# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1695 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1696 --- ## [Pandemic Haiku, Anyone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pandemic-haiku-anyone/913010)
**Author:** [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pandemic-haiku-anyone/913010 "2020-10-04T06:23:38Z")
I wrote this back in March, 10 days into quarantine… Ten days into this The awful uncertainty Is it over yet? This one a few weeks later… Light breeze stops blowing The world is holding its breath Pause between se… --- ## [¿ʇxǝʇ uʍop ǝpᴉsdn ɟo ǝsn ɹoɟ ǝƃpɐq ou s,ǝɹǝɥʇ ǝɯoɔ ʍoH](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-u-op-p-sdn-o-sn-o-p-q-ou-s-o-oh/921828)
**Author:** [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-u-op-p-sdn-o-sn-o-p-q-ou-s-o-oh/921828 "2020-10-04T04:25:33Z")
¿ǝƃpɐq ɐ ɥʇᴉʍ pǝʇɐɹoɯǝɯɯoɔ ǝq plnoɥs puɐ 'snoʇuǝɯoɯ sɐ ʇᴉq ʎɹǝʌǝ sᴉ ʇxǝʇ uʍop ǝpᴉsdn ⅄˥Ǝɹ∩S ˙ǝsn ᴉɾoɯǝ ɹoɟ ǝƃpɐq ɐ uǝʇʇoƃ oslɐ ǝʌ,I ˙os ɹo ㄣ00ᄅ uᴉ sʞɔᴉlɔ snld 0ϛ ʇoƃ ɥɔᴉɥʍ 'uǝƃouᴉɔnllɐɥ ǝɯos oʇ ʞuᴉl ɐ ƃuᴉʇsod ɹoɟ ǝƃpɐq ɐ… --- ## [So what was the North fighting for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-north-fighting-for/917800)
**Author:** [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Replies:** 149\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-north-fighting-for/917800 "2020-10-04T04:08:24Z")
We have had several threads here about the motives behind the confederates and most of us agree that the confederacy was fighting to keep slavery and their way of life. But I’d like to ask you all, what was the Union fi… --- ## [President, First Lady both test positive for COVID-19 \[Quarantine Zone: No politics.\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-first-lady-both-test-positive-for-covid-19-quarantine-zone-no-politics/922047)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-first-lady-both-test-positive-for-covid-19-quarantine-zone-no-politics/922047 "2020-10-04T03:10:47Z")
Having so long denied that it was a big deal, I guess he’s about to find out. --- ## [Spectrum accounts receivable software -- Exporting file](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectrum-accounts-receivable-software-exporting-file/922166)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spectrum-accounts-receivable-software-exporting-file/922166 "2020-10-04T03:10:42Z")
One of our members is using Spectrum accounting software. They send a .pdf file that was obviously generated by a program. They seem to be printing the report, scanning it as a .pdf, and sending the .pdf to me. Does a… --- ## [Channeling my inner lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/channeling-my-inner-lizard/922013)
**Author:** [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/channeling-my-inner-lizard/922013 "2020-10-04T03:03:11Z")
Okay, how about something about as mundane and pointless as it gets . . . It seems I’ve been getting pretty good at catching mosquitoes. There’s certainly plenty of practice material around here these days. I snatch t… --- ## [Is Kobo trying to shed customers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kobo-trying-to-shed-customers/922050)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kobo-trying-to-shed-customers/922050 "2020-10-04T02:15:04Z")
Seven years ago, my kids bought Kobo readers as gifts for my wife and me. I have bought well over 100 books from them. The other night I tried to buy two books and the last item before checkout is to identify a captcha… --- ## [Will you watch the debates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-debates/921813)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 188\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-you-watch-the-debates/921813 "2020-10-04T01:38:21Z")
Yes or no, and why? I was intending not to, but this a.m. my wife said she would watch at least some, so we’ll see what lengths I’m willing to go to to avoid them. Personally, I just can’t stand looking at or listening… --- ## [A quirk with Mac Mail is driving me crazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quirk-with-mac-mail-is-driving-me-crazy/922070)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-quirk-with-mac-mail-is-driving-me-crazy/922070 "2020-10-04T01:21:50Z")
Time was, I could leave the preferences for my GMail account set to " Carbon Copy Cartooniverse ", and I’d send an email. And I’d get the cc. Last year or so? No more cc. The Preferences still are set, and when I compos… --- ## [What movie is this? 80s horror](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-is-this-80s-horror/922149)
**Author:** [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2020, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-movie-is-this-80s-horror/922149 "2020-10-04T00:05:43Z")
I just had a flash to some bad 80s horror movie and I have no idea what it was. The scene is a woman who is pregnant or her belly looks pregnant, and a green wormy thing comes out of her belly button. Any ideas?? --- ## [Helen Reddy has died at age 78](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helen-reddy-has-died-at-age-78/921860)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/helen-reddy-has-died-at-age-78/921860 "2020-10-03T22:21:25Z")
