# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1946 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1947 --- ## [What will Anthony from the Twilight Zone "Good Life" episode be like as an adult?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-anthony-from-the-twilight-zone-good-life-episode-be-like-as-an-adult/850282)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-anthony-from-the-twilight-zone-good-life-episode-be-like-as-an-adult/850282 "2020-04-01T21:48:45Z")
If you’re not familiar with the episode, you can read a synopsis here, although I strongly recommend actually watching the episode as it is much more chilling that way: With no one ever daring to correct him, and poss… --- ## [why do shipping labels have a dot code AND a bar code?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shipping-labels-have-a-dot-code-and-a-bar-code/850732)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shipping-labels-have-a-dot-code-and-a-bar-code/850732 "2020-04-01T21:40:46Z")
Currently looking at a printed USPS shipping label. Near the bottom there’s a bar code, and near the top there’s a dot code. FedEx labels are the same way, and so are UPS labels. So why the two separate blocks of info… --- ## [What's the last stage before full-blown authoritarianism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-last-stage-before-full-blown-authoritarianism/850710)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-last-stage-before-full-blown-authoritarianism/850710 "2020-04-01T21:01:10Z")
What’s the last event that would happen before you hit the big red button on living in the United States. Like what’s the last actual step before there’s a full-blown authoritarian state? --- ## [Stupid Kids on Spring Break!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-kids-on-spring-break/850321)
**Author:** [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-kids-on-spring-break/850321 "2020-04-01T20:11:32Z")
We’ve all seen the pictures of the young crowd in Florida dancing on the beach, celebrating Spring Break. Reporters who talked with them were told to get lost. “It’s my life, and I get to decide what I want to do with it… --- ## [Google search](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search/850817)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search/850817 "2020-04-01T19:45:11Z")
English is not my native language, but I often do Google searches in English. Over the last few days, I’ve been seeing this notification “Google offered in: English” on the homepage. Also, when I get results in English, … --- ## [There's no belittling going on here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-no-belittling-going-on-here/850722)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-no-belittling-going-on-here/850722 "2020-04-01T19:38:51Z")
“It’s an off-topic post, not a threadshit. \[…\] There’s no belittling going on here.” https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=892876 And I don’t mean to belittle Engineer Comp Geek when I write that that w… --- ## [How to help (COVID-19 relief efforts)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-help-covid-19-relief-efforts/850783)
**Author:** [@Settimo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Settimo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-help-covid-19-relief-efforts/850783 "2020-04-01T19:29:29Z")
A thread for listing ways ordinary folks can be of help in the fight against COVID-19 and its effects. It’s intended for ways anyone can pitch in for broad coronavirus relief efforts, through actions or donations, inclu… --- ## [I pit Masterclass](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-masterclass/849996)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-masterclass/849996 "2020-04-01T19:16:14Z")
You’ve probably seen these ads, Steve Martin will teach you how to be a comedian, or James Patterson will teach you how to be a writer, Samuel L Jackson will teach you how to be… well, Samuel L Jackson (am I the only one… --- ## [PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES FOR AMERICA postcard.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-trumps-coronavirus-guidelines-for-america-postcard/850251)
**Author:** [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/president-trumps-coronavirus-guidelines-for-america-postcard/850251 "2020-04-01T19:14:10Z")
The mail was just delivered. It included two copies of a postcard that in big bold letters on the front says PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CORONAVIRUS GUIDELINES FOR AMERICA It has a G-10 permit, meaning it was paid for by the fe… --- ## [Mad, mad, mad scientist:Beckdawrek (how I grossed out my family)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-mad-mad-scientist-beckdawrek-how-i-grossed-out-my-family/850373)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mad-mad-mad-scientist-beckdawrek-how-i-grossed-out-my-family/850373 "2020-04-01T19:14:01Z")
Before I went to the hospital for my right kidney Panchos eviction, I asked a butcher I know to procure me a veal or sheep kidney. I got a mayo jar and moonshine and red food coloring. I created a kidney specimen jar. It… --- ## [Making life changing decisions during the craziness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-life-changing-decisions-during-the-craziness/850183)
