# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=380&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 381 --- ## [Have any governments transitioned from democracy to authoritarianism via the judiciary or legislative branch, not the executive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-governments-transitioned-from-democracy-to-authoritarianism-via-the-judiciary-or-legislative-branch-not-the-executive/1013850)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-governments-transitioned-from-democracy-to-authoritarianism-via-the-judiciary-or-legislative-branch-not-the-executive/1013850 "2025-02-04T04:10:11Z")
A lot of nations are currently or in the past have undergone democratic backsliding where the nation becomes more and more authoritarian and inhumane. But from what I can tell, pretty much every example is spearheaded b… --- ## [Error trying to add user to ignore list](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-trying-to-add-user-to-ignore-list/1013775)
**Author:** [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-trying-to-add-user-to-ignore-list/1013775 "2025-02-04T01:02:41Z")
There is a user whose posts have become too toxic for me to read. But I get an error when trying to add them to my ignore list. Any help? (Please remember not to discuss in this forum what posters are or are not ignored… --- ## [Mexico responds to US declaration of economic war](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-responds-to-us-declaration-of-economic-war/1013765)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexico-responds-to-us-declaration-of-economic-war/1013765 "2025-02-04T01:02:31Z")
The President of Mexico has announced that Mexico will also respond with retaliatory tariffs. She did not yet provide much detail, but says that the tariffs will range from 5% to 20% on a range of goods. Auto industry w… --- ## [Kids rec sports question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-rec-sports-question/1013844)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-rec-sports-question/1013844 "2025-02-04T00:56:54Z")
My 10 yr old niece plays in a park district basketball program. Either 10-11 yr old or 4th-5th grade girls. They played their first game yesterday. The other team was a team from a parochial school that was allowed to… --- ## [Another What\_Exit & Acupuncture Modding issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-exit-acupuncture-modding-issue/1013832)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-exit-acupuncture-modding-issue/1013832 "2025-02-04T00:42:35Z")
Czarcasm talked about not accepting woo in medicine in favor of science. I gave my reply. Why is his post appropriate and mine not? And also, very unprofessional for a mod to talk about someone’s opinion as “crap”.… --- ## [Should we dry out our coffee maker before adding filter & coffee?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-dry-out-our-coffee-maker-before-adding-filter-coffee/1013770)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-dry-out-our-coffee-maker-before-adding-filter-coffee/1013770 "2025-02-03T23:44:25Z")
Our coffee maker looks like a rain forest inside, hours after the coffee’s finished and everything has cooled down. Every surface is wartier than a toad with big fat droplets. Is it OK to load a new paper filter and meas… --- ## [Cataracts!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cataracts/1009588)
**Author:** [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Replies:** 140\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cataracts/1009588 "2025-02-03T23:00:10Z")
So my vision has gotten awfully bad – hard to see faces across a room, hard or impossible to read my phone in low contrast (bright light) situations. I figured my prescription had changed (it’s happened before, and no I… --- ## [Response to David Cross's Quote Re: the Bible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/response-to-david-crosss-quote-re-the-bible/735501)
**Author:** [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/response-to-david-crosss-quote-re-the-bible/735501 "2025-02-03T22:15:12Z")
“Because you know, when the bible was written, and then rewritten, and then edited, and then re-edi -ted, then translated from dead languages and then re-retranslated and re-edited again, then re-re-re-edited, and then r… --- ## [The MMP FAQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mmp-faq/599358)
**Author:** [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mmp-faq/599358 "2011-10-11T23:08:35Z")
The MMP FAQ \*\*What does MMP stand for? \*\*Monday Morning Post \*\*What the $#@& is an MMP anyhow? \*\*Basically a ragtag collection of stuff that is too pointless even for MPSIMS. Sharing our personal observations, the day … --- ## [Note for using AI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-for-using-ai/1013794)
**Author:** [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/note-for-using-ai/1013794 "2025-02-03T20:50:07Z")
In this thread, I asked for ideas about how to cook the gajillion different cuts of beef I have acquired. @Monty helped by generating an AI response with their “new toy,” an AI assistant. I greatly appreciated the thoro… --- ## [Are our colour terms linked to a contiguous part of the spectrum?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-colour-terms-linked-to-a-contiguous-part-of-the-spectrum/1013617)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-our-colour-terms-linked-to-a-contiguous-part-of-the-spectrum/1013617 "2025-02-03T19:58:19Z")
