# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=243&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 244 --- ## [Why aren't elective mastectomies a 'thing'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-elective-mastectomies-a-thing/1022840)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-elective-mastectomies-a-thing/1022840 "2025-09-13T15:56:22Z")
I’m old now. My tits sag nearly down to my knees. I breast-fed four kids (which tits are made for) but I am long past feeding anything. Bras cost money. GOOD bras cost a fortune. And they’re always uncomfortable, regard… --- ## [Random, pointless thought](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-pointless-thought/1023013)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-pointless-thought/1023013 "2025-09-13T15:56:12Z")
Today I looked out my window just as some little brown bird landed on one of the lines strung between the telephone poles, and I thought, “How long passed between the time the first human strung a wire like this and the … --- ## [I'm older than Archie Bunker and other gut punches of pop culture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-older-than-archie-bunker-and-other-gut-punches-of-pop-culture/1022902)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-older-than-archie-bunker-and-other-gut-punches-of-pop-culture/1022902 "2025-09-13T13:15:33Z")
The Wonder Years debuted in 1988, and the first season was set 20 years prior in 1968. If it was remade today, it would be set in 2005. With the re-release of the Beatles Anthology on Disney+ this November, it dawned on… --- ## [Lessons of History: "How Rome’s Senators Got Robbed of Their Republic"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-of-history-how-rome-s-senators-got-robbed-of-their-republic/1017104)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lessons-of-history-how-rome-s-senators-got-robbed-of-their-republic/1017104 "2025-09-13T11:56:10Z")
Thoughtful and thought-provoking (short) Atlantic article (gift link, I hope): … Augustus was Rome’s first emperor. In so becoming, he dismantled the republic and founded a monarchy that would last for more than a m… --- ## [Dog Bite on my Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-bite-on-my-dog/1022973)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-bite-on-my-dog/1022973 "2025-09-13T11:55:15Z")
On Tuesday, I picked up the dog from daycare and he was limping. I thought he probably sprained something. By today, he wasn’t limping anymore, but he wouldn’t leave his groin alone. Licking incessantly. So we looked, an… --- ## [Has this variant of a ‘book cipher’ ever been used?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-this-variant-of-a-book-cipher-ever-been-used/1022837)
**Author:** [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-this-variant-of-a-book-cipher-ever-been-used/1022837 "2025-09-13T11:42:08Z")
I’ve been mildly interested in book ciphers ever since learning about the Beale ciphers and I recently started thinking about using a ‘Word Finder’ puzzle grid and relative coordinates in place of a book and ‘page/line/w… --- ## [Is it possible to detect light without receiving it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-detect-light-without-receiving-it/1022689)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-detect-light-without-receiving-it/1022689 "2025-09-13T07:52:45Z")
Let’s say you had a perfect vacuum, a laser emitter at Point A, and a receiver at Point B. Could an observer standing outside of the beam detect it without receiving (or scattering or otherwise interfering with) part of … --- ## [New lossless heat preservation process developed(heat storage for years)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-lossless-heat-preservation-process-developed-heat-storage-for-years/1022921)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-lossless-heat-preservation-process-developed-heat-storage-for-years/1022921 "2025-09-13T05:27:11Z")
ok sorry I had to abbreviate the title somewhat … its NEARLY lossless. Were this on YT, I’d chalk it up to the perpetuum mobile /flatearthers crazy bunch… but here is the news-article: https://science.orf.at/stories/3… --- ## [Soccer Question: Scoring an Own Goal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-question-scoring-an-own-goal/1022858)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-question-scoring-an-own-goal/1022858 "2025-09-13T01:28:20Z")
Let’s say that Abbott, from the Ypsilianti team, is in Duluth’s half of the field and sends the ball towards the back of the net. Costello, from the Duluth team, tries to kick it away and gets a foot on it, but it goes i… --- ## [Does knitting use the same topology as nail binding?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-knitting-use-the-same-topology-as-nail-binding/1022991)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-knitting-use-the-same-topology-as-nail-binding/1022991 "2025-09-13T00:55:53Z")
