# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=129&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 130 --- ## [I'm going to Nashville. Never been. What are the must-do's in the city?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-nashville-never-been-what-are-the-must-dos-in-the-city/1028308)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-nashville-never-been-what-are-the-must-dos-in-the-city/1028308 "2026-03-09T19:41:02Z")
As the title says…I will be in Nashville soon. Any recommendations of what to do? Where to eat? Where to drink (live music is a bonus)? --- ## [Brady Bunch House Made History](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brady-bunch-house-made-history/1028311)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brady-bunch-house-made-history/1028311 "2026-03-09T17:22:38Z")
‘Brady Bunch’ house declared a historic landmark --- ## [2026 Ohio Governers Race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-ohio-governers-race/1028218)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-ohio-governers-race/1028218 "2026-03-09T16:39:49Z")
Mike DeWine’s 2nd term is ending (and he’s 80), so the Ohio gubernatorial race is going to be interesting. Amy Acton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, was the Health Director through covid, and so became a household n… --- ## [Can a batter intentionally refuse to score on a home run?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-batter-intentionally-refuse-to-score-on-a-home-run/1028316)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-batter-intentionally-refuse-to-score-on-a-home-run/1028316 "2026-03-09T15:13:06Z")
Right now, as I speak, South Korea is in an unusual situation in the World Baseball Classic. It must defeat Australia, but it must do so by a specific score. The Koreans cannot score more than 7 runs, because if they do … --- ## [Leaving USA for someplace saner- easier said than done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810)
**Author:** [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Replies:** 266\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-usa-for-someplace-saner-easier-said-than-done/1009810 "2026-03-09T14:22:21Z")
Along with probably millions of other Americans, people we know are now “considering” leaving the USA for good and I can’t say that I blame them. For Mrs. Cretin and me, emigrating isn’t feasible, we’re too old (70’s), … --- ## [CalMeacham's Submarine Book is FINALLY Coming Out!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeachams-submarine-book-is-finally-coming-out/1027789)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calmeachams-submarine-book-is-finally-coming-out/1027789 "2026-03-09T12:54:35Z")
Mystery Ship: The Long, Strange Odyssey of Submarine S-49 is, at long last, coming out from McFarland Press. I’ve sent them the corrected galleys and the index. The listed publication date is April 7, 2026. The S-49 cam… --- ## [Why are Russian/former Soviet aircraft only referred to by their NATO reporting name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-russian-former-soviet-aircraft-only-referred-to-by-their-nato-reporting-name/1028190)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-russian-former-soviet-aircraft-only-referred-to-by-their-nato-reporting-name/1028190 "2026-03-09T09:34:57Z")
Since the Cold War, Russian / Soviet aircraft are typically referred to be their NATO reporting name. That is to say, the name that the USA and our NATO allies call them, not what the actual Russian military or aircraft… --- ## [Is it THAT unusual to not collect anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-that-unusual-to-not-collect-anything/1027792)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-that-unusual-to-not-collect-anything/1027792 "2026-03-09T08:16:36Z")
I am StarvingButStrong. I confess I don’t have any collections. I’ve never had any. (Pause to allow you all to gasp in astonishment.) The subject of collections came up at a pot luck dinner yesterday and everyone was… --- ## [(Old) Digging things up in the MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-digging-things-up-in-the-mmp/1028131)
**Author:** [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Replies:** 260\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-digging-things-up-in-the-mmp/1028131 "2026-03-09T04:11:23Z")
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 10c/50f with a predicted high of 14c/57f and cloudy. Weather app says “You may feel like fucking walking around your yard naked. Your elderly neighbour, however, wishes you fucking wou… --- ## [What is "Shield Of The Americas" and what does its Envoy do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shield-of-the-americas-and-what-does-its-envoy-do/1028241)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-shield-of-the-americas-and-what-does-its-envoy-do/1028241 "2026-03-09T00:04:16Z")
