# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=358&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 359 --- ## [How much transphobia is permissible before banning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-transphobia-is-permissible-before-banning/1015457)
**Author:** [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-transphobia-is-permissible-before-banning/1015457 "2025-03-12T14:48:35Z")
Continuing the discussion from Republicans' war on transgender people: Omnibus thread: Although it’s actually an earlier warning in that thread that I want to discuss: If three warnings for misgendering isn’t resulti… --- ## [How to find records of cruise ship planned vs actual itineraries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-records-of-cruise-ship-planned-vs-actual-itineraries/1015173)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-records-of-cruise-ship-planned-vs-actual-itineraries/1015173 "2025-03-12T11:53:23Z")
I recently went on a Viking cruise that was scheduled to sail from Bergen, Norway, to the Norwegian cities of Alta and Tromso (above the Arctic Circle), then Narvik, Amsterdam, and London. Because of heavy storms in the… --- ## [What is the purpose of this new spam call tactic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-this-new-spam-call-tactic/1015418)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-this-new-spam-call-tactic/1015418 "2025-03-12T11:30:05Z")
I’ve been getting a lot of spam phone calls lately. And I noticed that have a new trick. My phone rings. I pick it up and say “Hello”. The spammer immediately says “Hello” back to me but then she doesn’t say anything el… --- ## [An exact duplicate of the Voyager I craft passes by Earth; how close for our equipment to detect it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-exact-duplicate-of-the-voyager-i-craft-passes-by-earth-how-close-for-our-equipment-to-detect-it/1015449)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-exact-duplicate-of-the-voyager-i-craft-passes-by-earth-how-close-for-our-equipment-to-detect-it/1015449 "2025-03-12T05:56:03Z")
Let’s say an alien civilization made a spacecraft that, as luck would have it, matches the Voyager I piece for piece and gram for gram. How close would it have to get for any of our equipment to detect it? Edited to add… --- ## [Flow (Latvian animated movie) - anyone seen this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flow-latvian-animated-movie-anyone-seen-this/1012899)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flow-latvian-animated-movie-anyone-seen-this/1012899 "2025-03-12T05:26:37Z")
I hadn’t heard of it until a few days ago, and it sounds really wonderful. Has anyone here seen it, and what did you think? --- ## [We need to get far more serious about organized cyber-crime scamming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-get-far-more-serious-about-organized-cyber-crime-scamming/1014274)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-to-get-far-more-serious-about-organized-cyber-crime-scamming/1014274 "2025-03-12T05:24:21Z")
The Economist Magazine had a cover story on 8 Feb 2025 entitled Scam Inc. Organized crime associated with cyberscams extracts $50 billion per year from American citizens. Cybercrime rivals the illegal drug industry in si… --- ## [What is it like to be on a film set when the star doesn't show up](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-on-a-film-set-when-the-star-doesnt-show-up/1015385)
**Author:** [@Chelonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chelonaut)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-like-to-be-on-a-film-set-when-the-star-doesnt-show-up/1015385 "2025-03-12T02:12:26Z")
E.g. Dwayne Johnson was allegedly sometimes up to 8 hours late for filming Big Red One. There’s also stories about everybody from Marilyn Monroe to Johnny Depp staying in their trailers for hours. I was wondering what a… --- ## [Median and halving](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/median-and-halving/1015436)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/median-and-halving/1015436 "2025-03-12T02:11:43Z")
I have seen this both ways so I’m wondering if there is a technically correct answer and if not, what the consensus is. Assume an odd amount of data that you want to split into the low half and high half. Does the medi… --- ## [How should I plan for weather on a long car trip?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-plan-for-weather-on-a-long-car-trip/1015079)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-plan-for-weather-on-a-long-car-trip/1015079 "2025-03-12T01:18:12Z")
I live in West Central MT, but have spent the winter in Tulsa, OK, and now it’s time to head back. It’s a 1635 mile trip, and would only take 25 hours if I drove straight through, but I plan on stopping to sleep at night… --- ## [Getting one's "armadillo" through a metal detector](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ones-armadillo-through-a-metal-detector/1015447)
