# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1086 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1087 --- ## [NYT article - Do Swedish People Feed Their Guests?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-article-do-swedish-people-feed-their-guests/965574)
**Author:** [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-article-do-swedish-people-feed-their-guests/965574 "2022-06-12T22:48:30Z")
So I read this NYT article and I’m confused. At the beginning of the article it says: Instead, when it’s time to eat, a child might go home, stay in the friend’s room and play or sit at the table with the family and no… --- ## [Do you remember Burger King's Pizza Burger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-burger-kings-pizza-burger/965975)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-burger-kings-pizza-burger/965975 "2022-06-12T22:24:02Z")
Bored Panda has a interesting article of old ads. I don’t remember Burger Kings Pizza Burger. It looks delicious. I’m surprised it didn’t take off. It would be great for couples or a family with little kids. It needs … --- ## [Myopia and Eyestrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myopia-and-eyestrain/643212)
**Author:** [@jbaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbaker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/myopia-and-eyestrain/643212 "2022-06-12T22:04:53Z")
Twenty years on, what’s the straight dope on myopia and eyestrain? See Will sitting too close to the TV, reading with bad light, etc., ruin your eyes? - The Straight Dope. --- ## [Starbucks isn't worth it any more (and the company is getting \[already?\] evil)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-isnt-worth-it-any-more-and-the-company-is-getting-already-evil/965645)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starbucks-isnt-worth-it-any-more-and-the-company-is-getting-already-evil/965645 "2022-06-12T21:00:28Z")
Union-busting assholery. That’s the obvious evil. Hard to square with their target market (I would assume more Liberals than Conservatives are into high(?)-quality coffee and bougie snacks) and their reputation for givin… --- ## [Why does it have to be all or nothing with abortion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-have-to-be-all-or-nothing-with-abortion/963939)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 262\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-have-to-be-all-or-nothing-with-abortion/963939 "2022-06-12T20:27:35Z")
I don’t understand either the pro or anti abortion extremists, why does one always have to completely ignore the rest and not try to find a middle ground? It’s not even that hard, imagine this, abortion allowed for ever… --- ## [Music Notation Question - Dotted Half Note = Quarter Note](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-notation-question-dotted-half-note-quarter-note/965797)
**Author:** [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-notation-question-dotted-half-note-quarter-note/965797 "2022-06-12T20:21:39Z")
I downloaded and am learning a piano piece. A snippet of it is shown here. (The site requires registration or I’d link to it directly.) At the top, it says “Andante” and then in parentheses shows a dotted half note, an … --- ## [How do cable addresses work (e.g., "Wire Paladin, San Francisco")?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-cable-addresses-work-e-g-wire-paladin-san-francisco/829983)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-cable-addresses-work-e-g-wire-paladin-san-francisco/829983 "2022-06-12T18:45:12Z")
I’m watching all of Have Gun Will Travel from the beginning. I bought myself the boxed set a while back. I’m a Wild Thing. Once we kids figured out that “Wire” wasn’t the man’s first name, it raised the question, how wo… --- ## [Using 40 Volt Lawnmower Batteries for Emergency Lighting and Other Electrical Uses?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-40-volt-lawnmower-batteries-for-emergency-lighting-and-other-electrical-uses/965909)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-40-volt-lawnmower-batteries-for-emergency-lighting-and-other-electrical-uses/965909 "2022-06-12T16:54:57Z")
I recently purchased a Hart (Walmart) electric lawnmower powered by 40 volt, 6 AH batteries. It has occurred to me that I could use these batteries for electric lighting and other electrical uses like running a laptop wh… --- ## [Why is the top quark a "Unique" opportunity to study a raw quark?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-top-quark-a-unique-opportunity-to-study-a-raw-quark/966059)
**Author:** [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-top-quark-a-unique-opportunity-to-study-a-raw-quark/966059 "2022-06-12T16:07:45Z")
The wikipedia page on the top quark says that: Okay. It’s clear that once they were able to study a top quark in the small amount of time that it exists, they were able to study a “bare” quark. But why can’t the same t… --- ## [Visiting Kentucky in August- Advice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-kentucky-in-august-advice/965852)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-kentucky-in-august-advice/965852 "2022-06-12T15:56:08Z")
