# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=468&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 469 --- ## [USB ports on new television -- anything I should put in them before hanging television on wall?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-new-television-anything-i-should-put-in-them-before-hanging-television-on-wall/1007661 "2024-09-30T16:14:37Z")
On our old television set, we don’t have anything plugged into USB ports on back – actually I don’t even know if it has any. But I just ordered a new 65" OLED television from Samsung, to be delivered in a bit over a week… --- ## [San Franciscans: Will Hardly Strictly Bluegrass screw up traffic for travelers going north?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-franciscans-will-hardly-strictly-bluegrass-screw-up-traffic-for-travelers-going-north/1008203)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-franciscans-will-hardly-strictly-bluegrass-screw-up-traffic-for-travelers-going-north/1008203 "2024-09-30T16:08:36Z")
We’re about to take a trip up to Oregon, and usually pass through San Francisco to do this. We take 19th Street, go through Golden Gate Park, and so on up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Now I see that the Hardly Strictly B… --- ## [Am I an extreme outlier because I remember people, faces, places, names from 20-30 years ago?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-extreme-outlier-because-i-remember-people-faces-places-names-from-20-30-years-ago/1007740)
**Author:** [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-an-extreme-outlier-because-i-remember-people-faces-places-names-from-20-30-years-ago/1007740 "2024-09-30T15:27:28Z")
I was reading the “Did Kamala Harris Work at McDonalds?” thread and I was absolutely shocked at the number of posters who said they could not remember a single co-worker or manager from most of their high school/summer j… --- ## [What's the straight dope on pet shampoos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-pet-shampoos/1007344)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-pet-shampoos/1007344 "2024-09-30T15:00:56Z")
Last night I did what I thought was a very normal thing – gave my dog a bath using the Herbal Essences shampoo that’s in the shower for washing people hair. My wife was aghast, as evidently it’s “unsafe” to use human sh… --- ## [Minor figures who've been portrayed multiple times in film](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-figures-whove-been-portrayed-multiple-times-in-film/980605)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minor-figures-whove-been-portrayed-multiple-times-in-film/980605 "2024-09-30T14:31:45Z")
So TIL about Charles Lightoller, who led what can only be called an eventful life. He was an officer on the Titanic and then went on to serve in WW1 and piloted a small civilian craft in the Dunkirk evacuation: In the… --- ## [Could the Soviet Union have survived if Gorbachev wasn't in charge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-soviet-union-have-survived-if-gorbachev-wasnt-in-charge/1007178)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-soviet-union-have-survived-if-gorbachev-wasnt-in-charge/1007178 "2024-09-30T13:09:25Z")
I just watched the series on the BBC by Adam Curtis called Trauma Zone, and I feel part of the reason why the USSR collapsed the way it did was partly based on the naivete of Gorbachev himself, being born in the Soviet s… --- ## [Will Automatization bring factories back to USA/Europe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-automatization-bring-factories-back-to-usa-europe/1008240)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-automatization-bring-factories-back-to-usa-europe/1008240 "2024-09-30T13:09:19Z")
random shower thought: the main reason nearly all production went overseas (SE-Asia, mostly) - is that they have very low labor cost, compared to US/Eu. Q: If automatization cought on on a wider scale, will we see (au… --- ## [Are "artisanal" items in tourist areas mass produced?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-artisanal-items-in-tourist-areas-mass-produced/1007273)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-artisanal-items-in-tourist-areas-mass-produced/1007273 "2024-09-30T12:50:34Z")
We just returned from a trip to Kenya. As we drove around, we stopped at several gift shops (they have rest rooms, and the roads have no rest areas.) The shops all had carved masks and animals, and beadwork items. Eac… --- ## [If the US is a net energy exporter, why can’t we control gas prices better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-is-a-net-energy-exporter-why-can-t-we-control-gas-prices-better/1007629)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-the-us-is-a-net-energy-exporter-why-can-t-we-control-gas-prices-better/1007629 "2024-09-30T12:05:38Z")
