# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=914 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 915 --- ## [Geeky, but a bit of fascinating history - Degaussing ships to avoid mines in WWII](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geeky-but-a-bit-of-fascinating-history-degaussing-ships-to-avoid-mines-in-wwii/673021)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geeky-but-a-bit-of-fascinating-history-degaussing-ships-to-avoid-mines-in-wwii/673021 "2013-11-05T16:05:06Z")
Pretty interesting overview of using degaussing to avoid mines. --- ## [Hospitals can opt out of Obamacare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospitals-can-opt-out-of-obamacare/673084)
**Author:** [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hospitals-can-opt-out-of-obamacare/673084 "2013-11-05T15:23:45Z")
I found this story today. Supposedly, many (most?) hospitals are refusing to accept many of the plans being offered under the healthcare exchanges. For example, a hospital might only accept 1 or 2 plans out of a dozen… --- ## [Ladies, does anyone else plan and lay out their work clothes for a week ahead?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964)
**Author:** [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-does-anyone-else-plan-and-lay-out-their-work-clothes-for-a-week-ahead/672964 "2013-11-05T13:43:14Z")
I do. I get up at 3:30, an hour drive to the gym and a 10 minute drive after my workout to the office. I don’t have the brain power at that time of the morning to put together an outfit, so it’s all preplanned-grab and g… --- ## [Life Lessons: What have you learned that you wish you knew when you were younger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-what-have-you-learned-that-you-wish-you-knew-when-you-were-younger/671510)
**Author:** [@Lunar\_Eclipse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Eclipse)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2013, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-lessons-what-have-you-learned-that-you-wish-you-knew-when-you-were-younger/671510 "2013-11-05T04:06:54Z")
I’m looking for big revelations that shook your world about human nature our your understanding of yourself. I was originally going to limit this to what you learned through marriage/divorce but then decided that there … --- ## [Reason My Son is Crying](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-my-son-is-crying/673060)
**Author:** [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reason-my-son-is-crying/673060 "2013-11-05T03:52:22Z")
Reason My Son is Crying A pretty funny website along the lines of Awkward Family Photos, it captures those moments in a toddler’s life when they are irrationaly upset at the world around them. My particular favorite is … --- ## [Once more, with feeling: Words and usage that hurt your teeth.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-more-with-feeling-words-and-usage-that-hurt-your-teeth/672708)
**Author:** [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 5, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-more-with-feeling-words-and-usage-that-hurt-your-teeth/672708 "2013-11-05T00:21:35Z")
On the news this evening, the correspondent was reporting on a multiple homicide. She scratched the blackboard for me with deaves. It doesn’t even look like a word, however, it is, just not the meaning she thought, and n… --- ## [Hobby hoppers unite! (For a little while at least).](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobby-hoppers-unite-for-a-little-while-at-least/672770)
**Author:** [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobby-hoppers-unite-for-a-little-while-at-least/672770 "2013-11-04T21:42:57Z")
It’s a two year trend for me. I’ll pick up a hobby, get obsessed with it, learn all I can, join message boards, read as much as I can, introduce the hobby \*du jour \* to all of my friends and family and then-after two yea… --- ## [FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of Personal Electronics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777)
**Author:** [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faa-to-allow-airlines-to-expand-use-of-personal-electronics/672777 "2013-11-04T18:28:48Z")
That’s the title of this FAA press release. Summarizing the new rules: “Eventually” translates as “if and when your airline decides to go along” since this relaxation is not mandatory. This signifies something that h… --- ## [Abusive terms of endearment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abusive-terms-of-endearment/672739)
**Author:** [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abusive-terms-of-endearment/672739 "2013-11-04T16:16:36Z")
My wife was just saying repeatedly that I’m a d\*\*\*head. I expressed my horror then she said I should call her a bitch. I called her a bitchy bitch. Right before that we were messing around slapping each other and sometim… --- ## [I woke up, more's the pity MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-woke-up-mores-the-pity-mmp/672430)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 250\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-woke-up-mores-the-pity-mmp/672430 "2013-11-04T10:56:46Z")
