# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=395 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 396 --- ## [Ought one say, "I'm sorry to hear" to someone w/ a serious diagnosis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-one-say-im-sorry-to-hear-to-someone-w-a-serious-diagnosis/1012809)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2025, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ought-one-say-im-sorry-to-hear-to-someone-w-a-serious-diagnosis/1012809 "2025-01-11T05:41:40Z")
Let’s say you hear that a friend or relative has a serious - possibly fatal - medical condition. You hear about this from someone OTHER than the person who is ill. Do you communicate to the ill person that you are sorr… --- ## [Jesus was a CARPENTER? Cite?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-a-carpenter-cite/1012156)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2025, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-was-a-carpenter-cite/1012156 "2025-01-11T04:08:37Z")
Where is the scriptural evidence that Jesus was a carpenter? Or for that matter, that Joseph was? I suppose I could look it up, but as an atheist, I’m not that invested in proving the assertion(s). --- ## [Help me make sense of this song from c. 1600 ("Will you buy a fine dog...")](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-sense-of-this-song-from-c-1600-will-you-buy-a-fine-dog/1012776)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-sense-of-this-song-from-c-1600-will-you-buy-a-fine-dog/1012776 "2025-01-11T03:10:10Z")
Will you buy a fine dog? With a hole in his head? With a dildo dildo dildo… What would have been the intended audience for a song like this? I assume that one would be more likely to hear it sung by a bard at a roadside… --- ## [Unconstitutional Presidental Executive Orders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconstitutional-presidental-executive-orders/1012827)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2025, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unconstitutional-presidental-executive-orders/1012827 "2025-01-11T02:58:38Z")
Trump has vowed to sign Executive Orders on day one regarding the border, deportations, and other priorities. Is there anything stopping lawyers from suing the president claiming the orders are unconstitutional? Would th… --- ## [Is SpaceX Overcharging?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spacex-overcharging/1012328)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-spacex-overcharging/1012328 "2025-01-11T01:51:06Z")
A few weeks ago, there was a discussion about the cost effectiveness of rockets. I had understood it, from discussions long ago, that the key to bringing down the cost per weight of space flight was in solving the probl… --- ## [Is Diana Moon Glampers a reference to someone?(Harrison Bergeron story)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-diana-moon-glampers-a-reference-to-someone-harrison-bergeron-story/731471)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2025, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-diana-moon-glampers-a-reference-to-someone-harrison-bergeron-story/731471 "2025-01-11T00:00:57Z")
I’ve always had a odd feeling this character name is in reference to someone possibly from a political issue at the time the story was written, this is the only character where the middle name is included in the story. B… --- ## [Got a ransom note from a bitcoiner?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-ransom-note-from-a-bitcoiner/818228)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-ransom-note-from-a-bitcoiner/818228 "2025-01-10T23:51:55Z")
Anyone get a ransom note from someone, asking for bitcoin? I just got one from a mailer at outlook.com, claiming that if I don’t pay up, he will send a video to all the names in my contact list, showing all the porn I h… --- ## [Why Hillary Clinton for Medal of Freedom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hillary-clinton-for-medal-of-freedom/1012562)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hillary-clinton-for-medal-of-freedom/1012562 "2025-01-10T23:19:36Z")
I want to avoid snarkiness as much as possible, but I don’t really understand why her. While she is an extraordinary person by achieving the role of Senator and secretary of state, I don’t think she has been terribly ex… --- ## [Comet Pizza incident.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-pizza-incident/773955)
**Author:** [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-pizza-incident/773955 "2025-01-10T23:09:21Z")
Yesterday I’m on the L2 bus going north on Connecticut Avenue when the bus driver announces everyone has to get off. I exit the bus and see a swarm of police, the ones not doing crowd control and traffic re-direct are cr… --- ## [Bands where the lead singer plays a non-traditional instrument](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-where-the-lead-singer-plays-a-non-traditional-instrument/1012715)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-where-the-lead-singer-plays-a-non-traditional-instrument/1012715 "2025-01-10T20:34:43Z")
