# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=447 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 448 --- ## [Musing on Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musing-on-heinleins-starship-troopers/723171)
**Author:** [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musing-on-heinleins-starship-troopers/723171 "2024-10-29T16:37:30Z")
Prompted by thoughts about Robert A Heinlein’s novel Starship Troopers. The most-discussed aspect of said work seems to be, its being set in a basically democratic society, one of whose rules is that nobody may vote, or… --- ## [Collecting from somebody else's inheritance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-from-somebody-elses-inheritance/1009297)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collecting-from-somebody-elses-inheritance/1009297 "2024-10-29T16:12:16Z")
Not sure if here or IMHO. California law if necessary. Deadbeat dad owes close to $50K in back support. Judgement in hand for years and the DA is collecting the money. Of course DD pleads poverty through hiding money… --- ## [Moving to NYC soon! Any advice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-to-nyc-soon-any-advice/1006278)
**Author:** [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moving-to-nyc-soon-any-advice/1006278 "2024-10-29T15:34:30Z")
After a five year wait, my green card arrived in the mail today! I’ll be moving to New York City sometime in the next 2 - 3 weeks, depending on how quickly I can pack, how soon the movers are available, and how soon I c… --- ## [Opening Credits backgrounds in Frankenstein (1931)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-credits-backgrounds-in-frankenstein-1931/1009400)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-credits-backgrounds-in-frankenstein-1931/1009400 "2024-10-29T14:34:54Z")
As I said in the What Are You Watching thread, I’ve been re-watching the original Universal Frankenstein films. For the original 1931 film, after Edward Sloan appears to give a brief warning, the film launches into the … --- ## [What does BSW^D mean on old maps?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bsw-d-mean-on-old-maps/787265)
**Author:** [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-bsw-d-mean-on-old-maps/787265 "2024-10-29T13:21:28Z")
Possibly a UK-centric thing, but who knows. Have a look at this map. If you zoom into the canal basin by the river, just south of it is a patch of land with ‘BSW^D’ on it (well, it looks like an upwards-pointing arrow). … --- ## [Old School NCAAF National Championships: Were any undeserved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-school-ncaaf-national-championships-were-any-undeserved/1009352)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-school-ncaaf-national-championships-were-any-undeserved/1009352 "2024-10-29T12:46:23Z")
Before the now-defunct BCS days, NCAAF national championships were voted on. If a team that had been voted #1 at the end of the season won their bowl game, they would be voted National Champions. If not, someone else w… --- ## [Question about an election ad I saw](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-an-election-ad-i-saw/1009389)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-an-election-ad-i-saw/1009389 "2024-10-29T11:01:41Z")
I do not want this thread to continue if I get an answer, and it’s not pro or con to any election side. But I saw, just once this afternoon, on an ABC station, an ad for a candidate who I’m sorry to say I can’t remember… --- ## [Sharing my YouTube channel (amateurish, bicycle handlebar cam footage from my bike commute)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-my-youtube-channel-amateurish-bicycle-handlebar-cam-footage-from-my-bike-commute/999147)
**Author:** [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sharing-my-youtube-channel-amateurish-bicycle-handlebar-cam-footage-from-my-bike-commute/999147 "2024-10-29T09:55:49Z")
Due to the rail link to my place of work being unreliable in the last two years (there are a lot of improvements done on the line which sometimes shuts down the line for months), I have begun to commute by bike when the … --- ## [Can diluted seawater be used instead of blood for total transfusions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-diluted-seawater-be-used-instead-of-blood-for-total-transfusions/720461)
**Author:** [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-diluted-seawater-be-used-instead-of-blood-for-total-transfusions/720461 "2024-10-29T07:01:37Z")
Of course not. I know that. But I’m not sure how to address this bit of nonsense: http://oceanplasma.org/documents/substitute.html I’m guessing that this is simply an overblown claim, that dilute sea water can be safe… --- ## [Has Trump Repealed Godwin’s Law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-repealed-godwin-s-law/1009205)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-trump-repealed-godwin-s-law/1009205 "2024-10-29T06:25:21Z")
