# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=428&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 429 --- ## [Holiday deals 2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-deals-2024/1010777)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2024, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holiday-deals-2024/1010777 "2024-11-26T06:17:04Z")
I picked up Paramount+ with Showtime for $2.99 comercial free. For 2 months, then goes expensive. I set a reminder to cancel in 45 days. Acorn, Britbox and Crunchyroll are all $1.99 for 2 months. All of these were thro… --- ## [I'm on Medicare and Social Security. Are these programs now in danger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-on-medicare-and-social-security-are-these-programs-now-in-danger/1009875)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2024, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-on-medicare-and-social-security-are-these-programs-now-in-danger/1009875 "2024-11-26T02:44:20Z")
I admit to not following a lot of the crap-spewing rally speeches uttered by he I will not name. But I did hear second-hand about promises to gut these social programs. Should I worry? Was this all just blowhard balon… --- ## [Reviews of Trader Joe's products](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviews-of-trader-joes-products/542206)
**Author:** [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reviews-of-trader-joes-products/542206 "2024-11-26T01:48:20Z")
We’ve discussed our favorites before, but I thought we’d broaden it to what we like and what we don’t, and what scores a mere meh. Winners for me lately: Soyaki. On grilled zucchini, it made the vegetable the best par… --- ## [(Old) Spot the Lunatic - A Cat MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-spot-the-lunatic-a-cat-mmp/1010390)
**Author:** [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Replies:** 397\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-spot-the-lunatic-a-cat-mmp/1010390 "2024-11-26T00:39:32Z")
Having an extra day off means Spot gets an extra 24 hours to kill and eat my hand. So now it’s one more round before I go to work. Hijack away! --- ## [Is there a truly sugar-free hot chocolate mix around?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-truly-sugar-free-hot-chocolate-mix-around/1010514)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-truly-sugar-free-hot-chocolate-mix-around/1010514 "2024-11-25T22:36:55Z")
I keep finding “no sugar added” hot chocolate, but that’s not the same thing. I want zero grams of total sugar, and it has to taste good. Any suggestions? I’m at a loss. --- ## [Mega Millions lottery ticket prices increasing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mega-millions-lottery-ticket-prices-increasing/1008736)
**Author:** [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mega-millions-lottery-ticket-prices-increasing/1008736 "2024-11-25T21:08:58Z")
The Mega Millions lottery announced an increase in price from $2 to $5, this will take place next April. Their reasoning is this will create more jackpot winners and bigger jackpots. The jackpot multiplier will also be i… --- ## [Let's give Trump's potential Cabinet the Willies (Willy Wonka, that is)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-trumps-potential-cabinet-the-willies-willy-wonka-that-is/1010709)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-give-trumps-potential-cabinet-the-willies-willy-wonka-that-is/1010709 "2024-11-25T20:19:18Z")
I thought I could start out with a little ditty from Miles Vorkosigan from Bluesky (with his enthusiastic permission, of course): \*Oompa Loompa Doopitty Dout Flailing, exhausted, Gaetz has pulled out Oompa Loompa Doop… --- ## [$200 9th Gen I-Pad: As Good of a Deal As It Sounds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/200-9th-gen-i-pad-as-good-of-a-deal-as-it-sounds/1010725)
**Author:** [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/200-9th-gen-i-pad-as-good-of-a-deal-as-it-sounds/1010725 "2024-11-25T20:16:53Z")
The Chromebook I bought back in 2017 isn’t doing the job anymore, and am thinking of getting one of the 9th generation i-Pads. The last i-Pad I owned was the 2nd generation, and it served me well. Should I pull the tri… --- ## [If the Michelin Guide included New Orleans, would any Big Easy restaurants have stars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-michelin-guide-included-new-orleans-would-any-big-easy-restaurants-have-stars/1010525)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-michelin-guide-included-new-orleans-would-any-big-easy-restaurants-have-stars/1010525 "2024-11-25T19:07:44Z")
The Michelin Guide only includes New York, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, and LA when it comes to American cities. Yes, it’s a tragedy that Miami, Dallas, Kansas City, and multiple other cities with amazing cuisine … --- ## [I lost my Mother this morning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-my-mother-this-morning/1003030)
