# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1062 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1063 --- ## [Looking for a Word - Original, Authentic Version of a Play](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-word-original-authentic-version-of-a-play/727516)
**Author:** [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-word-original-authentic-version-of-a-play/727516 "2015-08-14T14:48:43Z")
I once knew this term - it means ‘the presentation is the same as the historical version’, and refers specifically to theatrical production. Synonym for ‘definitive’, but industry-specific. The specific case: The openi… --- ## [Name kinds of ideas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-kinds-of-ideas/727811)
**Author:** [@lothlorientos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lothlorientos)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-kinds-of-ideas/727811 "2015-08-14T13:43:42Z")
Ok, so I’m working on a school project in which I need to find kinds of ideas an ways to develop them. Can you name some kinds of ideas and maybe if you want to also add a way that helps you develop that kind of ideas? F… --- ## [The "Enigma" Coding Machine and russia-Did the Soviets Crack It?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-enigma-coding-machine-and-russia-did-the-soviets-crack-it/727736)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-enigma-coding-machine-and-russia-did-the-soviets-crack-it/727736 "2015-08-14T12:30:48Z")
We all know that the German “Enigma” coding machine was capable of being decoded. Efforts started with the Polish Army Intelligence, then the British (Bletchley Park) succeeded in decoding the messages. But what about … --- ## [What is involved in registering a used car with out-of-state plates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-involved-in-registering-a-used-car-with-out-of-state-plates/727394)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-involved-in-registering-a-used-car-with-out-of-state-plates/727394 "2015-08-14T12:05:07Z")
My son bought an awesome used car recently in Northern California. What they didn’t tell him when he bought it was that it has out-of-state plates, and he has to go down to the DMV and jump through some hoops to get his… --- ## [Red Ochre](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-ochre/727770)
**Author:** [@Zohayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zohayer)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-ochre/727770 "2015-08-14T11:28:56Z")
Hi! Recently read somewhere to use red ochre with olive oil and rose water for a smooth, clear and fair skin. Until I goggled red ochre I thought it was a vegetable or something. Now I have two questions. Could this… --- ## [Is there a name for this mental shortcut](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-mental-shortcut/727621)
**Author:** [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-mental-shortcut/727621 "2015-08-14T08:47:42Z")
I got a new stove that has a countdown digital timer. When I BBQ I set it to an hour. If it says 46, I don’t subtract 46 from 60 and get 14. I visualize an analog clock hand say “oh, about 15 minutes”. Google didn’t get… --- ## [Attn Bored car nerds and math wonks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-bored-car-nerds-and-math-wonks/727782)
**Author:** [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-bored-car-nerds-and-math-wonks/727782 "2015-08-14T08:18:44Z")
Long story short, I had to replace the front tires on my car with slightly smaller tires. How much does this throw off my speedo and odo meters? Details: useful and otherwise 2001 civic DX manual 144k miles proper t… --- ## [JSON Parsing Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/json-parsing-question/727778)
**Author:** [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/json-parsing-question/727778 "2015-08-14T06:06:24Z")
On a tech site, I posed this question: With the following json { “Count”:0, “Message”:{ “AppId”:0 }, “Data”:"\[{“application\_name”: “Grand Central”,“feature\_name”: “1 Click Fix”,“access\_type\_id”: 2,“member\_name”: “… --- ## [Why do the airlines always seem to run on such a small profit margin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-airlines-always-seem-to-run-on-such-a-small-profit-margin/726620)
**Author:** [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-the-airlines-always-seem-to-run-on-such-a-small-profit-margin/726620 "2015-08-14T03:45:17Z")
Ever since 2001, all that I have heard in regards to the airlines in the news is how they keep losing money, go bankrupt, get into major debt with new purchases, troubles with pensions, etc, etc etc Or at best, they run… --- ## [The Savile effect, or biggest post-mortem fall from grace](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-savile-effect-or-biggest-post-mortem-fall-from-grace/727439)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-savile-effect-or-biggest-post-mortem-fall-from-grace/727439 "2015-08-14T03:35:47Z")
