# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=696&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 697 --- ## [Most Useless Cover Songs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-useless-cover-songs/989174)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-useless-cover-songs/989174 "2023-11-15T14:02:51Z")
i.e.; songs that sound so much like the original that you wonder why they they were made. 311- Love Song Weezer- Africa To me, both of these sound so much like the original The Cure and Toto, respectively, versions th… --- ## [My opinion: Some websites say your password is wrong when its not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-opinion-some-websites-say-your-password-is-wrong-when-its-not/991507)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-opinion-some-websites-say-your-password-is-wrong-when-its-not/991507 "2023-11-15T14:02:04Z")
I am CONVIENCED that some websites say you have the wrong password when you enter the correct password. My browser has saved the password for this website and entered it automatically for the past year. And now suddenl… --- ## [Biden and Trump polling neck and neck: How, exactly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-and-trump-polling-neck-and-neck-how-exactly/988267)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 182\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-and-trump-polling-neck-and-neck-how-exactly/988267 "2023-11-15T13:13:38Z")
According to current news reports, Trump and Biden are literally neck and neck, in surveys typically framed as “If the election were held today…”. This is in spite of Trump’s mounting legal perils and lengthy record of … --- ## [What's the deal with AP courses in high school?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-ap-courses-in-high-school/992501)
**Author:** [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-ap-courses-in-high-school/992501 "2023-11-15T11:35:51Z")
I suppose we used to have AP way back when I was in high school, you know, when we didn’t smoke in the bathroom because students were supposed to smoke in the courtyard. Despite being pretty good at science and math, I d… --- ## [Oh boy ... (implanted?) memories?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-boy-implanted-memories/993015)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-boy-implanted-memories/993015 "2023-11-15T07:36:53Z")
Based on this pic from another thread: … triggert the following train of thought… yep I know that, abbey road studios I’ve been there around 2015/16 while in Lon… --- ## [“No Good Deed” by Victor Gischler (Spoiler Requested)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-good-deed-by-victor-gischler-spoiler-requested/993155)
**Author:** [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-good-deed-by-victor-gischler-spoiler-requested/993155 "2023-11-15T02:18:58Z")
If you intend to pick up this book, read no further. If you have read this book, I need to know how it ends. I was reading this on a plane yesterday and was about a dozen pages from the end when I landed…and left it in t… --- ## [Need tech help re: recording programs that show via streaming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-tech-help-re-recording-programs-that-show-via-streaming/993150)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-tech-help-re-recording-programs-that-show-via-streaming/993150 "2023-11-15T01:52:47Z")
We have only stupid TVs, i.e. no smart TVs, hence, we either input, via HDMI, the cable system or the computer/streaming system. We can record anything that comes via the cable by using the DVR system that it comes thro… --- ## [Who is the audience for the NFL overseas games?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-audience-for-the-nfl-overseas-games/993031)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-audience-for-the-nfl-overseas-games/993031 "2023-11-15T01:10:27Z")
Just what the topic line says. The tv shows a full and fully engaged crowd. Lots of NFL merch being worn. Are there that many loyal NFL fans in Europe? Are they following specific teams? If so what makes certain teams mo… --- ## [Kick it up a couple notches: That whole-step modulation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-it-up-a-couple-notches-that-whole-step-modulation/992839)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-it-up-a-couple-notches-that-whole-step-modulation/992839 "2023-11-15T01:09:03Z")
Songwriters know a cheap but effective trick to make their tune more interesting, more exciting: Suddenly jump the key up a whole step. There are countless examples. The earliest one I’ve noted yet is “Telstar” (1962) b… --- ## [Percent of Earth's surface north of the Arctic Circle that is land?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percent-of-earths-surface-north-of-the-arctic-circle-that-is-land/993050)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 15, 2023, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/percent-of-earths-surface-north-of-the-arctic-circle-that-is-land/993050 "2023-11-15T00:15:08Z")
