# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1069 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1070 --- ## [Unlock River and unlocking a GSM Samsung S4 - is a fee service worth the cost?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unlock-river-and-unlocking-a-gsm-samsung-s4-is-a-fee-service-worth-the-cost/672652)
**Author:** [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unlock-river-and-unlocking-a-gsm-samsung-s4-is-a-fee-service-worth-the-cost/672652 "2013-10-30T22:13:43Z")
I need to unlock a Samsung S4 and have little specific experience at this. Unlock River will generate an unlock code for $40. Is it worth it? Is it a rip off? Does the phone need to be altered first (or rooted)? I a… --- ## [Question about carry on baggage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-carry-on-baggage/726613)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-carry-on-baggage/726613 "2015-08-03T05:57:46Z")
Canadian citizen flying from Detroit to Miami. I will not have any checked baggage. Can I bring three 100 ml sized plastic containers filled with sunscreen in my carry on? Do they have to be in the original container? … --- ## [How much is airline seat pitch is increased for each row of seats removed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-airline-seat-pitch-is-increased-for-each-row-of-seats-removed/726607)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-airline-seat-pitch-is-increased-for-each-row-of-seats-removed/726607 "2015-08-03T04:16:46Z")
Let’s assume that an airline operating Boeing 737s (e.g., 737-800) has 33 rows of seats in Economy class. ‘Seat Pitch is the distance from any point on one seat to the exact same point on the seat in front or behind it.… --- ## [Why do synthetic cannabinoids cause such extreme reactions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-synthetic-cannabinoids-cause-such-extreme-reactions/726784)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2015, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-synthetic-cannabinoids-cause-such-extreme-reactions/726784 "2015-08-03T04:09:29Z")
I’ve seen tons in the media, and even anecdotes on this board about the reaction people have to synthetic cannabinoids being extreme and very unlike marijuana. Psychotic breaks, violence, freak outs, even negative physi… --- ## [Drone altitude/physics question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drone-altitude-physics-question/726798)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drone-altitude-physics-question/726798 "2015-08-03T04:04:28Z")
Just curious really. I have no desire to get a drone. Though a helicopter would be nice. I would sell it and retire early. Achieving high altitude is a problem with the rotary wing. Air density is not enough to allo… --- ## [How Smart Are Foxes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-smart-are-foxes/568819)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-smart-are-foxes/568819 "2015-08-03T03:35:58Z")
Fox cleverness is the stuff of lore. But how intelligent are they really? You don’t see them cited in discussions of very intelligent animals. Are they more intelligent than any other species of canine? Are there any st… --- ## [MacBook recovery hard drive crash need help!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-recovery-hard-drive-crash-need-help/726833)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2015, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-recovery-hard-drive-crash-need-help/726833 "2015-08-03T00:23:36Z")
It looks like the hard drive on my MacBook Pro has crashed. I’ve looked up the steps to do a recovery of some files, and I’ve gotten stuck. I’ve started in safe mode using command R. I have a thumb drive attached. I’ve f… --- ## [ID this small plastic object?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-small-plastic-object/726690)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-small-plastic-object/726690 "2015-08-02T23:33:43Z")
Item is one inch long. What’s it for? http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/31/9360d516097c3eafe47837134409cfcf.jpg http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/31/0c449ed386b47d11055f110156f00d65.jpg --- ## [DirecTV and NetFlix](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/directv-and-netflix/726318)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/directv-and-netflix/726318 "2015-08-02T19:06:24Z")
Has anyone been able to get NetFlix to work with Hughes.net (Hughes is part of DirecTV as far as I can tell. Same satellite anyway). I had it hooked up late Friday, and watched about half of a movie. Worked fine. Cou… --- ## [Why doesn't vomit/acid cause more injuries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-vomit-acid-cause-more-injuries/726762)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-vomit-acid-cause-more-injuries/726762 "2015-08-02T16:23:38Z")
Considering how corrosive stomach acid is, why isn’t it fairly common to hear of, say, first or second degree burns caused by vomiting incidents (say, vomit all over one’s shirt?)? --- ## [Malaysia Flight 370 - who's paying?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malaysia-flight-370-whos-paying/684977)
