# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=204&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 205 --- ## [Fabric-like material left on newly installed storm grates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabric-like-material-left-on-newly-installed-storm-grates/1024819)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabric-like-material-left-on-newly-installed-storm-grates/1024819 "2025-11-13T13:58:39Z")
A pretty big road project has been going on locally and new drainage and grates were installed. All of the grates have black material sticking up around the edges and I’ve seen a few with what look like orange straps tha… --- ## [THIS is the real, true, massive problem with Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-the-real-true-massive-problem-with-trump/1024592)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 104\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-the-real-true-massive-problem-with-trump/1024592 "2025-11-13T10:46:34Z")
I tried to get former MAGAts talking in my earlier thread but it’s not happening… But it did bring me around to my overriding issue that I think should be everybody’s overriding issue that sweeps everything else off the … --- ## [Do British people have the most words for “stupid”?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-british-people-have-the-most-words-for-stupid/1024704)
**Author:** [@Shitrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shitrisk)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-british-people-have-the-most-words-for-stupid/1024704 "2025-11-13T08:40:42Z")
But then they just have one word for smart. “Brilliant”. Like it’s just a matter of candlepower. --- ## [Just in case you haven't had enough bagpipes in your life lately](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-havent-had-enough-bagpipes-in-your-life-lately/926705)
**Author:** [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Replies:** 159\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-havent-had-enough-bagpipes-in-your-life-lately/926705 "2025-11-13T06:47:14Z")
I’m Scottish, or descended from Scotland at least. I love this stuff. --- ## [Do you know any ICE or Border Patrol agents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-any-ice-or-border-patrol-agents/1024709)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-any-ice-or-border-patrol-agents/1024709 "2025-11-13T06:10:41Z")
If so, what are they like? What do they say about their work today? NOTE: Mods can move this if appropriate - seemed political to me but maybe it belongs in IMHO or MPSIMS. --- ## [Does the state have a monopoly on violence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-a-monopoly-on-violence/1024175)
**Author:** [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Replies:** 155\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-state-have-a-monopoly-on-violence/1024175 "2025-11-13T04:27:12Z")
Continuing the discussion from Red button or blue button dilemma: I do not understand this sentence. Unless I’m mis-understanding, it seems the opposite is true. Have you never heard the term “state monopoly on viol… --- ## [? Natural water holes in creek beds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-water-holes-in-creek-beds/1024789)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-water-holes-in-creek-beds/1024789 "2025-11-13T03:38:11Z")
I have always lived in the city so I don’t have much reference on this. If I had a small creek, maybe 3 ft wide running through my property that was about 4 ft below grade, just for an example. If I were to dig out a cho… --- ## [Did I miss this year's gripes about the Rock and Roll HOF inductees?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-miss-this-years-gripes-about-the-rock-and-roll-hof-inductees/1024769)
**Author:** [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-miss-this-years-gripes-about-the-rock-and-roll-hof-inductees/1024769 "2025-11-13T02:33:24Z")
Just trying to keep up. --- ## [Fictional Birthdays](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-birthdays/1024786)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-birthdays/1024786 "2025-11-13T02:27:34Z")
Celebrating the birthdays of fictional characters, of course. Today is the 113th birthday of Woodrow Wilson Smith, aka Lazarus Long. I would say may he live forever…but that would be redundant. --- ## [Was slavery really a "Major" cause of the Texas revolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-slavery-really-a-major-cause-of-the-texas-revolution/1024483)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-slavery-really-a-major-cause-of-the-texas-revolution/1024483 "2025-11-13T02:04:14Z")
