# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=350 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 351 --- ## [Dumbest Children's Book Characters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-childrens-book-characters/1015893)
**Author:** [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dumbest-childrens-book-characters/1015893 "2025-03-22T17:19:04Z")
There is no shortage of mentally challenged characters in children’s literature. Here are my picks for the two dumbest; one I like, one I don’t. I like Dav Pilkey’s Dragon. Dragon came before Captain Underpants, and i… --- ## [Math division signs: / versus ÷](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-division-signs-versus/1015885)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-division-signs-versus/1015885 "2025-03-22T16:27:48Z")
Regarding the PEMDAS order of operations for math expressions, I’ve seen some sites claim that using ÷ has a precise meaning differing from the slash operator. True, or pulled out of someone’s burrow? --- ## [What is the maximum extent to which we are allowed to disagree with transgenderism (on the Dope)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-extent-to-which-we-are-allowed-to-disagree-with-transgenderism-on-the-dope/1015807)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-maximum-extent-to-which-we-are-allowed-to-disagree-with-transgenderism-on-the-dope/1015807 "2025-03-22T15:06:30Z")
Misgendering someone is very much off-limits (and I’ve never misgendered anyone.) Discussion about whether transgender athletes belong in women’s sports is gradually shifting more and more towards “It’s bigoted to say th… --- ## [When (if at all) will we run out of new names for vehicles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-at-all-will-we-run-out-of-new-names-for-vehicles/1015398)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-if-at-all-will-we-run-out-of-new-names-for-vehicles/1015398 "2025-03-22T14:39:04Z")
This seems like something we could calculate or at least estimate. Limiting the scope to English/Romanised vehicle names, new vehicles are being designed at some rate that can probably have a curve fitted to it; new wor… --- ## [MongoDB Issue and a Hatful of sand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mongodb-issue-and-a-hatful-of-sand/1015839)
**Author:** [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mongodb-issue-and-a-hatful-of-sand/1015839 "2025-03-22T13:55:37Z")
Mongo DB or Database, is a very popular database that I’d describe as it’ll accept anything you can throw at it and is’s all good. They send out an email “Mongo Critical Issue” (I omitted the “Critical” so the SysOps ar… --- ## [Could we use gravity assist to slow down spacecraft?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-use-gravity-assist-to-slow-down-spacecraft/1015555)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-use-gravity-assist-to-slow-down-spacecraft/1015555 "2025-03-22T13:51:39Z")
Currently, we use gravity assist to speed up spacecraft to help get to father orbits like Mars. But our return plans seem to rely on atmospheric braking as the primary deceleration. I know the science says anything tha… --- ## [My floor is making cracking noises as you step on it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-floor-is-making-cracking-noises-as-you-step-on-it/1015865)
**Author:** [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-floor-is-making-cracking-noises-as-you-step-on-it/1015865 "2025-03-22T10:47:50Z")
My home is 150 years old and just recently the hardwood floor in the kitchen has started making cracking noises when you step on it in certain areas. This seems to happen randomly. In the almost 10 years that we’ve lived… --- ## [What should Danes print on the eggs they are being asked to export to the USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-danes-print-on-the-eggs-they-are-being-asked-to-export-to-the-usa/1015619)
**Author:** [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-danes-print-on-the-eggs-they-are-being-asked-to-export-to-the-usa/1015619 "2025-03-22T10:39:07Z")
Reuters reports: The United States has reached out to Denmark and other European nations asking if they can export eggs as Americans face surging egg prices, the Nordic country’s egg association said on Friday. I mus… --- ## [How have you guys not pitted Elon Musk yet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-guys-not-pitted-elon-musk-yet/818047)
**Author:** [@Warm\_blood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Warm_blood)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-have-you-guys-not-pitted-elon-musk-yet/818047 "2025-03-22T08:44:39Z")
I mean, he called one of the British divers who rescued the Thai kids trapped in a cave a pedophile on Twitter. And then he doubled down on the claim after being called out on it. Just what the fuck is wrong with him? No… --- ## [Actors who can play a wide range of roles and do it believably](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-play-a-wide-range-of-roles-and-do-it-believably/1015809)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-can-play-a-wide-range-of-roles-and-do-it-believably/1015809 "2025-03-22T03:25:57Z")