**Author:** [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-my-mother-this-morning/1003030 "2024-11-25T18:36:01Z")
Yes, I looked behind the couch. She had been ill for quite some time now. Her lungs were being wracked by some autoimmune disorder, so she’d been on O2 for about a year now. Her pulmonolgist had given her a poor progn… --- ## [How to obtain a military ID?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-obtain-a-military-id/1010485)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-obtain-a-military-id/1010485 "2024-11-25T18:22:44Z")
My uncle just asked me if I had a military spouse ID. I told him my wife doesn’t have a military ID. She said she wished she had one. So… She has a VA card, and her DD 214. She was in the Army for five years, and wa… --- ## [Adult children who turn away from religious-type beliefs of their families](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-children-who-turn-away-from-religious-type-beliefs-of-their-families/1010164)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-children-who-turn-away-from-religious-type-beliefs-of-their-families/1010164 "2024-11-25T18:21:45Z")
Sounds to me as if you are dealing with a classic case of late adolescent rebellion? If so, it is likely that nothing you do will improve matters, and may even be counterproductive. Where is this new attitude coming fr… --- ## [Back to the Future - How is "Great Scott!" dubbed in other languages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-the-future-how-is-great-scott-dubbed-in-other-languages/1010658)
**Author:** [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-the-future-how-is-great-scott-dubbed-in-other-languages/1010658 "2024-11-25T18:09:38Z")
How is Doc Brown’s catchphrase “Great Scott!” rendered in other languages? And if the foreign langauge version was translated literally word for word back into English what would it become? For example, if the Spanish… --- ## [Spanish Court: Croquette-eater was unlawfully fired](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-court-croquette-eater-was-unlawfully-fired/1010716)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-court-croquette-eater-was-unlawfully-fired/1010716 "2024-11-25T17:36:50Z")
To give more information on this weird story, an employee in a supermarket was fired for eating a croquette. The Court found that this was common practice if the food was not going to be sold the next day. I’m just happy… --- ## [Ophelia's nest egg in Trading Places](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ophelias-nest-egg-in-trading-places/1010722)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ophelias-nest-egg-in-trading-places/1010722 "2024-11-25T15:59:48Z")
Trading Places is one of my favorite movies of all time and it is even a little bit of a Christmassy movie. My question is not about the climactic scene at the end involving orange juice-- that is covered in plenty of p… --- ## [How to get better reception on portable FM radio?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-better-reception-on-portable-fm-radio/1010712)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-better-reception-on-portable-fm-radio/1010712 "2024-11-25T14:55:47Z")
I have a portable FM radio that gets less-than-perfect reception in a particular residence. Don’t know if it’s the building itself, or the location in town relative to the broadcast antenna, but I’d like to see if I can… --- ## [How does (did) job assignment/placement happen in Communist countries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-did-job-assignment-placement-happen-in-communist-countries/690945)
**Author:** [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-did-job-assignment-placement-happen-in-communist-countries/690945 "2024-11-25T14:12:06Z")
It’s generally considered common wisdom in the US that one of the features of life in places like the USSR and East Germany was that you were pretty much guaranteed a job, with the corresponding meager, but good enough t… --- ## [Dog Illness - Opinions Needed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-illness-opinions-needed/1010618)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-illness-opinions-needed/1010618 "2024-11-25T13:48:38Z")
So, the other tech I work with has a dog that is 6 months old. The dog has had its shots and whatever other services are routinely done for dogs by vets. The dog was a normal pup, energetic, happy, playful, etc. Sudde… --- ## [Universe 25 mouse social experiment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universe-25-mouse-social-experiment/988492)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universe-25-mouse-social-experiment/988492 "2024-11-25T13:37:09Z")
I was reading a little bit about a social experiment a scientist did with some mice. I find it hard to believe that he reported on it accurately. He provided them with an ideal environment and at the beginning of the exp… --- ## [Formula for #Days Julian Calendar Falls Behind Gregorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-for-days-julian-calendar-falls-behind-gregorian/1010726)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-for-days-julian-calendar-falls-behind-gregorian/1010726 "2024-11-25T13:35:23Z")
Fell down a bit of a rabbit hole, starting with reading this site and deciding to amuse myself by implementing a Gregorian-to-Roman conversion field in FileMaker. The bit that ended up being the most difficult to implem… --- ## [In Europe, how do you tell the difference between "far right" and "mainstream right"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-europe-how-do-you-tell-the-difference-between-far-right-and-mainstream-right/1002741)
