# An Omnibus Discussion Thread In Which You Can Ask All The Questions/Topics Not Good Enough To Start OPs About **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554 "2026-06-01T22:57:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/81 "2026-06-04T17:57:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I believe there’s a similar effect with caffeine as well. If you drink the same amount every day, your body builds up a tolerance to it and you no longer experience the same “wake up” effect Except that you’ll really notice if you don’t get it. Though I suppose there’s a similar effect with salt and heat, in that if you’re used to high levels even quite flavorful foods may taste bland without them. That’s unlikely to give you headaches, though. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/82 "2026-06-04T22:58:27Z")
I don’t know how you guys did it, but that clip just showed up on my TV’s YouTube feed so I watched it; that dark circle is a mirror pointed in a direction so as not to reflect the camera — whatever it’s reflecting is pitchy black, but you can see Tarantino’s hand reflected twice in the mirror in that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Past\_Paper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/past_paper/32/21268_2.png) [@Past\_Paper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Past_Paper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/83 "2026-06-04T23:23:15Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > But when do the pull the “Spring” issue? If they pull it too late, they won’t get credit on the return. One of the follow-up questions I’ve asked in this thread: How long after the Display Until date is past does it become too late for them to get a refund, assuming it’s ever too late? Maybe there’s no specific answer, or it’s just a case-by-case random thing, or nobody (including the business owners/companies) really cares honestly ---
**Author:** ![Past\_Paper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/past_paper/32/21268_2.png) [@Past\_Paper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Past_Paper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/84 "2026-06-04T23:25:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I feel people in the fifties felt the world was improving and they were generally happier. Except for the Red Scare and the Cold War 😃 (and all those damn Rebels Without Causes and their damn drag races) ---
**Author:** ![Past\_Paper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/past_paper/32/21268_2.png) [@Past\_Paper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Past_Paper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/85 "2026-06-04T23:27:00Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > my personal favorite female-written screenplay: Nancy Dowd - _Slap Shot_ _Slap Shot_ was written by a woman?! And that movie was named the #1 Guy Movie of all time by _Maxim_ magazine circa 2002! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Past\_Paper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/past_paper/32/21268_2.png) [@Past\_Paper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Past_Paper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/86 "2026-06-04T23:29:01Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Your brain isn’t evolved to handle the reality that this is a one-way relationship; as far as your genes are concerned, you must have a relationship with these people if you’re seeing them so frequently. So you begin to form a social bond with them, albeit a one-sided one because they’re not encountering you One word for that: [Parasocial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasocial_interaction) ---
**Author:** ![Past\_Paper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/past_paper/32/21268_2.png) [@Past\_Paper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Past_Paper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/87 "2026-06-04T23:32:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But not in this thread, eh I’m not following you- are you implying that this is GD territory and shouldn’t be discussed here? Yeah, that’s probably what you’re saying here, but I just thought it was an interesting concept- you’re saying there are people who strongly disagree with your claim and argue against it? It’s not an officially-endorsed theory? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/88 "2026-06-04T23:43:57Z")
> [@Past\_Paper](#): > > I’m not following you- are you implying that this is GD territory and shouldn’t be discussed here? Yeah, that’s probably what you’re saying here, but I just thought it was an interesting concept- you’re saying there are people who strongly disagree with your claim and argue against it? I didnt make any claim. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > annoy the real estate investors who rule every city government in the land. That is what you were replying to, from another poster. And would switching subjects not be a hijack? That “claim” would cause arguments. Best in a thread of it’s own. But you started this, do what you like. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/89 "2026-06-04T23:52:39Z")
I’d say about half the Qs here could be legitimate separate threads in the appropriate categories. The OP’s @Past_Paper’s idea for mini Qs is good, but IMO lots of full sized Qs are being asked. Particularly for the more specialized categories, the people best positioned to reply will never notice that post #79 of this thread is right up their alley. We don’t need to ration topics. Spend them freely. I’m going to switch to answering any Qs I think worthy of their own thread as a linked OP reply in the category I think best fits the Q. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/90 "2026-06-04T23:53:23Z")
