# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1995 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1996 --- ## [Why is the Fed planning to cut rates next week?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-fed-planning-to-cut-rates-next-week/848683)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-fed-planning-to-cut-rates-next-week/848683 "2020-03-01T16:20:39Z")
This makes no sense to me at all. How can rates spur economic activity when the reason for the slow down is fear of illness and restrictions on travel (and human interaction, in general)? And if global and local supply… --- ## [California crop wipeout?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-crop-wipeout/848735)
**Author:** [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-crop-wipeout/848735 "2020-03-01T16:14:01Z")
No rain in California for the first February in 150 years. It feels like an early spring, and I see many fruit and nut trees blossoming already. Beautiful! But atmospheric rivers, the Pineapple or Arctic Express sort, ca… --- ## [Could this work? (Company naming question)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-work-company-naming-question/848677)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-work-company-naming-question/848677 "2020-03-01T16:02:41Z")
Could two guys, let’s call one of them Bill Dunder and the other John Mifflin, get together and form a paper company called Dunder Mifflin Paper Company? They would certainly be accused of playing off of the now-famous T… --- ## [In which bad, bad, bad Beck is hiding. (Soooooo many people)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-bad-bad-bad-beck-is-hiding-soooooo-many-people/848738)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-bad-bad-bad-beck-is-hiding-soooooo-many-people/848738 "2020-03-01T14:20:13Z")
The whole bunch, plus extras, are about my house. Shhhh! I’m playing ‘hide and seek’ with kiddoes. I changed the rules. I hide, 8 children all under age 9 look for me. He-he. They don’t know the hiding places in this h… --- ## [Captain Nemo's "Scotch" organ music?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-nemos-scotch-organ-music/848397)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/captain-nemos-scotch-organ-music/848397 "2020-03-01T06:48:36Z")
The best I could do for a clickbait title. Sorry. A combination literary/musical question, this time: in Verne’s original 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, a character witnessing Captain Nemo performing on his signature pipe… --- ## [Impossible ID? This 50s/60s kids' story collection](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impossible-id-this-50s-60s-kids-story-collection/579471)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impossible-id-this-50s-60s-kids-story-collection/579471 "2020-03-01T05:42:28Z")
The sheer implausibility of success has kept me from posting this for a while, but what the heck…I’ve seen some amazing things on SDMB. In the late 60s/early 70s I had some books that were sort of Time Life-style: hard … --- ## [Should serving hot dogs with ketchup rather than mustard & relish be punished by death?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-serving-hot-dogs-with-ketchup-rather-than-mustard-relish-be-punished-by-death/848609)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-serving-hot-dogs-with-ketchup-rather-than-mustard-relish-be-punished-by-death/848609 "2020-03-01T05:31:45Z")
Please explain your answer. Poll coming. --- ## [What if we let AI take over the legislative role](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-we-let-ai-take-over-the-legislative-role/848106)
**Author:** [@NotFromWuhan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotFromWuhan)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-we-let-ai-take-over-the-legislative-role/848106 "2020-03-01T03:53:04Z")
There’s probably a concept coined for it but… What if Artificial Intelligent will take over role of politicians, but executive will be done by the people - direct democracy. AI role is to research and advice. --- ## [What car(s) did I see?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-car-s-did-i-see/839711)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-car-s-did-i-see/839711 "2020-03-01T03:33:37Z")
I saw 2 cars in a garage. Didn’t see any more than the back. 1 was a lime green Chevy, badged XLV. I assume it is a limited edition Camaro convertible. The other, I have no idea. The rear seemed perfectly rectangula… --- ## [YouTube removing the old layout completely](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-removing-the-old-layout-completely/848664)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-removing-the-old-layout-completely/848664 "2020-03-01T01:17:05Z")
I recently read that YouTube will be removing the old layout completely. Will that affect the mobile site too, or just the desktop version? I assume there is no such update/redesign for mobile version, it is already a mo… --- ## [How about THAT! It actually works!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-that-it-actually-works/848531)
