# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=161&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 162 --- ## [A question about one aspect of the 2nd Amendment-and please read the OP before responding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-one-aspect-of-the-2nd-amendment-and-please-read-the-op-before-responding/1026650)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-one-aspect-of-the-2nd-amendment-and-please-read-the-op-before-responding/1026650 "2026-01-16T17:07:53Z")
Please-no discussion about the formation of the 2nd Amendment or what the founders intended. This is not a free-for-all, and no “gun owners are poopyheads” vs “they want to take away all our weapons” arguments. It is s… --- ## [Major Verizon wireless outage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-verizon-wireless-outage/1026693)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/major-verizon-wireless-outage/1026693 "2026-01-16T16:12:58Z")
Starting this thread now that I am using WiFi. I thought I was going crazy. Did I not pay my bill? Do I turn it off and turn it on? Then I got home and was able to look it up. Seems like it’s been over an hour and it’s d… --- ## [Why Has 70's and 80's Music Remained Prevalent in Our Culture?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-70s-and-80s-music-remained-prevalent-in-our-culture/787969)
**Author:** [@golffan1963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/golffan1963)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-70s-and-80s-music-remained-prevalent-in-our-culture/787969 "2026-01-16T14:30:46Z")
OK…if this has been addressed before, I apologize, but I’ve wondered about something for awhile: The other night while watching the American TV show “The Americans”, they used the song “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, relea… --- ## [Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furiosa-a-mad-max-saga/993937)
**Author:** [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furiosa-a-mad-max-saga/993937 "2026-01-16T14:18:20Z")
George Miller’s latest, starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. Looks very impressive, with a couple of small reservations. One, I’m not totally sold on Anya Taylor-Joy - I was getting small whiffs … --- ## [US accuses Canada of Organ Harvesting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-accuses-canada-of-organ-harvesting/1026574)
**Author:** [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-accuses-canada-of-organ-harvesting/1026574 "2026-01-16T13:57:02Z")
I saw this posted on Facebook today from the official account of the US Department of Health and Human Services: Canada has a program called Medical Assistance in Dying which allows people in chronic insufferable pain… --- ## [The Revolution WILL be Spotified](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-revolution-will-be-spotified/1026500)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-revolution-will-be-spotified/1026500 "2026-01-16T04:10:17Z")
I’ve found myself blasting Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” in my truck like it’s 1994 the past couple days. Help me flesh out a Spotify playlist of protest/revolution/fuck-the-fascists songs. Don’t car… --- ## [What conditions get you labeled as 4-F in the military](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-conditions-get-you-labeled-as-4-f-in-the-military/712524)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-conditions-get-you-labeled-as-4-f-in-the-military/712524 "2026-01-16T03:50:35Z")
Obviously conditions like paraplegia, or missing limbs or blindness will get you labeled unfit for service. But I get the impression some conditions that don’t seem that serious get you labeled 4-F. I heard up until Vie… --- ## [At least one monkey on the loose in St. Louis area (1/10/2026)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-one-monkey-on-the-loose-in-st-louis-area-1-10-2026/1026551)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-least-one-monkey-on-the-loose-in-st-louis-area-1-10-2026/1026551 "2026-01-16T03:27:15Z")
AFAIK, they aren’t from a lab like the dozens that escaped in the southeast a while back. It (they?) appear to be in the O’Fallon area. --- ## [Straight line paradox?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-line-paradox/1026722)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-line-paradox/1026722 "2026-01-16T02:54:45Z")
Hypothetical: let’s say I have a magic space gun. When you fire it, it goes in a straight line forever. So I fire the gun, move it one plank length to the right and fire it again. For the longest time it will appear as… --- ## [What's your take on "I can still make Cheyenne"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-i-can-still-make-cheyenne/621957)