**Author:** [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-ones-armadillo-through-a-metal-detector/1015447 "2025-03-12T00:43:58Z")
So, was Derek Smalls’ “armadillo” a foil wrapped cucumber or zucchini? --- ## [Ship crash off U.K. coast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-crash-off-u-k-coast/1015435)
**Author:** [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ship-crash-off-u-k-coast/1015435 "2025-03-12T00:38:52Z")
News account. Another news account. I’m a bit surprised there’s been no discussion of this ongoing incident. Tanker Stena Immaculate, a U.S.-flagged tanker (a rarity in itself, as I understand it) carrying jet fuel for … --- ## [Botticelli February 2025](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905)
**Author:** [@De\_La\_Rue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/De_La_Rue)\ **Replies:** 220\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/botticelli-february-2025/1013905 "2025-03-11T22:01:36Z")
Hello hello hello and welcome to the February Botticelli thread, with me, your host W. De La Rue. Here is last month’s thread, here is a thread for general questions, and here are the rules for anyone interested in joini… --- ## [Willing/Inheriting a Mortgaged Property (per the Garn-St. Germain Act)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willing-inheriting-a-mortgaged-property-per-the-garn-st-germain-act/1015271)
**Author:** [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/willing-inheriting-a-mortgaged-property-per-the-garn-st-germain-act/1015271 "2025-03-11T21:27:15Z")
I’m somewhat belatedly working on how my estate will be handled once I shuffle off the proverbial mortal coil, and one of the issues that’s been of concern is that the house I live in has a mortgage. Then I stumbled acro… --- ## [Are kids more safe today than they were in the 60s/70s (or earlier)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-more-safe-today-than-they-were-in-the-60s-70s-or-earlier/1015339)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-kids-more-safe-today-than-they-were-in-the-60s-70s-or-earlier/1015339 "2025-03-11T20:16:07Z")
Continuing the discussion from How do I find a small backpack for cycling?: The linked thread was on about something completely different but this came up and is interesting (I think). I was born in 1967 so was a kid … --- ## [Soccer: if you’re fouled in the penalty area and score a goal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-if-you-re-fouled-in-the-penalty-area-and-score-a-goal/1015042)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soccer-if-you-re-fouled-in-the-penalty-area-and-score-a-goal/1015042 "2025-03-11T17:56:56Z")
I saw this in an MLS game. A Toronto FC player looked like he was fouled in the Saint Louis City SC penalty area. Even as the Orlando player was fouling him\*, he was sending the ball into the back of the net. If you’re … --- ## [What do you call a dish that is a grain, a meat, and a veg all mixed together?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-dish-that-is-a-grain-a-meat-and-a-veg-all-mixed-together/979146)
**Author:** [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-dish-that-is-a-grain-a-meat-and-a-veg-all-mixed-together/979146 "2025-03-11T17:16:19Z")
What do you call a dish that is a grain, a meat, and then one or more vegetables mixed together? I am aware there are many specific dishes that meet this description (jambalaya, arroz con pollo, paella), but I am hoping… --- ## [Overland Expo SoCal in Costa Mesa CA — this weekend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overland-expo-socal-in-costa-mesa-ca-this-weekend/1015433)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overland-expo-socal-in-costa-mesa-ca-this-weekend/1015433 "2025-03-11T14:11:58Z")
Is anyone here planning to attend the Overland Expo in Costa Mesa CA this weekend? ➜ About SoCal — Overland Expo® ■ This will be my first one and I’m planning on going on Saturday. It’s not likely that I’ll go on Sunda… --- ## [What should I do with my old desktop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411 "2025-03-11T11:55:44Z")
A month ago, I retired after 35 years in IT. My company gave me a year old Windows laptop and a 5 year old desktop. I’ll keep the laptop as is and use it for contracting work with my old company. The desktop is nothing s… --- ## [Move to Cash? {Keep Politics out of this one}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-to-cash-keep-politics-out-of-this-one/1013713)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 154\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/move-to-cash-keep-politics-out-of-this-one/1013713 "2025-03-11T10:08:22Z")
So you’ve probably all seen the tariffs, and noticed that the announcement immediately turned a positive day for markets into a negative one. I am, of course, worried that Trump’s actions will lead to a sell-off in mark… --- ## [Garage door froze shut, garage door opener didn't like it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-door-froze-shut-garage-door-opener-didnt-like-it/1015272)
