# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1027 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1028 --- ## [in an airplane why is an outside loop so much harder to do than an inside one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-an-airplane-why-is-an-outside-loop-so-much-harder-to-do-than-an-inside-one/733734)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-an-airplane-why-is-an-outside-loop-so-much-harder-to-do-than-an-inside-one/733734 "2015-10-07T16:00:57Z")
Hello Everyone, An inside loop defined as the cockpit is facing the center of the loop, an outside is when the cockpit is facing, well to the outside. Why is the outside one so much more difficult? --- ## [Why do Dutch men wear pointy shoes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dutch-men-wear-pointy-shoes/733521)
**Author:** [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dutch-men-wear-pointy-shoes/733521 "2015-10-07T15:25:22Z")
In the past year I went to the Netherlands and I noticed in business casual offices many leather dressy shoes were at least as long as American cowboy boots but had a square toe. Like 1 1/2 - 2" beyond the toe space ins… --- ## [The math of big monitors and relative feature size](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-math-of-big-monitors-and-relative-feature-size/733789)
**Author:** [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-math-of-big-monitors-and-relative-feature-size/733789 "2015-10-07T14:43:30Z")
Ok, so I setup my new treadmill desk. Turns out, if you walk about 0.7-1 mph, you can use a mouse and keyboard just fine. (I have a heavy logitech G502 which seems to be pretty resilient to vibrations) So the problem … --- ## [Strange effect of a blacklight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-effect-of-a-blacklight/733719)
**Author:** [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-effect-of-a-blacklight/733719 "2015-10-07T13:25:48Z")
While at one of those glow in the dark putt-putt places with the family I noticed something strange. I happened to look up directly into one of the blacklight fixtures. It was like I was looking through slightly froste… --- ## [Damage caused by krokodil drug](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damage-caused-by-krokodil-drug/733717)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damage-caused-by-krokodil-drug/733717 "2015-10-07T12:23:54Z")
I found a video purporting to show the damage done by krokodil on someone’s head. Since Internet videos are often enough fake or contain false information, I’d like to know if the following video is likely that of the da… --- ## [How long does it take to get paint mixed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-paint-mixed/733392)
**Author:** [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-paint-mixed/733392 "2015-10-07T05:15:09Z")
Say you go into a Sherwin-Williams or Lowes or whatever and pick out a color and order a couple of cans. How long do they take before it’s ready? --- ## [Damage from big tree falling on big building](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damage-from-big-tree-falling-on-big-building/733010)
**Author:** [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damage-from-big-tree-falling-on-big-building/733010 "2015-10-07T05:02:02Z")
Suppose a tree about 80 feet tall falls and hits a modern office building about 15 stories tall. How much damage would it do? --- ## [Commercial refrigeration unit evaporator fan is super loud](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-refrigeration-unit-evaporator-fan-is-super-loud/733764)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-refrigeration-unit-evaporator-fan-is-super-loud/733764 "2015-10-07T04:59:36Z")
I feel silly making a board about this but wanted to know if this is a DIY fix before I call the pros. The unit is still cooling properly. So the compressor kicks in Evaporator fan starts spinning Evaporator fan makes… --- ## [Heart condition - Medical requirements for airline pilots](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-condition-medical-requirements-for-airline-pilots/733705)
**Author:** [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-condition-medical-requirements-for-airline-pilots/733705 "2015-10-07T03:14:33Z")
You probably heard about the 57 years old American Airlines pilot who tragically died yesterday while flying from Phoenix to Boston. What I found surprising is what his widow told the press: I have no idea what the med… --- ## [Recommend a internet speed test site.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-internet-speed-test-site/733775)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-internet-speed-test-site/733775 "2015-10-07T02:46:57Z")
Simple as that Title. I have used Speedtest.net in the past, but it’s way commercialized now. I’m looking for this for a friend that had a geek for hire at her house, and she was asking me questions on what to do while… --- ## [Windows 7: Browser Favorites/Bookmarks, what file(s)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-browser-favorites-bookmarks-what-file-s/733747)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-7-browser-favorites-bookmarks-what-file-s/733747 "2015-10-07T00:32:04Z")
