# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=895&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 896 --- ## [The 'new' influx of smaller balloons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-influx-of-smaller-balloons/979688)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-influx-of-smaller-balloons/979688 "2023-02-17T20:06:00Z")
My mundane, pointless thing is that these balloons have been flying over US airspace for years. I expect we will find that they will be mostly set adrift by people who want to see how high their balloon can go and get n… --- ## [How bad are these AI generated kanji?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-these-ai-generated-kanji/979924)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-are-these-ai-generated-kanji/979924 "2023-02-17T20:04:53Z")
AI engines toss out “English” that is a mix of pretty good letters, slightly distorted ones, and completely alien shapes. With the good letters, words are sometimes sensible, sometimes not. I’ve always wondered about th… --- ## [Bruce Willis has aphasia and is indeed leaving acting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bruce-willis-has-aphasia-and-is-indeed-leaving-acting/961996)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bruce-willis-has-aphasia-and-is-indeed-leaving-acting/961996 "2023-02-17T19:36:30Z")
After he released 8 horrific and cheap movies last year, rumors were flying he had dementia. I’m not sure if Aphasia counts as a form of dementia, but the rumors are at least partly true. What was at least somewhat comi… --- ## [2023 Baseball Hall of Fame Balloting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-baseball-hall-of-fame-balloting/970233)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2023-baseball-hall-of-fame-balloting/970233 "2023-02-17T19:20:17Z")
Alright, let’s vote for who should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, you animals! Unfortunately, the board only allows 20 choices per poll and there are 40 possible candidates, so we can’t do a formal poll that works rig… --- ## [I asked ChatGPT to write a sonnet to this message board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-asked-chatgpt-to-write-a-sonnet-to-this-message-board/979806)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-asked-chatgpt-to-write-a-sonnet-to-this-message-board/979806 "2023-02-17T19:10:27Z")
It did pretty well. Maybe a little heavy on the wisdom and civility. :slightly\_smiling\_face: Oh Straight Dope Message Board, how do I sing Thy praises in a manner most befitting? For in thee, knowledge and wit both ta… --- ## [EMP power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emp-power/979908)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emp-power/979908 "2023-02-17T17:55:04Z")
Starfish Prime was a atmospheric nuclear test done in the Pacific during the 60’s. It’s EMP yield was far larger than expected and it alone was estimated to be able to have wiped out all the electronics in the lower Uni… --- ## [eBay question: multiple bids of the same amount](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-multiple-bids-of-the-same-amount/979950)
**Author:** [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-question-multiple-bids-of-the-same-amount/979950 "2023-02-17T17:27:34Z")
I occasionally sell items on eBay (maybe a couple a month). I currently have a old smartphone listed. In 3 days it has 3 bids. But all three are from the same bidder, and for the amount I specified as the minimum bid. … --- ## [Add initial letter to the same three letters to make the most new (English) words](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-initial-letter-to-the-same-three-letters-to-make-the-most-new-english-words/979836)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/add-initial-letter-to-the-same-three-letters-to-make-the-most-new-english-words/979836 "2023-02-17T16:31:39Z")
This is a question I’ve wondered about for some time, but didn’t know how to find the answer, and it occurred to me to turn it into a game. Take three leterrs, for instance AST, and add one letter to the beginning. The … --- ## [Misremembered theme song lyric (Laverne&Shirley)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misremembered-theme-song-lyric-laverne-shirley/979897)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/misremembered-theme-song-lyric-laverne-shirley/979897 "2023-02-17T16:15:21Z")
Y’all are going to think I’m crazy for asking but for some reason I remember (would have been 12 at the time) them changing the last line of the Laverne&Shirley theme song for the final season for when they were in Cali… --- ## [Raquel Welch has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raquel-welch-has-died/979852)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/raquel-welch-has-died/979852 "2023-02-17T15:35:30Z")
‘According to family members, Raquel died this morning after a brief illness.’ --- ## [Amazon putting stuff in a porch box](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-putting-stuff-in-a-porch-box/979926)
