# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=109&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 110 --- ## [Hormuz strait - starting a tanker (ship)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormuz-strait-starting-a-tanker-ship/1029145)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2026, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hormuz-strait-starting-a-tanker-ship/1029145 "2026-04-13T01:23:55Z")
Given that the HS will open up again now I was wondering what’s involved in starting those huge engines in tankerships. The uneducated me thinks the starter motor will be like truck engine. Or so. Any deeper knowledge … --- ## [Minute Steaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minute-steaks/1029191)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2026, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minute-steaks/1029191 "2026-04-13T01:08:28Z")
Was there a frozen (?) product in the '70s called ‘Minute Steaks’? I googled, and it seems it’s a well-known concept; but I could swear there was a product called ‘Minute Steaks’ that dat bought in a supermarket (most l… --- ## [Superman's most flagrant disregard for public safety?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermans-most-flagrant-disregard-for-public-safety/965937)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supermans-most-flagrant-disregard-for-public-safety/965937 "2026-04-13T00:27:00Z")
I was watching a DC animated film a few days ago. In it, Superman is fighting a bad guy in downtown metropolis. Building are falling, and cars are flying with pedestrians all around. At this point, it’s all fairly typica… --- ## [Reverse Mortgage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-mortgage/691922)
**Author:** [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reverse-mortgage/691922 "2026-04-12T22:13:59Z")
Does anyone have any experience, either directly or through association, with reverse mortgages? Are they worth it, or are they just another way to steal assets from people who have few choices? I am 64, 3 months away … --- ## [Moderation in "So What do we impeach him for"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-in-so-what-do-we-impeach-him-for/1029218)
**Author:** [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moderation-in-so-what-do-we-impeach-him-for/1029218 "2026-04-12T21:25:18Z")
In this thread, So what do we impeach him for?, ParallelLines moderated the discussion. Blockquote I really appreciate the moderation around here and I generally think you do a great job, so please take this as the … --- ## [Bird Buddy aficionado thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-buddy-aficionado-thread/1029118)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bird-buddy-aficionado-thread/1029118 "2026-04-12T18:11:09Z")
I have been thinking about writing this for a few days but now I’m inspired by Beck’s bird seed thread. I got my wife the bird buddy for Christmas. Ok maybe it was more for me. If you are not familiar it is a bird feede… --- ## [Tell me about cruises, especially more laid-back, "educational" ones](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cruises-especially-more-laid-back-educational-ones/1029178)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cruises-especially-more-laid-back-educational-ones/1029178 "2026-04-12T17:50:32Z")
Continuing the discussion from I'm new to credit card miles & points, please explain this to me like I'm 11: I’m not rich enough, old enough, or sea-worthy enough to have actually gone on any cruises, but this random a… --- ## [RIP Asha Bhosle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-asha-bhosle/1029225)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-asha-bhosle/1029225 "2026-04-12T17:41:13Z")
Among the most popular Bollywood singers, and also referenced quite a bit by other artists. Enjoy the hippie dippy celebration of Dum Maro Dum: --- ## [LA 28 Olympics tickets are on sale. I got some](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-28-olympics-tickets-are-on-sale-i-got-some/1029224)
**Author:** [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-28-olympics-tickets-are-on-sale-i-got-some/1029224 "2026-04-12T17:36:13Z")
LA 28 Olympics tickets are now on sale. Note that the procedure is fairly complicated. You need to sign up and they give you a specific 48 hour period during which you are eligible to buy tickets. Local residents of the … --- ## [Home distilling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-distilling/1029202)
**Author:** [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-distilling/1029202 "2026-04-12T17:31:07Z")
The 5th Circuit just ruled that the 1868 federal law banning home distillation of alcohol is unconstitutional. https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-appeals-court-declares-158-year-old-home-distilling-ban-unconst… --- ## [Pink pineapples - anyone tried these?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-pineapples-anyone-tried-these/1029057)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-pineapples-anyone-tried-these/1029057 "2026-04-12T17:26:57Z")
