# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=379&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 380 --- ## [Elon Musk intends to eliminate IRS Free File](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-intends-to-eliminate-irs-free-file/1013879)
**Author:** [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elon-musk-intends-to-eliminate-irs-free-file/1013879 "2025-02-05T18:18:35Z")
As I have posted here before, I prepare income taxes for free under the TaxAide program, which is jointly sponsored by AARP and the IRS. Today I found this in my news feed: This is a direct slap at poor people, who do… --- ## [Is it practical to build very fire resistant homes in LA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-practical-to-build-very-fire-resistant-homes-in-la/1012838)
**Author:** [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-practical-to-build-very-fire-resistant-homes-in-la/1012838 "2025-02-05T17:43:57Z")
I suppose there will be plenty of new home building happening in LA in the near future. To what extent will these new homes be designed specifically with fire resistance? How resistant can they realistically be made? Wha… --- ## [British Dopers: How’s Brexit treating you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-how-s-brexit-treating-you/1013679)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-dopers-how-s-brexit-treating-you/1013679 "2025-02-05T17:37:02Z")
I just saw a tweet that described it as the “greatest fraud and disaster on the population of the United Kingdom” which seems a bit hyperbolic but I thought I’d ask. Has Brexit changed your life in any meaningful way ei… --- ## [Has anyone excelled in a televised contest so well that others have dropped out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-excelled-in-a-televised-contest-so-well-that-others-have-dropped-out/1013923)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-excelled-in-a-televised-contest-so-well-that-others-have-dropped-out/1013923 "2025-02-05T16:53:11Z")
Shows about talent. singing, dancing etc. are all over the place, but has anyone on these shows done so exceedingly well that other contestants have just conceded, saying basically “I just can’t top that, sorry.”? --- ## [The McMichael/Bryan trial](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mcmichael-bryan-trial/954133)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 209\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mcmichael-bryan-trial/954133 "2025-02-05T15:48:06Z")
I noticed we didn’t have a dedicated thread for discussion so I started this one. Here’s the latest AP story: I think there are a lot of commonalities between this and the Rittenhouse trial, to wit: Self-defense is,… --- ## [What should DNC do to fight lawless actions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-dnc-do-to-fight-lawless-actions/1013771)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-dnc-do-to-fight-lawless-actions/1013771 "2025-02-05T12:53:43Z")
The current administration is undertaking a full court press for retribution against perceived enemies, and to disrupt critical government functions. DNC is sitting on its hands as far as I can see. Why are they not orga… --- ## [Commercials with spelling?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-with-spelling/1013873)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercials-with-spelling/1013873 "2025-02-05T07:41:07Z")
I saw this commercial on Facebook yesterday, hadn’t seen or thought about it in decades but remembered it. Which of course calls back to an older Nestles jingle. And there is this. … --- ## [DC Area Residents: Protest Musk's takeover at the Treasury Dept, 5 pm Tue, 2/4](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-area-residents-protest-musks-takeover-at-the-treasury-dept-5-pm-tue-2-4/1013822)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-area-residents-protest-musks-takeover-at-the-treasury-dept-5-pm-tue-2-4/1013822 "2025-02-05T04:24:07Z")
If you’re as scared about Musk taking over the Treasury department computers as I am, and live in driving range of Washington, DC, please try to get to the rally that will be held at the Treasury Dept. tomorrow, Tuesday,… --- ## [Why are so many videos online backwards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-videos-online-backwards/1013826)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-videos-online-backwards/1013826 "2025-02-05T03:13:18Z")
YouTube, etc… There are a lot of videos online that are mirror image AKA backwards. Looks like the steering wheel on a car is on the right side, and so on. Why? --- ## [Did Muddy Waters ever play solo slide guitar in standard tuning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-muddy-waters-ever-play-solo-slide-guitar-in-standard-tuning/1013900)
**Author:** [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-muddy-waters-ever-play-solo-slide-guitar-in-standard-tuning/1013900 "2025-02-05T02:11:16Z")
Whenever I play slide guitar solo (unaccompanied) I use open tunings. Usually Open A or Open E. But I thought I heard a long time ago that blues legend Muddy Waters (ne’ McKinley Morganfield) recorded some solo slide gu… --- ## [What makes you feel loved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-feel-loved/1013833)
