# Baker’s Dozen III **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [August 22, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093 "2022-08-22T15:39:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 446
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8901 "2025-12-17T04:12:27Z")
Other than being able to sign their name, I doubt most kids need to know cursive these days. Printing clearly is a much more important skill IMHO. **Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8902 "2025-12-17T13:27:29Z")
**Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape 7. Operating a printing press ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8903 "2025-12-17T16:15:40Z")
**Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape 7. Operating a printing press 8. Reading road maps ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8904 "2025-12-17T21:55:04Z")
**Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape 7. Operating a printing press 8. Reading road maps 9. Shepardizing a reported case ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8905 "2025-12-17T22:43:45Z")
**Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape 7. Operating a printing press 8. Reading road maps 9. Shepardizing a reported case 10. Driving a car with a manual transmission ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8906 "2025-12-17T22:46:50Z")
**Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape 7. Operating a printing press 8. Reading road maps 9. Shepardizing a reported case 10. Driving a car with a manual transmission 11. Using carbon paper in a typewriter ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8907 "2025-12-18T01:58:47Z")
**Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape 7. Operating a printing press 8. Reading road maps 9. Shepardizing a reported case 10. Driving a car with a manual transmission 11. Using carbon paper in a typewriter 12. Writing a check ---
**Author:** ![Bicycle\_Bill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bicycle_bill/32/6208_2.png) [@Bicycle\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bicycle_Bill)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8908 "2025-12-18T02:36:05Z")
**Skills you have that are now obsolete**. 1. Researching obscure information 2. Dialing a phone 3. Burning a CD 4. Programming a VCR 5. Writing in cursive 6. Creating a mixtape 7. Operating a printing press 8. Reading road maps 9. Shepardizing a reported case 10. Driving a car with a manual transmission 11. Using carbon paper in a typewriter 12. Writing a check 13. Speaking and writing in proper English (grammar, punctuation, and spelling) > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Other than being able to sign their name, I doubt most kids need to know cursive these days. As far back as thirty-five years ago, the scrawlings I saw on people’s checks or credit-card authorizations frequently looked more like an EKG printout than anything resembling a legible signature. And it hasn’t improved. Ever looked at President Trump’s signature on his various proclamations, directives, and decrees? With that observation, I shall pass. _ **-“BB”-** _ ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8909 "2025-12-18T03:20:54Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8910 "2025-12-18T03:32:20Z")
> [@Bicycle\_Bill](#): > > And it hasn’t improved. Ever looked at President Trump’s signature on his various proclamations, directives, and decrees? I wonder what you’d get if you used a bar code scanner on it? Continuing the game: **Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8911 "2025-12-18T03:44:15Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico ---
**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:** [December 18, 2025, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8912 "2025-12-18T10:57:46Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8913 "2025-12-18T11:59:03Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8914 "2025-12-18T14:10:41Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans 6. Indira Gandhi, India ---
**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:** [December 18, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8915 "2025-12-18T14:15:20Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans 6. Indira Gandhi, India 7. Empress Wu Zetian, China ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8916 "2025-12-18T15:20:47Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans 6. Indira Gandhi, India 7. Empress Wu Zetian, China 8. Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan ---
**Author:** ![knoodler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@knoodler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knoodler)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8917 "2025-12-18T17:22:27Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans 6. Indira Gandhi, India 7. Empress Wu Zetian, China 8. Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan 9. Isabel Perón, President of Argentina, 1974 - 1976 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8918 "2025-12-18T20:10:19Z")
Gandhi (#6) and Takaichi (#8) were and are heads of government, not heads of state. India has a president, and Japan an emperor, as heads of state. Revised accordingly: **Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans 6. Empress Jitō of Japan, 686-697 7. Empress Wu Zetian, China 8. Isabel Perón, President of Argentina, 1974-1976 ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8919 "2025-12-18T20:30:42Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans 6. Empress Jitō of Japan, 686-697 7. Empress Wu Zetian, China 8. Isabel Perón, President of Argentina, 1974-1976 9. [Catherine Connolly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Connolly), President of Ireland 3 of the last 4 Irish Presidents have been female ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093/8920 "2025-12-18T20:41:04Z")
**Past and Present Female Heads of State** 1. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 2. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom 3. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico 4. Catherine II, Empress of Russia, 1762-1796. 5. Irene of Athens, Empress of the (Eastern) Romans 6. Empress Jitō of Japan, 686-697 7. Empress Wu Zetian, China 8. Isabel Perón, President of Argentina, 1974-1976 9. Catherine Connolly, President of Ireland 10. Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland Next up: **Prominent female judges** 1. Maureen O’Connor, Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (2011-2022) For more: [Maureen O'Connor (judge) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_O%27Connor_(judge)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093.md?page=445) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baker-s-dozen-iii/970093.md?page=447)