# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=626 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 627 --- ## [Casting for The Fantastic Four has been announced](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casting-for-the-fantastic-four-has-been-announced/997559)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casting-for-the-fantastic-four-has-been-announced/997559 "2024-02-19T16:43:46Z")
Pedro Pascal (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman) , Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (da ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing). Pascal is usually good, I liked Ebon in Andor, and Kirby was pretty dec… --- ## [This was not a problem ideally suited to the methods of the committee](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-was-not-a-problem-ideally-suited-to-the-methods-of-the-committee/997717)
**Author:** [@cannonkuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannonkuo)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-was-not-a-problem-ideally-suited-to-the-methods-of-the-committee/997717 "2024-02-19T15:59:07Z")
After the Falklands crisis, Haig, the then-mediator, said, The United Nations, with its vociferous anti-colonialist coalition of Third World and Marxist members, would probably not be able to act quickly enough to be ef… --- ## [Total eclipse on April 8, 2024! I have questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-eclipse-on-april-8-2024-i-have-questions/997768)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/total-eclipse-on-april-8-2024-i-have-questions/997768 "2024-02-19T14:38:29Z")
So since I live in SE Michigan, it’s only a couple hour drive into Ohio to get myself in the path of totality. I’m thinking of playing hookey from work and taking a day trip to check it out. It’s been a long time since I… --- ## [Is not paying for services a typical business strategy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-paying-for-services-a-typical-business-strategy/997684)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-not-paying-for-services-a-typical-business-strategy/997684 "2024-02-19T10:14:01Z")
I was listening to a podcast about Elon Musk’s lawsuit from the ex-Twitter employees and one of the things they talked about was how people testified that Musk several times didn’t plan on paying for services rendered (l… --- ## [Northern Exposure finally available for streaming on Amazon Prime](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-exposure-finally-available-for-streaming-on-amazon-prime/997530)
**Author:** [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-exposure-finally-available-for-streaming-on-amazon-prime/997530 "2024-02-19T09:14:13Z")
The loveable and quirky early-90’s TV show Northern Exposure has just be released on Amazon Prime streaming – the first time the show has ever been available to stream. ‘Northern Exposure’ Streaming On Prime Video (dead… --- ## [De-gendering language - is anything truly useful lost?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-gendering-language-is-anything-truly-useful-lost/997722)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de-gendering-language-is-anything-truly-useful-lost/997722 "2024-02-19T04:20:02Z")
If we were to remove the gendering of nouns and pronouns from all languages, would we lose anything that is actually useful? I am not asking here about the poetic beauty of languages as they have grown through the ages … --- ## [(Old) Trip Planning in the MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-trip-planning-in-the-mmp/997466)
**Author:** [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Replies:** 360\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-trip-planning-in-the-mmp/997466 "2024-02-19T03:03:51Z")
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 3c/37f with a predicted high of 8c/46f and mostly sunny. Weather app says “The stupid fucking angry day ball is shining up in the sky again. Such a stupid fucking angry ball”. Yes, it… --- ## [I feel it in my toes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-it-in-my-toes/997713)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-feel-it-in-my-toes/997713 "2024-02-19T03:02:11Z")
Woke up to a weird glucose alarm in the middle of the night(early morning really). I don’t know why I call it weird? It happens all too often. I was very low. Ivy gets to me. She hears my alarm as well. I’m eating su… --- ## [USA Intel Announcement on possible national security threat, see post 3](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-intel-announcement-on-possible-national-security-threat-see-post-3/997562)
**Author:** [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-intel-announcement-on-possible-national-security-threat-see-post-3/997562 "2024-02-19T02:56:51Z")
Breaking news at the top of NBC --- ## [How do deep-sea submersibles navigate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-deep-sea-submersibles-navigate/997735)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-deep-sea-submersibles-navigate/997735 "2024-02-19T00:19:49Z")
