# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=170 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 171 --- ## [Your Top Ten Books of 2025](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-ten-books-of-2025/1026177)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-ten-books-of-2025/1026177 "2026-01-02T17:06:35Z")
Last year’s thread: Best books of 2024 Doesn’t matter when they were published, but you read 'em and loved 'em in 2025. And please tell us, in a sentence or two, why you liked 'em. --- ## [Custard the Dragon, and the Missing Stanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custard-the-dragon-and-the-missing-stanza/1014429)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custard-the-dragon-and-the-missing-stanza/1014429 "2026-01-02T16:57:39Z")
I’m teaching a poetry unit to my fourth graders, and as part of the unit, I give them a selection of 20 poems to choose from (or they can bring in their own) to learn, interpret, and perform before the class. It’s a fun … --- ## [Clean energy for the world based on using large capacitors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-energy-for-the-world-based-on-using-large-capacitors/1026244)
**Author:** [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clean-energy-for-the-world-based-on-using-large-capacitors/1026244 "2026-01-02T14:58:58Z")
Yeah I guess, based on the Ark of the Covenant. Is the problem the unreliability of individual environments and Earths atmosphere or is it possibly the oil indu$try not liking the idea? Maybe some other reason, like rel… --- ## [China wants you to unwrap that rascal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-wants-you-to-unwrap-that-rascal/1026265)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-wants-you-to-unwrap-that-rascal/1026265 "2026-01-02T13:40:45Z")
And to encourage you to do the deed commando, there’s a balloon of a tax rate on the raincoat. Mind you, China still has a limit on the number of children people may have.. There are some exceptions as was the case wit… --- ## [What is your opinion on strictness in parents? How strict should parents be and what is just absurd?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-on-strictness-in-parents-how-strict-should-parents-be-and-what-is-just-absurd/1025680)
**Author:** [@lilybug0309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lilybug0309)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-on-strictness-in-parents-how-strict-should-parents-be-and-what-is-just-absurd/1025680 "2026-01-02T13:23:07Z")
I have some views on what rules I believe there should be for children. My parents are overly strict, I am 17 and not allowed to go on a date without my parents being there, so I was wondering what other people believe t… --- ## [How long could the U.S. last against an enemy of collective nations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-the-u-s-last-against-an-enemy-of-collective-nations/388404)
**Author:** [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-could-the-u-s-last-against-an-enemy-of-collective-nations/388404 "2026-01-02T10:36:26Z")
Let’s say that every other nation that has an army that is worth a damn suddenly decided to collectively attack the U.S. How much of a fight could the U.S. put up. Would it possibly survive? How long would the US. last? … --- ## [Critique this Trump Third Term plan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-trump-third-term-plan/1024418)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/critique-this-trump-third-term-plan/1024418 "2026-01-02T04:35:59Z")
Note: For the sake of this thread, let’s assume that the 22nd Amendment means exactly what it says - that Trump can serve a third term as long as he is not directly elected to a third term. I know we debate that in othe… --- ## [Possible new rule, or at least strong suggestion, about posting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-new-rule-or-at-least-strong-suggestion-about-posting/1026236)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-new-rule-or-at-least-strong-suggestion-about-posting/1026236 "2026-01-02T02:54:26Z")
In the thread about the 2026 Death Pool it is becoming rather evident that some newbies (and few old timers) do not bother to read anything but the title of the thread. Now, I know about people complaining about the lar… --- ## [Freak injuries and ER visits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-injuries-and-er-visits/1026123)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-injuries-and-er-visits/1026123 "2026-01-02T02:51:22Z")
Most of us have been to the ER for serious reasons (us or relatives), but how many of you have wrestled with your blankets at 4:30 am and as a result jammed your thumbnail into your eye? (raises hand shamefully) Around… --- ## [Oklahoma student invokes Christian beliefs in college essay, gets failing grade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oklahoma-student-invokes-christian-beliefs-in-college-essay-gets-failing-grade/1025443)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oklahoma-student-invokes-christian-beliefs-in-college-essay-gets-failing-grade/1025443 "2026-01-02T02:36:55Z")
