# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1616 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1617 --- ## [The Ten Commandments & a Menorah](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-a-menorah/927832)
**Author:** [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ten-commandments-a-menorah/927832 "2020-12-14T16:15:47Z")
About 16 years ago the Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit with our fair city to force the removal of a granite Ten Commandments display from the lawn of City Hall. It had been donated by a youth group in 1957. The mon… --- ## [How much practice time do military pilots get?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-practice-time-do-military-pilots-get/927646)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-practice-time-do-military-pilots-get/927646 "2020-12-14T16:12:18Z")
Do they fly daily, 3x a week or something else? I expect it varies by type of plane and budget. A few months ago we had a cargo C-17 fly over hospitals as a tribute to health care workers. They said they would h… --- ## [Your Christmas tree light hanging method?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-christmas-tree-light-hanging-method/927922)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-christmas-tree-light-hanging-method/927922 "2020-12-14T16:11:38Z")
Hanging lights on the Christmas tree. Where do you start? How do you go from there? How many strings do you use? Do you start at the top and spiral down? Start at the bottom and spiral up? Do you just hang near the end… --- ## [Report the Zodiac Killer Cypher has been Solved](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-the-zodiac-killer-cypher-has-been-solved/927839)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/report-the-zodiac-killer-cypher-has-been-solved/927839 "2020-12-14T15:44:28Z")
This seems quite definitive. -=Linky=- This is the November 1969 note with 304 characters. It is commonly called the “304 Cypher.” --- ## [2020 Time Person of the Year: Is there any debate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-time-person-of-the-year-is-there-any-debate/855194)
**Author:** [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Replies:** 143\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-time-person-of-the-year-is-there-any-debate/855194 "2020-12-14T15:25:02Z")
To me it is obviously George Floyd. OK who is in second place? Nominations: Dr. Fauci Joe Biden Mitt Romney General Mattis --- ## [Hanukkah dinner menu](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanukkah-dinner-menu/927838)
**Author:** [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hanukkah-dinner-menu/927838 "2020-12-14T15:17:20Z")
Inspired by the Latke thread I’m planning a full Hanukkah meal this weekend. Right now I’m planning to make latkes, challah (never made this before, wish me luck), brisket, noodle kugel, and rugalach. What are your must… --- ## [Pearl Harbor (2001) removed a scene involving women in kimonos for the Japanese release, but why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearl-harbor-2001-removed-a-scene-involving-women-in-kimonos-for-the-japanese-release-but-why/927996)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pearl-harbor-2001-removed-a-scene-involving-women-in-kimonos-for-the-japanese-release-but-why/927996 "2020-12-14T15:10:49Z")
You can see the scene here, and according to IMDB Other alterations made in the Japanese versions include: a scene showing Japanese women in traditional kimonos and carrying parasols during Doolittle’s Raid on Tokyo… --- ## [How a bad bad bad Cat named Bear busts Becks butt!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-a-bad-bad-bad-cat-named-bear-busts-becks-butt/926542)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-a-bad-bad-bad-cat-named-bear-busts-becks-butt/926542 "2020-12-14T13:44:23Z")
My Siamese cat, sweet Meeko wouldn’t come out of the beams. It happens. She’s more skittish than Bear. Usually treats do the trick. Nope. All I got was a plaintive wail. In an abundance of caution I got the step stool o… --- ## [Show me the strangest organism you have learned about in 2020](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-me-the-strangest-organism-you-have-learned-about-in-2020/927768)
**Author:** [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-me-the-strangest-organism-you-have-learned-about-in-2020/927768 "2020-12-14T12:40:01Z")
Here is my own entry, the bloodybelly comb jelly. The video is a few years old, but it was new to me. The shape-changing form and “glowing” lights really make it look very odd and alien to me. YouTube video of Bloodybel… --- ## [What'cha gonna buy me in the MMP?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-gonna-buy-me-in-the-mmp/927454)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 267\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatcha-gonna-buy-me-in-the-mmp/927454 "2020-12-14T10:17:11Z")