With the term “fascist” being tossed about repeatedly these days (and IMO accurately) to describe Trump’s political philosophy, and the word “Hitler” being attributed to him as a term of praise and admiration, are we fre… --- ## [Stupid, misinformed, ignorant voters? Do the differences matter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-misinformed-ignorant-voters-do-the-differences-matter/1009175)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-misinformed-ignorant-voters-do-the-differences-matter/1009175 "2024-10-29T06:20:20Z")
As instructed pulling this to its own thread, as I think it is relevant to how campaigning should be done. From here. My take is that there is hope to inform the simply ignorant but otherwise average intelligence and… --- ## [Let's discuss the Electoral College tying](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-electoral-college-tying/1009273)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-the-electoral-college-tying/1009273 "2024-10-29T06:08:31Z")
I have no idea what is going to happen on election day. Too many variables and I don’t trust polls any more since 2016. Nobody seems to be taking the outcome that the EC ties very seriously and I disagree with that. Pl… --- ## [The America’s Most Liveable Cities: Mostly Canadian](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-america-s-most-liveable-cities-mostly-canadian/1009284)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-america-s-most-liveable-cities-mostly-canadian/1009284 "2024-10-29T01:57:18Z")
Another list by the Economist linked “intelligence unit” (EIU) ranks the 2024 “most liveable” cities in North and South America on an arbitrary scale of health care, culture and environment, stability, education and infr… --- ## [Does income while staying in a foreign country usually only count if you are performing work to earn it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-income-while-staying-in-a-foreign-country-usually-only-count-if-you-are-performing-work-to-earn-it/1009301)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-income-while-staying-in-a-foreign-country-usually-only-count-if-you-are-performing-work-to-earn-it/1009301 "2024-10-29T01:15:21Z")
I realize the answer will be “it depends” since there are nearly 200 nations in the world, so there would be nearly 200 answers. But - if you work for an American employer, but you are traveling abroad on vacation in, s… --- ## [FX's The Old Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fxs-the-old-man/1009029)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fxs-the-old-man/1009029 "2024-10-29T00:47:50Z")
Have been watching FX’s The Old Man on Hulu. It stars Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, and Alia Shawkat (Maebe Funke from Arrested Development). Acting is great with this cast. Season 2 was just released a month or so ago. … --- ## [Doing Politics {Who do you like, and who have you liked in previous seasons?}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-politics-who-do-you-like-and-who-have-you-liked-in-previous-seasons/1009239)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-politics-who-do-you-like-and-who-have-you-liked-in-previous-seasons/1009239 "2024-10-29T00:45:08Z")
Who do you like, and who have you liked in previous seasons? Is it Barack Obama, or Bill Clinton? Or perhaps Hillary Clinton, or Bernie Sanders? Or are you more of a fan of Nikki Haley, or John McCain, or you really l… --- ## [Hey, pal, can you spare $100 Grand? (Star Trek memorabilia auction)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-pal-can-you-spare-100-grand-star-trek-memorabilia-auction/1009373)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-pal-can-you-spare-100-grand-star-trek-memorabilia-auction/1009373 "2024-10-29T00:39:55Z")
Linked removed --- ## [Musings on the Maya](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-the-maya/990515)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-the-maya/990515 "2024-10-29T00:03:40Z")
Watching some National Geographic TV programs this evening about the lost civilization of the Maya, and how much the use of LIDAR is revealing as it allows archeologists to peel back the jungle and reveal the ruins hidde… --- ## [Math experts: Find an elegant solution for this Car Talk puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-experts-find-an-elegant-solution-for-this-car-talk-puzzler/1009269)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-experts-find-an-elegant-solution-for-this-car-talk-puzzler/1009269 "2024-10-28T23:14:55Z")
I was just listening to an old episode of Car Talk, and they had this puzzler. RAY: You’re given a hundred dollars and told to spend it all purchasing exactly a hundred animals at the pet store. Dogs cost $15. Cats cos… --- ## [Physics question about the miniseries “Chernobyl"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-question-about-the-miniseries-chernobyl/1009362)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-question-about-the-miniseries-chernobyl/1009362 "2024-10-28T21:58:27Z")
