# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1005 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1006 --- ## [Explain christmas card joke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-christmas-card-joke/737365)
**Author:** [@Calavera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calavera)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-christmas-card-joke/737365 "2015-11-14T23:39:32Z")
Private Eye, a UK satire magazine are offering a selection of humourous christmas cards. One of them, I just don’t get though. In the background we see the standard nativity stable. In the foreground are 3 men. 2 are car… --- ## [What % of people born in Russia in 1920-1925 died young](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-people-born-in-russia-in-1920-1925-died-young/737504)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-of-people-born-in-russia-in-1920-1925-died-young/737504 "2015-11-14T23:07:17Z")
I saw a quote that 80% of people born in Russia in 1923 died before the end of ww2. Considering the Stalinist purges and WW2, I would assume that is possible. Is it a valid statistic? I thought the Stalinist purges kil… --- ## [trying to buy a house; frustrated with sq ft figures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-buy-a-house-frustrated-with-sq-ft-figures/737581)
**Author:** [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-buy-a-house-frustrated-with-sq-ft-figures/737581 "2015-11-14T21:17:44Z")
So we are trying to buy a house. I have six children under age 10. We want a 3000 sq ft house but it doesn’t have to be 3000 FINISHED sq ft. But therein lies the issue. Why don’t any of these house listings tell you … --- ## [Facebook emoticons](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-emoticons/737575)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-emoticons/737575 "2015-11-14T17:18:24Z")
I have used and enjoyed Facebook for years now, but there’s one thing I can’t quite get the hang of–their emoticons. A few of them are simple enough, but there are quite a few of them and nobody I communicate with on Fa… --- ## [If I put this uranium ore down my underpants what would happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-put-this-uranium-ore-down-my-underpants-what-would-happen/687980)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-put-this-uranium-ore-down-my-underpants-what-would-happen/687980 "2015-11-14T16:17:42Z")
Uranium ore, you can buy it at \[del\]$25.00\[/del\] $24.95. Same question goes for the more potent stuff, at $150.00 Interested mostly in effect of radiation. Half-life probably not an issue as a purchasing decision. No d… --- ## [What is the work day in the Muslim world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-work-day-in-the-muslim-world/737449)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-work-day-in-the-muslim-world/737449 "2015-11-14T16:05:50Z")
Here in the States, the typical work week is Monday-Friday, 9-5. What is it in the Muslim world? Are banks and offices open on Friday? How about Sunday? If it varies, I mostly want to know about Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and … --- ## [Are people in the UK jailed for "insulting the Queen"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-in-the-uk-jailed-for-insulting-the-queen/730648)
**Author:** [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-people-in-the-uk-jailed-for-insulting-the-queen/730648 "2015-11-14T11:41:18Z")
While on vacation recently a friend claimed that it was “illegal” in the UK to “insult the Queen” so it was hypocritical for people in the UK to criticize Turkey’s banning of “insulting Turkishness”? Are people in the U… --- ## [What's the limit to investment growth here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-limit-to-investment-growth-here/737354)
**Author:** [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-limit-to-investment-growth-here/737354 "2015-11-14T11:08:50Z")
Hey all, Okay, I have a question that’s really important… the story behind this is really long and complicated, but what I need to know boils down to this. Let’s say you invest in a company with a $3 billion market cap… --- ## [Are there any antiperspirants for the head? (possible TMI)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-for-the-head-possible-tmi/529033)
**Author:** [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-antiperspirants-for-the-head-possible-tmi/529033 "2015-11-14T10:47:15Z")
In this thread we are discussing the annoyances of exercise. It reminded me of a factual question that has come to mind. One of my problems with exercise is that I sweat. Well, everybody does, that’s part of the poi… --- ## [Camtasia for the Mac, iMovie and post-production](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camtasia-for-the-mac-imovie-and-post-production/737445)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camtasia-for-the-mac-imovie-and-post-production/737445 "2015-11-14T06:20:36Z")
I’m been asked to produce a series of video computer tutorials for a company to instructor employees on how to use their proprietary applications and intranet. I’m wondering what is the best way to do post-production on … --- ## [Question about credit reporting agencies (transunion, equifax, experian)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-credit-reporting-agencies-transunion-equifax-experian/737478)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-credit-reporting-agencies-transunion-equifax-experian/737478 "2015-11-14T03:44:49Z")
How did these companies pop into existence, and why hasn’t a 4th (or 5th or 6th) company sprouted up? ISTM that these companies would have to get the blessing of the federal government first, since they need access to y… --- ## [Transformer trips GFCI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transformer-trips-gfci/737518)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transformer-trips-gfci/737518 "2015-11-14T03:33:30Z")
My latest neon sign acquisition, the neon transformer trips the GFCI as soon as it’s energized. I’m assuming this is a short from the primary to the grounded case, and thus I need a new transformer, or is it possible som… --- ## [Math help please?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-help-please/737374)
**Author:** [@brahmsacademic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brahmsacademic)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-help-please/737374 "2015-11-14T02:51:03Z")
How do you prove that the derivative of the sum as k goes from 0 to infinity of f(sub-k)(x) = the sum as k goes from 0 to infinity of the derivative of f(sub-k)(x). Thanks in advance! --- ## [Pruning a crab apple tree in late fall](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pruning-a-crab-apple-tree-in-late-fall/737465)
**Author:** [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pruning-a-crab-apple-tree-in-late-fall/737465 "2015-11-14T02:50:48Z")
So there is a nice old crab apple tree in the back yard neglected for some years, badly in need of a pruning. Bought the house last spring and renovated all spring/summer and pruning the tree was low priority then. I wa… --- ## [When was it decided that TV news departments had to turn a profit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-decided-that-tv-news-departments-had-to-turn-a-profit/737476)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-it-decided-that-tv-news-departments-had-to-turn-a-profit/737476 "2015-11-14T00:56:59Z")
I was watching a YouTube video recently where the presenter traced the sorry state of TV journalism to a point when network execs decided that news departments had to turn a profit, instead of being viewed as a public se… --- ## [Are students sitting the SSAT and SAT exams expected to explain their math answers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-students-sitting-the-ssat-and-sat-exams-expected-to-explain-their-math-answers/737446)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 13, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-students-sitting-the-ssat-and-sat-exams-expected-to-explain-their-math-answers/737446 "2015-11-13T23:55:21Z")
Hi I was reading about the Common Core standards in the following article The Common Core-Inspired “Explain Your Answers” Rule in Math Is Misguided\