**Author:** [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-life-changing-decisions-during-the-craziness/850183 "2020-04-01T18:52:02Z")
I had a bad couple of days to kick of the COVID-19 pandemic. My primary business was slowing down due to the economy and the deals I had almost complete for ancillary business lost their funding. Then my wife was transit… --- ## [Reusing PPE and time based 'disinfection'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reusing-ppe-and-time-based-disinfection/850797)
**Author:** [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reusing-ppe-and-time-based-disinfection/850797 "2020-04-01T18:28:14Z")
I’ve been told that COVID can ‘remain’ on surfaces for a certain period of time dependent on the surface. Copper 4 hours, Cardboard 24 hours, Stainless Steel 3 days, whatever. If I have PPE items such as a mask or rubbe… --- ## [why can't we curse around children?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-curse-around-children/850562)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-curse-around-children/850562 "2020-04-01T18:02:19Z")
It’s probably happened in your own life, or you’ve seen it in the movies, someone says "What the fucK’ or whatever and someone says, “Such language around the children!” The children are going to eventually learn and us… --- ## [Why are biomedical engineers paid relatively little?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-biomedical-engineers-paid-relatively-little/850690)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-biomedical-engineers-paid-relatively-little/850690 "2020-04-01T17:48:50Z")
From an extremely limited bit of Google-searching, it appears that biomedical engineers are paid substantially less ($50-80k) than the vast majority of other engineers. Any particular reason why? I would have actually t… --- ## [How much of the 2 trillion stimulus is meant to be paid back by the ones who received the funds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-the-2-trillion-stimulus-is-meant-to-be-paid-back-by-the-ones-who-received-the-funds/850750)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-the-2-trillion-stimulus-is-meant-to-be-paid-back-by-the-ones-who-received-the-funds/850750 "2020-04-01T17:47:15Z")
Eventually it’ll all have to be paid back, but I’m wondering how much of the 2 trillion dollar stimulus is meant to be paid back by the ones who actually got it? I assume the corporate loans totaling almost 900 billio… --- ## [For Our Veterans, and All Americans, Tomorrow, March 29, is National Vietnam War Veterans Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-our-veterans-and-all-americans-tomorrow-march-29-is-national-vietnam-war-veterans-day/850518)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-our-veterans-and-all-americans-tomorrow-march-29-is-national-vietnam-war-veterans-day/850518 "2020-04-01T17:44:16Z")
This day has been around since 2012. I searched on ‘Vietnam’ in thread titles, and there are zero threads about this out of 238 Vietnam threads. Since 2017 this is an annual National Day here in the US. Brief Hx, rever… --- ## [Voynich manuscript finally deciphered?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voynich-manuscript-finally-deciphered/821113)
**Author:** [@MattDHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattDHat)\ **Replies:** 224\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voynich-manuscript-finally-deciphered/821113 "2020-04-01T17:38:36Z")
I think Cecil hit this one once. Twould appear a lot of folks spent a lot of time looking the wrong way and the wrong place and the wrong century. See: At least at first read, it seems rather conclusive. --- ## [Crying news anchors on CNN](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-news-anchors-on-cnn/850784)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crying-news-anchors-on-cnn/850784 "2020-04-01T17:29:47Z")
Is it just me? Chris Cuomo crying about the family that lost many members to corona. Brooke Bauduin crying over something. Tonight Don Lemon crying over Chris Cuomo’ s diagnosis of the virus. I remember seeing footag… --- ## [Ghostbusters III on the way for 2020.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-iii-on-the-way-for-2020/828024)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghostbusters-iii-on-the-way-for-2020/828024 "2020-04-01T17:28:56Z")
Set to be directed by Ivan Rietman’s son, and a direct sequel to the last Ghostbusters movie from 1984. --- ## [Access to Public Records?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-to-public-records/808198)
**Author:** [@perfidia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfidia)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-to-public-records/808198 "2018-02-06T09:29:54Z")
Is there any way I can find the death records of a person I use to know, that passed away about two years ago, in CA? The info I found was very general. Everything I’ve tried to look at, wants me to sign up for a t… --- ## [Trump's Gone Gray!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-gone-gray/850760)
