# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1390 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1391 --- ## [What powers did the president and chancellor of Germany have in the Weimar Republic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-did-the-president-and-chancellor-of-germany-have-in-the-weimar-republic/947028)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-powers-did-the-president-and-chancellor-of-germany-have-in-the-weimar-republic/947028 "2021-07-22T13:47:19Z")
someone recently said the chancellor in the Weimar Republic was like the secretary of state in the current US government. is that true? was it more of a position focused on foreign issues, if. so how did the chancellor p… --- ## [Party at my place! Apparently…](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/party-at-my-place-apparently/947039)
**Author:** [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/party-at-my-place-apparently/947039 "2021-07-22T12:46:21Z")
So my housemate Annastacia has decided we are holding a massive party at our place soon. Shame she didn’t actually ask her housemates about it first. Annastacia has alloted our roles equitably - she does the gravy drin… --- ## [Have we stopped making tragedy jokes? I haven't heard any about the Surfside collapse tragedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-stopped-making-tragedy-jokes-i-havent-heard-any-about-the-surfside-collapse-tragedy/946658)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-we-stopped-making-tragedy-jokes-i-havent-heard-any-about-the-surfside-collapse-tragedy/946658 "2021-07-22T09:39:50Z")
After the Challenger explosion, 9/11, Fukushima, etc, there would quickly be jokes about the tragedy, which is how some people cope. I haven’t heard any about the Surfside collapse. Have people stopped making them? Or … --- ## [Does the mention of success in Dragon's Den/Shark Tank make you want to buy a product?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-mention-of-success-in-dragons-den-shark-tank-make-you-want-to-buy-a-product/946971)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-mention-of-success-in-dragons-den-shark-tank-make-you-want-to-buy-a-product/946971 "2021-07-22T09:34:57Z")
I occasionally see products advertised online in social media etc with words to the effect ‘a BBC Dragon’s Den Success!’ somewhere in the text or image. I think this is supposed to encourage me to buy the product. … --- ## [Remote English teaching to China](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-english-teaching-to-china/855370)
**Author:** [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-english-teaching-to-china/855370 "2020-06-13T01:44:31Z")
Has anyone here ever done remote teaching? I would like to work more without changing my current jobs\*, and there are many ads for various companies that have jobs teaching English online to students in China. They don… --- ## [Why isn’t bisexuality the default?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isn-t-bisexuality-the-default/946984)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isn-t-bisexuality-the-default/946984 "2021-07-22T07:40:29Z")
Probably exactly that. From an evolutionary point of view, same-sex sexual activity is not harmful in itself, but it’s wasted effort. Some species like bonobos are universally bisexual, but that’s because sex serves an … --- ## [Should my wife get vaccinated again for COVID?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-wife-get-vaccinated-again-for-covid/947003)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-wife-get-vaccinated-again-for-covid/947003 "2021-07-22T07:00:49Z")
My wife got the Moderna vaccination (both shots) pretty early on in the pandemic because she works in a public school system. It was given by the local health department but in a gymnasium and not one of their facilitie… --- ## [How was this video made?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-this-video-made/946576)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-this-video-made/946576 "2021-07-22T03:47:35Z")
One minute long Imgur video. I watched this too many times. How was it done? --- ## [Sticks of butter: scrape 'em or slice 'em?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticks-of-butter-scrape-em-or-slice-em/197514)
**Author:** [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticks-of-butter-scrape-em-or-slice-em/197514 "2021-07-22T02:15:28Z")
Just a random thought as I was making toast this morning… Do you scrape across the top of the butter stick for your toast, leaving a big swayback valley in the middle of the stick, totally unusable for measuring out wit… --- ## [Tell me about Lexington, Kentucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-lexington-kentucky/946496)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-lexington-kentucky/946496 "2021-07-22T02:07:32Z")
Anyone live there? Anyone lived there? What’s it like? How’s the weather? Is the hiking in the area as good as I think is? How about kayaking/canoeing? Do rock/metal/punk bands come thru town, or does all the Blueg… --- ## [How's the Neighborhood Lemonade Stand Business (by Young Kids)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-neighborhood-lemonade-stand-business-by-young-kids/946769)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-neighborhood-lemonade-stand-business-by-young-kids/946769 "2021-07-22T02:06:20Z")