**Author:** [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2015, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/malaysia-flight-370-whos-paying/684977 "2015-08-02T10:18:55Z")
OK, no discussion about tragedy or incompetence or terrorism. I’m asking the factual question: there’s this multi-million dollar search going on, with high-tech equipment and lengthy flights searching. Who’s paying fo… --- ## [Is pâté chinois named after China, Maine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pate-chinois-named-after-china-maine/55520)
**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2015, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-pate-chinois-named-after-china-maine/55520 "2015-08-02T09:54:05Z")
Pâté chinois is the name given to Shepherd’s pie in Quebec. I first came across this term a few years ago, and I always wondered why it was called “Chinese pie” or “Chinese pastry”. (There isn’t necessarily very much log… --- ## [When is someone declared dead?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-someone-declared-dead/726748)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2015, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-someone-declared-dead/726748 "2015-08-02T04:38:42Z")
Hello Everyone, Lately in the news here in Florida there is a story about two young teenage boys that are lost at sea after taking their 19 foot boat out in the ocean. The boat was found capsized and a few debris, a l… --- ## [Can Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton be disbarred?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-be-disbarred/723774)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [August 2, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-be-disbarred/723774 "2015-08-02T00:28:08Z")
I’m not looking for anything political with this. My friends and I were discussing and well none of us are lawyers (and we’re from Canada) so we were curious. Can he be disbarred for openly defying a SCotUS decision? ht… --- ## [Could filing a sink then emptying it cause a leak?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-filing-a-sink-then-emptying-it-cause-a-leak/726749)
**Author:** [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-filing-a-sink-then-emptying-it-cause-a-leak/726749 "2015-08-01T23:32:51Z")
I recently moved to a new townhouse where I’m slowly getting used to the space’s quirks. This morning I noticed a substantial amount of water (perhaps a gallon?) under the kitchen sink for no apparent reason. I should … --- ## [Kayaking in NY State, do I need a launch permit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691)
**Author:** [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kayaking-in-ny-state-do-i-need-a-launch-permit/726691 "2015-08-01T22:26:50Z")
I am going to be going on a day trip down the Delaware River. I’ll be entering the river at the 10 mile river boat launch on the NY side. Do I need a NY launch permit? I tried googling it, but my google-fu failed me. … --- ## [Anyone know of a way to relocate the camera on my pickup tailgate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-of-a-way-to-relocate-the-camera-on-my-pickup-tailgate/726588)
**Author:** [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-of-a-way-to-relocate-the-camera-on-my-pickup-tailgate/726588 "2015-08-01T22:03:27Z")
My company has a new Chevy Colorado service vehicle. It came with a nice built-in backup camera, and we’d like to keep using it. Unfortunately, the camera is on the tailgate, which had to be removed to accommodate a ut… --- ## [How Do Desert Lakes Get Populated With Fish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-desert-lakes-get-populated-with-fish/726720)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-desert-lakes-get-populated-with-fish/726720 "2015-08-01T20:34:06Z")
In reading about the dying “Salton Sea”, I learned that researchers have found that the Sea had existed in prehistoric times. The ancient sea had a shoreline considerably larger than the present one, and on the remnants… --- ## [Photography question: What is the term for this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photography-question-what-is-the-term-for-this/726685)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photography-question-what-is-the-term-for-this/726685 "2015-08-01T20:31:48Z")
Is there a term for the degree to which a camera has the ability (or inability) to render all parts of a frame clearly? For example, sometimes the foreground will be rendered clearly while a bright background will be co… --- ## [How long does poison ivy residue remain toxic on gloves and clothing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-poison-ivy-residue-remain-toxic-on-gloves-and-clothing/726590)