> [@Past\_Paper](#): > > One of the follow-up questions I’ve asked in this thread: How long after the Display Until date is past does it become too late for them to get a refund, assuming it’s ever too late? Maybe there’s no specific answer, or it’s just a case-by-case random thing, or nobody (including the business owners/companies) really cares honestly Or maybe nobody here knows. I answered your questions about the “display until” date, and the UPCs for periodicals, but saw no acknowledgement that you read them. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/91 "2026-06-05T00:01:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I answered your questions about the “display until” date, and the UPCs for periodicals, but saw no acknowledgement that you read them. Yeah, i did also, but not as well as you did. Odd question to keep asking. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/92 "2026-06-05T00:21:45Z")
> [@Past\_Paper](#): > > I’ve seen stats before that say that 2,000 cars and motorcycles are stolen every day in the United States. **Why do stolen cars not get more news attention (or, oftentimes, any news attention)?** But that’s in the whole U.S., where there are somewhere around 285 million personal vehicles. Having 370,000 veh/year stolen is about 0.26% of vehicles stolen. > [@DrDeth](#): > > The Society of Creative Anachronism and other groups often have period cooking. You can get a recipe and cook it yourself. If you find a book that describes the crust as “fair coffins of paste”, you’ve found the right book. In the Early Medieval years, the crust wasn’t necessarily meant to be eaten. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/93 "2026-06-05T00:23:33Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > If you find a book that describes the crust as “fair coffins of paste”, you’ve found the right book. In the Early Medieval years, the crust wasn’t necessarily meant to be eaten. Right, well at least not by the gentry and nobles, anyway. Dogs, serfs, etc- maybe. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/94 "2026-06-05T00:37:18Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > > [@Past\_Paper](#): > > > > I’ve seen stats before that say that 2,000 cars and motorcycles are stolen every day in the United States. **Why do stolen cars not get more news attention (or, oftentimes, any news attention)?** > > But that’s in the whole U.S., where there are somewhere around 285 million personal vehicles. Having 370,000 veh/year stolen is about 0.26% of vehicles stolen Zactly. What sells papers or clicks is novelty. (Or lies, but that’s a different category of Dope thread). Not a steady daily drip of whatever. 100 Americans are killed every _day_ in car crashes. 50 of those by drunks. That ratio hasn’t changed since I was born. My hair is gray and I’m on Medicare. It’s a horror, but not a _newsworthy_ horror. Because it’s neither new, nor changing. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/95 "2026-06-05T01:10:14Z")
I recently heard a description of the origin of the phrase “balls to the wall”", that I’m not sure if I should accept. A lot of old expressions, especially in male-dominated occupations, have rather risqué origins. The explanation I heard for this one was conveniently family friendly. Does anyone know the origin of “ **balls to the wall** ”? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/96 "2026-06-05T01:25:25Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Does anyone know the origin of “ **balls to the wall** ”? I didn’t, until Google told me. [The Phrase ‘Balls to the Wall’ Comes From Warplanes, Not That Other Thing](https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-phrase-balls-to-the-wall-comes-from-warplanes-not-that-other-thing) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/97 "2026-06-05T02:23:48Z")
> [@Past\_Paper](#): > > Except for the Red Scare and the Cold War 😃 (and all those damn Rebels Without Causes and their damn drag races) True. And there was the growing unrest over race. But while these were things that people worried about, I feel none of them rose to the level of actual problem that the great depression and the world war did. Arguably, the fact that there were no genuine problems at that level was what allowed people to magnify the lesser problems they actually were facing. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/98 "2026-06-05T02:37:50Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I didn’t, until Google told me. > > [The Phrase ‘Balls to the Wall’ Comes From Warplanes, Not That Other Thing](https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-phrase-balls-to-the-wall-comes-from-warplanes-not-that-other-thing) Thank you. The governor explanation was given by a tour guide at an historic water pumping station near Boston. As the governor spun faster, two round weights would be lifted up and out, bringing them very slightly closer to the walls of the room. I’d never heard that before, and it sounded like a sanitized explanation for a young audience. I’m a little surprised to see that cited in the link you posted. Very cool tour, by the way, if anyone in Boston wants to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/99 "2026-06-05T02:42:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It’s a horror, but not a _newsworthy_ horror. Because it’s neither new, nor changing. “Man bites dog”, not “dog bites man”- unless it is a pitbull. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554/100 "2026-06-05T09:24:19Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > “Why are there grown adults still excited about Pokemon?” It keeps my kids quiet for a few brief minutes, especially if I buy them each a new pack… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-omnibus-discussion-thread-in-which-you-can-ask-all-the-questions-topics-not-good-enough-to-start-ops-about/1030554.md?page=6)