I’ll be visiting Wilmore (just outside of Lexington) for about a week to see my mother, and I was wondering about what to see, eat and drink while there. I considered taking the train but unfortunately Amtrak doesn’t go… --- ## [Advice on CAD drafting as a career?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-cad-drafting-as-a-career/965790)
**Author:** [@IDKittyKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IDKittyKat)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-cad-drafting-as-a-career/965790 "2022-06-12T10:47:27Z")
I’m seeking to earn a certificate for CAD/CAE design and want to know if this would be a good career track for me. – What kinds of jobs are there? – How easy would it be to land a CAD job? – What would the requirement… --- ## [Descriptive Thread Title: I don't wanna cause any trouble.But I wanna explain, if I can about my thread titles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/descriptive-thread-title-i-dont-wanna-cause-any-trouble-but-i-wanna-explain-if-i-can-about-my-thread-titles/966056)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/descriptive-thread-title-i-dont-wanna-cause-any-trouble-but-i-wanna-explain-if-i-can-about-my-thread-titles/966056 "2022-06-12T09:04:31Z")
I’ve read the rules again. I’m not anything if not open to suggestions. I agree sometimes my titles are problematic. I’ll try to do better. I’m a silly and careless poster. Most of my threads are about me, me, me. I … --- ## [Songs where the singer is being a good friend/lover](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-singer-is-being-a-good-friend-lover/947321)
**Author:** [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-the-singer-is-being-a-good-friend-lover/947321 "2022-06-12T04:35:30Z")
Last night, I was thinking about the song “Trouble Me” by 10,000 Maniacs. It’s about being a supportive and trustworthy lover/friend, and it made me think of how few songs I know with that theme. Most sings seem to eit… --- ## [Word for "one-of-a-kind person"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-one-of-a-kind-person/965186)
**Author:** [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-one-of-a-kind-person/965186 "2022-06-12T04:21:35Z")
This is bugging the crap out of me, and Google ain’t helping. I’m trying to think of a particular word for a person who is one-of-a-kind, who perhaps stands out against all others in their field (perhaps in an idiosyncra… --- ## [Craving cigarettes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craving-cigarettes/964437)
**Author:** [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/craving-cigarettes/964437 "2022-06-12T02:52:43Z")
I quit for good over 10 years ago, and after the first few days or weeks, never really looked back. Prior to that, I’d smoked most of my life, and finally quit not because of fear of cancer, but fear of COPD in later lif… --- ## [U.S. law governing use of U.S.-origin equipment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-law-governing-use-of-u-s-origin-equipment/966021)
**Author:** [@cannonkuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannonkuo)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/u-s-law-governing-use-of-u-s-origin-equipment/966021 "2022-06-12T01:33:36Z")
In a memorandum laying out considerations and examining the options for U.S. policy should the Secretary’s meetings in Buenos Aires not produce a breakthrough in the negotiations sufficient to stem the gathering momentum… --- ## [Dracaena draco v. Yucca filamentosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dracaena-draco-v-yucca-filamentosa/965842)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2022, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dracaena-draco-v-yucca-filamentosa/965842 "2022-06-12T00:56:39Z")
Can someone help me explain to a Dunning-Kruger sufferer that these are two different plants? She keeps insisting that because “yucca” is a regional colloquial nickname for the Dracaena, that somehow proves they’re the s… --- ## [Disappearing Boundary Island](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-boundary-island/965756)
**Author:** [@SoccerDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoccerDad)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappearing-boundary-island/965756 "2022-06-11T22:36:47Z")
I may be getting this all wrong but here goes; I read long ago about an island whose location helped delineate the boundary between Massachusetts and one of either Rhode Island, Connecticut, or New York (via Long Island… --- ## [Catfish, evidently, swallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catfish-evidently-swallow/965993)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catfish-evidently-swallow/965993 "2022-06-11T22:15:23Z")
--- ## [Coffee making a buzzing sound](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-making-a-buzzing-sound/562640)
