# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=563&state=tracking [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 564 --- ## [US Tipping, whole bill, or bill minus taxes and fees. Also liquor & beer? {POLLS ADDED}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tipping-whole-bill-or-bill-minus-taxes-and-fees-also-liquor-beer-polls-added/1001446)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-tipping-whole-bill-or-bill-minus-taxes-and-fees-also-liquor-beer-polls-added/1001446 "2024-05-16T14:18:09Z")
@EllisDee, are you sure most people do this? I tip on the bill generally, which includes the taxes. Let’s take this to another thread though, tipping is usually the kind of post that hijacks threads. I understand som… --- ## [The Methodist Church is splitting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-methodist-church-is-splitting/845926)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 238\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-methodist-church-is-splitting/845926 "2024-05-16T14:07:17Z")
According to this news article the United Methodist Church is splitting into two parts: A conservative anti-gay marriage and gay clergy half, and an inclusive half. The United Methodist Church is the second largest Prot… --- ## [Pronunciation of “hotel room”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-hotel-room/1001544)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pronunciation-of-hotel-room/1001544 "2024-05-16T13:27:55Z")
Non-native speaker here, in a continuous struggle to internalise the rule of where to put the stress in a multisyllabic English word. As I understand it (and dictionaries confirm this), the standard pronunciation of “hot… --- ## [Should merchants be made to stop adding fees to your purchase and instead roll all that into their prices?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-merchants-be-made-to-stop-adding-fees-to-your-purchase-and-instead-roll-all-that-into-their-prices/1001421)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-merchants-be-made-to-stop-adding-fees-to-your-purchase-and-instead-roll-all-that-into-their-prices/1001421 "2024-05-16T13:15:22Z")
California has a law coming into effect soon which will ban “fees” from hotels and restaurants (at least). I, for one, love this idea. The merchants are not happy but I do not see the problem. They can just roll in … --- ## [Yours, Mine, And Ours (1968)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yours-mine-and-ours-1968/1001468)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yours-mine-and-ours-1968/1001468 "2024-05-16T13:04:02Z")
A couple of observations of Yours, Mine, And Ours (1968). Henry Fonda’s character has a single stripe on his sleeve, indicating an ensign (ENS O1). Henry Fonda wears a single silver bar on his collar, indicating a Lieu… --- ## [Web games I made - nothing as intellectual as wordle though](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/web-games-i-made-nothing-as-intellectual-as-wordle-though/1001591)
**Author:** [@atomirex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomirex)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/web-games-i-made-nothing-as-intellectual-as-wordle-though/1001591 "2024-05-16T12:59:18Z")
About a year ago I decided to start an experiment to see if web games are possibly commercially reasonable - well, not the way I do them it seems. Still an absolute handful of people have found some of them interesting, … --- ## [Miss & Miss Teen USA have both resigned](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-miss-teen-usa-have-both-resigned/1001545)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-miss-teen-usa-have-both-resigned/1001545 "2024-05-16T09:09:06Z")
Should these pageants continue, if tweaked further? Do they bring anything useful to the table? --- ## [Is your car's computer spying on you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-cars-computer-spying-on-you/1000954)
**Author:** [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-your-cars-computer-spying-on-you/1000954 "2024-05-16T08:54:03Z")
Saw this story on Techdirt a few days ago, referencing an earlier story from the NYTimes. Short version: Automobiles get more and more computerized every year, from entertainment systems to navigation technology. It… --- ## [How were sunspots observed prior to telescopes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-sunspots-observed-prior-to-telescopes/1001402)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-sunspots-observed-prior-to-telescopes/1001402 "2024-05-16T06:59:03Z")
According to the Wikipedia article on sunspots, they were first observed by Chinese astronomers before 800 BC, and by western astronomers around 300 BC. How? how could a sunspot be observed without a telescope? --- ## [Where is this Spanish Mexican accent located in Mexico?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-this-spanish-mexican-accent-located-in-mexico/998713)