Subs dive to the Titanic and other sites of interest that are very deep in the ocean (and they mostly make it back. Mostly.). In those kinds of depths, GPS doesn’t work. Compasses may tell you north, but it’s hard to … --- ## [Open Apple Pix With Win 7](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-apple-pix-with-win-7/997736)
**Author:** [@Dandan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dandan)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-apple-pix-with-win-7/997736 "2024-02-18T23:09:43Z")
I belong to a camera club; we share pictures, via flashdrives, at every meeting. This week, we discovered that drives generated on updated Apple machines won’t open on my Win7 laptop.Is there a workaround? Will Microsoft… --- ## [January Blizzard Season is here!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-blizzard-season-is-here/995831)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 125\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/january-blizzard-season-is-here/995831 "2024-02-18T23:01:25Z")
We currently have one such low about to move through (N Ohio) later today, have already gotten the wind and rain (too warm for snow-yet). This one is just a preview for the weekend one, which will be a real doozy: check… --- ## [What are the odds of Trump winning the Presidency in 2024?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-odds-of-trump-winning-the-presidency-in-2024/996454)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 232\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-odds-of-trump-winning-the-presidency-in-2024/996454 "2024-02-18T21:43:38Z")
I’ve long claimed 40%, and still do so. Your number? --- ## [What does "System of a Down" mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-system-of-a-down-mean/97114)
**Author:** [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-system-of-a-down-mean/97114 "2024-02-18T20:23:15Z")
This has been bugging me for awhile–usually I’m pretty good at figuring out what band names mean (or if I can’t I can find the answer on one of the fansites). This one, however, has eluded me. Can someone please enlighte… --- ## [Dilbert dropped from 70 papers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dilbert-dropped-from-70-papers/972183)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dilbert-dropped-from-70-papers/972183 "2024-02-18T18:26:23Z")
https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/dilbert-comic-stripped-from-nearly-80-newspapers/?amp=1 Dilbert has been dropped by Lee Enterprises newspapers. They describe it as a business decision and have also dropped ot… --- ## [Brian Wilson has dementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brian-wilson-has-dementia/997685 "2024-02-18T18:17:41Z")
His family is seeking to have him placed under a conservatorship. A sad end for a brilliant musician who had a host of psychological problems during his lifetime. He’s 81. --- ## [Is sheep shagger a racial slur?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sheep-shagger-a-racial-slur/986146)
**Author:** [@JHuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHuff)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sheep-shagger-a-racial-slur/986146 "2024-02-18T18:09:27Z")
I know hate speech isnt allowed, and I dont intend to break the spirit of that rule here. But I do have a serious academic inquiry. If Ive gone too far, please excuse me and remove the thead. When does an insult about… --- ## [How do I diagnose this hard drive problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-diagnose-this-hard-drive-problem/997690)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-diagnose-this-hard-drive-problem/997690 "2024-02-18T16:28:56Z")
Although I would be delighted if we could solve this here, I suspect I may need specialized help. I welcome suggestions of sites I can go to get targeted advice for this situation. Windows 10 Home 4TB hard drive, 678GB… --- ## [Amazon's Alexa just can't be trusted](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazons-alexa-just-cant-be-trusted/997628)
**Author:** [@MaceMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaceMan)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazons-alexa-just-cant-be-trusted/997628 "2024-02-18T14:55:30Z")
Today, I asked Alexa, “when is Valentine’s day?” and I was totally not prepared for the incorrect answer of “Wednesday, June 12, 2024.” How in the world can Alexa get that wrong? It’s such a basic question that I’m left … --- ## [Another Lawful Good Quandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-lawful-good-quandry/997632)
**Author:** [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-lawful-good-quandry/997632 "2024-02-18T09:53:23Z")
Simplifying here because campaign details are yawn-inducing. I am DMing a 1st edition AD&D game with some friends. One friend is playing a neutral druid and the other is playing a lawful good ranger. If they make it that… --- ## [Question on the red-orange glow at the Battle of Somme in 1916. Is it nitrous oxide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-red-orange-glow-at-the-battle-of-somme-in-1916-is-it-nitrous-oxide/997715)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-red-orange-glow-at-the-battle-of-somme-in-1916-is-it-nitrous-oxide/997715 "2024-02-18T09:37:03Z")
