# Latest

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=909&state=tracking

[Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md)

**Page:** 910

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## [Putin dies. What does that do for the war with Ukraine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putin-dies-what-does-that-do-for-the-war-with-ukraine/978414)

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**Author:** [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\
**Replies:** 46\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putin-dies-what-does-that-do-for-the-war-with-ukraine/978414 "2023-01-30T21:10:15Z")

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I’ve seen several articles claiming that Putin is in poor health and even one that alleges he is being treated for cancer. So, assuming he kicks off this year (couldn’t happen to a nicer guy), what happens with the Ukra…

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## [Best ways to use up a tub of plain whole milk yoghurt](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-use-up-a-tub-of-plain-whole-milk-yoghurt/979014)

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**Author:** [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\
**Replies:** 12\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-ways-to-use-up-a-tub-of-plain-whole-milk-yoghurt/979014 "2023-01-30T18:17:08Z")

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This weekend I was inspired by the thread about ways to use up heavy whipping cream. I was not the thread starter of that thread, but coincidentally I also had some cream in the fridge that I needed to use up. So I mad…

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## [Thor: Ragnarok mask](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thor-ragnarok-mask/979016)

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**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thor-ragnarok-mask/979016 "2023-01-30T18:08:26Z")

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We’re watching Thor: Ragnarok. We’ve just seen the scene after Hela appears and Thor has gone through a wormhole and landed in a scrapyard. Some Baddies show up and ask if Thor is a fighter or food. The leader of the …

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## [The perplexing appeal of Florida](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perplexing-appeal-of-florida/972021)

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**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\
**Replies:** 240\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perplexing-appeal-of-florida/972021 "2023-01-30T17:01:57Z")

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Living in Ohio my whole life, I have encountered many people who vacation in Florida. My supervisor has a condo there. I also have family members who have retired there. All my life, people have talked about the place, a…

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## [Is SDMB an SMS site?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sdmb-an-sms-site/979048)

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**Author:** [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\
**Replies:** 16\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sdmb-an-sms-site/979048 "2023-01-30T16:45:18Z")

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What say you?

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## [Fountain pen: What's the scam here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fountain-pen-whats-the-scam-here/978979)

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**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Replies:** 23\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fountain-pen-whats-the-scam-here/978979 "2023-01-30T16:21:59Z")

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Pretty pen. With a ‘value’ of $35, it’s a cheap pen. But they’re giving it away free. So what’s the scam?

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## [Do most modern games automatically check your graphics card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-modern-games-automatically-check-your-graphics-card/979053)

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**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-modern-games-automatically-check-your-graphics-card/979053 "2023-01-30T15:46:12Z")

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I know that some do, but I was curious if that’s SOP in computer/video games these days?

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## [The Historical Birthdays MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-historical-birthdays-mmp/978660)

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**Author:** [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\
**Replies:** 291\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-historical-birthdays-mmp/978660 "2023-01-30T15:45:18Z")

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Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 44 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of 57 and N.O.S. for the day. I shall be doin’ some search committee research online today. A good thing to do at home on…

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## [ID this Laurel & Hardy Movie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-laurel-hardy-movie/978864)

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**Author:** [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Replies:** 14\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-laurel-hardy-movie/978864 "2023-01-30T15:19:41Z")

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Trying to ID a Laurel & Hardy movie. All I remember is a scene where they had been locked in the basement of the Empire State Building. They thought they were on a submarine and were turning all the valves to try a sink…

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## [Plastic putty or filler to fix the edge of a laptop? Best material?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-putty-or-filler-to-fix-the-edge-of-a-laptop-best-material/979000)

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**Author:** [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\
**Replies:** 8\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plastic-putty-or-filler-to-fix-the-edge-of-a-laptop-best-material/979000 "2023-01-30T13:53:06Z")

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I got a good deal on a used laptop (Lenovo X270). It works fine, has FHD screen, 8GB RAM, etc., and I already have one I use daily. The newer one is sort of a back-up in case I have problems with my main one. But…it h…