**Author:** [@Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dodgy_Dude)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-europe-how-do-you-tell-the-difference-between-far-right-and-mainstream-right/1002741 "2024-11-25T11:46:13Z")
Also, how do you tell the difference between “far left” and “mainstream left”? --- ## [Can you get in trouble for threatening to shoot someone who's threatening you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-in-trouble-for-threatening-to-shoot-someone-whos-threatening-you/1010118)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-in-trouble-for-threatening-to-shoot-someone-whos-threatening-you/1010118 "2024-11-25T11:17:55Z")
I imagine YMMV depending on the state. Some YouTube Drama, a YouTuber I’ll call Able is threatening to go to another YouTuber I’ll call Bravo’s house (which is in another state) and Able is being vague about what they’l… --- ## [Yet another black hole question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-black-hole-question/1010627)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-black-hole-question/1010627 "2024-11-25T07:49:08Z")
Once something has fallen past a black hole’s event horizon, is it that nothing inside can get outside the horizon again, or is it that nothing can move away from the singularity even momentarily? I thought I had read re… --- ## [Speaking of the ancient pharaohs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-the-ancient-pharaohs/1010484)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speaking-of-the-ancient-pharaohs/1010484 "2024-11-25T04:05:47Z")
How do we know how they pronounced their names? Where do we get “Tutankhamen” or “Ramses” from the writings they left? --- ## [Math history--was calculus was invented before the concept of taking an average?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-history-was-calculus-was-invented-before-the-concept-of-taking-an-average/1010671)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-history-was-calculus-was-invented-before-the-concept-of-taking-an-average/1010671 "2024-11-25T01:21:06Z")
Neal DeGrasse Tyson says so. In a political panel show (Bill Maher), they were discussing polls and statistics about the election. Neal DeGrasse Tyson said that human beings have trouble understanding statistics, and t… --- ## [What version of the twilight zone do you like best and why](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-version-of-the-twilight-zone-do-you-like-best-and-why/1010625)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-version-of-the-twilight-zone-do-you-like-best-and-why/1010625 "2024-11-25T00:11:21Z")
So, IMO there are 5 different versions of the twilight zone TV series The original 60s version The 1980s remake The 2002 remake The Jordan Peele 2020 remake The TV show night gallery. This one isn’t techni… --- ## [Adobe killed my Photoshop Elements, insists I upgrade. Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adobe-killed-my-photoshop-elements-insists-i-upgrade-grrr/1007722)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2024, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adobe-killed-my-photoshop-elements-insists-i-upgrade-grrr/1007722 "2024-11-24T23:40:19Z")
I’ve been using Photoshop Elements for a long time, first Elements 8 and since 2016, Elements 14. I know, I know, it’s not as good as real Photoshop or Lightroom or any number of other programs. But it does what I need … --- ## [Speculation About Republican Party Political Officers placed in U.S military and naval units](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-republican-party-political-officers-placed-in-u-s-military-and-naval-units/1010728)
**Author:** [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculation-about-republican-party-political-officers-placed-in-u-s-military-and-naval-units/1010728 "2024-11-24T21:59:53Z")
As Trump seems to want to politicize the military, does anyone see him wanting to place Republican Party Political Officers in military units (much in the same way that Stalin placed political officers in the Soviet mili… --- ## [Calendar / Organiser App Recommendations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-organiser-app-recommendations/1009595)
**Author:** [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calendar-organiser-app-recommendations/1009595 "2024-11-24T20:32:00Z")
Hi. I’m looking for a calendar / organiser app that can display events horizontally across days so I can easily see where crossovers occur (see example below). I currently use my own solution using MacOS Numbers but I’m … --- ## [Why does Windows get insomia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-windows-get-insomia/941692)
**Author:** [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-windows-get-insomia/941692 "2024-11-24T19:52:18Z")
Meaning it forgets how to go to sleep automatically. I mean, every single Windows system I’ve owned for like 20 years has been like this. You set it to Sleep automatically after so many hours, and that’ll work for a few … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=427&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=429&state=tracking)