They’ve been available in my area for some time, although they are quite expensive ($10 or so). A local grocery store had them for $5, so I picked one up a couple days ago. Okay, I cut the top off and ate a slice of it… --- ## [Your cabbage soup - tomato or no tomato?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-cabbage-soup-tomato-or-no-tomato/829561)
**Author:** [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-cabbage-soup-tomato-or-no-tomato/829561 "2026-04-12T16:23:27Z")
Definitely cabbage soup weather out there. My grandfather’s cabbage soup was just sliced onion and big chunks of potato and cabbage. You had to cut the potatoes with the edge of the spoon. Lots of dill and thickened w… --- ## [Artificial sweeteners: recent bad news](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artificial-sweeteners-recent-bad-news/986345)
**Author:** [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artificial-sweeteners-recent-bad-news/986345 "2026-04-12T15:34:01Z")
In the past couple months there’s been this report about aspartame being “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” And this report about sucralose potentially damaging DNA (!!!). And this report about erythritol perhaps causi… --- ## [Debt collection letter received after 32 years](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-collection-letter-received-after-32-years/980433 "2026-04-12T12:15:06Z")
I sent my Virginia tax return off a few weeks ago and was expecting a $181 refund. Yesterday I got a letter from George Mason University, which I attended for one semester in the fall of 1991 saying I owed them $490 and… --- ## [Smapti's Continuing Adventures in Judaism: First Seder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smaptis-continuing-adventures-in-judaism-first-seder/1028989)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 117\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smaptis-continuing-adventures-in-judaism-first-seder/1028989 "2026-04-12T08:16:16Z")
Part three in the ongoing series of threads about my exploring Jewish practice with an eye at formally beginning the conversion process in the near future. The Seder has fascinated me since I first learned about it in s… --- ## [How do American Jews typically feel about Israel and Zionism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-american-jews-typically-feel-about-israel-and-zionism/1029177 "2026-04-12T08:04:52Z")
OK… huge disclaimer upfront: This is not meant to disparage Jews in any way, shape or form, be they American or otherwise. It also isn’t meant to directly critique Israeli policy per se. It’s meant as an honest question … --- ## [Mahatma Yellow rice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahatma-yellow-rice/1029211)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahatma-yellow-rice/1029211 "2026-04-12T03:07:38Z")
You know the lovely gold package. Generally cheap. I think it’s supposed to have saffron in, couldn’t swear that to be true. I like it rolled into a kale leaf or a tortilla or both. Can you cook it in a rice cooker? … --- ## [Festus, MO votes out city council members who supported a large data center](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/festus-mo-votes-out-city-council-members-who-supported-a-large-data-center/1029215)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/festus-mo-votes-out-city-council-members-who-supported-a-large-data-center/1029215 "2026-04-12T01:38:30Z")
And this is why local elections are so important! Okay, maybe the center will still be built, but they’re going to be fighting obstacles all the way. --- ## [Problem with inbound calls on my iPhone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-inbound-calls-on-my-iphone/1029182)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-inbound-calls-on-my-iphone/1029182 "2026-04-12T00:37:36Z")
There should be a factual answer, but mods, if it needs to be moved, so be it. About 6 months ago, my daughter was complaining that half the time she calls me on my iPhone 8, it doesn’t ring and goes directly to voicema… --- ## [What is "haroseth"? And how/why do you eat it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-haroseth-and-how-why-do-you-eat-it/1029101)
**Author:** [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-haroseth-and-how-why-do-you-eat-it/1029101 "2026-04-11T23:32:46Z")
My NYT cooking notifications just informed me that based on my previous views of recipes, I might like to consider “haroseth.” I never heard of it, and the photograph didn’t give me a good sense of what it was, so I clic… --- ## [The Poetry of Donald Trump - Special Victory in Iran edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-poetry-of-donald-trump-special-victory-in-iran-edition/1029080)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-poetry-of-donald-trump-special-victory-in-iran-edition/1029080 "2026-04-11T18:18:30Z")