Is the ‘red-orange’ glow that I’ve occasionally come across in my reading on the Battle of Somme in 1916 nitrous oxide? Was it related to chemical warfare? --- ## [The Princes in the Tower](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-princes-in-the-tower/997442)
**Author:** [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-princes-in-the-tower/997442 "2024-02-18T08:02:16Z")
Would love to have UK posters respond, but happy to hear from anyone. As far as I can tell, the last time the skeletons that were buried as the princes were disinterred for examination was in 1933, and there was no know… --- ## [Suppose Someone Wanted to Pay You Some Money: How Could they Do that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-someone-wanted-to-pay-you-some-money-how-could-they-do-that/996513)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 90\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-someone-wanted-to-pay-you-some-money-how-could-they-do-that/996513 "2024-02-18T05:48:15Z")
We have a current thread: Order any Checks Lately: And the consensus is that very few checks are written. So lets take a reverse situation: someone wants to pay or has paid you: a gift from a sibling, you help a neighb… --- ## ["Not So Awesome" - the Channel Awesome tell-all](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-awesome-the-channel-awesome-tell-all/811865)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-so-awesome-the-channel-awesome-tell-all/811865 "2024-02-18T05:18:51Z")
So, over the last month or so, a number of major contributors to Channel Awesome (formerly That Guy With the Glasses), including Linkara and Todd in the Shadows, have publicly quit the site. This follows on the heels of … --- ## [Am I using my watt meter correctly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-using-my-watt-meter-correctly/997671)
**Author:** [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 18, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-using-my-watt-meter-correctly/997671 "2024-02-18T01:06:00Z")
Sorry this is extremely basic, but one wrong assumption will have me drawing incorrect conclusions and I know approximately zip about this sort of thing. My electric bill is too high, so I’m going around with a very anc… --- ## [Beginning Go (the board game)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beginning-go-the-board-game/832599)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2024, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beginning-go-the-board-game/832599 "2024-02-17T23:22:09Z")
There must have been several threads on Go already, but I can’t search for them because of the 4-character minimum. So… What do I need to know, what do I need to keep in mind when learning Go? I see how complex its stra… --- ## [Songs Inspired by movies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-inspired-by-movies/923487)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2024, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-inspired-by-movies/923487 "2024-02-17T22:50:45Z")
There seems to be a class of songs inspired by, but not officially connect to, movies. When the sonfs first came out, I thought there was some sort of connection, because the movies were often still playing. But it seems… --- ## [Explorers crossing (e.g.) the Atlantic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorers-crossing-e-g-the-atlantic/997672)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explorers-crossing-e-g-the-atlantic/997672 "2024-02-17T22:48:47Z")
Let’s go back to the days of Columbus (and before). When explorers set sail from Europe looking for the “New World” - did they assume they would find land - just keep sailing and hoping provisions didn’t run out (and eve… --- ## [Variations in appearance of user names in posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/variations-in-appearance-of-user-names-in-posts/997701)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/variations-in-appearance-of-user-names-in-posts/997701 "2024-02-17T22:44:04Z")
A new poster has established a user name that appears in posts in medium gray type instead of black. I haven’t noticed this happen before, and it really popped out at me as if the user’s account had something wrong with … --- ## [Remember Pay Phones and Dial Arounds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-pay-phones-and-dial-arounds/819662)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remember-pay-phones-and-dial-arounds/819662 "2024-02-17T22:21:25Z")
I sure do. And it makes me feel old for some reason. It also doesn’t seem that long ago. In fact, I remember Saturday Night Live did a really funny skit on dial arounds. Remember that? I have to say, one of the misconc… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=625) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=627)