# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=390 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 391 --- ## [Tell me about Canadian personal investment accounts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-canadian-personal-investment-accounts/1013080)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-canadian-personal-investment-accounts/1013080 "2025-01-18T03:06:07Z")
My kids live in Ontario and want to begin personal investing with some money that I sent them. I’m going to help them with their investing decisions, but am first trying to understand the options. One mentioned a “TFSA… --- ## [Tinned cod roe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tinned-cod-roe/1013076)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tinned-cod-roe/1013076 "2025-01-17T22:20:42Z")
I enjoy trying unusual (to me) canned/tinned food, and I find myself in possession of a few tins of cod roe (John West brand). How should I eat it? --- ## [The next page in the book of AI evolution is here, powered by GPT 3.5, and I am very, nay, extremely impressed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-page-in-the-book-of-ai-evolution-is-here-powered-by-gpt-3-5-and-i-am-very-nay-extremely-impressed/975945)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 1615\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-next-page-in-the-book-of-ai-evolution-is-here-powered-by-gpt-3-5-and-i-am-very-nay-extremely-impressed/975945 "2025-01-17T21:56:49Z")
Hi dopers. I used the word page in the topic deliberately because this thread is about an amazing text-based AI. You can try it yourself by making a free account at chat.openai.com. Here are some of my prompts. You can … --- ## [Huntington's Disease - Math and Biology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huntingtons-disease-math-and-biology/626498)
**Author:** [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huntingtons-disease-math-and-biology/626498 "2025-01-17T21:32:19Z")
Huntington’s is autosomal dominant. Therefore, the genotypes for someone affected by Huntington’s would be either \*\*Hh \*\*or hh. So if I were to cross someone affected by Huntington’s with someone unaffected, the possib… --- ## ["The American Civil War wasn't about slavery because slavery didn't actually exist in the South"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-civil-war-wasnt-about-slavery-because-slavery-didnt-actually-exist-in-the-south/1013037)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-american-civil-war-wasnt-about-slavery-because-slavery-didnt-actually-exist-in-the-south/1013037 "2025-01-17T19:36:08Z")
I remember seeing this quote a year ago in one of those “In defense of the Confederacy” books but I didn’t bother to actually read what they meant. I know even on the SDMB I’ve seen people semantically argue that slaver… --- ## [Man, people are weird about CASH](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-people-are-weird-about-cash/1012591)
**Author:** [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Replies:** 194\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-people-are-weird-about-cash/1012591 "2025-01-17T18:19:33Z")
As a MWDG I deal with cash often. It ends up in the bank of course. But theres gap times I have cash on my body. And occasionally I pay for things with that cash. But whenever people see cash fucking money they act like … --- ## ["Drip...drip...drip"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drip-drip-drip/1013042)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drip-drip-drip/1013042 "2025-01-17T17:56:30Z")
Lack of water pressure is one of trump’s major grievances, but I don’t think he ever specified which of his properties was afflicted. Rather than fix the problem, he cries about it for years, at his fucking rallies, and … --- ## [Creating a sea in Australia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-a-sea-in-australia/918059)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creating-a-sea-in-australia/918059 "2025-01-17T17:55:20Z")
I’ve just read that early explorers believed that there was a sea in the middle of the Land Down Under. A sea was never found there, but I wonder how difficult it would be to create one. Australia is the lowest continen… --- ## [Cookie thread for the holidays](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookie-thread-for-the-holidays/1010444)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cookie-thread-for-the-holidays/1010444 "2025-01-17T17:35:14Z")
In last week’s MMP, towards the end, cookies and the holidays past and present were getting a lot of mention. I thought about tossing in some of my favorites but didn’t want to put them in a thread that was not CS and a… --- ## [Minced beef vs. ground beef](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minced-beef-vs-ground-beef/1012326)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minced-beef-vs-ground-beef/1012326 "2025-01-17T16:44:13Z")
