# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1016 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1017 --- ## [Translation of a French botanical terminology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-of-a-french-botanical-terminology/735903)
**Author:** [@Gymnopithys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gymnopithys)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2015, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translation-of-a-french-botanical-terminology/735903 "2015-10-28T11:45:08Z")
I need the translation into English of a specialized botanical terminology in French describing a plant association or community: l’alliance de la pelouse mi-sèche continentale Can anybody help ? --- ## [Crown Royal... rye whisky?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-royal-rye-whisky/197416)
**Author:** [@\_M\_Jonny\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_M_Jonny_B)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crown-royal-rye-whisky/197416 "2015-10-28T03:12:42Z")
I’m wondering if anyone has the solution to the ongoing debate about Canadian Whisky: Is it really rye whisky, or do we Canadians just insist (incorrectly) on calling it that? I was suprised to find that there is no of… --- ## [Windows 10 annoyance: Keyboard shortcuts broke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-annoyance-keyboard-shortcuts-broke/735768)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-annoyance-keyboard-shortcuts-broke/735768 "2015-10-28T02:58:58Z")
One of my favorite features of Windows 7 was the ability to use the Windows key + arrow keys to arrange windows. Win+Left would make it take up the left half, win+right the right half, win+up maximize, etc. Now, with Wi… --- ## [My dog hair sticks like crazy to my "100% wool" suit. Can I figure out if I was lied to?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-hair-sticks-like-crazy-to-my-100-wool-suit-can-i-figure-out-if-i-was-lied-to/735871)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-hair-sticks-like-crazy-to-my-100-wool-suit-can-i-figure-out-if-i-was-lied-to/735871 "2015-10-27T21:32:50Z")
I am far from a suit expert, but I have owned suits before that I am pretty sure were 100% wool. I have never had problems with them attracting and hanging on to large amounts of pet hair. I just purchase several suits… --- ## [About Those (Fashionable) Ultra-Small Houses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-fashionable-ultra-small-houses/735544)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-those-fashionable-ultra-small-houses/735544 "2015-10-27T21:25:30Z")
My questions: -many look great; do people really like living in them? -is it hard to get building permits for them? They look so radically different that I imagine many neighborhood associations would not want them bui… --- ## [What was the last piece of work to enter the public domain naturally?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-last-piece-of-work-to-enter-the-public-domain-naturally/644986)
**Author:** [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-last-piece-of-work-to-enter-the-public-domain-naturally/644986 "2015-10-27T21:08:38Z")
I thought this was going to be a simple question, but I anticipated a few more things. What is the most recent work\* to enter the public domain? \*That is, entertaining media that someone other than the creators mother … --- ## [F1 on TV- What's wrong with the sound levels?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f1-on-tv-whats-wrong-with-the-sound-levels/735762)
**Author:** [@DtypeJag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DtypeJag)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f1-on-tv-whats-wrong-with-the-sound-levels/735762 "2015-10-27T20:57:02Z")
I’ve followed F1 since the early '60’s and ever since NBCSN has been carrying the races it has only been possible for me to hear distinctly about 1/2 or 2/3 of what the commentators say. The rest is drowned out by engin… --- ## [Where do "primative" people get their diverse intestinal bacteria from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-primative-people-get-their-diverse-intestinal-bacteria-from/735708)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-primative-people-get-their-diverse-intestinal-bacteria-from/735708 "2015-10-27T20:27:10Z")
The media and science is pushing the idea that people in modern industrial countries have poorly diverse populations of gut microbes. I read an article about a scientist that did his own DIY fecal transplant from a donor… --- ## [Was the Great Wall of China a realistic deterant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-great-wall-of-china-a-realistic-deterant/735728)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-great-wall-of-china-a-realistic-deterant/735728 "2015-10-27T18:22:16Z")
In looking at yet another photo of the Great Wall, I can’t help but wonder if it was a real physical deterant or more of a psychological one. I admit I don’t know much about ancient warfare, but it seems that the wall wa… --- ## [Show me the filaments and voids!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-me-the-filaments-and-voids/735852)
