# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1539 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1540 --- ## [Short selling: Who lends you the stock?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-selling-who-lends-you-the-stock/931952)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-selling-who-lends-you-the-stock/931952 "2021-02-22T23:23:10Z")
Everybody is talking about short sales this week. Everybody knows, or at least they know now, that “A short sale is the sale of an asset or stock the seller does not own. It is generally a transaction in which an investo… --- ## [Grandmaster chess and unique games](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandmaster-chess-and-unique-games/933491)
**Author:** [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grandmaster-chess-and-unique-games/933491 "2021-02-22T22:34:51Z")
Given a random game between 2 Grandmaster level humans, how likely is it that the game will not at any time reach a position that has never been reached before? How many moves on average does it generally take before a … --- ## [Can you explain this sun rising photo? What's it depicting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-sun-rising-photo-whats-it-depicting/933409)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-sun-rising-photo-whats-it-depicting/933409 "2021-02-22T22:26:59Z")
This is a composite photo of the sun set Dec 5 and Feb 18. I understand the sun is further to the right. The caption says it’s shifting Northward? Why is it doing that? Sun sets in the west? What’s changing? Does it re… --- ## [What fraction of Texas windturbines were frozen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fraction-of-texas-windturbines-were-frozen/933267)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fraction-of-texas-windturbines-were-frozen/933267 "2021-02-22T22:13:21Z")
Question in the subject line. I’ve heard that it was actually a fairly small percentage, but can’t find specific numbers by googling. \[Note: I know that the main cause of the power outage in Texas was fossil fuel power … --- ## [How reprehensible do YOU want to be in the Pit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reprehensible-do-you-want-to-be-in-the-pit/844084)
**Author:** [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Replies:** 155\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-reprehensible-do-you-want-to-be-in-the-pit/844084 "2021-02-22T21:51:49Z")
As some of you are no doubt aware, we had a bit of drama related to the Pit recently, which has led to me reconsidering my approach to how I moderate the Pit. Previously, I’d held to a position where pretty much any sor… --- ## ["Black Art: In the Absence of Light"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-art-in-the-absence-of-light/933494)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-art-in-the-absence-of-light/933494 "2021-02-22T21:49:34Z")
The HBO presentation, “Black Art: In the Absence of Light” , has my highest recommendation! You don’t have to be talented or even interested in art in order to enjoy it because it is rich in information and a historica… --- ## [Anybody else get completely complacent about computer graphics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-get-completely-complacent-about-computer-graphics/932554)
**Author:** [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-get-completely-complacent-about-computer-graphics/932554 "2021-02-22T21:41:22Z")
Maybe it’s just because I’ve seen them get incrementally better, but awesome graphics on a computer game just don’t do it for me anymore. I get a new game and I just don’t notice the graphics after about 10 minutes, no … --- ## [Robert Graves use of "Slut Farming" and "Squitch:" Any Britons know what these m](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-graves-use-of-slut-farming-and-squitch-any-britons-know-what-these-m/201589)
**Author:** [@\_possum\_stalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_possum_stalker)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robert-graves-use-of-slut-farming-and-squitch-any-britons-know-what-these-m/201589 "2021-02-22T21:12:31Z")
Maybe this should be in GQ, but it does involve literature… In Robert Graves’ autobiography, Goodbye to All That, at one point ol’ Bob points out that the district he was living in was known for “slut farming,” and a fa… --- ## [Please help - Info on how to quarantine in family](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-info-on-how-to-quarantine-in-family/931718)
**Author:** [@Mr.Baggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Baggins)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-info-on-how-to-quarantine-in-family/931718 "2021-02-22T19:45:32Z")
Long story, as short as possible. Last Thursday, my wife (48) started with a light case of sniffles. We’ve been isolating quite hard, so we assumed it was some kind of cold (it had been a chilly week). By Saturday she h… --- ## [What do you call a jagged edge on a diagram to show that the object continues?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-jagged-edge-on-a-diagram-to-show-that-the-object-continues/933391)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-jagged-edge-on-a-diagram-to-show-that-the-object-continues/933391 "2021-02-22T19:07:31Z")