A yahoo on Yahoo is insisting ground beef and minced beef are different things. I can see his point; but in England, what we (USians) call ‘ground beef’ is called ‘minced beef’ there. So UK Dopers: Do you see a differ… --- ## [The value of the things](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-the-things/1012878)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-value-of-the-things/1012878 "2025-01-17T16:35:55Z")
My MIL died recently – she was 93, nearly blind, and mostly sad, having lost her husband of 74 years 2 years earlier. Much of the time in her last weeks was spent sorting her things – jewelry, old kitchen items, clothing… --- ## [Again with the missing Antarctic Monster Truck](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-missing-antarctic-monster-truck/1012744)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/again-with-the-missing-antarctic-monster-truck/1012744 "2025-01-17T13:25:21Z")
Rather than necromancing this old thread: Where’s the Antarctic Monster-Truck? - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board the Snow Cruiser! What Happened to the Antarctic Snow Cruise… --- ## [How does UPS Surepost work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-ups-surepost-work/1012526)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-ups-surepost-work/1012526 "2025-01-17T11:06:48Z")
I was talking about this in another thread: I ordered something from Etsy, supposed to be a Christmas present for a friend, first “held up”, then “lost”, then “returned to sender”. Because they needed a street address, n… --- ## [Please tell me: why did I buy crispy jalapeños on Amazon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-why-did-i-buy-crispy-jalapenos-on-amazon/1012511)
**Author:** [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-tell-me-why-did-i-buy-crispy-jalapenos-on-amazon/1012511 "2025-01-17T05:11:44Z")
So I just got a helpful notice from Amazon, telling me that some crispy jalapeños I ordered several weeks ago have finally shipped. Apparently I ordered them at least a month ago. In the meantime I had forgotten all abo… --- ## [Exercise, heart rate & beta blockers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercise-heart-rate-beta-blockers/1012590)
**Author:** [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercise-heart-rate-beta-blockers/1012590 "2025-01-17T04:46:16Z")
So, I’m out of shape and I recently started using an exercise bike. I’d pedal for about 20 minutes and my heart rate would go up to about 130ish. Trouble is, I also have a bit of a panic attack problem. I spoke to my do… --- ## [New Wallace and Gromit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-wallace-and-gromit/1011267)
**Author:** [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-wallace-and-gromit/1011267 "2025-01-17T04:30:15Z")
New Wallace and Gromit coming to Netflix January 3, 2025. “Vengeance Most Fowl” Trailer here. --- ## [What is "Granary-Style Bread" called in the USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-granary-style-bread-called-in-the-usa/1013022)
**Author:** [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-granary-style-bread-called-in-the-usa/1013022 "2025-01-17T03:45:12Z")
I am trying to make a British cheese & onion sandwich. I think I know how I want to do the filling but I also need to get the bread. My understanding is that a classic cheese and onion sandwich is on something called gra… --- ## [WTF is a wahwah brush?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-a-wahwah-brush/1012668)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-a-wahwah-brush/1012668 "2025-01-17T03:44:46Z")
In a movie titled All I Wanna Do (1998, set in the early 1960s) some of the girls start using the phrase “up your ziggy with a wahwah brush”. Until tonight I assumed that it was a nonesense phrase made up for the movie. … --- ## [I feel cheated! No Vader story from Disney+](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-cheated-no-vader-story-from-disney/1013052)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-cheated-no-vader-story-from-disney/1013052 "2025-01-17T02:35:01Z")
Saw these promotions for the new Vader origin movie: Teaser Trailer Dude! Admiral Thrawn counseling Vader? Bleeding a khyber crystal? Darth Vader saying , “F Anakin.” This is the best thing from the franchise sinc… --- ## [Does your optometrist make glasses?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-optometrist-make-glasses/1012975)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-optometrist-make-glasses/1012975 "2025-01-17T02:17:40Z")
I went to the optometrist for the first time in (mumble mumble) years and was quite shocked after and had selected the frames that I wanted that I was asked if I wanted to wait 20 - 25 minutes for them to make the glasse… --- ## [Pete Hegseth Confirmation hearing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hegseth-confirmation-hearing/1012964)
