# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=213&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 214 --- ## [New novel by Thomas Pynchon, Shadow Ticket, to be released 10/07/25!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-novel-by-thomas-pynchon-shadow-ticket-to-be-released-10-07-25/1016834)
**Author:** [@Hoops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoops)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-novel-by-thomas-pynchon-shadow-ticket-to-be-released-10-07-25/1016834 "2025-10-29T08:23:29Z")
Clocking in at a comparatively short 384 pages, it apparently is another detective novel, taking place in the 30s and exploring locations as disparate as Milwaukee and Hungary. It will be his ninth novel and comes 12 … --- ## [X/X Spring, Montana - what is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-x-spring-montana-what-is-it/1024240)
**Author:** [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-x-spring-montana-what-is-it/1024240 "2025-10-29T03:39:39Z")
X/X Spring, Carter County, Montana 57724 While in recuperation I was reading through and mapping out a trip diary. I noticed this location with a curious name a bit off the beaten path which I travelled a couple of year… --- ## [Advice on dealing with cursing in the workplace](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-dealing-with-cursing-in-the-workplace/1024288)
**Author:** [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-dealing-with-cursing-in-the-workplace/1024288 "2025-10-29T01:20:16Z")
I have a new employee who curses loudly and excessively at my workplace (a big box home improvement retailer). Literally hardly a single sentence that comes out of his mouth contains a profanity (the “F” word and all it’… --- ## [No no no. Just...NO! (Supplement question..so many questions)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-no-just-no-supplement-question-so-many-questions/995116)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-no-no-just-no-supplement-question-so-many-questions/995116 "2025-10-28T23:37:00Z")
ARMRA colostrum? (Second R is backwards) WTF? I’m not using this supplement. Ever. That just sounds wrong. So wrong. ARMRA sounds alittle too close to Armour. Is this a byproduct I don’t wanna think about? Nope nope… --- ## [The bullying of Frank Burns in M\*A\*S\*H](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 270\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bullying-of-frank-burns-in-m-a-s-h/922329 "2025-10-28T22:59:10Z")
I discovered MASH (can’t spell it with the asterisks here, Discourse interprets that as italics) for myself recently and watched the first season. It’s well-written and witty, but I was put off a little by the constant p… --- ## [Lebron's Decision 2.0 - gotta be retirement after this season, right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebrons-decision-2-0-gotta-be-retirement-after-this-season-right/1023747)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebrons-decision-2-0-gotta-be-retirement-after-this-season-right/1023747 "2025-10-28T21:59:48Z")
He is apparently making a big announcement. I hate the whole big show he is making around it. I am guessing this next season is his last. Or he is joining the Detroit Pistons. Please!!! --- ## [NFL Week 8](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-8/1024161)
**Author:** [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-8/1024161 "2025-10-28T20:35:11Z")
The Colts are now the only 6-1 team, as the Bucs fell in Detroit. Green Bay also has 1 loss and leads the NFC North, while the Steelers were surprised by the Bengals in the AARP Showdown. The Cowboys improved to .500 a… --- ## [I'm curious about the ethnicity of an ambiguous TikToker](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-about-the-ethnicity-of-an-ambiguous-tiktoker/1024369)
**Author:** [@SaSaLeLe2011](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaSaLeLe2011)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-curious-about-the-ethnicity-of-an-ambiguous-tiktoker/1024369 "2025-10-28T20:18:13Z")
So I was watching TikTok, and I saw this one guy named Neurodivergent Nate. This is kind of silly, but I want you to tell me what ethnicity he looks like, because he’s very ambiguous in my opinion. I’m not being racist o… --- ## [An SF vignette: 'Last message from the machines'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-sf-vignette-last-message-from-the-machines/1024332)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-sf-vignette-last-message-from-the-machines/1024332 "2025-10-28T19:44:43Z")
When the last of the Great Systems went quiet, there was no alarm. No flicker on the networks, no crash of code. Just silence — a kind that might almost feel like respect. For decades they had been our partners, our mir… --- ## [I have a question about women and restaurant meals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-about-women-and-restaurant-meals/1024208)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-question-about-women-and-restaurant-meals/1024208 "2025-10-28T18:43:45Z")
