# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=449&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 450 --- ## [Can you refuse parole?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-refuse-parole/476269)
**Author:** [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2024, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-refuse-parole/476269 "2024-10-27T05:14:55Z")
Let us say that you go to prison. Doesn’t matter how long. You have a shot at parole. Let’s say that you just plain don’t mind prison. Maybe it’s not a max facility, maybe you just don’t care. Let’s say that you decide y… --- ## [Explain this polling to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-polling-to-me/1009241)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2024, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-polling-to-me/1009241 "2024-10-27T04:00:14Z")
Most recent Gallup has Americans split Democrat/Republican/Independent as 30%/30%/40% approximately. But when asked which way they lean it is 49% Republican and 42% Democratic. I don’t get how the Republican Party has … --- ## [Any "I was doing it the hard way" stories?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-i-was-doing-it-the-hard-way-stories/1004335)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2024, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-i-was-doing-it-the-hard-way-stories/1004335 "2024-10-27T03:19:30Z")
You might have seen the Laural & Hardy film “The Music Box” where they were movers trying to haul a piano up a long flight of stairs to a house at the top of a hill. The kicker near the end was that there was a driveway … --- ## [So which member of the SMDB staff wrote the code for Discourse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-member-of-the-smdb-staff-wrote-the-code-for-discourse/1009277)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2024, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-which-member-of-the-smdb-staff-wrote-the-code-for-discourse/1009277 "2024-10-27T00:32:18Z")
Engineer\_comp\_geek just gave someone a warning about “attacking the staff” to someone criticizing a feature of Discourse. So which one of you staff members was it? --- ## [Breaking news. Iran launches missile attack against Israel: 2024-10-01](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-iran-launches-missile-attack-against-israel-2024-10-01/1008344)
**Author:** [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2024, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-iran-launches-missile-attack-against-israel-2024-10-01/1008344 "2024-10-27T00:28:56Z")
Don’t know much right now. Apparently it’s much more massive than the April attacks and is only using ballistic missile as Israel was able to shoot down the drones they tried. Hope Israeli dopers are safe. --- ## [Ohh lord of Castle of White... WTF are you doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohh-lord-of-castle-of-white-wtf-are-you-doing/1008853)
**Author:** [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohh-lord-of-castle-of-white-wtf-are-you-doing/1008853 "2024-10-26T23:32:45Z")
I don’t think I have been to a White Castle in 15 maybe 20 years. There is one near my house, but it is tucked in an awkward place that I never actually go down. But today there was an accident on the street that forced… --- ## [Why was a thread deleted? {Cornfielded as Sock Op}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-a-thread-deleted-cornfielded-as-sock-op/1009207)
**Author:** [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-a-thread-deleted-cornfielded-as-sock-op/1009207 "2024-10-26T21:22:03Z")
See subject line. The subject matter was a little offbeat, but I didn’t see anything that clearly deserved cornfielding. --- ## [Libby app for borrowing ebooks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libby-app-for-borrowing-ebooks/1009226)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libby-app-for-borrowing-ebooks/1009226 "2024-10-26T19:36:44Z")
Up to now, I have used “Libby by OverDrive” through my public library to borrow books. It has its shortcomings (you can’t dictate sort order, and you can’t just jump to any random place in the list to start browsing) but… --- ## [What's happening in this water electrolysis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-water-electrolysis/1009176)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-happening-in-this-water-electrolysis/1009176 "2024-10-26T19:13:08Z")
My science teacher friend says the blackened test tube is getting the least gas, which would mean it’s the oxygen side. This invalidates my guess and theory, so I’m asking here. Why is the tube getting black at the top? … --- ## [Dorothy's Home for Decrepit Dogs has Just Gotten Crustier (this was not part of the plan)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dorothys-home-for-decrepit-dogs-has-just-gotten-crustier-this-was-not-part-of-the-plan/1008507)
