# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1308 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1309 --- ## [LOTR: Was the Doom of Mandos a curse or a prophecy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-was-the-doom-of-mandos-a-curse-or-a-prophecy/952800)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-was-the-doom-of-mandos-a-curse-or-a-prophecy/952800 "2021-10-21T21:49:45Z")
Title kinda says it all. The elf Feanor asks some other elves for some boats, they refuse, Feanor kills them and takes the boats. (super condensed version) Mandos, a Valar, pronounced the Doom of Mandos proclaiming bad… --- ## [What's the military purpose of a submarine needing to be able to break through Arctic ice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-military-purpose-of-a-submarine-needing-to-be-able-to-break-through-arctic-ice/952655)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-military-purpose-of-a-submarine-needing-to-be-able-to-break-through-arctic-ice/952655 "2021-10-21T18:52:35Z")
You see it every now and then, a submarine’s sail breaking through ice in the Arctic and crewmen wandering about on the ice. Is this for communications purposes - the submarine needs to stick out its antenna every once… --- ## [Colin Powell has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-has-died/952685)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-has-died/952685 "2021-10-21T18:46:24Z")
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/politics/colin-powell-dead.html?unlocked\_article\_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqohlSFUaCybIRp8\_qRmHmfnE2\_s3gXv\_Km2NTilPy-BQD4WJ9wHNea9nLZMV7giseeVgYvUpVeAgiahWJVBsQA2l5cCOwslcfChs… --- ## [Is it too late to make a change?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-make-a-change/950243)
**Author:** [@notadoctorshh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notadoctorshh)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-make-a-change/950243 "2021-10-21T17:43:29Z")
Aloha, good people of the internet. I am knocking at your mobile phones and laptop screens for your opinion on what could be a pivotal decision in my life. I’m a 3rd year nursing student and I’m having some severe doubt… --- ## [Did Bo Burnham shoot his 'inside' special in the guest house of the nightmare on elm street house?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bo-burnham-shoot-his-inside-special-in-the-guest-house-of-the-nightmare-on-elm-street-house/952867)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bo-burnham-shoot-his-inside-special-in-the-guest-house-of-the-nightmare-on-elm-street-house/952867 "2021-10-21T17:29:08Z")
You can see some photos of the guest house here. The guest house seems to have the same design as the one from the Bo Burnham special. However it looks far less depressing than it did in the special, if thats the sa… --- ## [Random Halloween Songs/Sounds/Themes You Like](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-halloween-songs-sounds-themes-you-like/952626)
**Author:** [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-halloween-songs-sounds-themes-you-like/952626 "2021-10-21T17:11:11Z")
Not sure this will go anywhere but if you have any fun Halloween randomness you would like to share… I wish they would bring back the special Halloween Forum or perhaps expand it to the Fall/Winter Holiday… --- ## [Can we build better forum software?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-build-better-forum-software/615723)
**Author:** [@codinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Replies:** 220\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2021, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-build-better-forum-software/615723 "2021-03-12T23:22:29Z")
As one of the oldest and most stable(ish) forum communities on the web, I’d like to solicit the feedback of the Straight Dope forum regulars. (if you’re curious, here’s what this forum looked like in the year 2000! Pict… --- ## [How do game developers handle advancements in technology?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-game-developers-handle-advancements-in-technology/952916)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-game-developers-handle-advancements-in-technology/952916 "2021-10-21T15:44:46Z")
Continuing the discussion from Star Citizen is the Future of PC Gaming, and it \[was\] Free to Play this week (Edit: No Longer Free): The Star Citizen thread recently celebrated its 6th birthday. The game itself has been … --- ## [Musical I'm Writing--Conversation about Art as Catharsis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-im-writing-conversation-about-art-as-catharsis/952846)
**Author:** [@pianodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pianodave)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-im-writing-conversation-about-art-as-catharsis/952846 "2021-10-21T14:51:31Z")
Hi Cafe Society, I wanted to share with you a piece from a musical I am writing about my own journey through Spinal Cord Injury. 16 years ago, at 21 years of age, I was paralyzed by a drunk driver and I have spent years… --- ## [Breaking News: British Conservative MP David Amess Fatally Stabbed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-british-conservative-mp-david-amess-fatally-stabbed/952548)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-british-conservative-mp-david-amess-fatally-stabbed/952548 "2021-10-21T14:29:40Z")
The Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after he was stabbed several times during a surgery at his constituency in Essex. Amess, 69, who has represented Southend West in Essex since 1997, was stabbed several times … --- ## [Pain from Propofol at surgery, but not colonoscopy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856)
**Author:** [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pain-from-propofol-at-surgery-but-not-colonoscopy/952856 "2021-10-21T13:54:09Z")
Last week I was fortunate enough to have what the ENT called “A whole shitload of huge polyps” removed from my sinuses. For this surgery, I was given propofol, something else, and ketamine. When he put the propofol in … --- ## [The Film “Slingblade”. What would Frank and Mom’s reaction of Doyle’s death?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-film-slingblade-what-would-frank-and-mom-s-reaction-of-doyle-s-death/952895)
**Author:** [@gandrews3367](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gandrews3367)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-film-slingblade-what-would-frank-and-mom-s-reaction-of-doyle-s-death/952895 "2021-10-21T13:30:44Z")
Actually the film is spelled Sling Blade…… If you have seen the movie, how do you think Frank his mother would have felt at the end with what Karl did to Doyle (to not give much away if you have never seen the film). I… --- ## [Sirius XM is really starting to suck](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirius-xm-is-really-starting-to-suck/939071)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirius-xm-is-really-starting-to-suck/939071 "2021-10-21T09:20:27Z")
When I bought my Corvette in 2014 I received a years free subscription to Sirius XM. Paying for radio is a concept I previously laughed hardily at, but I’ll take something for free. But after a year I was admittedly ho… --- ## [What is Chekov saying in the Star Trek 2009 reboot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-chekov-saying-in-the-star-trek-2009-reboot/952873)
**Author:** [@Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dodgy_Dude)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-chekov-saying-in-the-star-trek-2009-reboot/952873 "2021-10-21T08:42:52Z")
The scene where Kirk and Sulu are in free fall together after trying to destroy Nero’s drill at Vulcan. Chekov is trying to transport them back onto the Enterprise before they splat into the ground. When Chekov succeeds,… --- ## [Ticket Fu needed for Red Sox game](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticket-fu-needed-for-red-sox-game/447680)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2008, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ticket-fu-needed-for-red-sox-game/447680 "2008-05-02T16:55:23Z")
I am interested in getting tickets to a particular Red Sox game at Fenway Park in June. Of course, the game is sold out at the box office, so I am browsing StubHub and the like to find 3 tickets, where outfield grandsta… --- ## [Tragedy in The Hague (man pushed onto incoming tram)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tragedy-in-the-hague-man-pushed-onto-incoming-tram/952815)
**Author:** [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tragedy-in-the-hague-man-pushed-onto-incoming-tram/952815 "2021-10-21T06:43:54Z")
The other night there was a terrible event in my neighborhood, here in The Hague. At a tram stop, three youths pushed a man in front of an incoming tram. The three perpetrators ran away; ambulance arrived very quickly bu… --- ## [Why are these restaurant seafood pastas dishes so hot (temperature)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-these-restaurant-seafood-pastas-dishes-so-hot-temperature/952803)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-these-restaurant-seafood-pastas-dishes-so-hot-temperature/952803 "2021-10-21T06:29:54Z")
A particular restaurant I like often has a seafood pasta Alfredo on the menu as a special. Crab, shrimp, or lobster served in an Alfredo sauce over a bed of pasta. It’s excellent and worth the substantial calories. But, … --- ## [Bataclan trial thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bataclan-trial-thread/952876)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bataclan-trial-thread/952876 "2021-10-21T05:42:37Z")
The attacks were 6 years ago now but the trial is just getting started. Here is the old thread on the attacks: And here is an article about the trial: --- ## [The Bad Art Friend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bad-art-friend/952382)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bad-art-friend/952382 "2021-10-21T04:39:50Z")
The New York Times ran an excellent longform piece titled “Who Is the Bad Art Friend?” It’s about two writer acquaintances. Ms. Dorland wrote a heartfelt letter to the recipient of her anonymous kidney donation, and pos… --- ## [LA Law and the 2nd grade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-law-and-the-2nd-grade/952150)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-law-and-the-2nd-grade/952150 "2021-10-21T04:31:53Z")