**Author:** [@Anchuldigs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anchuldigs)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-making-a-buzzing-sound/562640 "2022-06-11T21:07:32Z")
This morning I made my coffee as usual - I used a Capresso machine, poured it into a clean cup, added 2 packets of splenda, and a bit of half and half. About a minute or 2 later I noticed a buzzing/fizzing sort of sound… --- ## [Medical billing: any better with Kaiser or similar, than with other medical plans (for Senior)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-billing-any-better-with-kaiser-or-similar-than-with-other-medical-plans-for-senior/966037)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-billing-any-better-with-kaiser-or-similar-than-with-other-medical-plans-for-senior/966037 "2022-06-11T21:03:58Z")
Being over 65, I have Medicare parts A and B (and D, but that’s not an issue), and a 3rd party supplementary “gap” coverage plan which they call Part F. If I have any kind of outpatient procedure beyond a routine doctor’… --- ## [Help plan our driving trip- San Diego to San Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-plan-our-driving-trip-san-diego-to-san-francisco/964894)
**Author:** [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-plan-our-driving-trip-san-diego-to-san-francisco/964894 "2022-06-11T20:58:01Z")
Greetings! Since I have had such amazing luck polling the TMs in the past for travel planning, I’m back to solicit ideas for our (that’s going to be Mr Kitty and I) first post-pandemic-lockdown trip this fall. Here are… --- ## [The Book of Boba Fett](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-of-boba-fett/953653)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 612\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-book-of-boba-fett/953653 "2022-06-11T20:44:47Z")
The trailer for the series is up. I see that B’omarr Monks are still hanging around on Tatooine. Is it too much to ask that Ephant Mon get a prominent role in the Fett administration? … --- ## [Rhetoric Study as a Salve for Misinformation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rhetoric-study-as-a-salve-for-misinformation/964694)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rhetoric-study-as-a-salve-for-misinformation/964694 "2022-06-11T19:39:41Z")
As I understand it, schools used to teach rhetoric - the art of persuasion and debate - to school children. This was before my time, so I have no exposure to it, but I do know that one of the most effective educational e… --- ## [Backstory on movie "All the President's Men"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backstory-on-movie-all-the-presidents-men/965978)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backstory-on-movie-all-the-presidents-men/965978 "2022-06-11T18:21:22Z")
\[Gift link\] … No movie springs perfectly formed from page to screen. But to read Woodward’s marked-up draft of Goldman’s screenplay is to realize that the “All the President’s Men” we know — the lean, flawlessly cal… --- ## [International Flight changing planes in Barcelona](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-flight-changing-planes-in-barcelona/965997)
**Author:** [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-flight-changing-planes-in-barcelona/965997 "2022-06-11T15:53:00Z")
My daughter is flying from Boston to Venice tomorrow, changing planes in Barcelona (and kind of changing airlines, but not terminals). I know for the USA, you have to clear immigration & customs when arriving on an inter… --- ## [30 Day Free Trial Cancel Any Time Afterwards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-day-free-trial-cancel-any-time-afterwards/965626)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/30-day-free-trial-cancel-any-time-afterwards/965626 "2022-06-11T15:08:23Z")
What are your thoughts about those ‘sign up for our service. The first 30 days is FREE. You can cancel any time afterwards’? I remember as a kid signing up for Columbia Record Club where they offered the first six or so… --- ## [How does HQ Trivia stay in business?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-hq-trivia-stay-in-business/964813)
**Author:** [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-hq-trivia-stay-in-business/964813 "2022-06-11T14:22:17Z")
HQ Trivia is an app that features a weekly live trivia quiz. If you answer all 12 questions correctly (each has 3 choices to choose from) you win a few dollars that transfer to your PayPal account. Every Thursday at 9p… --- ## [Explain the unexplained](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-unexplained/965898)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-unexplained/965898 "2022-06-11T13:40:56Z")
I’ll start. Chupacabra: Dead goats and chickens turned up in Puerto Rico, and then stopped/tapered off. I think it was a sick wino who killed animals for a lark. He snuffed it, and all that was left was the occasiona… --- ## [Can a Native English Speaker Ever Truly Learn Mandarin Chinese?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-native-english-speaker-ever-truly-learn-mandarin-chinese/965804)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2022, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-native-english-speaker-ever-truly-learn-mandarin-chinese/965804 "2022-06-11T13:22:29Z")
(I choose Mandarin, because as someone would no doubt point out, there is in fact more than one Chinese language.) It’s a funny thing about sounds in languages. If you don’t pick them up as a young child, you forever lo… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1085) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1087)