# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=494 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 495 --- ## [How are wooden piers maintained?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-wooden-piers-maintained/1006016)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-wooden-piers-maintained/1006016 "2024-08-23T23:15:15Z")
How are large wooden piers, like the Santa Monica pier, maintained? I imagine that the wooden piles are treated to last for many decades, but surely they must eventually rot or erode, or might get damaged by storms, wil… --- ## [Potential for violent protests at the DNC in Chicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-violent-protests-at-the-dnc-in-chicago/1005681)
**Author:** [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potential-for-violent-protests-at-the-dnc-in-chicago/1005681 "2024-08-23T22:36:53Z")
Continuing the discussion from How can Donald Trump win at this point?: It seemed as if this was getting the “How can Donald Trump win” thread off topic so I started this thread. I don’t anticipate there will be violen… --- ## [What’s the oldest example of a Digital Assistant misunderstanding something?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-oldest-example-of-a-digital-assistant-misunderstanding-something/968565)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-s-the-oldest-example-of-a-digital-assistant-misunderstanding-something/968565 "2024-08-23T21:38:37Z")
This question popped into my head last night. I vote for TOS: The Paradise Syndrome. Kirk says “Kirk to Enterprise” and that activates the door. Of course, the actual phrase might have been “Kirk to Enterprise,” but th… --- ## [Help me plan 4 nights in Chicago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 328\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-4-nights-in-chicago/976193 "2024-08-23T21:29:46Z")
After wanting to do it for 20 years and not being in a financial position to do it, I’ve finally bitten the bullet and booked a long-distance Amtrak trip with a sleeper. I’ll be hopping on the Empire Builder in Seattle f… --- ## [Fixing the US Government](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-the-us-government/1005238)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-the-us-government/1005238 "2024-08-23T20:29:32Z")
There are a lot of complaints floating around about how the US government is broken, or how our system is flawed that creates or exacerbates the dysfunction. I created a thread over in GD about how to remake our governme… --- ## ["me" vs "myself" in English](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-vs-myself-in-english/1006017)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-vs-myself-in-english/1006017 "2024-08-23T20:21:48Z")
Often I’ll hear someone say something like, “Bill and myself went to the movies,” but I would think “Bill and me went to the movies” would be more correct. Or someone will answer a question with, “It’s for myself.” But w… --- ## [How do you visualize a photon traveling through space?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-visualize-a-photon-traveling-through-space/1005968)
**Author:** [@Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dodgy_Dude)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-visualize-a-photon-traveling-through-space/1005968 "2024-08-23T19:54:48Z")
Is it like a bullet … going forward in a straight line? Or like a snake … serpentining back and forth along the ground? Or like a corkscrew … spiraling it’s way forward? --- ## [Roku v. Google TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roku-v-google-tv/1005698)
**Author:** [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roku-v-google-tv/1005698 "2024-08-23T17:56:29Z")
I have two TCL Roku TVs, which I really like. The Roku interface is clean, easy to navigate, intuitive - and it’s pretty ubiquitous when at a hotel or AirBnB. TCL has now mostly switched their smartOS to Google TV, whic… --- ## [If you signed up for Disney Plus Disney says you can't sue them for any reason](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-signed-up-for-disney-plus-disney-says-you-cant-sue-them-for-any-reason/1005733)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-signed-up-for-disney-plus-disney-says-you-cant-sue-them-for-any-reason/1005733 "2024-08-23T17:52:00Z")
A man and his wife were assured her food at a Disney park restaurant were free of allergens. It wasn’t and she died and Disney says he can’t sue because a Disney Plus account he has signed up for has an arbitration claus… --- ## [Welcome, JN.1 - we're so proud!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-jn-1-were-so-proud/1006060)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-jn-1-were-so-proud/1006060 "2024-08-23T13:20:19Z")
A January JAMA article starts off with: Parents often bask in the glow of their children’s accomplishments, so if SARS-CoV-2 variants were like people, BA.2.86 would be busting its buttons right about now. A little w… --- ## [British use of the word "gaffer"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-use-of-the-word-gaffer/1002472)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-use-of-the-word-gaffer/1002472 "2024-08-23T09:10:54Z")
