# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=382&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 383 --- ## [Cat up our tree (need answer kinda fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-up-our-tree-need-answer-kinda-fast/1013620)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-up-our-tree-need-answer-kinda-fast/1013620 "2025-02-01T17:56:55Z")
So our dog chased a cat up a 30’ tall maple tree. Currently, it’s at the VERY TOP of the tree swinging on a spindly branch apparently for dear life. The dog is back inside and the cat keeps looking fearfully at the groun… --- ## [Aetna vs. United Healthcare](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aetna-vs-united-healthcare/1013665)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aetna-vs-united-healthcare/1013665 "2025-02-01T17:27:20Z")
Just wondering if you had to choose between Aetna or United Healthcare, which would you choose? Could one be better, and if so, how? Is one harder to deal with than the other? --- ## [Cast a movie with actors of yesteryear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-a-movie-with-actors-of-yesteryear/1013457)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-a-movie-with-actors-of-yesteryear/1013457 "2025-02-01T16:23:49Z")
You have been give all of the money and resources to make a big-budget movie. The only limitation is, you must cast it with at least three actors who are no longer with us, and therefore you also have been given a handy … --- ## [Summer Homes - however you care to define them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-homes-however-you-care-to-define-them/1013435)
**Author:** [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/summer-homes-however-you-care-to-define-them/1013435 "2025-02-01T15:05:12Z")
In the thread about How many houses have you lived in, I noticed a number of people talked about summer homes. And I was immediately interested. Tell us about them. Long term, short term, with relatives, whatever. Obvio… --- ## [How fervently did the British government, Margaret Thatcher in particular, oppress the Welsh language in the 1980s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fervently-did-the-british-government-margaret-thatcher-in-particular-oppress-the-welsh-language-in-the-1980s/1013308)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fervently-did-the-british-government-margaret-thatcher-in-particular-oppress-the-welsh-language-in-the-1980s/1013308 "2025-02-01T14:59:02Z")
I learned via watching Welcome to Wrexham that the English suppressed the Welsh language because reasons, probably principally because suppressing language is a tool of governments to oppress minority groups. In or aroun… --- ## [Mouse problem, adding extra letters quickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-problem-adding-extra-letters-quickly/1013468)
**Author:** [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mouse-problem-adding-extra-letters-quickly/1013468 "2025-02-01T14:20:11Z")
My mouse started behaving erratically. When i write on my virtual keyboard, it has starting adding extrra letters (as you could see when i wrote extra). It double clicks my letters very frequently, which seems really str… --- ## [Why no great contemporary blues singers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-great-contemporary-blues-singers/773659)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-great-contemporary-blues-singers/773659 "2025-02-01T14:10:00Z")
When I was a teenager in 60s England I was a huge fan of the blues singers, just as the Stones were. Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker (whom I actually met when he came to England), Slim Harpo, Jimmy Reed et al… --- ## [Ronald Reagan's last interview - Larry King - January 1991](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-reagans-last-interview-larry-king-january-1991/794174)
**Author:** [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-reagans-last-interview-larry-king-january-1991/794174 "2025-02-01T12:14:59Z")
I thought this was an interesting watch. You could tell age was taking it’s toll, but he comes across sharper than my mother who is 63. He doesn’t seem like he was deep in the grips of Alzheimer’s yet. --- ## [Why is Rwanda supporting an insurgency in Democratic Republic of Congo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-rwanda-supporting-an-insurgency-in-democratic-republic-of-congo/1013701)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-rwanda-supporting-an-insurgency-in-democratic-republic-of-congo/1013701 "2025-02-01T12:10:57Z")
Or is it? Could someone help me come up to speed on this? Is it a continuation of the Second Congo War? (Putting this in IMHO because I doubt answers will be strictly factual, but I’m not trying to start a debate.) --- ## [Top Gun stars 4 decades later](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gun-stars-4-decades-later/1013373)
