# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=239&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 240 --- ## [Happy birthday, gravitational waves!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-birthday-gravitational-waves/1023045)
**Author:** [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-birthday-gravitational-waves/1023045 "2025-09-17T19:04:54Z")
Last night, I was reading A Brief Welcome to the Universe and in one of the final chapters it mentioned that gravitational waves “have proved elusive to detect”. I thought they had been detected, so I looked up when and … --- ## [Quick philosophy or rhetoric question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-philosophy-or-rhetoric-question/1023063)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-philosophy-or-rhetoric-question/1023063 "2025-09-17T17:40:41Z")
What is the philosophy or rhetoric technique where a speaker argues both sides of the debate? I thought it was sophistry but looking it up, that’s not it. --- ## [If I win $10 million and pay taxes on it and then give $1 million to a friend do they also have to pay taxes on it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-win-10-million-and-pay-taxes-on-it-and-then-give-1-million-to-a-friend-do-they-also-have-to-pay-taxes-on-it/1023004)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-win-10-million-and-pay-taxes-on-it-and-then-give-1-million-to-a-friend-do-they-also-have-to-pay-taxes-on-it/1023004 "2025-09-17T17:15:48Z")
Title kinda says it all. Let’s say I won a lottery for $10 million (example, I have not). My understanding is the government will not hand me a check for $10 million. They will withhold taxes and give me what is left … --- ## [How do you decide what to watch on TV?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-what-to-watch-on-tv/1022846)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-decide-what-to-watch-on-tv/1022846 "2025-09-17T16:56:41Z")
I posted in the past asking for recommendations of specific TV shows. Instead of asking for recommendations here, I’m wondering how people choose what to watch on TV. Do you research TV shows/movies ahead of time? Or … --- ## [Are you a dog person or a cat person? Which did you have when you were growing up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-dog-person-or-a-cat-person-which-did-you-have-when-you-were-growing-up/1022996)
**Author:** [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-dog-person-or-a-cat-person-which-did-you-have-when-you-were-growing-up/1022996 "2025-09-17T15:23:49Z")
I’ve noticed several times that cat people grew up in families that owned cats and dog people came from dog owning families. Over the years I’ve asked only half a dozen poeple about this but so far have found no exceptio… --- ## [Is the COVID Pandemic...over?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-covid-pandemic-over/1016886)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-covid-pandemic-over/1016886 "2025-09-17T11:14:55Z")
At work, no-one still checks customers at the entrance with thermometers, maintains at least 6 feet distant, wears masks, etc. So… Has the Center for Disease Control or some government entity stated…or implied…that the… --- ## [MacBook P20 15 - Lost my left-click on the Trackpad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-p20-15-lost-my-left-click-on-the-trackpad/1022995)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-p20-15-lost-my-left-click-on-the-trackpad/1022995 "2025-09-17T10:48:51Z")
I’ve lost the left-click on my Trackpad on my MacBook Pro 15, 2.3 GHz 8-core Intel Core i9. My Trackpad settings are: Force Click and haptic feedback: On Look up and data detectors: Tap with Three Fingers Secondary cl… --- ## [NFL Week 2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-2/1022886)
**Author:** [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-2/1022886 "2025-09-17T06:07:42Z")
@SenorBeef said it best when he posted “We might have the game of the year in week 1”. The Bills/Ravens SNF game was extremely wild and featured a most improbable comeback. It’s going to be hard to top that game for pu… --- ## [Why does the media portray mass shooters as mostly white men?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-media-portray-mass-shooters-as-mostly-white-men/837043)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-media-portray-mass-shooters-as-mostly-white-men/837043 "2025-09-17T05:05:53Z")
TIL that a majority of mass shooters are black. I was genuinely shocked. Is this being largely ignored by the media out of political correctness, or because of a lack of concern for black victims? --- ## [Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publishers-clearinghouse-sweepstakes/671354)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/publishers-clearinghouse-sweepstakes/671354 "2025-09-17T03:24:37Z")