Wikipedia tells me that “red” is the colour whose dominant wavelength is between 625 and 740 nanometres; there are similar definitions for other colours (e.g. blue 450-495 nm, green 495-570 nm, etc.). Does this mean that… --- ## [(Old) The MMP is the place to be!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-the-mmp-is-the-place-to-be/1013472)
**Author:** [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Replies:** 415\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-the-mmp-is-the-place-to-be/1013472 "2025-02-03T19:44:48Z")
Ok, I really got nothing other than my ability to rhyme. Jump on in! Swampy, it was called something like a Jalapeño Popper Meatloaf. It had a basic mix of ground beef, onions, paprika, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Th… --- ## [Do you need to pay sales tax on car rental insurance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-pay-sales-tax-on-car-rental-insurance/1013834)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-pay-sales-tax-on-car-rental-insurance/1013834 "2025-02-03T19:42:51Z")
I traveled recently and rented a car. The total cost came with many, many fees/taxes. Reviewing the sales receipt it seems I was charged tax on the insurance coverage I bought from the rental agency (yes, stupidly expe… --- ## [Aspenglow's Modding In Accupuncture Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspenglows-modding-in-accupuncture-thread/1013778)
**Author:** [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspenglows-modding-in-accupuncture-thread/1013778 "2025-02-03T19:23:26Z")
Ulfreida said “I’m trying to help you have some empathy for the kind of people who seek out other, unproven methods because they have run out of options in the ‘evidence-based’ world of medicine.” If this is not in fac… --- ## [Favorite Hollywood Stories?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-hollywood-stories/1013172)
**Author:** [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-hollywood-stories/1013172 "2025-02-03T19:02:31Z")
Especially funny and/or audacious ones… I find it hilarious that Coppola faked a seizure in front of Paramount executives when they said “Marlon Brando will never be in this picture”. I think it helped because Coppola a… --- ## [Carry on luggage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carry-on-luggage/1013706)
**Author:** [@mglambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mglambo)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carry-on-luggage/1013706 "2025-02-03T18:24:02Z")
I’m trying to.buy a backpack type of luggage for a trip. It appears that the typical dimensions allowed for carry on is 22× 14 × 9. Do all domestic USA airlines stick to these dimensions? Are they very strict? Any reco… --- ## [Fiduciary duty and personal politics (either side)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiduciary-duty-and-personal-politics-either-side/1013779)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fiduciary-duty-and-personal-politics-either-side/1013779 "2025-02-03T18:16:17Z")
Another thread about personal finance and the current government triggered a question for me. I was tempted to put this in GQ, but I wasn’t certain it was best. I think I have a rough idea of what fiduciary duty is. A f… --- ## [EBAY Cheats!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cheats/1013540)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-cheats/1013540 "2025-02-03T17:25:40Z")
I was dumb. I bought clothing on ebay. A cheap pleather jacket, to use like a raincoat. I order two sizes too big, so it will certainly fit. As too small can happen. I order from a shit that ships from North America. … --- ## [The Trump Administration and the future of television drama](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-and-the-future-of-television-drama/1013820)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-and-the-future-of-television-drama/1013820 "2025-02-03T17:19:45Z")
This thread discusses it in a humorous fashion:What could happen to CBS' FBI in the trump era , but I am wondering about the real world (so to speaking) dilemma of portraying a diversified world realistically when divers… --- ## [Is there a term of art of this business practice (leaving old, uncompetitive pricing plans alive while selling competitive plans to new customers?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-of-art-of-this-business-practice-leaving-old-uncompetitive-pricing-plans-alive-while-selling-competitive-plans-to-new-customers/1012914)
**Author:** [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-of-art-of-this-business-practice-leaving-old-uncompetitive-pricing-plans-alive-while-selling-competitive-plans-to-new-customers/1012914 "2025-02-03T15:42:48Z")
Something that I noticed with both my mobile phone/mobile data accounts and my web hosting accounts (in both cases I have the customer of the same companies for more than two decades now): Technological progress and co… --- ## [Recumbent Bike](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recumbent-bike/1013727)