For some reason, I’m having a hard time finding this out. For the purposes of my question, ‘land’ does not include ice, just solid ground above sea level. So ice shelves and polar ice caps don’t count. I was tempted to s… --- ## [What shots do my formerly-outdoor-now-100%-indoor cats now need? (If any?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shots-do-my-formerly-outdoor-now-100-indoor-cats-now-need-if-any/993064)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-shots-do-my-formerly-outdoor-now-100-indoor-cats-now-need-if-any/993064 "2023-11-14T23:49:47Z")
Three months ago (can it be so long already?) I moved from a house to an apartment. Discussed thoroughly here. At the house where I lived for 10 years, my two 10-year-old cats used to go in and out at will, all over the… --- ## [Terrible ice hockey death](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrible-ice-hockey-death/992397)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terrible-ice-hockey-death/992397 "2023-11-14T22:30:23Z")
" SHEFFIELD, England — Police are investigating the death of American ice hockey player Adam Johnson after his neck was cut by a skate blade in a game in England. Johnson, 29, was playing for the Nottingham Panthers at … --- ## [Real-life bands with punny names](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-life-bands-with-punny-names/992818 "2023-11-14T22:01:09Z")
Which real-life musical groups have names based on puns? The prototypical example would be The Beatles (beat / beetles). Novelty, parody, and cover bands tend to do this a lot, as with Dread Zeppelin (who play reggae r… --- ## [Takeaways from Election Day 2023?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/takeaways-from-election-day-2023/992864)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/takeaways-from-election-day-2023/992864 "2023-11-14T21:47:17Z")
What lessons, strategies, and reasons to hope or despair do you think came out of this past Election Day for both sides? Is abortion a winning issue for the left? What does the right think of what happened? Go nuts! --- ## [Mitt Romney is not running for reelection next year](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-is-not-running-for-reelection-next-year/990066)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mitt-romney-is-not-running-for-reelection-next-year/990066 "2023-11-14T20:32:55Z")
He seemed to be one of the less-MAGA Republicans at times and voted to convict Trump in 2020, though he also gushed over Donald and seemed to be angling for a Cabinet post-perhaps Secretary of State-when the plum jobs we… --- ## [Other gritty TV westerns you can recommend besides Deadwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-gritty-tv-westerns-you-can-recommend-besides-deadwood/993080)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/other-gritty-tv-westerns-you-can-recommend-besides-deadwood/993080 "2023-11-14T20:21:25Z")
I’ve always been fond of westerns. I watched Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, Maverick, and the Rifleman, to name a few, growing up as a kid. While I enjoyed watching these shows, I realize now they weren’t very realistic… --- ## [If Swahili is a phonetic language, why are misspellings common?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-swahili-is-a-phonetic-language-why-are-misspellings-common/992105)
**Author:** [@Jagraze1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jagraze1)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-swahili-is-a-phonetic-language-why-are-misspellings-common/992105 "2023-11-14T19:22:40Z")
Right so according to research, misspellings such as th instead of dh, r instead of l, the omission of h, etc. as can be seen here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242189390\_Problems\_of\_Writing\_in\_Kiswahili\_A\_C… --- ## [SDMB Edit window question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-edit-window-question/993094)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-edit-window-question/993094 "2023-11-14T18:49:16Z")
Why does the edit window let you make and submit your edit and THEN tell you it’s too late. It already knew that when I opened the edit window. Maybe there should be a clock or timer that ticks down the seconds left to m… --- ## [Is it possible to download a posting archive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-download-a-posting-archive/993132)
**Author:** [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-download-a-posting-archive/993132 "2023-11-14T18:24:54Z")
My sister (Doper ioioio a.k.a. lainaf) passed away shortly before the Covid pandemic. I’ve enjoyed browsing through her posts, which date back two decades, but it would be nice to have them stashed on my own computer. I… --- ## [Why don’t schools teach basic consumer finance & law?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-schools-teach-basic-consumer-finance-law/991425)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-schools-teach-basic-consumer-finance-law/991425 "2023-11-14T18:15:32Z")