I don’t see that the Dope has weighed in on this, although it has been popping up on social media lately. In short, a university student in Oklahoma was assigned to respond to a reading assignment regarding bullying and… --- ## [What other ways (besides the ones humans used) could a specific species become dominant on a planet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-ways-besides-the-ones-humans-used-could-a-specific-species-become-dominant-on-a-planet/1025831)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-ways-besides-the-ones-humans-used-could-a-specific-species-become-dominant-on-a-planet/1025831 "2026-01-02T02:18:42Z")
Just a daydreamy, science-fictiony sort of thought, inspired by the Fermi Paradox (why we have not conclusively met any aliens who have traveled here). Humans conquered this planet without direct coordination among them… --- ## [Are you known by your legal name, or a diminuitive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-known-by-your-legal-name-or-a-diminuitive/1026069)
**Author:** [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-known-by-your-legal-name-or-a-diminuitive/1026069 "2026-01-02T01:46:35Z")
My legal name is David. I hate it. I am much happier when people call me just plain Dave. That’s me. My mother hated that, but that’s how my friends called me, how my teachers called me at school, how everybody calle… --- ## [Wireless meat thermometers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-meat-thermometers/1026211)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2026, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-meat-thermometers/1026211 "2026-01-02T00:06:46Z")
Continuing the discussion from Can this overcooked roast be saved?: --- ## [January 1, 2026 is Public Domain day for 1930](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-1-2026-is-public-domain-day-for-1930/1026101)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-1-2026-is-public-domain-day-for-1930/1026101 "2026-01-01T22:42:16Z")
Last year I started a thread: January 1, 2025 is Public Domain day for 1929. Time to update. Copyright law today puts anything that is over 95 years old into public domain. For ease of handling, all of 1929 1930 goes in… --- ## [Time travel books that don't work out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-books-that-dont-work-out/1026063)
**Author:** [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-travel-books-that-dont-work-out/1026063 "2026-01-01T22:21:41Z")
A while back there was a meme going around of time travelers going back and killing Hitler. Others would have to go back to reset the timeline because things got much worse. Are there other stories or novels that touch o… --- ## [Trump won't rule out 3rd term](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371)
**Author:** [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Replies:** 646\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wont-rule-out-3rd-term/1016371 "2026-01-01T21:00:14Z")
I hate that the media even asked him. But we all knew what he’d say if asked. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/us/politics/trump-third-term.html?smid=url-share The 22nd Amendment won’t allow him to be elected POTUS.… --- ## [NOT in praise of The Twilight Zone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-in-praise-of-the-twilight-zone/1025021)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 159\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-in-praise-of-the-twilight-zone/1025021 "2026-01-01T20:32:32Z")
Which Twilight Zone episode least impressed you? This includes all versions of the show, but not the movie. For me, it would have to be the highly acclaimed episode “Time Enough At Last”. Meet Henry Bemis-A man too st… --- ## [Happy New Year, Unca Cec!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-year-unca-cec/1026248)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-year-unca-cec/1026248 "2026-01-01T20:12:47Z")
@Cecil\_Adams Since you’ve been absent a good part of 2025, I was considering giving you a run down of the year. Alas, it’s all a blur. And not worth your time to read. I did wanna say; Hey, I hope ‘26 is better. Mis… --- ## [Rumor Verification requested. Unilateral German Military Action?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-verification-requested-unilateral-german-military-action/1026252)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rumor-verification-requested-unilateral-german-military-action/1026252 "2026-01-01T19:09:10Z")
Rachel Meadows is claiming that German is doing a non-NATO , unilateral, military movement into Ukraine. True or false? LINK TO STORY Note the timing–act during the Holidays, keep it quiet in Mainstream Media, wait un… --- ## [Monthly Photo Competition #37– December, 2025 – “On the Road” - poll added](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-37-december-2025-on-the-road-poll-added/1025331)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-37-december-2025-on-the-road-poll-added/1025331 "2026-01-01T18:01:37Z")