**Author:** [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-door-froze-shut-garage-door-opener-didnt-like-it/1015272 "2025-03-11T06:07:08Z")
I discovered that my garage door was iced shut when I tried using my Genie “POWERLIFT 900” Model 2562 screw drive door opener. I assumed the awful sound I heard was that of the screw drive devouring the threads on the c… --- ## [Turkeys are in trouble from a Virus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkeys-are-in-trouble-from-a-virus/1015345)
**Author:** [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkeys-are-in-trouble-from-a-virus/1015345 "2025-03-11T05:01:20Z")
We are keeping a close eye on an avian respiratory virus that is taking a toll on turkey producers across the country. It is called avian metapneumovirus, or AMPV, and it was first discovered in 2023. It has resulted … --- ## [Do you need a permit to project light/images onto buildings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-a-permit-to-project-light-images-onto-buildings/1014840)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-a-permit-to-project-light-images-onto-buildings/1014840 "2025-03-11T04:57:28Z")
This week, CBS Sunday Morning ran a story about holocaust survivors having their pictures taken and projected onto buildings in New York City. It was mentioned that they didn’t have any kind of permit to do so. Which l… --- ## [Is "Murc's Law" real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-murcs-law-real/1014974)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-murcs-law-real/1014974 "2025-03-11T04:53:18Z")
Mentioned here: You’ve Probably Never Heard of “Murc’s Law”, But You’ve Seen It in Action Lots of Times | Whereof One Can Speak :ukraine: “Murc’s Law is “the widespread assumption that only Democrats have any agency or… --- ## [Can Blu-Ray Players also play regular DVD's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blu-ray-players-also-play-regular-dvds/1013207)
**Author:** [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-blu-ray-players-also-play-regular-dvds/1013207 "2025-03-11T04:14:51Z")
Can Blu-Ray players also play regular DVD’s or must I have a separate device for both types? --- ## [How to drink ginger beer without sneezing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-drink-ginger-beer-without-sneezing/1015347)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-drink-ginger-beer-without-sneezing/1015347 "2025-03-11T03:08:46Z")
I love ginger ale and beer but sometimes when I go to take a gulp from the bottle it just explodes in my mouth. I can’t control it and I spew all over. I have determined that it is the concentrated carbon dioxide in the … --- ## [538 is No Longer a Credible Source](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-no-longer-a-credible-source/1004449)
**Author:** [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Replies:** 182\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/538-is-no-longer-a-credible-source/1004449 "2025-03-11T03:06:07Z")
GEEK FIGHT!! Nate Silver just dropped a blog post eviscerating the 538 election model, which currently shows the election as a tossup. For those of you who don’t know, Nate Silver was the founder of 538 and devised the… --- ## [SOTU ~ Your unvarnished responses here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sotu-your-unvarnished-responses-here/1015144)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sotu-your-unvarnished-responses-here/1015144 "2025-03-11T01:08:46Z")
The damn republicans in both houses of congress are scum. Felon47 just slithered in to deliver (yeah, right) the SOTU. And instead of a normal round of applause for their idol, they started doing that rally clap (what is… --- ## [Trump attacks law firm that represented political opponents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacks-law-firm-that-represented-political-opponents/1015262)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacks-law-firm-that-represented-political-opponents/1015262 "2025-03-10T23:51:23Z")
The latest from the fascist President: use the power of the federal government to attack a law firm that dared to challenge him. (The article says that Trump « takes a dark turn ». The author must not have been payin… --- ## [Aw, I didn't know you cared!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-i-didnt-know-you-cared/1015335)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aw-i-didnt-know-you-cared/1015335 "2025-03-10T23:30:40Z")
Our internet went out Friday around 1 pm. This was in the middle of a terribly gusty day, so we figured that was the cause somehow – like a broken branch took out a wire or something – and simply waited. (Suffering! O… --- ## [Fire on an ammonia-rich planet or moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-on-an-ammonia-rich-planet-or-moon/1015329)
**Author:** [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fire-on-an-ammonia-rich-planet-or-moon/1015329 "2025-03-10T23:00:13Z")
Here’s a question I haven’t really got an answer for; imagine a planet with an atmosphere rich in ammonia rather than oxygen, and maybe some other non-reactive gases like nitrogen, argon and possibly carbon dioxide. Prob… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=357&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=359&state=tracking)