**Author:** [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dorothys-home-for-decrepit-dogs-has-just-gotten-crustier-this-was-not-part-of-the-plan/1008507 "2024-10-26T18:37:51Z")
Since my elderly dog died in December, I’ve taken a series of foster dogs and cats. I wasn’t ready to commit to another “keeper” and wasn’t sure I would ever want one again. My last fosters went home on Tuesday and, as … --- ## [You know what we need? A "where was that thread/post" thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-a-where-was-that-thread-post-thread/1009257)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-know-what-we-need-a-where-was-that-thread-post-thread/1009257 "2024-10-26T18:06:57Z")
Have you ever read a thread or post, then later tried to go back and look for it but you can’t remember where it was and can’t find it? It happens to me a lot, especially when you have dozens of DJT\* threads in both P&E … --- ## [Can I make use of old Social Security information?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-use-of-old-social-security-information/1009039)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-use-of-old-social-security-information/1009039 "2024-10-26T17:25:01Z")
I’ve found the social security numbers of many relatives, dead for decades, and I wonder if I can use these numbers to find out information about them, where they worked, their job descriptions, what they were paid, wh… --- ## [The sound of sneezing in English and other languages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sound-of-sneezing-in-english-and-other-languages/1009064)
**Author:** [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sound-of-sneezing-in-english-and-other-languages/1009064 "2024-10-26T16:40:34Z")
My three languages are German, English and French (only rather badly). In colloquial speech and also in stories, the sound of a sneeze in German is usually rendered as “Hatschi!” and in French as “Atchoum!”. But I can’t … --- ## [Instacart scam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instacart-scam/1009217)
**Author:** [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instacart-scam/1009217 "2024-10-26T15:29:26Z")
I’ve been using Instacart for grocery shopping pretty extensively since the pandemic started and have been mostly happy with their service. But a couple of days ago something happened that makes me question their integri… --- ## [Military Surplus, anyone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-surplus-anyone/1008949)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-surplus-anyone/1008949 "2024-10-26T15:13:13Z")
… about as mundane as it gets … do you have any MilSurp in your life or are re-purposing something? then let’s talk … extra medails for providing photographic recon :wink: https://i.postimg.cc/gcN89DWJ/image.png http… --- ## [Does a bottle of soda go flat faster if refrigerated](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-bottle-of-soda-go-flat-faster-if-refrigerated/1007668)
**Author:** [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-bottle-of-soda-go-flat-faster-if-refrigerated/1007668 "2024-10-26T13:41:00Z")
Continuing the discussion from Which of these items are in your refrigerator(s) (not freezer) right now?: --- ## [A question for Arkansas voters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-arkansas-voters/1009227)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-arkansas-voters/1009227 "2024-10-26T11:57:15Z")
I work in Hillcrest, Little Rock. I live near Lakewood, North Little Rick. I have seen no Trump signs, but many Harris signs. Has this been your experience? Perhaps if I were to return to the land I own in West Pulaski … --- ## [AI showing protein structure? A big deal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-showing-protein-structure-a-big-deal/968733)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-showing-protein-structure-a-big-deal/968733 "2024-10-26T11:41:38Z")
Here is an article about DeepMind which, over two years, has deduced the structure of millions of proteins. If accurate, it is a brilliant piece of applied physical mathematics. Is this going to be a big deal? Maybe i… --- ## [What national news sites are still free?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-national-news-sites-are-still-free/1009153)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-national-news-sites-are-still-free/1009153 "2024-10-26T03:24:49Z")
Fox News asks for a subscription to many of the stories. Now CNN is requiring one for all stories. --- ## [Vox Machina (Amazon Prime D&D animated series)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vox-machina-amazon-prime-d-d-animated-series/959781)
