# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=91&state=watching [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 92 --- ## [New sci-fi novel, "The Mercy of Gods" by James SA Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-sci-fi-novel-the-mercy-of-gods-by-james-sa-corey/1007430)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-sci-fi-novel-the-mercy-of-gods-by-james-sa-corey/1007430 "2026-05-16T23:11:27Z")
Just finished this book, the first in a new series by the author of The Expanse series (which was also great). Anyone read it yet? I really liked it. The story is about humanity being easily conquered by a massively pow… --- ## [Talking about our number of posts. (Spin-off from the Trolls R Us thread.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-about-our-number-of-posts-spin-off-from-the-trolls-r-us-thread/1030098)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talking-about-our-number-of-posts-spin-off-from-the-trolls-r-us-thread/1030098 "2026-05-16T22:56:00Z")
26 posts will be added here shortly. I am open to a title change of course. As suggested by @LSLGuy I’ve added a link to the all setting. https://boards.straightdope.com/u?order=post\_count&period=all --- ## [What is Boxing day?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-boxing-day/1026108)
**Author:** [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-boxing-day/1026108 "2026-05-16T21:49:28Z")
Something called ‘Boxing Day’ shows up on calendars on December 26, the day after Christmas. I have never known what it actually is. If it had something to do with the sport, there would be at least a paragraph or two … --- ## [Pia Zadora thread, 80s would be starlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pia-zadora-thread-80s-would-be-starlet/1029812)
**Author:** [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pia-zadora-thread-80s-would-be-starlet/1029812 "2026-05-16T21:38:21Z")
My sister is addicted to looking at the celebrity birthday listings. The other day it was Pia Zadora’s bday, and they mentioned that as a kid she played Anne Frank in a revival of the play. In one scene Nazis come to the… --- ## [Bad bad bad suspended animation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-suspended-animation/1030084)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-suspended-animation/1030084 "2026-05-16T20:53:18Z")
My Mid-dau cooked Bean soup. She always asks me to mix the cornbread up. (I think she’s tryna include me, so sweet of her :thinking:) I go in the kitchen and she hands me a new bag of Martha White cornmeal the other in… --- ## [Outlander - eighth and final season (spoilers as it airs)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlander-eighth-and-final-season-spoilers-as-it-airs/1028271)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlander-eighth-and-final-season-spoilers-as-it-airs/1028271 "2026-05-16T16:55:00Z")
One of the few shows my wife and I do not wait to binge, Outlander is back for the very last time. Faith…lived??? I had totally forgotten that from the previous season. What? How? What? Three excellent questions. I ha… --- ## [Fargin (Yiddish) is the antonym/opposite of schadenfreude (German)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargin-yiddish-is-the-antonym-opposite-of-schadenfreude-german/1030108)
**Author:** [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargin-yiddish-is-the-antonym-opposite-of-schadenfreude-german/1030108 "2026-05-16T16:03:45Z")
For any who have seen the 1984 movie, “Johnny Dangerously”, the characters (esp. Joe Piscopo) use the phrase “fargin’ icehole” a lot. Kind of a preemptive, “Forget you!” or “Finding a stranger in the Alps” I looked up t… --- ## [Former NIAID employee indicted for falsifying COVID reports](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-niaid-employee-indicted-for-falsifying-covid-reports/1029632)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/former-niaid-employee-indicted-for-falsifying-covid-reports/1029632 "2026-05-16T15:16:54Z")
I’m not sure what to think of this, especially because it appears that only the RWNJ press is really reporting on it. At 78, he could possibly have had some early-stage dementia going on. Of course, some of the RWNJers… --- ## [Why did France and Britain declare war on Germany after Poland?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-france-and-britain-declare-war-on-germany-after-poland/1029577)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-france-and-britain-declare-war-on-germany-after-poland/1029577 "2026-05-16T03:17:55Z")
And why didnt they declare war on The Soviet Union when they invaded Poland? Yes, Chamberlain signed the Anglo-Polish Agreement on 31 March 1939 to contain Nazi Germany. Sure, but why? And since Britain had guaranteed t… --- ## [Light bulbs are getting more complex](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-bulbs-are-getting-more-complex/1029855)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2026, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-bulbs-are-getting-more-complex/1029855 "2026-05-16T03:10:36Z")
