# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1746 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1747 --- ## [New front page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-front-page/918505)
**Author:** [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2020, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-front-page/918505 "2020-08-21T03:48:16Z")
I like the clean look. Nice to see it back in action, whoever is responsible! Thanks! --- ## [Senate Intelligence Committee report claims ties between Russians/Trump campaign](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-intelligence-committee-report-claims-ties-between-russians-trump-campaign/918419)
**Author:** [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2020, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-intelligence-committee-report-claims-ties-between-russians-trump-campaign/918419 "2020-08-21T03:23:38Z")
Today the Senate Intelligence Committee released their 1000-page report basically affirming the Mueller Report and definitely at odds with the interpretation pushed by AG Bill Barr and the WH. Link to the report is here… --- ## [Agents of SHIELD - Season 7](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-season-7/855097)
**Author:** [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-shield-season-7/855097 "2020-08-21T03:08:42Z")
Didn’t see a thread here. Correct me if I missed it. Spoilers ahead… I love this show greatly, and was really excited by the season premiere. Seemed a big step up from season 6, which was kind of hit or miss. But t… --- ## [Getting random notifications of new and unread threads that don't exist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-random-notifications-of-new-and-unread-threads-that-dont-exist/918558)
**Author:** [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-random-notifications-of-new-and-unread-threads-that-dont-exist/918558 "2020-08-21T02:12:00Z")
Every time I’ve visited the boards today I’ve had notifications of threads that don’t exist. It will say I have one “new topic” in a category, I click on it and nothing is there. The same for replies. Also in some cas… --- ## [Pie hits the Terrible Twos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pie-hits-the-terrible-twos/918614)
**Author:** [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pie-hits-the-terrible-twos/918614 "2020-08-21T01:35:18Z")
♪ Happy birthday to you {clap clap} It’s your birthday, we wish you many more Health and wealth and friends by the score Cut the cake Nom a fish and let’s eat some more Happy birthday to you {clap clap} ♪ … --- ## [Obscure references in shows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-references-in-shows/918402)
**Author:** [@CastletonSnob1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob1)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obscure-references-in-shows/918402 "2020-08-20T23:42:10Z")
Sometimes, shows will make a joke or a reference to something only people knowledgeable in a certain field will get. TV Tropes calls this, “Genius Bonus”. What are such instances in shows? --- ## [Do you remember when Amazon had reasonably good customer service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-when-amazon-had-reasonably-good-customer-service/918602)
**Author:** [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-when-amazon-had-reasonably-good-customer-service/918602 "2020-08-20T23:39:09Z")
Yes I am definitely just ranting here, but there was a time (really!) when you could chat up a CSR on Amazon and get your issue resolved usually in your favor within seconds. Yesterday I got sent the right item but in … --- ## [California Bill Would Apply Wealth Tax to Residents Who Left the State in the Last 10 Years](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-bill-would-apply-wealth-tax-to-residents-who-left-the-state-in-the-last-10-years/918461)
**Author:** [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-bill-would-apply-wealth-tax-to-residents-who-left-the-state-in-the-last-10-years/918461 "2020-08-20T23:29:54Z")
California Legislators Propose Wealth Tax The bill would impose a tax of 0.4% of a state resident’s worldwide net worth in excess of $30 million, or in excess of $15 million for married taxpayers filing separately. A… --- ## [Reasons you’ve sent flowers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-you-ve-sent-flowers/918490)
**Author:** [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-you-ve-sent-flowers/918490 "2020-08-20T23:27:23Z")
So my household just underwent a traumatic experience that, was met with comfort and care from our friends. I was not surprised they reached out to us, we are blessed with a small but very caring circle. I was however s… --- ## [Need advice on improving sound on my 2005 TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-improving-sound-on-my-2005-tv/917188)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-advice-on-improving-sound-on-my-2005-tv/917188 "2020-08-20T23:06:12Z")
