# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1070 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1071 --- ## [Cygwin issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cygwin-issue/726512)
**Author:** [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cygwin-issue/726512 "2015-07-31T23:45:41Z")
My Visual Studio quit working, probably sabotaged by MS to force me to pay $$$$ for the newest version. I decided to use GNU instead, of which I was very fluent 10+ years ago. The newest version prefers that I install C… --- ## [Is Lotte a Korean or a Japanese company?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lotte-a-korean-or-a-japanese-company/222108)
**Author:** [@ce\_garcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ce_garcon)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lotte-a-korean-or-a-japanese-company/222108 "2015-07-31T23:38:02Z")
This question has been puzzling me for a long time. Lotte Corporation has both Korean and Japanese sites, and I have seen some from some books and people that it is Korean, and others that it is Japanese. Who is lying, … --- ## [Upcoming GOP Debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gop-debate/726675)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upcoming-gop-debate/726675 "2015-07-31T22:39:59Z")
I’m looking for a factual answer here, not a debate on its merits. Can the GOP Leadership ban Donald Trump from speaking at the upcoming presidential debate, regardless of his poll numbers, assuming that they really wan… --- ## [Do abortion protest "bubble" laws also apply to dental clinics?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-abortion-protest-bubble-laws-also-apply-to-dental-clinics/726648)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-abortion-protest-bubble-laws-also-apply-to-dental-clinics/726648 "2015-07-31T22:24:53Z")
You’ll never drill teeth in this town again! There are those “protest bubble” laws that require protesters ti stay a certain distance away from the entrance to an abortion clinic. Are those laws specific to abortion cl… --- ## [Immigrants at Calais trying to get to the UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrants-at-calais-trying-to-get-to-the-uk/726610)
**Author:** [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immigrants-at-calais-trying-to-get-to-the-uk/726610 "2015-07-31T20:58:21Z")
Curious as to why African immigrants are trying so hard to run through the channel tunnel or stow away in trucks or shipping containers to get to England from Calais. Are the potential benefits in the UK that much better… --- ## [Explain the UK migrant crisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-uk-migrant-crisis/726663)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-uk-migrant-crisis/726663 "2015-07-31T20:55:26Z")
I’m watching Sky News and I can’t seem to understand what is going on in Calais. I understand that there are people from African and Asian countries trying to illegally enter the United Kingdom. Is there a particular rea… --- ## [How can a US court restrain a private company from releasing videos (Planned Parenthood related)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-us-court-restrain-a-private-company-from-releasing-videos-planned-parenthood-related/726609)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-a-us-court-restrain-a-private-company-from-releasing-videos-planned-parenthood-related/726609 "2015-07-31T20:50:29Z")
This is NOT a thread to debate abortion, Planned parenthood, etc. This is a FACTUAL legal question. In this CNN article they say: “A court issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday preventing the Center for Medical… --- ## [The Brit is 'Tommy', the German 'Fritz', the Russian 'Ivan', the American...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-brit-is-tommy-the-german-fritz-the-russian-ivan-the-american/726427)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-brit-is-tommy-the-german-fritz-the-russian-ivan-the-american/726427 "2015-07-31T20:24:07Z")
Slang names for soldiers, from the World Wars, used by enemies and allies alike. But I can’t find the equivalent for the U.S. serviceman, the closest I can find is ‘doughboy’, of uncertain etymology and largely used in t… --- ## [Telephone Pole Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telephone-pole-question/627035)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/telephone-pole-question/627035 "2015-07-31T20:13:48Z")
I have always wondered how much of the telephone pole is buried under the ground versus the amount extending above the ground, and whether they cement the pole into the ground or just pack dirt around the pole. Telephon… --- ## [Commercial airliner at speed \> VNE: what's likely to fail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-airliner-at-speed-vne-whats-likely-to-fail/726629)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-airliner-at-speed-vne-whats-likely-to-fail/726629 "2015-07-31T19:45:26Z")