I had heard the word “gaffer” used in the context of film (lighting technician) before I read Tolkien and saw it used in the context of people (well, hobbits, but let’s not quibble). He speaks of hobbit “gaffers and gamm… --- ## [Ricardo Montalban miscast in ST2:TWOK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ricardo-montalban-miscast-in-st2-twok/1005911)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ricardo-montalban-miscast-in-st2-twok/1005911 "2024-08-23T05:24:34Z")
I remember reading a review of Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, where the critic said that Ricardo Montalban had been miscast in the movie. Apparently the critic had never seen Space Seed. My Google Fu is not mighty to… --- ## [Redesigning the United States Government from the ground up - What would a "sensible" government structure look like for America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redesigning-the-united-states-government-from-the-ground-up-what-would-a-sensible-government-structure-look-like-for-america/1005234)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 182\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redesigning-the-united-states-government-from-the-ground-up-what-would-a-sensible-government-structure-look-like-for-america/1005234 "2024-08-23T05:15:32Z")
This topic got started as comments in P&E, but I think it’s worthy of a separate conversation. I’ll start by pulling posts: --- ## [Do you reuse Dryer Sheets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-reuse-dryer-sheets/1005027)
**Author:** [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-reuse-dryer-sheets/1005027 "2024-08-23T05:15:13Z")
Inspired by the Zip-Lock bag thread, how many times will you re-use a dryer sheet? One And Done, or give it a few times? I’ll pull them out of the laundry when I’m folding it (yes, I do that!) and if they still have a g… --- ## [Help me identify this coin(?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-coin/1006055)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-this-coin/1006055 "2024-08-23T04:55:02Z")
Photo link. Photo#2. Photo#3 I’m honestly not even sure if this is a coin. It has the earmarks of something from long ago, but it’s pretty worn, and I’m not a foreign or ancient coin expert. I did collect coins for many… --- ## [COVID: When am I not contagious?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/covid-when-am-i-not-contagious/1006078 "2024-08-23T03:23:21Z")
Yeah…I’ve Googled this but the answers are all vague (probably intentionally so). I tested positive for COVID on Monday (and was actually sick the day before but tested on Monday). I was sick for 3-4 days and today (Th… --- ## [What Is "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion", and Is It a Good Thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-and-is-it-a-good-thing/999804)
**Author:** [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Replies:** 193\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-and-is-it-a-good-thing/999804 "2024-08-23T02:19:01Z")
Topic question is the premise for debate. Continuing the discussion from What were you THINKING?: I’m vaguely aware that there are studies showing the benefits of workplace diversity, but since I am not and have not… --- ## [The horsefly in Amazon's delivery ointment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-horsefly-in-amazons-delivery-ointment/1005840)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-horsefly-in-amazons-delivery-ointment/1005840 "2024-08-23T01:49:20Z")
I’ve posted a few times about the saga of The Poky House. We bought a little house in Colorado, and are spending the summer up there fixing it up. We had to come back to Phoenix to pick up a countertop, and while we were… --- ## [Gender fluid relative at wedding events](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-fluid-relative-at-wedding-events/1004907)
**Author:** [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gender-fluid-relative-at-wedding-events/1004907 "2024-08-23T01:32:33Z")
Please don’t be offended if I happened to use the wrong terms/phrases in this question, My 22 year old niece/nephew was born a biological female. During high school they decided they identified more as a male and transi… --- ## [Mahaloth does a push-up and sit-up challenge. Here we go. Uh, join me? Or not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahaloth-does-a-push-up-and-sit-up-challenge-here-we-go-uh-join-me-or-not/1003414)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mahaloth-does-a-push-up-and-sit-up-challenge-here-we-go-uh-join-me-or-not/1003414 "2024-08-23T00:47:37Z")
I have 30 days and am following the chart you see below for both push-ups and sit-ups. I’m 45, turning 46 in two months. Not in great shape, not morbidly obese, but definitely noticing the degradation age brings us. I d… --- ## [How to save your "start" location in Google Maps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-save-your-start-location-in-google-maps/1005430)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-save-your-start-location-in-google-maps/1005430 "2024-08-23T00:38:17Z")