I’ll admit it. I place the stickers on the entry form and send it back. My brother knows a guy who won $5,000 from this, so people really DO win those things. :cool: Has anyone else here won a prize from them, or work… --- ## [The 'years young' phrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-years-young-phrase/1022471)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-years-young-phrase/1022471 "2025-09-17T02:04:45Z")
I think it should be considered Homicide in the Public Interest to use lethal force to kill any person who uses that phrase. --- ## [Are you sick of people admiring your intelligence and knowledge? Are you tired of people calling you astute? Then do I have an opportunity for you!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768)
**Author:** [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sick-of-people-admiring-your-intelligence-and-knowledge-are-you-tired-of-people-calling-you-astute-then-do-i-have-an-opportunity-for-you/1014768 "2025-09-17T01:51:17Z")
The organisers claim to have sold some early tickets already. Truly there is no lower limit to human gullibility. --- ## [Help with art suggestions, please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-art-suggestions-please/1022698)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-art-suggestions-please/1022698 "2025-09-16T23:21:19Z")
My wife and I enter these art trackers ( trades) and the subject matter changes. Usually we have no trouble coming up with something but this one seems to have great possibilities but I’m not sure I’m living up to its po… --- ## [Test for strikeout](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-for-strikeout/1022926)
**Author:** [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-for-strikeout/1022926 "2025-09-16T23:01:06Z")
deleted --- ## [External DVD drive does not self start in Windows 11](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-dvd-drive-does-not-self-start-in-windows-11/1023096)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-dvd-drive-does-not-self-start-in-windows-11/1023096 "2025-09-16T21:39:27Z")
I have the original CD for Office 2003. It worked OK in Windows 10 although it did ask for permission to modify whenever I started Word. My new mini computer does not have a way to hook up a drive so I bought an external… --- ## [What happens if a state National Guard refuses to be federalized?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-a-state-national-guard-refuses-to-be-federalized/1023075)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-a-state-national-guard-refuses-to-be-federalized/1023075 "2025-09-16T21:22:38Z")
How exactly does the President activate National Guard units? Does the order go from POTUS to the Secretary of Defense to the state Governor to the state Adjutant-General and so on down the line? At what point can an off… --- ## [Do you know anyone you're worried will get deported?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-youre-worried-will-get-deported/1023056)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-anyone-youre-worried-will-get-deported/1023056 "2025-09-16T20:13:21Z")
As the title says. Do you know anyone with a target on their back? We arrived at a station in life that we have two people come clean twice a month. One is… Mexican? Speaks with a heavy accent. But speaks English. The… --- ## [Making the right edge of Firefox wider?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-the-right-edge-of-firefox-wider/1023078)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-the-right-edge-of-firefox-wider/1023078 "2025-09-16T20:12:47Z")
The slide bar is really narrow and shrinks even further if the cursor is not hovering. Seems like it used to be wider. --- ## [Yahoo can go somehow sit on its own face after the most steaming spicy bowl of chili](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yahoo-can-go-somehow-sit-on-its-own-face-after-the-most-steaming-spicy-bowl-of-chili/774295)
**Author:** [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yahoo-can-go-somehow-sit-on-its-own-face-after-the-most-steaming-spicy-bowl-of-chili/774295 "2025-09-16T20:02:53Z")
When I go through my yahoo email every morning, I first encounter the yahoo homepage, with news stories. Yahoo is definitely not my main news source (preferring, first, local news, then stuff like Huff Po/NPR/BBC/The Ne… --- ## [I am trying to find a certain puzzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-trying-to-find-a-certain-puzzle/1023093)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-trying-to-find-a-certain-puzzle/1023093 "2025-09-16T17:15:51Z")
I think it is called a “Smart Maze”. It is a variation of a Rubik’s cube, but every square contains a section of a track and the purpose is to move a small steel ball from the beginning to the end square by twisting the… --- ## [How long would Charlie Kirk have lasted here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-charlie-kirk-have-lasted-here/1023044)