**Author:** [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-gone-gray/850760 "2020-04-01T16:53:12Z")
As of yesterday’s press conference, you’ll notice that Trump’s unique hair color has been updated to a more statesman like silver. Reason - unknown. An uncharitable person, such as myself, might dismiss it as his latest … --- ## [Q. about unemployment benefits and offers of rehire at massive pay cut](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-unemployment-benefits-and-offers-of-rehire-at-massive-pay-cut/850745)
**Author:** [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-unemployment-benefits-and-offers-of-rehire-at-massive-pay-cut/850745 "2020-04-01T16:41:24Z")
\*\*Short version: \*\* Does an offer of rehire at a massively reduced salary preclude a claim for unemployment benefits in CT? Long version: My wife works (worked?) for a non-profit organization in Connecticut. She was h… --- ## [Movin' cross country. No local friends, little money, tiny car.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movin-cross-country-no-local-friends-little-money-tiny-car/841329)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movin-cross-country-no-local-friends-little-money-tiny-car/841329 "2020-04-01T16:37:23Z")
Gonna either be the worst or the best decision of my life. Probably the former, but I’m a touch pessimistic. My current job (may I keep it despite current troubles) is a WFH gig but the co. only allows workers in certai… --- ## [Heroes are everywhere . At Costco today........](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-are-everywhere-at-costco-today/850781)
**Author:** [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heroes-are-everywhere-at-costco-today/850781 "2020-04-01T16:09:28Z")
It was my first trip out to Costco since the self isolation, Two guys with spray bottles and rag lined the entrance lobby presenting freshly sanitized carts. As I moved along the aisles with my wife I couldn’t help but … --- ## [My new tuba arrives today! I'm so excited!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-tuba-arrives-today-im-so-excited/848806)
**Author:** [@Jumpbass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jumpbass)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-tuba-arrives-today-im-so-excited/848806 "2020-04-01T15:56:34Z")
\ “I can hardly contain myself!” \ I just got a text saying my new horn should be arriving by the end of the day. It’s a BBb Helicon from Wessex Tubas. Wessex Helicon Helicons are what they based sousaphones o… --- ## [Can the daily death rate be used to determine how many people got infected 3 weeks ago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-daily-death-rate-be-used-to-determine-how-many-people-got-infected-3-weeks-ago/850778)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-daily-death-rate-be-used-to-determine-how-many-people-got-infected-3-weeks-ago/850778 "2020-04-01T15:08:25Z")
I’m guessing there is a term for this in epidemiology and public health I just don’t know what it is or what all goes into the calculation. But if 800 people died today, the virus takes ~3 weeks to kill you and has mayb… --- ## [I just received an automated phone call from my county.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-received-an-automated-phone-call-from-my-county/850693)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-received-an-automated-phone-call-from-my-county/850693 "2020-04-01T13:47:21Z")
I’m in Montgomery County, PA, just outside of Philadelphia. The call said that in this county their are 500 confirmed cases and 6 deaths and that we should not leave our house except for life sustaining necessities. --- ## [Trump's treatment of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-treatment-of-michigan-governor-gretchen-whitmer/850587)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-treatment-of-michigan-governor-gretchen-whitmer/850587 "2020-04-01T13:32:25Z")
I hope Dopers have not missed Trump’s infantile, misogynistic treatment of Gretchen Whitmer, who he can’t seem to muster enough respect for to call her by name. Here are some quotes: So, when he \*does \*invoke her na… --- ## [Speak to me of Maggi](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speak-to-me-of-maggi/831344)
**Author:** [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speak-to-me-of-maggi/831344 "2020-04-01T12:50:32Z")
We get a catalog of German products and one of the items in the fall version was a small bottle of something called Maggi sauce. My husband’s mom is German and he said when he was a kid she always kept a bottle of this s… --- ## [How does one isolate a virus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-isolate-a-virus/850550)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-isolate-a-virus/850550 "2020-04-01T12:47:06Z")
I mean, you don’t just use a tweezers, right? So, how do you gene-sequence something that is undoubtably mixed with all kinds of other DNA? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1945) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1947)