# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=650&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 651 --- ## [Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-1/987160)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part-1/987160 "2024-01-18T02:09:00Z")
As I have said in the past, while I do not really like Tom Cruise as an individual, he does make a hell of a movie, and his most recent outing Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 doesn’t dissapoint. It clocks in a… --- ## [Navy will name Destroyer after Charles French, the human tugboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-will-name-destroyer-after-charles-french-the-human-tugboat/996198)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-will-name-destroyer-after-charles-french-the-human-tugboat/996198 "2024-01-18T01:50:36Z")
What an astonishing story of bravery and determination. French swam 8 hours and towed a raft of injured sailors to safety. :saluting\_face: I’m glad he’s being honored. Link Navy to name destroyer after WWII hero Charle… --- ## [Investing and the Sun Setting of the 'Trump' tax cuts in 2025](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investing-and-the-sun-setting-of-the-trump-tax-cuts-in-2025/995555)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investing-and-the-sun-setting-of-the-trump-tax-cuts-in-2025/995555 "2024-01-18T01:37:27Z")
As an investor, are you factoring in the sunset of the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) (AKA Trump Tax cuts) at the end of 2025? As background, a friend is a financial planner and he asked me to attend one of his prese… --- ## [A chance look; a saved life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chance-look-a-saved-life/996191)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-chance-look-a-saved-life/996191 "2024-01-18T01:08:19Z")
Many years ago, my horse was living at a boarding barn, and I’d often go down in the evenings for a bedcheck – see that his water buckets were clean and full, he had hay, he was healthy. One night I was just about to le… --- ## [Largest profit percentage for a simple, one piece item?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-profit-percentage-for-a-simple-one-piece-item/996130)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2024, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-profit-percentage-for-a-simple-one-piece-item/996130 "2024-01-18T00:34:45Z")
I was looking at the aluminum foil turkey roasting pans at Walmart. The big ones are about 6 bucks and the cost of the aluminum foil sheet they are made from is nearly negligible. So 1/10 of a cent to 6 bucks is 6000 to … --- ## [Use and Charging of a 12v automotive Battery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-and-charging-of-a-12v-automotive-battery/995286)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-and-charging-of-a-12v-automotive-battery/995286 "2024-01-17T23:24:54Z")
So I have a small diesel heater for my shed. It runs on a 12v automotive battery. I had a spare lawn and garden, 330CCA one around, so I use that. The battery will run the heater (consisting of some kind of igniter, a fa… --- ## [Online dating advice requested](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-dating-advice-requested/995954)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/online-dating-advice-requested/995954 "2024-01-17T23:04:28Z")
So I’ve been out of the mix for awhile (though never very active) and are recently trying out a dating app. The issue at hand is this: I’m currently living with my mother, partly for financial reasons, partly because we … --- ## [That cat ain't right](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-cat-aint-right/956243)
**Author:** [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-cat-aint-right/956243 "2024-01-17T22:37:20Z")
Chippie is at least 15 and possibly pushing 20. He started having kidney problems last year and just had his annual check-up a month ago; no significant changes were noted at the time. Today, all of a sudden, he’s hardl… --- ## [CommonSense Centred Thinking - A Challenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonsense-centred-thinking-a-challenge/996237)
**Author:** [@Oooklout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oooklout)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commonsense-centred-thinking-a-challenge/996237 "2024-01-17T21:12:28Z")
Discussion Topic: Common Centred Thought Experiment: The idea here is to start with a proposed political setup where every voter initially belongs to the CommonSense Centre politic CSC, and opts out to other politics s… --- ## [Homemade buttermilk biscuits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-buttermilk-biscuits/996125)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homemade-buttermilk-biscuits/996125 "2024-01-17T21:05:01Z")
My mom never made biscuits when I was growing up, other than blobby drop biscuits made out of Bisquick. Those were uninspired, so I didn’t learn the art of biscuit-making when I was young. Now I’m an old lady, and I’ve… --- ## [Movies/shows you can't find anywhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-shows-you-cant-find-anywhere/966420)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 177\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-shows-you-cant-find-anywhere/966420 "2024-01-17T20:48:23Z")
In an age where so much is now available on streaming, on DVD, or on older formats… Which movies or TV shows have you sought out and not been able to find? --- ## [CYCLONE (a hurricane to Americans, a typhoon for East Asians) is coming my way!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclone-a-hurricane-to-americans-a-typhoon-for-east-asians-is-coming-my-way/994412)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclone-a-hurricane-to-americans-a-typhoon-for-east-asians-is-coming-my-way/994412 "2024-01-17T18:20:43Z")
I have lived in the tropics of Australia for the past 4 years with nary a thunderstorm or any threat of a cyclone. Until today…we are getting us a cyclone, Jasper, last modelled at Cat 1 (originally a Cat 3 out in the Co… --- ## [Cat names -- confess, what d'you really say?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-names-confess-what-dyou-really-say/994693)
**Author:** [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-names-confess-what-dyou-really-say/994693 "2024-01-17T17:49:52Z")
What do you really call your cats? My little old lady Sally (Sally Forth, to be formal) usually hears “Princess” when I speak to her. Lately I’ve been addressing Freddie Mercury (“Merc”) as “Mr. Cat” most of the time. … --- ## [Acronyms and initialisms in history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acronyms-and-initialisms-in-history/995839)
**Author:** [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acronyms-and-initialisms-in-history/995839 "2024-01-17T17:33:17Z")
When and why did they start? And why not earlier? Of course they require literacy, but I don’t see why ancient scribes and educated nobles couldn’t have been using TLAs since Babylonian times. SPQR is the oldest I’ve he… --- ## [Is stealing stolen items illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-stealing-stolen-items-illegal/996135)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-stealing-stolen-items-illegal/996135 "2024-01-17T17:30:11Z")
I see someone picking a pocket and steal a wallet. If I then pick that thief’s pocket and steal that same wallet, what crime(s) have I committed? --- ## [Quirks of your local TV newsanchors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quirks-of-your-local-tv-newsanchors/925508)
**Author:** [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quirks-of-your-local-tv-newsanchors/925508 "2024-01-17T16:23:00Z")
First, let me say that I love these people. I watch them every morning and every night. They are the fuzzy blanket of normalcy draped over the rocky chunks of news…or something. :thinking: Every time I travel som… --- ## [My car stereo is distorting some music. Please help me diagnose the problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-stereo-is-distorting-some-music-please-help-me-diagnose-the-problem/996228)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2024, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-car-stereo-is-distorting-some-music-please-help-me-diagnose-the-problem/996228 "2024-01-17T15:48:30Z")
I recently traded in my car, going from a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze to a Cadillac XT5. I had no problems with the old sound system playing music stored on the phone using the Apple Music app. Now my new system seems to have… --- ## [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 … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=649&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=651&state=muted)