# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=962 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 963 --- ## [Lump Under My Carpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lump-under-my-carpet/662396)
**Author:** [@Silence\_Lenore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silence_Lenore)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lump-under-my-carpet/662396 "2013-07-03T21:48:38Z")
There is a lump under the wall- to-wall carpet in my master bedroom. The night before last, I walked into my bedroom, and as I rounded the end of the bed to get to my side, I stepped on a lump. Hmm, a blanket must have… --- ## [No Black Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-black-cat/662536)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-black-cat/662536 "2013-07-03T21:08:11Z")
She was killed by a blow to the head, just like in Poe’s story. But this time there was no black cat to give it away. It musy have been the use of “a plastic container”, not available to Poe’s narrator. A pretty chilli… --- ## [Where do I sell Civil War collectible prints?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-sell-civil-war-collectible-prints/662502)
**Author:** [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-i-sell-civil-war-collectible-prints/662502 "2013-07-03T19:36:06Z")
OK, I know the first answer is EBay. So, I went there and there were very few listings for the kind of items that I want to sell. I have 5 matted and framed colored engravings from Harper’s Weekly and 1 from Scientific… --- ## [Paddling the kayak. Finally](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paddling-the-kayak-finally/662275)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paddling-the-kayak-finally/662275 "2013-07-03T18:57:02Z")
I have an Ocean Kayak Drifter, which I bought when I was still in L.A. Great boat for warm Southern California oceans, but a bit chilly for the Salish Sea. Still, I’ve paddled it quite a bit up here. Except for the la… --- ## [OK, negotiations are over now. (Wal-Mart hostage)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-negotiations-are-over-now-wal-mart-hostage/662567)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-negotiations-are-over-now-wal-mart-hostage/662567 "2013-07-03T18:37:21Z")
Two-year-old taken hostage at Wal-Mart I couldn’t help but laugh at this part of the article: I haven’t watched any video, but I did see the picture of the squatting cop in front of Wallace. I just got this image of … --- ## [I was let go from my job](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-let-go-from-my-job/662523)
**Author:** [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-let-go-from-my-job/662523 "2013-07-03T17:15:51Z")
And so it goes. I was given notice while on sick leave. The project I was hired for has been closed down, and I was the only person on it. Now we have not a lot of money in our accounts, the most significant income sour… --- ## [A proposal has been file with the SEC for a Bitcoin ETF.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposal-has-been-file-with-the-sec-for-a-bitcoin-etf/662498)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposal-has-been-file-with-the-sec-for-a-bitcoin-etf/662498 "2013-07-03T16:46:46Z")
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/first-name-in-the-first-fund-for-bitcoins-winklevoss/?\_r=0 I know we’ve discussed this “currency” on here before so I thought that this might be of interest. I doubt that it will … --- ## [Arms to Vietnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arms-to-vietnam/662501)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arms-to-vietnam/662501 "2013-07-03T15:30:18Z")
Quite literally. A US Army doctor amputated the gangrenous right arm of a captured North Vietnamese soldier in 1966. The doctor kept the arm as a souvenir at his home back in Texas – maybe in case he ever needed to lend … --- ## [Meet The Buzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-buzzy/662543)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-buzzy/662543 "2013-07-03T13:53:18Z")
The irony: reduces needle sting for kids. This is a really neat thing. And I’m sure it has other uses. Yes, I’m 12. But I know a few mommies, too. --- ## [Return of the Altavista babelfish game (with a twist)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-the-altavista-babelfish-game-with-a-twist/224114)
**Author:** [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-of-the-altavista-babelfish-game-with-a-twist/224114 "2004-01-24T01:12:46Z")
Using altavista babelfish, cut and paste something that many dopers should recognise into the translate box, translate it into a language of your choice, then translate the translation back into english. I have chosen… --- ## [Creepy friend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-friend/662491)
