# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1494 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1495 --- ## [SF novels about jobs taken by robots and automation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-novels-about-jobs-taken-by-robots-and-automation/840067)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-novels-about-jobs-taken-by-robots-and-automation/840067 "2021-04-08T20:54:22Z")
Kurt Vonnegut’s first novel, Player Piano, was a dystopia set in a future America where almost all manufacturing jobs have been replaced by automation. It didn’t happen then, but the issue is back in the news. Are there… --- ## [Criticize these lists of typical regional ingredients](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criticize-these-lists-of-typical-regional-ingredients/939261)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/criticize-these-lists-of-typical-regional-ingredients/939261 "2021-04-08T20:28:24Z")
I’m a fan of the CIA. The Culinary Institute of America has always made great cookbooks, and Street Foods is no exception. They offer popular recipes from all over the world. And lists of “typical ingredients” for man… --- ## [Anyone own/work in a small commercial radio station?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-work-in-a-small-commercial-radio-station/939329)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-own-work-in-a-small-commercial-radio-station/939329 "2021-04-08T20:28:00Z")
Having dreams of winning the PowerBall jackpot, and knowing a local radio station (on AM & FM) shut down this past year, I’m curious on what it would take to establish a local radio station (or restart this one). I’m no… --- ## [A Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mar-a-lago-palm-beach-question/939451)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-mar-a-lago-palm-beach-question/939451 "2021-04-08T20:24:03Z")
What was the problem Palm Beach had with anyone taking fixed residency at Mar-a-Lago? --- ## [Plumbing for hot water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-for-hot-water/939503)
**Author:** [@ALOHA\_HATER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ALOHA_HATER)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-for-hot-water/939503 "2021-04-08T20:18:53Z")
In my old house, getting hot water in the bathroom upstairs took a long time. I presume that best practices is to split the pipe from the water heater and send one pipe directly to the upstairs bathroom so you can have a… --- ## [How popular is Adolf nowadays?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-popular-is-adolf-nowadays/923345)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-popular-is-adolf-nowadays/923345 "2021-04-08T20:17:40Z")
For obvious reasons, this name has lost its popularity after WWII. I was curious to see whether there were people who still named their children Adolf, and to my surprise I learned that the Spanish and Portuguese version… --- ## [Have you prepared a plan to purge yourself of pandemic poundage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-prepared-a-plan-to-purge-yourself-of-pandemic-poundage/939450)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-prepared-a-plan-to-purge-yourself-of-pandemic-poundage/939450 "2021-04-08T20:09:03Z")
When we first locked down I actually lost about 20 lbs. I live by myself, and I wasn’t going to the grocery store. I guess I was too anxious to eat much (anxious about the election, too). I gave up on lots of other “self… --- ## [Can I take advantage of today’s low interest rates for my upcoming retirement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-take-advantage-of-today-s-low-interest-rates-for-my-upcoming-retirement/939580)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-take-advantage-of-today-s-low-interest-rates-for-my-upcoming-retirement/939580 "2021-04-08T20:04:05Z")
I plan on retiring in 4 years. I have a traditional defined benefit pension plan as well as a 401K. The pension plan will be worth at least twice what the 401k will be. I don’t know if the actual dollar values are import… --- ## [Are your OTC meds always out of date?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-your-otc-meds-always-out-of-date/939567)
**Author:** [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-your-otc-meds-always-out-of-date/939567 "2021-04-08T20:03:09Z")
I grabbed the Tylenol for my wife yesterday and, as usual, checked the expiration date - May 2017. She took it anyway, seemed to work fine. It seems to me that every OTC med- aspirin, cold meds, cough syrup, are always … --- ## [Are there limits on what US Customs and Border Protection can do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-limits-on-what-us-customs-and-border-protection-can-do/939591)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-limits-on-what-us-customs-and-border-protection-can-do/939591 "2021-04-08T19:31:13Z")