One of the planes used in the 9/11 attacks reportedly struck its target at 510 knots (586 MPH). This is pretty much cruising speed - except the Boeing 767 is supposed to cruise at 30,000+ feet, where the air is nice and… --- ## [How much is a million sesterces in 2015 dollars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-million-sesterces-in-2015-dollars/724632)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-million-sesterces-in-2015-dollars/724632 "2015-07-31T18:43:10Z")
I recall reading at several points in Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome novels that in the late Roman Republic, to qualify for the Senate, a man had to have a fortune of at least a million sesterces (and it had to be … --- ## [Is Untreated Cancer Always Fatal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-untreated-cancer-always-fatal/726473)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-untreated-cancer-always-fatal/726473 "2015-07-31T14:33:03Z")
I’m aware that people who have cancer can sometimes die from other causes, and that some cancers are very slow-growing and people who have them typically die of other causes first. That’s not what I’m asking about. I ha… --- ## [Did the Nazis literally "march Jews into ovens"???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-nazis-literally-march-jews-into-ovens/725756)
**Author:** [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-nazis-literally-march-jews-into-ovens/725756 "2015-07-31T13:32:38Z")
I’ve heard and read this phrase over and over again; i.e. “Hitler sent millions of Jews into ovens” or “millions of Jews fell victim to the concentration camp ovens” or “95 year old Klaus Scumschidt has been accused of m… --- ## [Gas mileage dropping during winter months](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage-dropping-during-winter-months/709865)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-mileage-dropping-during-winter-months/709865 "2015-07-31T13:23:37Z")
I have a 2007 Toyota Tacoma four cylinder. in the summer it was getting 20 to 22 miles per gallon. Now in the winter time it is getting 15 to 17 miles per gallon. This seems to me to be an excessive drop in gas mileage.… --- ## [Comparison of Vocabulary Sizes in Different Eras](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparison-of-vocabulary-sizes-in-different-eras/726643)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparison-of-vocabulary-sizes-in-different-eras/726643 "2015-07-31T13:15:29Z")
I was reading through one of Safire’s books lately, and was struck by how much of the contemporary vocabularly is of relatively recent origin (if typically derived ultimately from historic roots). At the same time, there… --- ## [Are those floating candle things dangerous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-floating-candle-things-dangerous/726365)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-floating-candle-things-dangerous/726365 "2015-07-31T10:39:18Z")
Hello Everyone, I attended a wedding recently and after the ceremony they released tent or thirty floating camels. They are like little paper hot air balloons with a burning candle providing the heat to send them aloft… --- ## [Do (or did) used car dealers actually throw your keys on the roof?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-or-did-used-car-dealers-actually-throw-your-keys-on-the-roof/726384)
**Author:** [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-or-did-used-car-dealers-actually-throw-your-keys-on-the-roof/726384 "2015-07-31T06:44:05Z")
I’m girding my loins to do battle (meaning I’mma see what Classic Ford can do me on a trade-in, since my mom just bought a car there and first they offered her 7,500 for her Town Car and when she said no they offered 15,… --- ## [HVAC Intermitten Issues - Brain Teaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hvac-intermitten-issues-brain-teaser/726602)
**Author:** [@delta\_wiskey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delta_wiskey)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hvac-intermitten-issues-brain-teaser/726602 "2015-07-31T05:44:29Z")
Hey everyone and HVAC Experts, I have been looking up possible issues with my home HVAC, which has my father stumped who worked HVAC 20+ years, but I find issues close but not exactly what I have. So I have a brand new… --- ## [$600 Haircut](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600-haircut/726445)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600-haircut/726445 "2015-07-31T00:52:55Z")
So I read an article (Hillary Clinton’s $600 haircut | Page Six) about a $600 haircut. My question is, what do you get for a $600 haircut? Is it just the “pride” of having a “celebrity” hair person cut your hair? I pay… --- ## [What kind of lawn mower is this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-lawn-mower-is-this/726560)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-lawn-mower-is-this/726560 "2015-07-31T00:39:49Z")
On #3 of this human interest slide show there is a guy mowing the lawn with an odd looking lawn mower. It doesn’t look like it even has any wheels. And what’s that metal hopper looking doohickey in the front? Is that use… --- ## [Dirt roads in LA county?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dirt-roads-in-la-county/726355)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 31, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dirt-roads-in-la-county/726355 "2015-07-31T00:16:43Z")