TL;DR- What are my options re adding external speakers to or otherwise improving sound on my 2005 TV, a Panasonic TC-26LX60 26-Inch LCD HDTV? Background: TMI? Probably, but I really don’t know what information is essen… --- ## [Understanding a stereotype: Why do Asians love video games so much?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-a-stereotype-why-do-asians-love-video-games-so-much/698506)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-a-stereotype-why-do-asians-love-video-games-so-much/698506 "2020-08-20T20:04:39Z")
Hopefully this will be minimally offensive: What is it about their culture, genetics, etc. that leads to the idea that Asians really like video games? Video games were, if I’m not mistaken, an American invention. Yet the… --- ## [I will now reveal the most triumphant anime of all time](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-now-reveal-the-most-triumphant-anime-of-all-time/788248)
**Author:** [@Salvor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salvor)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-now-reveal-the-most-triumphant-anime-of-all-time/788248 "2020-08-20T20:00:29Z")
It is on right now, and I feel compelled to let all the stodgy older people who have never watched anime in their lives know about it. My Hero Academia. Seek this out, it looks cheesy as hell at first, but you will bec… --- ## [I think I’ve realized something about why pessimism bothers me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-ve-realized-something-about-why-pessimism-bothers-me/918462)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-ve-realized-something-about-why-pessimism-bothers-me/918462 "2020-08-20T19:36:04Z")
I’ve posted threads and started discussions quite a few times recently over the past four years about whether people who feel pessimistic about the future are telling me to give up, if they’re practicing what they’re pre… --- ## [Discrimination in the US: how bad did the Irish have it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discrimination-in-the-us-how-bad-did-the-irish-have-it/915769)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discrimination-in-the-us-how-bad-did-the-irish-have-it/915769 "2020-08-20T18:40:53Z")
In the context of current events (i.e. the murder of George Floyd and subsequent BLM protests), I’ve seen claims that black people aren’t the only folks who had to deal with shoddy treatment (the implication being that b… --- ## [Regain control of a hobby group's Facebook page?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regain-control-of-a-hobby-groups-facebook-page/918599)
**Author:** [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regain-control-of-a-hobby-groups-facebook-page/918599 "2020-08-20T18:29:51Z")
I’ve been voluntold to help a group out with their FB page. :slight\_smile: It’s an association that is essentially a hobby club that puts on a judged art show each year where I work. They have a newsletter and meetings a… --- ## [Which party does a better job at managing the economy? My thoughts (long)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-party-does-a-better-job-at-managing-the-economy-my-thoughts-long/918503)
**Author:** [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-party-does-a-better-job-at-managing-the-economy-my-thoughts-long/918503 "2020-08-20T18:10:22Z")
(Guys and gals, this is long.) The genesis of this thread was a post I made in response to @d\_anconia going into the topic of historical GOP incompetence in economic matters. It was kind of a throw-away comment, but it … --- ## [Nottinghamshire Police find Penguin walking on road](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nottinghamshire-police-find-penguin-walking-on-road/918411)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nottinghamshire-police-find-penguin-walking-on-road/918411 "2020-08-20T17:08:00Z")
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/17/uk/penguin-nottinghamshire-police-scli-intl-gbr/index.html They should have left him on top of the telly. --- ## [Highest temperature on earth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highest-temperature-on-earth/918529)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highest-temperature-on-earth/918529 "2020-08-20T16:39:55Z")
‘Highest temperature on Earth’ as Death Valley, US hits 54.4C, says BBC. When I heard about it, I immediately thought of the 134-foot tall thermometer outside of Baker, CA, which was that height because of the hottest r… --- ## [Avirex/The Cockpit RAF 'Irvin' jacket](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avirex-the-cockpit-raf-irvin-jacket/918593)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avirex-the-cockpit-raf-irvin-jacket/918593 "2020-08-20T15:49:46Z")
It’s time to start selling stuff. Here’s an Avirex/The Cockpit RAF ‘Irvin’ jacket that’s entirely too big for me. --- ## [Any ever get a cheap Maaco paint job? How did it turn out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ever-get-a-cheap-maaco-paint-job-how-did-it-turn-out/918295)