**Author:** [@Jackson99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackson99)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-this-spanish-mexican-accent-located-in-mexico/998713 "2024-05-16T05:20:45Z")
I’m not sure but it kinda sounds like Cory is from northern Mexico? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dys3LP5jTc4 Anyone here know where this Mexican accent is located? I’m not sure but it kinda sounds like she is from t… --- ## [Why the shooting-the-messenger or hostility towards any message that "Candidate is facing a serious chance of losing?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shooting-the-messenger-or-hostility-towards-any-message-that-candidate-is-facing-a-serious-chance-of-losing/1001564)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-shooting-the-messenger-or-hostility-towards-any-message-that-candidate-is-facing-a-serious-chance-of-losing/1001564 "2024-05-16T03:13:42Z")
Don’t want this thread to be about Biden vs. Trump itself (we have a hundred other threads for that,) but rather, about one particular subset of politics: Anytime someone cites polls that show that a particular candidat… --- ## [David Copperfield accused of sexual misconduct](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-copperfield-accused-of-sexual-misconduct/1001600)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-copperfield-accused-of-sexual-misconduct/1001600 "2024-05-16T03:09:33Z")
It does sound pretty horrible. (Edited for a dumb statement). --- ## [Email spam -- general discussion including tips and tricks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-spam-general-discussion-including-tips-and-tricks/1001403)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-spam-general-discussion-including-tips-and-tricks/1001403 "2024-05-16T02:40:17Z")
I am now getting upwards of 100 spam emails a day. 99% of them are from senders I have already identified as spam, as they go directly into my spam folder (or some algorithm on the email system is doing that, but I thoug… --- ## [Are there any “entry level” cars left?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-entry-level-cars-left/1001466)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-entry-level-cars-left/1001466 "2024-05-16T02:33:29Z")
Years ago, most car manufacturers had a basic and inexpensive model. The original Corolla, Fit or LeCar, for example. With so many people favouring trucks and SUVs, are there any of these left, or will we have to see i… --- ## [Has anybody here gone through a Spinal Cord Stimulation trial or implant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-here-gone-through-a-spinal-cord-stimulation-trial-or-implant/1001614)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-here-gone-through-a-spinal-cord-stimulation-trial-or-implant/1001614 "2024-05-16T01:46:31Z")
I have spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that pinches on the nerves running through it. Very painful. It’s reached the point that I can barely stagger after getting up because of the pain in the lower back… --- ## [Are young singles relationship-averse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-young-singles-relationship-averse/993203)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 288\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-young-singles-relationship-averse/993203 "2024-05-16T00:41:03Z")
Watching rom-coms and sitcoms, and there’s a trope that’s gone beyond that, and is now a cliche: the single who hops into bed upon first meeting someone but is horrified at the idea of becoming romantically attached. Th… --- ## [How do they make a video like this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-make-a-video-like-this/1001595)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-make-a-video-like-this/1001595 "2024-05-16T00:01:35Z")
I just watched a YouTube video WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE (Sung by 257 Movies!). They took a song and reproduced it by editing together words spoken in movies. I’ve seen other videos like this. Here’s Rapper’s Delight Bri… --- ## [Were draft dodgers tried by court-martial?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-draft-dodgers-tried-by-court-martial/1001605)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-draft-dodgers-tried-by-court-martial/1001605 "2024-05-15T22:20:03Z")
When the US had conscription were men accused dodging the draft tried by court-martial or in civilian federal courts by jury? --- ## [What do you think makes a Superhero?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-makes-a-superhero/1001271)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-makes-a-superhero/1001271 "2024-05-15T21:55:13Z")
No superpower? Then Batman and Iron Man wouldn’t count. No secret identity? Iron Man and Dr. Strange wouldn’t count. I’ve decided costume, although I suppose Constantine might count? --- ## [Is there an honourable/dishonourable way to be killed by the mafia? (Casino Spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-honourable-dishonourable-way-to-be-killed-by-the-mafia-casino-spoilers/1000814)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-honourable-dishonourable-way-to-be-killed-by-the-mafia-casino-spoilers/1000814 "2024-05-15T20:08:35Z")
Still watching older movies, this time Casino. I’ve seen this perhaps 20 times. A staple of gangsters movies are people getting whacked. The classic of course is shot in the back of the head. It did get me wondering. I… --- ## [Dopers in vote by mail states, help a feller out](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-vote-by-mail-states-help-a-feller-out/1001462)
