# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=477&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 478 --- ## [A question about shingles (The Disease)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-shingles-the-disease/1007289)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-shingles-the-disease/1007289 "2024-09-17T12:05:41Z")
This was a train of thought brought about by a commercial about getting the shingles vaccine. My memories of having chicken pox as a kid are that it was pretty mild for me and wasn’t difficult to ignore the itching and … --- ## [Could we implement this option ...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-implement-this-option/1005532)
**Author:** [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-we-implement-this-option/1005532 "2024-09-17T08:45:42Z")
It’s a known ‘feature’ that when a post has one reply immediately following it, the reply doesn’t show the ‘replying to’ symbol (in the top right corner). This has often led to confusion about whether the reply actuall… --- ## [Reasons why the BMI is useless](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-why-the-bmi-is-useless/1007307)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasons-why-the-bmi-is-useless/1007307 "2024-09-17T04:03:29Z")
Here are 10 reasons that the BMI is bogus according to NPR: To save you a click: The person who dreamed up the BMI said explicitly that it could not and should not be used to indicate the level of fatness in an indi… --- ## [What is the benefit of drugs with short half lives vs long half lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-benefit-of-drugs-with-short-half-lives-vs-long-half-lives/1007367)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-benefit-of-drugs-with-short-half-lives-vs-long-half-lives/1007367 "2024-09-17T03:27:03Z")
In many classes of drugs there are drugs with short half lives and drugs with long half lives. Prozac has a half life of 5 days. Paxil has a half life of 21 hours. Xanax is about 12 hours, Valium is 2 days. I know dru… --- ## [Oh, come on! Stupid trends, anyone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-come-on-stupid-trends-anyone/1006966)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-come-on-stupid-trends-anyone/1006966 "2024-09-17T01:44:15Z")
Really? No, REALLY? “Airport tray aesthetic”? The “airport tray aesthetic” has taken off on TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest as people share artfully arranged shots of their sunglasses, shoes, toiletries and reading m… --- ## [A question for you Army guys](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-you-army-guys/1006490)
**Author:** [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-you-army-guys/1006490 "2024-09-17T01:26:42Z")
Companies, troops, and batteries have long been designated by letters of the alphabet, such as the famous E Co. The US Military use the NATO alphabet, in which ‘A’ is “Alfa”. But I keep seeing references in print to “A… --- ## [Astronaut pay](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-pay/1007079)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-pay/1007079 "2024-09-17T00:53:40Z")
Q1: Do astronauts get hazardous duty pay if they actually fly in space? Q2: The two astronauts who launched on June 5 were supposed to spend 8 days in space, but their mission has been extended to about 93 days because … --- ## [Newspaper features pages when you were a kid: what do you remember?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-features-pages-when-you-were-a-kid-what-do-you-remember/1006191)
**Author:** [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newspaper-features-pages-when-you-were-a-kid-what-do-you-remember/1006191 "2024-09-17T00:27:47Z")
When I was a child our family in Toronto took two papers: the Toronto Telegram (afternoon paper) and the Globe and Mail (morning paper). In both, the first thing I’d turn to was the comics page, a.k.a. the features page… --- ## [If you liked Earth you shoulda put a ring on it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-liked-earth-you-shoulda-put-a-ring-on-it/1007372)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-liked-earth-you-shoulda-put-a-ring-on-it/1007372 "2024-09-17T00:15:22Z")
Interesting new theory that during the Ordovician the Earth captured an asteroid close and large enough to be torn apart forming a ring that gradually rained down on Earth. It was already known from a mine in Sweden t… --- ## [How much of an impact could Taylor Swift have on the 2024 election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758)
**Author:** [@Win\_Place\_Show](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Win_Place_Show)\ **Replies:** 324\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-an-impact-could-taylor-swift-have-on-the-2024-election/988758 "2024-09-17T00:09:28Z")
It’s not hard to argue that she has the world by the tail right now, and I’d like to think that if she continues her meteoric popularity (especially among the age range of kids whose parents are shelling out big bucks to… --- ## [Ignorance loses a round, stunning observers (Debunkbot)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-loses-a-round-stunning-observers-debunkbot/1007194)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-loses-a-round-stunning-observers-debunkbot/1007194 "2024-09-16T23:54:56Z")
Persuasion is tough and shifting beliefs about conspiracy theories is thought to be particularly difficult, as they fulfill an underlying need to explain or control our environment. Or so we thought. Gifted article: htt… --- ## [Term life insurance: Keep it or dump it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-life-insurance-keep-it-or-dump-it/1007360)
**Author:** [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-life-insurance-keep-it-or-dump-it/1007360 "2024-09-16T22:58:52Z")
I’m asking for opinions from the learned members of the Dope. For many years, we’ve carried term life insurance policies from AAA. We have no dependents. The payout from either is the same, and while substantial, hard… --- ## [Gacy was NOT a Killer Clown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gacy-was-not-a-killer-clown/1006861)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gacy-was-not-a-killer-clown/1006861 "2024-09-16T21:08:05Z")
I don’t know why this bugs me so much, but it does. I was listening to a YouTube video about serial killers, and I heard this little gem again: “(John Wayne Gacy) …would sometimes wear his clown costume while torturing… --- ## [Obesity and body roundness indicator](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obesity-and-body-roundness-indicator/1007297)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obesity-and-body-roundness-indicator/1007297 "2024-09-16T20:36:21Z")
I ran into this today in the New York Times, but this graphic they link is much more eloquent than the article: BMI (a function of weight and height) has been criticized for not distinguishing between fat and muscle, … --- ## [Toasting to things](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toasting-to-things/1007321)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toasting-to-things/1007321 "2024-09-16T20:08:01Z")
