# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=926 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 927 --- ## [What principle do you use when ranking items?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-principle-do-you-use-when-ranking-items/976271)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-principle-do-you-use-when-ranking-items/976271 "2022-12-13T03:03:23Z")
You’re ranking a large group of items on a scale of one to five, with one being the worst and five being the best. What principle do you use to assign numerical rankings? I’ve heard that some people essentially use a be… --- ## [Why did Matthew Perry's colon explode?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-matthew-perrys-colon-explode/976304)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-matthew-perrys-colon-explode/976304 "2022-12-13T00:49:10Z")
Matthew Perry has given several interviews recently to promote his new book, the central feature of which appears to be a recounting of his astonishingly severe opioid addiction. He said at one point his health was so b… --- ## [I taught my cat a new word](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2022, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-taught-my-cat-a-new-word/976070 "2022-12-13T00:09:51Z")
My cat has a somewhat limited vocabulary. Which is fine, he communicates via other means. LIke sinking his claws into my calf, showing me his excretory orifice, ramming his head into my arm, etc. His basic word is “wo… --- ## [What are these books in the sketch "A Peek at Pico" on SNL May 14, 2022?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-books-in-the-sketch-a-peek-at-pico-on-snl-may-14-2022/964460)
**Author:** [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-books-in-the-sketch-a-peek-at-pico-on-snl-may-14-2022/964460 "2022-12-12T23:19:17Z")
In this sketch, there’s a librarian holding a pile of books that she’s recommending. The books are (in order from the top of the pile) The Giver by Lois Lowry, a book that I don’t recognize, American Gods by Neil Gaiman… --- ## [Bam Margera of "Jackass" has COVID and is on a ventilator](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bam-margera-of-jackass-has-covid-and-is-on-a-ventilator/976280)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bam-margera-of-jackass-has-covid-and-is-on-a-ventilator/976280 "2022-12-12T23:04:59Z")
He’s had a long history of drug addiction, and even if he is clean now, that’s very hard on the body. I’m not a “Jackass” fan, but I do know who he is, and wish him a quick recovery. p.s. I originally said “life sup… --- ## [Spelling of an English place name](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-of-an-english-place-name/976102)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-of-an-english-place-name/976102 "2022-12-12T23:01:22Z")
Somewhere around London, maybe on the way to one of the airports, there’s a place pronounced “Fanshaw” or something close to that, but spelled Throat Warbler Mangrove Featheringstonehaugh or something like that. What’s … --- ## [What English Word Produces The Most Other English Words With The Exact Same Number Of Letters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-english-word-produces-the-most-other-english-words-with-the-exact-same-number-of-letters/976161)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-english-word-produces-the-most-other-english-words-with-the-exact-same-number-of-letters/976161 "2022-12-12T21:45:09Z")
The English letters A E and R can produce “are,” “era,” and “ear,” but “aer” and “rae” are not words. A E and T produce “eat,” “ate,” and “tea,” but no others. Are they any English words whose letters – all of them, no … --- ## [Dick Fart Redux](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-fart-redux/975922)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dick-fart-redux/975922 "2022-12-12T20:06:52Z")
​Can you fart through your dick? - In My Humble Opinion (IMHO) - Straight Dope Message Board Doctors, What’s Your “No, That’s Not Normal” Moment? (r/AskReddit) - YouTube (start around 1:55) :laughing: --- ## [Humorous Space Opera](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-space-opera/976224)
**Author:** [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humorous-space-opera/976224 "2022-12-12T19:54:06Z")
For Christmas my daughter has requested humorous space opera, but in paperback form. (She and her sister read horrible cozy mysteries in ebook formats, so she has used up her ebook allotment on them.) She has read the M… --- ## [Fees for transferring money](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fees-for-transferring-money/976318)
**Author:** [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fees-for-transferring-money/976318 "2022-12-12T19:14:51Z")
A woman on twitter said she has a security bank account, and will donate a small amount to my bank. She thinks the transfer will engender a fee, possibly from my bank. This doesn’t sound legit. Is it? --- ## [Announcement about major development in fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-about-major-development-in-fusion/976410)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/announcement-about-major-development-in-fusion/976410 "2022-12-12T19:08:15Z")
