# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=346&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 347 --- ## [Are companies still pulling up sunken timber from Lake Superior et al.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-companies-still-pulling-up-sunken-timber-from-lake-superior-et-al/1014811)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-companies-still-pulling-up-sunken-timber-from-lake-superior-et-al/1014811 "2025-03-30T15:16:50Z")
Nigh on thirty years ago there were several outfits pulling long-sunken logs from the bottom of Lake Superior (and probably bayous and lakes elsewhere), selling the tight-grained old growth lumber at a premium to folks l… --- ## [Using Roman lead ingots for research](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-roman-lead-ingots-for-research/1016118)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-roman-lead-ingots-for-research/1016118 "2025-03-30T08:24:56Z")
This is piggy backed off the sunken timbers thread. It was noted that scientists are using old Roman lead ingots for shielding sensitive experiments. I really don’t have a problem with this. I would think they could cast… --- ## [Your video gaming habits? Use of walkthroughs, tutorials, cheat codes, etc](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-video-gaming-habits-use-of-walkthroughs-tutorials-cheat-codes-etc/1016201)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-video-gaming-habits-use-of-walkthroughs-tutorials-cheat-codes-etc/1016201 "2025-03-30T05:56:34Z")
Just a little gaming history about me-- I got into gaming later in life (well, arcade games in the 80s, then nothing at all until just a couple years ago). I’m just wondering what other players’ strategies are for gettin… --- ## [Help Me Identify an SF/Fantasy Short Story--Robert E. Howard meets Ernest Hemingway in the afterlife](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-sf-fantasy-short-story-robert-e-howard-meets-ernest-hemingway-in-the-afterlife/1016276)
**Author:** [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-an-sf-fantasy-short-story-robert-e-howard-meets-ernest-hemingway-in-the-afterlife/1016276 "2025-03-30T03:57:27Z")
Basic plot: Robert E. Howard (and I think another pulp SF/Fantasy writer) enter the “afterlife” where (amongst other things I forget) they meet Ernest Hemingway who cannot completely hide a sneer when Howard describes t… --- ## [Russia at war and GDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-at-war-and-gdp/1015759)
**Author:** [@Sooner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sooner)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russia-at-war-and-gdp/1015759 "2025-03-30T02:29:42Z")
How can Russia with an economy a bit smaller than Italy’s (both with a GDP a bit over 2 trillion); afford a large scale, 3 year war? I get: it is a largely extractive economy (likely a bit more immune to sanctions), Col… --- ## [Forrest Fenn Treasure - Part deux - Netflix version](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forrest-fenn-treasure-part-deux-netflix-version/1016263)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forrest-fenn-treasure-part-deux-netflix-version/1016263 "2025-03-30T02:03:12Z")
There’s a new ‘documentary’ on Netflix, Gold and Greed:The Hunt For Fenn’s Treasure. For reference, we’ve done this before. See this and this. Anyhoo, I’ve always been skeptical of the way that it was found, along with… --- ## [? about Galaxy Quest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-galaxy-quest/1014867)
**Author:** [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-galaxy-quest/1014867 "2025-03-30T01:24:05Z")
Is it “sons of Warvan” or “suns of Warvan”? --- ## [About space and gravity, too long to explain in thread title](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-space-and-gravity-too-long-to-explain-in-thread-title/1011558)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-space-and-gravity-too-long-to-explain-in-thread-title/1011558 "2025-03-30T01:08:59Z")
Let’s say I have a one-meter sphere weighing, say, 1000kg. I’m out in deep DEEP space – as in, light years away from the nearest star or what have you. I also have a one-millimeter sphere weighing, say, one milligram. If… --- ## [Rediscovering obscure old songs from your youth](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rediscovering-obscure-old-songs-from-your-youth/737234)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 178\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rediscovering-obscure-old-songs-from-your-youth/737234 "2025-03-30T00:47:38Z")
Isn’t it fun when you do that? I’m thinking about that because several days ago, I stumbled onto this wonderful song that I used to hear late at night on the AOR station as a tween in the late 1970s; they would play wha… --- ## [Is desalination going to be the solution to the water crisis? Questions and thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-desalination-going-to-be-the-solution-to-the-water-crisis-questions-and-thoughts/1015110)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-desalination-going-to-be-the-solution-to-the-water-crisis-questions-and-thoughts/1015110 "2025-03-30T00:28:01Z")
I teach remedial reading in middle school and one unit we read about and study is the impending Water Crisis, the lack of fresh, clean water and how it will affect people in the future(some even affected now). I show a … --- ## [Getting rid of freezer, need advice re:defrosting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-freezer-need-advice-re-defrosting/1016315)