Mexico had officially abolished slavery in Texas in 1829, and the desire of Texians to maintain the institution of chattel slavery in Texas was also a major cause of secession,\[2\]\[3\]\[4\]\[5\]\[6\] although slavery is never … --- ## [10 year old cabot cheddar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-cabot-cheddar/1024678)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-year-old-cabot-cheddar/1024678 "2025-11-12T22:44:35Z")
I found a block of ten year old Cabot cheddar cheese at the supermarket the other day. I’m impressed at how good it is. It’s sour and a little crumbly and has a nice cheddar punch. It makes my eyes water just a little. N… --- ## [Do you use pennies (USA one cent coin)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421)
**Author:** [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Replies:** 249\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-pennies-usa-one-cent-coin/1013421 "2025-11-12T21:38:50Z")
I read recently that a significant number of pennies are not spent. A typical consumer, when they get pennies in change will throw them into a jar or will sometimes throw them in the trash when they get home. The signi… --- ## [44 years ago today, Oregon gave us the bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/44-years-ago-today-oregon-gave-us-the-bird/704457)
**Author:** [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/44-years-ago-today-oregon-gave-us-the-bird/704457 "2025-11-12T20:11:46Z")
If you said “Oregon”, I’d only think of two things, & unbelievably, the both occurred on the exact same day! First, that bruiser, figure skater Tonya Harding was born. To celebrate this most auspicious day, the Oregon … --- ## [NFL Week 10](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-10/1024563)
**Author:** [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-10/1024563 "2025-11-12T18:43:46Z")
And just like that, there are no 1-loss teams. The Steelers built a big lead and hung on to defeat the Colts, while the Panthers, who were double-digit underdogs, shocked the Packers in Lambeau. The Vikings upset the L… --- ## [Are drivers getting worse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-drivers-getting-worse/1024666)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-drivers-getting-worse/1024666 "2025-11-12T16:51:33Z")
Most malls and plazas have an adjacent sidewalk and a two-lane road where you are not supposed to park. You can understand someone occasionally stopping there to pick up a disabled shopper or load or unload larger amoun… --- ## [Aurora australis might be on show tonight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aurora-australis-might-be-on-show-tonight/1024656)
**Author:** [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aurora-australis-might-be-on-show-tonight/1024656 "2025-11-12T16:25:44Z")
Aurora australis is the southern hemisphere’s equivalent of the northern lights (aurora borealis) Bureau of Metrology has issued an alert that “A coronal mass ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the next 48… --- ## [Landing a light plane: why is it hard?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landing-a-light-plane-why-is-it-hard/1024575)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/landing-a-light-plane-why-is-it-hard/1024575 "2025-11-12T16:25:42Z")
In iWoz, Steve Wozniak tells the story of a trip as a passenger in a “small plane” in the 1970s. “So we flew back \[to San Jose\] after lunch – and there it was again, another one of those really, really bouncy landings. … --- ## [What's with the ridiculously long URLS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-ridiculously-long-urls/1024372)
**Author:** [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-ridiculously-long-urls/1024372 "2025-11-12T16:17:25Z")
What’s with really long urls? A lot of times I am looking for a photo to link and the URL for the photo looks like this. I think if you assigned a code number to every quark in the known universe, you wouldn’t need this… --- ## [Great album / awful cover art!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-album-awful-cover-art/953160)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-album-awful-cover-art/953160 "2025-11-12T15:25:19Z")
Your submissions, please, for awful album covers gracing (or, rather, defacing) a great album! --- ## [Any danger in putting a TV in my non-shower bathroom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-danger-in-putting-a-tv-in-my-non-shower-bathroom/1024434)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-danger-in-putting-a-tv-in-my-non-shower-bathroom/1024434 "2025-11-12T15:04:58Z")
I know water vapor in showers can quickly damage a normal TV but this is only for a small restroom with a sink and toilet only. Long story short my father has problems with pooping since he’s getting pretty old and it s… --- ## [On English Royalty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-english-royalty/1024083)