**Author:** [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-about-that-it-actually-works/848531 "2020-03-01T00:07:38Z")
Per Beckdawrek’s request, she wants me to start more threads. Or something like that. Anyway, we are drowning in consumer products. TV ads, Internet, phone calls, mail order catalogs, ads on buses, in-flight magazines i… --- ## [atmospheric reentry images](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-reentry-images/848722)
**Author:** [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atmospheric-reentry-images/848722 "2020-02-29T23:00:38Z")
Beautiful images from this 2014 Orion reentry footage. Very nice sequence of images, all the way to splashdown. --- ## [Is it too late to recruit Howard Dean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-recruit-howard-dean/848594)
**Author:** [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-too-late-to-recruit-howard-dean/848594 "2020-02-29T21:55:53Z")
Come November, I think the most important issue will be responding to the coronavirus. In this case, people might be more receptive to an MD than an MBA. At the very least, he’d be a great VP choice. Does he have any si… --- ## [Were there any lasting positive impacts of the pink tide in latin america a decade ago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-lasting-positive-impacts-of-the-pink-tide-in-latin-america-a-decade-ago/848714)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-any-lasting-positive-impacts-of-the-pink-tide-in-latin-america-a-decade-ago/848714 "2020-02-29T20:34:00Z")
About a decade ago a lot of latin america moved towards the left politically beacuse of unhappiness with neoliberal economics. With the rise of people like Sanders in the US, I’m wondering if there were any lasting posi… --- ## [Daughter sneaking alcohol. Response?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daughter-sneaking-alcohol-response/717234)
**Author:** [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/daughter-sneaking-alcohol-response/717234 "2020-02-29T19:24:15Z")
My wife went into my daughter’s room to look for a lost object. She found two empty bottles of Mike’s Hard Lemonade under the bed. We don’t know if both were drunk by her or by her and her friend that stayed the night … --- ## [Authors with writing style like Hemingway](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-with-writing-style-like-hemingway/847336)
**Author:** [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/authors-with-writing-style-like-hemingway/847336 "2020-02-29T19:15:14Z")
I have a friend in prison (LWOP) who is a reader and a writer. Hemingway is his favorite author. But, obviously, he has read all of Hemingway’s published works. Which other authors’ works would be a good fit to send? … --- ## [You Can Choose Three Staples](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-choose-three-staples/848467)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-choose-three-staples/848467 "2020-02-29T18:55:44Z")
Something I wonder about Due to some circumstance (wishes from a Genie, deal with the devil- ? don’t fight the hypothetical) you have to select the only three staples for a new earth. Which three do you choose, and why?… --- ## [When The Public Imitates Movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-public-imitates-movies/848659)
**Author:** [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-public-imitates-movies/848659 "2020-02-29T18:17:35Z")
Although it is often reported that A Clockwork Orange was ‘banned’ in the United Kingdom, the removal of the movie was actually Kubrick’s own choice. … The association of real-world acts of violence with the movie was de… --- ## [No-paradox time travel is invented. Should it be shared with the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-paradox-time-travel-is-invented-should-it-be-shared-with-the-world/847803)
**Author:** [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-paradox-time-travel-is-invented-should-it-be-shared-with-the-world/847803 "2020-02-29T17:58:46Z")
Imagine that you’re hyper-genius friend QUERCUS SHOSANNA reveals to you that she has invented a time machine. Quercus’s technique is subject to the Novikov self-consistency principle, (Novikov self-consistency principle … --- ## [Photoshop Elements 2020 - Mac](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photoshop-elements-2020-mac/848679)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photoshop-elements-2020-mac/848679 "2020-02-29T15:53:31Z")
I rarely use a photo editor – and then only to add captions – so I need some help. \[ul\]\[li\]Photoshop Elements 2020\[/li\]\[li\]MacBook Pro\[/li\]\[li\]MacOS Mojave version 10.14.6\[/ul\]\[/li\] I want to take two images and merge … --- ## [So my programmable thermostat exploded](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-programmable-thermostat-exploded/848628)
