# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1229 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1230 --- ## [How often do the Feds give "target letters," and why would they tip off a suspect this way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-the-feds-give-target-letters-and-why-would-they-tip-off-a-suspect-this-way/957693)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-the-feds-give-target-letters-and-why-would-they-tip-off-a-suspect-this-way/957693 "2022-01-13T15:17:20Z")
Seems like a “target letter” is just a blatant tipoff to a suspect that he or she should flee or go into hiding. Unless…the idea is that the suspect is only being accused of a relatively minor crime, and hence is better … --- ## [Do you believe posted inflation rates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-posted-inflation-rates/941710)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-believe-posted-inflation-rates/941710 "2022-01-13T14:38:06Z")
It is clear we live in unusual times and governments are presumably doing their best. The business environment is often challenging and the price of many items has stayed the same. But a lot of staples in Canada seem t… --- ## [I hate the ending of John Grisham's The Partner (unboxed spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-ending-of-john-grishams-the-partner-unboxed-spoilers/539866)
**Author:** [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-the-ending-of-john-grishams-the-partner-unboxed-spoilers/539866 "2022-01-13T14:32:52Z")
I just finished reading the novel today and wish I hadn’t, because up to the last chapter it was immensely enjoyable. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , My problem wit… --- ## [13 People Including 7 Children Die in Fire in House Owned By City of Philadelphia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-people-including-7-children-die-in-fire-in-house-owned-by-city-of-philadelphia/957286)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/13-people-including-7-children-die-in-fire-in-house-owned-by-city-of-philadelphia/957286 "2022-01-13T14:16:10Z")
More specifically the Philadelphia Housing Authority, which is controlled by the city government. When I read the article title I was thinking “sleazy slumlord”, “illegal conversion” … --- ## [FQ about reality law enforcement TV shows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fq-about-reality-law-enforcement-tv-shows/957497)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fq-about-reality-law-enforcement-tv-shows/957497 "2022-01-13T14:07:55Z")
I watch “Lone Star Law” a lot. It follows game wardens around Texas. How much is real and how much is re-enacted or scripted, I have no idea. Whenever they issue a citation, they always say (paraphrased), “Sign here. Thi… --- ## [What is the best way to stream the Olympics this year? USA and willing to pay](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-stream-the-olympics-this-year-usa-and-willing-to-pay/945839)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-stream-the-olympics-this-year-usa-and-willing-to-pay/945839 "2022-01-13T12:30:59Z")
My initial instinct was that I should subscribe to Peacock and that NBC would be pushing all their Olympic coverage on there big time to boost subscribers. I am reading that…perhaps that is not the case? A lot of their c… --- ## [Gang of cats hold blender hostage for nearly a month](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-of-cats-hold-blender-hostage-for-nearly-a-month/957696)
**Author:** [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-of-cats-hold-blender-hostage-for-nearly-a-month/957696 "2022-01-13T11:28:48Z")
A gang of three cats in Langford, BC has been alternating sentry duty, sitting on top of the carton containing a new blender, and for nearly a month now preventing the owner from accessing it. I take it the owner is rel… --- ## [Games Workshop stole my name!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-workshop-stole-my-name/957621)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-workshop-stole-my-name/957621 "2022-01-13T09:24:47Z")
Krondys has been my nom de web for more than 20 years now. It was my username on the Dope before I decided I was into that whole “brevity” thing when we switched to Discourse. Used to be the case that if you were to Go… --- ## [Nancy Pelosi's Hamilton January 6th Anniversary Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-hamilton-january-6th-anniversary-song/957430)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nancy-pelosis-hamilton-january-6th-anniversary-song/957430 "2022-01-13T05:47:52Z")
What’s wrong with these people? Is Pelosi’s bubble so thick that she couldn’t even see how cringy this comes off as? I HATE seeing stuff like this. --- ## [Help with Cordless Hammer-Drill Settings. NEED ANSER FAST](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cordless-hammer-drill-settings-need-anser-fast/957667)
**Author:** [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cordless-hammer-drill-settings-need-anser-fast/957667 "2022-01-13T04:45:06Z")
This is wrritten very quickly and not edited or revised very well. Sorry. I am hoping to get answers quick before I run out of light. I need help choosing the settings on my Makita hammer dill (Makita XPH01). I have re… --- ## [What would you imagine your odds of getting Covid over the next couple of months?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-imagine-your-odds-of-getting-covid-over-the-next-couple-of-months/956372)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-imagine-your-odds-of-getting-covid-over-the-next-couple-of-months/956372 "2022-01-13T03:15:37Z")
I’m thinking mine are pretty high. I’m not doing anything different than the past 1.75 years, but over the past couple of months several of the people I associate with have gotten breakthrough cases (all fully vaxxed/bo… --- ## [Chewing Gum For Household Repairs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-for-household-repairs/957656)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-for-household-repairs/957656 "2022-01-13T01:29:29Z")
Big old houses have stuff which breaks. I have a collection of pastes, cements and adhesives I sometimes use for small scale repairs. One is a metallic putty that you warm and shape. There are fancy glues for fancy pu… --- ## [Owning and trading stocks by Members of Congress](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-and-trading-stocks-by-members-of-congress/957414)
**Author:** [@yarblek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yarblek)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2022, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-and-trading-stocks-by-members-of-congress/957414 "2022-01-13T00:39:42Z")
Thoughts about whether Congress members should be allowed to own and trade (individual) stocks are getting a lot of publicity recently. For example, a recent poll reported that 76% of voters think people in Congress have… --- ## [People are stuck on a highway in Virginia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-stuck-on-a-highway-in-virginia/957218)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-stuck-on-a-highway-in-virginia/957218 "2022-01-12T23:53:13Z")