I’ve used my magical FairyChatPowersTM to grant you a buttload of money, but you have to spend it on another Mumper in this season of love and giving. Who do you choose and what do you give them? You can pick multiple pe… --- ## [Why not move the U.S. capital?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-move-the-u-s-capital/927351)
**Author:** [@smilingbandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smilingbandit)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-not-move-the-u-s-capital/927351 "2020-12-14T06:03:05Z")
You may consider this a spinoff of the debate over whether Washington should get Senators, etc. Washington, DC made pretty good sense as the location for the capital in 1800; arguably it makes much less sense today. It’… --- ## [The Hummer is Coming Back!!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hummer-is-coming-back/847275)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hummer-is-coming-back/847275 "2020-12-14T04:27:16Z")
Looking at some older thread here: Can anyone defend the Hummer? or Do “green” vehicles really save energy? Is a Prius worse for the environment than a Hummer? Well GM listened and now: GM resurrecting Hummer as… --- ## [Help me find an obscure \*online\* science fiction story!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-an-obscure-online-science-fiction-story/927974)
**Author:** [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-an-obscure-online-science-fiction-story/927974 "2020-12-14T02:22:42Z")
At least ten years ago, I read an online amateur science-fiction story. It took place in a near future affected by dramatic climate change. Things I remember from the story: The US is balkanized. Cascadia in the P… --- ## [What exactly does it mean for a vaccine to be 95% effective?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-it-mean-for-a-vaccine-to-be-95-effective/927972)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-does-it-mean-for-a-vaccine-to-be-95-effective/927972 "2020-12-14T01:05:11Z")
When they say a vaccine is 95% effective, does that mean 95% of the people are immune, and 5% have no immunity? Or does it mean each individual still has a 5% chance of getting infected? Or something else? --- ## [Anyone collect video clips from your favorite movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-collect-video-clips-from-your-favorite-movies/927869)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-collect-video-clips-from-your-favorite-movies/927869 "2020-12-14T01:00:52Z")
I’m not talking about 2-3 minute clips, just little snippets of lines. I’ve started recently, have a bookmark folder called “catch phrases”. I like to insert them into posts here or Facebook, or at parties when some… --- ## [New Star Wars film announced](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-star-wars-film-announced/927803)
**Author:** [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-star-wars-film-announced/927803 "2020-12-14T00:56:34Z")
Not much detail yet… I must admit I’m not really so excited about another Star Wars movie (unless it’s more like Rogue One as that was great) and not sure if I’ll go and see this. Ah who am I kidding? I’ll inevitably… --- ## [Help. I suck at chess](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-suck-at-chess/927267)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-suck-at-chess/927267 "2020-12-14T00:16:40Z")
Like a million other idiots, I decided to get back into chess after years of not playing and I have forgotten everything. I’ve managed to get my chess.com rating all the way up to… 850. Oh boy. I just can’t SEE. I ca… --- ## [Low supply high demand products - why are prices not being raised?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-supply-high-demand-products-why-are-prices-not-being-raised/926761)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-supply-high-demand-products-why-are-prices-not-being-raised/926761 "2020-12-14T00:09:57Z")
Because of COVID production issues and because of some technical issues with the super tiny processes that new semiconductors are using that reduce yields, products like video cards, CPUs, and gaming consoles have much m… --- ## [Things there isn't really a fancy version of](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-there-isnt-really-a-fancy-version-of/854137)
**Author:** [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Replies:** 135\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-there-isnt-really-a-fancy-version-of/854137 "2020-12-13T22:28:42Z")
Cars are the kind of thing where there is a big difference in what is owned by an average vs. a rich person. Your average person might have a 7 year old Nissan Altima worth $4,000, and a rich person might have a $90,000 … --- ## [I pit fake crowd noise at athletic events](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fake-crowd-noise-at-athletic-events/927706)
**Author:** [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-fake-crowd-noise-at-athletic-events/927706 "2020-12-13T21:59:44Z")
This might belong more in MPSIMS, but I thought it would certainly be OK here. Fake crowd noise just about makes games unwatchable for me. I’ve been muting the sound and turning on closed captioning to follow games. I… --- ## [Squirrels and Tribbles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-and-tribbles/927945)