Apparently the President just named the new Envoy of the Shield Of The Americas, and I want to know about this organization and Envoy. --- ## [Bighorn National Forest camping/hiking ideas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bighorn-national-forest-camping-hiking-ideas/1028266)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bighorn-national-forest-camping-hiking-ideas/1028266 "2026-03-08T23:45:36Z")
I’ve managed to book Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout (Sheep Mountain Fire Lookout, Bighorn National Forest - Recreation.gov) for a night this summer. Booking opens at 9AM my time, and it is usually booked 6 months ahead by 9… --- ## [Olestra? Why not improved and rebranded?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olestra-why-not-improved-and-rebranded/1028270)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/olestra-why-not-improved-and-rebranded/1028270 "2026-03-08T23:01:11Z")
For decades, chemists struggled to find something that would duplicate the functions of fat in food without the calories. Food fried in fat is often tasty, with good “mouthfeel”, etc. When Olestra™ came out in the US, … --- ## [What are these things around the numbers on an aircraft carrier?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-things-around-the-numbers-on-an-aircraft-carrier/1028291)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-things-around-the-numbers-on-an-aircraft-carrier/1028291 "2026-03-08T22:39:32Z")
At first I thought they were some crazy overkill of large fasteners holding up physical letters (which didn’t make sense) but now I think they might be a crazy overkill of electric lights around painted numbers? --- ## [Mandarin Language Question: PLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandarin-language-question-pla/1028222)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandarin-language-question-pla/1028222 "2026-03-08T21:40:18Z")
The People’s Liberation Army is represented by 3 characters, which loosely translates as Liberate, Set Free, Military or Troops. But it’s romanized as Jiefangjun – the three English words are represented as one Chinese … --- ## [Parenthetical number in front of tab title](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenthetical-number-in-front-of-tab-title/1028287)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenthetical-number-in-front-of-tab-title/1028287 "2026-03-08T19:30:37Z")
I don’t actually know if this is a board feature, or a Chrome (OSX) feature, but… I currently have a threat open in a tab, that’s been open a while. Normally, the title of that tab is the same as the title of the threa… --- ## [Why are German subs referred to as u-boats in English?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-german-subs-referred-to-as-u-boats-in-english/1028178 "2026-03-08T15:44:38Z")
US had subs. UK had subs. France has subs. Italy has subs. Japan has subs. Soviet Union has subs. And lots more, but. . . Germany has ‘u-boats.’ --- ## [What Thai dishes do you recommend?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-thai-dishes-do-you-recommend/1028224)
**Author:** [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-thai-dishes-do-you-recommend/1028224 "2026-03-08T13:49:11Z")
In my town a new restaurant has just opened - serving Thai food. :sunglasses: I quite like curries (not too hot :wink:) and the sort of Indonesian food you can get in the Netherlands. Actually I just enjoy food! … --- ## [The Best Pun Title Awards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-pun-title-awards/1028077)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-pun-title-awards/1028077 "2026-03-08T12:43:48Z")
As I observed in the “Amanda Seyfried and the Prosthetic Butthole” thread, certain articles (and other things) sometimes come up with superb puns, and I suggested that there ought to be a special award for them. In lieu… --- ## [Does anyone recognize this short story I read in the late '90s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-recognize-this-short-story-i-read-in-the-late-90s/1028285)
**Author:** [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-recognize-this-short-story-i-read-in-the-late-90s/1028285 "2026-03-08T07:47:08Z")
It was presented as a reading exercise in one of the books used to teach English as a foreign language (probably Headway) . In it, a man probably in his early 30s, bumps into a former girlfriend who had walked out on hi… --- ## [I don't understand the relationship between data centers and water use](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-the-relationship-between-data-centers-and-water-use/1026737)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-the-relationship-between-data-centers-and-water-use/1026737 "2026-03-08T01:51:37Z")
