# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=282&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 283 --- ## [Les Misérables: The Musical and musical theater experience questions from a first-timer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/les-miserables-the-musical-and-musical-theater-experience-questions-from-a-first-timer/1020618)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2025, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/les-miserables-the-musical-and-musical-theater-experience-questions-from-a-first-timer/1020618 "2025-07-11T12:09:56Z")
We recently visited London for the first time and caught a performance of Les Mis at the Sondheim theater. We were very lucky to have landed some excellent seats where we were able to see not just the actors’ performance… --- ## [Have you ever heard of these attraction/seduction programs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-of-these-attraction-seduction-programs/847617)
**Author:** [@sta3535](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sta3535)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2025, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-heard-of-these-attraction-seduction-programs/847617 "2025-07-11T05:19:58Z")
Pandora’s Box - Vin Dicarlo Tao Of Badass - Josh Pellicer IMO, the content is interesting, but it takes some time to master and learn the skills that they teach you. --- ## [Heather Cox Richardson - Letters from an American Discussions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heather-cox-richardson-letters-from-an-american-discussions/987384)
**Author:** [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2025, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heather-cox-richardson-letters-from-an-american-discussions/987384 "2025-07-11T03:01:57Z")
So, last week, there was some minor discussion about starting a thread dedicated to discussions of Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letters from an American”. These articles can be found is several places, including Facebook, … --- ## [Why do some scientific papers have so many co-authors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-scientific-papers-have-so-many-co-authors/1020663)
**Author:** [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 11, 2025, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-scientific-papers-have-so-many-co-authors/1020663 "2025-07-11T02:52:54Z")
Below is a pre-print of a scientific paper that describes the discovery of a new exoplanet \[2506.18550\] TOI-1846b: A super-Earth in the radius valley orbiting a nearby M dwarf It’s certainly interesting research, but I… --- ## [The Poetry of Donald J. Trump -- The How Long in Florida Edition (you knew it was coming)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-poetry-of-donald-j-trump-the-how-long-in-florida-edition-you-knew-it-was-coming/1020402)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-poetry-of-donald-j-trump-the-how-long-in-florida-edition-you-knew-it-was-coming/1020402 "2025-07-10T23:56:17Z")
Trump cluelessly (or on purpose?) responds to a question about people who will be put up at his “Alligator Alcatraz” In Florida? I’m going to spend a lot. Look, This is my home state. I love it, I love your governm… --- ## [What are your landscapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-landscapes/1020672)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-landscapes/1020672 "2025-07-10T23:06:17Z")
As in the title, what is or are your landscapes? What is the environment that brings you peace and joy, soothes you? What do these landscapes make you think? Do they bring to mind something feral and wild, yet subdued… --- ## [Who is asking for overly loud live music everywhere?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-asking-for-overly-loud-live-music-everywhere/1020650)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-asking-for-overly-loud-live-music-everywhere/1020650 "2025-07-10T22:39:13Z")
Saw a clip recently of John Mulaney complaining about how much the live music ruined the SNL anniversary after parties. I have to completely agree with him and pit amplified live music in environments that are not live … --- ## [amusing.location.game](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-location-game/821563)
**Author:** [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-location-game/821563 "2025-07-10T22:11:55Z")
It’s in Saudi Arabia. The idea behind What3Words.com is pretty neat: describe every 3m x 3m square on the globe with a unique three-word combination. So eagle.sheep.horn describes a spot in front of Sydney Opera House, … --- ## [Considering a cross-Canada rail trip. Your thoughts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-cross-canada-rail-trip-your-thoughts/1018321)
**Author:** [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-a-cross-canada-rail-trip-your-thoughts/1018321 "2025-07-10T20:55:10Z")
Normally, my annual vacation would involve a trip to the United States. But I am not happy about what Mr. Trump represents, nor do I want to get into a conversation with the guy on the next barstool at a sports bar invo… --- ## [The entire universe rotates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-entire-universe-rotates/1020634)
**Author:** [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-entire-universe-rotates/1020634 "2025-07-10T20:33:58Z")
This article tries to explain the Hubble tension by saying the entire universe rotates very slowly. I understand that if the entire universe rotated there would be a centrifugal “force” that pushed the galaxies apart … --- ## [Scientific qualia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-qualia/1019346)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-qualia/1019346 "2025-07-10T17:38:24Z")
In this old thread of mine: Audio-visual perception - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board I posted the question of 'do we all perceive the same way". It was explained to me this idea is in fact a philosoph… --- ## [Victims of British Postmaster Scandal set to be cleared](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victims-of-british-postmaster-scandal-set-to-be-cleared/998104)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/victims-of-british-postmaster-scandal-set-to-be-cleared/998104 "2025-07-10T17:05:23Z")
I’ve read articles about this whole mess, and I’m glad they’re getting some justice, even if it’s far too late for those who have taken their own lives due to being wrongfully accused. --- ## [Michael Madsen, September 25, 1957 – July 3, 2025](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-madsen-september-25-1957-july-3-2025/1020458)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-madsen-september-25-1957-july-3-2025/1020458 "2025-07-10T16:56:54Z")
--- ## ["French breakfast radishes" -- do French people really eat them for breakfast?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-breakfast-radishes-do-french-people-really-eat-them-for-breakfast/983302 "2025-07-10T16:43:46Z")
I’ve always wondered about that name. It they do eat them for breakfast, um… how? --- ## [Elon Musk Creates the America Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-creates-the-america-party/1020557)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-creates-the-america-party/1020557 "2025-07-10T16:40:51Z")