**Author:** [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gun-stars-4-decades-later/1013373 "2025-02-01T11:20:52Z")
What do people think about the photo comparisons? There are even more to be found on Google, some where Kelly McGillis looks ok for her age, others where she doesn’t. And is Tom Cruise a real life Dorian Gray? https://… --- ## [Do light waves exhibit interference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-light-waves-exhibit-interference/1013656)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-light-waves-exhibit-interference/1013656 "2025-02-01T00:45:35Z")
You throw a rock into a lake, and it causes ripples. Throw another one into the ripples and that creates ripples, that change as they hit each other. Sound blocking headphones create sound waves that cancel out the sou… --- ## [R.I.P. Marianne Faithfull](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-marianne-faithfull/1013639)
**Author:** [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2025, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-marianne-faithfull/1013639 "2025-02-01T00:06:49Z")
The great Marianne Faithfull has passed away, peacefully, at the age of 78. I’m too young to have been familiar with her in her Swinging London heyday, but I felel in love with the Blazing Away live album. And “The Ball… --- ## [Can someone explain the hype around China's deepseek?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-hype-around-chinas-deepseek/1013498)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-hype-around-chinas-deepseek/1013498 "2025-01-31T23:37:48Z")
So my understanding is DeepSeek is comparable to maybe OpenAIs o1. Does it have reasoning skills or is it more like GPT-4? My understanding is they trained it with far less money, less computation and less hardware than… --- ## [Severance based hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severance-based-hypothetical/1013351)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/severance-based-hypothetical/1013351 "2025-01-31T22:47:32Z")
Rewatching Severance S1 and imagining what the experience would be like, (For those not familiar with the show a fictional procedure is available where one can separate their brain so their work life and home life minds … --- ## [What programming language should I learn?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programming-language-should-i-learn/661651)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programming-language-should-i-learn/661651 "2025-01-31T22:16:47Z")
I want to get back into programming and so what language would you recommend for 2013. Assume I have a working knowledge of ANSI-C, Pascal and JavaScript. I’m looking to do is just get acclimated with something not 15 … --- ## [Fireworks Mayhem 2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322)
**Author:** [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fireworks-mayhem-2024/1003322 "2025-01-31T21:44:04Z")
It’s that time of year again. Over the next couple of weeks several good United States citizens will lose a limb and some a life in the search for the Big Bang. Homes will burn to the ground. Wildfires will erupt. Cars w… --- ## [Aircraft and Radar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aircraft-and-radar/1013663)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aircraft-and-radar/1013663 "2025-01-31T21:41:57Z")
In view of the recent tragedy at Reagan National, I’d like to understand with factual responses: a) Do commercial aircraft use their radar all the time, or only certain times? And, I believe I once heard it is not used … --- ## [Unread posts not showing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unread-posts-not-showing/1013688)
**Author:** [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unread-posts-not-showing/1013688 "2025-01-31T19:50:42Z")
Now all of a sudden, I click on topics. It only shows me the most recent posts, tracked or not. I have to go to the bottom and click 15 unread to show the ones with blue numbers ( new posts). After I read it, I must go… --- ## [Tallest and shortest TV casts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tallest-and-shortest-tv-casts/1013618)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tallest-and-shortest-tv-casts/1013618 "2025-01-31T21:21:00Z")
Which TV shows had, on average, the tallest and shortest adult casts? I believe that, at least at one point, Night Court held the record for the tallest cast. In its 4th to 9th seasons, the principal actors were as fol… --- ## [Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet (Apple TV+ show)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythic-quest-ravens-banquet-apple-tv-show/848400)
**Author:** [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythic-quest-ravens-banquet-apple-tv-show/848400 "2025-01-31T20:51:30Z")
I looked around and I didn’t see a thread for Mythic Quest; if there is one, feel free to merge this. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the show (about the workers at a World of Warcraft-esque MMORPG). I t… --- ## [Legitimate Plans to Fight Back](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-plans-to-fight-back/1013201)
