# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=85&state=muted [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 86 --- ## [What are the Imperial Japanese medals this 1960s "OPFOR" war game officer is wearing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-imperial-japanese-medals-this-1960s-opfor-war-game-officer-is-wearing/1023838)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-imperial-japanese-medals-this-1960s-opfor-war-game-officer-is-wearing/1023838 "2026-05-24T15:21:22Z")
I’ve got a History and Militaria question: I’ve got a photo of a US Army officer wearing the uniform of a fictional “OPFOR” adversary (specifically, the “Aggressor Republic,” which actually has a long, codified alternate… --- ## [What are the great sniping - stalking - sneaking games?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-sniping-stalking-sneaking-games/1030284)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-sniping-stalking-sneaking-games/1030284 "2026-05-24T10:01:18Z")
I’m sort of in between games right now. I recently played Atomfall and liked it a lot, then I was recommended the Metro series for its similar stalking game mechanics. I just finished the Metro trilogy and enjoyed it ver… --- ## [How does air traffic control work in Vancouver harbor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-air-traffic-control-work-in-vancouver-harbor/1030263)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-air-traffic-control-work-in-vancouver-harbor/1030263 "2026-05-24T02:39:51Z")
I once spent a half hour watching sea planes landing and taking off there. It looked totally chaotic. There was what looked like a control tower, but for all I know it was the harbor master’s tower. Basically, the har… --- ## [Kyle Busch, two-time NASCAR Series Cup winner, dies at 41](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-busch-two-time-nascar-series-cup-winner-dies-at-41/1030294)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kyle-busch-two-time-nascar-series-cup-winner-dies-at-41/1030294 "2026-05-24T01:48:59Z")
Kyle Busch, NASCAR legend, passed away today of an unspecified illness at the age of 41. Gift article: Even I recognized the name, and I’m not a racing guy. Holy crap. --- ## [gladiator math](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gladiator-math/603365 "2026-05-23T21:39:52Z")
Can someone please explain to me Proximo’s negotiation with the merchant selling him slaves? “I’ll give you two thousand, and four for the beasts… that’s five for an old friend.” Anyone know if this had any real meanin… --- ## [Survivor 50 - All Stars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-50-all-stars/1027920)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 240\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survivor-50-all-stars/1027920 "2026-05-23T18:51:29Z")
It’s the 50th round of Survivor after 25 1/2 years. Amazing. I watched the very first Survivor episode right as it aired and have seen every single season, even when I lived in China for two years(my Dad sent us copies o… --- ## [A squirrel question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-squirrel-question/1030301)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-squirrel-question/1030301 "2026-05-23T17:50:57Z")
I’ve been feeding the squirrels outside my apartment door. I dumped a big bag of seeds into a plastic kitty litter box so I could leave it outside. I would fill a couple of bowls, but I guess I wasn’t fast enough because… --- ## [Citi Bank has 27 different credit cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citi-bank-has-27-different-credit-cards/1030222)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citi-bank-has-27-different-credit-cards/1030222 "2026-05-23T17:43:12Z")
When I went to pay my monthly balance I saw on the splash page that they have 27 different freakin’ cards! I took a casual look and they do indeed seem to be different, at least in name. I note that ten of them are card… --- ## [Pre-op live!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-op-live/1030280)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-op-live/1030280 "2026-05-23T17:16:44Z")
Ask me anything. I’m waiting on the big show. Surgeon is late. No explanation. I’m all fasted, not easy. Took a whole day in hospital. I’ve had the pre-op shot. So I’m a bit out of control. Don’t be alarmed if I fall … --- ## [My wife believes all the woo on her phone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-believes-all-the-woo-on-her-phone/1029924)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-believes-all-the-woo-on-her-phone/1029924 "2026-05-23T14:47:51Z")
Nearly all of it is AL videos. Today she showed me a “cure” for a painful knee ( I think). It involves making a salve of olive oil, coriander seed and a bay leaf among other things. She is determined to try it despite ev… --- ## [What is this weird building about (10x10 building, ~4 feet off the ground, in the middle of nowhere)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-building-about-10x10-building-4-feet-off-the-ground-in-the-middle-of-nowhere/1030281)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-building-about-10x10-building-4-feet-off-the-ground-in-the-middle-of-nowhere/1030281 "2026-05-23T14:16:17Z")