There’s an establishing scene where the composite character "Ulana Khomyuk” takes a wipe and swipes a sample of dust on the outside of her window, then runs it though what I assume is some type of gamma-ray spectrograph,… --- ## [I don't post here often, but I just got some important news from the neighbors' kids .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-post-here-often-but-i-just-got-some-important-news-from-the-neighbors-kids/1009268)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-post-here-often-but-i-just-got-some-important-news-from-the-neighbors-kids/1009268 "2024-10-28T21:07:09Z")
I’m in the ‘home office’ updating a few things before I kick back for an early evening, but I’ve just overheard some very important news, from the neighbors’ kids, that I think is really worth taking in: "We have to use… --- ## [Help me remember this old arcade video game (early 90s-ish)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-old-arcade-video-game-early-90s-ish/1009363)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-remember-this-old-arcade-video-game-early-90s-ish/1009363 "2024-10-28T20:39:47Z")
At least that’s about the time frame I recall. The protagonist is a person in a jet pack. From your POV, you’re looking at his back and various things are coming toward him. You can turn him right, left, up, down to … --- ## [\*#%\*^@&#\* the IRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irs/1006217)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-irs/1006217 "2024-10-28T19:30:44Z")
I have been trying to get my late aunt’s estate settled for almost 2 years. The last issue is her final income tax return. The IRS owes the estate a couple of thousand dollars. The return was filed timely about 16 mon… --- ## [Ohio Issue 1 (anti-gerrymandering): What would it actually change?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-issue-1-anti-gerrymandering-what-would-it-actually-change/1009278)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-issue-1-anti-gerrymandering-what-would-it-actually-change/1009278 "2024-10-28T18:47:56Z")
One of the issues on the ballot in Ohio is a constitutional amendment intended to end gerrymandering. But wait, didn’t we already have that? Yes, we did. A few years ago, we passed an amendment that created a bipartis… --- ## [Ideas for these left over bread ingredients](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-these-left-over-bread-ingredients/1009353)
**Author:** [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-for-these-left-over-bread-ingredients/1009353 "2024-10-28T18:15:34Z")
I am an occasional bread baker. I make a killer Dutch Oven loaf but after that–eh. Yesterday I made a large pernil (Puerto Rican roast pork) and thought that a loaf of Cuban bread would go well with the leftovers. So, I … --- ## [Name confusion in Spain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-confusion-in-spain/1009095)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-confusion-in-spain/1009095 "2024-10-28T18:03:21Z")
So I was learning how surnames work in Spain. Surnames are made from the first surname from Father and first surname from mother. I also found out that: They do not have middle names. Their most common surnames are a … --- ## [The Telegraph](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-telegraph/1009151)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-telegraph/1009151 "2024-10-28T16:02:09Z")
I’m trying to get an idea on what sort of political bias The Telegraph has. It’s a British publication so I’m not real familiar with it. Based on just one headline alone, I’m guessing it’s a right wing rag with nonexiste… --- ## [My new website: Great Forgotten Humorists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-website-great-forgotten-humorists/1003411)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-new-website-great-forgotten-humorists/1003411 "2024-10-28T13:26:29Z")
I’ve procrastinated long enough. Time to officially unveil my latest website. GreatForgottenHumorists.com This is what the Internet was made for. History for the sheer joy of doing the research. Product with no pecuniar… --- ## [Does campaign spending have any significant impact on the economy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-campaign-spending-have-any-significant-impact-on-the-economy/1009306)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-campaign-spending-have-any-significant-impact-on-the-economy/1009306 "2024-10-28T13:01:45Z")
United States presidential election spend ridiculous amounts of money. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2024/10/total-2024-election-spending-projected-to-exceed-previous-record/ Is that amount of spending impactful on… --- ## [Trump can't win](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-cant-win/762585)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2024, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-cant-win/762585 "2024-10-28T12:23:26Z")
Say GOP insiders. I too am convinced that Trump is toast. Maybe if he’d kept his big yap shut he’d have had a better chance but I’m really grateful that he didn’t. I think the US and the whole planet dodged a bullet h… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=446) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=448)