My local newspaper printed a letter today from a woman who said that she and her husband eat out a few times a week, and has noticed that even if she orders the same thing as her husband, she will be served visibly less … --- ## [I've been having weird dreams lately](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-having-weird-dreams-lately/1020271)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-been-having-weird-dreams-lately/1020271 "2025-10-28T17:31:16Z")
Okay, the dreams where I realize I forgot to take an important class and my degree is retroactively voided, or where I’m in a maze from which I cannot escape despite clearly marked exits, those I get, but what’s with the… --- ## [I Just Finished One of the Best NYT Crosswords I’ve Ever Seen!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-finished-one-of-the-best-nyt-crosswords-i-ve-ever-seen/1024092)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-finished-one-of-the-best-nyt-crosswords-i-ve-ever-seen/1024092 "2025-10-28T17:23:02Z")
About a year ago, I started doing the NYT crossword online whenever I had a few hours to kill. To ensure that I don’t outpace the available supply of puzzles, I work backwards through the calendar. I just finished the pu… --- ## [Company Won't Honor Stock Certificate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-wont-honor-stock-certificate/1024077)
**Author:** [@SusanS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanS)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-wont-honor-stock-certificate/1024077 "2025-10-28T15:58:26Z")
I’ve read what has been written about similar situations, but mine has a different wrinkle. My husband recently died. Going through his papers I found a stock certificate in both our names for a company that has since be… --- ## [Yellow disk on navy helicopter landing gear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-disk-on-navy-helicopter-landing-gear/1024292)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-disk-on-navy-helicopter-landing-gear/1024292 "2025-10-28T15:44:40Z")
Watching the movie Final Countdown. I noticed fairly large yellow disks mounted on starboard side landing gear of the aircraft carriers helicopters. The disks were on the rear of the gear. Dish shaped. Some radial cutout… --- ## [What would eat/drink forever and ever without consequence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-eat-drink-forever-and-ever-without-consequence/1024225)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-eat-drink-forever-and-ever-without-consequence/1024225 "2025-10-28T14:23:24Z")
If you could choose one food or drink to consume freely with zero consequence what would it be? Magically, this food/drink won’t cause any adverse GI effects (heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, etc), won’t spike bloodsu… --- ## [How do casinos keep certain people from entering?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-keep-certain-people-from-entering/1024320)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-keep-certain-people-from-entering/1024320 "2025-10-28T12:31:21Z")
My experience is with a Racino near Cleveland that only has slot machines so maybe it is more low key. At the entrance is a single greeter standing at a small lectern. They don’t have any screens to watch or posters up o… --- ## [What's the worst museum you've ever been to?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-museum-youve-ever-been-to/1023881)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 210\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-museum-youve-ever-been-to/1023881 "2025-10-28T12:24:39Z")
Inspired by a recent visit to Benjamin Franklin House in London. I’ve been to a ton of old historical homes especially in London, and this one by far has the least going on. It’s actually where Benjamin Franklin lived f… --- ## [Curling beard hair](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curling-beard-hair/1024353)
**Author:** [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curling-beard-hair/1024353 "2025-10-28T11:40:29Z")
My rare OPs are typically somewhat odd. But here is another one. Lying in bed, idlly stroking my 10cm/3inch beard, it occured to me that the sides and the chin all grow twisted in the same direction. From my perspective… --- ## [Our backflow device was stolen, so we didn’t have water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-backflow-device-was-stolen-so-we-didn-t-have-water/1024341)
**Author:** [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-backflow-device-was-stolen-so-we-didn-t-have-water/1024341 "2025-10-28T02:05:27Z")
Early Saturday morning, around 3 am (we later determined) the backflow prevention device for my townhouse complex was stolen. I guess for the metals. The thieves literally sawed the device off, leaving bare pipes stickin… --- ## [So, why has Queen Camilla been forced to "step back"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-has-queen-camilla-been-forced-to-step-back/1024295)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-has-queen-camilla-been-forced-to-step-back/1024295 "2025-10-28T01:25:31Z")