If you live in the US, you’ve seen wild fluctuations in what you pay for gas over the years. Eta: pressed “send” too soon. But hopefully the OP question is clear --- ## [A Day in Berlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-berlin/1005858)
**Author:** [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-day-in-berlin/1005858 "2024-09-30T11:55:22Z")
Hey there. Due to changes in plans for the Nordic cruise my wife and I are taking next month, we have suddenly found ourselves with 36 hours in Berlin - checking in on the evening of September 29th, spending an entire … --- ## [Test for image posting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-for-image-posting/925570)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/test-for-image-posting/925570 "2024-09-30T11:06:49Z")
--- ## [Watching golf today - some questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-golf-today-some-questions/1008263)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-golf-today-some-questions/1008263 "2024-09-30T07:43:05Z")
I was at a bar so no sound. But from the graphics shown I guess they were playing “who wins each hole” instead of overall score. At one hole, maybe the last one, Kim hits a putt that misses. The other player walks over… --- ## [Actuarial early retirement pension factors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actuarial-early-retirement-pension-factors/1008244)
**Author:** [@Richardpurvey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richardpurvey)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actuarial-early-retirement-pension-factors/1008244 "2024-09-30T03:42:58Z")
Why can’t ALL actuarial early retirement pension factors be calculated accurately instead of only discrete accurate factors being tabulated with ‘in-between’ ones being interpolated? --- ## [09/28/24 SNL Cold Open](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/09-28-24-snl-cold-open/1008214)
**Author:** [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/09-28-24-snl-cold-open/1008214 "2024-09-30T02:56:25Z")
A lot has gone down since SNL was last live. Pretty sure tonight’s cold open will somehow involve Trump. What will it be? Ear diaper? Haitian restaurant? Cheap watches? --- ## [Name that story](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-story/401120)
**Author:** [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-story/401120 "2024-09-30T02:14:00Z")
I think it was a short story and not a book, kind of Lovecraftian, there’s this young feller that lives in a castle or mansion with a butler (maybe), pretty miserable existence IIRC. Seems he decides to climb a tree or a… --- ## [I'm going to a Mario Bros party!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-a-mario-bros-party/1008213)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-a-mario-bros-party/1008213 "2024-09-30T01:53:12Z")
I got invited to a coworkers Mario Brothers party and I’m ridiculously excited. She has 1985 super mario brothers and her old nintendo for it. I have a 1986 mario brothers thermos that I’ll be drinking wine from. Oh and … --- ## [Bee-nado? Really?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bee-nado-really/1007635)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bee-nado-really/1007635 "2024-09-30T01:46:47Z")
I’ve never watched the TV show 9-1-1 So I have no idea if this is the sort of thing they do regularly, but Bee-nado? Seriously? Or are they running headlong into shark-jumping? --- ## [Vegans who are judgmental and vocal to you about it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegans-who-are-judgmental-and-vocal-to-you-about-it/1002905)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 262\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegans-who-are-judgmental-and-vocal-to-you-about-it/1002905 "2024-09-30T00:07:00Z")
I had another thread that got locked. For the record, I didn’t mean to imply every Vegan was judgmental, (and that the one’s who are are vocal about it). I’m just wondering if the ones that are are justified in being tha… --- ## [Lake Michigan frog behavior question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lake-michigan-frog-behavior-question/637875)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lake-michigan-frog-behavior-question/637875 "2024-09-30T00:02:21Z")
Was wondering if any of you might have any thoughts as to this frog activity I noticed yesterday. In short, yesterday evening along the S shore of Lake Michigan, there were several large frogs, mostly sitting along the … --- ## [Are there any truly unbiased news sources in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-truly-unbiased-news-sources-in-the-us/1008216)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-truly-unbiased-news-sources-in-the-us/1008216 "2024-09-29T23:30:27Z")
I grew up in the 60s and trusted newscasters such as Walter Cronkite for unbiased news. I later expanded to all of the major US networks, such as CBS, NBC, PBS, and ABC. When I traveled, I watched CNN and the BBC for acc… --- ## [Slap-fighting and brain damage: how could we have known?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slap-fighting-and-brain-damage-how-could-we-have-known/1007742)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slap-fighting-and-brain-damage-how-could-we-have-known/1007742 "2024-09-29T23:24:01Z")