By non-traditional, (I’m thinking of rock bands) I mean other than guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull being a flutist would count. A lead singer that occasionally bangs on a tambourine wouldn’t… --- ## [NFL 2024-25: Week 18](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397)
**Author:** [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2024-25-week-18/1012397 "2025-01-10T20:13:12Z")
In the AFC, the Chiefs locked up the top seed with a convincing victory over the Steelers, and the Bills pummeled the Jets to clinch the second seed. The Ravens easily handled the Texans, and now need to defeat Clevelan… --- ## [How much of a "looker" were/are you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-looker-were-are-you/1012494)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-looker-were-are-you/1012494 "2025-01-10T19:24:58Z")
somewhat inspired by this thread: Enrolling in "cybersecurity bootcamps" to meet women?: how much of a looker were or are you? (scale 1-10) I’d rate myself as a 6 or 7 (on a good day) … I am 50+, male pattern baldness … --- ## [Who will dare enter the Tomb Of The Venom Magician? Newslink](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-dare-enter-the-tomb-of-the-venom-magician-newslink/1012804)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-dare-enter-the-tomb-of-the-venom-magician-newslink/1012804 "2025-01-10T19:14:40Z")
The Egyptian Tomb of Teti Neb Fu has been discovered. His titles include : chief palace doctor, chief dentist, director of medicinal plants and priest and magician of the goddess Serket. Seket was half-Human, half Scorpi… --- ## [George Carlin was right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-was-right/1012812)
**Author:** [@StringsandHammers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StringsandHammers)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-was-right/1012812 "2025-01-10T19:08:58Z")
Link speaks for itself. Res Ipsa Loquitur Discuss. --- ## [What are some of the fastest TV dinners to cook?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-of-the-fastest-tv-dinners-to-cook/1012810 "2025-01-10T18:35:07Z")
My job has only 15 minute break/30 minute lunch and only a single microwave for an average of 10 people per break/lunch. So I need something I can warm up in less than 5 minutes if I get there first. Anybody eat enough … --- ## [Work. Would this offend you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-would-this-offend-you/1012505)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/work-would-this-offend-you/1012505 "2025-01-10T17:29:43Z")
So there’s this task, a really important task that the top managers want done “today”. It’s a task that only takes about 30 minutes to do. Instead of just letting me do the task, my boss sends his assistant into my wor… --- ## [New problem on my computer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-problem-on-my-computer/1012767)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-problem-on-my-computer/1012767 "2025-01-10T14:53:20Z")
If I pause working for about 3 minutes, it just locks up and I have to reboot. Could this be a virus or is my computer going bad? --- ## [Djokovic's Medical Exemption](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/djokovics-medical-exemption/957283)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 324\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/djokovics-medical-exemption/957283 "2025-01-10T14:40:26Z")
Novak Djokovic is probably unvaccinated, and has to be vaxxed in order to compete in the Australian Open, unless he gets a medical exemption. So, he got a medical exemption and the Open will let him compete. Not so fas… --- ## [How trivial/nontrivial could this wiring job be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-trivial-nontrivial-could-this-wiring-job-be/1011416)
**Author:** [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-trivial-nontrivial-could-this-wiring-job-be/1011416 "2025-01-10T14:04:29Z")
I am looking seriously at a fully electric Polestar 2 EV as my next vehicle. My house is older, with a 100 amp panel and a nearly full breaker box. My garage, which is detached, has 120V outlets and a couple of garage … --- ## [What is your favorite brand of chicken stock?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-brand-of-chicken-stock/1012756)
**Author:** [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-brand-of-chicken-stock/1012756 "2025-01-10T08:59:21Z")
My favorite brand of canned/boxed chicken stock was More Than Gourmet. Unfortunately, I can’t get it any more. Ajinomoto bought the company and is no longer making those lines of retail products. Now I’m looking for ano… --- ## [2024 SDMB Celebrity Death Pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 2425\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-sdmb-celebrity-death-pool/993940 "2025-01-10T04:05:36Z")