**Author:** [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-charlie-kirk-have-lasted-here/1023044 "2025-09-16T16:58:00Z")
poll --- ## [Crazy optimism: daylight bombing in WWII](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-optimism-daylight-bombing-in-wwii/1022968)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crazy-optimism-daylight-bombing-in-wwii/1022968 "2025-09-16T16:24:05Z")
As everyone knows, the US entered WWII figuring its bombers could drop bombs civilizedly, just destroying military targets, as long as they flew in daylight. So that became the plan. It seems Norden’s president had said… --- ## [Non-Apple, non-Samsung smart watch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-apple-non-samsung-smart-watch/1022873)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-apple-non-samsung-smart-watch/1022873 "2025-09-16T16:06:52Z")
I bought a Samsung smart watch last November, it crapped out on me (black screen, only info shown is 100% charge) three days ago. Samsung claims warranty expired on August 31 (9.5 month warranty? You surprise me, Samsung… --- ## [Recommend some music similar to the Jeeves & Wooster theme](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-music-similar-to-the-jeeves-wooster-theme/258518)
**Author:** [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-music-similar-to-the-jeeves-wooster-theme/258518 "2025-09-16T15:24:20Z")
So I’ve been watching the BBC series Jeeves and Wooster lately, with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and I love the theme music, which surprises me. I generally find I really don’t like jazz very much, but this song is jus… --- ## [How the HELL do I make a good Minecraft YouTube video?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-hell-do-i-make-a-good-minecraft-youtube-video/1022951)
**Author:** [@IMadeLem0nade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IMadeLem0nade)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-the-hell-do-i-make-a-good-minecraft-youtube-video/1022951 "2025-09-16T15:02:04Z")
Okay, I’m a small Minecraft YouTuber for a few months now, and I do PVP. I’ve lost all inspiration, and I need some video ideas. Any video ideas are okay, just no IRL stuff. Who knows? maybe your suggestion will be my n… --- ## [Does Anyone Ever Regret Joke Outfits for Special Occasions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-ever-regret-joke-outfits-for-special-occasions/1023041)
**Author:** [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-ever-regret-joke-outfits-for-special-occasions/1023041 "2025-09-16T14:32:59Z")
I was checking my Facebook feed when I come across a photo of a young couple who were going to homecoming. As I get older, young people only look younger, and I think they’re high schoolers rather than college. The kid… --- ## [How do you think? Inner dialogue? Images? No images? Can you hear anything?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-think-inner-dialogue-images-no-images-can-you-hear-anything/1022800)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-think-inner-dialogue-images-no-images-can-you-hear-anything/1022800 "2025-09-16T13:32:35Z")
The fact that people don’t think alike has only in recent years become known to me. And by “think alike” I’m not referring to content, I’m referring to style, manner, system. I think in words, sentences, including the s… --- ## [Tuberculosis in the mid 1950s: Diagnosis? Treatment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuberculosis-in-the-mid-1950s-diagnosis-treatment/1023017)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuberculosis-in-the-mid-1950s-diagnosis-treatment/1023017 "2025-09-16T06:53:07Z")
I was doing some family history research and I came across a person who died of TB at 55 in 1954 (central South Carolina). Now, we’ll never know factually if that was the correct diagnosis, but my questions: Would a sm… --- ## [Does a Jacob's Ladder have any practical use?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-jacobs-ladder-have-any-practical-use/1022811)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-jacobs-ladder-have-any-practical-use/1022811 "2025-09-16T06:22:39Z")
We’ve seen it in old movies: the mad scientist in his lab full of weird equipment, oddly shaped glassware and strange machines. There’s always a Jacob’s Ladder. There’s an electric a… --- ## [Are baseball caps universal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-baseball-caps-universal/1022282)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2025, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-baseball-caps-universal/1022282 "2025-09-16T05:53:12Z")
I just saw a photo of Trump showing his “MAGA hat” collection to some European leaders. It made me think - are baseball caps (the style, not caps with actual baseball team logos on them) universal around the world? Wher… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=238&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=240&state=tracking)