**Author:** [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-feel-loved/1013833 "2025-02-05T01:39:05Z")
I’m giving a talk this Sunday at church, and the topic is feeling loved by God – specifically, how we can know God loves us. As part of the talk, I thought I’d contrast that with how folks feel loved by their spouse/sig… --- ## [Help with ear congestion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-ear-congestion/1013772)
**Author:** [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-ear-congestion/1013772 "2025-02-05T01:18:57Z")
Let me start with some background. A few days before Christmas, I started with a persistent cough. I had no sinus or ear congestion, fever, headache, just the cough. On Jan. 13th I had a doctor’s appointment simply a me… --- ## [Best car insurance strategy for someone driving less than 6,000 miles per year?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-car-insurance-strategy-for-someone-driving-less-than-6-000-miles-per-year/1013828)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2025, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-car-insurance-strategy-for-someone-driving-less-than-6-000-miles-per-year/1013828 "2025-02-05T00:36:58Z")
I work remotely from home and I dislike long road trips. If I had to go to someplace far like Dallas or Houston, I’d rather take the bus even though I have a car. I don’t commute to work and so most of my driving would b… --- ## ["Callbacks" to older monster movies in more recent films](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/callbacks-to-older-monster-movies-in-more-recent-films/1013867)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/callbacks-to-older-monster-movies-in-more-recent-films/1013867 "2025-02-04T23:43:28Z")
We watched The Substance over the weekend, and I couldn’t help but notice similarities to David Cronenberg’s version of The Fly in the final sequences. Both are “Body Horror” films, of course, but it’s deeper than that … --- ## [How would someone know if each person was interacting with their own individual AI-driven SDMB?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-someone-know-if-each-person-was-interacting-with-their-own-individual-ai-driven-sdmb/1013884)
**Author:** [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-someone-know-if-each-person-was-interacting-with-their-own-individual-ai-driven-sdmb/1013884 "2025-02-04T23:18:31Z")
A thought that occurred to me in another thread is that some point soon, it might very well be possible to create individual instances of the SDMB, Reddit, or really any anonymous social platform where all the content co… --- ## ["dissolving" oil in ethanol](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dissolving-oil-in-ethanol/1013813)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dissolving-oil-in-ethanol/1013813 "2025-02-04T23:09:34Z")
If I dissolve table salt (NaCl) in water, it breaks down into Na+ and Cl- ions. If I then evaporate the water away, the ions recombine and I get my salt back, chemically identical to what I started with. If I “dissolve… --- ## [Trump-proofing my nest egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-proofing-my-nest-egg/1010320)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-proofing-my-nest-egg/1010320 "2025-02-04T21:50:20Z")
Saw the 401K thread, but since I don’t have a 401K or any sort of pension, figured I’d delurk and start a new thread here. I inherited a substantial amount of stocks from my late mother (along with some real estate, but… --- ## [Ruminating about newspaper subscriptions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruminating-about-newspaper-subscriptions/1013737)
**Author:** [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruminating-about-newspaper-subscriptions/1013737 "2025-02-04T20:00:54Z")
Mostly the WaPo, but NYT too. I canceled both somewhere in the chaos of the election cycle because of the sanewashing of the orange menace, and, especially in the NYT, the way they hammered the Biden admin and glossed o… --- ## [There should be a strategic/RPG Star Trek ship captain game](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-strategic-rpg-star-trek-ship-captain-game/1013855)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-should-be-a-strategic-rpg-star-trek-ship-captain-game/1013855 "2025-02-04T19:11:28Z")
There have been a number of Star Trek games. Most are much shootier than Star Trek is. I’ve always wondered why there wasn’t a really solid career mode game where you have to command a series of ships, with the ships n… --- ## [Is anything made out of actual cellophane anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anything-made-out-of-actual-cellophane-anymore/1013848)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anything-made-out-of-actual-cellophane-anymore/1013848 "2025-02-04T18:49:03Z")
