# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=392 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 393 --- ## [The slovening of medical terminology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-slovening-of-medical-terminology/1012923)
**Author:** [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-slovening-of-medical-terminology/1012923 "2025-01-15T17:00:51Z")
Now, I realize most English speakers are only semi-literate at best. Yet, I manage to get stabby when people throw around terms like narcissist, autistic, or ADHD out of laziness. Narcissists are not merely stubborn, or … --- ## [Why \*would\* an actual meritocracy be bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-an-actual-meritocracy-be-bad/990291)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 213\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-an-actual-meritocracy-be-bad/990291 "2025-01-15T16:10:31Z")
In this thread: @LSLGuy says: A meritocracy sounds nice until you realize how few people have great merit. Or more accurately, given the uneven distribution of inherent merit (brains, ambition, wisdom, ethics) acros… --- ## [I pit dark ass bourgeoisie neighborhoods!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-dark-ass-bourgeoisie-neighborhoods/1012829)
**Author:** [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Replies:** 120\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-dark-ass-bourgeoisie-neighborhoods/1012829 "2025-01-15T16:00:06Z")
You would think after spending a shit ton of money on a house, the bougie folks would use at least a fraction of their wealth to prevent their visitors from busting their asses in the dark! Go to just about any upper cl… --- ## [What would a de-financialized economy look like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-de-financialized-economy-look-like/1012815)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-a-de-financialized-economy-look-like/1012815 "2025-01-15T15:11:32Z")
Been pondering this question a while, and now I see that something related has been touched on in the Late Stage Capitalism thread. Since around 1980, the financial sector has accounted for an ever-larger share of the U… --- ## [Judge Cannon OKs release of special counsel’s report into Trump and election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-cannon-oks-release-of-special-counsel-s-report-into-trump-and-election/1012922)
**Author:** [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-cannon-oks-release-of-special-counsel-s-report-into-trump-and-election/1012922 "2025-01-15T14:16:01Z")
This is my shocked face :astonished: There’s going to be a hearing to see if Merrick “Sgt. Schultz: I see nothing” Garland can release it to a group of lawmakers. Not sure what she has approved releasing if that’s st… --- ## [Trump's victory explained](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-victory-explained/1012978)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trumps-victory-explained/1012978 "2025-01-15T14:01:37Z")
There was an article in the Times a week ago about lead in the air during the Roman empire: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/06/climate/ancient-rome-lead-poisoning.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.pE4.onUZ.C2FaYWVEho-V&smid=u… --- ## [Siri Apple Navigation Routes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siri-apple-navigation-routes/1012915)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/siri-apple-navigation-routes/1012915 "2025-01-15T12:47:10Z")
I have a Tom-Tom navigation device. It always chose the fastest route by default, but you could alter it manually. It cautioned against choosing the shortest route because it might mean a lot of streets, lights, and sto… --- ## [Did any of you also encounter these misconceptions about carrying loads, or are they singular?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-of-you-also-encounter-these-misconceptions-about-carrying-loads-or-are-they-singular/1012561)
**Author:** [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-of-you-also-encounter-these-misconceptions-about-carrying-loads-or-are-they-singular/1012561 "2025-01-15T12:40:22Z")
I have encountered these two misconceptions of my wife with respect to everyday carrying of heavy loads by me (me being the person with the load-bearing Y chromosome in our outfit), and I would like to know: Have any of … --- ## [Why are you sometimes allowed to link to Youtube and other times not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-sometimes-allowed-to-link-to-youtube-and-other-times-not/1012986)
**Author:** [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-you-sometimes-allowed-to-link-to-youtube-and-other-times-not/1012986 "2025-01-15T06:31:11Z")
Sometimes I’m able to include a link to a YouTube video in a thread. These are plain unformatted URLs, and they are typically converted to a preview with summary by the software which is super helpful. Other times when … --- ## [Have you heard of the Tulsa Race Massacre?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-heard-of-the-tulsa-race-massacre/854844)
