# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=290 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 291 --- ## [Canadian prof went to Iran when troubles started; now upset Canada isn’t able to get him out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-prof-went-to-iran-when-troubles-started-now-upset-canada-isn-t-able-to-get-him-out/1020053)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-prof-went-to-iran-when-troubles-started-now-upset-canada-isn-t-able-to-get-him-out/1020053 "2025-06-25T23:15:52Z")
À Canadian university prof went to Iran when the recent troubles started, because his wife and children were there. Now upset that the Canadian government has limited ability to communicate with him, due to internet bla… --- ## [Which Apollo moon mission had the fewest problems?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-apollo-moon-mission-had-the-fewest-problems/1020141)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-apollo-moon-mission-had-the-fewest-problems/1020141 "2025-06-25T22:43:06Z")
Apollo 11 had a lot of first-to-do-it problems and had about 60 seconds of fuel left when Armstrong had to bunny hop over some boulders. Apollo 12 got struck by lightning twice and if not for John Aaron’s “Try SCE to AU… --- ## [Melamine, should we worry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melamine-should-we-worry/423707)
**Author:** [@lizziewriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizziewriter)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melamine-should-we-worry/423707 "2025-06-25T20:39:37Z")
I am wondering about melamine. Great stuff. Mr. Clean Magic Sponges, that clean anything, are made of it. Some kiddie plates and flatware are made from it. All sorts of stuff. It’s also what was turning up in pet fo… --- ## [The 2025 Israel vs Iran and geopolitical implications thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-israel-vs-iran-and-geopolitical-implications-thread/1019829)
**Author:** [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Replies:** 197\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-israel-vs-iran-and-geopolitical-implications-thread/1019829 "2025-06-25T19:40:26Z")
(As two P&E threads have been closed for lack of content and as the MPSIMS thread is dedicated to breaking news, here is a proper, dedicated thread for P&E where posters can get into the intricacies of the conflict along… --- ## [What will be the result of the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-result-of-the-51st-g7-summit-in-kananaskis/1019710)
**Author:** [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-be-the-result-of-the-51st-g7-summit-in-kananaskis/1019710 "2025-06-25T18:08:16Z")
I live in Calgary, so we are seeing some of the security and protests for the G7 Summit. It seems the media wants to speak to Trump, which makes sense, I guess, as he has his thumb on world events and outcomes. Canada … --- ## [Do you like thrillers with really sadistic, brutal criminals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-thrillers-with-really-sadistic-brutal-criminals/1019954)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-like-thrillers-with-really-sadistic-brutal-criminals/1019954 "2025-06-25T17:57:21Z")
Yesterday we turned on a TV show my wife had heard about -The Escape Artist with David Tenant. It was about a defense lawyer who never lost a case. Well, it turns out one client he gets off is a sadistic killer who tur… --- ## [Trumps starts war in Middle East and gas prices go down?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-starts-war-in-middle-east-and-gas-prices-go-down/1020096)
**Author:** [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-starts-war-in-middle-east-and-gas-prices-go-down/1020096 "2025-06-25T17:32:34Z")
And stock prices go up?! For how long? --- ## [What manufacturer's recommendation do you completely ignore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-manufacturers-recommendation-do-you-completely-ignore/1019818)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-manufacturers-recommendation-do-you-completely-ignore/1019818 "2025-06-25T17:00:23Z")
The battery alert on one of our Co2/smoke detectors went out last night (what law of the universe dictates that this only happens in the middle of the night? ;)) During the night, all I was able to accomplish was clawi… --- ## [Weird Facebook purge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-facebook-purge/1020081)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-facebook-purge/1020081 "2025-06-25T16:52:23Z")
Early this morning Facebook did something to apparently large numbers of groups. Their names were deleted and changed to “group title pending” (you find a lot if them by doing a Facebook search) and you no longer get upd… --- ## [Weird phishing email](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-phishing-email/1020127)
