# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=652 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 653 --- ## [How can the batteries for e-cars burn under water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-the-batteries-for-e-cars-burn-under-water/994070)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-the-batteries-for-e-cars-burn-under-water/994070 "2024-01-14T18:02:47Z")
How can the batteries for e-cars burn under water? There was a thread a while ago with videos of e-cars that went under water and started burning. How is that possible? I always thought a fire needed oxygen? Or is ther… --- ## [National insignia / markings on WW2 tanks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-insignia-markings-on-ww2-tanks/996020)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/national-insignia-markings-on-ww2-tanks/996020 "2024-01-14T18:01:15Z")
I know about the German cross and the American white star, and the Soviets sometimes had red stars on their tanks. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of, say, a British tank with a Union Jack on the turret, or a… --- ## [Cheap Dental Care Options](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-dental-care-options/996017)
**Author:** [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-dental-care-options/996017 "2024-01-14T17:45:53Z")
What are some cheap option for dental care? I am in SE Michigan and my GF’s 23 y/o son has a cavity that needs filled. Would a university like UofM be much cheaper than just going to a regular dentist? Is there anywhe… --- ## [Medical Question (≠ Need Answer Fast) — recurrent inflammations @ cheekbones](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-question-need-answer-fast-recurrent-inflammations-cheekbones/996066)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-question-need-answer-fast-recurrent-inflammations-cheekbones/996066 "2024-01-14T13:16:38Z")
I’m generically prone to sebaceous cysts: subcutaneous nodules under my skin that periodically get infected and swell up and get red and sore, then either just go away quietly or burst and drain and then fade. Well, I … --- ## [Life insurance question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-insurance-question/994124)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2024, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-insurance-question/994124 "2024-01-14T02:35:13Z")
John is driving home when a drunk driver crosses the center line hitting Johns car killing him. Johns life insurance pays out double because it is an accident. Does the life insurance company go after the drunk driver/… --- ## [eBay terrorizes a pair of journalists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-terrorizes-a-pair-of-journalists/996061)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2024, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-terrorizes-a-pair-of-journalists/996061 "2024-01-14T02:32:26Z")
I honestly thought this type of stuff happens only in the movies (or a John Grisham novel) Here’s a (free) link to a New York Times piece that details how eBay employees tried to shut up a pair of journalists for sayin… --- ## [Tom Shales RIP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-shales-rip/996050)
**Author:** [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-shales-rip/996050 "2024-01-13T23:47:19Z")
Longtime television critic for the Washington Post and author of the definitive oral history of Saturday Night Live, Shales passed away yesterday at age 79. I really enjoyed his columns, which were often insightful, wit… --- ## [Becks bad bad bad dwunk posting thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becks-bad-bad-bad-dwunk-posting-thread/996052)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/becks-bad-bad-bad-dwunk-posting-thread/996052 "2024-01-13T22:51:58Z")
Yeah. I was. No faults of my own. Kinda high blood glucose. Iyv was on my case. Frettin’ and pokin’ i was giggliy over horses on TV withclothes on. Seemed awfully silly to me. Some stoopid movie on Tmc. I’m mean TCM. … --- ## [How should I die?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-die/995776)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-die/995776 "2024-01-13T22:35:39Z")
Wife and I are currently reading/listening to “How Not To Die”, a book about how to adjust your diet so as to reduce your risk of developing any of several diseases. Some of the chapter titles: How not to die from hea… --- ## [A question about a song in "In the Heat of the Night"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-song-in-in-the-heat-of-the-night/464620)
**Author:** [@squeekster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeekster)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-song-in-in-the-heat-of-the-night/464620 "2024-01-13T21:40:07Z")
In the movie In the Heat of the Night, towards the beginning of the movie when Sam Woods (Officer Woods) is driving his patrol car after leaving the diner, there is a song playing on the radio. The lyrics go something l… --- ## [What number is highest before using a form of "ten and \_\_\_\_\_"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-number-is-highest-before-using-a-form-of-ten-and/996014)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-number-is-highest-before-using-a-form-of-ten-and/996014 "2024-01-13T20:49:32Z")
