# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=749 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 750 --- ## [America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-using-up-its-groundwater-like-there-s-no-tomorrow/989294)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-is-using-up-its-groundwater-like-there-s-no-tomorrow/989294 "2023-09-03T20:41:41Z")
Interesting New York Times article about groundwater depletion in the U.S. (they did a serious statistical analysis). Someone posted a gift link: Look at this image: I … --- ## [What Exactly Did Henry Kissinger Do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-did-henry-kissinger-do/919181)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-did-henry-kissinger-do/919181 "2023-09-03T19:47:34Z")
Henry Kissinger (b. 1923) was the Secretary of State under Richard Nixon and apparently Gerald Ford too. Anyway, I often read these articles about him being responsible for Pinochet. Pinochet was a particularly evil, fa… --- ## [How Is Legalizing Marijuana...Legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-legalizing-marijuana-legal/974218)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-legalizing-marijuana-legal/974218 "2023-09-03T17:56:08Z")
US Dopers: Many States have legalized OR are considering legalizing the use of marijuana in one form of another for medicinal or recreational use. Maybe everything I was taught in school was wrong, but I thought no State… --- ## [Preventing toilet bowl evaporation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preventing-toilet-bowl-evaporation/989274)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preventing-toilet-bowl-evaporation/989274 "2023-09-03T14:53:54Z")
Wife and I are custodians of a house that will be unoccupied and unvisited for probably the next six months or more. We were last in the house three months ago, and I made sure all the sink traps and toilet bowls were f… --- ## [Fan Light Capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-light-capacitor/988765)
**Author:** [@Vito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vito)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fan-light-capacitor/988765 "2023-09-03T14:07:53Z")
Original Fan capacitor E183963 Yel-5u/250v, Pur-5u/250, Gray-4.5/280 New E215893 Gray-4.8/250, Pur-6/250 Yel-8/250 The gray and yellow are reversed from the original Can i use the new one? --- ## [Post your local weekly weatherforecast (pics, pls)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-local-weekly-weatherforecast-pics-pls/989504)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-local-weekly-weatherforecast-pics-pls/989504 "2023-09-03T11:13:45Z")
ok, about as mundane as it gets … putting in “my place weather” in google gives me this outlook (crop out your location if you don’t feel like sharing it) (CENTIGRADE!) … --- ## [Otzi the Gay Caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otzi-the-gay-caveman/653392)
**Author:** [@grue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grue)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/otzi-the-gay-caveman/653392 "2023-09-03T11:10:53Z")
Regarding What’s the story with Otzi the gay caveman? - The Straight Dope For what it’s worth, it actually is possible to determine age to absurd accuracy, at least with modern techniques (I don’t know if this was the … --- ## [Wanting to jump into Doctor Who. Where should I start?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanting-to-jump-into-doctor-who-where-should-i-start/989369)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanting-to-jump-into-doctor-who-where-should-i-start/989369 "2023-09-03T10:37:49Z")
I have seen and really enjoyed the episode Blink as a self contained movie but I think the time has come for me to give the show as a whole a shot. Is there a good place to start? Additionally, while I am pretty familiar… --- ## [Felines vs. canines - in terms of size](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felines-vs-canines-in-terms-of-size/989480)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felines-vs-canines-in-terms-of-size/989480 "2023-09-03T04:07:20Z")
Hi there, random shower thought: why do cats (felines) come in all kind of sizes, from you own 2kg kiddy all the way up to many hundrets of kgs of a siberian tiger (300kg/700lb) … --- ## [Theoretical constitutional amendment for age restrictions on politicians](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-constitutional-amendment-for-age-restrictions-on-politicians/989383)
**Author:** [@Digger11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digger11)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theoretical-constitutional-amendment-for-age-restrictions-on-politicians/989383 "2023-09-03T03:41:54Z")
Assume for the sake of the argument that we can actually get a constitutional amendment passed. I’ve never been much of a fan of hard age requirements for retirement–people differ so much in their abilities and health. … --- ## [Proposal: The "End Congressional Deadlock" Amendment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-the-end-congressional-deadlock-amendment/989487)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposal-the-end-congressional-deadlock-amendment/989487 "2023-09-03T03:34:41Z")
quote=“Whack-a-Mole, post:89, topic:989383”\] I have lots of ideas I think could improve the US government. Age restrictions (and/or term limits) are not top of the list. \[/quote\] Fair enough. I have some thoughts myse… --- ## [What defines a manifesto?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-a-manifesto/989464)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-a-manifesto/989464 "2023-09-03T03:10:47Z")
The recent shooting suspect in Florida had pages of racist writings in his room to justify his crime He was apparently suffering from some mental health problems, so they’re probably not as coherent as a screed made by … --- ## [Amateur CGI? (Haunted house)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-cgi-haunted-house/989528)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-cgi-haunted-house/989528 "2023-09-02T21:44:49Z")
Below is a video of a supposedly “haunted house”. Of course I think it’s nonsense. But I have to say the graphics are impressive. (Bonus points for getting the dog to play along). So is there software out there that peo… --- ## [Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia to Hit Florida/East Coast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropical-storm-hurricane-idalia-to-hit-florida-east-coast/989226)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropical-storm-hurricane-idalia-to-hit-florida-east-coast/989226 "2023-09-02T20:50:02Z")
Dopers living in the affected areas: what preparations have you done? --- ## [UTMB (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc) 2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utmb-ultra-trail-mont-blanc-2023/989426)
**Author:** [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utmb-ultra-trail-mont-blanc-2023/989426 "2023-09-02T19:05:35Z")
Ultra Trail Mont Blanc is widely considered the world’s premier ultra-running event. The 2023 edition starts tomorrow (Sep 1) at 6pm in Chamonix (southeastern France). Around 2300 runners will race over a course of 171… --- ## [Should we get a budgie?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-get-a-budgie/824455)