**Author:** [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legitimate-plans-to-fight-back/1013201 "2025-01-31T19:50:42Z")
Hello Mods, Forgive my ignorance; I really just want to know if it’s kosher to start a thread about real plans and outlook for the Democratic party. We have tons of related threads, but even the one titled “What Should … --- ## [Got a Nibble (Publishing a book)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-nibble-publishing-a-book/1013628)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-nibble-publishing-a-book/1013628 "2025-01-31T19:38:04Z")
Current stats on the querying process for Within the Box: total queries to lit agencies: 498 rejections: 401 outstanding: 97 Until a couple days ago I was getting bogged down by the unrelenting turndowns, with nob… --- ## [Ultimate fate of Elon's Tesla Roadster](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-fate-of-elons-tesla-roadster/808501)
**Author:** [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ultimate-fate-of-elons-tesla-roadster/808501 "2025-01-31T18:45:16Z")
Something that I though of in all the discussions about the recent SpaceX launch. There have a been a few questions about the long term fate of the Roadster. Elon muttered about millions - perhaps billions of years. Ho… --- ## [So what are the WORST excuses you heard of people trying to get out of jury duty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-are-the-worst-excuses-you-heard-of-people-trying-to-get-out-of-jury-duty/996997)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-are-the-worst-excuses-you-heard-of-people-trying-to-get-out-of-jury-duty/996997 "2025-01-31T18:31:28Z")
Excuses either given at check-in, to the judge prior to selection, or during selection itself. I was just at Jury duty and since I’ve been to jury duty 3 times in 5 years already I’ve heard a number of bad excuses. Duri… --- ## [A Netflix reboot of Little House on the Prairie on the way](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-netflix-reboot-of-little-house-on-the-prairie-on-the-way/1013647)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-netflix-reboot-of-little-house-on-the-prairie-on-the-way/1013647 "2025-01-31T17:58:43Z")
I can’t wait to see this told from a 21st century, streaming service perspective. “You’ve seen Girls Gone Wild, now prepare yourself for girls gone wilder. Laura Ingalls Wilder.” --- ## [Med Q: Does your body have a clean-up scavenger process to get rid of unwanted items?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/med-q-does-your-body-have-a-clean-up-scavenger-process-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-items/1012824)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/med-q-does-your-body-have-a-clean-up-scavenger-process-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-items/1012824 "2025-01-31T17:24:28Z")
When I was five or so, I was eating a BLT and one of my brothers made me laugh. I managed to sort of inhale my mouthful of bread/lettuce/tomato/bacon and went into a coughing spasm that went on for what seemed forever. … --- ## [, , \\/ 2 B 2 \\/ \\/](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-b-2/105407)
**Author:** [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-b-2/105407 "2025-01-31T13:20:20Z")
I love “keyboard” lyrics. (For those not as swift as others: Comma, comma, down doobie doo, down down {Breaking up is Hard To Do}) --- ## [How can trump lower gas prices?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trump-lower-gas-prices/1013528)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-trump-lower-gas-prices/1013528 "2025-01-31T13:14:03Z")
Aren’t these his only two options- nationalize the oil industry, or give the oil industry such great tax breaks that they would be happy to sell at a loss. A side question: how did the prices gasoline and fucking eggs b… --- ## [He has to free the J6ers, right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 153\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613 "2025-01-31T06:06:30Z")
I don’t see any way around it. That’s going to be a toxic mess. They’ve made their bones, and afa loyalty goes, they’re prescreened. Marty really fucked up this timeline. --- ## [Ban TikTok? How would it be done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-tiktok-how-would-it-be-done/1000802)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2025, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ban-tiktok-how-would-it-be-done/1000802 "2025-01-31T04:46:22Z")
I don’t mean to debate the wisdom of the US government banning TikTok or any other app. Nor am I debating the constitutionality of doing so. All I am wondering is, how would it be done? Would my phone provider or manu… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=381&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=383&state=tracking)