# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=653&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 654 --- ## [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… --- ## [Why don't we sneeze when we are sleeping?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-when-we-are-sleeping/531716)
**Author:** [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-sneeze-when-we-are-sleeping/531716 "2024-01-12T23:31:18Z")
Title says it all. I assume we don’t anyway, because I am pretty sure I would be woken up by a sneeze. :wink: --- ## [Was the 1947 partition plan fair to the Palistinians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-1947-partition-plan-fair-to-the-palistinians/995355)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-1947-partition-plan-fair-to-the-palistinians/995355 "2024-01-12T19:37:07Z")
I know this is a difficult topic to discuss. I have no stakes in the conflict myself, and I’m currently reading up on details I’ve missed before and trying to get a clearer picture. Let’s try to limit the discussion to … --- ## [Why are J words in English usually written with Dy in the Tagalog language (ex: Dyanitor instead of Janitor)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-j-words-in-english-usually-written-with-dy-in-the-tagalog-language-ex-dyanitor-instead-of-janitor/996012)
**Author:** [@Jagraze1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jagraze1)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-j-words-in-english-usually-written-with-dy-in-the-tagalog-language-ex-dyanitor-instead-of-janitor/996012 "2024-01-12T19:33:08Z")
From what I know, I often hear that the English “J” sound does not exist in Tagalog. However, when I see words in Tagalog, there are often sounds that use English “j” (ex: Dyanitor). Why doesn’t Tagalog use J for \[dzh\] i… --- ## [The Big Bang Theory: worth continuing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-worth-continuing/995595)
**Author:** [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-worth-continuing/995595 "2024-01-12T19:21:41Z")
My wife and I recently decided to watch this show, having never seen it before. My wife hadn’t ever been interested, because she assumed it would be all about a group of guys trying to have sex with a dumb blonde. I was … --- ## [Opinions desired on home heating (short and long term)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-desired-on-home-heating-short-and-long-term/995755)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-desired-on-home-heating-short-and-long-term/995755 "2024-01-12T17:58:28Z")
I’ve been living in my first floor condo (part of a larger building with multiple units) for about a year now, so I’ve not gotten used to its quirks yet. It’s just shy of 890 square feet. There are baseboard heaters in t… --- ## [What is going on with Google reviews of the film "Leave The World Behind"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-going-on-with-google-reviews-of-the-film-leave-the-world-behind/995935)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-going-on-with-google-reviews-of-the-film-leave-the-world-behind/995935 "2024-01-12T17:58:08Z")
I did a Google search on the subject movie, and at the top of the page is the Google info on it, followed by site hits. The Google section includes reviews. The proportion of 1-star reviews is way out of proportion to wh… --- ## [I’m rooting for Chris Christie’s run for President (He has dropped from the race Jan 2024)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-rooting-for-chris-christie-s-run-for-president-he-has-dropped-from-the-race-jan-2024/985302)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-m-rooting-for-chris-christie-s-run-for-president-he-has-dropped-from-the-race-jan-2024/985302 "2024-01-12T16:48:23Z")
I’ve always liked Chris Christie. He’s obviously flawed, but be knows he can’t hide it. So he’s funny. And relatable. And enjoys taking the position that he’s allowed to tell you the straight truth, even if it sucks. … --- ## [What would it be like to reach adulthood twice as fast?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-be-like-to-reach-adulthood-twice-as-fast/995913)
**Author:** [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-be-like-to-reach-adulthood-twice-as-fast/995913 "2024-01-12T16:02:06Z")
There are various fictional settings where aging is stopped, delayed or altered in some way. My question is if a perfect method was devised for parents to have their children age twice to maturity twice as fast (meaning … --- ## [Mickey's Mouse Trap (2024)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickeys-mouse-trap-2024/995857)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mickeys-mouse-trap-2024/995857 "2024-01-12T15:55:03Z")
A whole movie made just to flip the bird to Disney? Really? --- ## [What is the original definition of a Coulomb?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-original-definition-of-a-coulomb/995863)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-original-definition-of-a-coulomb/995863 "2024-01-12T15:33:08Z")
I found this: physics - Origin of the coulomb and ampere - History of Science and Mathematics Stack Exchange " my question: why is the coulomb (and ampere) the size it is today, which an outrageous size that makes it… --- ## [Graphing functions with non-integer exponents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphing-functions-with-non-integer-exponents/995951)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphing-functions-with-non-integer-exponents/995951 "2024-01-12T14:21:19Z")
Look at the graph of x^2 R.036035c45a2ac01824e8245c46f1a534 (546×314) (bing.com) a nice “V” shape. here’s the graph of x^3 R.c6f80415c6f0a653349cdccae3032821 (1002×821) (bing.com) An “S” shape Essentially, any even… --- ## [Outdoor Cats Are Using $500 Starlink Satellite Dishes as Self-Heating Beds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752)
**Author:** [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outdoor-cats-are-using-500-starlink-satellite-dishes-as-self-heating-beds/995752 "2024-01-12T12:18:12Z")
The dishes are self-heating and cozy for the cats. Doesn’t help reception. --- ## [What happened to "blur spoiler"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-blur-spoiler/995958)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-blur-spoiler/995958 "2024-01-12T11:44:39Z")
It has disappeared as a menu option. You now have to type in the tags by hand. This change sucks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=652&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=654&state=muted)