allthegood’s venerable Dell Windows 7 box died. Could be worse: an external backup had been set up and contains all the C drive’s files, and our housemate has donated a good working Acer Windows 7 box to the cause. So… --- ## [Sodium acetate anhydrous and water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-acetate-anhydrous-and-water/733768)
**Author:** [@justoldrita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justoldrita)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 7, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sodium-acetate-anhydrous-and-water/733768 "2015-10-07T00:09:48Z")
Can sodium acetate anhydrous hydrate to sodium acetate trihydrate at temperatures under 60C? If you add water or a high relative humidity to sodium acetate-does it convert to the trihydrate at temperatures under 60C? --- ## [Non-Star Wars Skywalker Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-star-wars-skywalker-question/498428)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-star-wars-skywalker-question/498428 "2015-10-06T23:59:46Z")
NOTE TO MODS–This Thread is not about Star Wars. Does anybody in real life carry the name Skywalker? Has any family in RL carried the name Skywalker, pre-Star Wars? --- ## [Why did St. Paul change his name from Saul to Paul?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-st-paul-change-his-name-from-saul-to-paul/733522)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-st-paul-change-his-name-from-saul-to-paul/733522 "2015-10-06T23:40:42Z")
See subject. Question has two prongs, I think: Obviously his transformation on the road to Damascus was so thoroughgoing, the name change shows he has become a different person, at some important level. How often, or … --- ## [What is this object on the deck of a carrier...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-object-on-the-deck-of-a-carrier/575929)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-object-on-the-deck-of-a-carrier/575929 "2015-10-06T23:32:21Z")
What is this object on the flight deck in front of the large group of people? Plus, which is the best source/s for layman’s info on general design of carriers? I’ve seen some of the pages for each one in service, set up… --- ## [Is it dangerous to turn on an empty microwave?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-dangerous-to-turn-on-an-empty-microwave/223175)
**Author:** [@neoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neoof)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-dangerous-to-turn-on-an-empty-microwave/223175 "2015-10-06T23:23:11Z")
If so- why?:confused: --- ## [Are there general 'anti-cancer' therapies doctors give patients for preventative care](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-general-anti-cancer-therapies-doctors-give-patients-for-preventative-care/733677)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-general-anti-cancer-therapies-doctors-give-patients-for-preventative-care/733677 "2015-10-06T22:30:29Z")
With vascular disease there are various medicines doctors can give patients to reduce their risk of vascular disease by reducing risk factors. Anti-hypertensives, statins, blood thinners, etc. They take people who haven’… --- ## [I want 2 twitter streams](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-2-twitter-streams/733738)
**Author:** [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-2-twitter-streams/733738 "2015-10-06T22:18:44Z")
I want 2 columns of twitter feeds. One contains, say, everything. The other contains lower volume feeds, say less than 60 tweets per week, including re-tweets. I’m not sure where I want the cutoff yet. I can’t quite swi… --- ## [How does one advance to the Papacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-advance-to-the-papacy/732503)
**Author:** [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-advance-to-the-papacy/732503 "2015-10-06T22:17:18Z")
I mean, I understand the basic hierarchy (priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, etc.), and how the election in the College of Cardinals works. I’m wondering more about what are the criteria for advancement along the… --- ## [A Question Regarding 1960s "Mars Jars"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-1960s-mars-jars/733756)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-regarding-1960s-mars-jars/733756 "2015-10-06T22:10:50Z")
In the mid 1960s, several scientists duplicated the (known) Martian surface conditions, using large glass jars. Various earh plants, insects, lichens, etc. were placed in these jars, and monitored. I recall that most e… --- ## [If I check my credit score on Credit Karma....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-check-my-credit-score-on-credit-karma/733362 "2015-10-06T21:34:36Z")