In English, we get up to 12 before we say “thirteen”, which is an obvious reference to ten. What number, presumably in a foreign language, is the highest “distinct” number that doesn’t reference another number. I’m not… --- ## [Do you have a pantry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-pantry/995709)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-pantry/995709 "2024-01-13T19:24:24Z")
What do you use it for? Do you think it’s essential to have a pantry? They are not that common where I live, and I have never missed having one, but I do wonder why many people think they are essential. --- ## [Does a sedentary lifestyle burn the same amount of calories as an active lifestyle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-sedentary-lifestyle-burn-the-same-amount-of-calories-as-an-active-lifestyle/995835)
**Author:** [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-sedentary-lifestyle-burn-the-same-amount-of-calories-as-an-active-lifestyle/995835 "2024-01-13T17:55:17Z")
The question is the title, but basically, is a sedentary lifestyle burning roughly the same amount of calories per day as an active lifestyle? I’ve just read that it doesn’t matter, both burn roughly the same amount of … --- ## [Bosda declare his purpose & (non-religious) credo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bosda-declare-his-purpose-non-religious-credo/996030)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bosda-declare-his-purpose-non-religious-credo/996030 "2024-01-13T17:37:42Z")
The drunk throws away the empty bottle, the smoker discards the empty packet, but a book addict never throws away anything. --- ## [3D Glasses?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3d-glasses/996026)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3d-glasses/996026 "2024-01-13T17:05:46Z")
Anybody got a set of red/blue 3d glasses? --- ## [How deep would you need to go to create a naturally warm basement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-would-you-need-to-go-to-create-a-naturally-warm-basement/995907)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-deep-would-you-need-to-go-to-create-a-naturally-warm-basement/995907 "2024-01-13T16:39:11Z")
Growing up, my parents didn’t ‘believe’ in air conditioning. (That should likely be read as 'thought spending money for cool air was wasteful giving our area only had high temperatures for maybe two months a year.) As … --- ## [Why all the sunglasses stores?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-sunglasses-stores/995734)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-all-the-sunglasses-stores/995734 "2024-01-13T15:37:18Z")
I’m in an airport terminal, standing in front of a store selling designer sunglasses. Such stores are everywhere in airports, malls, and shopping streets. Who’s buying these glasses? They’re not the el cheapo plastic kin… --- ## [Do we have an obligation to know about the suffering of others?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-have-an-obligation-to-know-about-the-suffering-of-others/995982)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-have-an-obligation-to-know-about-the-suffering-of-others/995982 "2024-01-13T15:27:57Z")
I’ve always felt that I do have an obligation to know about the suffering of others. Take for example the Russia/Ukraine war. If people are being shot, raped, stabbed, starved, tortured and murdered, the least I can do i… --- ## [The Risk of Artificial Photosynthesis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-risk-of-artificial-photosynthesis/995981)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-risk-of-artificial-photosynthesis/995981 "2024-01-13T12:22:39Z")
I’ve recently seen a few news articles like these: If we assume as a given that 1) we have or will find a genuine improvement on photosynthesis, and 2) we can genetically engineer that into our plants then: Would tha… --- ## [Guess Trump's weight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-trumps-weight/989013)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 205\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-trumps-weight/989013 "2024-01-13T07:31:08Z")
Trump will be weighed during his GA arrest, and in my understanding his weight will be on the public arrest report. What do you think his weight will be in lbs? My guess - 287 lbs. --- ## [Australian phrase: "shout the bar!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-phrase-shout-the-bar/995970)
**Author:** [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/australian-phrase-shout-the-bar/995970 "2024-01-13T06:53:53Z")
Yep another thread about the “little differences” the four english speaking countries I’ve lived in have. From “Pulp Fiction” VINCENT It’s the little differences. A lotta the same shit we got here, they got there, bu… --- ## [Is English the only language that uses the "oʊ" sound?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-english-the-only-language-that-uses-the-o-sound/995820)