I guess there are a variety of “stitches” one can knit, and perhaps that’s true of nailbinding. But are there fabrics whose topology could have been produced by either one? (Don’t need answer fast.) @MrDibble ? --- ## [Musical travel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-travel/1022868)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2025, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-travel/1022868 "2025-09-13T00:55:52Z")
Have you ever ridden the train they call The City Of New Orleans, and how far did you travel ‘fore the day was done? I used to ride it from Champagne-Urbana to Chicago back in the 70’s, so yes…but not really that far. --- ## [Toronto tourist advice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toronto-tourist-advice/1022923)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toronto-tourist-advice/1022923 "2025-09-12T23:40:36Z")
I plan on visiting Toronto next week. Not sure yet whether it’ll be a day trip or an overnighter. It’s been about ten years since I visited the city and I imagine a lot has changed. One thing I used to do when I visited… --- ## [Ring (alarm system from Amazon) allows police to request camera footage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ring-alarm-system-from-amazon-allows-police-to-request-camera-footage/1022993)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ring-alarm-system-from-amazon-allows-police-to-request-camera-footage/1022993 "2025-09-12T21:55:35Z")
I came across this article from Consumer Reports. It says that law enforcement departments that use the Axon evidence management system may request Ring users’ videos in the event of a crime. The idea is that, if a cri… --- ## [Will Jeffrey Epstein's "friends" face justice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-jeffrey-epsteins-friends-face-justice/917242)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 367\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-jeffrey-epsteins-friends-face-justice/917242 "2025-09-12T18:56:11Z")
Can especially powerful people be held responsible for particularly odious crimes? For that question you’d be hard-pressed to find a more dramatic litmus test than the Jeffrey Epstein case. You know the story, but to r… --- ## [Spam texts; DeleteMe subscription made it worse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-texts-deleteme-subscription-made-it-worse/1022987)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-texts-deleteme-subscription-made-it-worse/1022987 "2025-09-12T18:20:16Z")
I tried a subscription to DeleteMe (https://joindeleteme.com) to help cut down on spam emails and texts, and since doing so the problem with texts has gotten noticeably worse. I use a Google Voice number for any and all… --- ## [Stanley Cup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stanley-cup/1022984)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stanley-cup/1022984 "2025-09-12T16:55:37Z")
Does anyone have a link to a list of names (by year) engraved on the Stanley Cup (present Cup, and from rings removed in the past)? I’m interested in names of some of the non-players. Google was no help. --- ## [Russian Drones over Poland--Doomsday Radio Tansmission changes, just before strike](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-drones-over-poland-doomsday-radio-tansmission-changes-just-before-strike/1022982)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-drones-over-poland-doomsday-radio-tansmission-changes-just-before-strike/1022982 "2025-09-12T16:34:32Z")
On September 9, multiple Russian military drones entered Polish airspace. NATO has been activated, under Article 4 .https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September\_2025\_Russian\_drone\_incursion\_into\_Poland On September 8th, Ru… --- ## [What are these two Russian songs? (from 1969's "Topaz", and '63's "55 Days at Peking")](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-two-russian-songs-from-1969s-topaz-and-63s-55-days-at-peking/1013392)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-two-russian-songs-from-1969s-topaz-and-63s-55-days-at-peking/1013392 "2025-09-12T15:39:29Z")
Okay, short and sweet…does anyone know the name of this song, that a truckload of Russians can be heard briefly singing in the 1969 Hitchcock film Topaz, and/or this song (a different one) featured in a medley (“Help Arr… --- ## [Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - August 2025 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-august-2025-edition/1021495)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-august-2025-edition/1021495 "2025-09-12T14:42:57Z")
August is here already, like a sneaky cat slipping in through an open door and flopping in the middle of the living room floor with an expression of “So? What you gonna do about it?” on it’s face as it cleans it’s whisk… --- ## [Tell me about Illinois toll roads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-illinois-toll-roads/1011446 "2025-09-12T13:59:46Z")