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## [Tom Verlaine RIP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-verlaine-rip/978967)

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**Author:** [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Replies:** 22\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tom-verlaine-rip/978967 "2023-01-30T13:11:47Z")

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Just saw news that Tom Verlaine, lead singer and guitarist of the influential proto-punk/punk/post-punk band, Television, passed away today at 73 after “a brief illness.” Television were slightly before my time and sl…

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## [San Francisco or Yukon Sourdough](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-or-yukon-sourdough/978870)

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**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Replies:** 14\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/san-francisco-or-yukon-sourdough/978870 "2023-01-30T11:36:39Z")

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I need a sourdough starter and I wonder how much of the “OMG sourdough bread HAS to be San Francisco Sourdough!” is hype or possibly the water/air in San Francisco and you just don’t get that flavor anywhere else even wi…

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## [Looking for the origins of the three day pillaging tradition in ancient, medieval and post-medieval warfare](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-origins-of-the-three-day-pillaging-tradition-in-ancient-medieval-and-post-medieval-warfare/975723)

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**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Replies:** 27\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-the-origins-of-the-three-day-pillaging-tradition-in-ancient-medieval-and-post-medieval-warfare/975723 "2023-01-30T10:07:11Z")

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I’m looking for the origins of the three day pillaging tradition in ancient, medieval and post-medieval warfare. Who that we know of was first to institute this convention ? Was it the Romans? the Goths? and was it just…

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## [Muppet word?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muppet-word/570748)

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**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Replies:** 14\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muppet-word/570748 "2023-01-30T07:36:56Z")

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Muppet fans: Just something that’s been bugging me through the years. In the original Muppet Movie, when Kermit and Fozzie meet Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, Dr. Teeth says something like “this is problem upon whic…

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## [They put a limit on how much ramen you can buy at the grocery store](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295)

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**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Replies:** 60\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295 "2023-01-30T05:56:21Z")

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Thats got to be a bad sign for how the country as a whole is doing. They had a note saying people were only allowed 2 packages of Ramen each (packages as in single packages). People must be getting desperate and barely a…

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## ['His Dark Materials' to be a BBC TV series](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-dark-materials-to-be-a-bbc-tv-series/736587)

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**Author:** [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\
**Replies:** 131\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/his-dark-materials-to-be-a-bbc-tv-series/736587 "2023-01-30T05:43:48Z")

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I just saw that Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials fantasy trilogy is going to be adapted to a series for BBC television. I’m pretty happy to hear it. I read the novels about 10 years ago. I liked The Golden Compas…

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## [Ask a stupid question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-stupid-question/978950)

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**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Replies:** 20\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-stupid-question/978950 "2023-01-30T04:10:28Z")

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I was taking the grandkids home this morning after they spent the night with us. On the way, my 8 year old grandson says “I want a sno-cone!” I said, “A sno-cone? Where do you get a sno-cone?” His older sister, in a vo…

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## [Fair tax act](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fair-tax-act/978711)

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**Author:** [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\
**Replies:** 127\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fair-tax-act/978711 "2023-01-30T02:42:55Z")

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so the GOP is attempting to pass the Fair Tax Act to replace corporate/personal income tax with 23% sales tax, and maybe others. Since the 16th amendment cites taxing income, would this be considered unconstitutional?

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## [Multiple registrations / tags on vehicles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-registrations-tags-on-vehicles/978923)

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**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-registrations-tags-on-vehicles/978923 "2023-01-30T01:55:00Z")

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Travelling back home from the airport this afternoon, heading up I-25 northbound, I passed a newer-model Winnebago RV that had Indiana and Minnesota plates attached to it. I immediately though, “Hrm, ID & MN are kinda i…

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## [Why don't EV's have solar panels too?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-evs-have-solar-panels-too/843621)

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**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\
**Replies:** 53\
**Last updated:** [January 30, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-evs-have-solar-panels-too/843621 "2023-01-30T01:02:41Z")

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I’ve been shopping for a new car lately and looking at electric vehicles, so I’ve been thinking a lot about batteries and recharging options and stuff like that. And I have a question: Why don’t electric vehicles also …