**Author:** [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-poison-ivy-residue-remain-toxic-on-gloves-and-clothing/726590 "2015-08-01T17:58:47Z")
I have a bunch of poison ivy growing out back that I need to get rid off. I’ll be well covered up, but my clothes and gloves will be in contact with the plants. I’m concerned that the poison ivy residue on my clothing … --- ## [How did archivists cross reference info before databases?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-archivists-cross-reference-info-before-databases/726662)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-archivists-cross-reference-info-before-databases/726662 "2015-08-01T17:57:18Z")
I was reading Day of the Jackal which describes the French Surete National and its records department. The book said that although the files were not yet computerized, the archivists prided themselves on their ability t… --- ## [Vertical axis vs. Horizontal axis wind turbines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertical-axis-vs-horizontal-axis-wind-turbines/726735)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertical-axis-vs-horizontal-axis-wind-turbines/726735 "2015-08-01T17:14:28Z")
Are there any studies that have compared the latest VAWTs to the traditional HAWTs? My home is off grid on the east side of the Big Island (facing the Trade Winds) and I’d like to supplement the Solar and Hydro energy s… --- ## [Credit Card Processing Question (Merchant Issue)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-processing-question-merchant-issue/726482)
**Author:** [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-processing-question-merchant-issue/726482 "2015-08-01T17:11:41Z")
We have had the same credit card processor since we opened our doors 3 years ago. In the last few months, however, they have had us making some major transitions, including purchasing over $1000 in processing equipment, … --- ## [Any sites for completing two or three word combinations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-sites-for-completing-two-or-three-word-combinations/726696)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-sites-for-completing-two-or-three-word-combinations/726696 "2015-08-01T15:50:46Z")
It’s maddening when you can think of the first word of a phrase but not the second (or vice-versa). Are there any sites that you can plug in a word and it will return a list of the most common words associated with your … --- ## [Sending signals out of a black hole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-signals-out-of-a-black-hole/726600)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-signals-out-of-a-black-hole/726600 "2015-08-01T14:37:29Z")
While I was reading along in this thread, admittedly with a comprehension level approximating that of a 2 year old reading 100 Years of Solitude, I arrived at a ridiculously good solution to getting at the answer. But I… --- ## [Temperature of a black hole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temperature-of-a-black-hole/589015)
**Author:** [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temperature-of-a-black-hole/589015 "2015-08-01T09:53:07Z")
Is it really, really hot in a black hole? Or really, really cold? Or does temperature no longer exist? --- ## [Maggots eat only dead flesh?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggots-eat-only-dead-flesh/475494)
**Author:** [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maggots-eat-only-dead-flesh/475494 "2015-08-01T08:34:15Z")
I often see the statement made that maggots only eat dead flesh. Do maggots absolutely never eat healthy flesh, or is it just a general rule that they don’t? Will a starving maggot go without food rather than switch to h… --- ## [Easy/Cheap ways to determine what a substance is](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-cheap-ways-to-determine-what-a-substance-is/726465)
**Author:** [@G-Wiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G-Wiz)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-cheap-ways-to-determine-what-a-substance-is/726465 "2015-08-01T07:18:15Z")
I am a complete laymen when it comes to chemistry, but I’d like to know what I can do find out what this stuff is. It was in my tap water, it is a very fine soft white powder like flour but it sparkles in the light like… --- ## [Before astronomy what did cultures think the sun was](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-astronomy-what-did-cultures-think-the-sun-was/726598)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-astronomy-what-did-cultures-think-the-sun-was/726598 "2015-08-01T00:56:30Z")
What did they think about the size of the sun, it’s distance, why it existed, did they understand it gave off energy, etc? --- ## [Draft Dodger \[Harrison Ford\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/draft-dodger-harrison-ford/677947)
**Author:** [@tdlong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdlong)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2015, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/draft-dodger-harrison-ford/677947 "2015-08-01T00:55:01Z")
Was Harrison Ford a draft dodger during the Vietnam War? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1068) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1070)