**Author:** [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Replies:** 229\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-english-royalty/1024083 "2025-11-12T04:40:50Z")
If King Charles 3rd should abdicate his crown for health reasons and leave it to Prince William what title would Charles have? King Emeritus? --- ## [Watching Remembrance Day Ottawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-remembrance-day-ottawa/1024776)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-remembrance-day-ottawa/1024776 "2025-11-12T04:11:19Z")
Chief Justice Wagner has just arrived, subbing in for an ailing Gov Gen. He and the Silver Cross mother are escorted to the Cenotaph. PM Carney was already in the assembled group, since he has lesser precedence than th… --- ## [What is your favorite Mexican dinner?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-mexican-dinner/1024080)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-mexican-dinner/1024080 "2025-11-12T02:57:32Z")
Do you have a favorite dinner that you frequently order at a Mexican restaurant? Mine is 1 Cheese Enchilada 1 beef Enchilada 1 taco made with \*\*\*shredded roast beef (if available) Refried beans Tortilla Chips and q… --- ## [Remembrance Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/1010084)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remembrance-day/1010084 "2025-11-12T02:27:33Z")
Watching the Remembrance Day ceremonies on CBC. The veterans just marched past. --- ## [How will the Fallout 4 Anniversary update on Nov. 10 affect mods, and what to do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-fallout-4-anniversary-update-on-nov-10-affect-mods-and-what-to-do/1024567)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-fallout-4-anniversary-update-on-nov-10-affect-mods-and-what-to-do/1024567 "2025-11-12T01:03:22Z")
So, per this thread, I’ve been enjoying a number of quest mods lately in FO4. I recently noticed the game load screen now says “Prior November 10 please disable any mods altering the main menu, as these may break with t… --- ## [The ethics of food stamps (AITA?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 398\ **Last updated:** [November 12, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ethics-of-food-stamps-aita/1011457 "2025-11-12T00:09:00Z")
I have an acquaintance that I text back and forth with. He mentioned that he was going shopping with his new food assistance check, and hoped to buy some caviar. I replied “What is wrong with this picture?” He asked if… --- ## [Ace Frehley (KISS) is on life support (has died, October 16, 2025)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ace-frehley-kiss-is-on-life-support-has-died-october-16-2025/1024037)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ace-frehley-kiss-is-on-life-support-has-died-october-16-2025/1024037 "2025-11-11T23:57:14Z")
Original KISS lead guitarist is on life support after suffering a brain bleed after a fall in his studio a couple of weeks ago. We’re told he’s been on a ventilator for some time, and hasn’t gotten better – so, his f… --- ## [Truth Social AI chatbot -- telling the actual truth, and shredding Trump's lies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-social-ai-chatbot-telling-the-actual-truth-and-shredding-trumps-lies/1024794)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-social-ai-chatbot-telling-the-actual-truth-and-shredding-trumps-lies/1024794 "2025-11-11T23:16:04Z")
If you Google “Truth Social AI chatbot” you will see a lot of stories about this. Apparently this chatbot is telling the truth about such things as January 6, the 2020 election, who is paying for tariffs, the cost of gro… --- ## [A vessel that sails the ocean is seaworthy. A vessel that sails lakes or rivers is …?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vessel-that-sails-the-ocean-is-seaworthy-a-vessel-that-sails-lakes-or-rivers-is/1024779 "2025-11-11T22:44:09Z")
Do we still use the term “seaworthy “ if a vessel traverses, say, the Great Lakes? Did the crew of the Edmond Fitzgerald deem her “seaworthy” before setting off? --- ## [Is the AGI risk getting a bit overstated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-agi-risk-getting-a-bit-overstated/1023871)
**Author:** [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Replies:** 197\ **Last updated:** [November 11, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-agi-risk-getting-a-bit-overstated/1023871 "2025-11-11T22:34:52Z")
I recently watched this video: https://youtu.be/5KVDDfAkRgc?si=QtWhoQS1mZXTXw8o A common plot point in these sorts of discussions is exponential increases in capability. In this video, exponential improvement is contras… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=203&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=205&state=watching)