**Author:** [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dopers-in-vote-by-mail-states-help-a-feller-out/1001462 "2024-05-15T19:45:10Z")
My county in suburban Baltimore just finished up eight days of early voting during which just under 5,000 voters were checked through. My colleagues and I working the polls calculated roughly that the county incurred som… --- ## [How much do modern professional football players care about local rivalries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-modern-professional-football-players-care-about-local-rivalries/1001571)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-modern-professional-football-players-care-about-local-rivalries/1001571 "2024-05-15T15:56:55Z")
So I’m taking about football (aka soccer, futbol) players at modern top tier clubs. Do they really care that there is a local team who are the subject a simmering (and, usually, reciprocated) virulent hatred by their fan… --- ## [What was the most popular movie or TV show that Mad Magazine \_didn't\_ do a parody of?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-popular-movie-or-tv-show-that-mad-magazine-didnt-do-a-parody-of/1001392)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-most-popular-movie-or-tv-show-that-mad-magazine-didnt-do-a-parody-of/1001392 "2024-05-15T14:45:37Z")
After all they only published iirc 10-12 editions per year so they couldn’t cover everything. Particularly, were there any that in your opinion were inexplicably skipped in favor of far less worth entries? --- ## [Things That Bother Me in Science Fiction Movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001)
**Author:** [@Guapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guapo)\ **Replies:** 667\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-bother-me-in-science-fiction-movies/992001 "2024-05-15T12:36:47Z")
I can put up with artificial gravity and suspend disbelief for FTL travel, but some things in science fiction movies make them almost unwatchable for me: Sound in the vacuum of space Blast waves Ships banking as they t… --- ## [New autocorrect feature? Super annoying {Problem was Browser, not Discourse}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-autocorrect-feature-super-annoying-problem-was-browser-not-discourse/1001566)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-autocorrect-feature-super-annoying-problem-was-browser-not-discourse/1001566 "2024-05-15T12:25:54Z")
In the last week, I’ve noticed the site (and only this site) engaging in a lot more autocorrect. A recent example was in a thread about the “I Have a Dream” speech, where I typed “IHAD” and it autocorrected to “I HAD.” B… --- ## [Man "hides" his boat with a fence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-hides-his-boat-with-a-fence/1001586)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-hides-his-boat-with-a-fence/1001586 "2024-05-15T11:42:49Z")
Just an amusing story about getting around city regulations by sticking to the letter of the law: --- ## [Poor man's Faraday cage: Would a steel trash can protect against EM damage from coronal mass ejections or EMP attack?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-mans-faraday-cage-would-a-steel-trash-can-protect-against-em-damage-from-coronal-mass-ejections-or-emp-attack/1001394)
**Author:** [@Caribbean\_cruiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caribbean_cruiser)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-mans-faraday-cage-would-a-steel-trash-can-protect-against-em-damage-from-coronal-mass-ejections-or-emp-attack/1001394 "2024-05-15T11:31:59Z")
Every time the sun burps another ginormous coronal mass ejection, the media issue warnings that the resulting EM surge could interfere with electronics on Earth and possibly damage very sensitive electronic devices. The … --- ## [David Sanborn has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-sanborn-has-died/1001548)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-sanborn-has-died/1001548 "2024-05-15T10:42:00Z")
NYT link. The brilliant alto sax musician known mainly for his jazz contributions, died of prostate cancer at age 78. --- ## [If Trump loses this year, surely he will lose too much appeal for Republicans to run him again in 2028?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-loses-this-year-surely-he-will-lose-too-much-appeal-for-republicans-to-run-him-again-in-2028/1001498)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-trump-loses-this-year-surely-he-will-lose-too-much-appeal-for-republicans-to-run-him-again-in-2028/1001498 "2024-05-15T06:10:49Z")
I could be mistaken but I believe that William Jennings Bryan is the only candidate to be nominated for president by either the Democratic/Republican parties for 3 consecutive times. He lost all three. It’s very possibl… --- ## [What can I drink in the summer that is 'healthy'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330)
**Author:** [@SOJA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SOJA)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2024, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330 "2024-05-15T04:58:36Z")
Rocking into my mid and soon late 30s now I’ve cut way back on drinking throughout the year. More than a handful drinks will leave me feeling miserable in the days following no matter how much water and IDK Gatorade or s… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=562&state=tracking) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=564&state=tracking)