**Author:** [@mandala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandala)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/show-me-the-filaments-and-voids/735852 "2015-10-27T17:29:42Z")
If we peer far enough into deep space, we should be able to see the filamentous, spidery large-scale structure of the Universe - the scientific opinion being that filaments and voids are the largest observable contiguous… --- ## [Mathematicians / CS types - Odds Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathematicians-cs-types-odds-algorithm/735878)
**Author:** [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathematicians-cs-types-odds-algorithm/735878 "2015-10-27T16:17:39Z")
While spelunking across Wiki today I came across this Odds algorithm - Wikipedia explanation of the odds-strategy and the odds-algorithm. Which has to do with decision-making in a multiple trial activity. Usually this … --- ## [Origin of the "nanny nanny nanny!" taunting melody?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-nanny-nanny-nanny-taunting-melody/542874)
**Author:** [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-the-nanny-nanny-nanny-taunting-melody/542874 "2015-10-27T15:43:59Z")
Most of us are probably familiar with the childhood taunting melody used by unpleasant children everywhere for delivering such messages as “nanny nanny nanny!” or “Kevin’s i-in trou-ble!” or the like. Two notes, then a … --- ## [windows 10](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10/735726)
**Author:** [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10/735726 "2015-10-27T14:40:14Z")
I have tried windows 10 and did not like it. I went back to windows 7,but I understand that Microsoft, in it’s infinite wisdom, has decided that we all are going to get windows 10, no matter if we want it or not. Can I… --- ## [Where does this type of spam come from, and why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-this-type-of-spam-come-from-and-why/735851)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-this-type-of-spam-come-from-and-why/735851 "2015-10-27T13:58:22Z")
Below, I’ve quoted an entire spam post that showed up in an IMHO thread. What I don’t understand is why this type of spam exists. It has no links to any other site, no advertising, no attempt to squeeze money from anyb… --- ## [Tooth Whitening - Good, Bad, or Somewhere in Between?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whitening-good-bad-or-somewhere-in-between/735373)
**Author:** [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whitening-good-bad-or-somewhere-in-between/735373 "2015-10-27T05:14:34Z")
There is a LOT of promotion of tooth whitening these days - pastes, trays, kits, systems, toothpaste, mouth wash, whitening pens, strips… I get that some people really do have badly stained or discolored teeth. Persona… --- ## [Relative Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-time/735625)
**Author:** [@ziggydsw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ziggydsw)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-time/735625 "2015-10-27T04:34:14Z")
In the Matthew McConaughey movie “Insterstellar”, 1 scientist stays in the orbiter ship while the others go to the water planet. The orbitor ages years while the planetary travlors age days/hours. Would not that be bac… --- ## [Civil War battle strategy question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-battle-strategy-question/733107)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-war-battle-strategy-question/733107 "2015-10-27T00:10:08Z")
Whenever I see or read something on something like the famed “Pickett’s Charge”, the standard infantry philosophy was to march shoulder to shoulder, and when a cannon ball, grape shot, or some other explosive blew a hole… --- ## [Why do online forms need both ZIP code AND state?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-online-forms-need-both-zip-code-and-state/735748)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-online-forms-need-both-zip-code-and-state/735748 "2015-10-26T22:41:52Z")
I was a computer science major in college. I realize it would be trivially easy for someone to write a script to automatically enter someone’s state after they type in their ZIP code. In fact, a few sites do have this … --- ## [Are there any costs to solar panels afer they have been installed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-costs-to-solar-panels-afer-they-have-been-installed/735538)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-costs-to-solar-panels-afer-they-have-been-installed/735538 "2015-10-26T20:56:03Z")
If someone buys solar panels outright instead of financing them, are there any costs after installation? I am asking about panels themselves, not battery systems, because not all solar installations use batteries. Ther… --- ## [F35 catapult operations: what is the observer writing? And who is doing what on deck?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f35-catapult-operations-what-is-the-observer-writing-and-who-is-doing-what-on-deck/735698)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f35-catapult-operations-what-is-the-observer-writing-and-who-is-doing-what-on-deck/735698 "2015-10-26T20:51:05Z")