Well, Musk claims to have formed a new political party. What are everyone’s thoughts? Any chance he could be successful? For that matter, what would success look like? If he’s willing to spend the money, he might have … --- ## [Amazon delivery date expired: offering a refund? Is this a thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-delivery-date-expired-offering-a-refund-is-this-a-thing/1020691)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-delivery-date-expired-offering-a-refund-is-this-a-thing/1020691 "2025-07-10T15:08:36Z")
I ordered a jumper/pullover from Amazon a few weeks ago, and it was due to be delivered between 02/07 and 07/07. Come 07/07 they notified me with a revised delivery date of 10/07, and that if it hadn’t arrived by then, I… --- ## [Facebook scam: Post URL for cloned web site. But what about chargebacks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-scam-post-url-for-cloned-web-site-but-what-about-chargebacks/1020582)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-scam-post-url-for-cloned-web-site-but-what-about-chargebacks/1020582 "2025-07-10T14:51:35Z")
Lately there have a been a lot of Facebook postings by random users that advertise big blowout sales. The ones I’ve seen were for two well-known musical instrument chains (maybe because of my profile). It’s obviously fak… --- ## [MH370 went missing on 08 March 2014. Aviation’s biggest mystery continues. Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mh370-went-missing-on-08-march-2014-aviation-s-biggest-mystery-continues-amazing/980835)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 119\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mh370-went-missing-on-08-march-2014-aviation-s-biggest-mystery-continues-amazing/980835 "2025-07-10T06:14:39Z")
Tomorrow it’ll be nine years (9!) since MH370 took off and disappeared. It still hasn’t been found, although some evidence of a crash has washed on shore, most notably the flaperon found on Réunion back in 2015. 227 pas… --- ## [MLB-June 2025](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2025/1019079)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 209\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-june-2025/1019079 "2025-07-10T04:12:20Z")
Happy June! Gotta admit, absolutely shocked to see MLB embracing Pride Month openly this year. --- ## [New low in spam attempts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-low-in-spam-attempts/1020639)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-low-in-spam-attempts/1020639 "2025-07-10T01:37:39Z")
I just got the following: " Greetings from the organizing committee of Inscitech Meet on Genetics and Genome Research..! It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us as a Distinguished Speaker at our upcomin… --- ## [What to do in Vancouver and Victoria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315 "2025-07-09T23:39:54Z")
We are planning a vacation to Victoria and Vancouver the first week in September. We only have a week, should we visit both cities or just one or the other? There are two existing threads about this, both have some goo… --- ## [Have "excess deaths" leveled off?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-excess-deaths-leveled-off/1020638)
**Author:** [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-excess-deaths-leveled-off/1020638 "2025-07-09T23:06:00Z")
One of the ways we knew things were going on during the early stages of the pandemic was the number of “excess deaths” over and above the amount that would normally be occurring absent the pandemic. One would expect, po… --- ## [How did I get duped?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-get-duped/1017458)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-i-get-duped/1017458 "2025-07-09T21:37:52Z")
For some time I have wanted a periodic table with tiny pieces of real elements to display. Last month I saw an online ad for one so I shopped around. I settled on this particular one because it was a nice large size 8" … --- ## [Find Me a Cordless Drill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-me-a-cordless-drill/1020380)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-me-a-cordless-drill/1020380 "2025-07-09T21:35:21Z")
I need some help selecting a cordless drill for around $100. I suffered with the off-brand cordless drill long enough. The battery died after a year of charging cycles, I’m guessing. Bought another not expecting much. Di… --- ## [Has google driving navigation got noticeably worse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-google-driving-navigation-got-noticeably-worse/1020160)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-google-driving-navigation-got-noticeably-worse/1020160 "2025-07-09T20:34:59Z")
I’ve used google navigation for years and it’s the kind of tool that one takes for granted because it just works. However, my last 7-8 journeys have all featured some errors e.g. telling me to get into the wrong lane, o… --- ## [Your First Rated R Movie in the Theater](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-rated-r-movie-in-the-theater/1020576)
**Author:** [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-first-rated-r-movie-in-the-theater/1020576 "2025-07-09T19:20:56Z")
Someone asked me what the first movie I can remember seeing in the theater that was rated R. I had to think pretty hard, trying to remember if I actually saw the movie in the theater or at home on VHS. Blue Thunder rel… --- ## [Are Realtors/real estate agents REALLY worth 6% of the sale price of my home?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-realtors-real-estate-agents-really-worth-6-of-the-sale-price-of-my-home/932382)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 282\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-realtors-real-estate-agents-really-worth-6-of-the-sale-price-of-my-home/932382 "2025-07-09T17:49:14Z")
We’re about to sell our house, and in the age of Zillow, Trulia, etc., I really question how much value agents provide me as a seller. ISTM that in the pre-Internet days, agents did a lot more to bring buyers and sellers… --- ## [M Squad. Anyone watch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m-squad-anyone-watch/1010727)
**Author:** [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/m-squad-anyone-watch/1010727 "2025-07-09T17:04:55Z")
This is gonna be a reach. Anyone watch the 59-62 Lee Marvin cop potboiler show? I watch some on Youtube if the quality is good enough. I think its fascinating. It doesn’t hold your hand. It’s kinda hard to tell whats goi… --- ## [Excel question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/1020645)
**Author:** [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/1020645 "2025-07-09T16:37:11Z")
The version of Excel I have (an old one) evaluates -2^3 = 8 rather than -8. That is it evaluates it as if it were (-2)^3. Has this been corrected on later versions of Excel? It correctly evaluates 0-2^3 = -8. --- ## [An Excel concatenation question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-excel-concatenation-question/1020626)
**Author:** [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-excel-concatenation-question/1020626 "2025-07-09T16:29:59Z")
I work in Supply Chain of a FMCG business. We have a listing of inbound purchases as recorded in our ERP which is distributed with an Excel workbook. The workbook has a models sheet, a simple listing of open purchase l… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=281&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=283&state=muted)