**Author:** [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ever-get-a-cheap-maaco-paint-job-how-did-it-turn-out/918295 "2020-08-20T15:36:58Z")
I have a 2007 Merc. Runs great, all maintenance done, less that 150K miles but the sun in AZ has destroyed the paint. I am down to bare metal on one of the front quarter panels. I do not want to buy another car when all … --- ## [What exactly are boxers gaining/losing when they gain/lose weight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-are-boxers-gaining-losing-when-they-gain-lose-weight/843037)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-are-boxers-gaining-losing-when-they-gain-lose-weight/843037 "2020-08-20T15:25:02Z")
I’m not talking about heavyweights who can sometimes get out of shape and become even-heavierweights. My question is about boxers who deliberately change their weight to qualify for a different weight class. For example… --- ## [Big Tech's dominance of the S&P 500](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-techs-dominance-of-the-s-p-500/918515)
**Author:** [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-techs-dominance-of-the-s-p-500/918515 "2020-08-20T14:10:24Z")
So today, Apple’s market cap hit two trillion dollars, only about eighteen months since it hit one trillion dollars. Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (parent company of Google), Microsoft and Facebook are, by themselves, twenty p… --- ## [The Return Of Men’s Crop Tops](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-return-of-men-s-crop-tops/918527)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-return-of-men-s-crop-tops/918527 "2020-08-20T13:55:40Z")
Some celebrities are pleased that men’s crop tops are becoming a thing. And were apparently a thing sometime before. I’m all for body positivity. Make healthy choices regardless of your shape. But I don’t want to see… --- ## [How Bernie Sanders helped Trump mess with the Postal Service](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bernie-sanders-helped-trump-mess-with-the-postal-service/918487)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bernie-sanders-helped-trump-mess-with-the-postal-service/918487 "2020-08-20T13:46:24Z")
This Washington Post article describes how Sen. Bernard Sanders (Independent-Vermont) collaborated with Senate Majority Leader Sen. A. Mitchell McConnell Jr. (Republican-Kentucky) to block Obama’s appointments to the Pos… --- ## [Can you play an octave higher than Maynard Ferguson (jazz trumpeter) in his prime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-play-an-octave-higher-than-maynard-ferguson-jazz-trumpeter-in-his-prime/918582)
**Author:** [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-play-an-octave-higher-than-maynard-ferguson-jazz-trumpeter-in-his-prime/918582 "2020-08-20T13:42:20Z")
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz trumpeter known for among other things, his ability to play in a very, very high register. To answer the OP: No, no I cannot play an octave higher than Maynard Ferguson. To lower t… --- ## [What the Hell is Going on in My Life? (Gentleman Callers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-going-on-in-my-life-gentleman-callers/918286)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-going-on-in-my-life-gentleman-callers/918286 "2020-08-20T13:19:41Z")
I feel like Granny in the Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bugs was trying to rescue Granny from the attentions of Yosemite Sam. “Forty years, nothing. And then it all comes out in one day.” I recently posted a thread where I… --- ## [Search function doesn't seem to be working properly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function-doesnt-seem-to-be-working-properly/918561)
**Author:** [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-function-doesnt-seem-to-be-working-properly/918561 "2020-08-20T11:16:20Z")
So, I was thinking “Gee, didn’t I post in the 2020 Virtual convention thread?” But, when I open the thread (sorry, “topic”) and click on the magnifying glass, check the “Search this topic” box and put in my user name–“No… --- ## [Painting eyes on cow butts help ward off predators](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painting-eyes-on-cow-butts-help-ward-off-predators/918409)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painting-eyes-on-cow-butts-help-ward-off-predators/918409 "2020-08-20T09:18:41Z")
Article here: Ignoble nomination? IMHO this definitely fits Brian --- ## [What inexplicable things does your cat do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-inexplicable-things-does-your-cat-do/913608)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-inexplicable-things-does-your-cat-do/913608 "2020-08-20T09:15:38Z")
Lately, mine has taken to removing the bath mat from the tub and taking it into the living room. He’s never done it before but now he does it every time. The culprit. --- ## [What the renter left behind](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-renter-left-behind/918012)
**Author:** [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2020, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-renter-left-behind/918012 "2020-08-20T09:06:00Z")
Background: Mr VOW and I used to own rentals. We used every means available to screen people. However, the homes we had must have been haunted, because almost all the renters ended up being Demon Spawn, straight out of H… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1745) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1747)