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!! The Rules: You pick 13 celebrities (that’s thirteen, not ten) whom you predict will die within the calendar year 2024. If any of your celebrities dies, you score 100 point… --- ## [Accelerating Hubble Expansion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accelerating-hubble-expansion/1012752)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accelerating-hubble-expansion/1012752 "2025-01-10T03:14:47Z")
It is a given that the universe is expanding. It is said that the rate of this expansion is speeding up, by an unknown method scientists dubbed Dark Energy. How did they determine this? I would figure, the farther awa… --- ## [Going vegetarian(ish) for January - recipes and tips?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-vegetarian-ish-for-january-recipes-and-tips/995235)
**Author:** [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-vegetarian-ish-for-january-recipes-and-tips/995235 "2025-01-10T03:03:09Z")
I want to try to greatly reduce my meat consumption for the month of January in an effort to make myself cook more at home and see if changing up how I eat helps my energy levels. So does anyone have any tips on making a… --- ## [Where is voltage “stored”?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-voltage-stored/1012739)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-voltage-stored/1012739 "2025-01-10T02:40:39Z")
Sigh. I’ve been working in Electronics for almost 50 years. I’ve designed electronic circuits that have been produced in the tens of thousands. But, I finally realized that I have a fundamental gap in my knowledge - wha… --- ## [Armand! You are a true bad ass, what WILL I do with you? (My adventures with an Armadillo friend)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armand-you-are-a-true-bad-ass-what-will-i-do-with-you-my-adventures-with-an-armadillo-friend/1012662)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armand-you-are-a-true-bad-ass-what-will-i-do-with-you-my-adventures-with-an-armadillo-friend/1012662 "2025-01-10T01:50:34Z")
Armand showed up a couple months ago and mooched his way into my heart. He’s a beggar. You can look in his beady eyes and see hunger. I’ve found most dry foods are not his thing. I have several cans of food my cats ha… --- ## [Tiny Explosions In My Kitchen- Not A Gas Leak- Need Answer Fast!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647)
**Author:** [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Replies:** 193\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-explosions-in-my-kitchen-not-a-gas-leak-need-answer-fast/1012647 "2025-01-10T00:09:48Z")
When we were moving boxes into this apartment, we smelled gas in the kitchen. I called the gas company. They sent out workers who confirmed it was a gas leak. They said it was an internal leak in the oven. They shut off … --- ## [Curbs on political donations(in USA and preferably elsewhere) ? Opinions please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curbs-on-political-donations-in-usa-and-preferably-elsewhere-opinions-please/1012753)
**Author:** [@Ash\_trav511](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ash_trav511)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curbs-on-political-donations-in-usa-and-preferably-elsewhere-opinions-please/1012753 "2025-01-09T23:43:53Z")
Seeing the repercussions of Elon Musk spending vast sums (there was considerable spending on the democratic party side too) of money and basically being able to potentially influence the outcome of the Presidential elect… --- ## [Difficult actors on TV shows whose characters are killed off](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difficult-actors-on-tv-shows-whose-characters-are-killed-off/1012674)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difficult-actors-on-tv-shows-whose-characters-are-killed-off/1012674 "2025-01-09T23:39:52Z")
The Community and Pierce Hawthorne thread got me thinking, there’s a long tradition of killing off characters on TV shows, often in creative and embarrassing ways, when the actors quit after a conflict, demand too much m… --- ## [Do you scratch the back of your neck while thinking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-scratch-the-back-of-your-neck-while-thinking/1012765 "2025-01-09T19:11:49Z")
It’s a staple of movies and TV - I just saw it again on TV last night. Hank Hill and Peter (Family Guy) do it. But I’m not sure I’ve seen it in real life, and I don’t think I’ve ever done it. But googling turns up: “S… --- ## [My definition of woke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-definition-of-woke/1011343)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 467\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-definition-of-woke/1011343 "2025-01-09T18:27:09Z")
People keep bugging me to define what ‘woke’ means, but that’s not an easy task. Probably the best definition is to say that ‘woke’ refers to the ideas believed by and spread by the Social Justice movement, and to the so… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=394) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=396)