# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1629 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1630 --- ## [Rant: Fedex sucks, IMO](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-fedex-sucks-imo/927032)
**Author:** [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-fedex-sucks-imo/927032 "2020-12-03T12:38:08Z")
They never send the same driver twice, I honestly don’t know where they keep getting new people for every delivery. Service suffers when the drivers can’t learn their route and the customers that live there. Their trac… --- ## [Persistent phosphene - should I worry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persistent-phosphene-should-i-worry/926950)
**Author:** [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persistent-phosphene-should-i-worry/926950 "2020-12-03T12:23:09Z")
I learned from this site that the light show you see when you rub your eyes is called a phosphene. Neat. This morning I rubbed my eyes before getting out of bed - saw the brightest phosphene I’ve ever seen. When I sto… --- ## [What is this creature?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature/927015)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-creature/927015 "2020-12-03T11:44:46Z")
There is a picture in this article: Is it an ALIEN? Bizarre creature with tentacles baffles as it washes up on beach - World News - Mirror Online --- ## [SDMB LA Dopefest 2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-la-dopefest-2001/927045)
**Author:** [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-la-dopefest-2001/927045 "2020-12-03T11:16:50Z")
So I know it’s been a while, but I recently moved and ran across a box of old t-shirts and thought some of us old-timers might get a kick out of these: … --- ## [What’s the deal with Amazon Pharmacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-amazon-pharmacy/926971)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-deal-with-amazon-pharmacy/926971 "2020-12-03T09:01:43Z")
I’ve had pretty good experiences ordering from Amazon - reasonable prices (with careful selection), surprisingly fast delivery - or indication this will not be the case. I like the Kindle stuff. I presume Amazon is wit… --- ## [Did "Special Forces" raid a CIA facility in Frankfurt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-special-forces-raid-a-cia-facility-in-frankfurt/926874)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-special-forces-raid-a-cia-facility-in-frankfurt/926874 "2020-12-03T07:13:29Z")
Trumpists are REALLY overjoyed about how Special Forces commandos raided a CIA facility in Frankfurt, Germany that may have contained hacked voting machines. Some soldiers may have died doing it, sadly. This is the big… --- ## [What On Earth Is 'Ranch Dressing'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-is-ranch-dressing/927036)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-on-earth-is-ranch-dressing/927036 "2020-12-03T06:19:10Z")
Yeah, it’s called Ranch Dressing. And where I live at least (SE Michigan), it’s sometimes called House Dressing for some unknown reason. What is it? I mean, we all know how to make your own Thousand Island dressing. Ma… --- ## [Cloud Storage opinions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloud-storage-opinions/686131)
**Author:** [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloud-storage-opinions/686131 "2014-04-15T13:52:55Z")
My wife is a member of a volunteer national organization and they are researching a cloud storage system to store organization files and also to create/edit/share files. Some details: \[ul\] \[li\]The system will become a… --- ## [What's the worst thing Antifa has ever done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-thing-antifa-has-ever-done/917339)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-thing-antifa-has-ever-done/917339 "2020-12-03T04:32:45Z")
Not that they’re credible news sources or anything, but a lot of figures on the right–Trump, Jim Jeffries, William Barr–have described Antifa in the most threatening terms. It makes me wonder: What is the most heinous th… --- ## [Two Qs re Child Support and Naming the child of an unmarried woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-qs-re-child-support-and-naming-the-child-of-an-unmarried-woman/926596)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-qs-re-child-support-and-naming-the-child-of-an-unmarried-woman/926596 "2020-12-03T02:22:11Z")
Take this situation: A man named John has been married to Jane for around twenty years. She’s always been a stay at home wife/mother. They have three children, ages 17, 14, 11. John is fairly well known in the smallish… --- ## [How were rare earth magnets discovered?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-rare-earth-magnets-discovered/926495)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-rare-earth-magnets-discovered/926495 "2020-12-03T02:19:01Z")