I drive past this weird building a few times per year when life takes me dow that stretch of road. Any idea what this is about? For context, it’s down the road from Caledonia, Missouri, a nothingburger town in the Ozar… --- ## [A steaming travel mug of black tea. How much particulate matter does that steam carry anyway?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-steaming-travel-mug-of-black-tea-how-much-particulate-matter-does-that-steam-carry-anyway/1030119)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-steaming-travel-mug-of-black-tea-how-much-particulate-matter-does-that-steam-carry-anyway/1030119 "2026-05-23T13:09:51Z")
Lengthy background: I use a large travel mug at home, it keeps my tea warm for the time it takes me to drink it. It is metal, and has a nifty ceramic coating inside that after several years is still pristine and unstaine… --- ## [How does The Weather Channel know that lightning struck X miles from my current location?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-weather-channel-know-that-lightning-struck-x-miles-from-my-current-location/1030211)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-weather-channel-know-that-lightning-struck-x-miles-from-my-current-location/1030211 "2026-05-23T13:05:29Z")
I have an iPhone with The Weather Channel app. During stormy weather the app will pop up a message telling me that lightning has struck so many miles from my current location. I know where it’s getting my location data… --- ## ["Something went wrong, try again later"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-went-wrong-try-again-later/1030238)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-went-wrong-try-again-later/1030238 "2026-05-23T09:40:09Z")
This is a rant about the trend in user interface design to make error messages vague to the point of being unusable. I decided last week that I felt like going to Sonic to eat. If your immediate reaction to that is “wel… --- ## [The amount of rot and corruption in this world is making me despair](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amount-of-rot-and-corruption-in-this-world-is-making-me-despair/1029513)
**Author:** [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amount-of-rot-and-corruption-in-this-world-is-making-me-despair/1029513 "2026-05-23T03:17:12Z")
I just read a long tweet by Peter Girnus that just makes me feel so hopeless and discouraged that I have to come here and talk about it. He’s a Senior Surveillance Analyst at a Commodities Exchange and he has three moni… --- ## [Movies or TV shows where people know the world is going to end soon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-or-tv-shows-where-people-know-the-world-is-going-to-end-soon/1029877)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-or-tv-shows-where-people-know-the-world-is-going-to-end-soon/1029877 "2026-05-23T01:38:36Z")
I’m rewatching melancholia, what other pre-apocalpyse movies are there? I’m more interested in ones that discuss the psychological fallout of everyone knowing they will all die soon, more than prepper movies. Greenland … --- ## [Do we know \*WHY\* Kilmar Abrego Garcia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-know-why-kilmar-abrego-garcia/1020599)
**Author:** [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-know-why-kilmar-abrego-garcia/1020599 "2026-05-23T00:47:21Z")
This isn’t intended as a discussion of the details of Mr. Abrego’s case, in terms of what court is deciding what action, etc. I’m interested in knowing if anyone understands why Mr. Abrego was targeted for rendition in t… --- ## [Personality Type: What D&D Alignment Would This Be?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personality-type-what-d-d-alignment-would-this-be/1030083)
**Author:** [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/personality-type-what-d-d-alignment-would-this-be/1030083 "2026-05-23T00:47:12Z")
Someone who wants to do good for themselves and others, and doesn’t really care about following the rules in order to do so. But! also believes that most others are basically too dumb to be allowed to act similarly, and … --- ## [Another question for the board's overworked linguists: How is it that I can recognize written Finnish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-for-the-boards-overworked-linguists-how-is-it-that-i-can-recognize-written-finnish/1020101)
**Author:** [@Xocomil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xocomil)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-for-the-boards-overworked-linguists-how-is-it-that-i-can-recognize-written-finnish/1020101 "2026-05-22T22:57:41Z")
In spite of not being able to so much as say “hello” or count to three in Finnish, I can reliably recognize its written form. I don’t know what it is I see that I can immediately say, “yup, that’s Finnish.” I can distin… --- ## [Second Album is their Greatest Hits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-album-is-their-greatest-hits/1030297)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/second-album-is-their-greatest-hits/1030297 "2026-05-22T22:23:38Z")