Major Fusion Energy Breakthrough to Be Announced by Scientists (msn.com) So I wonder what the ‘major breakthrough’ will be. Who knows, perhaps we will only be a few decades away from achieving a sustainable fusion react… --- ## [Recommend some wireless earbuds for use with an Android phone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-wireless-earbuds-for-use-with-an-android-phone/976170)
**Author:** [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-wireless-earbuds-for-use-with-an-android-phone/976170 "2022-12-12T17:47:18Z")
Mrs Snowman has asked Santa for some wireless earbuds for Christmas. These will be exclusively used with her Android phone to listen to music and podcasts. They don’t need to be super expensive high-quality ones - Mrs C… --- ## [Well, we did it. Put our deposit down on a Tesla](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-we-did-it-put-our-deposit-down-on-a-tesla/963885)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-we-did-it-put-our-deposit-down-on-a-tesla/963885 "2022-12-12T17:41:04Z")
Mrs Cad has been using my second car for a few years now. You know, the Envoy that is about to blow up any minute. She wanted a Tesla for a while. The no-gas option works well for us since we have a garage and she can… --- ## [Question about veins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-veins/976171)
**Author:** [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-veins/976171 "2022-12-12T17:36:26Z")
I tried to give plasma today. They said my veins were too small, the needle is really big, there would be bruising. If I ever needed a transfusion, would I be out of luck? Just trying to learn here. --- ## [A question about those long insulators on high voltage power lines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-those-long-insulators-on-high-voltage-power-lines/976264)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-those-long-insulators-on-high-voltage-power-lines/976264 "2022-12-12T17:09:41Z")
They’re called “strain insulators.” Now I can understand how they work when they’re oriented vertically: when it rains, there are many pockets of dry surface area to prevent a flashover. But these things are also insta… --- ## [What legal ramifications, if any, could come from this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-legal-ramifications-if-any-could-come-from-this/976245)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-legal-ramifications-if-any-could-come-from-this/976245 "2022-12-12T16:27:39Z")
Joe lives in a middle class neighborhood in a suburb of a major large city. He hates all his neighbors. They’re stuck up, nosey, rude, biggoted jerks. And have been during the years he’s lived there. Recently Joe won t… --- ## [You can't beat a Krampus Night MMP!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-beat-a-krampus-night-mmp/976042)
**Author:** [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Replies:** 327\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-cant-beat-a-krampus-night-mmp/976042 "2022-12-12T15:46:08Z")
The Germans have a festival on December 5th where they tell kids that if they are bad a demon comes, puts them in a sack and beats them with reeds if they are naughty. Good for keeping the rugrats in line. Unless your … --- ## [Why nuclear spins \>1?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-nuclear-spins-1/976263)
**Author:** [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-nuclear-spins-1/976263 "2022-12-12T14:53:40Z")
My rudimentary\* understanding is that like nucleons can pair and cancel each others’ spin, which is why even-even nuclei are spin 0. I get why the various isotopes have the spins they do until we get to lithium-7, which … --- ## [What to do with garlic cheddar curds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-garlic-cheddar-curds/976360)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-garlic-cheddar-curds/976360 "2022-12-12T14:10:45Z")
I got some of these, and made quesadilla with part of the package. It was almost great, except it was way too salty. Any idea what I can do with the rest that will tone down the saltiness? --- ## [Need suggestions for my "Most Evil Corps in History" game](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-my-most-evil-corps-in-history-game/963611)
**Author:** [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-my-most-evil-corps-in-history-game/963611 "2022-12-12T14:03:32Z")
(While this is about a future thread game, I placed this in IMHO as I felt I would get a more varied response in this forum. If y’all disagree, move it as you wish.) Going to start a thread game (as well as make an actu… --- ## [Which are the saltiest pretzels?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-saltiest-pretzels/974258)