**Author:** [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-putting-stuff-in-a-porch-box/979926 "2023-02-17T15:26:46Z")
I had an Amazon driver put a small package/envelope in my “mail” box. And as always I thought of how much trouble they could get in for that. But then it occurred to me that there is nothing that say it is a U.S. Pos… --- ## [Classified documents found at Mike Pence's Indiana Home (01-24-2023)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-at-mike-pences-indiana-home-01-24-2023/978745)
**Author:** [@loriloolee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loriloolee)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classified-documents-found-at-mike-pences-indiana-home-01-24-2023/978745 "2023-02-17T15:08:53Z")
--- ## [Your Political Predictions for the U.S and the World in the 2020s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-political-predictions-for-the-u-s-and-the-world-in-the-2020s/979873)
**Author:** [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-political-predictions-for-the-u-s-and-the-world-in-the-2020s/979873 "2023-02-17T14:55:49Z")
I’m curious to see how you all predict the rest of the 2020s will manifest itself in terms of politics and global affairs? What trends do you see happening in the United States or for Dopers living in other countries? No… --- ## [Would allowing only public funding of elections help eliminate corruption?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-allowing-only-public-funding-of-elections-help-eliminate-corruption/979843)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-allowing-only-public-funding-of-elections-help-eliminate-corruption/979843 "2023-02-17T13:22:03Z")
If all elections allowed only public funding of campaigns, would that help get money out of politics? We’d also need to prevent officials who previously had decision-making power from working for those they regulated af… --- ## [Is it still possible to be an informed consumer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-still-possible-to-be-an-informed-consumer/979599)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-still-possible-to-be-an-informed-consumer/979599 "2023-02-17T13:21:42Z")
You can talk to your neighbours and read Consumer Reports. But that may not help you understand (or even finish reading) Internet legalese, or even find what you want on Amazon. Is this Atlantic article correct in sayi… --- ## [Number of beds in the world](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-beds-in-the-world/979619)
**Author:** [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-beds-in-the-world/979619 "2023-02-17T09:40:27Z")
Just a random shower thought. What’s the ratio between all the beds on Earth and its population? It’s clear that beds outnumber people, but by how many? I have no idea how big the proportion of hotel beds and other kinds… --- ## ["Grumpy Old Men" question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grumpy-old-men-question/979916)
**Author:** [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grumpy-old-men-question/979916 "2023-02-17T07:29:58Z")
So Jack Lemmon has been dodging IRS agent Buck Henry because Jack owes a substantial tax debt, but finally Buck catches up with Jack and serves him papers. Jack’s frenemy Walter Matthau finds out and tells his son, newly… --- ## [Demo of a song I've just written](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demo-of-a-song-ive-just-written/979880)
**Author:** [@Amikejo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amikejo)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demo-of-a-song-ive-just-written/979880 "2023-02-17T06:40:38Z")
Apologies if this isn’t appropriate or interesting. I don’t have anyone to listen to my songs and it would just be nice to share something - even a dirty old demo recorded on my phone. Stars had to align just for that to… --- ## [Bluetooth headphone recommendations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bluetooth-headphone-recommendations/979934)
**Author:** [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bluetooth-headphone-recommendations/979934 "2023-02-17T05:18:51Z")
I’m in the market for some over-the-ear bluetooth headphones, that have the following important features: Separate physical pause/unpause and skip back/forward buttons that are easily distinguished by feel. They have … --- ## [Not the smartest thing I did, but I succeeded. Kids, don’t try this at home](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-the-smartest-thing-i-did-but-i-succeeded-kids-don-t-try-this-at-home/979341)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-the-smartest-thing-i-did-but-i-succeeded-kids-don-t-try-this-at-home/979341 "2023-02-17T05:16:42Z")
I just used these words on an FB post to describe something I did in my 20s. I’m 61 now. And yet here on the dope I used similar words to describe something else I did just last week, when I decided to drive myself to th… --- ## [Why Does It Feel So Good To Scratch An Itch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-feel-so-good-to-scratch-an-itch/979756)