Here’s the clip: A woman is observing from up high–is that the bridge? (I’m at Star Trek understanding here). She goes nicely low-tech with a see through plastic stuck up on the window on which she writes s… --- ## [How much is a phone number worth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-phone-number-worth/735764)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-phone-number-worth/735764 "2015-10-26T19:55:17Z")
I often hear about companies selling their customer’s phone numbers. How much do they get per number? I can’t imagine it being very much. --- ## [What do you do when you bag underweight game?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-bag-underweight-game/735789)
**Author:** [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-bag-underweight-game/735789 "2015-10-26T19:43:43Z")
For fish, you can just throw them back if they’re underweight. For bucks it might be easy to tell if they’re bucks or have the requisite number of points. However, for land game such as deer or bear that need to meet a … --- ## [External ballistics: Trajectory quandary.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-ballistics-trajectory-quandary/735358)
**Author:** [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/external-ballistics-trajectory-quandary/735358 "2015-10-26T19:14:00Z")
For years, understanding one aspect of bullet trajectory has eluded my comprehension, so I thought: Ask the SDMB gurus to explain physics to a dummy (me). My question revolves around the old hunter’s adage about shooti… --- ## [Comet Spews Alcohol and Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-spews-alcohol-and-sugar/735780)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comet-spews-alcohol-and-sugar/735780 "2015-10-26T19:11:02Z")
This is interesting: My question is: I thought complex organic molecules like sugar and alcohol were only possible through biological processes. Do we know where they come from, or how they are created at the forma… --- ## [Regarding intestinal flora, is an antibiotic injection the same as taking a antibiotic pill?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-intestinal-flora-is-an-antibiotic-injection-the-same-as-taking-a-antibiotic-pill/735805)
**Author:** [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-intestinal-flora-is-an-antibiotic-injection-the-same-as-taking-a-antibiotic-pill/735805 "2015-10-26T18:24:34Z")
I realize the pill will kill the flora because it is taken internally. Is that the case with an injection? --- ## [ATT webmail detail problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/att-webmail-detail-problem/735801)
**Author:** [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/att-webmail-detail-problem/735801 "2015-10-26T17:12:04Z")
I’ve accidentally changed some sort of setting in my email and am hoping someone here might know how to change it back. ATT has an autocomplete suggestion feature for the “To” box when composing an email – start typing a… --- ## [Original miles on a car](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-miles-on-a-car/735753)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/original-miles-on-a-car/735753 "2015-10-26T16:29:34Z")
A lot of ads for used cars will say things like “has 60k original miles on it”. What exactly does this mean and are there ever any unoriginal miles? --- ## [Do Bi-Lingual People Really Hold Conversations In Two Languages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-bi-lingual-people-really-hold-conversations-in-two-languages/735406)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-bi-lingual-people-really-hold-conversations-in-two-languages/735406 "2015-10-26T15:09:20Z")
This happens a lot on Fresh Off The Boat: Eddie’s grandmother will speak in Chinese (Mandarin, I’m guessing), and everyone else will speak to her in English, and they’ll carry on conversations this way. There are obvious… --- ## [What was the purpose of the Stalin Soviet show trials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-stalin-soviet-show-trials/734028)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-purpose-of-the-stalin-soviet-show-trials/734028 "2015-10-26T14:05:40Z")
Not necessarily just Stalin, and not just necessarily the USSR, but those seem to be the epitome of the term. The USSR was a pretty closed society, and the Big Cheese could pretty much make anyone disappear that he want… --- ## [Question about California Section 8 law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-california-section-8-law/735767)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2015, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-california-section-8-law/735767 "2015-10-26T11:23:23Z")
Here is the situation: A woman, 69 years old and disabled, has lived in the same apartment for nearly ten years with a Section 8 subsidy. The certificate is hers; it does NOT go with the unit, but with her. The buildi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1015) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1017)