I bought some neat flood lamps for my kitchen recessed fixtures. They have a built in slider to select the color temperature from 4000 to 6900K. Plus another 3 way switch to select 65, 75 or 90 watt equivalent output. Th… --- ## [Are there any maps of Hyperion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-maps-of-hyperion/594294)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-maps-of-hyperion/594294 "2026-05-15T18:37:47Z")
Referring to the fictional planet in the Hyperion Cantos tetralogy by Dan Simmons. The geography (planetography?) of Hyperion is an important aspect of the story, with frequent references to continents, archipelagos, mou… --- ## [Ever heard of a washateria?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-heard-of-a-washateria/1030058)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-heard-of-a-washateria/1030058 "2026-05-15T17:26:18Z")
I have come across a couple of them while identifying aerial photos. I have only found this term in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. --- ## [Starry starry night...this is a band-aid thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starry-starry-night-this-is-a-band-aid-thread/1030052)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/starry-starry-night-this-is-a-band-aid-thread/1030052 "2026-05-15T17:15:40Z")
Ok, my ding-bat head typed up Temu in my search. I got rid of the APP..they will bomb every device you got with helpful advice about what you want to purchase. It was creepy how often they read my mind. Anywhoo, first t… --- ## [A message from Bobby \[Kennedy\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-from-bobby-kennedy/1030094)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-from-bobby-kennedy/1030094 "2026-05-15T16:43:49Z")
I got an email from something called “Strategical Thinking”. It was in support of RFK Jr’s treatment for tinnitus and lists times when Bobby was right about things. I didn’t look into any of this shit of course, but I re… --- ## [Subnautica](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subnautica/807227)
**Author:** [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Replies:** 578\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/subnautica/807227 "2026-05-15T13:50:55Z")
Anyone playing? The official full release of this long time early access game starts tomorrow, though you can play the game with the current engine now, if you own it. I think the only things missing are the end game c… --- ## [Do his job or make a YouTube series-can you guess which The Secretary of Transportation decided to do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-his-job-or-make-a-youtube-series-can-you-guess-which-the-secretary-of-transportation-decided-to-do/1029976)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-his-job-or-make-a-youtube-series-can-you-guess-which-the-secretary-of-transportation-decided-to-do/1029976 "2026-05-15T12:54:13Z")
You don’t a brain filled with Pop Rocks to guess which one Sean Duffy decided to go with: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy defends new reality show amid backlash “The Great American Road Trip,” a five-part reality s… --- ## [Questions about "Star Trek: Discovery" (Open spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-star-trek-discovery-open-spoilers/1030003)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-star-trek-discovery-open-spoilers/1030003 "2026-05-15T12:38:12Z")
I’ve just watched all five seasons. Couple of thoughts and questions: So they come up a new advanced drive, which is powered by. . . a giant tardigrade with a bad attitude? We expect a certain amount of technical mumb… --- ## [How did this 1957 "Civil Defense drill" work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-1957-civil-defense-drill-work/1030081)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-this-1957-civil-defense-drill-work/1030081 "2026-05-15T12:36:40Z")
Was this maybe what Conelrad was for? (Remember the 640 and 1240 triangles on AM radios?) How else is everyone expected to get the word that they’re to pull off the highway? What’s the point? --- ## [Will a regular person with a chainsaw kill a charging Grizzly bear? Who wins and dies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524)
**Author:** [@lsalinas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lsalinas)\ **Replies:** 198\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-regular-person-with-a-chainsaw-kill-a-charging-grizzly-bear-who-wins-and-dies/981524 "2026-05-15T10:30:28Z")
Who wins and dies first? --- ## [How could the Scotus decision on access to mifepristone affect access to other medications?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-scotus-decision-on-access-to-mifepristone-affect-access-to-other-medications/994639)
**Author:** [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-scotus-decision-on-access-to-mifepristone-affect-access-to-other-medications/994639 "2026-05-15T06:15:39Z")
Hi everyone, I am trying to educate myself on this issue. Is there a simple factual answer to the question? Thanks for your help. --- ## [I pit the Bank of America](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-bank-of-america/1028098)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-bank-of-america/1028098 "2026-05-15T05:41:12Z")