**Author:** [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-heard-of-the-tulsa-race-massacre/854844 "2025-01-15T04:52:50Z")
Yesterday was the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, a horrific event in which the Greenwood district of Tulsa was destroyed by a mob of whites, including by the use of private planes dropping kerosene bombs. I… --- ## [Human metapneumovirus (HMPV): anyone else heard about this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-anyone-else-heard-about-this/1012699)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-metapneumovirus-hmpv-anyone-else-heard-about-this/1012699 "2025-01-15T02:26:04Z")
Authorities are saying that we probably shouldn’t be afraid of this, because its symptoms usually parallel those of the common cold, and most people are infected by their 5th birthday. This link says it’s nothing to wor… --- ## [Relativity paradox](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relativity-paradox/1012974)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relativity-paradox/1012974 "2025-01-15T01:24:43Z")
Please correct me if I got anything wrong: As you accelerate towards the speed of light, time slows down, and distance forshortens. A from a photon’s point of view, there IS no spacetime trajectory to transverse…a lumi… --- ## [What's with the absurd pricing of some auction items in World of Warcraft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-absurd-pricing-of-some-auction-items-in-world-of-warcraft/1012918)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-absurd-pricing-of-some-auction-items-in-world-of-warcraft/1012918 "2025-01-15T01:24:39Z")
I’ve noticed while shopping the AH that from time to time there will be a wide discrepancy in prices, with the higher price points absurdly high. For example, say I need This Reagent. A few sellers are offering it for 20… --- ## [Tonight's lunar occulation of Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-lunar-occulation-of-mars/1012935)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-lunar-occulation-of-mars/1012935 "2025-01-15T00:58:49Z")
https://www.space.com/stargazing/the-full-wolf-moon-eats-mars-on-jan-13-heres-how-to-see-it Good news is that it will pretty much cover the entire lower 48 on its path, and the moon will be very high in the sky. So far… --- ## [Legal Dopers: Have you ever had a "sovereign citizen" in your courtroom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-dopers-have-you-ever-had-a-sovereign-citizen-in-your-courtroom/1007265)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-dopers-have-you-ever-had-a-sovereign-citizen-in-your-courtroom/1007265 "2025-01-15T00:41:21Z")
Have you ever been in the same proceeding as a “sovereign citizen”? As a judge, as his/her counsel, as opposing counsel, etc.? --- ## [Whatever happened to JD Vance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-jd-vance/1012837)
**Author:** [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-jd-vance/1012837 "2025-01-15T00:38:25Z")
I may be missing something because I don’t watch TV, but it seems like JD Vance has all but disappeared from view after the election. I’m not complaining, mind you. I just think it’s odd that he seems to have disappeared… --- ## [Family And Finances- Long](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-and-finances-long/1012468)
**Author:** [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-and-finances-long/1012468 "2025-01-15T00:32:24Z")
I was happy in my first apartment. Then, we found it was infested with at least two kinds of toxic mold and wasn’t safe to inhabit. We panicked. My beloved found a great storage space (cheap, big, climate controlled etc)… --- ## [Shallow Impact (the real movie of an asteroid strike)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shallow-impact-the-real-movie-of-an-asteroid-strike/1012982)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shallow-impact-the-real-movie-of-an-asteroid-strike/1012982 "2025-01-15T00:26:33Z")
(This was originally going to be a reply in the moon crater thread in FQ, but it started to look like a new thread…) A small meteorite fell in Canada in July of last year. The writeup for it was released yesterday and i… --- ## [Sink Drain Oddity - A Question of Physics, not Necessarily of Plumbing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sink-drain-oddity-a-question-of-physics-not-necessarily-of-plumbing/1012742)
**Author:** [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sink-drain-oddity-a-question-of-physics-not-necessarily-of-plumbing/1012742 "2025-01-14T22:15:11Z")
I’ve noticed an odd behavior over the years I’m at a loss to explain. Looking for a factual answer, but this probably doesn’t rise to the level of FQ; anecdote and surmise is probably where we’ll end up. I’m going to d… --- ## [Did the Groom of the Stool literally have to wipe the royal bum?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-groom-of-the-stool-literally-have-to-wipe-the-royal-bum/1012587)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-groom-of-the-stool-literally-have-to-wipe-the-royal-bum/1012587 "2025-01-14T22:06:32Z")
