# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=607&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 608 --- ## [Michael Jackson throw down: Thriller vs Beat It](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-throw-down-thriller-vs-beat-it/998892)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-throw-down-thriller-vs-beat-it/998892 "2024-03-20T14:17:16Z")
Judging the two songs on vocal quality, musicianship, lyrics, and video, which one is the winner? Vocal quality: Both are peak adult MJ. Tie. Musicianship: I prefer the harder beat and guitar work of Thriller. Lyrics… --- ## [Ireland's next leader will be the gay son of an Indian immigrant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irelands-next-leader-will-be-the-gay-son-of-an-indian-immigrant/788094)
**Author:** [@williambaskerville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williambaskerville)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irelands-next-leader-will-be-the-gay-son-of-an-indian-immigrant/788094 "2024-03-20T13:57:14Z")
Leo Varadkar has just been elected leader of Ireland’s ruling party. He will be elected Taoiseach (Prime Minister) by our Dail (Parliament) the week after next. (It’s currently in recess). His father is an Indian doctor… --- ## [Songs about magic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-magic/998914)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-magic/998914 "2024-03-20T10:55:32Z")
My wife wants to put together a playlist that has songs about magic. Nothing too obscure, but any decade is fine. Nothing too hard (no metal, gangsta, etc.). I’ll get us started: Magic Carpet Ride Magic (Olivia Newton… --- ## [Nero Wolfe New York Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nero-wolfe-new-york-question/998954)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nero-wolfe-new-york-question/998954 "2024-03-20T06:27:35Z")
I hope native New Yorkers can help me here. In Some Buried Caesar, Archies note of a conman-" was an individual who should not have been there, since the proper environment for that type is bounded by 42nd and 96th str… --- ## [Leaving Food Out Overnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-food-out-overnight/998986)
**Author:** [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-food-out-overnight/998986 "2024-03-20T04:33:51Z")
I’ll take out what I think I’m going to eat, so it dethaws, etc… and too many times I’m so tired (and full) that I just go right to bed. Then when I wake up and go into the kitchen, I see food left out… Especially in the… --- ## [What are your favorite songs that begin with the letter J and were released on or after January 1, 2000? See rules in OP {FINAL POLL ADDED}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-j-and-were-released-on-or-after-january-1-2000-see-rules-in-op-final-poll-added/998907)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-j-and-were-released-on-or-after-january-1-2000-see-rules-in-op-final-poll-added/998907 "2024-03-20T03:12:32Z")
RULES: Submissions must begin with the letter J. Exclude articles such as “a”, “an”, “the”, etc. that begin the title. Example: “The Hokey Pokey” belongs in the H poll, not the T poll. Songs must have been first releas… --- ## [Which tends to be louder inside - an apartment with wooden floors or cement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tends-to-be-louder-inside-an-apartment-with-wooden-floors-or-cement/998465)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-tends-to-be-louder-inside-an-apartment-with-wooden-floors-or-cement/998465 "2024-03-20T02:33:19Z")
I’m thinking that since wood absorbs sound better than cement that it would not be as loud or noisy. Noise is mainly caused by reflective surfaces, right? Anyone wishing to avoid loud noisy apartments would be, I think… --- ## [Years ago I was told that the British film "Saturday Night - Sunday Morning" (1960) was the first film to use four-letter words. Were any four-letter words used in earlier films?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/years-ago-i-was-told-that-the-british-film-saturday-night-sunday-morning-1960-was-the-first-film-to-use-four-letter-words-were-any-four-letter-words-used-in-earlier-films/998460)
**Author:** [@philipdalton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/philipdalton)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/years-ago-i-was-told-that-the-british-film-saturday-night-sunday-morning-1960-was-the-first-film-to-use-four-letter-words-were-any-four-letter-words-used-in-earlier-films/998460 "2024-03-20T02:06:56Z")
It does contain at least one use of the word “arse”. --- ## [US support of Israel (from Hamas war discussion thread)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-support-of-israel-from-hamas-war-discussion-thread/994802)
**Author:** [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Replies:** 166\ **Last updated:** [March 20, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-support-of-israel-from-hamas-war-discussion-thread/994802 "2024-03-20T01:59:38Z")
I’m not 100% clear on where you going with that comment, besides there being a lot of Nazi references being dropped in here recently. That still doesn’t answer my question - why should the US be paying over $3.3 billion… --- ## [LASER attacks on commercial aircraft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-attacks-on-commercial-aircraft/998936)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laser-attacks-on-commercial-aircraft/998936 "2024-03-19T22:09:11Z")