I don’t know what all schools do but my general understanding is that public schools at least are not making it a practice now, any more than they did when I was a kid, to teach basic consumer finance (& law cause it rea… --- ## ["Earthy" flavors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthy-flavors/992884)
**Author:** [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthy-flavors/992884 "2023-11-14T18:03:35Z")
I keep seeing the word “earthy” tossed around as a descriptor in food discussions. A thread on this board about roobiroos tea (sorry, I still can’t spell it but I have a firm policy never to look anything up!) uses the t… --- ## [What is your favorite publication/website for health-related information?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-publication-website-for-health-related-information/993089)
**Author:** [@2outta3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2outta3)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-publication-website-for-health-related-information/993089 "2023-11-14T17:54:02Z")
Me? For about two decades it has been the Life Extension Foundation’s magazine and website. I have found some of their recommendations for otc products and dosing protocols to be spot on in some instances where my blood … --- ## [Absinthe spoons for the thrifty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absinthe-spoons-for-the-thrifty/993057)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absinthe-spoons-for-the-thrifty/993057 "2023-11-14T17:11:23Z")
In what surely must be a clash of cultures, Walmart sells absinthe spoons. --- ## [Experience dealing with a close friend/relative with a negative disposition?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-dealing-with-a-close-friend-relative-with-a-negative-disposition/992694)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/experience-dealing-with-a-close-friend-relative-with-a-negative-disposition/992694 "2023-11-14T16:22:43Z")
I was wondering if folk might share their experiences dealing with someone close to them who has a consistently negative disposition. My concern is with our adult son in his young 30s. He was more challenging than our … --- ## [Your own personal sleeper hits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-own-personal-sleeper-hits/992754)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-own-personal-sleeper-hits/992754 "2023-11-14T13:17:12Z")
In music industry parlance, a “sleeper hit” is a song that attracts little attention upon its release, but becomes a big success much later on. Let’s define a “personal sleeper hit” as a song that you have long disliked… --- ## [Abortion and the future of the GOP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-the-future-of-the-gop/992935)
**Author:** [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abortion-and-the-future-of-the-gop/992935 "2023-11-14T12:46:05Z")
Not to be overly optimistic here, but from the progressive point of view, the GOP appears to have boxed itself in, electorally, good and proper here. if there’s one issue their base has committed itself to, irrevocably, … --- ## [The latest in satire: "Vladimir Putin, Life Coach"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-in-satire-vladimir-putin-life-coach/993088)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-latest-in-satire-vladimir-putin-life-coach/993088 "2023-11-14T12:09:20Z")
It popped up in an ad at the bottom of the page, and sure enough, it’s real. --- ## [The rings of Saturn](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rings-of-saturn/75844)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rings-of-saturn/75844 "2023-11-14T08:57:00Z")
What are they made of? I wonder whether the opening footage of 3rd Rock from the Sun is accurate in that it shows a bit where Saturn’s rings appear to be made of coal, or at least carbon; they’re supposed to be “a meter … --- ## [WSJ - toxic work environment at the FDIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-toxic-work-environment-at-the-fdic/993067)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wsj-toxic-work-environment-at-the-fdic/993067 "2023-11-14T07:07:51Z")
WSJ article about the long standing toxic work environment at the FDIC, primarily within the bank examiners group. FDIC has just over 5,000 employees, about 2,900 of which work in the bank examination group. Within t… --- ## [Tough chicken breasts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tough-chicken-breasts/993078)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2023, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tough-chicken-breasts/993078 "2023-11-14T05:23:16Z")
Lately we seem to be getting tough chicken breasts. They tend to be larger and give an audible sound like sawing when cutting it raw. You can physically feel the muscle fibers are hard and the meat when cooked is so to… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=695&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=697&state=watching)