**Author:** [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Replies:** 105\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pete-hegseth-confirmation-hearing/1012964 "2025-01-17T01:55:45Z")
I didn’t see a thread for this yet. I’m listening in. The Republican chair pretty much announced that he was going to ignore all the negative reports about him, and believe everything positive. I proposed the unit “Gae… --- ## [How to Stymie a Corp. from Using AI to Read and Answer My Email](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stymie-a-corp-from-using-ai-to-read-and-answer-my-email/1012889)
**Author:** [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-stymie-a-corp-from-using-ai-to-read-and-answer-my-email/1012889 "2025-01-17T01:14:30Z")
Is there any way to write a business email (e.g. a letter of complaint to a heath insurance company) such that the receiver of the email can not easily (or hopefully, not at all) use AI to read and compose a reply to it? … --- ## [(South Asian) Indians in the US celebrating Christmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-asian-indians-in-the-us-celebrating-christmas/1011923)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/south-asian-indians-in-the-us-celebrating-christmas/1011923 "2025-01-17T00:25:33Z")
On a TV show I watch, an Indian family celebrated Christmas. The show doesn’t address whether or not the family is Christian. Do (South Asian) Indians in the US celebrate Christmas strictly as a cultural holiday? Do a s… --- ## [alt-Facebook?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-facebook/1013045)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2025, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alt-facebook/1013045 "2025-01-17T00:14:31Z")
I belong to a Facebook group that is also an actual mostly-local group of people who meet. It’s a private group connected to a hobby, and one of the two admins has to let you in. The number of FB members is quite large c… --- ## [Is this a legally binding offer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legally-binding-offer/1012681)
**Author:** [@HMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMC)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legally-binding-offer/1012681 "2025-01-16T23:44:54Z")
Not looking for legal advice, as I plan on just ignoring this letter, but found it really strange and wondering if there were some legal ramifications to it. A local real estate company sent me a letter in the mail, in … --- ## [Medium/long term impact of LA-wildfires](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medium-long-term-impact-of-la-wildfires/1012973)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medium-long-term-impact-of-la-wildfires/1012973 "2025-01-16T23:07:48Z")
Hi, In order to keep any med/long term impacts out of current threads, what are your thoughts on the impact of the LA-wildfires? a few from top of my mind: rennaisance of Home Office? new building codes (no more wood… --- ## [A thread for Rudy {Rudy Giuliani}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-rudy-rudy-giuliani/989355)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 1017\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-thread-for-rudy-rudy-giuliani/989355 "2025-01-16T22:12:41Z")
Thought I would start a thread specifically about Rudy’s litigation woes. Sounds like he’s in financial troubles. Un-indicted co-conspirator One in Washington, indicted co-conspirator in Georgia, defendant in four, coun… --- ## [POTS Party, anyone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pots-party-anyone/1002989)
**Author:** [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pots-party-anyone/1002989 "2025-01-16T22:06:34Z")
That’s Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome - Wikipedia I’ve vented about some of the symptoms in the weight loss and Ozempic threads, and looked around the boards and ha… --- ## [Double indemnity life insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-indemnity-life-insurance/1013044)
**Author:** [@Yelnick\_McWawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yelnick_McWawa)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-indemnity-life-insurance/1013044 "2025-01-16T21:57:21Z")
What’s the point of double indemnity life insurance from the insured’s point of view? If I’m the breadwinner and I want to make sure my family has a future, does it make any difference to them (financially) if die of a … --- ## [Why aren't abandoned cars exploding in the LA fires?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-abandoned-cars-exploding-in-the-la-fires/1012746)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-abandoned-cars-exploding-in-the-la-fires/1012746 "2025-01-16T20:38:28Z")
I’m watching ABC news coverage of the LA Fires. They reported from a street where drivers were stuck in traffic, fleeing the advancing fire. Drivers had to abandoned the cars and run for their lives. The cars were badl… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=389) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=391)