**Author:** [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-freezer-need-advice-re-defrosting/1016315 "2025-03-29T22:38:59Z")
Many years ago, our fridge died on a Friday night right after grocery shopping. Our immediate solution was a cheap, small, Walmart chest freezer. We bought a new fridge on Monday. After we got the new fridge, I told FiL… --- ## [Would a waitress know specifically I didn't tip if I paid at the counter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-waitress-know-specifically-i-didnt-tip-if-i-paid-at-the-counter/1016094)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-waitress-know-specifically-i-didnt-tip-if-i-paid-at-the-counter/1016094 "2025-03-29T22:27:06Z")
Long story short I went to a restaurant with a gift card. I was told I could tip using gift card funds, and so at the end of the meal I paid entirely using the gift card and hit the button to add a tip at the front cashi… --- ## [Controversial DeJoy is out-who do you think will take his place?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-dejoy-is-out-who-do-you-think-will-take-his-place/1016062)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controversial-dejoy-is-out-who-do-you-think-will-take-his-place/1016062 "2025-03-29T19:13:09Z")
Louis DeJoy says that this is his day as Postmaster General- Exclusive: Louis DeJoy Resigns as Postmaster General | TIME Who will probably get the job…if anybody? --- ## [Why do grocery stores allow sales people to come into their stores and harass their customers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-grocery-stores-allow-sales-people-to-come-into-their-stores-and-harass-their-customers/1016135)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-grocery-stores-allow-sales-people-to-come-into-their-stores-and-harass-their-customers/1016135 "2025-03-29T19:08:24Z")
Seriously why? I can’t imagine there is a single customer there that appreciates it. I’ve decided the best way to deal with these people is to not acknowledge them at all. Rude, but less rude than the words that would … --- ## [A musical legend in Dallas and a friend of mine has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-musical-legend-in-dallas-and-a-friend-of-mine-has-died/1005923)
**Author:** [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-musical-legend-in-dallas-and-a-friend-of-mine-has-died/1005923 "2025-03-29T17:21:53Z")
I’m not really sure whether to put this in Cafe Society or MPSIMS. He was an artist and well known enough that his passing generated press, so I’m sticking it here. John Freeman is probably the only person I’ve played w… --- ## [Selena: what happened afterwards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selena-what-happened-afterwards/285018)
**Author:** [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selena-what-happened-afterwards/285018 "2025-03-29T16:59:08Z")
Last night on late night TV they had a bio-pic starring Jennifer Lopez and Edward James Olmos about Selena Quintanilla Perez. It was quite watchable but afterwards I had a question that I haven’t been able to answer. Wh… --- ## [Identify this story about an enslaved man who earns his freedom through fighting other enslaved men](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-story-about-an-enslaved-man-who-earns-his-freedom-through-fighting-other-enslaved-men/1016311)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-story-about-an-enslaved-man-who-earns-his-freedom-through-fighting-other-enslaved-men/1016311 "2025-03-29T16:55:33Z")
A memory has popped into my head. Years ago, NPR (I think) discussed this book. An enslaved man makes money for the man who enslaved him by bare-knuckle fighting other enslaved men. Our Hero, who is unbeatable, states th… --- ## [How would you write the death of your favorite comic hero?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-write-the-death-of-your-favorite-comic-hero/1016193)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-write-the-death-of-your-favorite-comic-hero/1016193 "2025-03-29T15:40:18Z")
If you had to make an alternate universe story where your favorite comic hero dies, what would you write and why? My example is Wolverine. The story would be the same as Old Man Logan but instead of retiring after killi… --- ## [What's your Go-To for a new (men's) Suit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-for-a-new-mens-suit/1016034)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-go-to-for-a-new-mens-suit/1016034 "2025-03-29T14:07:49Z")
These days I only wear a suit probably about 20-25 times a year, but when I’m at conferences I’ll wear them for 5-7 days straight, so I keep two in the stable. My current suits are looking a bit threadbare, and anyway I… --- ## [Could this woman be the first to run a sub-4-minute mile?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-woman-be-the-first-to-run-a-sub-4-minute-mile/1015052)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-this-woman-be-the-first-to-run-a-sub-4-minute-mile/1015052 "2025-03-29T13:04:47Z")
Some sports medicine doctors sure think so! We’re working on the 2-hour men’s marathon, which has been done on the track. Roger Bannister ran the first male sub-4 minute mile in 1954, and Diane Leather ran the first fe… --- ## [Excel: Which products did customers \*not\* buy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-which-products-did-customers-not-buy/1016219)
