# Latest **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=997 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 998 --- ## [Watching a football game on Amazon Prime](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-a-football-game-on-amazon-prime/971640)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-a-football-game-on-amazon-prime/971640 "2022-09-16T19:31:21Z")
Unless there’s a way to get out of it, the picture consists of a big banner on top, big banner on the bottom, and what’s left is a split screen- the game on the right half, and a gaggle of nondescript bros in easy chairs… --- ## [Tell me about Eurail and/or European trains](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-eurail-and-or-european-trains/971032)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-eurail-and-or-european-trains/971032 "2022-09-16T19:10:31Z")
I’m considering a trip to Europe next summer for myself, my wife, my SIL, and my niece. I was thinking about a few days in London, then Paris, and then Rome. We’d fly from the US to London and then fly back from Rome. I … --- ## [Anyone remember this 40+ year-old TV commercial?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-this-40-year-old-tv-commercial/692595)
**Author:** [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-this-40-year-old-tv-commercial/692595 "2022-02-08T21:33:00Z")
In another news group, four of us are trying to recall a 40+ year-old TV commercial. Can anyone tell me/us what this was a commercial for? We all agree on the following: It shows a man in his twenties hitchhiking on t… --- ## [Everyone has a twin?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everyone-has-a-twin/47988)
**Author:** [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/everyone-has-a-twin/47988 "2022-09-16T18:50:23Z")
We’ve all heard that saying and I know most of us have probably seen someone who either looked exactly like us or someone we know, what I’m wondering is has anyone done a DNA test to compare people who look nearly identi… --- ## [Advice for a newly diagnosed possible breast cancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-a-newly-diagnosed-possible-breast-cancer/966142)
**Author:** [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-a-newly-diagnosed-possible-breast-cancer/966142 "2022-09-16T18:49:34Z")
So far I’ve had the mammo, a stereotactic breast biopsy, MRI and now they want to do an excisional biopsy under anesthesia. They keep saying “it’s not cancer” so what the hell are they doing? Is all of this to rule out c… --- ## [Facebook Thinks I'm An Evangelical Christian And I Can't Convince It Otherwise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-thinks-im-an-evangelical-christian-and-i-cant-convince-it-otherwise/971326)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-thinks-im-an-evangelical-christian-and-i-cant-convince-it-otherwise/971326 "2022-09-16T18:02:59Z")
Nine out of ten of the “Sponsored” ads I get on FB are from this evangelical ministry or that one. The remaining are for like “Patriot Flags” or body armor or survival foods or what have you. These things are like the H… --- ## [What is extremely common in real life but almost never happens in TV or movies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-real-life-but-almost-never-happens-in-tv-or-movies/971441)
**Author:** [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-extremely-common-in-real-life-but-almost-never-happens-in-tv-or-movies/971441 "2022-09-16T17:57:27Z")
Of course inspired by What is extremely common in TV or movies but almost never happens in real life? I thought a take on the reverse might make an interesting, if much shorter, thread. I’ll start off with a couple off… --- ## [Real estate purchase closing - share experiences where it didn't close?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-purchase-closing-share-experiences-where-it-didnt-close/971507)
**Author:** [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/real-estate-purchase-closing-share-experiences-where-it-didnt-close/971507 "2022-09-16T17:28:44Z")
We are buying a new home and are a week away from closing on the loan. Our loan officer has congratulated us as he has been given the approval to close. Between my spouse and I, this is the 7th home we have purchased ove… --- ## [Do NYC MTA Employees Pay Into Social Security?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nyc-mta-employees-pay-into-social-security/971562)
**Author:** [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nyc-mta-employees-pay-into-social-security/971562 "2022-09-16T17:18:47Z")
Long story short, my father was an MTA employee (management) from the mid-1980s until his retirement about 10 years ago, and worked in another sector of the railroad industry before that. My parents have been divorced si… --- ## [Hole in ceiling; any danger in putting plastic over it until it can be re-drywalled?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hole-in-ceiling-any-danger-in-putting-plastic-over-it-until-it-can-be-re-drywalled/971574)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hole-in-ceiling-any-danger-in-putting-plastic-over-it-until-it-can-be-re-drywalled/971574 "2022-09-16T16:48:53Z")