Family Feud was on and I was half heartedly watching. One question asked was to name something people toast to. The family got “weddings” right away but then things stalled. Usually I can tell if an answer has a chance t… --- ## [New twist in the gun rights movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-in-the-gun-rights-movement/1006113)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-twist-in-the-gun-rights-movement/1006113 "2024-09-16T19:53:37Z")
“A federal judge has dismissed charges against a Kansas man for possessing a machine gun, saying prosecutors failed to establish that a federal ban on owning such weapons is constitutional.” From here: US judge tosses … --- ## [One way to tell if your coworkers don't like you: they take you up a mountain and leave you there](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-take-you-up-a-mountain-and-leave-you-there/1006337)
**Author:** [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-way-to-tell-if-your-coworkers-dont-like-you-they-take-you-up-a-mountain-and-leave-you-there/1006337 "2024-09-16T19:51:03Z")
Maybe a job search is in order. --- ## [How oppressive were the British taxes on the American colonies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-oppressive-were-the-british-taxes-on-the-american-colonies/1007302)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-oppressive-were-the-british-taxes-on-the-american-colonies/1007302 "2024-09-16T19:02:40Z")
The origin story of the United States of America usually begins with a debate over “taxation without representation”. The British Crown, needing to pay for the costs of the recently concluded French and Indian War, impo… --- ## [35mm film camera](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/35mm-film-camera/727200)
**Author:** [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/35mm-film-camera/727200 "2024-09-16T17:07:01Z")
I just acquired a Minolta SRT 101 35mm film camera. With standard 55mm lens plus a Vivitar Automatic Tele Converter, plus a Vivitar 80-250mm zoom lens and a NICE tripod. I haven’t shot film in decades. My last 35mm cam… --- ## [My Pet Laura Loomer Theory](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pet-laura-loomer-theory/1007350)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-pet-laura-loomer-theory/1007350 "2024-09-16T16:26:57Z")
A Narcissist operates on a very basic level, whatever elaborate hoops they jump through it is only to satisfy an immediate personal need. The Harris debate made it clear Trump will lose but that was just the last nail o… --- ## [What? TCM you are breaking me. Bad bad bad programming and decisions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tcm-you-are-breaking-me-bad-bad-bad-programming-and-decisions/1006501)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tcm-you-are-breaking-me-bad-bad-bad-programming-and-decisions/1006501 "2024-09-16T16:21:18Z")
Ok. I get it. You have ideas. You get ok’s and go-aheads. Marlena Deitrich for a 24 hour period. That’s fine. Until we get into the lost and broken films. The ones with no plot but to showcase her various talents. Plea… --- ## [It Came From Hollywood](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-came-from-hollywood/1007304)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-came-from-hollywood/1007304 "2024-09-16T16:14:04Z")
A friend of mine mentioned the movie The Giant Claw and I said that I only know that movie from the clips in In Came From Hollywood. I hadn’t thought about ICFH in a long time but I realize just how influential it was on… --- ## [Songs you totally thought were by somebody else](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 132\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-totally-thought-were-by-somebody-else/1004612 "2024-09-16T14:53:48Z")
Looks like the last time we did this, at least according to ‘similar to…’ was 2009: Songs you would have sworn were sung by somebody else. …so seems like enough time has gone by: let’s do the wrong song again… Though,… --- ## [Archive.ph/ web tool usefulness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archive-ph-web-tool-usefulness/1007343)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/archive-ph-web-tool-usefulness/1007343 "2024-09-16T13:12:44Z")
FYI - for any website link with a paywall, put archive.ph/ before the entire url and you can get an archived version of the full page (at least for articles and the like). I find it a game changer for web surfing. Why di… --- ## [Genesis' 'Misunderstanding'/Zeppelin's 'Fool In The Rain'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702)
**Author:** [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702 "2024-09-16T12:43:35Z")
OK. This just might be stretching the boundaries of ‘mundane’ and ‘pointless’ to the breaking point, but has anyone else beside me noticed the striking similarities between ‘Misunderstanding’ by Genesis and ‘Fool In The … --- ## [(Old) Find the Good in the MMP!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-find-the-good-in-the-mmp/1007008)
**Author:** [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Replies:** 321\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-find-the-good-in-the-mmp/1007008 "2024-09-16T11:45:45Z")
Good Morning everyone! Yesterday was one of the most difficult days that I’ve had in a long time due to some news that I received. I may go into that later or not. Nonetheless, I feel better this morning and committed… --- ## [I caught me a mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-me-a-mouse/1007141)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-me-a-mouse/1007141 "2024-09-16T11:30:04Z")
Yesterday morning, the Little Dog was acting very suspiciously - running over to the curtains and searching around the room. My wife and I were working on painting the kitchen, and when she made some noise by the sink, a… --- ## [GPT o1-preview](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gpt-o1-preview/1007335)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gpt-o1-preview/1007335 "2024-09-16T10:44:30Z")
What’s really interesting about this one is that you can see it’s “thought” processes. They’re provided via a dropdown before the answer. Here’s a recent session I had with it. https://chatgpt.com/share/66e641fc-9a00-8… --- ## [This crawling rug](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-crawling-rug/1007320)
**Author:** [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-crawling-rug/1007320 "2024-09-16T06:43:25Z")
The carpet it’s on top of is sort of cheap indoor wall-to-wall. It lends itself very well to Velcro. Indeed I have a run of about 1.5 meters of some flat white Ethernet cable criss-crossed with some off that thin gree… --- ## [Bad, bad bad Casseroles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2024, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-casseroles/995711 "2024-09-16T05:36:37Z")
Good lord. My DIL was coming with one of her phenomenally bad Casseroles tonight. The dreaded tater-tot thing. The girl just cannot cook. And she tries to fancy things up with results that boggle the mind. Thank heaven… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=476&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=478&state=muted)