**Author:** [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-which-products-did-customers-not-buy/1016219 "2025-03-29T13:01:54Z")
Let’s pretend I sell treatments for various conditions. I have lots of data on what customers purchased in the past year. I sell multiple products to help treat each condition. And the more products you use, the better y… --- ## [Unrest in Turkey after Erdogan's main rival jailed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unrest-in-turkey-after-erdogans-main-rival-jailed/1016232)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unrest-in-turkey-after-erdogans-main-rival-jailed/1016232 "2025-03-29T12:44:20Z")
At the time of writing, there have been a week of protests following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, widely seen as Erdogan’s main political rival. Hundreds have been arrested, and fired on with rubber bullets, for the “il… --- ## [Dwarf Fortress Steam release date (finally) announced!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwarf-fortress-steam-release-date-finally-announced/974148)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dwarf-fortress-steam-release-date-finally-announced/974148 "2025-03-29T11:16:15Z")
Dwarf Fortress is going to be released on December 6 on Steam, with sprite graphics and a more modernized UI (which, in Dwarf Fortress terms, just means “an actual UI”). It will not have Adventure Mode implemented by re… --- ## [I pit having to jump through hoops just to pay my bills](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-having-to-jump-through-hoops-just-to-pay-my-bills/1015955)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-having-to-jump-through-hoops-just-to-pay-my-bills/1015955 "2025-03-29T11:11:31Z")
I hereby Pit my electric company, house insurance company, auto insurance company, and all and sundry other agencies that make me jump through hoops to pay my bills. I should be able to put my account number Here, my deb… --- ## [Yet Another Aviation Incident in South Korea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-aviation-incident-in-south-korea/1016228)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-aviation-incident-in-south-korea/1016228 "2025-03-29T10:41:47Z")
haps tells me: It’s a very short article so I just quoted half of it. Question for the pilots among us: If ATC is telling you to land on Runway 18R, do they say Eighteen R, Eighteen Right, or Eighteen Romeo? And do th… --- ## [White Phosphorous Grenades Versus Vehicles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-phosphorous-grenades-versus-vehicles/1016257)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-phosphorous-grenades-versus-vehicles/1016257 "2025-03-29T04:58:40Z")
I’ve heard (apocryphal) stories of how a white phosphorous grenade can burn through a metal plate. Is this true? Could a WP grenade be used to disable a vehicle or artillery piece be being placed on the engine or breac… --- ## ['Truncating' data - mathematically, what is this guy doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truncating-data-mathematically-what-is-this-guy-doing/1016251)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 29, 2025, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truncating-data-mathematically-what-is-this-guy-doing/1016251 "2025-03-29T02:00:22Z")
A common story - a guy is being wrong on the Internet. In this case, the guy is dividing one number into another and then truncating (?) the results. The ‘ratio’ of the two numbers is reported to the first couple of lea… --- ## [Songs that are really bad at storytelling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-really-bad-at-storytelling/1015475)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2025, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-are-really-bad-at-storytelling/1015475 "2025-03-28T22:53:43Z")
So I was just listening to Babies by Pulp: As with a lot of Pulp songs it purports to be a story of something that may or may not have happened to Jarvis Cocker in his early years. But having heard the so… --- ## [Bodyoids - Growing human bodies for parts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bodyoids-growing-human-bodies-for-parts/1016274)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2025, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bodyoids-growing-human-bodies-for-parts/1016274 "2025-03-28T22:44:12Z")
I came across this article about growing ‘spare’ human bodies with no brains to provide organs for transplant, and possibly to use in medical experiments. I don’t believe this will actually be happening anytime soon. … --- ## [The Thing (1982 movie): Did the Thing escape? (John Carpenter says there is an answer...very open spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-1982-movie-did-the-thing-escape-john-carpenter-says-there-is-an-answer-very-open-spoilers/992168)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-thing-1982-movie-did-the-thing-escape-john-carpenter-says-there-is-an-answer-very-open-spoilers/992168 "2025-03-28T20:56:32Z")
In a recent interview with John Carpenter on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Carpenter is asked if there is an answer to who (if anyone) is the Thing at the very, very end of the movie. Carpenter says yes, if you wa… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=345&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=347&state=tracking)