# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1965 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1966 --- ## [How do we tell if social distancing is working?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-tell-if-social-distancing-is-working/849479)
**Author:** [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-tell-if-social-distancing-is-working/849479 "2020-03-22T13:21:22Z")
After we all spend the next two weeks at home with our stacks of toilet paper and cleaning supplies what are medical professionals are looking for to say we can all go out again? --- ## [In musicals where two groups sing different parts of the song simultaneously](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617)
**Author:** [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-musicals-where-two-groups-sing-different-parts-of-the-song-simultaneously/328617 "2020-03-22T12:37:11Z")
Am I the only one who finds this really irritating? One example is in Fiddler on the Roof, during the “Tradition” song, when after the papas, mamas, sons, and daughters sing their verse, they all sing it again, but simu… --- ## [Do not attempt to make hand sanitizer out of alcoholic beverages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-attempt-to-make-hand-sanitizer-out-of-alcoholic-beverages/849918)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-not-attempt-to-make-hand-sanitizer-out-of-alcoholic-beverages/849918 "2020-03-22T12:18:18Z")
It doesn’t work. Most spirits are too diluted to be effective. You do not have the extra materials or knowledge to make it into the right kind of emulsified gel. Most likely you’ll just drink the alcohol, ending up… --- ## [Rural area chore / work that you hate the most](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rural-area-chore-work-that-you-hate-the-most/849471)
**Author:** [@Biggus\_Richard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggus_Richard)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rural-area-chore-work-that-you-hate-the-most/849471 "2020-03-22T12:17:13Z")
My personal choice is neutering male lambs and cutting off their tails. But one real stinker I saw in Germany involved double-handling (or triple?) cow manure for making fuel bricks. Before the snow falls, a big pit is… --- ## [Jello Salad: Threat Or Abomination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jello-salad-threat-or-abomination/849841)
**Author:** [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jello-salad-threat-or-abomination/849841 "2020-03-22T11:59:17Z")
I was reminded today of a dark time in American cuisine. For some reason, during the post WWII era, there seemed to be an intense desire on the part of some Americans to do weird things with commercial gelatin. Many of… --- ## [What will things be like in 6 mos? 12 mos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-things-be-like-in-6-mos-12-mos/849896)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-things-be-like-in-6-mos-12-mos/849896 "2020-03-22T11:31:29Z")
Does anyone have any thoughts as to what society will be like some months in the future? Feel free to answer best case vs worst case scenarios. How many people will have died from COVID19? Will we still be on some for… --- ## [Seldom-heard gems that you eventually home in on to truly appreciate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seldom-heard-gems-that-you-eventually-home-in-on-to-truly-appreciate/850010)
**Author:** [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seldom-heard-gems-that-you-eventually-home-in-on-to-truly-appreciate/850010 "2020-03-22T08:49:50Z")
(No amount of google-fu’ing was successful on this, despite my recollections that there was a similar thread, that I was gonna de-zombify to post this): I heard Fastball’s “The Way” maybe twice over its twenty year span… --- ## [Long Delays and Timeouts are Common Now](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-delays-and-timeouts-are-common-now/850011)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-delays-and-timeouts-are-common-now/850011 "2020-03-22T06:51:35Z")
Wow, this message board has really ground to a halt recently. Almost impossible to use. Long delays and timeouts, and double posts. Please roll back to a version that worked a year ago. Whatever improvements you are maki… --- ## [Your Democratic Primary Candidate Power Rankings: Post 'em here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-democratic-primary-candidate-power-rankings-post-em-here/836148)
**Author:** [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Replies:** 340\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-democratic-primary-candidate-power-rankings-post-em-here/836148 "2020-03-22T05:40:36Z")
I already posted mine (as of yesterday) on another thread but didn’t want to consume that thread with debates about my rankings, so I’ll start a thread. My rankings basically include data from the most recent five polls… --- ## [Search engines (like Google) can't index SDMB ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-engines-like-google-cant-index-sdmb/849944)