We had an air conditioner leak that damaged our ceiling drywall. The leak has since been repaired, the drywall and insulation removed, and appropriate moisture mitigation completed by a restoration company. However, the… --- ## [Cool girl: the trope that isn't](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-girl-the-trope-that-isnt/971454)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-girl-the-trope-that-isnt/971454 "2022-09-16T16:05:17Z")
Spoilers for Gone Girl Every now and then, somebody will post Amy Dunne’s the Cool Girl monologue from “Gone Girl” on Reddit or Tumblr or some other site (it is in both the book and the movie, albeit slightly different)… --- ## [Future of the MAGA movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-the-maga-movement/971401)
**Author:** [@SharltoCopley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharltoCopley)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-of-the-maga-movement/971401 "2022-09-16T15:27:38Z")
Like most stupid things, the MAGA movement is here to stay. It will stay past Trump and will become its own thing until new joiners two hundred years from now won’t even know what MAGA means until they read the pamphlet … --- ## [Trying to remember a 60s-70s song?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-a-60s-70s-song/971477)
**Author:** [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-remember-a-60s-70s-song/971477 "2022-09-16T14:34:16Z")
Someone made me a music mixtape years ago and I am trying to place one of the songs. Much of it wasn’t even music - it was the charismatic lead singer on stage at some large concert - and he was mostly talking, and givi… --- ## [What's an appropriate concession speech when losing to a fascist or someone similar?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-appropriate-concession-speech-when-losing-to-a-fascist-or-someone-similar/971160)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-an-appropriate-concession-speech-when-losing-to-a-fascist-or-someone-similar/971160 "2022-09-16T13:58:50Z")
I don’t mean the sort of speech Hillary gave when losing in 2016 to Trump, who is a wanna-be fascist that probably couldn’t even define fascism in any dictionary sense, but losing to someone who is a true Hitler 2.0 or t… --- ## [What was the last "generation defining" band or artist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-last-generation-defining-band-or-artist/971589)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-last-generation-defining-band-or-artist/971589 "2022-09-16T13:37:05Z")
So in this post I opined that the last “generation defining” band in the UK at least was Oasis in mid 1990s. My thinking behind this is to be “generation defining” a band has to be: Firstly a very commercially success… --- ## [Inventions that went backward](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-went-backward/962852)
**Author:** [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Replies:** 183\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventions-that-went-backward/962852 "2022-09-16T11:53:19Z")
What are some progressive inventions that lacked key components of what they replaced? For example, black and white photography added realism and immediacy, but it replaced paintings, which were in color. --- ## [Countries with exactly one island state/province](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-with-exactly-one-island-state-province/971556)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-with-exactly-one-island-state-province/971556 "2022-09-16T11:18:03Z")
I got to wondering which countries have a single state/province/region/1st level administrative unit that’s an island or island group. The island state must have the exact same status as the country’s mainland states, so… --- ## [Ohhhh, What\_Exit... that's not what doxxing is](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhh-what-exit-thats-not-what-doxxing-is/971641)
**Author:** [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohhhh-what-exit-thats-not-what-doxxing-is/971641 "2022-09-16T07:15:59Z")
Continuing the discussion from Claims of "Ritual Abuse". Whats the reason?: Put everything back, please. Thanks. --- ## [Why do large swaths of the Internet seem to vanish sometimes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-large-swaths-of-the-internet-seem-to-vanish-sometimes/971563)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-large-swaths-of-the-internet-seem-to-vanish-sometimes/971563 "2022-09-16T07:02:47Z")
At the moment I can’t access any pages I try that end in .edu (I tried about a dozen at different schools), though the ones I’ve tried that end in .com (such as this one and many news sites) seem fine. This happens from … --- ## [Better Call Saul season 6](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-6/963063)