…will I forever be blasted with emails? --- ## [Brightness of daylight on Pluto, in real terms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightness-of-daylight-on-pluto-in-real-terms/733430)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brightness-of-daylight-on-pluto-in-real-terms/733430 "2015-10-06T18:47:24Z")
Pluto looks quite a nice place to visit; I’m thinking of spending a week there between Christmas and New Year. Obviously it’s a long way from the sun, so I know it’s not going to be so warm as the planet you have here, … --- ## [Why do poison things say not to induce vomiting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-poison-things-say-not-to-induce-vomiting/733723)
**Author:** [@Ryanmiaku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryanmiaku)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-poison-things-say-not-to-induce-vomiting/733723 "2015-10-06T18:21:03Z")
A lot of household cleaners and bug sprays tend to say not to induce vomiting when ingested unless advised by poison control or something. I’m curious as to why. Is it because they will cause more damage coming up? Becau… --- ## [Movement under weightless conditions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movement-under-weightless-conditions/733062)
**Author:** [@theonemacduff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theonemacduff)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movement-under-weightless-conditions/733062 "2015-10-06T18:08:27Z")
I’ve been trying to figure out how fast a person could move inside a space station when essentially they are “swimming” through an atmosphere. Swimmers can apparently go a max of about 1.6m per sec., but that’s a sprinti… --- ## [Decoding statistics help please.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decoding-statistics-help-please/733623)
**Author:** [@curious11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious11)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decoding-statistics-help-please/733623 "2015-10-06T16:02:50Z")
Hey All, What does the 0.55 mean in the following line. “The adjusted relative risk for injury to blah-blah-blah compared with those in bleh-bleh-bleh was 0.55” Obviously the 0.55 means that the injury risk is higher … --- ## [Odd optical illusion caused by fluorescent highlighter and strong glasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-optical-illusion-caused-by-fluorescent-highlighter-and-strong-glasses/733619)
**Author:** [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-optical-illusion-caused-by-fluorescent-highlighter-and-strong-glasses/733619 "2015-10-06T14:53:53Z")
I’m using a bright yellow fluorescent highlighter marker and I started noticing that every stroke of the highlighter seems to be surrounded by a thin, bright orange outline. I then discovered that if I look at the tip o… --- ## [Monitor Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-question/733613)
**Author:** [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-question/733613 "2015-10-06T14:00:15Z")
I have a Dell S2409W monitor running under Windows 10 upgrade. When I used the monitor under Win 7, it had a pretty good control panel that could be used to rotate the screen, adjust resolution, color, etc. This control … --- ## [Origin of "bow chikka wow wow" to denote porn music in conversation.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-bow-chikka-wow-wow-to-denote-porn-music-in-conversation/149099)
**Author:** [@WolfDaddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfDaddy)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-bow-chikka-wow-wow-to-denote-porn-music-in-conversation/149099 "2015-10-06T12:46:09Z")
The title of the topic says it all. Nearly everyone I know uses some variation of the “bow chikka wow wow” onomatopoeia to signify the horrible music in pornography. No one, though, knows how it originated, and it keep… --- ## [Question regarding the "Rebel Yell"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-rebel-yell/733601)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-rebel-yell/733601 "2015-10-06T12:14:48Z")
Hi, On the subject of the “Rebel Yell” Geoffrey Ward’s book “The Civil War” states on p. 222. " “We don’t really know what it sounded like. It was basically, I think, a sort of fox-hunt yip mixed up with a sort of bansh… --- ## [Why do some Amazon items show weird prices on search?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-amazon-items-show-weird-prices-on-search/733689)
**Author:** [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2015, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-amazon-items-show-weird-prices-on-search/733689 "2015-10-06T06:09:12Z")
To be clear: I am not asking why some sellers intentionally or unintentionally have an item listed for horribly overinflated prices, although they might be related. For example, I search for “mess kit” and the top choic… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1026) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1028)