**Author:** [@Amikejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amikejo)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-english-the-only-language-that-uses-the-o-sound/995820 "2024-01-13T05:56:21Z")
I can’t think of another language that uses it, and google yielded nothing. --- ## [Is there anything to prevent state legislatures from moving back to having only themselves vote for presidential electors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-to-prevent-state-legislatures-from-moving-back-to-having-only-themselves-vote-for-presidential-electors/995983)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-to-prevent-state-legislatures-from-moving-back-to-having-only-themselves-vote-for-presidential-electors/995983 "2024-01-13T04:49:55Z")
Prior to, I believe, the election where Jackson won, it was common for presidential elections to be voted on by state legislatures rather than direct votes by the citizenry determining the slate of electors. Is there an… --- ## [English usage question: Indirect objects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-usage-question-indirect-objects/995798)
**Author:** [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-usage-question-indirect-objects/995798 "2024-01-13T04:09:43Z")
It seems the verb ‘explain’ doesn’t take indirect objects. We say, “I’ll explain everything to you.” but not I’ll explain you everything." On the other hand either “I’ll tell you everything” or I’ll tell everything to … --- ## [Napoleon (Ridley Scott movie)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-ridley-scott-movie/986896)
**Author:** [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-ridley-scott-movie/986896 "2024-01-13T02:37:06Z")
Ridley Scott’s new movie Napoleon is about the life and times of the iconic French Emperor. Joaquin Phoenix looks great in the titular role. It looks like it’s going to span at least from the French Revolution to Waterlo… --- ## [Call the HOA!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-the-hoa/996007)
**Author:** [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/call-the-hoa/996007 "2024-01-13T01:26:46Z")
(Actually, from what I hear about HOAs, they’d have conniptions at most of the TV gardening programmes in the UK, which these days are big on leaving wild bits for the bugs and creepy-crawlies, and creating meadow plan… --- ## [How Bad Was Claudine Gay's Plagiarism? \[She resigned, Jan 2, 2024\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-claudine-gays-plagiarism-she-resigned-jan-2-2024/994945)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 193\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-was-claudine-gays-plagiarism-she-resigned-jan-2-2024/994945 "2024-01-13T00:48:12Z")
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/20/business/harvard-president-claudine-gay-plagiarism/index.html Yeah, yeah, I know it’s all politically motivated, but objectively, I’m having trouble figuring out how far over the line she … --- ## [Coincidence? I think not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coincidence-i-think-not/995985)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coincidence-i-think-not/995985 "2024-01-13T00:35:27Z")
Where does this phrase originate from? Google says The Incredibles but that’s impossible since we said this when I was a kid. I have a vague memory of someone either in a suit or lab coat saying it , maybe in a parody … --- ## [Why is racial grouping of diverse ethnicities with different backgrounds still considered acceptable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-racial-grouping-of-diverse-ethnicities-with-different-backgrounds-still-considered-acceptable/991662)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 97\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-racial-grouping-of-diverse-ethnicities-with-different-backgrounds-still-considered-acceptable/991662 "2024-01-13T00:09:25Z")
To me as a European who never went to America and living in a country where 95% of people are caucasian, race never mattered nearly as much as ethnicity did, because a Norwegian and Irish or Portuguese and Turkish person… --- ## [What's Life Like On Indian Reservations These Days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-life-like-on-indian-reservations-these-days/996013)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-life-like-on-indian-reservations-these-days/996013 "2024-01-13T00:04:49Z")
So the Hulu show Reservation Dogs has been praised for its gritty portrayal of the reality of life on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma. Except, I knew a guy who worked on Navajo and Apache reservations in New Mexico and… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=651) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=653)