# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1001&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1002 --- ## [China v Russia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-v-russia/971392)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-v-russia/971392 "2022-10-06T03:30:17Z")
Let’s assume that Russia faces an ignominious defeat in Ukraine, leading to the downfall of the current President, Vladimir Putin. At this moment, the military of the nation will be spent, the government will be between … --- ## [Do you remember this book from the 70's? "The Origin of Homosexuality"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-this-book-from-the-70s-the-origin-of-homosexuality/972742)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-this-book-from-the-70s-the-origin-of-homosexuality/972742 "2022-10-06T03:24:11Z")
I thought the title was “The Origin of Homosexuality” but I can’t find any reference to any book like that. I don’t remember the author’s name either, just that they just used initials for the first (and possibly second)… --- ## [Would you ride with an unlicensed driver?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ride-with-an-unlicensed-driver/972472)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 130\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-ride-with-an-unlicensed-driver/972472 "2022-10-06T01:57:12Z")
One of our best friends lost her license a couple of decades ago after a traffic violation/conviction, and she never took steps to get it back. Yet she still drives. That kinda bothers me, but, my wife and I aren’t abo… --- ## [Looking to find a hippy-dippy officiant to renew my vows near the Muir Woods](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-find-a-hippy-dippy-officiant-to-renew-my-vows-near-the-muir-woods/972735)
**Author:** [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-to-find-a-hippy-dippy-officiant-to-renew-my-vows-near-the-muir-woods/972735 "2022-10-06T01:37:11Z")
…Maybe better to be in IMHO… My wife and I are traveling West to “find ourselves” after postponing our honeymoon after my dad died and my mom became a full time ALZ live-in. Pretend we live in Texas and are going West … --- ## [Putin - the domestic politics side of the war](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putin-the-domestic-politics-side-of-the-war/962905)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putin-the-domestic-politics-side-of-the-war/962905 "2022-10-06T01:15:12Z")
We’ve had speculation in bits and pieces in some of the other threads about Putin and domestic Russian politics; I thought it might be good to have one that focuses just on that issue: how is the war going to affect P… --- ## [Why no widespread underground power utilities?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-widespread-underground-power-utilities/972557)
**Author:** [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-widespread-underground-power-utilities/972557 "2022-10-06T01:02:34Z")
Regarding post 90 in the current Hurricane Ian thread: I don’t want to hijack that thread with my question so I’ll start this new thread: why aren’t power utilities laid underground? Regarding the above comment, it loo… --- ## [Amazon gift cards as sort-of legal tender?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-gift-cards-as-sort-of-legal-tender/972731)
**Author:** [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-gift-cards-as-sort-of-legal-tender/972731 "2022-10-06T00:45:07Z")
Just rambling here: I recently participated in a medical study in which the reimbursement is via Amazon gift cards. I’ve done other things in the past where the reimbursement was, similarly, a gift card (usually just ele… --- ## ['India' flag (yellow background, black circle) meaning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-flag-yellow-background-black-circle-meaning/972741)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/india-flag-yellow-background-black-circle-meaning/972741 "2022-10-06T00:32:14Z")
I recall ‘India’ flags being used on Southern California beaches. I think they might have been used to warn against rip tides, but I don’t remember. What did the India flag mean in this context? --- ## [An asterisk for Aaron Judge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-asterisk-for-aaron-judge/972453)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-asterisk-for-aaron-judge/972453 "2022-10-06T00:05:28Z")
No, no, not because he hit 61 home runs in 162 games instead of 154. Besides, they removed Maris’ asterisk many years ago. The question is, should he get an asterisk in the MLB record book with the notation, “Most home… --- ## [Why third party?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-third-party/972759)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-third-party/972759 "2022-10-05T23:59:55Z")
There’s a company that uses another company to verify employment.This company isn’t associated in any other way with the first company. Why is this company called a third party rather than a second party? --- ## [Education, Post-Covid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/education-post-covid/972765)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/education-post-covid/972765 "2022-10-05T23:35:24Z")