I had heard recently that she was ill, although it didn’t go into specifics. Apparently, she had an unspecified form of dementia. Man, this year just continues to suck. --- ## [New form of government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-form-of-government/922139)
**Author:** [@forfyv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/forfyv)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-form-of-government/922139 "2020-10-03T22:11:25Z")
I am totally unsatisfied with the performance of our current USA government. Perhaps many others are as well. Perhaps not. I would like to discuss the root causes of our dissatisfaction, along with potential new forms … --- ## [How does obesity increase the Covid-19 morbidity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-obesity-increase-the-covid-19-morbidity/922072)
**Author:** [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-obesity-increase-the-covid-19-morbidity/922072 "2020-10-03T20:48:54Z")
Is it only because obesity is associated with other Covid complications, like diabetes? --- ## [Presidential transport question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-transport-question/921995)
**Author:** [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presidential-transport-question/921995 "2020-10-03T20:18:09Z")
20 years ago or so, there was a Dopestock of the AOL SD staffers in Denver. Either on arrival or departure my flights sorta crossed paths with the POTUS. I saw Air Force One parked on the tarmac and nearby was a C-141. T… --- ## [Political commercial tactics you hate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-commercial-tactics-you-hate/922067)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-commercial-tactics-you-hate/922067 "2020-10-03T19:17:38Z")
California Prop 16 is to allow diversity to be a factor in public employment, education, and contracting decisions. It would be a state constitutional amendment, and it is sponsored by the state legislature. This may be… --- ## [Why are Greens trying so hard to re-elect Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-greens-trying-so-hard-to-re-elect-trump/921516)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-greens-trying-so-hard-to-re-elect-trump/921516 "2020-10-03T19:09:29Z")
I can understand their getting on the ballot in California or Utah, but going to court to get on the ballot in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin? Are they mad or just deluded? Do they secretly love fossil fuels after all? I … --- ## [ICE puts up political billboards in Pennsylvania](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-puts-up-political-billboards-in-pennsylvania/922127)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-puts-up-political-billboards-in-pennsylvania/922127 "2020-10-03T19:07:09Z")
Ice has paid for six billboards featuring six billboards featuring immigrants that were released by police for insufficient evidence but were not turned over to ICE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ice-put-up-billboar… --- ## [How connected are Google and Netflix?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-connected-are-google-and-netflix/921863)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-connected-are-google-and-netflix/921863 "2020-10-03T18:01:18Z")
I just encountered something I found suspicious. I wanted suggestions for new series I might want to watch so I went to Google and entered “best series to watch” as the search term. Here are all the results on the first … --- ## [How much have the past 20 years weakened democracy in America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-have-the-past-20-years-weakened-democracy-in-america/922003)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-have-the-past-20-years-weakened-democracy-in-america/922003 "2020-10-03T17:57:40Z")
I would like you to indulge me while I make a fairly boring case to you, the facts of which you are most likely familiar with. I will try to remain strictly factual. Two or three of the past five presidential terms ar… --- ## [Terrible debating tactics you have seen (especially not logical fallacies)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrible-debating-tactics-you-have-seen-especially-not-logical-fallacies/921694)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrible-debating-tactics-you-have-seen-especially-not-logical-fallacies/921694 "2020-10-03T17:51:04Z")
I know we have a lot of threads and discussion about logical fallacies (i.e. “which one is this?”), but I thought it might be interesting to collect and discuss debating tactics that are not necessarily fallacious in the… --- ## [Bad ignition coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ignition-coil/921823)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ignition-coil/921823 "2020-10-03T17:43:55Z")