I woke up, so I guess I have to go to work. Damn, life can suck sometimes. --- ## [Fellow English usage enthusiasts: help me out here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-english-usage-enthusiasts-help-me-out-here/672728)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2013, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fellow-english-usage-enthusiasts-help-me-out-here/672728 "2013-11-04T10:26:39Z")
I bought a new mascara today. Ordinarily a mildly exciting event for me, but one with absolutely zero interest for anyone else. HOWEVER, this mascara is called: the COLO SSAL VOLUM’ EXPRESS I have tried to depict… --- ## [I'm gettin' married in the morning...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gettin-married-in-the-morning/672284)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-gettin-married-in-the-morning/672284 "2013-11-04T01:45:55Z")
Actually, Sunday. But leaving tomorrow for the wedding locale. I’ll be back on Thursday, but in the meantime, you guys can have a “been to any good weddings lately?” thread. :slight\_smile: wish me luck! --- ## [NYC raises smoking age to 21!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-raises-smoking-age-to-21/672806)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [November 4, 2013, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-raises-smoking-age-to-21/672806 "2013-11-04T01:39:03Z")
The NYC City Council voted to raise the minimum purchase age\* for tobacco products to 21. I think this is utterly asinine. I won’t accomplish anything except expand the black market (& create more hassle for the low-… --- ## [My long disused AOL account has been hacked and spoofed--how can I get AOL to make it stop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-long-disused-aol-account-has-been-hacked-and-spoofed-how-can-i-get-aol-to-make-it-stop/672869)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-long-disused-aol-account-has-been-hacked-and-spoofed-how-can-i-get-aol-to-make-it-stop/672869 "2013-11-03T19:13:38Z")
Recently a friend of mine got an email which apparently originated from a long disused AOL account. Although I haven’t used the AOL account in several years, the email was dated today. The message itself consisted of a… --- ## [Anyone checked out the Star Wars TV Guide covers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-checked-out-the-star-wars-tv-guide-covers/108246)
**Author:** [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2013, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-checked-out-the-star-wars-tv-guide-covers/108246 "2013-11-03T18:46:44Z")
Apparently, there are three different covers out there. They’re those weird things where the picture changes if you look at it from different angles. The one I got is, from one angle, Anakin and Ewan Kenobi. From the … --- ## [Automated pareidolia (or whatever the audio equivalent is)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-pareidolia-or-whatever-the-audio-equivalent-is/672918)
**Author:** [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2013, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automated-pareidolia-or-whatever-the-audio-equivalent-is/672918 "2013-11-03T08:36:03Z")
What happens when a fax machine calls a voice-to-text converter? Well, the converter will do its thing, and attempt to generate text from what is effectively just a random jumble of noises, yielding this. That alone is,… --- ## [From Lemons To Lemonade And Vice Versa](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-lemons-to-lemonade-and-vice-versa/672605)
**Author:** [@jsutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsutter)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-lemons-to-lemonade-and-vice-versa/672605 "2013-11-03T02:31:07Z")
I’ve smoked tobacco, I guess you could say, since I was 6 or 7 and stole 2 cigarettes from my mom to smoke with a homie. I’ve successfully quit many times over the past 65 years but I recently gave up giving up things I … --- ## [What you called it at home vs. what everyone else calls it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-you-called-it-at-home-vs-what-everyone-else-calls-it/671840)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-you-called-it-at-home-vs-what-everyone-else-calls-it/671840 "2013-11-03T00:02:05Z")
This is directly related to this thread where EmilyG is used to calling a pen cap a “lid” but no one else agrees. Except for her family! I remember when I was a kid in 2nd grade, I had to tell the class what was on the … --- ## [obsessive-compulsive contest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-compulsive-contest/672894)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsessive-compulsive-contest/672894 "2013-11-02T19:42:30Z")
Post the most ridiculously OC thing you can think of here. My entry: sorting all your chicken wings into lefties and righties; and then eating them by strict alternation. --- ## [Hurricane Sandy Photos - Four Months Later](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-photos-four-months-later/651851)
**Author:** [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-sandy-photos-four-months-later/651851 "2013-11-02T18:18:44Z")
In talking to some friends in other parts of the country, I’ve noticed a prevailing thought of “Everything at the shore is all fixed up from that trouble you had with Sandy, isn’t it?” So for them, we decided to take a … --- ## [Adrianne Haslet-Davis diary update after the Boston Bombing.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adrianne-haslet-davis-diary-update-after-the-boston-bombing/672930)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adrianne-haslet-davis-diary-update-after-the-boston-bombing/672930 "2013-11-02T16:51:26Z")