I know they have apprehended and prosecuted a few people who have aimed lasers at aircraft. Do the pilots have the technology to pinpoint the beam and merge the data with their GPS to get an accurate location? Or have th… --- ## [Intermittent fasting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-fasting/827758)
**Author:** [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-fasting/827758 "2024-03-19T22:08:58Z")
So, my gf has started to follow intermittent fasting. Which is a kind of diet (although she states it isn’t a diet) where you only eat during 8 hours and fast during 16 hours. She isn’t overweight, and in fact is in grea… --- ## [Trip advise - how unsafe is SF & Oakland](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-advise-how-unsafe-is-sf-oakland/998671)
**Author:** [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trip-advise-how-unsafe-is-sf-oakland/998671 "2024-03-19T21:27:17Z")
I really want to do a long weekend to SF & Oakland this summer; the main reason is to see the A’s before they move & if I’m gonna be there may as well get a Giants game in as well. However, everything I read is about ho… --- ## [Dún Briste, Ireland — who’s been? Who’d want to go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dun-briste-ireland-who-s-been-who-d-want-to-go/998994)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dun-briste-ireland-who-s-been-who-d-want-to-go/998994 "2024-03-19T20:58:20Z")
I like dramatic landscapes, geology and geography. This popped up on my FB feed and I was fascinated by the imagery. I found some info about it. We haven’t been — yet! Dún… --- ## [Why aren't there any semi-automatic towed anti-tank guns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-any-semi-automatic-towed-anti-tank-guns/999004)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-there-any-semi-automatic-towed-anti-tank-guns/999004 "2024-03-19T20:56:36Z")
Thinking WW2 era and around those. Instead of breech loading, why not make it like AA guns and have like 5 round magazines? I know in real tanks there’s a definite preference between autoloaders and manual loaders, but … --- ## [What's wrong with Russell Wilson?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-russell-wilson/995489)
**Author:** [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-russell-wilson/995489 "2024-03-19T20:43:42Z")
Background: I have not followed the NFL since I moved to Europe several years ago. I was a casual fan when I lived in Seattle, and I watched the Seahawks semi-regularly. But when I came to Europe, I found that American f… --- ## [Give your favorite cartoons the "Rated M for Mature" treatment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-your-favorite-cartoons-the-rated-m-for-mature-treatment/998990)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/give-your-favorite-cartoons-the-rated-m-for-mature-treatment/998990 "2024-03-19T19:20:19Z")
As a youth I would watch the locally aired syndicated cartoons repeatedly until I knew many of them by heart. In latter days when I have occasion to think back on them I often amuse myself by removing all “PG” restraints… --- ## [Did anyone else get asked to create a NYT account in Wordle today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-get-asked-to-create-a-nyt-account-in-wordle-today/998863)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-get-asked-to-create-a-nyt-account-in-wordle-today/998863 "2024-03-19T18:47:14Z")
I have played Wordle for years and it kept my stats (as long as I played from my phone) but today after I solved it it it said “To see your stats and streaks create an account”. I assumed this is a part of the New York T… --- ## [Any strategy games worth playing on Android?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-strategy-games-worth-playing-on-android/993505)
**Author:** [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2023, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-strategy-games-worth-playing-on-android/993505 "2023-11-23T02:43:55Z")
I miss the old strategy games for the PC, nowadays everything seems to be either too complicated, or being too graphics intensive for my machine. So i thought, having a 4 year old Android pad, pretty speedy still at 10"… --- ## [How's the air you breathe today? Can you smell the smoke from the wildfires in Quebec? (June 2023)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158)
**Author:** [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Replies:** 210\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-air-you-breathe-today-can-you-smell-the-smoke-from-the-wildfires-in-quebec-june-2023/985158 "2024-03-19T16:41:42Z")
I’m in Central Jersey and it is a hazy day out. It has been like this since yesterday afternoon. When I went outside I smelled a strong scent of wood smoke and figured that it must be from a nearby bonfire or perhaps a … --- ## [How to fix college football](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-college-football/994525)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-fix-college-football/994525 "2024-03-19T16:33:27Z")
