# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=198&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 199 --- ## [Spammimic: Fun, but how is the message encoded?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammimic-fun-but-how-is-the-message-encoded/238232)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spammimic-fun-but-how-is-the-message-encoded/238232 "2025-11-20T22:03:39Z")
Ever heard of Spam Mimic? Researching Steganography recently, I ran across this interesting site, spammimic.com. Anyone can type a short message and have it encoded into spam-like text. For example, “Now is the time” … --- ## [Old-timers; what is "meat sauce" in this recipe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-what-is-meat-sauce-in-this-recipe/1001667)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-what-is-meat-sauce-in-this-recipe/1001667 "2025-11-20T22:01:04Z")
I’m part of a Facebook group that shares recipe cards from the '50s and '60s - a strange, dark time in American history, when “spicy” meant using salt and pepper, mayonnaise was considered one of the basic food groups, a… --- ## [TV Workplaces Feud (ends November 19th)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-workplaces-feud-ends-november-19th/1024820)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-workplaces-feud-ends-november-19th/1024820 "2025-11-20T18:22:11Z")
DO NOT READ THIS THREAD BEFORE YOU POST YOUR ANSWERS Object of the game: Give the most popular answer for each category. You want to match the other people in the game. Rules: As stated above, do not read the other p… --- ## [Would you cash a check for a penny?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-cash-a-check-for-a-penny/959571)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-cash-a-check-for-a-penny/959571 "2025-11-20T17:51:26Z")
My husband got a check because apparently we overpaid the bill from one of the providers for his knee replacement. Yes, it was for a penny. It was printed, put in an envelope, and mailed to us. 1¢ I’m thinking I might … --- ## [Can somebody explain this Washington Commanders stereotype?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-somebody-explain-this-washington-commanders-stereotype/1025002)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-somebody-explain-this-washington-commanders-stereotype/1025002 "2025-11-20T17:23:38Z")
There’s a YouTube comedian Tom Grossi who posts videos about the NFL season. He dresses up as a fan of the various teams. In most cases, he just wears a team jersey but for some of them he adds some extra props, like hav… --- ## [Help me with the Shop app](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-the-shop-app/1024995)
**Author:** [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-the-shop-app/1024995 "2025-11-20T16:33:59Z")
What is happening with the Shop app? I use it mostly to track shipments, but now I’m looking at a website and it gives me the option to buy with Shop, and it has my credit card number. If I use the app, it has a differen… --- ## [Where can I find helpful tips on changing fundamental habits / qualities?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-helpful-tips-on-changing-fundamental-habits-qualities/1024764)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-helpful-tips-on-changing-fundamental-habits-qualities/1024764 "2025-11-20T15:49:24Z")
To make a long story short, I’ve always been inclined towards inertia in my life. I prefer to stay still and save effort; this plus a habit of impulsiveness and a general problem with motivation has caused issues in vari… --- ## [Longest lasting first marriages of celebrities](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-first-marriages-of-celebrities/480978)
**Author:** [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-lasting-first-marriages-of-celebrities/480978 "2025-11-20T15:24:27Z")
Simple rules: It has to be a legal marriage still standing or ending with the death of one of the spouses, it has to be a first marriage for both parties, and at least one party has to be a celebrity. To use the two mos… --- ## [Have you ever eaten at a Michelin-star restaurant (asked originally in 2018, I figured we'd revisit it)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-michelin-star-restaurant-asked-originally-in-2018-i-figured-wed-revisit-it/1024576)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-eaten-at-a-michelin-star-restaurant-asked-originally-in-2018-i-figured-wed-revisit-it/1024576 "2025-11-20T13:54:39Z")
Seven years have passed since I last asked this question. Since then we’ve had Dopers come and go, and of course, our experiences may have changed. So I ask again: have you ever eaten at a restaurant with a Michelin star… --- ## [How many shuffles of a deck before it's back in the original order?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-shuffles-of-a-deck-before-its-back-in-the-original-order/1024852)
**Author:** [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-shuffles-of-a-deck-before-its-back-in-the-original-order/1024852 "2025-11-20T13:48:20Z")
Suppose I had a brand new deck of cards, still in factory order. Assuming a “perfect” shuffle (deck cut exactly on half, then exactly one card from each stack interlaced together, then repeated), how many shuffles would … --- ## [What exactly changes when Congress declares war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-changes-when-congress-declares-war/1024982)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-changes-when-congress-declares-war/1024982 "2025-11-20T13:18:07Z")
