# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1115 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1116 --- ## [How unrealistic are duels between samurai depicted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-unrealistic-are-duels-between-samurai-depicted/719957)
**Author:** [@m30wc0w](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/m30wc0w)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-unrealistic-are-duels-between-samurai-depicted/719957 "2015-05-14T14:15:39Z")
I’ve been watching a lot of media set around the samurai-era, and I always notice the same motif: Two samurais are standing about 10 paces from eachother. They then run into each other and it looks like they each make s… --- ## [How much moisture can the air inside a 1-bedroom apartment contain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-moisture-can-the-air-inside-a-1-bedroom-apartment-contain/719915)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-moisture-can-the-air-inside-a-1-bedroom-apartment-contain/719915 "2015-05-14T14:13:02Z")
My apartment is very humid, and so are my outdoor surroundings, so I’m going to buy a dehumidifier to stop the mold. The choice is between a small dehumidifier that can remove 13 ounces of water a day from the air, and … --- ## [Jaw Wired Shut and Choking to Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jaw-wired-shut-and-choking-to-death/719790)
**Author:** [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jaw-wired-shut-and-choking-to-death/719790 "2015-05-14T14:03:31Z")
About a week ago I had jaw surgery my second one in two years and hopefully my last. The pain is actually less than the first surgery even though this one was much more extensive. This surgery actually sucks way more tho… --- ## [GQ: What \*are\* the campaign finance laws in the US now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gq-what-are-the-campaign-finance-laws-in-the-us-now/719774 "2015-05-14T13:53:31Z")
I know this could easily end up in GD, Elections, or even IMHO, but I’m hoping to get an actual factual answer here. Does anyone know of a good reference for objective information about the current laws/FEC rules and re… --- ## [Astronomy questions from grandson I am unable to answer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-questions-from-grandson-i-am-unable-to-answer/719880)
**Author:** [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-questions-from-grandson-i-am-unable-to-answer/719880 "2015-05-14T13:41:26Z")
Live on the seacoast and have a grandson who has for a few years now been fascinated with the tides. Now that he is older and is starting to grasp the relationship of the sun-earth-moon and the concept of gravity which … --- ## [Question for Lawyers - Freedom of Religion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-lawyers-freedom-of-religion/720023)
**Author:** [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-lawyers-freedom-of-religion/720023 "2015-05-14T13:30:14Z")
What religions, and practices of those religions, does America acknowledge? Certainly a religious belief of not wearing a seatbelt (as well as other ridiculous convictions) is prohibited to be practiced here, so I was w… --- ## [Nursing Care Homes in the UK](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nursing-care-homes-in-the-uk/720015)
**Author:** [@butterfiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butterfiles)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nursing-care-homes-in-the-uk/720015 "2015-05-14T13:17:06Z")
In my experience in the US, among chronically ill people (such as myself) and among most health care professionals (such as nurses), nursing homes have a reputation here for delivering poor care. Infections are common d… --- ## [Why Jew"ish"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-jew-ish/571020)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-jew-ish/571020 "2015-05-14T12:52:03Z")
It almost sounds insulting, like you’re saying the person is like a Jew but not quite. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other race, religions or cultures that end in “ish”. Is it related to or of the same o… --- ## [Finding out website traffic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-out-website-traffic/393072)
**Author:** [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-out-website-traffic/393072 "2007-02-21T17:50:12Z")
Is there a way to find out how much traffic, in absolute numbers, a website gets, if I am in no way affiliated with the website in question? --- ## [What does it mean to "open a line of credit" for someone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-open-a-line-of-credit-for-someone/719828)
**Author:** [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-open-a-line-of-credit-for-someone/719828 "2015-05-14T10:19:17Z")
If someone tells me that they’ve “opened a line of credit” for me, what does that mean exactly? Are they giving me free money? Or an automatic loan? Can I only access it at one bank? Can I just walk in, show my ID and w… --- ## [So what did they drill into the telephone pole?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-did-they-drill-into-the-telephone-pole/719906)
**Author:** [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-did-they-drill-into-the-telephone-pole/719906 "2015-05-14T09:18:41Z")
So a while back a guy from the power company (but maybe it was one of the other utility cos., now that I think of it) walked into our backyard and knelt down at the base of our plain-old wooden telephone/electric/cable T… --- ## [What mechanism could cause Krypton to explode?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mechanism-could-cause-krypton-to-explode/719642)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-mechanism-could-cause-krypton-to-explode/719642 "2015-05-14T09:01:26Z")
So, a hypothetical: is there any known type of chemical or nuclear reaction that could cause a Krypton-sized world to explode? (Note: I hope this doesn’t go off to Café Society, because I’m asking if something like the… --- ## [Home audio problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-audio-problem/719668)
**Author:** [@NursultanTulyakbay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NursultanTulyakbay)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-audio-problem/719668 "2015-05-14T04:19:06Z")
I have a new LG TV that only has toslink audio output. I got one of those toslink to rca adapters so I can connect my 2.1 speaker system that is normally used for a computer. It works okay except for I have to turn the v… --- ## [Android help: Can’t access apps on my SD card](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-help-can-t-access-apps-on-my-sd-card/719834)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-help-can-t-access-apps-on-my-sd-card/719834 "2015-05-14T02:38:24Z")
I am very much out of my element on an Android, so barely know what to search for troubleshooting-wise, let alone what steps to take to help myself or diagnose. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 Tab (GT-P5210; Android 4.4.2; K… --- ## [What Is This Skin Disease/Bad Photoshop Job?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-skin-disease-bad-photoshop-job/719771)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-skin-disease-bad-photoshop-job/719771 "2015-05-14T01:59:37Z")