When I came back from a walk this morning some young kids a couple houses from mine were selling lemonade and cookies. My thought was they were going to have very limited sales so I bought a couple cookies for $1. Other… --- ## [Alert! Alert! Alert! New pet! Kids are excited! Cats are noncommittal. Food choices are discussed. Son-of-a-wrek nearly gave me whiplash. And other bad bad bad ramblings. As I see fit!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alert-alert-alert-new-pet-kids-are-excited-cats-are-noncommittal-food-choices-are-discussed-son-of-a-wrek-nearly-gave-me-whiplash-and-other-bad-bad-bad-ramblings-as-i-see-fit/946958)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alert-alert-alert-new-pet-kids-are-excited-cats-are-noncommittal-food-choices-are-discussed-son-of-a-wrek-nearly-gave-me-whiplash-and-other-bad-bad-bad-ramblings-as-i-see-fit/946958 "2021-07-22T01:47:34Z")
Son-of-a-wrek drew the short straw. As he’s on vacation this week, he gets to drive me to various appointments and clinics. I nearly passed out on the way to dialysis. He is one funny guy. I laughed all the way. On arr… --- ## [Suggest a bluetooth mic for group + Zoom meetings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-bluetooth-mic-for-group-zoom-meetings/946895)
**Author:** [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-bluetooth-mic-for-group-zoom-meetings/946895 "2021-07-22T01:07:17Z")
A book group I’m in has started meeting in person again with a few people connecting remotely via Zoom. It was hard for the zoomers to hear everybody, especially those sitting farther from my laptop, so I’d like to get … --- ## [Going to New Orleans for a few days, what should I do/see/eat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-new-orleans-for-a-few-days-what-should-i-do-see-eat/946440)
**Author:** [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-new-orleans-for-a-few-days-what-should-i-do-see-eat/946440 "2021-07-22T00:28:03Z")
Mrs. Cups and I are taking a much needed vacation. We are driving to New Orleans and will have 3 full days to play! I am looking for any fun and unique things to do. We aren’t too snooty to do some touristy stuff, so do… --- ## [How would you replace penalties in soccer/football?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-replace-penalties-in-soccer-football/945855)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 152\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-replace-penalties-in-soccer-football/945855 "2021-07-22T00:23:06Z")
If you want to jump in and say, penalties are fine, you Americans don’t understand the finer points of football, please find another thread. My problem with penalties is that they are essentially a coin flip. Let’s try… --- ## [LAPD bomb truck fireworks explosion: what went wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lapd-bomb-truck-fireworks-explosion-what-went-wrong/945806 "2021-07-21T23:09:40Z")
This weekend the LAPD seized an astonishing cache of fireworks from one person. At one point they detonated some of them in a bomb truck which, I had thought, was built for the purpose of containing or redirecting such … --- ## [How do people find out about new music?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-find-out-about-new-music/946816)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-find-out-about-new-music/946816 "2021-07-21T22:55:20Z")
Ok, this is a naive question your mother (or more likely, your grandmother) might ask. So sue me. In the past, there were top-40 radio stations, variety TV shows, and later MTV where you could hear the latest music. Or … --- ## [It's the return of the Red Last Visit Line!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-return-of-the-red-last-visit-line/946567)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-return-of-the-red-last-visit-line/946567 "2021-07-21T22:28:42Z")
It had been MIA for quite a number of months, at least for me. --- ## [My WiFi adapter stopped working after I updated an app. It now says "Code 10" and won't work. Any idea how to fix this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wifi-adapter-stopped-working-after-i-updated-an-app-it-now-says-code-10-and-wont-work-any-idea-how-to-fix-this/946096)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wifi-adapter-stopped-working-after-i-updated-an-app-it-now-says-code-10-and-wont-work-any-idea-how-to-fix-this/946096 "2021-07-21T21:31:28Z")
TLDR: I updated my IPVanish VPN to its latest version and now my WiFi adapter won’t work even if I uninstall IPVanish. I use a VPN for private internet surfing. I’ve been on IPVanish for about 3 years or so and it has b… --- ## [USA Women’s National Soccer Team loses!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-women-s-national-soccer-team-loses/947004)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-women-s-national-soccer-team-loses/947004 "2021-07-21T21:25:52Z")