Our nation’s poet has offered this series on his war with Iran. We won the war. We defeated Iran. We must attack Iran. The war is ending almost completely, and very beautifully. You never like to say too ⁠early you… --- ## [3rd-party Webmail filters for private individual accounts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-party-webmail-filters-for-private-individual-accounts/1029116)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3rd-party-webmail-filters-for-private-individual-accounts/1029116 "2026-04-11T18:11:34Z")
Like many people, I’ve been pushed into a pattern of using multiple devices instead of one personal computer, and that in turn has pushed me towards webmail. Before that, I used Eudora, which I initially embraced becaus… --- ## [So Speaking of Homeopathic Remedies, What Do We Think of This (Bemer Device)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-speaking-of-homeopathic-remedies-what-do-we-think-of-this-bemer-device/1029179)
**Author:** [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-speaking-of-homeopathic-remedies-what-do-we-think-of-this-bemer-device/1029179 "2026-04-11T17:40:03Z")
Continuing the discussion from Trump is dying: Bemer Technology From the link: BEMER stands for Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation. BEMER is an FDA Class II cleared consumer medical device that, during an 8-minu… --- ## [MAGA-fied political ads now seen in the wild](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maga-fied-political-ads-now-seen-in-the-wild/1028889)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maga-fied-political-ads-now-seen-in-the-wild/1028889 "2026-04-11T17:17:14Z")
Here in Michigan we have an upcoming election for Governor. Our long-time Democratic Gov Gretchen Whitmer is no longer eligible to run due to term limits. Now, some Michigan businessman who I had never heard of before h… --- ## [Erosion of US Democracy Exceeds Hungary, Turkey, India: V-Dem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erosion-of-us-democracy-exceeds-hungary-turkey-india-v-dem/1028517)
**Author:** [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/erosion-of-us-democracy-exceeds-hungary-turkey-india-v-dem/1028517 "2026-04-11T15:50:42Z")
In their latest annual report, the University of Gothenburg-based Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem), “the world’s leading source for analysis of the health of global democracy” according to the Guardian article on… --- ## [Possible help for Tinnitus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-help-for-tinnitus/969122)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-help-for-tinnitus/969122 "2026-04-11T13:20:48Z")
Could “white noise” be used, at least partially, to counteract the ringing caused by tinnitus? I am envisioning a pocket noise generator and earbud. --- ## [Could the Virgin Mary have said no?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-virgin-mary-have-said-no/1028820)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-virgin-mary-have-said-no/1028820 "2026-04-11T12:57:34Z")
From Luke 1:26-38 (KJV): 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virg… --- ## [How long for a spacecraft to reach Tau Ceti at 1 g?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-for-a-spacecraft-to-reach-tau-ceti-at-1-g/1029064)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-for-a-spacecraft-to-reach-tau-ceti-at-1-g/1029064 "2026-04-11T07:29:57Z")
Inspired by the Project Hail Mary thread. Tau Ceti is about 12 light years away. I have questions: If you accelerated at 1 g all the way there (not worrying about having to go into some kind of Tau Ceti orbit), how l… --- ## [Could an average, level-headed person land a plane with radio assistance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-an-average-level-headed-person-land-a-plane-with-radio-assistance/819304)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-an-average-level-headed-person-land-a-plane-with-radio-assistance/819304 "2026-04-11T03:16:32Z")
Say you have a physically average person who is pretty calm under pressure. That person is on a small plane (I know nothing about planes. I’ll say a Cessna, but that’s just to set the stage. If this is a stupid plane to … --- ## [The Great TV Sitcom Battle, Male Characters, Round 4, the Elite Eight. Choose your favorites](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-tv-sitcom-battle-male-characters-round-4-the-elite-eight-choose-your-favorites/1029115)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2026, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-tv-sitcom-battle-male-characters-round-4-the-elite-eight-choose-your-favorites/1029115 "2026-04-11T02:14:55Z")
This is Round Four of the Great TV Sitcom Battle, Male Characters edition. Rankings are based on input gathered in another thread. Vote for your favorite character in each of the following 4 head-to-head battles. Polls w… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=108&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=110&state=muted)