You know those “one weird trick” ads that you see all the time? Well, here’s one that I see pretty frequently: I must admit that if diabetes causes the skin to emit spherical globule… --- ## [How Do Governments Transfer Money to Each Other?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-governments-transfer-money-to-each-other/719935)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-governments-transfer-money-to-each-other/719935 "2015-05-14T00:49:23Z")
If two individuals or companies want to transfer money from one to the other, they typically rely on their having accounts in private banks, and they authorize the banks to transfer the money from one account to the othe… --- ## [2W/4W drive incident in 2005 Jeep Liberty](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2w-4w-drive-incident-in-2005-jeep-liberty/719860)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2w-4w-drive-incident-in-2005-jeep-liberty/719860 "2015-05-14T00:26:12Z")
Found out my problem I posted from a couple years ago was a bad TCC solenoid that I accidentally got an extra year out of when I had me transmission fluid changed. It got replaced about 2 weeks ago. I also have very ba… --- ## [Saponification reaaction: why exactly does OH- attack?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saponification-reaaction-why-exactly-does-oh-attack/719976)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saponification-reaaction-why-exactly-does-oh-attack/719976 "2015-05-13T23:47:56Z")
Looking at the diagram for the reaction mechanism, I ask why the OH- is more attractive than the original molecule end. Is it because of the negative property, and the partially positive C is that attractive? Is the hi… --- ## [1968 Paris riots, police brutality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1968-paris-riots-police-brutality/718954)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1968-paris-riots-police-brutality/718954 "2015-05-13T21:50:11Z")
Okay, so we know rioting is neither a new thing nor unique to the U.S. I’m wondering about something specific in the May '68 riots. Is it true what I heard, that Parisian cops, at least at the time, wore capes that had l… --- ## [What happens to old hookers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-old-hookers/95250)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-old-hookers/95250 "2015-05-13T21:42:06Z")
Like the legendary dead pigeons you rarely if ever see an elderly prostitute for obvious market demand reasons. I’m assuming they have no reported earnings or social security to speak of and I’ve never heard of a home fo… --- ## [Solar Wind and Orbits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-wind-and-orbits/719859)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solar-wind-and-orbits/719859 "2015-05-13T20:44:14Z")
Does the solar wind ever affect the orbits of planets or other bodies? I know it has an effect on the magneto-spheres and atmospheres of planets resulting in the Auroras. But does the constant, slight pressure of the w… --- ## [How do countries pay each other sums of money?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-countries-pay-each-other-sums-of-money/696117)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-countries-pay-each-other-sums-of-money/696117 "2015-05-13T19:23:41Z")
Real-life example: Taiwan has been purchasing weaponry systems from the USA for self-defense against China. This buying habit has gone on for decades, adding up to many billions of dollars of purchases. In technical ter… --- ## [Hard drive suddenly appears unformatted--possible to recover?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-drive-suddenly-appears-unformatted-possible-to-recover/719619)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-drive-suddenly-appears-unformatted-possible-to-recover/719619 "2015-05-13T18:16:27Z")
I have an external hard drive that suddenly appears as unformatted. It’s an independently powered USB enclosure. Windows still recognizes it. It shows up as WD My Book 1110 USB Device \[Hard drive\] (1999.69 GB) When I t… --- ## [How do young children get the right script for prescription eyeglasses?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-young-children-get-the-right-script-for-prescription-eyeglasses/719872)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-young-children-get-the-right-script-for-prescription-eyeglasses/719872 "2015-05-13T16:44:54Z")
I have always wondered this when I see a young child with glasses. I saw a child this morning that had prescription glasses. They were clearly made especially for him, (poor little guy!) as the lenses were thicker than… --- ## [The Bible and its Purpose](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-and-its-purpose/719597)
**Author:** [@pianodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pianodave)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bible-and-its-purpose/719597 "2015-05-13T16:15:47Z")
Hi SD, The Bible, or the Pentateuch, or whatever you want to call those five books, is used throughout the world. My question is: what was it originally intended to be? Whether you believe that its words came from a d… --- ## [How big can you buy a rosemary plant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-can-you-buy-a-rosemary-plant/657574)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-big-can-you-buy-a-rosemary-plant/657574 "2015-05-13T16:02:10Z")
We’d like something this size. I doubt we could get one like that at a nursery, but how big can we get? --- ## [Any way/place in the Universe for objects to orbit \*me\*?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-place-in-the-universe-for-objects-to-orbit-me/719882)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-place-in-the-universe-for-objects-to-orbit-me/719882 "2015-05-13T15:09:38Z")
Why should planets and stars and black holes have all the fun? Gravity, Gravity, all God’s chillun got Gravity. I know there’s no gravitational “zero-spot” by definition, but isn’t it possible for a 75 kg lump to have … --- ## [Does home vacuum food storage work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-home-vacuum-food-storage-work/620620)
**Author:** [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-home-vacuum-food-storage-work/620620 "2012-05-03T13:21:15Z")
I’ve seen 2 methods for vacuum storing food at home. One uses special plastic containers and a hand operated pump. The other uses a machine that vacuums and seals special plastic sheet/bags. I don’t think you can reduce… --- ## [How secure are cloud data solutions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-are-cloud-data-solutions/719821)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-are-cloud-data-solutions/719821 "2015-05-13T14:37:45Z")
I have a file on my home machine with various sensitive data, like bank accounts, web site passwords, insurance information. I would like to be able to store this on some kind of cloud account to be able to access it fro… --- ## [How many bodies are on Everest? And will they ever decay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-bodies-are-on-everest-and-will-they-ever-decay/719582)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-bodies-are-on-everest-and-will-they-ever-decay/719582 "2015-05-13T13:34:54Z")
Mallory and Irvine, Green Boots - how many climbers and Sherpas have died on Everest? And, will they ever decay? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1114) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1116)