Apropos of recent allegations made against the late Sir Edward Heath, got me thinking about another knighted individual who was lauded while he was alive as a great entertainer and charity worker, only for it to come out… --- ## [Question about Truck Towing Capacity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-truck-towing-capacity/727583)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-truck-towing-capacity/727583 "2015-08-14T01:47:21Z")
Mods this may fall into IMHO territory, but I thought I would start here since there should be a factual answer to my question. My wife and I are looking at 5th wheel trailers and the question of towing capacity keeps c… --- ## [What is this animation style called?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-animation-style-called/727609)
**Author:** [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-animation-style-called/727609 "2015-08-14T00:10:21Z")
The creator calls it “animated optical illusions”, but that doesn’t seem right to me. It’s not actually an illusion, really. Example here: (for those who don't like unexplained links ... starting with what looks like … --- ## [Over .500--Baseball](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-500-baseball/417351)
**Author:** [@db4530](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/db4530)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-500-baseball/417351 "2015-08-13T23:48:18Z")
Right now, the Chicago Cubs have a record of 67 wins and 63 losses. This is considered to be 4 games over .500. The way I understand it, the “.500” refers to the team’s winning percentage (which currently stands at .51… --- ## [Finding files on Android Smartphone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-files-on-android-smartphone/727769)
**Author:** [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-files-on-android-smartphone/727769 "2015-08-13T23:01:21Z")
As part of troubleshooting an application that is crashing, I’ve been asked to provide crash logs. “Your crash logs should be in the /data/data/\/files/com.crittercism/dumps folder,” I am cheerfully told. W… --- ## [Why the wait for cataract surgery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-wait-for-cataract-surgery/631375)
**Author:** [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-wait-for-cataract-surgery/631375 "2015-08-13T22:01:53Z")
On a recent visit to an optometrist, I was told that I had the beginnings of a cataract in my left eye but that it was too soon to schedule surgery. It seems to me that I’ve heard for most of my life that cataracts are a… --- ## [What is a 'Meme'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-meme/727527)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-meme/727527 "2015-08-13T20:54:49Z")
I encounter the word on the internet. And, not wanting to show my ignorance, I just let it slip by, without comment. But now I just have to know. What is a "Meme"? For example, “post your favorite meme” one message boa… --- ## [FMLA Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmla-question/727715)
**Author:** [@GreenHell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenHell)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmla-question/727715 "2015-08-13T19:27:50Z")
I currently have good medical insurance for my family, but for an employer that is circling the drain. I have already been approved for intermittent FMLA due to the chronic illness of a family member. I need other empl… --- ## [Help me tame the dreaded Excel spreadsheet with the most basic of operations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-tame-the-dreaded-excel-spreadsheet-with-the-most-basic-of-operations/727438)
**Author:** [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-tame-the-dreaded-excel-spreadsheet-with-the-most-basic-of-operations/727438 "2015-08-13T19:24:18Z")
I have data that looks like this : ,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095,4095, I would like to past the data in excel into a single column. No matter what I do, the stupid program… --- ## [Curved Runways?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-runways/727717)
**Author:** [@Little\_Room](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Room)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/curved-runways/727717 "2015-08-13T17:45:05Z")
Here is a dumb question from an ignorant ground-lubber: NOTE My understanding of the physics of flight is limited to envisioning a little picture of a wing cross-section with arrows going above and below it…totally stop… --- ## [Will a cat always come down out of tree or can they die up there?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-cat-always-come-down-out-of-tree-or-can-they-die-up-there/518452)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-a-cat-always-come-down-out-of-tree-or-can-they-die-up-there/518452 "2015-08-13T17:04:53Z")