Her joy at the first leg prosthesis fitting is so uplifting. She’s fought back a long way since the bombing April 15, 2013. There no doubt this ballroom dance instructor will be dancing again very soon. She’s tapped int… --- ## [Advice needed about transporting frozen pizzas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-about-transporting-frozen-pizzas/672887)
**Author:** [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-needed-about-transporting-frozen-pizzas/672887 "2013-11-02T15:36:49Z")
We are driving about four hours to see our daughter tomorrow. She has asked that we stop at her favorite pizza place in Champaign and pick up five large frozen pizzas, which means we will have them in the car for three h… --- ## [Ugly and Useless](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-and-useless/672753)
**Author:** [@Tante\_Dillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tante_Dillie)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-and-useless/672753 "2013-11-02T11:44:23Z")
William Morris said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” This begs two questions: What’s the most useless thing in your home? What’s the ugliest? --- ## [Some honesty on the NSA scandal from a former French foreign minister](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-honesty-on-the-nsa-scandal-from-a-former-french-foreign-minister/672638)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2013, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-honesty-on-the-nsa-scandal-from-a-former-french-foreign-minister/672638 "2013-11-02T11:30:23Z")
"Let’s be honest, we eavesdrop too. Everyone is listening to everyone else. But we don’t have the same means as the United States, which makes us jealous. " That’s from Bernard Kouchner on Oct. 23rd. Here’s the quote… --- ## [Holy shit a cop got charged for shooting someone!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-a-cop-got-charged-for-shooting-someone/668951)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2013, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-a-cop-got-charged-for-shooting-someone/668951 "2013-11-02T09:01:32Z")
\[It happened in North Carolina. \](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_CHARLOTTE\_POLICE\_SHOOTING\_DEATH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-15-20-52-55) At first the cops said everything was totall… --- ## [Taiwan earthquake was](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taiwan-earthquake-was/672883)
**Author:** [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taiwan-earthquake-was/672883 "2013-11-01T23:02:53Z")
Here’s one source: I live not too far from there. I was teaching class and had just started when the earthquake struck. There was relatively mild compared to some of the ones in Tokyo, and certainly much more so than t… --- ## [Wine Bottle Cork Bits Unhealthy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-cork-bits-unhealthy/672822)
**Author:** [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wine-bottle-cork-bits-unhealthy/672822 "2013-11-01T22:53:06Z")
Sometimes bits of the cork are left in the wine while removing the cork. Is it unhealthy to consume these small pieces of cork (ignoring the health factor of consuming the wine itself)? --- ## [Google Street View expanding to inside stores](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-street-view-expanding-to-inside-stores/672618)
**Author:** [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2013, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-street-view-expanding-to-inside-stores/672618 "2013-11-01T22:24:50Z")
So I was on Google Street View today, and I somehow tripped upon this. (I wasn’t actually looking for that store, just dragged the street view icon into the parking lot and ended up there.) All of a sudden, I found myse… --- ## [Was stalin Planning Another 1930's-Style Porge in 1953?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-stalin-planning-another-1930s-style-porge-in-1953/672839)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-stalin-planning-another-1930s-style-porge-in-1953/672839 "2013-11-01T21:58:30Z")
By 1953, Stalin was a sick old man-but like most tyrants, he hated giving up power. I was re-reading NS Krushchev’s memoirs (“Krushchev Remembers”), and it seems likely. Stalin had his right hand man (Beria) setting up t… --- ## [A prediction from "The Onion"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prediction-from-the-onion/672713)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2013, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-prediction-from-the-onion/672713 "2013-11-01T21:07:24Z")
In short, NASA predicts a mass shooting on the moon by 2055. Only the Onion could get away with this. However, in the book “Packing For Mars”, author Mary Roach described at least one mission on the space station tha… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=913) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=915)