# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=650 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 651 --- ## [A Challenge to Apple's Walled Garden, a Battle brought by Fortnite?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-apples-walled-garden-a-battle-brought-by-fortnite/941348)
**Author:** [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-challenge-to-apples-walled-garden-a-battle-brought-by-fortnite/941348 "2024-01-17T15:46:56Z")
For a quick peek, the article first: Short version, Apple kicked the Fortnite app off the store because it bypassed ApplePay and Apple wants it’s cut. Fortnite is suing apple for anti-competitive behavior, in that it… --- ## [Merger/401k Rollover Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merger-401k-rollover-question/995900)
**Author:** [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merger-401k-rollover-question/995900 "2024-01-17T15:44:30Z")
The company I’ve worked for for 21 years is being acquired by a larger company; the merger is happening faster than expected (everyone was anticipating a Q2 wrap-up, but it may be Q1). No one is sure about what will happ… --- ## [Feynman Point](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feynman-point/996202)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feynman-point/996202 "2024-01-17T15:33:04Z")
Delving into 762 decimal places of pi, a remarkable row of nines occurs. Six nines in pi - Wikipedia If we were to round off those nines and construct a circle with an inaccuracy/error size of one Planck Length, how bi… --- ## [I'mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Back! :)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immmmmmmmmmmmmm-back/995771)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immmmmmmmmmmmmm-back/995771 "2024-01-17T12:12:20Z")
Board Response :flushed: --- ## ['Fess up! What mawkishly sentimental song makes you cry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179)
**Author:** [@Chumba\_Wumba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumba_Wumba)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179 "2024-01-17T11:38:23Z")
For me, it’s “The Rose.” And I don’t even much like Bette Midler. Even so, it’s been a good deal more than one or two times it’s reduced me to tears and utterly destroyed my macho facade. So let’s hear it. What breaks y… --- ## [SAG-AFTRA strike is a go! (Tentative agreement to end strike 2023-11-08)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002)
**Author:** [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Replies:** 262\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sag-aftra-strike-is-a-go-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike-2023-11-08/987002 "2024-01-17T07:07:11Z")
As of midnight Friday, July 14, 2023. Quite frankly, the studios are the Bad Guys. Their streaming and AI positions are ridiculous. --- ## [Florida Democrat Tom Keen flips House seat in special election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-democrat-tom-keen-flips-house-seat-in-special-election/996201)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-democrat-tom-keen-flips-house-seat-in-special-election/996201 "2024-01-17T04:43:18Z")
I didn’t see a reference to this anywhere. Apparently the meaningless Iowa caucuses drowned out an incredibly meaningful race in Central Florida. Keen had lost in the Democratic primary in 2022 but won against two riv… --- ## [The implication of U.S. support for Israel’s action intimated oblique support for Buenos Aires \[1981\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-implication-of-u-s-support-for-israel-s-action-intimated-oblique-support-for-buenos-aires-1981/996090)
**Author:** [@cannonkuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannonkuo)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-implication-of-u-s-support-for-israel-s-action-intimated-oblique-support-for-buenos-aires-1981/996090 "2024-01-17T04:42:51Z")
On June 7, 1981, the Israeli Air Force conducted a surprise airstrike on an unfinished nuclear reactor in Iraq. The attack, known as Operation Opera, destroyed the Osirak nuclear research reactor at Tuwaitha, which was l… --- ## [Guys, I'm about to go karaoke for the first time. HELP!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-im-about-to-go-karaoke-for-the-first-time-help/945377)
**Author:** [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-im-about-to-go-karaoke-for-the-first-time-help/945377 "2024-01-17T03:59:57Z")
NEED ANSWERS FAST, lol. Seriously, wish me luck and regale us with your stories. And tips. And tricks. --- ## [Jeopardy! 2022-23](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-2022-23/971442)
**Author:** [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Replies:** 1578\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeopardy-2022-23/971442 "2024-01-17T03:10:43Z")
New episodes start today, 12 September. --- ## [Dream recording and playback](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dream-recording-and-playback/996185)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dream-recording-and-playback/996185 "2024-01-16T23:51:56Z")
Here is a link to one of the stories. The Japanese have supposedly developed a way to record and playback dreams. I think there is an effort to associate certain brainwaves with objects, and it has been greatly exaggera… --- ## [Heating pad no longer getting hot after a week?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heating-pad-no-longer-getting-hot-after-a-week/995499)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heating-pad-no-longer-getting-hot-after-a-week/995499 "2024-01-16T23:39:15Z")
I’ve been getting bad hand and forearm cramps at night. Probably because I’m lifting barbells again in the evening. I bought a small 12x15" heating pad. Rolled it loosely into a tube and secured with two large rubber ba… --- ## [What's the best way to teach myself to be creative?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-myself-to-be-creative/996047)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-teach-myself-to-be-creative/996047 "2024-01-16T22:43:51Z")
We’ve all seen a movie/show, or read a book, and wondered “How do they think up these great ideas?” How do the people who make the Saw films come up with those horrible traps or the great heists in crime films/books? Is … --- ## [Australian Dopers: Yannies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-dopers-yannies/183031)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-dopers-yannies/183031 "2024-01-16T21:52:45Z")
I’ve just heard Men at Work’s Down by the Sea. There’s one part that says “Yannies in the wind”. What are “yannies”? And who is Captain Benbow? --- ## [How are electronic devices able to work with decaying voltages from batteries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-electronic-devices-able-to-work-with-decaying-voltages-from-batteries/995901)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-electronic-devices-able-to-work-with-decaying-voltages-from-batteries/995901 "2024-01-16T21:17:55Z")