**Author:** [@mglambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mglambo)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recumbent-bike/1013727 "2025-02-03T15:35:40Z")
I have a SportsArt c52r recumbent exercise bike. I’m looking to sell it. It’s pretty old but in good condition. I looked around online and some (refurbished ones) are around $4,000 or more. And some are around $50. Anyo… --- ## [New kitty! This is Holiday](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kitty-this-is-holiday/999978)
**Author:** [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-kitty-this-is-holiday/999978 "2025-02-03T15:27:27Z")
“Holly” for short, who is currently hiding behind our futon. She’s with us on a two-week trial basis to ensure she and our existing kitty get along. Holiday came t… --- ## [In \*A Knight's Tale,\* why are there two different victory scenes back to back? (open spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-knights-tale-why-are-there-two-different-victory-scenes-back-to-back-open-spoilers/1013494)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-knights-tale-why-are-there-two-different-victory-scenes-back-to-back-open-spoilers/1013494 "2025-02-03T14:47:54Z")
A Knight’s Tale was on TV this evening, so I thought I’d watch it - not so much for the movie as a whole, but because various assorted performances and pieces within it are enjoyable. But I was reminded of a detail that… --- ## [Am I right to be suspicious of this Cloud Storage provider's 'one time payment' deal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-be-suspicious-of-this-cloud-storage-providers-one-time-payment-deal/1013592)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-be-suspicious-of-this-cloud-storage-providers-one-time-payment-deal/1013592 "2025-02-03T12:24:42Z")
I’ve been in the market for a new provider of cloud storage for my backups. The other day, someone suggested PCloud, who are apparently offering lifetime plans for cloud storage where you make a single, one-off payment,… --- ## [Looking for old staff report on Vaccination](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-old-staff-report-on-vaccination/1013666)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-old-staff-report-on-vaccination/1013666 "2025-02-03T11:20:24Z")
Way, way back when I was writing staff reports as a member of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board, I took a question from someone who was dubious about vaccinating their child. I enlisted a doctor friend to write a … --- ## [Canadopers: What should be on my emergency grocery list tonight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadopers-what-should-be-on-my-emergency-grocery-list-tonight/1013740)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadopers-what-should-be-on-my-emergency-grocery-list-tonight/1013740 "2025-02-03T08:25:25Z")
I’m going on a grocery shopping list as soon as the PM is done talking. What should I get? Toilet paper Flour Sugar Bread Cereals Dog and cat food Frozen foods Chicken and hamburger Thoughts? Plus will fill my … --- ## [Filing income taxes for 2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filing-income-taxes-for-2024/1013719)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filing-income-taxes-for-2024/1013719 "2025-02-03T01:57:18Z")
This could’ve been an MPSIMS or IMHO, but it’s poilitical so let’s try it here. This time of year I’d normally take advantage of the cold dead winter months to file my taxes early. Often I get a little refund, but at a… --- ## [Explain "retirement" to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-retirement-to-me/1011120)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 205\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-retirement-to-me/1011120 "2025-02-03T01:17:18Z")
I’m that terribly stereotypical kind of early millennial… poor, financially illiterate, always floating between random gigs, expecting the future to be all doom and gloom and social collapse and AI fodder and all that. A… --- ## [Why did COVID kill 24 hour shopping?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-covid-kill-24-hour-shopping/1013569)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-covid-kill-24-hour-shopping/1013569 "2025-02-03T01:13:30Z")
I get that correlation does not equal causation but assuming that the pandemic put an end to some stores like Walmart being open 24 hours, why? If they weren’t profitable operating at those hours, why did it take COVID … --- ## [When do annuities actually make sense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-annuities-actually-make-sense/1013738)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2025, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-do-annuities-actually-make-sense/1013738 "2025-02-03T00:59:05Z")
Spinning this off of the most recent retirement thread. There I came around to understanding that delaying taking social security payments (to 67 and to 70) is very comparable to a very attractive inflation adjusted with… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=379&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=381&state=tracking)