**Author:** [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-friend/662491 "2013-07-03T11:44:15Z")
Not really creepy AFAIK, just looks that way. My daughter is 13, going into 8th grade. She has a boy \[space\] friend who is going into 9th grade. Fine, I thought, sure they can hang out. Actually they used to hang out in… --- ## [New Win-Win for Windows 8.1 Users: Ads!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-win-win-for-windows-8-1-users-ads/662468)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-win-win-for-windows-8-1-users-ads/662468 "2013-07-03T08:46:21Z")
“Last week, the software giant launched a preview of Window 8.1, a planned update of its latest computer operating system. It will offer a feature called Smart Search that allows users to conduct a search in Windows that… --- ## [Hypothetical - Comp Sci Phd Student; Lottery.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-comp-sci-phd-student-lottery/662513)
**Author:** [@AHeinrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHeinrich)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-comp-sci-phd-student-lottery/662513 "2013-07-03T07:27:54Z")
Let’s say that I’m a Computer Science Phd genius at MIT and I’ve just won half a billion dollars on the lottery. What do I do? Do you think I could turn that into billions of dollars? What would you do if you were this… --- ## [When does a car go from being "old" to "classic" to "antique"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-a-car-go-from-being-old-to-classic-to-antique/662381)
**Author:** [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-a-car-go-from-being-old-to-classic-to-antique/662381 "2013-07-03T05:36:45Z")
The car in question is Dad’s old 1997 Saturn SL2 4 door sedan in “Black Mica” It still runs strong, and is in great shape for a 17 year old (was built in Dec 1996) Saturn with 135,000 miles on it, Dad took good care of … --- ## [China orders children to visit their aging parents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-orders-children-to-visit-their-aging-parents/662505)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-orders-children-to-visit-their-aging-parents/662505 "2013-07-03T03:32:56Z")
“China has put into effect a law requiring grown children to visit their parents, though enforcement seems questionable… Solution: Let parents sue their ungrateful offspring.” --- ## [I'm becoming paranoid about brakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-becoming-paranoid-about-brakes/662414)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-becoming-paranoid-about-brakes/662414 "2013-07-03T01:57:41Z")
When I finally got the R1 running, the front brake was barely there when I rode it. Took it to the shop, and it’s fine now. Stuck calliper. Speaking of ‘finally’, I took the XJ600 to the shop today. It hasn’t tun in … --- ## [Supreme Court strikes down key part of DOMA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-strikes-down-key-part-of-doma/661957)
**Author:** [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supreme-court-strikes-down-key-part-of-doma/661957 "2013-07-03T01:48:32Z")
The news pundits are still digesting the details, but early reports indicate Section 3 of DOMA has been struck down by SCOTUS. :slight\_smile: Section 3 prohibited extension of federal marriage benefits to same-sex spous… --- ## [My car may be sneaking out and breeding with the neighbor's car](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-may-be-sneaking-out-and-breeding-with-the-neighbors-car/662364)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-may-be-sneaking-out-and-breeding-with-the-neighbors-car/662364 "2013-07-03T00:34:34Z")
I own a 2002 Mazda Protege 5. Nice little car but not wildly popular – they only made them for a couple of years. In all the years since, I’ve only seen few dozen on the road. One, though, is a neighbor from about a b… --- ## [New Zealand may allow sale of some psychoactive drugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-may-allow-sale-of-some-psychoactive-drugs/662399)
**Author:** [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-may-allow-sale-of-some-psychoactive-drugs/662399 "2013-07-02T23:55:02Z")
The proposed Psychoactive Substances Bill would permit the legal sale of compounds if they could be shown to have a low risk of harm. Given what an abysmal failure the ‘war on drugs’ has been, this looks to be a ration… --- ## [No More 117 Degrees In Las Vegas!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-117-degrees-in-las-vegas/662446)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-more-117-degrees-in-las-vegas/662446 "2013-07-02T22:48:52Z")
Yep, weather forecast shows no more 117 degree days - we are going to dip down to about 105 by Sunday. Of course, as a Las Vegas resident, we could tell. You can feel that nip in the air. --- ## [Buy My House For $100 Million - But There Is A Catch...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-my-house-for-100-million-but-there-is-a-catch/662412)