Back when Tim Curry was a kind-of in demand recording artist, he made two albums of original material–and then released a “Greatest Hits” album. I think Julie Brown did something similar, except all three of her albums h… --- ## [Should I report this Uber driver?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-report-this-uber-driver/1030183)
**Author:** [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-report-this-uber-driver/1030183 "2026-05-22T19:40:56Z")
Today I ordered an Uber. There was some confusion about pickup location so I tried to call the driver. Rang for a while and eventually someone in a very noisy environment answered. They spoke broken English. Eventually I… --- ## [Why did Customer Service Go From Phone, to Email, and Back Again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-customer-service-go-from-phone-to-email-and-back-again/1030272)
**Author:** [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-customer-service-go-from-phone-to-email-and-back-again/1030272 "2026-05-22T16:18:08Z")
I have a vague memory of a couple of different “styles” of customer service over the last 25 years or so… Wait… I’m not wording this well… Let me try this: my impression is that sometime in the early-ish dot.com era, ma… --- ## [Feature animated film originality-Disney](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feature-animated-film-originality-disney/1030286)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feature-animated-film-originality-disney/1030286 "2026-05-22T15:31:24Z")
Has Disney ever put out an original animated feature film that was not a derivative/retelling of another popular story? Original script, original characters only? --- ## [Top Gun 40th Anniversary, released to theaters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gun-40th-anniversary-released-to-theaters/1030261)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gun-40th-anniversary-released-to-theaters/1030261 "2026-05-22T15:16:49Z")
Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full --- ## [Liquor store boxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-store-boxes/1030121)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquor-store-boxes/1030121 "2026-05-22T14:59:02Z")
I’m clearing stuff out of my basement and back room and putting things into storage. As part of this project, I’m using a lot of boxes. My usual practice in the past when I needed boxes was to visit local liquor stores … --- ## [Any good turn based Android games for kids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-turn-based-android-games-for-kids/1030308)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-turn-based-android-games-for-kids/1030308 "2026-05-22T12:55:02Z")
On occasion I’ll let me kids play games on my android phone, at restaurants, etc. The issue is inevitably getting them to share. Are there good Android games that are turned based and require players to hand over the p… --- ## [Historic hurricane predictions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-hurricane-predictions/1021857)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-hurricane-predictions/1021857 "2026-05-22T12:44:51Z")
Once again NOAA has predicted “above normal” activity for hurricane season It seems that they always predict above normal. Is there a place somewhere where we can find historic predictions (including the statements ‘ab… --- ## [How did this company get my email address to send me a receipt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-company-get-my-email-address-to-send-me-a-receipt/1030264)
**Author:** [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-company-get-my-email-address-to-send-me-a-receipt/1030264 "2026-05-22T12:25:02Z")
I had a mobile mechanic come to my house today to work on my car. I paid by credit card and the tech said he would send me a receipt. I expected to get it by text, since that is how we communicated, but I got it by ema… --- ## [80 years ago today, a dragon's tail was tickled. (It didn't go well.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80-years-ago-today-a-dragons-tail-was-tickled-it-didnt-go-well/1030293)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80-years-ago-today-a-dragons-tail-was-tickled-it-didnt-go-well/1030293 "2026-05-22T11:22:53Z")
May 21st 1946 was the fatal Slotin screwup with the demon core. I’m wondering what would have happened if the cover hadn’t been removed from the core after it fell? Would the core have melted? How long would it have t… --- ## [How far do you go to not do business with a specific company?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-go-to-not-do-business-with-a-specific-company/1030060)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-do-you-go-to-not-do-business-with-a-specific-company/1030060 "2026-05-22T04:15:04Z")
I just visited my fourth location looking for a Sodastream exchange. One had only the wrong kind of connector, and the other three were either out entirely or didn’t sell at all at that location, no matter what the web s… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=84&state=muted) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=86&state=muted)