**Author:** [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-phishing-email/1020127 "2025-06-25T16:40:26Z")
Just got an email asking me to update my credit card for my nonexistent Amazon Prime account. Mouseover reveals that it originated from some random address in the UK. So, obvious phish is obvious. The weird thing, thoug… --- ## [Favorite opening tracks from debut albums](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-opening-tracks-from-debut-albums/1019622)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-opening-tracks-from-debut-albums/1019622 "2025-06-25T15:00:41Z")
Two simple rules: Must be a debut album Must be the first track on the album I’ll start by tossing out “Can I Tell You Something” from the eponymous debut album by Kansas. While they were known for some longer prog ro… --- ## [We have a cat!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-cat/1018611)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-have-a-cat/1018611 "2025-06-25T14:34:03Z")
Actually, a ten week old kitten named “Spicy Tuna Roll”, picked while the ladies were visiting the Humane Society this afternoon after I went to work. Now all I have to do is convince them that she should be called “Mac… --- ## [Drug & criminal money -- in bundles of crisp new $100's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-criminal-money-in-bundles-of-crisp-new-100s/1019723)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-criminal-money-in-bundles-of-crisp-new-100s/1019723 "2025-06-25T13:34:39Z")
This question is inspired by “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” but I think it’s more about illegal money than the shows themselves. Do (as the programs show it) the upper tiers of organized crime and, especially, the… --- ## [MS SQL Server Studio, can't import Excel any more since upgrade to Win 11](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-sql-server-studio-cant-import-excel-any-more-since-upgrade-to-win-11/1020088)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-sql-server-studio-cant-import-excel-any-more-since-upgrade-to-win-11/1020088 "2025-06-25T11:52:37Z")
For the last six years it has been part of my job to import data from Excel workbooks into MS SQL Server. I would open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (it says it is version 18.12.1) and then use the Object Explo… --- ## [Casablanca - what happens to Rick if he stays in Casablanca?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casablanca-what-happens-to-rick-if-he-stays-in-casablanca/1019666)
**Author:** [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casablanca-what-happens-to-rick-if-he-stays-in-casablanca/1019666 "2025-06-25T10:23:51Z")
I watched the film Casablanca recently and noticed that Rick (played by Humprey Bogart) mentions that it’s December 1941. Remembering that Pearl Harbor was December 7th of that year and that Germany declared war on the … --- ## [Basketball List 10 Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-list-10-thread/1001868)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-list-10-thread/1001868 "2025-06-25T06:40:11Z")
Same kind of list as the pro wrestling, movies, TV, and music playlists. Create a topic, list 10 things that match, move to next topic. Only this time, we’re just talking about basketball. Players That Their Original … --- ## [Anthony Weiner may be in serious trouble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthony-weiner-may-be-in-serious-trouble/766571)
**Author:** [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Replies:** 182\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthony-weiner-may-be-in-serious-trouble/766571 "2025-06-25T05:43:20Z")
I’m a little skeptical of the Daily Mail, but it’s being picked up by the Guardian so maybe there’s a shred of credibility to it. Weiner is reported to have had highly illegal online communication with a teenager. Than… --- ## [Economics of Stores Selling Returned Amazon Goods?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-stores-selling-returned-amazon-goods/1019919)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-of-stores-selling-returned-amazon-goods/1019919 "2025-06-25T02:46:27Z")
People buy a lot of stuff from Amazon (and similar) online stores. And they return a lot of stuff. For small items, I’ve read processing these returns can sometimes cost more than they’re worth. Over the last few year… --- ## [What are your favorite gymnastic events?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-gymnastic-events/1017151)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-gymnastic-events/1017151 "2025-06-25T02:20:05Z")
Inspired by watching the NCAA championships. For women’s events, the vault. Everything has to be perfect and exact. There’s no room for error. For men’s, the rings. The strength required is just mind boggling. --- ## [Trump and Weaponized Stupidity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-weaponized-stupidity/1019923)
**Author:** [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-and-weaponized-stupidity/1019923 "2025-06-25T02:14:14Z")
This is one of the most insightful breakdowns of how Trump operates that I’ve ever read. Trump’s approach is something so new and different that those of us who live in reality can’t figure out how to effectively challen… --- ## [Americans - will current events affect your July 4th plans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-will-current-events-affect-your-july-4th-plans/1020042)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-will-current-events-affect-your-july-4th-plans/1020042 "2025-06-25T02:07:52Z")