**Author:** [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buy-my-house-for-100-million-but-there-is-a-catch/662412 "2013-07-02T21:08:46Z")
I happened to stumble across this little home near San Francisco - only $100 million…but there is a slight catch. “The owner is requiring that the buyer allow him to inhabit the premises until his death.” Uh, OK - so I… --- ## [Happy Canada Day / Fête du Canada, my fellow Canucks! what are your plans for the day?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-canada-day-fete-du-canada-my-fellow-canucks-what-are-your-plans-for-the-day/662339)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-canada-day-fete-du-canada-my-fellow-canucks-what-are-your-plans-for-the-day/662339 "2013-07-02T19:56:51Z")
146 years! and going strong! Not sure yet what we’ll be doing. We’re having some friends over for a barbeque in the evening, and then walking over to the Albert Street Bridge to watch fireworks. Lots of stuff in Wasc… --- ## [John Adams](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams/662474)
**Author:** [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams/662474 "2013-07-02T19:46:31Z")
This is a quote from a letter to Abigail on July 3rd, 1776, of course, the Declaration was actually “adopted” July 2nd. The crypt the Adams’ are buried in is the only place in the United States where 2 President’s and… --- ## [Kitten Videos: Take 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitten-videos-take-2/626250)
**Author:** [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kitten-videos-take-2/626250 "2013-07-02T11:48:24Z")
I have been having playback problems with online videos, mostly YouTube for months now, so I haven’t posted any new kitty videos in months. Well this video did work so I must post it here. Caution: Den of Kittens ahead.… --- ## [Alta Vista--turn out the light. It's over. (A dogpile question)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alta-vista-turn-out-the-light-its-over-a-dogpile-question/662175)
**Author:** [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alta-vista-turn-out-the-light-its-over-a-dogpile-question/662175 "2013-07-02T04:33:00Z")
They finally pulled the plug. What I want to know,and I supposed I could Google it(the irony), is when Alta Vista was the premier search engine and when did Dogpile win out? --- ## [What rivers have you crossed in your life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-rivers-have-you-crossed-in-your-life/662286)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-rivers-have-you-crossed-in-your-life/662286 "2013-07-02T01:06:41Z")
Riffing off this thread. I’m talking the watery kind of river, not some philosophical transition. As a help, here is a list of major rivers of the world. Here’s a longer list. Feel free to list smaller ones, along wi… --- ## [My great OTA TV experiment may be ending soon...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-great-ota-tv-experiment-may-be-ending-soon/661010)
**Author:** [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-great-ota-tv-experiment-may-be-ending-soon/661010 "2013-07-02T01:00:32Z")
At the end of April I moved to a new place, and decided it was an opportunity to try life without cable TV. I bought an amplified indoor antenna, signed up for Hulu+, and got an Apple TV to cover all of my streaming opti… --- ## [Same-sex marriages begin in Delaware](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriages-begin-in-delaware/662343)
**Author:** [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriages-begin-in-delaware/662343 "2013-07-01T20:40:51Z")
… making it the eleventh state to legalise SSM. There are two more states (Rhode Island and Minnesota) which have passed marriage equality laws which will come into effect on August 1. --- ## [This story about the gymnast with the missing legs is almost stranger than fiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-story-about-the-gymnast-with-the-missing-legs-is-almost-stranger-than-fiction/662309)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-story-about-the-gymnast-with-the-missing-legs-is-almost-stranger-than-fiction/662309 "2013-07-01T20:28:56Z")
Olympic star Dominique Moceanu’s secret sister who was given up by parents after she was born with no legs --- ## [Drive carefully when you transport paint in a car. This guy wishes he did.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drive-carefully-when-you-transport-paint-in-a-car-this-guy-wishes-he-did/662060)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drive-carefully-when-you-transport-paint-in-a-car-this-guy-wishes-he-did/662060 "2013-07-01T20:22:13Z")
:stuck\_out\_tongue: The poor guy & his dog. :slight\_smile: What a mess. That cars interior and upholstery will have to be totally stripped out and replaced. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=961) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=963)