# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=648&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 649 --- ## [Who was able to master machine code programming on the Sinclair ZX Spectrum computer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-able-to-master-machine-code-programming-on-the-sinclair-zx-spectrum-computer/996291)
**Author:** [@philipdalton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/philipdalton)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-able-to-master-machine-code-programming-on-the-sinclair-zx-spectrum-computer/996291 "2024-01-20T18:02:45Z")
Most commercial software for this computer was written in machine code as BASIC programs took too long to execute. --- ## [Tippy Makes My Day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tippy-makes-my-day/996337)
**Author:** [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tippy-makes-my-day/996337 "2024-01-20T17:47:34Z")
So it’s six-thirty in the morning in Chicago. It snowed overnight over patches of ice, and I have to walk my sixty-something self with weak ankles over these Plains of Death or At Least Broken Legs in ten degree weather… --- ## [Who's disappointed about Mellie Gibson being axed from "Doctor Who"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-disappointed-about-mellie-gibson-being-axed-from-doctor-who/996382)
**Author:** [@philipdalton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/philipdalton)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-disappointed-about-mellie-gibson-being-axed-from-doctor-who/996382 "2024-01-20T13:51:23Z")
--- ## [Anybody else notice Andy Borowitz is gone from the New Yorker?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-notice-andy-borowitz-is-gone-from-the-new-yorker/996364)
**Author:** [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-else-notice-andy-borowitz-is-gone-from-the-new-yorker/996364 "2024-01-20T09:48:46Z")
I googled after realizing I hadn’t seen Andy Botowitz’s humor pieces in the New Yorker for at least a month. He was axed, along with a lot of other people. After 25 years. Thanks, Conde Nast. His Facebook page is still… --- ## [Cinnamon, you cruel cruel mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinnamon-you-cruel-cruel-mistress/996272)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinnamon-you-cruel-cruel-mistress/996272 "2024-01-20T08:46:21Z")
I’m not awake to be bright, perky, get 'er done early Beck. Nope. I sit here contemplating the sad vagaries of my life, sucking down half a bottle of diabetic friendly Pepto stuff, (believe you, me, it’s not half as go… --- ## [NFL 2023: Wildcard Weekend](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866)
**Author:** [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Replies:** 353\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2023-wildcard-weekend/995866 "2024-01-20T05:25:02Z")
Wildcard weekend is upon us. Two games on Saturday, three on Sunday, and the finale Monday night. As always, all lines taken from DraftKings. Times listed are Central time. Saturday: Browns @ Texans (+2.5) 3:30 pm, … --- ## [The Crown S6 discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crown-s6-discussion/993306)
**Author:** [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crown-s6-discussion/993306 "2024-01-20T03:20:28Z")
The first four episodes dropped yesterday. The final six will drop on December 14th. 1997 to 2005. Death of Diana, Margaret and the Queen Mum, wedding of Prince Edward, Tony Blair, early relationship of William and Kate… --- ## [So how many Republicans are secretly praying that Trump will be disqualified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-republicans-are-secretly-praying-that-trump-will-be-disqualified/995745)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 86\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-republicans-are-secretly-praying-that-trump-will-be-disqualified/995745 "2024-01-20T01:10:53Z")
Title says it all. Openly breaking with Trump is political suicide for a Republican, but if he can’t get on the ballot… --- ## [How would one talk someone with suicidal thoughts down, in such time as right now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-talk-someone-with-suicidal-thoughts-down-in-such-time-as-right-now/996298)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-one-talk-someone-with-suicidal-thoughts-down-in-such-time-as-right-now/996298 "2024-01-20T00:47:29Z")
For the record, this is a hypothetical. There’s no particular urgency, I just got to thinking; Things to me look bleak, unfortunately. Not just in any specific place, but around the whole world. I was wondering how I wo… --- ## [The Reality of Wind and Solar in Northern Latitudes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reality-of-wind-and-solar-in-northern-latitudes/996022)
**Author:** [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-reality-of-wind-and-solar-in-northern-latitudes/996022 "2024-01-20T00:25:32Z")
The current cold snap provides an object lesson in the limits of wind and solar power. This is what our energy situation looks like right now in Alberta: We are currently getting 26MW out of our 11566 MW of wind powe… --- ## [Can I make my iPhone clock display decimal minutes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-iphone-clock-display-decimal-minutes/982767)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-iphone-clock-display-decimal-minutes/982767 "2024-01-19T23:51:24Z")
When I clock in at work (10:30 pm), the time clock reads 2250. Similarly, when it’s a quarter to eleven, it will display 2275. Can I program my iPhone’s clock feature to display in this format? --- ## [Do you read your water meter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-your-water-meter/996143)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-your-water-meter/996143 "2024-01-19T23:20:23Z")
I live in an area served by a rural water district and even though I’m in a developed neighborhood, I have to read my water meter every month or pay the water company $25 to come out and read it. This seems weird to me. … --- ## [College Football 2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2023/989861)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 285\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/college-football-2023/989861 "2024-01-19T23:02:19Z")
I didn’t see a thread for this season. Here’s a thread to discuss week to week action in college football. There’s another thread for all the conference realignment stuff. Watching FSU vs Southern Miss now but keeping a… --- ## [End of an era. Fruit Stripe Gum discontinued](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-fruit-stripe-gum-discontinued/995937)
**Author:** [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-an-era-fruit-stripe-gum-discontinued/995937 "2024-01-19T22:53:19Z")
They ran a series of commercials in the 60s to introduce the brand. I mainly remember the animated versions like this. I was surprised more than once since then that it was still being made. --- ## [Help me identify a rap song](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-rap-song/996137)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identify-a-rap-song/996137 "2024-01-19T22:31:09Z")