What is the term of art for using a jagged or zig-zag edge in a diagram to show that an object continues, but you are seeing the important part? Example of this done for a screen shot: … --- ## [Is the pit a place only to ridicule Trump and Conservatives - and not the other side?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-pit-a-place-only-to-ridicule-trump-and-conservatives-and-not-the-other-side/933485)
**Author:** [@FriendlyCurmudgeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendlyCurmudgeon)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-pit-a-place-only-to-ridicule-trump-and-conservatives-and-not-the-other-side/933485 "2021-02-22T18:18:53Z")
Appears so, Within about 10 minutes the thread was shut down due to a high volume of flags against it. Is that all it takes here is mass reporting of post ? I’m curious as to what the nature of the flags were that w… --- ## [Understanding Some Mac Air Specs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-some-mac-air-specs/933322)
**Author:** [@Ptolomy57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptolomy57)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-some-mac-air-specs/933322 "2021-02-22T17:49:18Z")
What is throughput? Can someone translate what does the following mean (with regards to an Apple Macbook Air with M1 processor): “The Mac Air will perform at up to 1.2 Gbits/sec throughput via Wi-Fi.” How does this rela… --- ## [Nunes sues Twitter and three twitter accounts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388)
**Author:** [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nunes-sues-twitter-and-three-twitter-accounts/831388 "2021-02-22T17:35:16Z")
I know Devin Nunes’ dumb lawsuit has already been mentioned in the stupid GOP idea thread, but I think it deserves it’s own. The account Devin Nunes’ Cow which is named in the lawsuit had around 1000 followers when the l… --- ## [Songs with fun or interesting count-offs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-fun-or-interesting-count-offs/931292)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-with-fun-or-interesting-count-offs/931292 "2021-02-22T17:21:38Z")
When Led Zeppelin was recording their “Houses of the Holy” album, they must have had to do a few takes of “The Ocean” before getting it right, as you can hear John Bonham counting off: We’ve done four already But now w… --- ## [Keep a happy thought in the MMP!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-a-happy-thought-in-the-mmp/932950)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 294\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-a-happy-thought-in-the-mmp/932950 "2021-02-22T17:17:27Z")
It’s winter, the weather is less than ideal, the plague continues, blah blah blah… I know we’ve done this before, but let’s give it a shot. Make your first MMP post this week something positive, happy, light, inspiring,… --- ## [Biden drops the N-word at Munich Security Conference](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-drops-the-n-word-at-munich-security-conference/933471)
**Author:** [@FriendlyCurmudgeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendlyCurmudgeon)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-drops-the-n-word-at-munich-security-conference/933471 "2021-02-22T16:55:09Z")
Link Whoopsies !!! --- ## [Donald Trump, tax avoider](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 539\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-tax-avoider/921696 "2021-02-22T16:15:40Z")
This story was broken by the New York Times, but they have a paywall, so I’ll post a link from the Guardian. As can be expected, the information is changing by the second. --- ## [Trump tax return cases will be argued this week at Supreme Court](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-tax-return-cases-will-be-argued-this-week-at-supreme-court/853609)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-tax-return-cases-will-be-argued-this-week-at-supreme-court/853609 "2021-02-22T16:14:18Z")
Decision should come by end of June. Possible the SC will punt and say they cannot decide the cases. --- ## [College Football 2020: We Doing This Or What?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2020-we-doing-this-or-what/915265)
**Author:** [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2020-we-doing-this-or-what/915265 "2021-02-22T16:07:49Z")
So far, I’ve heard the Big 10 and the Pac 12 are cancelling non-conference games, and speculation that the rest of the Power 5 might follow suit. As a means of just screwing Notre Dame for the hell of it, I’d probably b… --- ## [How do you decide what to watch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-what-to-watch/933372)
