# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=50&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 51 --- ## [There are only four things](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-only-four-things/1031980)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-only-four-things/1031980 "2026-07-31T00:24:15Z")
Saw this in a YouTube video and found it interesting. There are only four things in the Universe: Atoms Energy Information Intelligence Energy manipulates Atoms and Intelligence manipulates Information. That’s all t… --- ## [Debt consolidation loan or 401K loan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-consolidation-loan-or-401k-loan/1032010)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debt-consolidation-loan-or-401k-loan/1032010 "2026-07-31T00:05:55Z")
Guy I know has found himself in Dutch with credit cards to the tune of 35 grand. He’s 60 and plans to work until he’s 67. He’s planning to take a debt consolidation loan or a loan from his 401K. I didn’t know what to … --- ## [Unread button has disappeared](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unread-button-has-disappeared/1032027)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unread-button-has-disappeared/1032027 "2026-07-30T23:34:14Z")
The unread button no longer appears at the top of the main menu. It used to only disappear when there were no unread threads, but now it doesn’t show up at all. I know there are unread threads, because I can still get to… --- ## [I pit over-the-top Anti-Trump hysteria](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 2301\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-over-the-top-anti-trump-hysteria/1021735 "2026-07-30T20:43:19Z")
Let me be clear on this point; I am not defending Donald Trump. He is both evil and stupid. He is a terrible human being and he is the worst President this country has ever had. He, along with the Republican party, are t… --- ## [Randolph Mantooth (Johnny Gage on "Emergency!") has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579)
**Author:** [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579 "2026-07-30T19:27:07Z")
Actor Randolph Mantooth, whose signature role was as Los Angeles County paramedic Johnny Gage in the 1970s television series Emergency!, passed away yesterday, at age 80; his brother announced that Mantooth died in a hos… --- ## [Salman Rushdie attacked onstage - Breaking news {2022-08-12}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salman-rushdie-attacked-onstage-breaking-news-2022-08-12/969564)
**Author:** [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/salman-rushdie-attacked-onstage-breaking-news-2022-08-12/969564 "2026-07-30T18:58:33Z")
Rushdie was speaking a short time ago in New York when a man in black rushed the stage and began punching or stabbing him. Reports are not clear if he was injured or the extent of injuries. Link to NYT --- ## [Possible school shooting ~40mi NE of Atlanta (9/4/2024)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755)
**Author:** [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Replies:** 131\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-school-shooting-40mi-ne-of-atlanta-9-4-2024/1006755 "2026-07-30T18:07:08Z")
Not a lot of details yet, but the school has been evacuated and there is a heavy police presence: --- ## [Why do you prefer a stick-shift over an automatic transmission?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-prefer-a-stick-shift-over-an-automatic-transmission/919279)
**Author:** [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Replies:** 311\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-prefer-a-stick-shift-over-an-automatic-transmission/919279 "2026-07-30T16:10:49Z")
From the current thread regarding automotive brand loyalty, there are clearly some of you out there who prefer driving a car with manual transmission over automatic: I don’t get it. A stick-shift is OK, I guess, in … --- ## [Did a recruiter ( job, school or military) lie to you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-recruiter-job-school-or-military-lie-to-you/1031976)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-recruiter-job-school-or-military-lie-to-you/1031976 "2026-07-30T15:41:28Z")
When I was still in high school my U.S.A.F. recruiter showed videos depicting new barracks in tall buildings, with lockers and helpful people there to show us how to hang things up. The trainers were patient and understa… --- ## [Your personal opinion, please-Best children’s television series](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-personal-opinion-please-best-children-s-television-series/1031908)
**Author:** [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-personal-opinion-please-best-children-s-television-series/1031908 "2026-07-30T13:53:44Z")
Companion to this thread Your personal opinion, please-Worst children's television series - #114 by Son\_of\_a\_Rich What do you think the best children’s TV shows are? I’ll start with easy, consensus picks: Sesame Street… --- ## [Yet Another Fun But Probably Meaningless Online "Political Compass" Test You Can Take](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-fun-but-probably-meaningless-online-political-compass-test-you-can-take/1031304)