**Author:** [@Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dodgy_Dude)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squirrels-and-tribbles/927945 "2020-12-13T21:22:37Z")
When Cyrano Jones took some tribbles out of their predator-filled environment, they ended up overrunning an entire space station (not to mention the Enterprise). New York City has squirrels in every park – and no natura… --- ## [Photography topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photography-topic/927629)
**Author:** [@batan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batan)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photography-topic/927629 "2020-12-13T20:08:50Z")
Hi I love taking photos. I love collecting (and shooting with) vintage lenses (and maybe couple cameras). Share your best photo or your collection :slight\_smile: --- ## [Pink Floyd syncs with Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-floyd-syncs-with-trump/927873)
**Author:** [@jimmyjoeraybubbabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmyjoeraybubbabob)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pink-floyd-syncs-with-trump/927873 "2020-12-13T19:34:04Z")
I’ve heard and listened to claims that the Wizard of Oz syncs with the dark side of the moon and never really got it. just close you eyes and listen Animals. Its the Trump fiasco all day long. No classic movie required. … --- ## [How does Milo Yiannopoulos exist, exactly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 680\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-milo-yiannopoulos-exist-exactly/760298 "2020-12-13T19:10:14Z")
No, really. How does this person exist? How has he managed to make it to 30-odd years of life? If I hated an immutable part of my identity that much, I would have killed myself years ago. And yet, here we are, in 2016, s… --- ## [FDR vs. Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fdr-vs-trump/927790)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fdr-vs-trump/927790 "2020-12-13T18:51:49Z")
I’m not sure if this question goes here so moderators please move if it doesn’t. Comparing FDR to Trump, was there ever a point during FDR’s 4 terms where the vast majority of Democrats had such fear of him that they wo… --- ## [Washing machine Heavy Duty cycle -- why not always use?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washing-machine-heavy-duty-cycle-why-not-always-use/927169)
**Author:** [@Billy-o](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy-o)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washing-machine-heavy-duty-cycle-why-not-always-use/927169 "2020-12-13T18:23:15Z")
Like most washers, mine has several different cycle options, one of which is the “Heavy Duty” cycle, for clothes that are badly soiled. I actually always use this option instead of the “Normal” cycle, my logic being: “I… --- ## [NYT crossword puzzle app subscription](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-crossword-puzzle-app-subscription/923674)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-crossword-puzzle-app-subscription/923674 "2020-12-13T18:08:39Z")
Since we no longer get a dead tree newspaper delivered, I’ve been missing my daily NYT crossword puzzle. Last weekend I downloaded the app for my Android phone, and it said I had a 7 day free trial and there was a button… --- ## [Neil Peart is dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-peart-is-dead/846249)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neil-peart-is-dead/846249 "2020-12-13T18:00:27Z")
This seems to be an factual report on the CBC website. Wow, one of the greatest drummers of all time. I don’t even know what to think. RIP and I know what I’m listening to tonight. --- ## [Google searches yielding fewer hits than expected](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-searches-yielding-fewer-hits-than-expected/927842)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-searches-yielding-fewer-hits-than-expected/927842 "2020-12-13T17:56:28Z")
I’m regularly impressed at the huge number of Google hits I receive when searching something I expected to be relatively obscure or esoteric. It is unusual that I experience the opposite - few or no hits on something I … --- ## [Security of self-serve commercial copy machines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-of-self-serve-commercial-copy-machines/927893)
**Author:** [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-of-self-serve-commercial-copy-machines/927893 "2020-12-13T17:55:13Z")
If you want to copy confidential documents using a self-serve copy machine at a business or library, how can you tell if that copier is connected to the internet? Whether internet-connected or not: what happens to the c… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1615) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1617)