I was reading a book talking about how one French-Canadian province started classes in May 2021 after Covid. It was critical because the emphasis was on academics and removed physical education, drama and music from the… --- ## [More stupid people die. Why are we supposed to care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-stupid-people-die-why-are-we-supposed-to-care/972556)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 157\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-stupid-people-die-why-are-we-supposed-to-care/972556 "2022-10-05T23:21:30Z")
Some idiot skis off a mountain in Nepal. This gets reported as news. Why should anyone care, outside of her immediate family and friends? And how much is spent seeking and recovering her body? It is being flown for a… --- ## [Fucking UPS just tried to steal our medication for the second time.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-ups-just-tried-to-steal-our-medication-for-the-second-time/735306)
**Author:** [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-ups-just-tried-to-steal-our-medication-for-the-second-time/735306 "2022-10-05T22:54:47Z")
So my mother has pretty good health insurance, but in order to get most prescriptions covered they insist that that we go through a particular mail-order pharmacy (which has often been a nightmare; I could write a whole … --- ## [A Town Of Substance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593)
**Author:** [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-town-of-substance/972593 "2022-10-05T21:58:12Z")
How can you tell? This started off as a kind of joke – if there’s a point in a French town from which you can see three pharmacies, you’re in a Town of Substance. The French are keen on their pharmacies. The rule is the … --- ## [Why Does My Windows 7 PC Hate Being Left Alone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-windows-7-pc-hate-being-left-alone/972744)
**Author:** [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-windows-7-pc-hate-being-left-alone/972744 "2022-10-05T21:28:32Z")
I normally leave my W7 PC in Sleep mode but do power it all the way down once or twice a week. In these cases it restarts normally. But if I power down for more than a few days–say if I go on a 7-day trip–then I have al… --- ## [Alice, the first all-electric passenger airplane, takes flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alice-the-first-all-electric-passenger-airplane-takes-flight/972396)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alice-the-first-all-electric-passenger-airplane-takes-flight/972396 "2022-10-05T20:52:09Z")
this is cool … so is everything going to be electric based with n 10 years or so ? --- ## [The Handmaid's Tale; season 5 (open spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-handmaids-tale-season-5-open-spoilers/971592)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-handmaids-tale-season-5-open-spoilers/971592 "2022-10-05T19:54:24Z")
Well, the first 2 episodes were intense. There’s alot going that’s just downright bizarre, not all of it in a good way. June is seriously damaged and she’ll never be able to function “normally” again; Serena is still the… --- ## [In what languages is a tap an animal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-languages-is-a-tap-an-animal/972683)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-what-languages-is-a-tap-an-animal/972683 "2022-10-05T19:33:42Z")
The word cock in English can refer to a tap—i.e., a faucet or spigot; a spout with some mechanism for controlling the outflow of liquid. It’s theorized that this meaning derives from the other meaning of cock (i.e., a r… --- ## [Surgery to make one taller](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-to-make-one-taller/971637)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surgery-to-make-one-taller/971637 "2022-10-05T19:03:29Z")
I searched but couldn’t find the original article. IIRC, someone asked if there were a surgery to make oneself taller. Cecil said that there was but it wouldn’t be used just to make someone a little taller. Times have… --- ## [Why is it Donald J Trump v USA, instead of US v Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-donald-j-trump-v-usa-instead-of-us-v-trump/972758)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-donald-j-trump-v-usa-instead-of-us-v-trump/972758 "2022-10-05T18:52:36Z")
Talking about the case with the classified documents. As I see it Trump was being investigated for a crime, then sued the government somehow before he was put on trial. If I understand it, this would be akin if I got c… --- ## [Was this used car purchase a scam? How?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-used-car-purchase-a-scam-how/972335)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-this-used-car-purchase-a-scam-how/972335 "2022-10-05T18:29:29Z")