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## [Is there any way to 'shuffle' a collection of .jpgs or other images?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-shuffle-a-collection-of-jpgs-or-other-images/978978)

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**Author:** [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-shuffle-a-collection-of-jpgs-or-other-images/978978 "2023-01-29T23:29:26Z")

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The question is pretty much there in the topic - whether I’m talking about a slideshow or manually advancing through them, is there any way to show a collection of photos in random order? Preferably so that it can repea…

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## […Slept Here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slept-here/978953)

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**Author:** [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\
**Replies:** 12\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slept-here/978953 "2023-01-29T22:57:07Z")

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My wife and I just came back from a two week driving trip through Portugal. We played it by ear and only booked our lodging the morning of each place we visited using the abundance of AmEx points we have acquired over th…

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## [How to make sourdough more sour](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-sourdough-more-sour/979005)

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**Author:** [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-sourdough-more-sour/979005 "2023-01-29T02:05:59Z")

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How to make sourdough more sour:

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## [The wife is a heck of a guesser](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wife-is-a-heck-of-a-guesser/978966)

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**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wife-is-a-heck-of-a-guesser/978966 "2023-01-29T20:08:41Z")

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See how cleverly I tied in with the “the wife vs my wife” thread? Anyhoo, I ordered a rear wiper arm assembly from eBay a few days ago. I came downstairs this morning and my wife asks, “Did you order a wiper blade?” “Ye…

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## [US Secret Service report on Mass Attacks in Public Spaces 2016-2020](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-secret-service-report-on-mass-attacks-in-public-spaces-2016-2020/978846)

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**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\
**Replies:** 37\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-secret-service-report-on-mass-attacks-in-public-spaces-2016-2020/978846 "2023-01-29T20:05:58Z")

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This is a study of 180 mass attackers over this 5-year period. I think it’s supposed to include every mass attacker who attacked and harmed at least three other people, with any kind of weapon. Here is the NPR story, and…

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## [Tip for cleanup on Foreman grill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tip-for-cleanup-on-foreman-grill/978954)

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**Author:** [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\
**Replies:** 8\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tip-for-cleanup-on-foreman-grill/978954 "2023-01-29T18:26:37Z")

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I tried a tip that went a long way towards cleaning my old George Foreman grill: fold a sheet of lightly oiled aluminum foil on the top and bottom of the cooking surfaces. It conducts heat flawlessly, and all I have to i…

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## [Slug Signorino is still working](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slug-signorino-is-still-working/978973)

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**Author:** [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slug-signorino-is-still-working/978973 "2023-01-29T17:48:40Z")

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I’m several days behind in reading The Indianapolis Star, so I just now saw their article about Slug Signorino on P. 1H on 1/19/2023. He works in his studio in LaPorte, Indiana. His website is signorinostudio.com where y…

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## [Booster shot today; exhausted by 8:30](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booster-shot-today-exhausted-by-8-30/978932)

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**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Replies:** 21\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booster-shot-today-exhausted-by-8-30/978932 "2023-01-29T17:37:18Z")

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I’m making some supper and then to bed.

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## [Can you refuse to fill in a W9?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-refuse-to-fill-in-a-w9/978941)

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**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-refuse-to-fill-in-a-w9/978941 "2023-01-29T15:37:58Z")

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So this happened to someone I know… They were hired at a startup, as a permanent employee. Startups being startups (and this being a pretty disorganized one even by standup standards) the founder was not organized enoug…

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## [Has anyone here used one of those Navage sinus cleaning machines?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-here-used-one-of-those-navage-sinus-cleaning-machines/953070)

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**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\
**Replies:** 52\
**Last updated:** [January 29, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-here-used-one-of-those-navage-sinus-cleaning-machines/953070 "2023-01-29T15:24:52Z")

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I’ve laughed at the ads I’ve seen on TV, because they show all these people with goofy grins on their faces while the machine is jammed up their nose. But as a sufferer of what I like to call CPP (chronic persistent phle…

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