**Author:** [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-we-get-a-budgie/824455 "2023-09-02T18:44:50Z")
Our cleaning lady has a number of parakeets… who, being healthy young birds, have produced MORE parakeets. She wants to give us one. I kinda want one. She asked us to suggest a name, so she can get it used to it. I su… --- ## [MLB: August 2023](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980)
**Author:** [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Replies:** 147\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-august-2023/987980 "2023-09-02T17:14:15Z")
Better late than never – here’s the new thread for August. --- ## [All right ... so how do I sue U-Haul in small claims court?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-right-so-how-do-i-sue-u-haul-in-small-claims-court/131207)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-right-so-how-do-i-sue-u-haul-in-small-claims-court/131207 "2023-09-02T16:47:38Z")
I just moved over Labor Day weekend (from NYC upstate to Ulster County, NY). I was supposed to have been getting a truck from U-Haul. I made a reservation 45 days in advance. I got no truck. I had to rent from another co… --- ## [What's the largest island you can drive to from the mainland?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-island-you-can-drive-to-from-the-mainland/989457)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-island-you-can-drive-to-from-the-mainland/989457 "2023-09-02T16:18:36Z")
What’s the largest island you can drive to from the mainland? Just got to wondering. After a small bit of research, I decided to break it into three sub-questions based on whether you can drive via a bridge, a causeway,… --- ## [What should a new U.S. motto be? (instead of "In God We Trust")](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-a-new-u-s-motto-be-instead-of-in-god-we-trust/988080)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 150\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-a-new-u-s-motto-be-instead-of-in-god-we-trust/988080 "2023-09-02T15:27:58Z")
A recent Pit thread about Louisiana requiring the above national motto to be displayed on all school classroom walls (presumably only publicly funded schools, but I don’t think that point was raised in the part of the th… --- ## [Why does it matter if the SCOTUS is unpopular?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-matter-if-the-scotus-is-unpopular/986582)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-matter-if-the-scotus-is-unpopular/986582 "2023-09-02T13:31:32Z")
The SCOTUS has been delivering what some people call regressive rulings. News outlets have been producing articles concerning a resulting decline in public opinion of the SCOTUS. I do not want to discuss the rulings the… --- ## [Edge of our universe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edge-of-our-universe/989164)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edge-of-our-universe/989164 "2023-09-02T13:22:15Z")
Obviously inspired by EnolaStraight’s question, but different. If the Universe began with an initial explosive expansion from one state into a different one. Is there a large amount of energy and maybe something else, t… --- ## [When and why did we forget how to sharpen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-we-forget-how-to-sharpen/986833)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-and-why-did-we-forget-how-to-sharpen/986833 "2023-09-02T13:19:14Z")
I have taken up hand tool woodworking in the last couple of years and keeping your tools sharp is a critical skill. As such, there’s a whole bunch of ink spilled (and products for sale) w.r.t. this. However, if you loo… --- ## [Health insurance won't pay, because no one knows how to bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance-wont-pay-because-no-one-knows-how-to-bill/989372)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-insurance-wont-pay-because-no-one-knows-how-to-bill/989372 "2023-09-02T12:25:02Z")
So i made an appointment at Walgreens to get an RSV vaccine. I got there, and they said they couldn’t bill my insurance. Does my insurance not cover it (in which case I’m willing to pay) or does it just not cover it her… --- ## [How much debt to Wall Street/ US government did the Bolshevik government renege on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-debt-to-wall-street-us-government-did-the-bolshevik-government-renege-on/989454)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-debt-to-wall-street-us-government-did-the-bolshevik-government-renege-on/989454 "2023-09-02T11:44:06Z")
How much debt to Wall Street/ US government did the Bolshevik government renege on ? --- ## [Of Astronauts and Corvettes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-astronauts-and-corvettes/981858)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-astronauts-and-corvettes/981858 "2023-09-02T11:37:44Z")
I never thought much about it (other than being jealous), but recently the windmills of my mind began churning: I understand a local Chevy dealership gave each (Mercury?) astronaut a brand new Corvette. However, wasn’t i… --- ## [What if Trump had run in 2012?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-had-run-in-2012/987642)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-trump-had-run-in-2012/987642 "2023-09-02T05:48:46Z")
The question came to mind while reading the thread about getting rid of the internet. It seems to me that Trump and the movement he inspired are a lot more to blame for our current state of affairs than is the internet.… --- ## [How many trips to the Titanic did the Titan make? apologies for another thread about this craft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-trips-to-the-titanic-did-the-titan-make-apologies-for-another-thread-about-this-craft/986051)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-trips-to-the-titanic-did-the-titan-make-apologies-for-another-thread-about-this-craft/986051 "2023-09-02T03:49:38Z")
I’m getting mixed information and its a bit obfuscated. I know it made several ‘test’ dives at various depths and attempted to go to the Titanic a few times that were aborted. But I’m not getting good information on ho… --- ## [What animals would be more dangerous if enlarged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-would-be-more-dangerous-if-enlarged/983050)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-would-be-more-dangerous-if-enlarged/983050 "2023-09-02T02:53:39Z")
Giant spiders and scorpions are a favorite of movies, but spiders are pretty fragile. Would a colossal housecat (I’m thinking maybe tiger-sized or even bus-sized), for example, be dangerous to humans? A crow? A wombat? --- ## [Blue Moon🎶](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-moon/989378)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-moon/989378 "2023-09-02T01:57:16Z")
Pardon my singing. Seems there’s a blue moon tonight. Not by color, I’m led to believe it has something to do with how many full moons their are in a certain period of time. Time to raise heck!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=748) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=750)