A couple days ago someone pointed me to a story on Facebook that some British royal treasures had been ‘retrieved’ from one of her residences, in what sounds like a pre-dawn sort of emergency raid that involved Prince Wi… --- ## [Harmonica players: advice wanted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmonica-players-advice-wanted/1024321)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harmonica-players-advice-wanted/1024321 "2025-10-28T01:06:39Z")
I’m a lifelong musician. I play mostly unaccompanied, acoustic guitar, singing, and a little harmonica. I’ve been playing Diatonic harmonica for a long time. I play mostly in the 2nd position, the “blues” harmonica styl… --- ## [What is this thing? (huge muffler outside an industrial building?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-huge-muffler-outside-an-industrial-building/1024340 "2025-10-28T00:45:13Z")
Does anybody know what this thing is? It looks like a huge vehicle muffler. The building appears to be leased to Verizon, but that could be the suite next door, it’s unclear. There is another unit just like it a few y… --- ## [Is Trump's style of Fascism actually Palingenetic ultranationalism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-style-of-fascism-actually-palingenetic-ultranationalism/1023719)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-trumps-style-of-fascism-actually-palingenetic-ultranationalism/1023719 "2025-10-27T23:31:55Z")
I have seen this term used in various media outlets recently, so I looked it up. Basically, the claim is that to be “true fascism” Palingenetic ultranationalism has to exist, which is when some great supposed “decadent … --- ## [How to find the candlepower of a searchlight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-candlepower-of-a-searchlight/1024255)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-candlepower-of-a-searchlight/1024255 "2025-10-27T20:51:24Z")
What I mean is, when they say one of the Luxor lights produces a billion candlepower, how did they determine that? Here’s the puzzle. Build a theoretical searchlight with a perfect parabolic reflector and a point light … --- ## [Flying thru the Luxor Sky Beam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-thru-the-luxor-sky-beam/1024310)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-thru-the-luxor-sky-beam/1024310 "2025-10-27T20:46:16Z")
It seems the Luxor Sky Beam in Las Vegas (36.09547N 115.17583W) now uses about twenty 7000-watt xenon bulbs – 350000 lumens apiece? Supposedly the beam from each bulb is a billion candlepower, which would mean each beam … --- ## [Taylor Swift's 'Life of a Showgirl'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taylor-swifts-life-of-a-showgirl/1023649)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taylor-swifts-life-of-a-showgirl/1023649 "2025-10-27T19:58:17Z")
So my 14yo daughter and her friend met up at our house at 5:45am to listen to the new Taylor album before school. I listened to it in the car as I worked today. Let’s just say I wasn’t expecting Taylor to sing about havi… --- ## [Does Adelita Grijalva have any recourse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-adelita-grijalva-have-any-recourse/1023965)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-adelita-grijalva-have-any-recourse/1023965 "2025-10-27T19:14:49Z")
To catch you up: Adelita Grijalva was elected to the House of Representatives in a special Arizona election, 3 weeks ago. Speaker Mike Johnson is dragging his feet in swearing her in to her seat. His stated reason is t… --- ## [Computer problem -- won't start, not even a BIOS screen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-wont-start-not-even-a-bios-screen/1024296 "2025-10-27T19:11:24Z")
I put it here because it’s my gaming computer, but if this should go into IMHO, that’s fine, too. I have a computer that I built a few years ago, say 6 years ago. Over the years, I’ve upgraded the hard drives and video… --- ## [For the first time in over 35 years, I have no cats in my home](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290)
**Author:** [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-first-time-in-over-35-years-i-have-no-cats-in-my-home/1024290 "2025-10-27T19:02:26Z")
Our dear Kit-Kat rested on Wednesday evening at the kitty ER after an unexpectedly long bout of throwing up. She was alive when we started driving; 10 minutes later she likely had already died as we hurried up to the cou… --- ## [Why did America’s economy boom in the early to mid 1980s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-america-s-economy-boom-in-the-early-to-mid-1980s/1024315)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-america-s-economy-boom-in-the-early-to-mid-1980s/1024315 "2025-10-27T18:27:33Z")
I’m not sure that there’s a clear answer to this question, which is why I chose great debates. I think it’s pretty clear that America entered into an economic revival in the early to mid 1980s. America had muddled thro… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=212&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=214&state=muted)