I think this will be a stretch, but here goes. There’s a newish radio station in NY called 94.7 The Block that plays classic hip hop and R&B. Early on, they had a pretty limited playlist and played the song I’m trying … --- ## [Earliest Horror Story](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-horror-story/996285)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-horror-story/996285 "2024-01-19T22:27:37Z")
I was listening to a podcast about Edgar Allen Poe in which they claim he is referred to as the Father Of the Horror Story. I assumed there were earlier horror stories (maybe?) and that got me to wondering what is consid… --- ## [What does "clipping diamonds" mean? (Brideshead Revisited)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-clipping-diamonds-mean-brideshead-revisited/996338)
**Author:** [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-clipping-diamonds-mean-brideshead-revisited/996338 "2024-01-19T22:20:45Z")
\[possible spoiler for a 1945 novel\] In Brideshead Revisited, one of the characters becomes spiritually convicted of their own sin. This person says: “Living in sin, with sin, by sin, for sin, every hour, every day, ye… --- ## [The Great Emu War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-emu-war/996296)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-emu-war/996296 "2024-01-19T21:23:07Z")
Today I learned that not only did humans go to “war” with Emus, but they lost! Cite. Weird and horrifying. --- ## [Is The Phantom comic strip ending?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phantom-comic-strip-ending/963421)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-phantom-comic-strip-ending/963421 "2024-01-19T20:30:49Z")
Over the past month or so there has been a story line where The Phantom has been told a prophesy where, if he goes on with a plan to rescue a certain person it will create a chain of events where he eventually dies, his … --- ## [Really odd one- Displaying Quilts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-odd-one-displaying-quilts/996246)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-odd-one-displaying-quilts/996246 "2024-01-19T18:39:01Z")
OK SD. I think this is the greatest online community there is. I’m putting y’all to the test. Also, I am stupid when it comes to which forum to post in, so, whatever. We are in posession of a number of family heirloom … --- ## [Napolean Dynamite Appreciate Thread!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napolean-dynamite-appreciate-thread/253556)
**Author:** [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napolean-dynamite-appreciate-thread/253556 "2024-01-19T18:07:45Z")
I really loved Napolean Dynamite. I enjoyed the performances and the costumes and I laughed through the whole movie. The half full theatre (suprising, I thought Spider Man 2 would steal all the crowd!) broke into applaus… --- ## [Odd measurement humor for tor the metric folks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-measurement-humor-for-tor-the-metric-folks/995726)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-measurement-humor-for-tor-the-metric-folks/995726 "2024-01-19T17:57:43Z")
While shopping today I saw a measurement that even I, the die hard English measurement guy, looked askance at. On a large carton of green peppers: 1 1/9 Bu --- ## [Japan has Made it to the Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-has-made-it-to-the-moon/996342)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-has-made-it-to-the-moon/996342 "2024-01-19T17:32:34Z")
--- ## [Numbers 1-20 as Memory Aids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-1-20-as-memory-aids/350444)
**Author:** [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbers-1-20-as-memory-aids/350444 "2024-01-19T17:24:27Z")
It’s been long enough ago that I have forgotten who had a book or some TV special about memory tricks. What I do recall is that the gimmick had to do with a list of key images that served as “home base” for remembering o… --- ## [Wheeled walker with ground accessible brakes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheeled-walker-with-ground-accessible-brakes/995971)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheeled-walker-with-ground-accessible-brakes/995971 "2024-01-19T17:05:30Z")
So through one adventure and another, I have to use a walker now. My biggest problem is that I fall a lot. And I can’t lift myself off the ground with a cane. So my generous friend bought me a brand new walker. With whee… --- ## [Jim Carrey Appreciation Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-appreciation-thread/90181)
**Author:** [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jim-carrey-appreciation-thread/90181 "2024-01-19T16:41:02Z")
My favorite movie of all time is The Truman Show. I had high expectations for the movie. About five minutes before it started in the theater I started to say to myself that the expectations I had were too high. I didn’t … --- ## ["An inch of ice on a power line can add 500 pounds of weight." Help me understand this](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-inch-of-ice-on-a-power-line-can-add-500-pounds-of-weight-help-me-understand-this/996250)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-inch-of-ice-on-a-power-line-can-add-500-pounds-of-weight-help-me-understand-this/996250 "2024-01-19T16:16:46Z")
During the ice storm that just ended today, the local news station and paper advised people that an inch can add 500 lbs. of weight, and this is why poles and cables sometimes fail. The numbers don’t make sense to me, … --- ## [Thank you for wanting to help. (Even if you didn't.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-for-wanting-to-help-even-if-you-didnt/995950)
**Author:** [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-for-wanting-to-help-even-if-you-didnt/995950 "2024-01-19T12:30:38Z")
AKA, the thread for talking about well-intentioned people whose desire to be of assistance is welcome, but whose actual contributions can be, unfortunately, annoying. My wife’s mom came to stay with us just before the h… --- ## [The Humblebrag Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-humblebrag-thread/968934 "2024-01-19T12:18:00Z")
This thread allows you to brag, humbly or less so, about a trivial personal accomplishment that you are somewhat proud of despite its general meaningless. You are a speck of dust on a small planet in the middle of a vas… --- ## [Chad (The TV series, because Discourse won't let me write just "Chad.")](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chad-the-tv-series-because-discourse-wont-let-me-write-just-chad/941608)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2024, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chad-the-tv-series-because-discourse-wont-let-me-write-just-chad/941608 "2024-01-19T10:01:54Z")
Anyone else watching this? I’m finding it hilarious. It is much like a gender-swapped Pen15, and filled with cringe humor as you see Chad constantly stumbling (or running at full speed) cluelessly from one social fope ah… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=647&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=649&state=watching)