-as-biological-clock/674017 "2013-11-15T22:08:21Z")
Although it may seem like something that should be self-evident, one of the things that medical science has wanted to understand for a while is the biological roots of aging. This doesn’t necessarily answer the questi… --- ## [Finally got a new job offer!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-got-a-new-job-offer/673982)
**Author:** [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-got-a-new-job-offer/673982 "2013-11-15T16:17:02Z")
A few days ago I received an email with a job offer from a local University, and today finally the contract thumped on the floor. At last I can unpack the suitcases, and make longer range plans for the future, or at leas… --- ## [What would I say?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-i-say/673883)
**Author:** [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-i-say/673883 "2013-11-15T12:40:20Z")
Well, probably not “Too cool not to seduce Albert Einstein?”. What Would I Say is a random text generator based on your comments on Facebook which is remarkably good at producing gibberish and occasional pithy quotes in… --- ## [Conversate, orientate, commentate, what else?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversate-orientate-commentate-what-else/673743)
**Author:** [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversate-orientate-commentate-what-else/673743 "2013-11-15T06:16:12Z")
Let’s build us a big list of unnecessary words. Redundancies acceptable. Jargon desired. Buzzwords and corpspeak especially sought. --- ## [USS Gerald R. Ford launches Saturday](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-gerald-r-ford-launches-saturday/673759)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uss-gerald-r-ford-launches-saturday/673759 "2013-11-15T03:56:57Z")
The next and most advanced class of aircraft carrier with 3 times the nuclear power of a Nimitz class. Lots of pics and factoids at link. I thought this line was particularly funny: It’s nice to see the Navy keeping u… --- ## [HDMI 2.0 is coming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdmi-2-0-is-coming/668348)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hdmi-2-0-is-coming/668348 "2013-11-15T03:37:10Z")
So, you just got that new 4k HDTV and you’re wondering how you’re going to feed it right? AHAHAHA. Yeah, right. Well, Sony has slashed $1000 off the price of their entry level model to a mere $4000, but if you’ve h… --- ## [Fillipino police chief fired for predicting 10, 000 deaths. Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fillipino-police-chief-fired-for-predicting-10-000-deaths-why/673918)
**Author:** [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fillipino-police-chief-fired-for-predicting-10-000-deaths-why/673918 "2013-11-15T01:42:51Z")
Of course this article doesn’t say he was fired for that reason, but it seems to assume that it was. While I can understand the authorities having an official message put out for say, an ongoing case that can be affecte… --- ## [Idea (for play)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-for-play/673910)
**Author:** [@uzzi001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uzzi001)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-for-play/673910 "2013-11-15T01:02:37Z")
i want an idea for my 25 mintues play which have 6 characters --- ## [How do/will traditions of solemn remembrance come to an end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-will-traditions-of-solemn-remembrance-come-to-an-end/673902)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-will-traditions-of-solemn-remembrance-come-to-an-end/673902 "2013-11-15T00:03:12Z")
We’ve just marked Remembrance Sunday / Armistice again here in the UK - and in general, there always seems to be a good turnout of people who will attend a ceremony of remembrance, pay their solemn respects to those who … --- ## [Baby-making and infertility updates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-making-and-infertility-updates/667159)
**Author:** [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-making-and-infertility-updates/667159 "2013-11-14T22:22:32Z")
Where my girls at??? I had a saline infusion ultrasound that found a polyp in my uterus, so I’m having it removed via hysteroscopy tomorrow morning. I’m going under general anesthesia so I’ve had to do all the sinister … --- ## [Same-sex marriage is coming to Hawaii](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-is-coming-to-hawaii/673760)
**Author:** [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-is-coming-to-hawaii/673760 "2013-11-14T22:11:32Z")
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/23947349/breaking-senate-approves-same-sex-marriage-bill-heads-to-governor-for-signature: This is particularly significant since Hawaii is the state which started the modern marriage … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=909) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=911)