Here in drought-stricken Texas, water use and availability are becoming (or have become) hot political issues. At odds with that is our burgeoning high-tech industry. Enter data centers. Apparently data centers use up… --- ## [Cecil Crystal Balls worked](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-crystal-balls-worked/1028236)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cecil-crystal-balls-worked/1028236 "2026-03-08T01:51:06Z")
In a column about whether or not Democracies go to war with each other- Cecil ended with two possible upcoming examples- India vs Pakistan (okay, this was being talked about back then). and Russia vs Ukraine!!! Of cou… --- ## [English sparrows' lack of predators in the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-sparrows-lack-of-predators-in-the-us/1028198)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-sparrows-lack-of-predators-in-the-us/1028198 "2026-03-08T01:48:07Z")
The story goes that someone imported English sparrows to control the insect population. Completely oblivious to the fact that the little birds eat seeds, not mosquitos. But wouldn’t there have been predators in place to … --- ## [What flew over my house?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flew-over-my-house/1028276)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-flew-over-my-house/1028276 "2026-03-07T23:55:27Z")
I live very close to LAX, so I am used to seeing and hearing aircraft. Now they take off and land over the ocean, so not as much as before. A few minutes ago, I heard this jet engine roaring, and after a few minutes, I … --- ## [How is my computer listening to me?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-my-computer-listening-to-me/1028103)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-my-computer-listening-to-me/1028103 "2026-03-07T23:21:30Z")
I don’t ask why. Of course it is, in a manner of speaking. But how did this happen? My mom and I are discussing our yearly family get together during the summer. She was looking up houses to rent. We continue talking an… --- ## [Virginia shines the light of truth in the political darkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-shines-the-light-of-truth-in-the-political-darkness/1028265)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virginia-shines-the-light-of-truth-in-the-political-darkness/1028265 "2026-03-07T21:11:05Z")
Virginia passes legislation prohibiting schools from teaching falsehoods about Jan. 6 riot - CBS News " Virginia’s legislature has passed a bill prohibiting schools from teaching what it considers to be falsehoods about… --- ## [Could consciousness be a fundamental field? (Physics related.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-consciousness-be-a-fundamental-field-physics-related/1028135)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-consciousness-be-a-fundamental-field-physics-related/1028135 "2026-03-07T21:10:08Z")
Maria Strømme published a paper three months ago where she hypothesizes that consciousness is a fundamental “field,” and that everything else in the universe (matter, spacetime) emerges from this field. Which I think mea… --- ## [I want to buy a leather jacket at a brick and mortar store](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-buy-a-leather-jacket-at-a-brick-and-mortar-store/1025243)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-buy-a-leather-jacket-at-a-brick-and-mortar-store/1025243 "2026-03-07T20:33:09Z")
Recently, my 40-year old leather jacket fell apart from old age. I bought it at a Wilson’s Leather store in a local mall. Wilson’s are still in business, but as far as I can determine, only online. I’ve had bad luck bu… --- ## [The Doomsday Clock](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doomsday-clock/1028263)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doomsday-clock/1028263 "2026-03-07T19:30:17Z")
Doomsday Clock - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists In January, they posted " On January 27, 2026, the Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest the Clock has ever been to midnight in its history. The… --- ## [Heart's on Sleeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearts-on-sleeve/1028248)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hearts-on-sleeve/1028248 "2026-03-07T17:34:48Z")
Apostrophe or not? I asked someone brilliant and they say it means more than one heart. I say it means the one heart is on the actual sleeve. (This is a hoodie I designed. Slubby heather Red, white curvy letters “Heart… --- ## [Help explain a British cryptic answer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231)
**Author:** [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-explain-a-british-cryptic-answer/1028231 "2026-03-07T16:06:27Z")
As I’ve mentioned before, I have been doing cryptic crosswords from the London Times. I find them very difficult, but I like a challenge. As an American, I’m at a disadvantage because those puzzles make tremendous use … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=128&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=130&state=muted)