Was this basically serendipity - someone messing around in the lab - or was there some scientific prediction involved (quantum mechanics, electron orbitals etc)? There doesn’t seem to be a lot of information about this … --- ## [Atlas Shrugged](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876 "2020-12-03T01:47:37Z")
Dr. Atlas is leaving the Trump administration. Dr. Scott Atlas resigns from Trump administration - CNNPolitics --- ## [Elf on the Shelf during Quarantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elf-on-the-shelf-during-quarantine/926808)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elf-on-the-shelf-during-quarantine/926808 "2020-12-03T01:18:31Z")
I really don’t understand the appeal of these little demons. To me they seem like miniature versions of the Weeping Angels, only slightly cuter. The second picture on the webpage is priceless, and I’m sure it sums up a… --- ## [Are some scientific theories so harmful they should be suppressed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 251\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-some-scientific-theories-so-harmful-they-should-be-suppressed/926672 "2020-12-03T00:57:48Z")
Not Nazism or Communism. I’m talking about scientific theories that could be true or false, and are amenable to proof (as much as any scientific theory is). For example, the idea that innate differences between men and … --- ## [NFL 2020: Week 12](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-12/926422)
**Author:** [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2020-week-12/926422 "2020-12-03T00:47:08Z")
It’s Thanksgiving week in the NFL, so we get 3 games on Thursday. Enjoy some bad football (Texans/Lions and Washington/Dallas), some good football (Ravens/Steelers) and turkey. The 25 semi-finalists for the Pro Football… --- ## [Is a non-patented invention still ownable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-non-patented-invention-still-ownable/926449)
**Author:** [@EdwardFound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardFound)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-non-patented-invention-still-ownable/926449 "2020-12-02T23:59:18Z")
Does a company still own a technology or device if it fails to or choses not to patent it? That is, if company B is using technology developed at company A, is there some legal claim - besides patent infringement - A cou… --- ## [What do you call pre-COVID times?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-pre-covid-times/926983)
**Author:** [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-pre-covid-times/926983 "2020-12-02T22:12:19Z")
I’ve found myself saying things like “after the world ended, we had to…” or “in the before times, we could…” Today, mom asked me about something and I started off by saying “Back in the before days, X was…” Mom said peo… --- ## [Can't Save to DVD (but DVD is USB format)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-save-to-dvd-but-dvd-is-usb-format/926941)
**Author:** [@Ptolomy57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptolomy57)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-save-to-dvd-but-dvd-is-usb-format/926941 "2020-12-02T21:32:38Z")
Can an upgrade in Windows OS prevent files from being saved to a DVD (formatted as a USB)? Background: I have tried to move some files onto a DVD formatted as a USB. The files act as though they are waiting to be burned… --- ## [An alternate universe where the Xbox never gained traction and SEGA was still in the console wars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternate-universe-where-the-xbox-never-gained-traction-and-sega-was-still-in-the-console-wars/926418)
**Author:** [@CorpusNeptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CorpusNeptune)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-alternate-universe-where-the-xbox-never-gained-traction-and-sega-was-still-in-the-console-wars/926418 "2020-12-02T21:18:36Z")
I think it’s sort of fun to think about. Besides not having popular Microsoft IPs like Halo, what do you think would change? What would the industry be like without the Xbox? How would SEGA influence things? I’d love to … --- ## ['Death's End' - Are We Supposed to Hate the Protagonist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaths-end-are-we-supposed-to-hate-the-protagonist/927031)
**Author:** [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaths-end-are-we-supposed-to-hate-the-protagonist/927031 "2020-12-02T21:12:17Z")
I loved books 1 & 2 of the ‘Three Body Problem’ series but book 3 was a challenge for me. Mainly because of the incredibly stupid choices made by the main character. By the end of the book I wanted to punch the stupid … --- ## [Is a movie that films overseas for a scene "cultural appropriation"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-movie-that-films-overseas-for-a-scene-cultural-appropriation/926599)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-movie-that-films-overseas-for-a-scene-cultural-appropriation/926599 "2020-12-02T21:04:53Z")