**Author:** [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Replies:** 1624\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-call-saul-season-6/963063 "2022-09-16T06:59:51Z")
I will not be watching this until the half season is over, as I prefer the bingewatching model, but I figure that some people may, so I’ve started a thread to i)head off any attempt to bump a mega thread from a previous… --- ## [Matthew McConaughey soccer movie based on true story suddenly canned](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-mcconaughey-soccer-movie-based-on-true-story-suddenly-canned/971607)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/matthew-mcconaughey-soccer-movie-based-on-true-story-suddenly-canned/971607 "2022-09-16T06:31:52Z")
The only thing I could think of is that would derail this is maybe the girls on the team were assaulted or abused in some way and it was hushed up. “Set in 1984, the movie was supposed to be about the true story of a gi… --- ## [Apple watch heart monitor: Is it possible to download the data for use in a spreadsheet or similar?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-watch-heart-monitor-is-it-possible-to-download-the-data-for-use-in-a-spreadsheet-or-similar/971145)
**Author:** [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-watch-heart-monitor-is-it-possible-to-download-the-data-for-use-in-a-spreadsheet-or-similar/971145 "2022-09-16T05:35:38Z")
Apple watch SE, if that makes any difference. --- ## [Suppose Texas Succeeds in Seceding?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-texas-succeeds-in-seceding/966496)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-texas-succeeds-in-seceding/966496 "2022-09-16T05:16:38Z")
I think it unlikely the referendum succeeds, and even if it does it seems to me you Americans fought a war to decide if a state could unilaterally secede. But let’s ignore all that and suppose Texas does secede. What a… --- ## [A modest proposal: South Korea buys North Korea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-modest-proposal-south-korea-buys-north-korea/971097)
**Author:** [@EdwardFound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardFound)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-modest-proposal-south-korea-buys-north-korea/971097 "2022-09-16T05:15:55Z")
Say envoys make an offer to Kim Jong-on and his top generals: immunity from prosecution for any and all crimes for yourself and your family; a luxurious, palatial estate to retire in; $1B a year family stipend for the ne… --- ## [Can't access some education sites from my house](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-access-some-education-sites-from-my-house/971381)
**Author:** [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-access-some-education-sites-from-my-house/971381 "2022-09-16T04:30:41Z")
I live in Vietnam, and I’m building applications to colleges in the US. Things were going well until about a week ago. I can no longer access several websites, for example https://apply.mitadmissions.org/ But the strange… --- ## [What to ask the gastroenterologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-ask-the-gastroenterologist/971578)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-ask-the-gastroenterologist/971578 "2022-09-16T03:12:11Z")
need answers fast-ish So, 3 months after my endoscopy/colonoscopy, I finally have an appointment to talk to the guy who did it. I’m seeing him tomorrow, Sept 15, at 1PM ET What should I ask him? background: the colono… --- ## [Once in a lifetime talents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-in-a-lifetime-talents/971289)
**Author:** [@CastletonSnob1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob1)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-in-a-lifetime-talents/971289 "2022-09-16T03:01:47Z")
What athletes, musicians or entertainers do you consider once in a lifetime talents, that we’ll never see again? Michael Jackson for me. --- ## [Any hope for this dashboard?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hope-for-this-dashboard/971337)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-hope-for-this-dashboard/971337 "2022-09-16T02:27:55Z")
The dashboard of my 2008 Toyota Solara convertible seems to be chemically degrading. It is black. The surface has become sticky to the touch and the edges are showing signs of disintegration. Cleaning doesn’t help. The … --- ## [The Princess and the Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-princess-and-the-frog/521033)
**Author:** [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-princess-and-the-frog/521033 "2022-09-16T01:53:36Z")
Just got back from seeing it with my wife, we don’t have kids. We both really enjoyed it. It was nice seeing classic Disney animation and a return to fairy tales. Also, the villain was awesome. --- ## [Illogical or contradictory metaphor pairs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illogical-or-contradictory-metaphor-pairs/971606)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illogical-or-contradictory-metaphor-pairs/971606 "2022-09-16T01:35:11Z")
A bomb is an explosive device. A blockbuster is colossal bomb, capable of demolishing an entire city block. In film industry parlance, the term “bomb” is used metaphorically to describe a movie that fails at the box of… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=996) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md?page=998)