**Author:** [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-fun-but-probably-meaningless-online-political-compass-test-you-can-take/1031304 "2026-07-30T13:24:16Z")
Here. It’s interesting in that it’s “vibes-based”, and a lot of the questions are about general attitudes toward life rather than specific political issues. It says that the politician whose views most closely resemble… --- ## [Six former eBay employees arrested for harassing an eBay critic.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-former-ebay-employees-arrested-for-harassing-an-ebay-critic/855738)
**Author:** [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/six-former-ebay-employees-arrested-for-harassing-an-ebay-critic/855738 "2026-07-30T12:07:18Z")
The critic published a newsletter critical of eBay. The harassment included sending the woman and her husband a bloody pig mask, a box of live cockroaches, live maggots, and a book on how to survive the death of a spous… --- ## [New Music Video: Waves](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-music-video-waves/1031990)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-music-video-waves/1031990 "2026-07-30T03:34:53Z")
First song of what’s intended to be a new playlist (“album”). I wrote “Waves” in 1982 when I was 23. This recording is from 2 weeks ago. The song has been on my mind because it is featured in my autobiographical book W… --- ## [4 University of Idaho students stabbed to death \[November 16, 2022\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-university-of-idaho-students-stabbed-to-death-november-16-2022/975063)
**Author:** [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Replies:** 1015\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/4-university-of-idaho-students-stabbed-to-death-november-16-2022/975063 "2026-07-30T00:23:08Z")
CNN 16 Nov 2022 Idaho police say there were other people in the home at the time of quadruple homicide, but declined to say who called 911 There isn’t much information on this. The local police are very tight lipped a… --- ## [Great basket ball throwing skill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-basket-ball-throwing-skill/1032011)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-basket-ball-throwing-skill/1032011 "2026-07-29T23:39:54Z")
I stumbled across a feed from this down syndrome kid and his aid. He has an uncanny knack to sink basketballs, and there’s not much of an arc, he pretty much throws them straight at the goal. Now I realize he might have… --- ## [Greatest Live Album of All Time? What do you think?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-live-album-of-all-time-what-do-you-think/1031939)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-live-album-of-all-time-what-do-you-think/1031939 "2026-07-29T23:15:08Z")
I’m listening to Live At The Fillmore East, March 1971 · The Allman Brothers Band. I’m thinking this is it. I know the Who’s Live at Leeds and Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same (1976) are up there. At Folsom Pris… --- ## [I have achieved a milestone in my writing career](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-achieved-a-milestone-in-my-writing-career/1031801)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-achieved-a-milestone-in-my-writing-career/1031801 "2026-07-29T22:41:06Z")
I have long thought about, alternately looking forward to, and dreading this day. I have, at long last, found one of my books in a used book stall. On the one hand, it means that someone once bought the book, and that … --- ## [Man, that sucks! Television shows featuring vampires](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-that-sucks-television-shows-featuring-vampires/1031967)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-that-sucks-television-shows-featuring-vampires/1031967 "2026-07-29T21:28:40Z")
I am watching the Roku “Time Portal TV” app right now, and my second favorite show featuring vampires just popped up-Forever Knight. I watched it from beginning to pretty much inevitable end. I even watched the pilot mo… --- ## [Macroscopic quantum effects in human history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macroscopic-quantum-effects-in-human-history/1031977)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macroscopic-quantum-effects-in-human-history/1031977 "2026-07-29T20:26:48Z")
Quantum physics tells us that weird things happen on the very small scale. Particles popping into brief existence out of nowhere, or interfering with other particles or even themselves like a wave, or tunneling across a … --- ## [Silly, weird, perhaps unanswerable questions about movies and TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 576\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-weird-perhaps-unanswerable-questions-about-movies-and-tv/654401 "2026-07-29T20:07:51Z")