Cellophane, a clear somewhat brittle substance made from processed cellulose (hence the name) used to be THE substance that envelope and cardboard food box windows was made of. Apparently it’s been long superseded by alt… --- ## ["Do You Remember These": Things I don't understand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-these-things-i-dont-understand/764996)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-these-things-i-dont-understand/764996 "2025-02-04T18:33:12Z")
In the Statler Brothers’ novelty hit with this title, they mention a couple of things I couldn’t quite make out, even after finding a website that showed the lyrics. Specifically: Sticks no plugs and aviator caps with f… --- ## [I just realized that I live in a political bubble…](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-realized-that-i-live-in-a-political-bubble/1013731)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-realized-that-i-live-in-a-political-bubble/1013731 "2025-02-04T17:08:52Z")
Well, not necessarily just now, but the extent kind of struck me differently today. I read all the time of leftist folks having to cut conservative people out of their lives. I’ve never had to do that, or even think of … --- ## [Maybe We Should Just ALL Join The Republican Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-we-should-just-all-join-the-republican-party/1013642)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maybe-we-should-just-all-join-the-republican-party/1013642 "2025-02-04T17:06:52Z")
OK, so hear me out. Only about 20% of eligible voters vote in primaries. If we all just became Republicans, we could do a reverse Trump and put the candidates on the ballot we find to be more normal. Then vote D in the … --- ## [Please recommend a path to learning chess](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-path-to-learning-chess/991867)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-recommend-a-path-to-learning-chess/991867 "2025-02-04T16:16:49Z")
I learned the chess rules and moves in the 1990s. I bought a chess set with a vinyl chess mat. I purchased Sargon on my PC. I upgraded it once. I never grasped strategy and thinking five moves ahead. I went to the local… --- ## [Mod communication/biased modding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-communication-biased-modding/1013696)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mod-communication-biased-modding/1013696 "2025-02-04T15:23:53Z")
I was recently suspended for two days by @What\_Exit for linking to a site that’s against board rules (and I’m still pretty unclear what those rules are). I’ve got two complaints about this: a) Lack of communication. I h… --- ## [What is the word for 250th anniversary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-250th-anniversary/1013799)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-for-250th-anniversary/1013799 "2025-02-04T14:20:40Z")
In 1876, America celebrated its centennial. In 1926, she celebrated a sesquicentennial, and in 1976, a bicentennial. Is there a commonly accepted word to designate a 250th anniversary, or are we going to be stuck with f… --- ## [Is my life worth anything anymore? (Venting of emotions from Election Day)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-life-worth-anything-anymore-venting-of-emotions-from-election-day/1009764)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-life-worth-anything-anymore-venting-of-emotions-from-election-day/1009764 "2025-02-04T12:44:43Z")
(I wasn’t sure where to put this. Mods, feel free to move if needed, I didn’t think this was Pit-y enough.) As of the writing of this post, the end isn’t guaranteed, but seems pretty final. I know I’m just emotional ri… --- ## [Vincent Price dialect (including vid clip)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vincent-price-dialect-including-vid-clip/1013769)
**Author:** [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vincent-price-dialect-including-vid-clip/1013769 "2025-02-04T12:23:15Z")
Here is an interview on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 1974, just as an example xttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZwTYPv359U What i am wondering about is, he was born in Missouri, but in all hes interviews and mayb… --- ## [Oil changes and used cars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes-and-used-cars/1013077)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes-and-used-cars/1013077 "2025-02-04T12:02:41Z")
Suppose one is looking at a used car that has little or no documented history of oil changes. Would a compression test or (any other test) be indicative of proper maintenance? Frankly, I’m surprised there isn’t a sensor … --- ## [State-to-state negotiations that erupted into violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-to-state-negotiations-that-erupted-into-violence/1013781)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-to-state-negotiations-that-erupted-into-violence/1013781 "2025-02-04T06:32:58Z")
As we know, diplomatic meetings are governed by elaborate protocol. We take it for granted that negotiators will stay calm and maintain decorum no matter how angry they might be at each other, and no matter what kind of … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=378&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=380&state=tracking)