I’ve been watching “To Catch a Smuggler” on the National Geographic channel lately. It follows CBP around as they interview travelers and inspect packages. I don’t THINK it’s staged. It’s pretty common for them to open … --- ## [Best/worst superpowers to become anonymously rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-superpowers-to-become-anonymously-rich/938048)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-worst-superpowers-to-become-anonymously-rich/938048 "2021-04-08T19:15:40Z")
People frequently discuss what it would be like to have various superpowers… flight, invisibility, super strength, yada yada. But suppose that you don’t want to be a famous superhero, or even a hero at all. You just wan… --- ## [Question: LatinX?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-latinx/938464)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-latinx/938464 "2021-04-08T19:10:56Z")
Who all is using the term LatinX? Anecdotally I don’t know a single person of Middle- or South-American descent who uses it. Is it literally only NPR journalists and hosts? And another thing: when I first saw this varia… --- ## [What is this mystery tool?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-mystery-tool/939577)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-mystery-tool/939577 "2021-04-08T18:47:41Z")
It superficially resembles an offset screwdriver- https://ibb.co/KscXXtb -only it’s not because the head is all wrong: end-on view: https://ibb.co/QPHzJJ4 top-down view: https://ibb.co/VDhLNML Any idea? I have no … --- ## [Play MST For Me (3000, that is)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-mst-for-me-3000-that-is/939596)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/play-mst-for-me-3000-that-is/939596 "2021-04-08T18:46:24Z")
Some guy named “Joel” has started up another Kickstarter campaign to bring back Mystery Science Theater 3000(not gonna link to it-real fans will find it on their own). First goal is $2 million, and the plan is to skip n… --- ## [Tin Star series on Prime \[spoilers\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tin-star-series-on-prime-spoilers/939453)
**Author:** [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tin-star-series-on-prime-spoilers/939453 "2021-04-08T15:37:17Z")
Just watched both seasons and while the first half season was excellent, I think it got dangerously close to jumping the shark by episode 7/8 in season 1. Particularly when Anna and Whitey became an item even though he … --- ## [Jack Hanna zookeeper and wildlife conservationist retiring from public life (illness)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-hanna-zookeeper-and-wildlife-conservationist-retiring-from-public-life-illness/939587)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-hanna-zookeeper-and-wildlife-conservationist-retiring-from-public-life-illness/939587 "2021-04-08T14:40:56Z")
Jack Hanna appeared on many talk shows. He always brought interesting animals to show. I remember his appearances on Johnny Carson Tonight Show and David Letterman. Jack had several shows, Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures… --- ## [P65 Warning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p65-warning/939447)
**Author:** [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/p65-warning/939447 "2021-04-08T14:01:56Z")
I wasn’t sure if this should be posted here or in General Questions. Feel free to move it. My dog Huck (Great Dane) drinks a massive amount of water every day. His dishes are in a raised Neater Feeder which has openings… --- ## [Jennifer Cohn catalogues 20 years of Republicans stealing elections](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifer-cohn-catalogues-20-years-of-republicans-stealing-elections/939558)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jennifer-cohn-catalogues-20-years-of-republicans-stealing-elections/939558 "2021-04-08T13:13:20Z")
Writer and election security advocate has written a massive Twitter thread, basically suggesting that Republicans have been stealing elections since at least 2000. So all their supposed concerns about election integrity … --- ## [Are Greenies like crack for your dog? (or is there something else?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-greenies-like-crack-for-your-dog-or-is-there-something-else/939254)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-greenies-like-crack-for-your-dog-or-is-there-something-else/939254 "2021-04-08T12:33:52Z")
Our terrier is pretty willful - she will escape if possible (though she doesn’t seek it actively, will run away if chased outside, only obeys commands half the time, etc.). Now, all that is the result of bad training, I’… --- ## ["Largest" hospital in US/Canada](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-hospital-in-us-canada/939538)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-hospital-in-us-canada/939538 "2021-04-08T11:21:08Z")
I am seeing claims that the recently completed CHUM hospital in Montreal is the “largest in North America”. I am trying to figure out what it is based on. Not bed count (it has about 1600 beds - there are others with ove… --- ## [There are two kinds of people](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-two-kinds-of-people/939399)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-two-kinds-of-people/939399 "2021-04-08T06:05:22Z")