Feeling nostalgic, I popped in an old DVD of the first season of LA Law and watched a few episodes from 1986. I was amazed at the simplicity of it, the naivety, the flatness of the characters in a legal drama I used to w… --- ## [Question about Children with COVID](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-children-with-covid/952859)
**Author:** [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-children-with-covid/952859 "2021-10-21T02:30:40Z")
Someone I know has two children, ages 2 and 4. Four year old just started Kindergarten a few weeks ago. This week both kids tested positive for COVID. I’m seriously upset and concerned about this, while the kids’ pa… --- ## [What song actually makes you shout NO! and change the station?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-actually-makes-you-shout-no-and-change-the-station/952172)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-actually-makes-you-shout-no-and-change-the-station/952172 "2021-10-21T02:24:04Z")
One for me is “We Built This City”. A horrible earworm and a truly bad song. --- ## [Pitchfork Readers' Ranking of the 200 Best Albums of the last 25 years](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitchfork-readers-ranking-of-the-200-best-albums-of-the-last-25-years/952563)
**Author:** [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitchfork-readers-ranking-of-the-200-best-albums-of-the-last-25-years/952563 "2021-10-21T00:44:22Z")
An interesting list, especially after we had a fun discussion on Rolling Stones’ Top 500 Songs. Of course, knowing Pitchfork readers, there are certain things you’d expect - like Radiohead having 3 of the top 5 albums (a… --- ## [Ransomware attack affects local TV news across the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ransomware-attack-affects-local-tv-news-across-the-us/952852)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ransomware-attack-affects-local-tv-news-across-the-us/952852 "2021-10-21T00:21:28Z")
Has your local station struggled during the Ransomware attack? My local ABC affiliate (KATV, Channel 7) has a short statement at the beginning of the local news. They’re working hard to produce the news in spite of the … --- ## [Please identify: Short run drama anthology on PBS, circa 1990?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-short-run-drama-anthology-on-pbs-circa-1990/796936)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-short-run-drama-anthology-on-pbs-circa-1990/796936 "2021-10-20T23:25:43Z")
Back in 1990, I remember catching a few episodes of a PBS (I think) drama anthology that was very well-made and a bit odd. Two episodes I remember A guy with a humdrum existence is apparently mistaken for a subversiv… --- ## [What is the scariest book you ever read? (Title already used almost 15 years ago)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447)
**Author:** [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-scariest-book-you-ever-read-title-already-used-almost-15-years-ago/952447 "2021-10-20T23:14:24Z")
This is a thread on a different board (there are others but none as good as this one) and I wanted to see what you guys would say. For me, beyond a doubt, the scariest fiction book I read has got to be 'Salem’s Lot. It’… --- ## [Sci-Fi movie id: 'Black' robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-movie-id-black-robot/952845)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sci-fi-movie-id-black-robot/952845 "2021-10-20T21:07:17Z")
As in ‘African-American.’ The character who creates the robot is black, and when he is asked ‘Why did you make it black?’ He responded, ‘Because I wanted him to be perfect.’ And it could be I just imagined the whole th… --- ## [Marvel's Black Widow (2021) \[Be warned, Open Spoilers after post 11\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvels-black-widow-2021-be-warned-open-spoilers-after-post-11/946101)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvels-black-widow-2021-be-warned-open-spoilers-after-post-11/946101 "2021-10-20T20:41:09Z")
The new Black Widow movie is out today, in theaters and streaming. I haven’t seen it yet, but will probably tonight. I’m looking forward to it. There’s a lot of great potential, although prequels have a big chance to me… --- ## [Weirdest herds you've ever named](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-herds-youve-ever-named/952700)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-herds-youve-ever-named/952700 "2021-10-20T20:28:15Z")
Anyone have their own names for a grouping of something? You know, like pride of lions, murder of crows, flock of seagulls, etc.? I tried to think of one for a group of children. You know, the young ones that are runnin… --- ## [Interruption in reading threads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interruption-in-reading-threads/951686)
**Author:** [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2021, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interruption-in-reading-threads/951686 "2021-10-20T20:21:29Z")
While reading threads, the board has taken to booting me back up several (in some cases hundreds) of messages, forcing me to scroll back down to where I was currently reading. It seems to be random. What gives? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1307) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1309)