We are planning on attending a largish family event on the 5th, and had discussed inviting a couple for a cookout on the 4th. My wife likes to watch some fireworks, so she’s been looking up schedules. Me, I’ve seen eno… --- ## [Power ball odds questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-ball-odds-questions/1017769)
**Author:** [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-ball-odds-questions/1017769 "2025-06-24T23:44:46Z")
I found this about the powerball: ‘In each drawing, five balls are drawn from a drum with 69 white balls (labeled 1 through 69) and one ball is drawn from a drum with 26 red balls (labeled 1 through 26).’ leading to a ja… --- ## ["Knocking out" someone like in movies & TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knocking-out-someone-like-in-movies-tv/1016335)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knocking-out-someone-like-in-movies-tv/1016335 "2025-06-24T22:59:31Z")
In movies and TV shows someone will occasionally “knock out” by hitting them over the head with something. The victim gets hit and then just drops, as if fainting. Is this actually possible or realistic or is this just … --- ## [Anyone remember circular concrete waterspray park features from the 1960s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-circular-concrete-waterspray-park-features-from-the-1960s/1020052)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-circular-concrete-waterspray-park-features-from-the-1960s/1020052 "2025-06-24T22:42:59Z")
In many Chicago public parks in the 1960s, they used to have a sort of waterspray feature. Sometimes they were associated with a playground, and other times, as standalone features. As I recall them, they were circular… --- ## ["Magic takes over the world"– has this been done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magic-takes-over-the-world-has-this-been-done/1019961)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magic-takes-over-the-world-has-this-been-done/1019961 "2025-06-24T22:26:46Z")
I don’t mean a scenario where science and physics stops working and is replaced by magic. I mean sort of like if Voldemort and his followers had won the Wizarding World’s civil war and then gone on to enslave the Muggles… --- ## [Another question for Linguists-- "Install" v. "Installation"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-for-linguists-install-v-installation/1019938)
**Author:** [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-for-linguists-install-v-installation/1019938 "2025-06-24T21:52:53Z")
Many times I read about people discussing their “new car stereo install” or “I wish you could do the install for me.” Is this correct? Should it be “installation?” Another example could be “some companies will not in… --- ## [Do banks standardize low-interest short term loan rates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-banks-standardize-low-interest-short-term-loan-rates/1020089)
**Author:** [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-banks-standardize-low-interest-short-term-loan-rates/1020089 "2025-06-24T20:50:49Z")
I’m on the board of a non-profit that wants to take a short-term loan. The executive director has asked us to approve taking it out, saying the bank is willing to give us a low-interest short term loan. Of course we said… --- ## [When complete and total jerk-asses happen to be right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-complete-and-total-jerk-asses-happen-to-be-right/1019273)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-complete-and-total-jerk-asses-happen-to-be-right/1019273 "2025-06-24T20:12:15Z")
There is a logical fallacy formally known as ad hominem which consists of discrediting an argument based on the known character and other arguments and positions of the person making the argument. It implies that the arg… --- ## [Scott Lynch, author of Gentlemen Bastards series](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-lynch-author-of-gentlemen-bastards-series/837186)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-lynch-author-of-gentlemen-bastards-series/837186 "2025-06-24T18:58:28Z")
He has written three novels: The Lies of Locke Lamore (2006) Red Seas Under Red Skies (2007) The Republic of Thieves (2013) It is rumored that he has completed the 4th book in the series: The Thorn of Emberlain, but … --- ## [A linguist's considered view on the prescriptive vs. descriptive controversy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-linguists-considered-view-on-the-prescriptive-vs-descriptive-controversy/1019735)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-linguists-considered-view-on-the-prescriptive-vs-descriptive-controversy/1019735 "2025-06-24T18:35:17Z")
In general, I’d beware of taking rockstar science popularizers as the last word on a given scientific field. I just saw Neil DeGrasse Tyson get his ass handed to him by an atmospheric physicist on the topic of the genera… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=289) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=291)