You know, when you need to classify people regardless of any other considerations. The first I remember which is almost irrelevant today was: Elvis or the Beatles? I’m sure this one will last for awhile: Harley or Hond… --- ## [Forum Rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules/849673)
**Author:** [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forum-rules/849673 "2021-04-08T04:35:15Z")
Updated slightly by Puzzlegal, 12/29/2021: This forum is about anything related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Keep politics and debates out of this forum. Great Debates and Elections may be used for those threads and p… --- ## [Problem children / punch list for fixes / TIPS AND TRICKS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-children-punch-list-for-fixes-tips-and-tricks/911044)
**Author:** [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Replies:** 500\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-children-punch-list-for-fixes-tips-and-tricks/911044 "2021-04-08T04:28:55Z")
Hi there, and welcome to the new and improved Straight Dope Message Board. This thread is to report problems that you encounter as you navigate the board. If you see a problem already reported you do not need to report… --- ## [Toxic wastewater reservoir in Manatee County, FL on the verge of catastrophic failure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toxic-wastewater-reservoir-in-manatee-county-fl-on-the-verge-of-catastrophic-failure/939414)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toxic-wastewater-reservoir-in-manatee-county-fl-on-the-verge-of-catastrophic-failure/939414 "2021-04-08T01:19:30Z")
This could become a major news story soon. Hundreds of residents of Manatee County, Florida have been ordered to evacuate their homes over Easter weekend over fears that a wastewater pond could collapse at any time and … --- ## [EKG does not show iminent quintuple bypass?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ekg-does-not-show-iminent-quintuple-bypass/939490)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ekg-does-not-show-iminent-quintuple-bypass/939490 "2021-04-08T01:04:46Z")
I’m not looking for specific diagnoses, but general understanding of what an EKG can and cannot show. A guy I know saw his cardiologist with chest discomfort. History of reflux. Doc speculated that’s what it was, sent… --- ## [RIP, George Segal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-george-segal/938578)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-george-segal/938578 "2021-04-08T00:33:56Z")
The actor George Segal has died at 87. Didn’t know he was that old. I of course remember him from Virginia Woolf, but also for lots of other things. --- ## [Questions about self-publishing with Amazon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-self-publishing-with-amazon/939339)
**Author:** [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2021, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-self-publishing-with-amazon/939339 "2021-04-07T23:55:37Z")
I’m looking at publishing a book using Amazon. I can’t find a basic piece of information: Can I use a manuscript in the same format to publish a Kindle version and a Print-on-Demand version, or must I set up two manuscri… --- ## [Eenerms is pitted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eenerms-is-pitted/928299)
**Author:** [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2021, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eenerms-is-pitted/928299 "2021-04-07T23:50:29Z")
I don’t know if you’ve noticed @eenerms propensity to drop the latest ONAN talking points, that he doesn’t even understand, into threads drive by style, but that’s not what this is about. He really, really wants there t… --- ## [Does Etiquette Evolve? -- or, That Should've Been a Text](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-etiquette-evolve-or-that-shouldve-been-a-text/938915)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2021, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-etiquette-evolve-or-that-shouldve-been-a-text/938915 "2021-04-07T22:27:01Z")
Judging from old movies, up until maybe oh let’s say 50 years ago, dropping by someone’s house unannounced wasn’t considered inappropriate. Doing so today is downright creepy. Or at the very least impolite. You don’t kno… --- ## [So...I'm moving to Chicago. In the winter. During a pandemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058)
**Author:** [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Replies:** 199\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-moving-to-chicago-in-the-winter-during-a-pandemic/927058 "2021-04-07T21:55:33Z")
Never actually been Chicago mind you – other than a layover about 20 years ago. But just took a job there. This is going to be interesting. And a bit different from Texas. So, I understand there is snow there. And it… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1493) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1495)