**Author:** [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-engines-like-google-cant-index-sdmb/849944 "2020-03-22T04:31:07Z")
I noticed another thing just now: Searching with Google for posts I recently made, I can’t find them. I’m suspecting that the search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo can’t index SDMB very thoroughly because their web c… --- ## [Help with Dell integrated webcam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-dell-integrated-webcam/849917)
**Author:** [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-dell-integrated-webcam/849917 "2020-03-22T03:47:58Z")
I have a Dell Inspiron 7786 2-in-1 laptop running Windows 10. It supposedly includes an integrated webcam and I can see the camera lens at the top of my screen, but I have never tried to use it before. When I try to us… --- ## [3-15 Dem Debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-15-dem-debate/849552)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 146\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-15-dem-debate/849552 "2020-03-22T03:36:43Z")
Didn’t see a thread, so I thought I would start one. Biden starts out safe… --- ## [Congress Critters who sold their stocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-critters-who-sold-their-stocks/849894)
**Author:** [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congress-critters-who-sold-their-stocks/849894 "2020-03-22T03:32:31Z")
I’ve seen calls for resignations and investigations… I …don’t see anything illegal done. I’m fairly sure the virus was public knowledge when they sold. As for 'had private meetings with experts who warned them" SO? Lot… --- ## [12-18 months of social distancing realistic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-18-months-of-social-distancing-realistic/849986)
**Author:** [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-18-months-of-social-distancing-realistic/849986 "2020-03-22T03:27:32Z")
A interesting perspective: I Spent a Year in Space, and I Have Tips on Isolation to Share Take it from someone who couldn’t: Go outside. By Scott Kelly Mr. Kelly is a retired NASA astronaut who spent nearly a year on… --- ## [I wanna be the good uncle, but... (hairdresser help needed)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wanna-be-the-good-uncle-but-hairdresser-help-needed/849619)
**Author:** [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wanna-be-the-good-uncle-but-hairdresser-help-needed/849619 "2020-03-22T03:19:36Z")
As a rule, I usually keep my hair cut quite short. If it’s long enough that I need to comb it, it’s time for a haircut. Due to a variety of lazy excuses though, it’s gotten quite long by my standards. I’m maybe a month a… --- ## [backpacking advice (what to take/what not to take)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backpacking-advice-what-to-take-what-not-to-take/207193)
**Author:** [@nickannan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nickannan)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [October 18, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backpacking-advice-what-to-take-what-not-to-take/207193 "2003-10-18T06:50:12Z")
afternoon So, i may soon be off backpacking about in Europe, actually mainly in Spain. What i am trying to work out is what i need to take, the balance between carrying too much and having to find a laundrette every th… --- ## [Trump's bungling of Covid-19 -- worse than Reagan's on AIDS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-bungling-of-covid-19-worse-than-reagans-on-aids/849717)
**Author:** [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-bungling-of-covid-19-worse-than-reagans-on-aids/849717 "2020-03-22T01:58:49Z")
Two recent Republican Presidents have grossly failed to deal with global pandemic diseases: Reagan with AIDS and now Trump with Covid-19. Which is worse? I’mleaning to say Trump’s response is worse, because his firing … --- ## [Mayor of Los Angeles Projects 56% infection](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayor-of-los-angeles-projects-56-infection/849867)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayor-of-los-angeles-projects-56-infection/849867 "2020-03-22T01:47:46Z")
What makes Los Angeles so different from China? Does he know something we don’t? That would be over 25 million in Ca!!! --- ## [How did Spanish flu end?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-spanish-flu-end/849988)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-spanish-flu-end/849988 "2020-03-22T01:11:29Z")