Not to detract from this thread of How do some actors end up type-cast?: I’m wondering what actors you’ve seen where you felt they could play a wide range of believable roles. The kinds of actors who are so good that yo… --- ## [Why do websites list your current session as the 'last login'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-websites-list-your-current-session-as-the-last-login/1015930)
**Author:** [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 22, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-websites-list-your-current-session-as-the-last-login/1015930 "2025-03-22T03:10:54Z")
To explain what I mean. You log on to a website and (if applicable) somewhere on the site it shows you the last time you logged in. Presumably for security reasons. At least that’s what I assume it’s meant for. If this i… --- ## [How can I disable the right CTRL key on my Windows 11 laptop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-disable-the-right-ctrl-key-on-my-windows-11-laptop/1015882)
**Author:** [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-disable-the-right-ctrl-key-on-my-windows-11-laptop/1015882 "2025-03-21T23:52:50Z")
I have been doing some hardware house cleaning the last few days. I had a Toshiba Satellite C-50 with a failed boot HDD and another Toshiba with a failed mainboard, but a functioning SSD. So I scavenged that laptop for t… --- ## [Are there any programs for breeding super-athletes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-programs-for-breeding-super-athletes/1015785)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-programs-for-breeding-super-athletes/1015785 "2025-03-21T23:02:58Z")
Continuing the discussion from Could this woman be the first to run a sub-4-minute mile?: Is there anyone in the world (a country, rogue state, sports fan, mad scientist, evil billionaire, whatever) trying to breed bett… --- ## [French researcher denied entry to US for Trump-critical phone messages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-researcher-denied-entry-to-us-for-trump-critical-phone-messages/1015861)
**Author:** [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-researcher-denied-entry-to-us-for-trump-critical-phone-messages/1015861 "2025-03-21T22:20:14Z")
I’ve been debating where to put this, since fundamentally, I’m mostly interested in the factual background of this story. So I might’ve gone GQ, but given the topic, I think political discussion is probably inevitable (a… --- ## [TNG's Jellico](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tngs-jellico/1015843)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tngs-jellico/1015843 "2025-03-21T21:47:40Z")
In Chain of Command Picard leaves the Enterprise for an extended mission involving counting illumination sources, and Captain Jellico takes command. We are of course, intended to dislike him (since he’s not Picard), but … --- ## [Do you think small batteries are going to disappear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-small-batteries-are-going-to-disappear/1015825)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-small-batteries-are-going-to-disappear/1015825 "2025-03-21T21:20:02Z")
By small batteries I mean AAA, AA, C, D, 9 volt, etc. It seems like more and more devices that used to require batteries like these instead have an in built rechargeable lithium ion battery. At this point, I think the … --- ## ["Trump blames Biden's D.E.I. policy for air crash" (NY headline)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-blames-bidens-d-e-i-policy-for-air-crash-ny-headline/1013632)
**Author:** [@LouMa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouMa)\ **Replies:** 142\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-blames-bidens-d-e-i-policy-for-air-crash-ny-headline/1013632 "2025-03-21T20:49:35Z")
What the hell does this mean? Why does Trump mention Biden and D.E.I. in the context of this accident? Would the accident have been avoided if D.E.I. didn’t exist? Or is Trump just mean and has lost it? --- ## [Three Authors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-authors/1015837)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-authors/1015837 "2025-03-21T19:53:35Z")
Okay another hypothetical- you are gonna be in a cabin or desert island or something for a year. No TV, no internet, a sat phone to check on home but limited, but you do get books. But only three authors. Obviously y… --- ## [Has anyone been to Club 33 in Disneyland?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-club-33-in-disneyland/1015031)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-been-to-club-33-in-disneyland/1015031 "2025-03-21T19:10:42Z")
We covered this back in 2005 but that was 20 years ago. --- ## ['You must update your apple account" --Apple won't let me get past the privacy screen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-update-your-apple-account-apple-wont-let-me-get-past-the-privacy-screen/1015916)