**Author:** [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-what-to-watch/933372 "2021-02-22T15:49:31Z")
First of all, let me clarify a couple of things. By watch, I mean sitting or lying down to intently, purposefully watch a movie or TV show, ideally with the lights off or very low vs viewing with the TV on and your doin… --- ## [Turning off Audio Description, Amazon Prime, Sony TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-audio-description-amazon-prime-sony-tv/933352)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-audio-description-amazon-prime-sony-tv/933352 "2021-02-22T14:54:32Z")
In December, 2019 we bought a Sony 4K UHD LED Smart Android TV. My wife has an Amazon Prime account, and occasionally we remember we can watch ‘free’ movies. A couple of the movies have Audio Descriptions for the sight… --- ## [Current snow cover](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-snow-cover/933110)
**Author:** [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-snow-cover/933110 "2021-02-22T12:58:21Z")
This is pretty amazing. Damn near the entire country. But what’s up with that non-snow covered area in North and South Dakota? --- ## [What can in do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-in-do/933439)
**Author:** [@Harry780](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry780)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-in-do/933439 "2021-02-22T10:20:48Z")
In this forum 3 times, my account has been banned without any reason, I hope this time member didn’t do this again. Thanks --- ## [Questions about sleet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-sleet/933294)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-sleet/933294 "2021-02-22T06:58:20Z")
Had a lot of that lately. Two questions: How exactly does sleet so quickly turn into a solid sheet of slippery ice? What exact conditions make precipitation fall as sleet (vs rain/snow/hail)? --- ## [Where did matter and energy come from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-matter-and-energy-come-from/933187)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-matter-and-energy-come-from/933187 "2021-02-22T05:36:07Z")
I’m certain this question has been asked before and I’m just not smart enough to search for it, but: if matter and energy can neither be created or destroyed, where did it all come from in the first place? A friend of mi… --- ## [Roger Stone: Why did Trump commute the sentence rather than pardon him?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-stone-why-did-trump-commute-the-sentence-rather-than-pardon-him/915266)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-stone-why-did-trump-commute-the-sentence-rather-than-pardon-him/915266 "2021-02-22T05:24:53Z")
Title kind of says it all: President Trump chose to commute the sentence of Roger Stone rather than pardon him. The commutation was thorough, Stone will suffer no penalty for his conviction (I do not think, correct me i… --- ## [Who will the history books talk more about: Obama or Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-the-history-books-talk-more-about-obama-or-trump/932338)
**Author:** [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-the-history-books-talk-more-about-obama-or-trump/932338 "2021-02-22T04:55:53Z")
Suppose 50 years from now when both men will be gone and their presidencies and first hand accounts a distant memory and left to the archives. The students of the future will have more archival material than ever before … --- ## [Crack in the moon, anyone heard about this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crack-in-the-moon-anyone-heard-about-this/933408)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crack-in-the-moon-anyone-heard-about-this/933408 "2021-02-22T04:07:24Z")
I was reading some old tumblr posts, and one was about a crack in the moon that was expanding. The post was from last fall, and I’m not finding anything more recent. Anyone know any more about it? --- ## [Sloppy Joes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sloppy-joes/931121)
**Author:** [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Replies:** 184\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sloppy-joes/931121 "2021-02-22T02:58:22Z")
One of the most under-rated, underappreciated, and unremarked sandwiches of all time, Sloppy Joe’s are the odd-man out when it comes to ‘favorite sandwiches’ lists, and you almost never, ever see them offered in restaura… --- ## [Is there any reason to think vaccinations are more effective than actually surviving covid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-reason-to-think-vaccinations-are-more-effective-than-actually-surviving-covid/930267)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-reason-to-think-vaccinations-are-more-effective-than-actually-surviving-covid/930267 "2021-02-22T02:34:23Z")
Vaccinations have been touted as being 95% effective, but ISTM that by all indications actually having had covid is a lot more effective than that. I would venture at least 99% effective, based on people I know (and know… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1538) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1540)