Specifically, how did it totally disappear? Why didn’t it just continue to infect newborns and pockets of people who had somehow escaped it? I recall hearing of an expedition to northern Norway to dig up frozen graves … --- ## [resolved - I will no longer hate Trump supporters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-will-no-longer-hate-trump-supporters/848715)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-i-will-no-longer-hate-trump-supporters/848715 "2020-03-22T01:10:46Z")
I saw a clip of Trump at a rally rambling on in his idiotic rambling way and I saw his MAGA-hat-wearing-morons cheering on every word as it they were coming from the mountaintop and as usual I wanted to shout at the scre… --- ## [Are you able to sew surgical masks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-able-to-sew-surgical-masks/849890)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-able-to-sew-surgical-masks/849890 "2020-03-22T01:07:02Z")
PDF facemask pattern: https://bit.ly/2J43QVY --- ## [anyone ever listen to Pieta Brown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-listen-to-pieta-brown/849990)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-listen-to-pieta-brown/849990 "2020-03-22T00:30:53Z")
I think she is brilliant, should be a big star. Instead she plays on in obscurity. Here is a live version of one of her better songs. Particulary appropriate these dark days. "Weight of the world is getting heavy, rest… --- ## [Serious Question - Are Trump Supporters Brainwashed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-are-trump-supporters-brainwashed/849808)
**Author:** [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-question-are-trump-supporters-brainwashed/849808 "2020-03-22T00:16:06Z")
So I am both mystified and fascinated at the frequency and boldness with which Trump will just flat out lie and how his base seems completely unphased by it. I did a tiny experiment with my (only) 3 hardcore republican … --- ## [Where is our Beckdawrek report?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-our-beckdawrek-report/849618)
**Author:** [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2020, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-our-beckdawrek-report/849618 "2020-03-21T23:31:59Z")
Please don’t tell me Hilda broke our girl? This world is in bad enough shape, we NEEDS our Bekkers! ~VOW --- ## [Secret Eggs, Over Easy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-eggs-over-easy/849934)
**Author:** [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-eggs-over-easy/849934 "2020-03-21T23:28:13Z")
There was a knock on the door of my dorm room, that day back in ‘82, and my roommate answered it. Standing outside in the hall were three young men with bloodshot eyes and a demeanor of gentle pain. One wore a bathrobe, … --- ## [Thermometer questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermometer-questions/849956)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermometer-questions/849956 "2020-03-21T22:34:41Z")
We have a digital Braun (in the ear) that is around 22 years old now. Fresh 9 volt battery in it. My readings have been around 95.1°f and my wife using a different cover read 95.3°f Neither of us feel warm to the hand … --- ## [Anybody else feeling a bit hostile?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-feeling-a-bit-hostile/849739)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-feeling-a-bit-hostile/849739 "2020-03-21T22:16:45Z")
I normally pay close attention to my own moods but this one kind of crept up on me. Even before this virus thing I started noticing people driving a little more aggressively and being more impatient than usual (not just… --- ## [Having a new baby in the midst of a pandemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-new-baby-in-the-midst-of-a-pandemic/849928)
**Author:** [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-new-baby-in-the-midst-of-a-pandemic/849928 "2020-03-21T22:12:56Z")
… is much more stressful than we could ever imagine. We welcomed a baby girl today. The hospitals policies are changing almost hourly. My wife has had a nagging cough last 10 days, nobody thinks it’s the virus, due to no… --- ## [Vegas, Baby](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-baby/849062)
**Author:** [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegas-baby/849062 "2020-03-21T21:00:16Z")
The wife and I will spend a few days in Vegas next month, assuming we’re let out of Hawaii – who knows what will be happening at that time? – and the coronavirus be damned. I’m not all that concerned with the coronavirus… --- ## [Area in WV where cellphones are banned](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-in-wv-where-cellphones-are-banned/849962)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/area-in-wv-where-cellphones-are-banned/849962 "2020-03-21T20:45:09Z")
And a lot of other stuff is banned too. Because of a big radio telescope. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1964) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1966)