My friend just sold her used car and had a weird unsettling experience. We think it may have been a scam but aren’t sure how. Dramatis personae (anonymized, made alphabetical in order of appearance): Amy (my friend sel… --- ## [1st Appointment w/ new surgeon. How to prepare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1st-appointment-w-new-surgeon-how-to-prepare/972770)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1st-appointment-w-new-surgeon-how-to-prepare/972770 "2022-10-05T17:06:13Z")
How do I make the most of my first appointment with a spinal surgeon who is new to me? What to remember to ask? All suggestions welcome! My spinal surgeon retired, then the pandemic hit, and only now I’ve got myself an … --- ## [Opinions on lindens (and black gum and silverbell) trees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-lindens-and-black-gum-and-silverbell-trees/972602)
**Author:** [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-lindens-and-black-gum-and-silverbell-trees/972602 "2022-10-05T16:20:55Z")
We are getting a new street tree. Meaning a tree in the bit of ground between the sidewalk and the curb in front of our house. We have a very restricted list to choose from. We had a Japanese plum in that spot which d… --- ## [Roasted Chicken Thighs with Crispy Skin - how to store and reheat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roasted-chicken-thighs-with-crispy-skin-how-to-store-and-reheat/972736)
**Author:** [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roasted-chicken-thighs-with-crispy-skin-how-to-store-and-reheat/972736 "2022-10-05T15:47:53Z")
Hi All, Tonight I roasted some bone in, skin on chicken thighs with herbs and seasoning and ended up with some incredibly moist chicken thighs with crispy awesome skin. Problem is, we can’t eat all of it tonight no matt… --- ## [Transient minor anomalies in the visual field](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transient-minor-anomalies-in-the-visual-field/972330)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transient-minor-anomalies-in-the-visual-field/972330 "2022-10-05T15:36:45Z")
This is not floaters or any kind of ocular phenomenon I’ve searched. This is something different from everything else I’ve read about vision. I have floaters and stuff like that, but this bears no resemblance. I’ve been … --- ## [Heathrow - is an airport concierge a good idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heathrow-is-an-airport-concierge-a-good-idea/972605)
**Author:** [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heathrow-is-an-airport-concierge-a-good-idea/972605 "2022-10-05T14:10:03Z")
My fella uses a cane to get around, and it makes it hard for him to deal with luggage. I got an ad for an airport concierge, and upon Googling, I see quite a few for Heathrow. Apparently they meet you at the gate, get yo… --- ## [MLB Baseball: The Senior League?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-the-senior-league/971982)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-baseball-the-senior-league/971982 "2022-10-05T13:13:57Z")
On the TV show MASH, in an episode where they bet who will win the 1951 World Series, the term “Senior League” is used to describe the league the Dodgers are in, as I recall. What does that mean? Googling, I can only fin… --- ## [What's an underappreciated work of classic art?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-underappreciated-work-of-classic-art/972470)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-underappreciated-work-of-classic-art/972470 "2022-10-05T12:20:37Z")
I was reading an article online about the movie “Avatar” which pointed out that, surprisingly enough, a magnificently conceived and beautifully executed work can nonetheless fail to capture the popular imagination. I was… --- ## [Questions for Vietnam Vets about R & R](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-vietnam-vets-about-r-r/972752)
**Author:** [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-vietnam-vets-about-r-r/972752 "2022-10-05T10:22:53Z")
When you went to Australia or wherever, did you have to pay for your own lodging? Did they put you in a hotel or barracks of sorts, or did you have to find a place on your own? Did you have to pay for your meals? Was tr… --- ## [Is there a German equivalent to the phrase “teach your grandmother to suck eggs”?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-german-equivalent-to-the-phrase-teach-your-grandmother-to-suck-eggs/972397)
**Author:** [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2022, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-german-equivalent-to-the-phrase-teach-your-grandmother-to-suck-eggs/972397 "2022-10-05T09:51:09Z")
This is a purely curiosity-driven question arising from a silly conversation at work. In English, we have the phrase “teach your granny to suck eggs” meaning “explain to someone how to do a task they already understand … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1000&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1002&state=watching)