I was listening to a podcast recently that had a take I’ve never heard of before. Basically one of the hosts claimed that any film that films overseas for a scene (they used Mission Impossible filming in Dubai as an exa… --- ## [Turkey Trots To Water- A Holiday MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-trots-to-water-a-holiday-mmp/926243)
**Author:** [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Replies:** 346\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-trots-to-water-a-holiday-mmp/926243 "2020-12-02T19:35:53Z")
It’s American Thanksgiving week! Which means it’s “You’re a month and a half late” week north of the 49th parallel, and “It’s the 4th Week in November” week elsewhere on Earth. And what’s the story behind the MMP title?… --- ## [Why am I getting AOL emails in my Gmail account, considering I've never had an AOL account?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-getting-aol-emails-in-my-gmail-account-considering-ive-never-had-an-aol-account/926947)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-getting-aol-emails-in-my-gmail-account-considering-ive-never-had-an-aol-account/926947 "2020-12-02T18:07:12Z")
So, for about a year now my Gmail account has been receiving emails from "myfullfirstname"@AOL.com. I don’t use my full first name and haven’t since I was like 10. I do not have an AOL account, and as far as I know nev… --- ## [Have you seen anyone turn their life around after ruining it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-anyone-turn-their-life-around-after-ruining-it/926891)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-anyone-turn-their-life-around-after-ruining-it/926891 "2020-12-02T17:15:52Z")
This is a sequel to the messed up their life thread. https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-quickest-way-youve-seen-someone-ruin-their-life/926813 Person Q was a high school friend of mine a year behind and went … --- ## [Reading glasses with contacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-glasses-with-contacts/926887)
**Author:** [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-glasses-with-contacts/926887 "2020-12-02T14:45:00Z")
It’s finally time, I think, to get some reading glasses. I’m curious how that works with contacts. I know you can wear reading glasses over contacts, that’s not the issue, what I’m trying to find out is if people with co… --- ## [Parrot jokes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-jokes/926873)
**Author:** [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parrot-jokes/926873 "2020-12-02T14:30:14Z")
Roger Ebert ended his review of “Paulie” by sharing a “brand-new parrot joke” that he invented. Anyone care to explain the punchline? A parrot has a memory that will only hold the last two things it has heard. A guy bu… --- ## [Does anyone else remember this beautiful music from a 2003 "Prego" commercial?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-remember-this-beautiful-music-from-a-2003-prego-commercial/925598)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-remember-this-beautiful-music-from-a-2003-prego-commercial/925598 "2020-12-02T14:11:52Z")
I searched for this for years and finally found it on YouTube. The Prego spaghetti sauce commercial was on the air in 2003. There were so many people calling and requesting info and hoping for more of it th… --- ## [Search engines figure out misspellings in searches, why not Word, Acrobat, etc?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-engines-figure-out-misspellings-in-searches-why-not-word-acrobat-etc/926712)
**Author:** [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-engines-figure-out-misspellings-in-searches-why-not-word-acrobat-etc/926712 "2020-12-02T13:07:37Z")
While doing a Google search, if I misspell a word, Google typically figures it out and returns results with the word I intended. For example, if I type Striaght Dope, it still suggests results here. It doesn’t say “no re… --- ## [How to Google search a certain term](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-google-search-a-certain-term/926969)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-google-search-a-certain-term/926969 "2020-12-02T12:55:08Z")
Out of curiosity I am trying to do a search of people that have impersonated Rich Little, but no matter how I phrase it all I get back are stories about Rich Little doing impersonations. Any help would be appreciated. --- ## [Pacemaker = no MRI? Maybe not!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacemaker-no-mri-maybe-not/926528)
**Author:** [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2020, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pacemaker-no-mri-maybe-not/926528 "2020-12-02T06:30:22Z")
I always heard that having a pacemaker for your heart meant you couldn’t get an MRI, ever. I got a multi-function pacemaker installed in 2015. Then in 2019, I needed an MRI to find out if I had Parkinson’s Disease. As pa… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1628) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1630)