**Author:** [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-programmable-thermostat-exploded/848628 "2020-02-29T15:51:22Z")
Installed a Lux brand programmable (not “smart”) thermostat last year. Worked fine until I got home today and attempted to adjust the temperature. It refused to turn on the heat, so I checked the batteries and tried to r… --- ## [Who would be the most "disruptive" to the politics system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-most-disruptive-to-the-politics-system/848663)
**Author:** [@Marcus\_Flavius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus_Flavius)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-most-disruptive-to-the-politics-system/848663 "2020-02-29T15:48:38Z")
Trump has been the most “disruptive” president we’ve ever had. His presidency so far has been essentially endless scandal and he’s been able to paralyze the government with his distruption. Out of the democratic candidat… --- ## [Republicans are ALWAYS the REAL victims! :rolleyes:](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-are-always-the-real-victims-rolleyes/823506)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-are-always-the-real-victims-rolleyes/823506 "2020-02-29T15:47:53Z")
I’m getting sick of this shit, so I’m starting a thread to post examples of Republicans using this ploy. Here’s the first entry, from New Hampshire. Yeah, she did nothing… nothing except learn a new language and cultu… --- ## [Khadaji's Whatcha Reading Thread - February 2020 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadajis-whatcha-reading-thread-february-2020-edition/847240 "2020-02-29T15:21:06Z")
February, 1/12 of the way through this year! We had spring in the Rocky Mountains for two days now winter is back. Dammit Demeter get a grip! I am reading, and being terribly underwhelmed by, The Psychology of Time Trav… --- ## [Congratulations, Heaven Fitch! (High school wrestling champ!)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-heaven-fitch-high-school-wrestling-champ/848604)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congratulations-heaven-fitch-high-school-wrestling-champ/848604 "2020-02-29T15:09:46Z")
Story here. Picture here. You go, girl! Good job! --- ## [Help ID a book I read as a kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-a-book-i-read-as-a-kid/848584)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-a-book-i-read-as-a-kid/848584 "2020-02-29T15:01:01Z")
Back in the 60’s, when I was in grade school, I read a book I liked then but lost track of. I’d like to see it again to see how, all these years later, I would view it now. It was a book for kids my age, grade school o… --- ## [Joan Baez is a national treasure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joan-baez-is-a-national-treasure/848639)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joan-baez-is-a-national-treasure/848639 "2020-02-29T14:42:28Z")
This is two threads in one: (1) Please submit nominations for the best YouTubes of Joan Baez singing. (2) Poll Question: Is Joan Baez a splendid singer and one of the greatest living American activists? . . . (a) Yes,… --- ## [Biden arrested trying see Nelson Mandela?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-arrested-trying-see-nelson-mandela/848523)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-arrested-trying-see-nelson-mandela/848523 "2020-02-29T14:33:58Z")
Is there any truth at all to this? Is there anything resembling any sort of truth in this? Wouldn’t that have been a major international incident for South Africa to arrest a sitting United States Senator? If this s… --- ## [Airline passenger etiquette: reclining your seat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-passenger-etiquette-reclining-your-seat/848044)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 215\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airline-passenger-etiquette-reclining-your-seat/848044 "2020-02-29T14:17:10Z")
I fly quite a bit. I often recline my seat after reaching altitude and don’t think twice about it. But a recent news story suggests I’m being rude in doing so. At the very least, according to Delta’s CEO, I should ask pe… --- ## [It's been a while since I had a good spit-take.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-since-i-had-a-good-spit-take/848702)
**Author:** [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 29, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-been-a-while-since-i-had-a-good-spit-take/848702 "2020-02-29T14:09:38Z")
I’m eating breakfast at my local diner this morning. Sharing a table with several friends, swapping stories and news, drinking coffee by the gallon and just easing into the morning. Usually we tend to skip over the polit… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1994) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=1996)