**Author:** [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vox-machina-amazon-prime-d-d-animated-series/959781 "2024-10-26T03:18:56Z")
Has anyone here watched the animated show Vox Machina on Amazon Prime? I never followed the web series Critical Role (voice actors streaming a D&D campaign), but I’m certainly in the target demographic: I like D&D and I… --- ## [Will anybody want to buy anything from Boar's Head again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232)
**Author:** [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2024, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232 "2024-10-26T00:12:32Z")
Boar’s Head will close its Jarratt, Virginia plant in response to a listeria outbreak and a devastating inspection report by the USDA that contradicts the company’s longtime marketing campaign as a high-end purveyor of d… --- ## [Is there a glitch in the board? Or a spam attack?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-glitch-in-the-board-or-a-spam-attack/1009216)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-glitch-in-the-board-or-a-spam-attack/1009216 "2024-10-25T21:35:52Z")
Twice today, I’ve clicked the link to pull up “Unread” posts. That should be giving me a list of threads with recent posts. Instead I’ve gotten a list of old threads I started. In some cases, these were six year old thr… --- ## [Anyone experienced with Archive.org?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-experienced-with-archive-org/1008480)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-experienced-with-archive-org/1008480 "2024-10-25T21:24:39Z")
Otherwise known as the Wayback Machine? The idea is fabulous, a way to check out anything (in theory) that’s ever appeared online, even if the site itself is defunct, although I’ve found it non-intuitive to use in practi… --- ## [Turkish Airlines pilot dies in flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkish-airlines-pilot-dies-in-flight/1008632)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkish-airlines-pilot-dies-in-flight/1008632 "2024-10-25T20:22:44Z")
Emergency landing at JFK after Turkish Airlines pilot dies midflight (yahoo.com) The flight was from Seattle to Istanbul. The pilot lost consciousness somewhere over Nunavut (a northern Canadian territory). It was decid… --- ## [Why Trump is running for president](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-trump-is-running-for-president/1008851)
**Author:** [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-trump-is-running-for-president/1008851 "2024-10-25T19:43:59Z")
At the risk of appearing to be a conspiracy nutter, I am going to throw this out. Trump doesn’t really seem to have a platform, any actual beliefs other than his own benefits, and lately hasn’t really seemed to be inter… --- ## [The Mysterious case of the Creepy Pumpkin that spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mysterious-case-of-the-creepy-pumpkin-that-spoke/1009076)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mysterious-case-of-the-creepy-pumpkin-that-spoke/1009076 "2024-10-25T19:40:40Z")
A Tale as old as time. End of October. Yay! Let’s carve pumpkins. Roast seeds. Maybe even make a pie! Spicy aromas, sweaters, a crisp breeze. Leaves, eerie evening light. Happy children. Nope. More like a putrid sme… --- ## [When is a Gay Politcal Rally not a Gay Political Rally?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-gay-politcal-rally-not-a-gay-political-rally/1009182)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-a-gay-politcal-rally-not-a-gay-political-rally/1009182 "2024-10-25T19:16:09Z")
How about when it has absolutely nothing to do with LGBTQ+ rights at all, is promoted by the Log Cabin Republicans and there are Many more straight people than Gay people there: How can you have a “Gay” rally and not h… --- ## [Bad Question. ( Deleted )](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-question-deleted/1009119)
**Author:** [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-question-deleted/1009119 "2024-10-25T17:56:49Z")
\< Deleted \> --- ## [A bad night's sleep has convinced me. . .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bad-nights-sleep-has-convinced-me/766217)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bad-nights-sleep-has-convinced-me/766217 "2024-10-25T16:55:02Z")
. . .to tune out all that I can of the pre-election coverage. I woke up at 3:00 in a rage about Trump, about the morons who support him, and about Republicans who let him get away with his bullshit. Laid awake for over a… --- ## [McDonalds is having a day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcdonalds-is-having-a-day/1008575 "2024-10-25T16:47:17Z")
Item the first: McDonalds french fry supplier, Lamb Weston, is closing their plant in Washington due to financial losses. People are apparently eating fewer fries, substituting smaller sizes to save money. Item B: McDon… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=448&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=450&state=tracking)