**Author:** [@Willcross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Willcross)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-take-on-i-can-still-make-cheyenne/621957 "2026-01-16T01:58:54Z")
Just heard the great song “If I hurry I can still make Cheyenne”. What’s your interpretation on what’s going on in the song? The first time I heard it, I thought that the singer told his wife that he was eliminated from… --- ## [County names that are present participles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-names-that-are-present-participles/1026606)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/county-names-that-are-present-participles/1026606 "2026-01-16T00:44:22Z")
In Ohio we be Licking and Hocking. --- ## [Latin question: "ex officina" vs something else for 'from the \[book\]bindery"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-question-ex-officina-vs-something-else-for-from-the-book-bindery/1026728)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-question-ex-officina-vs-something-else-for-from-the-book-bindery/1026728 "2026-01-16T00:09:06Z")
I’m familiar with labels that you can paste into your books that say “ex libris \_\_\_\_\_\_” to indicate that the book came from your personal library. But if you’re a bookbinder, what do the labels say? I don’t fully trust … --- ## [Looking for a pc doohickey](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-pc-doohickey/1026695)
**Author:** [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-pc-doohickey/1026695 "2026-01-15T22:37:40Z")
Putting this in the Game Room, thinking that gamers might be more familiar with what I’m talking about (many apologies if that’s wrong): On my last computer, I had an nVidia 2080 video card with an EVGA PowerLink (I don… --- ## [Regularizing the Earth's axis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regularizing-the-earths-axis/1026710)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regularizing-the-earths-axis/1026710 "2026-01-15T22:22:32Z")
Just been re-reading Blish’s Cities in Flight series in which there is a brief mention of this. In other words, setting the axis of spin perpendicular to the orbital plane. It’s quite easy to do if you have a few dozen… --- ## [Your movie ideas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-movie-ideas/1026235)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-movie-ideas/1026235 "2026-01-15T22:06:09Z")
You can either post your idea for a movie, or riff on someone else’s idea, or both. My idea is an update/homage to that classic comedy, The Love Bug. It would involve a little economy car with a soul of its own-an \*ele… --- ## [How does operating an unprofitable business as a tax write-off work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-operating-an-unprofitable-business-as-a-tax-write-off-work/1026053)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-operating-an-unprofitable-business-as-a-tax-write-off-work/1026053 "2026-01-15T20:42:07Z")
If one operates a business that loses money, you’re entitled to declare the loss against your overall tax liability. What I may be misunderstanding is the practice of deliberately maintaining such a liability– or even go… --- ## [NYTimes: Trump supporter focus group's ongoing and updated score card](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-trump-supporter-focus-groups-ongoing-and-updated-score-card/1026690)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nytimes-trump-supporter-focus-groups-ongoing-and-updated-score-card/1026690 "2026-01-15T20:40:48Z")
The NYTimes checks in periodically with this specific group of trump supporters and asks them how they think the president is doing on a variety of current topics and issues. I’ve read all the articles since the series … --- ## [Most likely outcome of the Ukraine–Russia conflict in 10 years](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-likely-outcome-of-the-ukraine-russia-conflict-in-10-years/1001925)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-likely-outcome-of-the-ukraine-russia-conflict-in-10-years/1001925 "2026-01-15T20:07:02Z")
We’ve had a few prior threads about the possible outcomes or end games of the conflict in Ukraine, but AFAIK no poll about the long-term outlook. So here’s my question to everyone: based on your knowledge today, which o… --- ## [The psychology of giving to charities](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-giving-to-charities/1025630)
**Author:** [@mglambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mglambo)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-of-giving-to-charities/1025630 "2026-01-15T19:05:59Z")
I run a 501c3 non-profit. Our mission is getting underprivileged and/or handicapped children as well as adults into the outdoors for adventure. Folks that ordinarily are housebound or otherwise do not get outside. Monda… --- ## [New CBS News Anchor not doing so well](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cbs-news-anchor-not-doing-so-well/1026692)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cbs-news-anchor-not-doing-so-well/1026692 "2026-01-15T17:40:44Z")
MAGA-Coded CBS Anchor Pleads With Viewers After Ratings Collapse It seems that this politically motivated hire for The CBS Evening News anchor position may be a wee bit out of his depth. " CBS Evening News’ MAGA-coded f… --- ## [What science fiction story is this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-science-fiction-story-is-this/1026682)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-science-fiction-story-is-this/1026682 "2026-01-15T16:34:28Z")