Just curious. Assuming a cat is not physically caught in a tree, but is simply too scared to come down, will the cat eventually come down, or can it stay up so long it will die of starvation up in the tree? --- ## [Are their direct flights from Columbus, MS to Turkey?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-their-direct-flights-from-columbus-ms-to-turkey/727600)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-their-direct-flights-from-columbus-ms-to-turkey/727600 "2015-08-13T16:52:28Z")
Mississipi couple arrested for attempting to join ISIS. Per this CNN report they were taken into custody in Columbus, MS before boarding a flight to Turkey. Are there any direct flights from Columbus to Turkey or any… --- ## [Has there ever been a female hardline Islamic leader?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-female-hardline-islamic-leader/727750)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-female-hardline-islamic-leader/727750 "2015-08-13T16:22:41Z")
Whether it’s Islamist or some other type of hardline political or religious movement, has a hardline female Islamic leader? Has there ever been a Muslim Joan of Arc? What’s the highest post a woman has occupied in a har… --- ## [What was George Washington's original military rank and what were all his subsequent one's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-george-washingtons-original-military-rank-and-what-were-all-his-subsequent-ones/726376)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-george-washingtons-original-military-rank-and-what-were-all-his-subsequent-ones/726376 "2015-08-13T14:19:49Z")
Hi, Most of what I read about George Washington usually only mentions his later military titles. What was George Washington’s original military rank and what were all his subsequent one’s? Was it Lt. Colonel at age 22?… --- ## [The Gold King mine disaster and the Animas River.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gold-king-mine-disaster-and-the-animas-river/727526)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gold-king-mine-disaster-and-the-animas-river/727526 "2015-08-13T13:48:14Z")
Many of you have probably heard of this. My Factual Question is this: What precedents do we have for this? How many times has someone contaminated more than 100 miles of riparian areas? How often was this done by the go… --- ## [What's up with the deliberate blurring of video frames?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-deliberate-blurring-of-video-frames/727720)
**Author:** [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-deliberate-blurring-of-video-frames/727720 "2015-08-13T13:19:50Z")
Example: first video in this story on a massive explosion in China: What is the point of blurring all but the center third (or less) of the image, usually of amateur videos? The US Weather Channel, among others, is no… --- ## [Why do brains got wrinkles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-brains-got-wrinkles/727694)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-brains-got-wrinkles/727694 "2015-08-13T13:11:19Z")
I’ve heard it explained that the wrinkles increase surface area and so…smarter. Now shut up and eat you broccoli. So maybe the more appropriate questions (with the mandatory caveat of: because evolution, dumbass–there … --- ## [Firefox Help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-help/727631)
**Author:** [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-help/727631 "2015-08-13T12:55:29Z")
I’ve already written on Mozilla help about this, but I want to see if anyone else has experienced or please help me with this problem. Last night, after Firefox crashed, I received a prompt to refresh it, for the first t… --- ## [Good place to read about mil. strategies,etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-place-to-read-about-mil-strategies-etc/727729)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-place-to-read-about-mil-strategies-etc/727729 "2015-08-13T12:38:18Z")
As the title says, does anyone know a good place where I can read about different war strategies&tactics? Modern ones. There’s some stuff on wikipedia, but that is…meh, I tried to look at the field manual and the russian… --- ## [Do Land Surveys Account for the Curvature of the Earth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-land-surveys-account-for-the-curvature-of-the-earth/727552)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-land-surveys-account-for-the-curvature-of-the-earth/727552 "2015-08-13T05:31:52Z")
I assume they do not. If you have a parcel of land with an irregular surface - or one on a hill - the surface area will be larger than the amount of airspace above the land. It would be overly complex to figure out just… --- ## [Winmail.dat and IOS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winmail-dat-and-ios/727702)
**Author:** [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winmail-dat-and-ios/727702 "2015-08-13T02:03:54Z")
Lately, excel attachments from work have been showing up in winmail.dat form my iPhone 6 cannot open them. While I can access them from my laptop, on the phone it is no go, and I really need to be able to see it on the … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1061) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1063)