# Discussion thread for the "Polls only" thread (Part 3)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 29, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157 "2026-01-29T18:21:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 130
### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2581 "2026-08-06T18:06:29Z")
Late is complicated - there is late by the employer standards, late by employee standards, late in terms of being able to do the job.
I’ve had jobs where they expected you to be ready to do work and signed in on the exact dot of the clock - the issue being that meant a minimum of 10 minutes to you know, sign into all the systems, enter passwords, and the rest. Which means you were doing unpaid work. One of those employers later backtracked and said “what we mean is that you sign in/punch in at exactly the right time and THEN get set up, with no more than 10 minutes to be ready” after getting involved in a few arbitration disputes!
Of course, in the interests of fairness, there were plenty of employees who abused that as well, coming in at the last second, signing in, and then heading off to smoke / get coffee before coming back in 10 minutes and THEN signing in.
In terms of _attendance_, a lot of places I worked didn’t consider you late until 15 minutes scheduled shift start, unless it was a pattern (several times a week). But that was if you didn’t sign in (so they weren’t paying you).
* * *
For college, I said I’d send it to my past self, but I’d only send the scholarship to the past for a new degree in a more useful field, and for AFTER I finished my first degree (where I met my then girlfriend, now wife of 24 years). And I selected University of Toronto - which would give me a much better chance in my retroactive youth to begin the process of naturalization there.
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### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2582 "2026-08-06T18:12:32Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#):
>
> I selected University of Toronto
Me, too. Let’s be dorm roommates, eh! 😉
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2583 "2026-08-06T18:18:36Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#):
>
> Late is complicated - there is late by the employer standards, late by employee standards, late in terms of being able to do the job.
If your job starts at 9:00, you’re late if you arrive at 9:01. There may be no consequences for being late. It might not be a problem. But you’re nonetheless “late.”
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### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2584 "2026-08-06T18:34:55Z")
You’re not technically wrong, but I was talking about real or working world definitions of late. If it isn’t a problem for your employer, or they do flex time, is it late in anything but the most technical sense?
Or in my earlier example, if I showed up and clocked in _exactly_ on time, but was unable to do my job requirements because of sign ins, tool loads, and passwords, I was _effectively_ late to start doing my job, even if I met the technical definition of being on-time.
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### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2585 "2026-08-06T18:56:54Z")
Where I work, no one even notices what time people come in. (if they do come it, it’s discretionary)
Other than the receptionist, who needs to unlock the front door and answer the phone. Everyone else manages their own time.
For court appearances however, judges expect you ready to roll at the time the hearing was set. If you’re not ready, you better have a really good reason. I aim for at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start. When I did criminal cases, the cases were usually heard in the order you signed in. If you were down the list, you had to sit for hours while the calendar inched along.
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### Author:  [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2586 "2026-08-06T21:08:54Z")
Deciding which university would require research, which I’m not going to take time to do for the purpose of taking the poll. Didn’t vote in that part.
I think I’d hand it to my younger self at about 30, though. I don’t think I’ve got the energy left to take full advantage; and at 30 I had fewer responsibilities but had been out of college long enough and grown up enough to get some good out of another year there.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2587 "2026-08-06T23:43:06Z")
Before I retired, I was contractually obligated to be on campus at least 15 minutes before my first class of the day. Was never an issue since I was usually there a good hour before.
Scholarship-wise, I would like to think I would choose Cambridge or Oxford, but at that age I think being that far away from family for that long would be a deal breaker, Then I’d opt of Stanford or Cal.
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### Author:  [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2588 "2026-08-07T05:48:43Z")
I’m not using any of the degrees I already have. Going back to school holds no attraction to me.
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### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2589 "2026-08-07T12:31:39Z")
In the list of great foods, I’m happy to see several from Malaysia, Singapore, and southern India. Mrs. Map is Malaysia-born and of South Indian roots, so I’m quite familiar with dosa, chicken rice, chili crab…and especially **rendang**.
This is a delicious “pot roast”, usually beef but sometimes chicken, slow simmered in a brown sauce that includes coconut milk, but doesn’t have that strong coconut taste of, say, certain Thai soups. It should almost melt in your mouth.
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### Author:  [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2590 "2026-08-07T12:34:14Z")
I had to look up some of the foods. For those wondering, I voted in this public poll because I noticed it was a public poll, so my training method seems to be working.
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### Author:  [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2591 "2026-08-07T12:34:28Z")
A list of great foods that contains Hamburgers but doesn’t contain at least Barbecue if not a good Asado it’s at the very least suspect.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2592 "2026-08-07T12:49:53Z")
You may contact CNN [here.](https://help.cnn.com/us)
mmm
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### Author:  [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2593 "2026-08-07T12:52:41Z")
The seem to be beyond any possibility of illumination, I mean _Hamburger_?
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### Author:  [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2594 "2026-08-07T13:05:32Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#):
>
> This is a delicious “pot roast”, usually beef but sometimes chicken, slow simmered in a brown sauce that includes coconut milk, but doesn’t have that strong coconut taste of, say, certain Thai soups. It should almost melt in your mouth.
I just read up on rendang. It sounds delicious and looks easy enough. I’ll have to try it.
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### Author:  [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2595 "2026-08-07T13:13:52Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#):
>
> I’ll have to try it
Enjoy! (I often mix the name up with **Redang** , a gorgeous, laid-back tropical island – similar to St. John in the US Virgin Islands – off the east coast of Malaysia).
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### Author:  [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2596 "2026-08-07T13:22:46Z")
I don’t need fajitas _and_ tacos. Fajitas will do just fine.
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### Author:  [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2597 "2026-08-07T14:07:35Z")
> [@Frodo](#):
>
> A list of great foods that contains Hamburgers but doesn’t contain at least Barbecue if not a good Asado it’s at the very least suspect.
I suspect they consider those ingredients rather than dishes. But you’re right; they just say “food”.
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### Author:  [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2598 "2026-08-07T14:17:28Z")
But this is a whole dish!
[ ](https://locosxlaparrilla.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Receta-recetas-locos-x-la-parrilla-locosxlaparrilla-tira-asado-a-la-parrilla-tira-asado-en-sal-2-848x477.jpg)
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2599 "2026-08-07T14:22:33Z")
I also thought the list was very odd. I like popcorn, but it’s not something I’d put on the “best foods” list. Hamburger was, as previously mentioned, an off choice. “Lobster” is an entry, but an extremely specific crab dish was the only entry for crabs. There are a bunch of other peculiarities.
After voting i looked at the article, and picked up a couple more that I’ve had but didn’t recognize the names. Like those little Portuguese tarts. But i decided I’d never had exactly that version of crab.
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### Author:  [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-thread-for-the-polls-only-thread-part-3/1027157/2600 "2026-08-07T17:48:11Z")
If the CNN included international staff, I can understand hamburgers getting a place on the list. We hosted an exchange student from Slovakia several years ago, and she and her family were CRAZY about hamburgers. She talked about them as if they were an exotic delicacy. Here in the US, not so much (although I do realize, @Frodo, you’re not in the US, either). I agree with you about barbecue. Then again, polls are always about the demographic, right?
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