It seems like the President has a lot of freedom under the War Powers Act to conduct war without an actual declaration of war. It seems to me that someone could commit treason (as per the Constitution) without a formal … --- ## [Splitting the G?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splitting-the-g/1024990)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splitting-the-g/1024990 "2025-11-20T13:06:24Z")
I don’t drink very much or spend a lot of time stomping in bars. The best beer on tap is often Guinness, which I have drank for many years. Perhaps a year ago, barflies started mentioning “splitting the G” when they sa… --- ## [Amazon shipping infinite loop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-shipping-infinite-loop/1024983)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-shipping-infinite-loop/1024983 "2025-11-20T12:54:56Z")
Just curious – what’s up with those Amazon orders when the delivery tracker starts reporting that they are bouncing back and forth between a facility near me and a facility hundreds or thousands of miles away? By the tim… --- ## [Micro preemie was born at less than 2 pounds, in April, she’s now at home](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-preemie-was-born-at-less-than-2-pounds-in-april-she-s-now-at-home/1024568)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/micro-preemie-was-born-at-less-than-2-pounds-in-april-she-s-now-at-home/1024568 "2025-11-20T06:41:54Z")
Welcome Trinity! Trinity the micro preemie, on Long Island NY. Amazing story ➜ Micro-preemie heads home after spending nea… --- ## [In the (US) military, is it forbidden, or considered dishonorable, to relieve a dead enemy's corpse of his valuables?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-military-is-it-forbidden-or-considered-dishonorable-to-relieve-a-dead-enemys-corpse-of-his-valuables/1024167)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-us-military-is-it-forbidden-or-considered-dishonorable-to-relieve-a-dead-enemys-corpse-of-his-valuables/1024167 "2025-11-20T04:58:53Z")
That’s basically it. Are US servicemen and -women forbidden, or at the very least discouraged, from taking things from the corpses of slain enemies? A guy I knew in junior high school had a WWII German officers’ sword th… --- ## [Voice modulation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voice-modulation/1024962)
**Author:** [@mglambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mglambo)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voice-modulation/1024962 "2025-11-20T04:16:48Z")
I play guitar and sing in what is basically a garage band with two friends. We do small gigs occasionally. Myself on vocals and acoustic guitar, one friend on electric guitar and the other friend on bass. My vocal rang… --- ## [Removal from the court room](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-from-the-court-room/1024933)
**Author:** [@Humbagger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humbagger)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removal-from-the-court-room/1024933 "2025-11-20T03:06:40Z")
Can a US judge order the defendant to be removed from the court room for most of or the entire trial? Let’s assume a criminal offence, a defendant that wants to be present in the court room and a sufficiently disruptive … --- ## [Hitler's DNA shows he had an incomplete puberty, may have had a micropenis, and was likely schizophrenic and/or bipolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitlers-dna-shows-he-had-an-incomplete-puberty-may-have-had-a-micropenis-and-was-likely-schizophrenic-and-or-bipolar/1024822)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2025, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hitlers-dna-shows-he-had-an-incomplete-puberty-may-have-had-a-micropenis-and-was-likely-schizophrenic-and-or-bipolar/1024822 "2025-11-20T02:46:05Z")
So says a new study to be detailed in an upcoming documentary. A 1923 medical examination of Hitler, which was uncovered in 2015, showed that the Nazi leader did indeed have an undescended testicle but, while we do n… --- ## ['What do you make of this?' (A thread for recipes with stuff you have)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-make-of-this-a-thread-for-recipes-with-stuff-you-have/1024883)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-make-of-this-a-thread-for-recipes-with-stuff-you-have/1024883 "2025-11-19T23:53:32Z")
Have ingredients you’re not sure what to do with? Post here. I’ll start. Avocados, a tomato, and a red onion. --- ## [Building code for internet infrastructure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-code-for-internet-infrastructure/1024977)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-code-for-internet-infrastructure/1024977 "2025-11-19T23:02:43Z")
As I was hearing about the news about CloudFlare going down on the heels of the outage of the AWS us-east-1 region, I was wondering if there should be a code for internet infrastructure similar to that for the constructi… --- ## [Recommend me some music](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-music/373877)