I’ve posted a couple of these before\*, but I thought of some more and invite others to add their suggestions. What would happen if Dracula’s brain was implanted in the Frankenstein’s Monster’s body? What happened on Ho… --- ## [Don't Bump This Thread!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-bump-this-thread/820859)
**Author:** [@Mumberthax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mumberthax)\ **Replies:** 5836\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-bump-this-thread/820859 "2026-07-29T20:02:09Z")
Just let it die. --- ## [The original book, or the video adaptation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-book-or-the-video-adaptation/1031948)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-original-book-or-the-video-adaptation/1031948 "2026-07-29T18:08:10Z")
Often, the two are so different that if you started with one the other will disappoint. So which to go with? Specifically I was thinking of: A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin vs. Game of Thrones and The Hel… --- ## [Is there any law against dropping birdseed in a public place?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-law-against-dropping-birdseed-in-a-public-place/1031926)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-law-against-dropping-birdseed-in-a-public-place/1031926 "2026-07-29T17:22:21Z")
I am thinking specifically of the vicinity of Flock and traffic cameras. If I dropped a pile of birdseed near the base of the camera, would I be breaking any laws? --- ## [Stories of lottery winners squandering their winnings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-of-lottery-winners-squandering-their-winnings/491261)
**Author:** [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stories-of-lottery-winners-squandering-their-winnings/491261 "2026-07-29T16:47:23Z")
I’ve heard people talk about how it’s not all that uncommon for lottery winners to completely squander their windfalls because they are poor money managers. I’m looking for a book that goes into depth examining some of t… --- ## ["The Odyssey": How important is it to see it in 70mm IMAX?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-odyssey-how-important-is-it-to-see-it-in-70mm-imax/1031890)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-odyssey-how-important-is-it-to-see-it-in-70mm-imax/1031890 "2026-07-29T14:32:14Z")
I have a few choices for IMAX in Chicago but only one is 70mm IMAX and it is a long(ish) drive for me to get to (90 minutes give or take). I have seen it written that, if possible, definitely see it in 70mm IMAX. Howev… --- ## [Confusing east and west](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-east-and-west/1031478)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confusing-east-and-west/1031478 "2026-07-29T13:54:53Z")
I keep seeing this happen over and over again. Here and anywhere else on the internet people are typing. People say east when they mean west and vice versa. This goes along with a general human tendency to confuse left a… --- ## [Why does USB-B exist? (computer cable)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 172\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-usb-b-exist-computer-cable/1031930 "2026-07-29T13:10:25Z")
There are many forms of connectors for USB cables that we use with our computers. Sometimes I am baffled at why one is used rather than another but the one that always gets me us USB-B (see pic below). I have only ever… --- ## [The City and the City Anyone watch it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-city-and-the-city-anyone-watch-it/838347)
**Author:** [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-city-and-the-city-anyone-watch-it/838347 "2026-07-29T07:36:19Z")
The BBC did an adaptation of the China Mieville book, aired in 2018. I never heard about the series, but vaguely remembered liking the book. It’s available on Amazon now. David Morrissey (the Governor from the Walking… --- ## [Could the original flavor of Red Rose Tea be replicated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-original-flavor-of-red-rose-tea-be-replicated/1031889)
**Author:** [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-original-flavor-of-red-rose-tea-be-replicated/1031889 "2026-07-29T06:00:03Z")
I am a tea lover, a habit I picked up from my father, and most teas don’t come up to scratch for me. The reason is that I am looking for a specific flavor or aroma which is very hard to find or which only occurs inconsis… --- ## [Key-Cay. Ok what's the hoo-hay? (Is there a difference?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/key-cay-ok-whats-the-hoo-hay-is-there-a-difference/1031969 "2026-07-29T04:24:02Z")
Or is it just regional spelling, language difference? Yeah..I’m dumb. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=49&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=51&state=muted)