**Author:** [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-must-update-your-apple-account-apple-wont-let-me-get-past-the-privacy-screen/1015916 "2025-03-21T17:27:10Z")
Just trying to link my apple account so I can watch Apple TV. I don’t use any actual apple devices, this is through my cable box. When I try to link the subscription, it forces me to log in. Fine. But when I do, I get… --- ## [Ohio wants your drivers license to view online porn](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-wants-your-drivers-license-to-view-online-porn/1015800)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-wants-your-drivers-license-to-view-online-porn/1015800 "2025-03-21T17:18:32Z")
There is no end to the Christian fundamentalists. --- ## [Do I need a water softener?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-water-softener/1015894)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-water-softener/1015894 "2025-03-21T17:04:39Z")
My plumbing company is recommending a water softener with an option for a filter. He said that we had hard water which would shorten the life of the copper pipes (house is 30 years old). The filter would also take out mo… --- ## [Recommend a shopping list app](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-shopping-list-app/1015899)
**Author:** [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-shopping-list-app/1015899 "2025-03-21T16:16:33Z")
My wife and I have recently decided to remove Google from our lives, as much as is possible anyway. I do the grocery shopping, and I’ve kept a shopping list in Google Keep for years. Now I need a new app. My two most im… --- ## [Hypothetical defense to possession of contraband](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-defense-to-possession-of-contraband/1015870)
**Author:** [@MinkMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MinkMan)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothetical-defense-to-possession-of-contraband/1015870 "2025-03-21T16:08:02Z")
N.B. For this hypothetical legal question, assume that it takes place in California, United States. Feel free to comment with interesting facts or opinions from other jurisdictions though. Also, this is all hypothetical,… --- ## [2700 litres of water to make one T-shirt](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2700-litres-of-water-to-make-one-t-shirt/1015805)
**Author:** [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpicyDuckBillyHunt)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2700-litres-of-water-to-make-one-t-shirt/1015805 "2025-03-21T15:09:46Z")
I saw an article saying we should stop buying clothes because of the water wasted. A search showed many websites giving this same figure of 2700 litres to produce one T-shirt. Red flag to me. Does anyone have any real d… --- ## [Is "you know you know" necessarily a redundancy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-know-you-know-necessarily-a-redundancy/1015866)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-you-know-you-know-necessarily-a-redundancy/1015866 "2025-03-21T14:41:03Z")
In “Stuck inside of Mobile…” Dylan sings “you know you know about my debutant…” and while i was trying to figure out if this was just a slip up, of which he made several during the recording of this long intricate song,… --- ## [Happy Nowruz!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-nowruz/1015864)
**Author:** [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-nowruz/1015864 "2025-03-21T13:58:54Z")
Today is the Persian New Year. The number in the gif above is the year according to the Persian calendar. A few of the things you see on the right — the eggs, the wheat gra… --- ## [Is microdosing 'shrooms a bunch of bullshit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-microdosing-shrooms-a-bunch-of-bullshit/1015348)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-microdosing-shrooms-a-bunch-of-bullshit/1015348 "2025-03-21T13:17:53Z")
Honest question. My understanding is “microdosing” literally means you take an amount of psychedelic mushrooms that is low enough that you do not feel the usual psychedelic effects, but that somehow over time this makes… --- ## [What makes you feel special?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-feel-special/1015559)
**Author:** [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-feel-special/1015559 "2025-03-21T12:36:01Z")
NOTE: This is NOT in reference to romantic relationships or immediate family. This is in reference to relationships such as friends, coworkers, or neighbors. If someone acts happy to see me, and they also act happy to … --- ## [At what point do decent people stop caring, so long as they are not personally affected?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-do-decent-people-stop-caring-so-long-as-they-are-not-personally-affected/1015822)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 21, 2025, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-what-point-do-decent-people-stop-caring-so-long-as-they-are-not-personally-affected/1015822 "2025-03-21T11:25:56Z")
What I am wondering is, how much could Trump harm specific groups and sacrifice traditional US “values” without the Rs facing electoral difficulties? Don’t get me wrong - I HATE nearly everything he has done. But I’m s… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=349) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=351)