**Author:** [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-music/373877 "2025-11-19T22:31:27Z")
My brother gave me a $30 iTunes card for my birthday and I think I need to expand my musical horizons a little bit. What I like: Choral music, particularly a capella and men’s chorus Interesting instrumental stuff Th… --- ## [Disney World - take or send the grandkids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disney-world-take-or-send-the-grandkids/1013078)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disney-world-take-or-send-the-grandkids/1013078 "2025-11-19T20:24:00Z")
One of our 3 kids lives near us and has 2 daughters, aged 5 and 9 - our only grandkids. They are comfortable but not terribly flush. We’ve discussed taking their family with us on vacations. Next summer we are all goi… --- ## [Proper Diet for Elevated Triglycerides?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-diet-for-elevated-triglycerides/1024970)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-diet-for-elevated-triglycerides/1024970 "2025-11-19T20:23:24Z")
My last blood test came back shockingly normal with the exception of slightly elevated triglycerides. I didn’t get a lot of direction from my doctor beyond, “Eat a low fat diet.” Now I’ve read a lot of nutrition books … --- ## [Grilled cheese sandwich enhancer drops 11/6/2025](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-enhancer-drops-11-6-2025/1024614)
**Author:** [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-enhancer-drops-11-6-2025/1024614 "2025-11-19T20:04:21Z")
First, let’s establish two facts about grilled cheese sandwiches: The bread must be buttery Mayo must also be spread on the outside of the bread for crispness and even more flavor These are facts, not opinions, and if… --- ## [Why do gold nuggets exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gold-nuggets-exist/1024966)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-gold-nuggets-exist/1024966 "2025-11-19T18:50:22Z")
From Chapter 19 of In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson, copyright 2000: “Here, near the \[west Australian\] coast, there are a few towns and quite a lot of visible farming, but head inland over the pale green hills to … --- ## [What is the breakdown by weight of the elements in the food we eat each year?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-breakdown-by-weight-of-the-elements-in-the-food-we-eat-each-year/1024984)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-breakdown-by-weight-of-the-elements-in-the-food-we-eat-each-year/1024984 "2025-11-19T17:18:05Z")
Just something I started to wonder about while staring at the nutrition panel on this morning’s cereal. We consume stuff every day (pretty much) in the form of food and drink and we mostly talk about it in terms like fa… --- ## [Do they really turn off a theatrical movie if there's nobody watching?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-turn-off-a-theatrical-movie-if-theres-nobody-watching/1024821)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-turn-off-a-theatrical-movie-if-theres-nobody-watching/1024821 "2025-11-19T16:59:27Z")
Saw this on Reddit, but somebody said they were theater hopping and went into a theater with literally nobody in it when the movie started. After 15 minutes of the movie the screen suddenly turned off and all the lights … --- ## [Why is Saudi Arabia killing a journalist such a big issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-saudi-arabia-killing-a-journalist-such-a-big-issue/822880)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-saudi-arabia-killing-a-journalist-such-a-big-issue/822880 "2025-11-19T16:01:56Z")
I haven’t been following the news lately, but the murder of a Saudi journalist in Turkey is coming up a lot. But why is this different than all the other oppression of journalists all over the world? Russia kills lots o… --- ## [Need a little lift? Check out the reviews for Ryan Murphy’s new show All’s Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-little-lift-check-out-the-reviews-for-ryan-murphy-s-new-show-all-s-fair/1024972)
**Author:** [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-little-lift-check-out-the-reviews-for-ryan-murphy-s-new-show-all-s-fair/1024972 "2025-11-19T14:44:23Z")
Now technically this could be a good show. It’s by Ryan Murphy. It has Glenn Close. Sarah Paulson and Naomi Watts. (However it also stars Kim Kardashian). Audiences don’t hate it. It has a 65% audience score on rotten to… --- ## [Successful albums, but the success was primarily due to someone other than the artist or band](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-albums-but-the-success-was-primarily-due-to-someone-other-than-the-artist-or-band/1024778)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [November 19, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/successful-albums-but-the-success-was-primarily-due-to-someone-other-than-the-artist-or-band/1024778 "2025-11-19T13:40:39Z")
A couple I can think of: Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf. It was more of a Jim Steinman album than a Meat Loaf (Marvin Aday) album. Subsequent albums by Meat Loaf without Steinman were poorly received. Transformer by Lou … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=197&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=199&state=muted)