I read a science fiction short story online years ago. It was about a young boy that randomly gained the ability to transmute things and he accidentally transmutes his family and does the same to the different authoritie… --- ## [John Rolfe and tobacco](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rolfe-and-tobacco/1026686)
**Author:** [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rolfe-and-tobacco/1026686 "2026-01-15T15:47:32Z")
I read a book some time ago –I think this may have been Charles Mann’s 1493, but I don’t have it here so I may be mistaken—that made a claim along the lines of how Rolfe risked his life to steal the tobacco seeds he took… --- ## [2025 SDMB Photo of the Year poll](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-photo-of-the-year-poll/1026431)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2025-sdmb-photo-of-the-year-poll/1026431 "2026-01-15T15:16:29Z")
This thread is to determine the 2025 SDMB Photo of the Year. These photos are the winners of our 2025 monthly contests. Please vote for your 3 favorite photos - you must vote for 3 - using whatever criteria you feel is … --- ## [RIP Bob Weir](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-weir/1026546)
**Author:** [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-bob-weir/1026546 "2026-01-15T14:52:39Z")
Announcement on his website Sad news indeed. RIP Bob. I wasn’t a huge fan but really enjoyed the Grateful Dead shows I saw in the 80s. --- ## [Q for people with tattoos: Would you have any interest in having your tattooed skin preserved? Displayed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-for-people-with-tattoos-would-you-have-any-interest-in-having-your-tattooed-skin-preserved-displayed/1026598)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-for-people-with-tattoos-would-you-have-any-interest-in-having-your-tattooed-skin-preserved-displayed/1026598 "2026-01-15T14:49:45Z")
Maybe sixty decades ago I saw a “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” item about some massively tattoo-ed guy whose skin was removed, preserved somehow, and displayed in a ‘travelling museum” (aka circus side show?) for spectato… --- ## [1950s/1960s: What was it about coffee?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-1960s-what-was-it-about-coffee/1026088)
**Author:** [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Replies:** 186\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-1960s-what-was-it-about-coffee/1026088 "2026-01-15T14:20:05Z")
I’m binge-watching “The Dick Van Dyke Show” from the 1960s, and one thing that is striking me is the characters seem to be always drinking coffee at what I would consider odd hours of the day. It’s late at night after a… --- ## [Is the US already post Democracy spin-off from Ice Shooting thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-already-post-democracy-spin-off-from-ice-shooting-thread/1026535)
**Author:** [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-us-already-post-democracy-spin-off-from-ice-shooting-thread/1026535 "2026-01-15T14:05:09Z")
He’s probably the next leader when Trump finally dies and he’s much more dangerous, younger and smarter than Trump. He’s also completely amoral. What he says becomes the official party doctrine and thus our reality, so,… --- ## [The custodians are lying bastards (long and lame)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-custodians-are-lying-bastards-long-and-lame/331253)
**Author:** [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-custodians-are-lying-bastards-long-and-lame/331253 "2026-01-15T13:39:31Z")
This is the third year I’ve been working at this school. Up until now, my blackboards have been cleaned on a pretty regular basis. This year, however, 8 weeks into the school year my board hasn’t been washed once. I p… --- ## [Words with two meanings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-with-two-meanings/1026684)
**Author:** [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-with-two-meanings/1026684 "2026-01-15T12:42:29Z")
This is just for fun. I notice that in English there are words which have two (or more?) meanings. For example, resume can mean to start up again or your career details. At my local pharmacy there was a ‘patient discu… --- ## [(Old) Waking up to White Stuff in the MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-waking-up-to-white-stuff-in-the-mmp/1026360)
**Author:** [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Replies:** 265\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-waking-up-to-white-stuff-in-the-mmp/1026360 "2026-01-15T12:33:58Z")
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently -4c/25f with a predicted high of 0c/32f and mostly sunny. Weather app says “Do you see that fucking bright light outside your window? It’s fucking sunny! Too bad it’s also fucking col… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=160&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=162&state=muted)