I like to watch the old show Emergency (on from 72-77) . They show a lot of scenes on dirt roads. Were there a lot of dirt roads back then in LA county? I realize they could have filmed in other counties as wel… --- ## [For the Finance & Accounting folks: Revenue vs Cash Flow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-finance-accounting-folks-revenue-vs-cash-flow/726511)
**Author:** [@iceiso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iceiso)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-the-finance-accounting-folks-revenue-vs-cash-flow/726511 "2015-07-30T23:47:27Z")
Hello - I have a F&A for those more business savvy than I am. I currently work as a project manager for a company that supplies large mechanical systems to external customers. Each one of these systems is a project of i… --- ## [Is there a true synonym for "quorum"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-true-synonym-for-quorum/726345)
**Author:** [@Darth\_Ayebaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Ayebaw)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-true-synonym-for-quorum/726345 "2015-07-30T22:56:26Z")
like, literally none of these words mean even relatively close to the same thing as “quorum” and none of them are viable substitutes as none of them mean the same thing assembly? no. convention? no. meeting? no. ca… --- ## [If Intel kept their 286, 386, 486, etc naming, what number would we have today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-intel-kept-their-286-386-486-etc-naming-what-number-would-we-have-today/726230)
**Author:** [@doubled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doubled)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-intel-kept-their-286-386-486-etc-naming-what-number-would-we-have-today/726230 "2015-07-30T22:55:26Z")
Intel used to name each major processor release 286, the 386, the 486, etc. Then the next version was supposed to be called the 586, but their marketing department decided to rename it “pentium”, but to this day, if you … --- ## [What do I do? My Windows 10 installation is stuck.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-my-windows-10-installation-is-stuck/726597)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-do-my-windows-10-installation-is-stuck/726597 "2015-07-30T22:50:23Z")
For about 8 hours now, it has been in the same state. The big number in the middle says 44%, and below it says “Installing features and drivers 32%”. :mad: --- ## [For math geeks - very large factorials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-math-geeks-very-large-factorials/726430)
**Author:** [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-math-geeks-very-large-factorials/726430 "2015-07-30T22:11:53Z")
If you’re not a math geek, you probably don’t want to go any further. Does anyone know of a way to calculate a factorial (n!), where n is a huge number? I’ve got a case where n = 55556, and no method that I’ve found wi… --- ## [Animal Control Removing a Tooth from Captured Bears](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-control-removing-a-tooth-from-captured-bears/726497)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animal-control-removing-a-tooth-from-captured-bears/726497 "2015-07-30T22:04:17Z")
I have a sister who is involved in running a summer camp in a rural area of NY State. They had trouble with a bear hanging around the camp (& breaking into the kitchen etc.) and they called down the authorities to deal w… --- ## [Dog sleeping position](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-sleeping-position/726426)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dog-sleeping-position/726426 "2015-07-30T21:23:46Z")
Hello Everyone, This might be a stupid question, but here it goes. Gunner the Great Dane loves to sleep in bed with us. We generally don’t mind, but for some reason he always insist on cuddling up right next to us w… --- ## [Gaining flexibility as I age](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaining-flexibility-as-i-age/726498)
**Author:** [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gaining-flexibility-as-i-age/726498 "2015-07-30T20:40:17Z")
Is there any way to gain any additional flexibility as I age. I am a 47 year old male (partial couch potato) but I do weight training and stretching exercises commonly but they only make a marginal improvement and I am … --- ## [Differentiating between pig and human blood.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/differentiating-between-pig-and-human-blood/726501)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/differentiating-between-pig-and-human-blood/726501 "2015-07-30T20:09:14Z")
There’s a bunch of blood at a potential crime scene. Then it’s found to be pig’s blood. How long ago would that scenario have been possible? Were there tests for such a thing in the early to mid 20th century? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1069) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1071)