This is the monthly thread for December, 2025. The topic this month is “On the Road” chosen by @Turek. IMPORTANT: It is recommended that you not use Imgur to host your photos, as some members may not be able to see your… --- ## [Should Trump Officials bother to go before Congress at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-trump-officials-bother-to-go-before-congress-at-all/1026096)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-trump-officials-bother-to-go-before-congress-at-all/1026096 "2026-01-01T18:00:37Z")
I am seeing it time and time again-various officials from the Trump Administration go before Congress and either refuse to answer direct questions, lie about those questions, blather on about stuff totally unrelated to t… --- ## [Charlie Daniels and the use of a possibly racist epithet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-daniels-and-the-use-of-a-possibly-racist-epithet/855861)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-daniels-and-the-use-of-a-possibly-racist-epithet/855861 "2026-01-01T17:18:23Z")
Sorry for being so coy with the thread title but I didn’t want to put the actual phrase in there. In the song “Trudy” from the 1974 Charlie Daniels Band album “Fire on the Mountain”, the narrator gets in a fight over a … --- ## [Stuff you do to close out the year/ start the next one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-you-do-to-close-out-the-year-start-the-next-one/1026228 "2026-01-01T15:55:39Z")
I finish my Excel spreadsheet for my bank balance and prep the one for the upcoming year. I also make sure any notes on my calendar/ monthly planner carry over into the new year. --- ## [Best #1 Single of the Year: 2025](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2025/1026167)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-2025/1026167 "2026-01-01T15:34:59Z")
It’s that time again! (One day I really do need to re-run this whole series from scratch to make up for the fact that the old polls didn’t survive the migration to Discourse.) In contrast to several recent years, there … --- ## [Headed to Dubai in December](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headed-to-dubai-in-december/1022714)
**Author:** [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headed-to-dubai-in-december/1022714 "2026-01-01T15:23:35Z")
For this year’s holiday trip we’re planning to head to Dubai for a week. Flights and hotels aren’t cheap but I think we’re comfortable with what we’ve found. Right now our itinerary includes beach time, Burj Khalifa, day… --- ## [How are package delivery services where you live?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-package-delivery-services-where-you-live/1026000)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-package-delivery-services-where-you-live/1026000 "2026-01-01T15:16:23Z")
Between holiday shopping and all the stuff we’ve needed for our boat project, we’ve gotten a LOT of items delivered in recent months. In fact, for several years now, we’ve done a great deal of ordering on line. Most driv… --- ## [Wishing you all a happy new year](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wishing-you-all-a-happy-new-year/1026209)
**Author:** [@JimNightshade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimNightshade)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wishing-you-all-a-happy-new-year/1026209 "2026-01-01T12:50:30Z")
That is all. --- ## [NYT Faces Game](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-faces-game/1026165)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyt-faces-game/1026165 "2026-01-01T07:17:02Z")
Not sure if this gift link will work. But if it does, how many of these prominent 2025 faces can you recognize? --- ## [Your pet adoption stories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-pet-adoption-stories/1026127)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-pet-adoption-stories/1026127 "2026-01-01T05:25:42Z")
Pretty much everyone here, I’d wager, has adopted a pet or two (or three, or four, or…) and has a story about it. Here is mine for my latest adoption. A beat-up old stray. That’s what he was, when the rescue took him i… --- ## [84th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-anniversary-of-pearl-harbor-day/1025499)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/84th-anniversary-of-pearl-harbor-day/1025499 "2026-01-01T04:32:13Z")
We’ve come to a place in time where some of us were adults, or nearly so, on the day President Kennedy was assassinated, November 22, 1963, but I wonder if any of us even have parents who remember the Japanese attack on … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=169) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=171)