This is on my computer, not a cell phone. Every time I look up directions to some place I have to manually enter my home address. I haven’t found a way to save that location so far. And I don’t want it to transfer to my… --- ## [My move to the retirement facility (If joining the thread late, at least skim the first few posts)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-move-to-the-retirement-facility-if-joining-the-thread-late-at-least-skim-the-first-few-posts/988672)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 631\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-move-to-the-retirement-facility-if-joining-the-thread-late-at-least-skim-the-first-few-posts/988672 "2024-08-22T22:47:58Z")
Continuing the discussion from Diplomacy/behavior problem re friend's dog: This is the nudge I needed-- thanks. Two weeks ago my landlord dropped a bomb on me. I’ve lived here 10 years and love this house and never pl… --- ## [Leg cramps and potassium](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165 "2024-08-22T21:49:47Z")
I suffer from night time leg/foot cramps on a not infrequent basis. This usually happens after strenuous exercise. I normally drink about a quart of electrolyte replacement drink after a bike ride plus another 40 ounces… --- ## [How long does the reaction bump from a wasp sting last?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-reaction-bump-from-a-wasp-sting-last/1005801)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-the-reaction-bump-from-a-wasp-sting-last/1005801 "2024-08-22T21:30:45Z")
I got stung by a wasp a week ago; still have a bump at the spot, like a mosquito bite bump, only bigger. How long does it take to go away? Doesn’t hurt or anything, just an irritant. --- ## [Why don't movies have Intermissions anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movies-have-intermissions-anymore/1005546)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 116\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-movies-have-intermissions-anymore/1005546 "2024-08-22T20:25:52Z")
Seems like now that theaters are desperate for anything, bringing back intermissions would help. There’s been so many times I’d go get a refill of soda or popcorn but I can’t because the movie is still in an important sc… --- ## [Book Banning in Utah](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-banning-in-utah/1005508)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/book-banning-in-utah/1005508 "2024-08-22T18:44:23Z")
Utah has actually banned 13 books. Not just on a reading list, not just in one school- but totally and completely for all school- and maybe more- The Utah State Board of Education has ordered schools to remove 13 books,… --- ## [Universally anagrammable words/words with the most anagrams](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universally-anagrammable-words-words-with-the-most-anagrams/1006051)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universally-anagrammable-words-words-with-the-most-anagrams/1006051 "2024-08-22T18:33:54Z")
The words “I” and “a” are universally-annagrammable: every possible arrangement of letters in the words (or permutation, or anagram) is an English word. Of course, since there’s only one way to arrange the letters in a o… --- ## [Will Trump ditch Vance as VP pick, and if so, who will he replace him with?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-ditch-vance-as-vp-pick-and-if-so-who-will-he-replace-him-with/1005913)
**Author:** [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-trump-ditch-vance-as-vp-pick-and-if-so-who-will-he-replace-him-with/1005913 "2024-08-22T18:31:18Z")
Carried over from this closed thread, do you think Trump will stick with JD Vance or ditch him for a new VP pick? And if so, who will he choose? I think there’s a very good chance he’ll get so increasingly desperate at … --- ## [World War One Topics--Espionage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-war-one-topics-espionage/1006025)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-war-one-topics-espionage/1006025 "2024-08-22T17:59:58Z")
My memory fails me, & my Google-Fu has fizzled. During World War One, the US created an essentially all-amateur security & counterintelligence force that was 100% Civilian, & utterly useless. Bully-boys, who wound up ab… --- ## [Words that are their own antonym](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-their-own-antonym/1005402)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [August 22, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-that-are-their-own-antonym/1005402 "2024-08-22T17:58:55Z")
Saw the use of the term “sanctioned” in a quoting of our official rules just now in ATMB, in terms of dissuading hijacks, but the first definition that came to mind when I first saw it was “to give effective or authorita… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=493) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=495)