My car started running rough a couple of days ago. My mechanic friend stopped by and hooked his little diagnostic gizmo up. The error code said the ignition coil is going bad on my #2 cylinder. The good news is that’s a … --- ## [Maximum possible US tax responsibility](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-possible-us-tax-responsibility/921812)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-possible-us-tax-responsibility/921812 "2020-10-03T16:47:03Z")
I am curious what the maximum combined US federal/state tax burden would be for a very wealthy person who chose not to take any unusual loopholes that aren’t available to a wage-earning family with simple finances. Give… --- ## [Can anyone recommend an interesting dystopian novel involving climate manipulation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-recommend-an-interesting-dystopian-novel-involving-climate-manipulation/922051)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-recommend-an-interesting-dystopian-novel-involving-climate-manipulation/922051 "2020-10-03T16:44:46Z")
I’m looking for an interesting dystopian/philosophical/sci-fi novel involving climate manipulaton. Any recommewndations? --- ## [Number of radio listeners](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-radio-listeners/921908)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-radio-listeners/921908 "2020-10-03T16:25:45Z")
How does a radio station know how many listeners it has? --- ## [Physical altercation between Trump and Biden?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-altercation-between-trump-and-biden/921887)
**Author:** [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physical-altercation-between-trump-and-biden/921887 "2020-10-03T16:11:53Z")
Just wondering – how do you think an actual physical confrontation between Donald Trump and Joe Biden would go down? --- ## [Don't let your piercings close up!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-let-your-piercings-close-up/922039)
**Author:** [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-let-your-piercings-close-up/922039 "2020-10-03T14:40:13Z")
Since I’m WFH and hardly ever go anywhere, I took out my stud earrings a while ago to let my ear holes get a break, and I just never put them back in. Like 4 months now. I just scratched my ear lobe, and it felt quite s… --- ## [Aluminum in post 1980 microwaves](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-in-post-1980-microwaves/921757)
**Author:** [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aluminum-in-post-1980-microwaves/921757 "2020-10-03T14:31:20Z")
The local grocery store sells pre-made meals in aluminum trays with a plastic cover. Verde enchiladas, mac and cheese, that sort of thing. The label says: “Heating instructions: Aluminum food containers are safe to be us… --- ## [I'm pretty burnt out right now from covid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pretty-burnt-out-right-now-from-covid/922042)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-pretty-burnt-out-right-now-from-covid/922042 "2020-10-03T14:02:10Z")
Tired of it. I’ve presently got hundreds of active covid patients. I won’t go into detail, and fortunately I’ve only ended up physically seeing a few dozen of them (and tested negative subsequently). I’m high risk for… --- ## [Classifying a gambling addiction. Do psychologists consider professional gamblers that way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classifying-a-gambling-addiction-do-psychologists-consider-professional-gamblers-that-way/834725)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classifying-a-gambling-addiction-do-psychologists-consider-professional-gamblers-that-way/834725 "2020-10-03T11:43:47Z")
Professional Gambling has been in the news recently. Jeopardy champion \*\*James Holzhauer calls himself a professional sports gambler. How does psychologists view these people? Do they consider them as slightly more skil… --- ## [Trump considers those who served in the military "losers" and "suckers"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-considers-those-who-served-in-the-military-losers-and-suckers/919799)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 123\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2020, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-considers-those-who-served-in-the-military-losers-and-suckers/919799 "2020-10-03T09:15:43Z")
This isn’t exactly entirely new – Trump famously insisted John McCain wasn’t a hero, and repeatedly called him a loser, because he was captured in Vietnam. But it’s still very interesting. Most interesting is (and wi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1694) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1696)