Since I visited my son in Redmond, WA regularly, I opened a bank account in a small local bank that had a branch in the supermarket he shopped at. When I started to get a small social security payments, I had them depos… --- ## [Thought Experiment about Consciousness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-about-consciousness/1029966)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thought-experiment-about-consciousness/1029966 "2026-05-15T04:19:29Z")
I’m putting this here because I’m not sure it’s really seriously debatable enough for GD, just because it’s not subject to any sort of real-world experiment, only thought experiment. For the purposes of this discussion,… --- ## [Charging an EV in an older house](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charging-an-ev-in-an-older-house/1029413)
**Author:** [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charging-an-ev-in-an-older-house/1029413 "2026-05-15T02:36:00Z")
Continuing the discussion from Installing EV charging for one unit in a 6-unit condo building: It seems like it should be possible to add sensing for the current through the main breaker. With that the load that the c… --- ## [HVAC realities and experiences: Maintenance, Filters, Brands, etc](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hvac-realities-and-experiences-maintenance-filters-brands-etc/1030029)
**Author:** [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hvac-realities-and-experiences-maintenance-filters-brands-etc/1030029 "2026-05-15T01:37:13Z")
I don’t see a thread that’s less than a decade old, so here’s a new one that people can add to as needed. Current event: My house (built 1982) had central (gas) heat and no A/C when we bought it in 2002. In 2003, we p… --- ## [How is this Mentalism "guess the card" trick done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-mentalism-guess-the-card-trick-done/1029972)
**Author:** [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-this-mentalism-guess-the-card-trick-done/1029972 "2026-05-15T00:56:09Z")
I have seen a couple of magicians do this mentalist trick, and I’d like to know how it is done: The magician has 3 - 5 people in the audience choose in their minds a card from a standard playing deck - so 52 choices. Th… --- ## [Inertial navigation: is a Schuler pendulum still involved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inertial-navigation-is-a-schuler-pendulum-still-involved/1030022)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inertial-navigation-is-a-schuler-pendulum-still-involved/1030022 "2026-05-15T00:24:43Z")
The front page of the NY Times for 18 April 1957 has an article on inertial navigation. The previous day, Charles Stark Draper gave a talk describing the trip he made in 1953, Boston (Hanscom) to LA in a B-29 using inert… --- ## [Sudden TV revamps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sudden-tv-revamps/1029626)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 170\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sudden-tv-revamps/1029626 "2026-05-15T00:15:11Z")
Where the premise of the show takes a sudden 90 degree turn, with a almost complete cast change, or a massive situation change, or a change from a comedy to a serious drama (or vice versa) etc. For example, the one hour… --- ## [Why does Trump give his support to the medical conspiracy crowd?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-trump-give-his-support-to-the-medical-conspiracy-crowd/1029947)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-trump-give-his-support-to-the-medical-conspiracy-crowd/1029947 "2026-05-15T00:04:43Z")
Generally speaking, Trump does something because it benefits him personally. But I can’t see how he benefits out of supporting medical conspiracies. He’s dumb about healthcare, as indicated by his stated belief that win… --- ## [Back to the Moon! Artemis program follow along (it's finally happening!)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-the-moon-artemis-program-follow-along-its-finally-happening/970432)
**Author:** [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Replies:** 950\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/back-to-the-moon-artemis-program-follow-along-its-finally-happening/970432 "2026-05-14T23:58:08Z")
I couldn’t find an existing thread for this so wanted to start one. NASA has built SLS, contracted a number of private companies, and collaborated with a number of international partners to begin a new era of lunar expl… --- ## [Coffee as food?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-as-food/1029897)
**Author:** [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coffee-as-food/1029897 "2026-05-14T23:40:26Z")
I admit I’m a coffee fiend–I used to joke that if I didn’t have water available, I’d just snort the grounds (caffeine cocaine :zany\_face:). Haven’t said that, what about using coffee as something to consume outside of br… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=90&state=watching) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=92&state=watching)