One of the current topics in my AP Chem class is how the changing molarities of ions in galvanic cells make the voltage trend toward 0. Then the cell/battery is dead. If you put a voltmeter on a new AA cell, you get 1.5V… --- ## [Why would my whole life insurance policy decrease in value?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-my-whole-life-insurance-policy-decrease-in-value/996041)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-my-whole-life-insurance-policy-decrease-in-value/996041 "2024-01-16T20:59:00Z")
I’ve started checking the surrender value of my whole life policy and have found that the amount drops $11 everyday. Why would it do that? It seems like it should be going the other way. --- ## [Gladiators TV show is back in Britain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiators-tv-show-is-back-in-britain/996069)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiators-tv-show-is-back-in-britain/996069 "2024-01-16T20:33:31Z")
I remember watching some of it when I was younger. Then it made me want to run and climb and try stupid things, like roll around in a huge plastic ball like a gerbil. A word of apology to British Dopers-if this was to r… --- ## [Lai Ching-te Wins Taiwan Presidency](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lai-ching-te-wins-taiwan-presidency/996065)
**Author:** [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lai-ching-te-wins-taiwan-presidency/996065 "2024-01-16T19:54:33Z")
China Failed to Sway Taiwan’s Election. What Happens Now? I was surprised to see, in pre-election news, the supposedly pro-China KMT/Nationalist candidate analogizing Xi Jinping to a criminal: ”As a former detective,… --- ## [Multi LED lamp modification Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-led-lamp-modification-q/996164)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-led-lamp-modification-q/996164 "2024-01-16T19:46:32Z")
I have a 12V garden landscape lighting system from the incandescent days, which I modified to run on DC instead of AC. I have replaced some of the bulbs with LED’s intended for cars which works fine (and why I converted… --- ## [Recent autism diagnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-autism-diagnosis/993813)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-autism-diagnosis/993813 "2024-01-16T17:45:08Z")
I believe that there are others on the spectrum and I would be interested in hearing your (and anyone else’s) thoughts. I’m 64 and back in August I was formally diagnosed as being level 1 on the autism spectrum, level 1… --- ## [(Old) I owe, I owe, so off to Mump I go - A Tax Season MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-i-owe-i-owe-so-off-to-mump-i-go-a-tax-season-mmp/995761)
**Author:** [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Replies:** 439\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-i-owe-i-owe-so-off-to-mump-i-go-a-tax-season-mmp/995761 "2024-01-16T17:44:11Z")
W-2 are going out. Unfortunately 44 2lbs W-2 packs in a bag is not fun to dump. All you retired slackers can highjack this after Pee O’clock --- ## [Trump releases argument that the 2020 election was stolen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-releases-argument-that-the-2020-election-was-stolen/995548)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-releases-argument-that-the-2020-election-was-stolen/995548 "2024-01-16T17:41:42Z")
I haven’t seen anything about this on the news. Interesting --- ## [How widespread is the word drug used as the past tense of drag](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-widespread-is-the-word-drug-used-as-the-past-tense-of-drag/996104)
**Author:** [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-widespread-is-the-word-drug-used-as-the-past-tense-of-drag/996104 "2024-01-16T16:57:35Z")
I’m not a US resident, although I have spent plenty of happy times there. I also don’t believe there is any such thing as right or wrong in language, just usage. From time to time I have heard on TV a person using the … --- ## [Republican governors of IA and NE opt out of summer food programs for children](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-governors-of-ia-and-ne-opt-out-of-summer-food-programs-for-children/995147)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-governors-of-ia-and-ne-opt-out-of-summer-food-programs-for-children/995147 "2024-01-16T14:48:41Z")
As an Iowa resident, this is yet another one of Kim Reynolds’ hare-brained ideas. So much for being pro-life, folks. --- ## [Questions about the elements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-elements/995522)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-elements/995522 "2024-01-16T10:11:16Z")
Basically I am wondering if atoms go through an evolution of sorts, do they all start out the same? I know they decay but I am more concerned about how they start and form all of the elements. --- ## [Trump ordered to pay NYT $392,638 in court costs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ordered-to-pay-nyt-392-638-in-court-costs/996060)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-ordered-to-pay-nyt-392-638-in-court-costs/996060 "2024-01-16T06:32:56Z")
I hadn’t heard about this and couldn’t find anything here. After the NYT printed its exposé on Trump’s low taxes payments, with material from his niece, Mary, Trump sued the NYT and Mary Trump. Court has dismissed the … --- ## [Some movies are so bad, they are fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-movies-are-so-bad-they-are-fun/995978)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 129\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-movies-are-so-bad-they-are-fun/995978 "2024-01-16T06:30:09Z")
Over in the Forgotten Movies thread, Baker opined: In reference to the movie Q , in which the Aztec giant flying lizard god Quetzalcoatl attacks New York. Then someone mentioned Hell Comes to Frogtown starring Rowdy R… --- ## [Do you remember how to skip? Prove it!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-how-to-skip-prove-it/994179)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-remember-how-to-skip-prove-it/994179 "2024-01-16T04:37:33Z")
My coworkers were fooling around at work last night and it turns out most of us did not remember how. At first I was like “of course I know how to skip” but then when I tried it, I failed miserably. --- ## [ID this spider please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-spider-please/996141)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-spider-please/996141 "2024-01-16T04:34:29Z")
This guy. Not a Widow. Pretty good sized. Seen on the central coast, California. Pretty sure it’s not a Recluse, I’ve seen those. --- ## [Is HDMI that complicated?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hdmi-that-complicated/996142)
**Author:** [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2024, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hdmi-that-complicated/996142 "2024-01-16T03:59:35Z")
I’ve got two different devices that output HDMI at 1080P. Monitor #1 works with both device #1 and device #2. Monitor #2 only works with device #2. I preempt anyone with this xkcd, but still. If monitor #1 can underst… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=649) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=651)