I will be visiting a friend near Jackson, MI this summer and from SE MN the 3 driving options I have are 1) through Chicago (ugh), through the UP (pretty, but a long drive), or using the Badger ferry (might do this one w… --- ## [Strippers and blow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strippers-and-blow/1022780)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strippers-and-blow/1022780 "2025-09-12T07:45:11Z")
Yes, this will be the thread that gets the views. I saw a news story yesterday about a local strip club being shut down because a police investigation determined there was drug use and drug sales going on there. This m… --- ## [NASA to work on building a nuclear reactor on the moon by the 2030s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-to-work-on-building-a-nuclear-reactor-on-the-moon-by-the-2030s/1021706)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nasa-to-work-on-building-a-nuclear-reactor-on-the-moon-by-the-2030s/1021706 "2025-09-12T05:24:08Z")
The Transportation Secretary has directed NASA to start working on building a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, declaring it necessary to win the next space race. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/nasa-china-s… --- ## [The Indian Princess legend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indian-princess-legend/1022552)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-indian-princess-legend/1022552 "2025-09-12T02:24:42Z")
My hometown of Spirit Lake is supposedly named after the legend of an “Indian Princess”(Indians have princesses??) who fell in love with a forbidden “brave from another tribe”, so they decided to meet in the middle of th… --- ## [Chittering Aliens and other monsters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chittering-aliens-and-other-monsters/1022967)
**Author:** [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chittering-aliens-and-other-monsters/1022967 "2025-09-12T00:34:23Z")
“Chittering” is what the subtitles for Alien: Earth and The Watchers call the scary monster sounds that are kind of a cross between a creaking door and a really slow frog’s croak. When and where was it decided this was t… --- ## [Mayflower Voyage Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayflower-voyage-question/1022950)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mayflower-voyage-question/1022950 "2025-09-11T22:27:48Z")
I play a trivia game, and the answer to the question today kind of surprised me. It had to do with the 1620 voyage of the Mayflower and why it was diverted to Massachusetts from its original destination. I answered corre… --- ## [I'm being inundated with Ophthalmology spam!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-being-inundated-with-ophthalmology-spam/1022892)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-being-inundated-with-ophthalmology-spam/1022892 "2025-09-11T22:07:28Z")
I am not an ophthalmologist, nor even a medical doctor of any flavor whatsoever. But starting around five months ago I began receiving emails with sender-names and subject lines like these (this set fetched from today’s… --- ## [Horrible Crash in Austin; need a cite](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-crash-in-austin-need-a-cite/1022814)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-crash-in-austin-need-a-cite/1022814 "2025-09-11T21:44:26Z")
Over here is the only link I have to anything concerning a recent wrong-way crash near Austin, Texas. Four people were killed. I find it remarkable that even local newspapers sometimes do not remark on such crashes. My … --- ## [Balls - cheapest and priciest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-cheapest-and-priciest/1022791)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balls-cheapest-and-priciest/1022791 "2025-09-11T20:08:29Z")
Have you ever thought about the value of professional-grade balls (or whatever object you use to score) in your favorite sport? What would you consider to be the cheapest per unit and the most expensive? My guesses- che… --- ## [Selling on eBay, FB Marketplace, etc](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-fb-marketplace-etc/1022795)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-fb-marketplace-etc/1022795 "2025-09-11T20:07:32Z")
There are bits and pieces of adjacent threads here, but nothing that summarizes what I’m looking for. I’m beginning to get rid of stuff, and surprisingly, some of it has value. I have an old iPod Classic 160GB that stil… --- ## [Lisbon suggestions for November](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lisbon-suggestions-for-november/1018549)
**Author:** [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lisbon-suggestions-for-november/1018549 "2025-09-11T19:31:26Z")
My wife and I are going to Lisbon for the Thanksgiving holiday, arriving Wed morning and leaving Sunday afternoon. I managed to snag cheap direct flights, and we just booked a hotel in the Chiado area so those pieces are… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=242&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=244&state=watching)