…and have been for 24 hours now. --- ## [Feminine Facial Stubble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-facial-stubble/957528)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-facial-stubble/957528 "2022-01-12T22:46:56Z")
Is there a right way to tell someone about hygiene regarding their feminine facial stubble? …And, how do women control it? --- ## [What does "nerd" mean to you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-nerd-mean-to-you/957557)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-nerd-mean-to-you/957557 "2022-01-12T21:52:17Z")
Continuing the discussion from Can an actor who is a RL nerd play a cool character?: The above quote is not how I use the term “nerd”. To me, a nerd is someone who obsesses about all the gritty, nitpicky details of a t… --- ## [Drivers and red-lights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-and-red-lights/957262)
**Author:** [@Sal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-and-red-lights/957262 "2022-01-12T20:49:25Z")
When we started driving you’d get a ticket for running a red-light. Now it’s comman to see 4 drivers run after it’s completely red. Cops too. Wonder what statistics are on accidents due to this? --- ## [Maximum Punishment for Juvenile Crimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-punishment-for-juvenile-crimes/955298)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-punishment-for-juvenile-crimes/955298 "2022-01-12T20:48:04Z")
A number of years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that life without the possibility of parole was too harsh a punishment to be imposed on a juvenile. About that time, the Washington Post published an op-ed by two congresscr… --- ## [Cut-off for cutting off enablers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cut-off-for-cutting-off-enablers/957432)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cut-off-for-cutting-off-enablers/957432 "2022-01-12T20:34:43Z")
Say you’ve got someone who holds aberrant views to your mind. A hardcore QAnon Proudboys Nazi white supremacist, if that’s your personal anathema, or a Biden Democrat, if that’s yours. Most of us would probably decide a… --- ## ["The takeover of the environmental movement by capitalism is now complete."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-takeover-of-the-environmental-movement-by-capitalism-is-now-complete/852648)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-takeover-of-the-environmental-movement-by-capitalism-is-now-complete/852648 "2022-01-12T20:31:44Z")
“It’s not the carbon dioxide molecule destroying the planet; it’s us.” That’s one of many provocative claims from a new documentary, Planet of the Humans, which claims, with vivid and compelling imagery, that green ener… --- ## [Is 'Pharisee' an antisemitic slur?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pharisee-an-antisemitic-slur/953699)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pharisee-an-antisemitic-slur/953699 "2022-01-12T20:20:57Z")
I ran across the following tweet: The Pharisees were the progenitors of modern Judaism, and the maligning of them in the NT is an antisemitic mischaracterization I replied: Wait, the synoptic Gospel writers were su… --- ## [What does "Look away" mean in the song "Dixie"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-look-away-mean-in-the-song-dixie/942694)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-look-away-mean-in-the-song-dixie/942694 "2022-01-12T20:15:31Z")
I don’t get it. --- ## [In Praise of Ray Dalio?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ray-dalio/955898)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-ray-dalio/955898 "2022-01-12T20:06:00Z")
I have read several business and economics books in the last few years. Many are of very limited use. Some are exercises in jargon or try to stretch an acronym into a hundred pages. Others are by successful entreprene… --- ## [About losing your sense of taste (covid)-- it was very subtle to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-losing-your-sense-of-taste-covid-it-was-very-subtle-to-me/957558)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-losing-your-sense-of-taste-covid-it-was-very-subtle-to-me/957558 "2022-01-12T18:42:49Z")
So, I believe I was exposed to COVID (possibly the Omicron variant) on Sunday, December 26 when I was at a gas station and some maskhole came in looking for tests. I started coughing the following day, and got runny nos… --- ## [Liking Yourself On Facebook, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liking-yourself-on-facebook-etc/957646)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liking-yourself-on-facebook-etc/957646 "2022-01-12T18:20:13Z")
Has anyone else ever noticed. On Facebook, and many other places, you have the option of liking your own posts. That couldn’t be correct. Why would you like yourself? And I have to tell you that I have been tempted too… --- ## [Best "sort of apocalypse" movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sort-of-apocalypse-movies/957329)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-sort-of-apocalypse-movies/957329 "2022-01-12T18:12:10Z")
So one of my favorite rare scifi tropes is the “near apocalypse” (or maybe “sort of apocalypse” or “slow decline”). Where society has gone south, big time, due to one of the usual apocalypse causes (war, environmental c… --- ## [Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos: where'd the money go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-whered-the-money-go/957166)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-whered-the-money-go/957166 "2022-01-12T17:40:03Z")
According to Wikipedia, Theranos collected over $700M in funding from investors. Where did all the money go? Employee salaries? Did they actually spend a significant amount of money pursuing their new technology? Did … --- ## [Was Ghostbusters based on Ghost Busters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ghostbusters-based-on-ghost-busters/957649)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-ghostbusters-based-on-ghost-busters/957649 "2022-01-12T17:24:29Z")
I haven’t been able to Google anything up on this. Was the movie influenced by writers having seen the TV series from a few years earlier, or was it a big coincidence? Any official statements/evidence either way? --- ## [How long can I keep clear chicken broth in fridge, even though I'll reboil it before using it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-keep-clear-chicken-broth-in-fridge-even-though-ill-reboil-it-before-using-it/618568)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-keep-clear-chicken-broth-in-fridge-even-though-ill-reboil-it-before-using-it/618568 "2022-01-12T16:46:28Z")
See subject. Thanks, Leo --- ## [Acid Attacks and Dowries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acid-attacks-and-dowries/957591)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2022, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acid-attacks-and-dowries/957591 "2022-01-12T15:25:20Z")
It appears that a number of acid attacks against women are motivated by dowry demands, such as in this example. In my mind, a dowry is something that’s settled before the marriage ceremony. Man (and/or his family) agree… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1228) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1230)