The Groom of the Stool was known to be the King’s bathroom attendant back in the day; say, King Henry VIII’s time. As it’s said, being that close to the king gave the person direct access to secrets and insider knowledg… --- ## [Best Law & Order quotes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-quotes/727355)
**Author:** [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-law-order-quotes/727355 "2025-01-14T21:52:00Z")
We had a thread similiar thread like this awhile ago, but it was too old to drag up. I’ve been binge watching the series. (The worst part of binge-watching something? Having the theme song stuck in your head) They us… --- ## [Best songs written for commercials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833)
**Author:** [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-songs-written-for-commercials/1012833 "2025-01-14T20:34:47Z")
This must have been discussed before but I haven’t been able to find such a thread. What’s your favorite song that was written for a commercial? I’d like to limit this to songs that were newly written for a commercial, n… --- ## [What New Skill Are You Learning in 2025?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-skill-are-you-learning-in-2025/1012759)
**Author:** [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-skill-are-you-learning-in-2025/1012759 "2025-01-14T20:08:28Z")
I’ve just finished my first 7-day streak learning Bahasa Indonesia on Duolingo. My original goal was to study Javanese but there’s surprising little material available for that language, be it online or even in book for… --- ## [Why is there pie by my name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-pie-by-my-name/1012927)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-pie-by-my-name/1012927 "2025-01-14T19:23:49Z")
Why is there pie by my name? --- ## [Go (name)! Go (name)! It's your birthday...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-name-go-name-its-your-birthday/138669)
**Author:** [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/go-name-go-name-its-your-birthday/138669 "2025-01-14T18:12:23Z")
I am not sure if it’s “Go” or “Hey” but where the heck did this saying/chant/thing come from? --- ## [The curse of volunteering at an animal rescue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curse-of-volunteering-at-an-animal-rescue/1012807)
**Author:** [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-curse-of-volunteering-at-an-animal-rescue/1012807 "2025-01-14T17:52:35Z")
So I have been unemployed for about a year. I have some health issues, specifically with short term memory, that have made getting employment a little challenging. I mean, I am still intelligent and able, but not as able… --- ## [How much ought rebuilding be subsidized/encouraged following natural disasters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-ought-rebuilding-be-subsidized-encouraged-following-natural-disasters/1012916)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-ought-rebuilding-be-subsidized-encouraged-following-natural-disasters/1012916 "2025-01-14T17:51:11Z")
Inspired by the recent/current LA fires, but also by reading recently of Floridians not being able to obtain affordable hurricane insurance. It seems undeniable that climate change is resulting in much more development … --- ## [Screw Greg Abbott {Texas Governor}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 832\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screw-greg-abbott-texas-governor/934141 "2025-01-14T17:42:37Z")
So the governor here in Texas just announced that he’s rescinding all his executive orders for mask mandates, capacity restrictions, or pretty much everything else related to COVID-19, and is also preventing any enforcem… --- ## [Primary care providers should be paid more](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primary-care-providers-should-be-paid-more/1012741)
**Author:** [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/primary-care-providers-should-be-paid-more/1012741 "2025-01-14T17:41:19Z")
Continuing the discussion from My definition of woke: And not just residencies. Medicare and Medicaid systematically devalue the care provided by primary care providers by giving them lower reimbursement rates than sp… --- ## [What’s your steering wheel style?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-steering-wheel-style/1012913)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2025, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-your-steering-wheel-style/1012913 "2025-01-14T16:37:26Z")
I know that I was taught to keep my hands at 2 & 10, but I don’t do that anymore. Now it’s both hands at the top with thumbs braced along the wheel. It just feels comfortable. Do you stick to the o’clock system or are yo… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=391) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=393)