Conference re-alignment is a mess. The NCAA does not control anything about the game except penalties which has gotten us into the issues we have today including how it took so long it took to get a decent (but not grea… --- ## [Advice on how to negotiate realtor's fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-how-to-negotiate-realtors-fee/999000)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-on-how-to-negotiate-realtors-fee/999000 "2024-03-19T16:18:26Z")
Okay, I’m new to this. We’re selling our home, and our listing agent just emailed us a list of stuff to do. It attaches the listing agreement. You might have seen in the news that the standard 6% realtor fee is now hi… --- ## [For What It's Worth, Neil Young is returning to Spotify](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-what-its-worth-neil-young-is-returning-to-spotify/998778)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-what-its-worth-neil-young-is-returning-to-spotify/998778 "2024-03-19T15:06:24Z")
I am a huge Neil Young fan and I was greatly disappointed when he left Spotify (although I admired his taking a stand). Now he’s coming back and I’m happy as a clam. And it was just yesterday that I finally figured out… --- ## [R.I.P. Tom Stafford, Gemini and Apollo Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-tom-stafford-gemini-and-apollo-astronaut/999001)
**Author:** [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-tom-stafford-gemini-and-apollo-astronaut/999001 "2024-03-19T14:49:56Z")
I remember the Apollo-Soyuz linkup mission and Stafford’s handshake with Alexy Leonov through the airlock. It seemed like a very hopeful moment to young and impressionable me. (As noted in the current Celebrity Death … --- ## [SCOTUS hears the case on Trump's eligibility on February 8, 2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-hears-the-case-on-trumps-eligibility-on-february-8-2024/997204)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 294\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotus-hears-the-case-on-trumps-eligibility-on-february-8-2024/997204 "2024-03-19T14:25:22Z")
I thought we had a thread already but I couldn’t find it. It looks like we might be able to here it live here. I just hope that whether he is eligible or ineligible that SCOTUS makes it so that the determination applie… --- ## ["My name is Dust, Star Dust" -- the roots of Goldfinger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-dust-star-dust-the-roots-of-goldfinger/999033)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-name-is-dust-star-dust-the-roots-of-goldfinger/999033 "2024-03-19T14:07:11Z")
I stumbled across something fascinating in the library yesterday. It was an action story that shows a team of villains in an “ultramodern” secret lair gathered around aerial photographs of Fort Knox . They were planning … --- ## [Health Insurance and the Army](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance-and-the-army/998999)
**Author:** [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance-and-the-army/998999 "2024-03-19T13:29:43Z")
My oldest son, Fang, just got the Army to pay for his last two years of college. Of course in exchange, he owes them four years of active duty. Not a problem, this has been his career asperation since he was little. H… --- ## [Towards a New (at this point, alternative) Conservatism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towards-a-new-at-this-point-alternative-conservatism/999018)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/towards-a-new-at-this-point-alternative-conservatism/999018 "2024-03-19T05:10:48Z")
We, the (hypothetical) EvenNewer conservatives, ascribe to the following: • That compassion for our neighbor and fellow-traveler is ideally volitional and actively participatory; and that taxing and redistributing takes… --- ## [Mirror Mirror (TOS)...the immediate aftermath.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mirror-mirror-tos-the-immediate-aftermath/845502)
**Author:** [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mirror-mirror-tos-the-immediate-aftermath/845502 "2024-03-19T03:59:12Z")
I assume there’s a novel that covers this. There’s one for everything. Mirror Spock needs to have killed Sulu upon exiting sickbay…and if he didn’t, he had him locked up and now he needs to kill him. There are a few lo… --- ## [RIP Paul Alexander - survived 70 years in iron lung](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-paul-alexander-survived-70-years-in-iron-lung/998799)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-paul-alexander-survived-70-years-in-iron-lung/998799 "2024-03-19T03:00:59Z")
Paul had an incredible life inside a iron lung. He attended Southern Methodist University on a scholarship and graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas at Austin Law School. He was originally able to l… --- ## [What the heck language is Facebook showing me?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-language-is-facebook-showing-me/999002)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 19, 2024, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-language-is-facebook-showing-me/999002 "2024-03-19T01:32:13Z")
I don’t have a Facebook account but for the past several days if I end up at a Facebook page after a search it is in a foreign language. The title reads, “Lihat seterusnya di Facebook”. Wassup? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=606&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=608&state=watching)