**Author:** [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-saltiest-pretzels/974258 "2022-12-12T13:31:59Z")
I’m not a big fan of a pretzel, unless it’s suuuper salty. I’m actually eating some lackluster pretzels right now, and wishing I knew of a go-to, salt-tastic variety. Sticks, minis, twists (but maybe not the hard Bavaria… --- ## [Oedipus complex for gays?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oedipus-complex-for-gays/216917)
**Author:** [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oedipus-complex-for-gays/216917 "2022-12-12T13:15:44Z")
Does it exist? I was thinking the other day, and it seems like most of my criteria for guys are descriptors of my dad. Has anyone else ever heard of this? --- ## [Is the CDC card useless now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-cdc-card-useless-now/975563)
**Author:** [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-cdc-card-useless-now/975563 "2022-12-12T12:40:25Z")
So I’ve been vaccinated 5 times - 2 vaccinations + 3 boosters. I got the last booster in October, forgot my CDC card and was told I could come back to get it updated. I came back and they said the card was full and they … --- ## [Is the “Respect for Marriage Act” an overall win for liberals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-respect-for-marriage-act-an-overall-win-for-liberals/975790)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-respect-for-marriage-act-an-overall-win-for-liberals/975790 "2022-12-12T11:23:58Z")
I’ve read what it’s about but I’m still somehow struggling to determine if the fact that it “ would not force states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples but would require that people be considered married in a… --- ## [I don't understand "Student Loans" for college](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-student-loans-for-college/942523)
**Author:** [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Replies:** 185\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-understand-student-loans-for-college/942523 "2021-06-04T20:10:31Z")
My son is attending Virginia Tech next year, and of course, requires his tuition be paid, some of which will be paid by loans. But I would never think that he has to take out loans to pay for college, that’s up to me to… --- ## [Saving Plans for grandkids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-plans-for-grandkids/976226)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-plans-for-grandkids/976226 "2022-12-12T06:05:46Z")
We are looking to set up a saving account for our granddaughter that is outside of her parent’ control. US Saving Bonds are almost out because with the new electronic system, she would have to have a TreasuryDirect acco… --- ## [What's the current thinking on isolating if you're symptomatic but test negative?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-current-thinking-on-isolating-if-youre-symptomatic-but-test-negative/965599)
**Author:** [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-current-thinking-on-isolating-if-youre-symptomatic-but-test-negative/965599 "2022-12-12T05:07:49Z")
For almost the entire first year of the pandemic, I didn’t get sick at all. But over the last year, I’ve caught several mild colds. I haven’t been tested every time, but every time I have tested, it’s been negative. I’ve… --- ## [What's the name of the liver test that they run before they'll prescribe Paxlovid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-the-liver-test-that-they-run-before-theyll-prescribe-paxlovid/975756)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-the-liver-test-that-they-run-before-theyll-prescribe-paxlovid/975756 "2022-12-12T04:17:37Z")
I’m trying to find online if our local CVS Minute Clinic will run this test, and I see that they do do that common lipid panel test, but I don’t know if this is what the pharmacist will want to see. I’ll call and ask a … --- ## [Need answer fast: domestic money transfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-answer-fast-domestic-money-transfer/976308)
**Author:** [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-answer-fast-domestic-money-transfer/976308 "2022-12-12T03:34:54Z")
First, no need to point out that this is idiotic - believe me, I agree, and had to stop myself from delivering a lecture about personal responsibility and enabling when I was consulted for advice. Okay, now that that par… --- ## [Travel Q: flight connection time in MUC airport](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-q-flight-connection-time-in-muc-airport/976314)
**Author:** [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2022, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/travel-q-flight-connection-time-in-muc-airport/976314 "2022-12-12T03:21:58Z")
I was wondering if anyone else ever flew through Munich who might share their experience. Planning a trip to Rome Italy ( from the US ) and one of the flight pairs I’m considering has a 1:30 connection time from the arri… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=925) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=927)