I’m not disappointed, perhaps they needed to be knocked down a peg. Clearly they started believing their own headlines and didn’t understand that the other teams play to win the match as well. This wasn’t a fluke loss… --- ## [Why no colored concrete?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-colored-concrete/945735)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-colored-concrete/945735 "2021-07-21T21:10:18Z")
The monotonous grey color of highway overpasses, high-rise buildings, etc. Why aren’t they in color? Can massive amounts of concrete be dyed to make such structures more eye-appealing? Sure - colored glass and/or paint c… --- ## [What would the Olympics be like if all the rules on doping were removed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-olympics-be-like-if-all-the-rules-on-doping-were-removed/946978)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-the-olympics-be-like-if-all-the-rules-on-doping-were-removed/946978 "2021-07-21T19:40:07Z")
How much would records increase? Would the same people win if everyone was doping? And what would be the downsides for the athletes? --- ## [Was I victimized by some sort of credit card skimmer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-victimized-by-some-sort-of-credit-card-skimmer/946912)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-i-victimized-by-some-sort-of-credit-card-skimmer/946912 "2021-07-21T18:23:48Z")
Here’s the details. I used my Apple Card to do some grocery shopping about 47 minutes ago, as documented on my wallet app. I went straight home from the supermarket. I have two transactions, both for $100, listed as t… --- ## [Great Movies Marred By One Bad Performance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360)
**Author:** [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Replies:** 148\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-movies-marred-by-one-bad-performance/853360 "2021-07-21T18:21:25Z")
The idea for this thread came to me at 4am the other morning. The epidemic and distancing meant that I had been home and not working for a few weeks. Ive been waking up around 3ish. Looking for a movie to watch I came ac… --- ## [What’s up with gender reveal parties and fires?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-gender-reveal-parties-and-fires/920025)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-up-with-gender-reveal-parties-and-fires/920025 "2021-07-21T17:48:53Z")
First of all, I don’t understand why a gender reveal party is even a thing. Second, why is it they seem to be into setting fires? Another one in the news for setting off a wildfire in California — --- ## [The drum fill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-drum-fill/792002)
**Author:** [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-drum-fill/792002 "2021-07-21T17:33:51Z")
Possibly a dieing art form that ranges from tasteful to overblown, depending on how well it fits in with whatever musical context it’s in. (So, for example, doing Niel Peart-like fills on a six-tom kit for your basic MOR… --- ## [A couple of questions about mod tool use](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-questions-about-mod-tool-use/946744)
**Author:** [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-questions-about-mod-tool-use/946744 "2021-07-21T16:50:00Z")
If none of these are top secret: Why do the blue mod notes that say things like " the post below was modded for reasons" not appear on the actual post that was modded, but is usually at least one post above? I wish I … --- ## [Springsteen's "Thunder Road": 'sways' or 'waves'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteens-thunder-road-sways-or-waves/946981)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteens-thunder-road-sways-or-waves/946981 "2021-07-21T16:41:17Z")
A couple of weeks ago, NYT journalist Maggie Haberman, delighted to be at a Springsteen show, innocently (I think) tweeted “A screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways”, and Twitter was off to the races. Apparently, it’s bee… --- ## [How fast do you need to go to orbit the earth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-need-to-go-to-orbit-the-earth/946919)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-do-you-need-to-go-to-orbit-the-earth/946919 "2021-07-21T16:38:29Z")
Charity coin collectors at the shopping centre remind me that the orbital speed depends on the altitude: the coin orbits slowly at high altitude, then faster as it goes down the drain. So how fast would you need to go a… --- ## [Who was the first person to die on Mars (in fiction)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-person-to-die-on-mars-in-fiction/946930)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-first-person-to-die-on-mars-in-fiction/946930 "2021-07-21T16:20:17Z")
Timely, if morbid, I was just wondering…well, as the title says, who was the first (fictional) person to die on Mars? The criteria being: A) The person must be a human, from Earth. Preferably a named person, at that. … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1389) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1391)