**Author:** [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-feel-so-good-to-scratch-an-itch/979756 "2023-02-17T05:11:34Z")
It seems like it should hurt but it doesn’t. It feels soooo good. Why? --- ## [Is it improper to remind people of a moderator instruction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-improper-to-remind-people-of-a-moderator-instruction/979838)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-improper-to-remind-people-of-a-moderator-instruction/979838 "2023-02-17T04:31:41Z")
If a thread is going in an unwanted direction and a mod has asked people to stay focused, is it improper to quote that instruction later on if it happens again? --- ## [How Would You Fix This Ribbon Cable Connection?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-fix-this-ribbon-cable-connection/979780)
**Author:** [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-fix-this-ribbon-cable-connection/979780 "2023-02-17T03:21:28Z")
This is a LitterMaid automatic scooping litter box. The ribbon cable plugs into this tiny little circuit board to power the motor for the scooping rake. As you can see it’s not making good contact. The main issue is t… --- ## [Can you help me find Super Bowls 41 and 56 on YouTube?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-find-super-bowls-41-and-56-on-youtube/979668)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-me-find-super-bowls-41-and-56-on-youtube/979668 "2023-02-17T02:21:24Z")
I’ve collected links for every Super Bowl ever played and recorded on YouTube — the complete games, not the highlights, and certainly not those cartoonish Madden game plays. But I’ve searched and searched and am not able… --- ## [Amusing little stories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-little-stories/979911)
**Author:** [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amusing-little-stories/979911 "2023-02-17T01:06:23Z")
This is a dumb little story about myself, I hope you can have a laugh at me and share something amusing that happened to you. Some years ago, pre Trump, I would find myself driving along a road in my town, as one does, … --- ## [How fast would something have to travel to damage a building by passing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-something-have-to-travel-to-damage-a-building-by-passing/979832)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-something-have-to-travel-to-damage-a-building-by-passing/979832 "2023-02-17T00:39:16Z")
I’ve seen movies where a plane could cause windows to shatter or a building to shake by flying close. So what speed would be needed to cause actual damage by tearing past? --- ## [What is the long term plans for a spy balloon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-long-term-plans-for-a-spy-balloon/979746)
**Author:** [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-long-term-plans-for-a-spy-balloon/979746 "2023-02-17T00:14:01Z")
I have some questions what the long term plans of a spy balloon like the US shot down are? First, they have no measure of propulsion to control their flight, right? Second, If there are not shot down do they just wande… --- ## [When did people start properly managing forestry resources?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-people-start-properly-managing-forestry-resources/979597)
**Author:** [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 17, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-people-start-properly-managing-forestry-resources/979597 "2023-02-17T00:00:28Z")
I have this stereotype in my head that humans were extremely careless and destructive toward the environment until the issue started garnering interest somewhere around the 1960s. Specifically on the issue of clear-cutti… --- ## [Tool battery charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tool-battery-charger/979734)
**Author:** [@mglambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mglambo)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tool-battery-charger/979734 "2023-02-16T23:55:40Z")
I have a Ryobi battery powered drill. Is it ok to keep it in the charger until ready to use? If I don’t it is always just about dead when I go to use it even if stores indoors. --- ## [Lives saved / injuries prevented by back-up beeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lives-saved-injuries-prevented-by-back-up-beeping/979847)
**Author:** [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 16, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lives-saved-injuries-prevented-by-back-up-beeping/979847 "2023-02-16T22:47:24Z")
I live in a world of incessant back-up beeping, touted as a safety feature. I’m sure it is, but I wonder if it has been quantified. Every professional vehicle and a handful of passenger vehicles do this. My thoughts are… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=894&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=896&state=watching)