If you’ve never seen slap fighting, well, it’s pretty much like it sounds: two opponents stand face to face and take turns slapping each other in the face as hard as they can until someone just can’t take it any more. I… --- ## [Kris Kristofferson has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kris-kristofferson-has-died/1008261)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kris-kristofferson-has-died/1008261 "2024-09-29T23:03:00Z")
My favorite lyricist, bar none. I’d trade all my tomorrows for a single yesterday. Dreaming was as easy as believing it was never gonna end. I headed up the street and caught the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken… --- ## [Why are there always too few polling places in big cities?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-always-too-few-polling-places-in-big-cities/1006950)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-always-too-few-polling-places-in-big-cities/1006950 "2024-09-29T20:21:02Z")
I’ve been following elections since 2000. One scene that takes place every election goes something like this. There’s a reporter standing in front of some polling location with a long line, around an hour or so before … --- ## [What are you absolute most hated movies of all time? Your "zero stars" movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-absolute-most-hated-movies-of-all-time-your-zero-stars-movies/985653)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 563\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-absolute-most-hated-movies-of-all-time-your-zero-stars-movies/985653 "2024-09-29T19:07:03Z")
My interest and viewing of movies the past 8-10 years has increased and I find I give most movie a passable rating, the equivalent of a 1 star or 1/2 star review. But…there are a few so bad they deserve the dreaded “zer… --- ## [Regulating AI?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regulating-ai/994330)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regulating-ai/994330 "2024-09-29T18:39:48Z")
Just wondering what people think about these efforts by the EU, since many folks here know more about AI than myself. Any good solution, and this might not be it or we might not know enough to judge, presumably is a ser… --- ## [Can anybody find the Straight Dope on the Map Of The Internet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anybody-find-the-straight-dope-on-the-map-of-the-internet/1007813)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anybody-find-the-straight-dope-on-the-map-of-the-internet/1007813 "2024-09-29T16:40:42Z")
Give a look. It might be there. https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/13ad2603-668b-4c11-a371-91e56d25998d/deihd1a-79c74ae0-7e41-4c4c-bcdf-757dfe0f0e1b.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.… --- ## [Who first called Reagan “The Great Communicator”?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-called-reagan-the-great-communicator/1008241)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-called-reagan-the-great-communicator/1008241 "2024-09-29T14:39:57Z")
In the song “Popular” from Wicked, Galinda has the line When I see depressing creatures/With unprepossessing features/I remind them on their own behalf/To think of/Celebrated heads of state/Or ‘specially Great Communicat… --- ## [Help! What are these beans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628 "2024-09-29T13:21:16Z")
Stopped at the farm market and they had these beans that they grew. I asked the lady at the cash register what they were, she said they were beans. I asked what kind and she blushed and said “big beans”. (She is just th… --- ## [Accent eradication](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accent-eradication/1007709)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accent-eradication/1007709 "2024-09-29T11:27:14Z")
Has there been any study of the age at which acquiring a native accent in a second language falls off a cliff? Anecdotally, my relatives who’ve immigrated in their youth (mainly from Slavic-speaking countries) tend to sp… --- ## [Kamala Harris' recent comments on guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-recent-comments-on-guns/1007591)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 155\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kamala-harris-recent-comments-on-guns/1007591 "2024-09-29T06:56:30Z")
As it’s apparently a bit specific for the general Kamala Harris Election Runup thread. I’ll start one here. Recently VP Harris said this about being a gun owner: Vice President Kamala Harris told a visibly shocked Opr… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=467&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=469&state=watching)