# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1118 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1119 --- ## [Should I use my notebook the same way I use my phone, i.e., usually on battery power?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-notebook-the-same-way-i-use-my-phone-i-e-usually-on-battery-power/719458)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2015, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-use-my-notebook-the-same-way-i-use-my-phone-i-e-usually-on-battery-power/719458 "2015-05-09T06:19:09Z")
(DISCLAIMER #1: Inspired by grude’sother battery thread, which I thought I’d be hijacking if brought this aspect of the matter up there. DISCLAIMER #2: Long, detailed OP, at times straying into side issues and reminisce… --- ## [Help with a riddle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-riddle/718864)
**Author:** [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-riddle/718864 "2015-05-09T04:19:49Z")
I’ve been posed a riddle at work, and apparently my google-fu sucks. Wondering if someone can help out with any suggestions? What do you get? As far as I’m aware there’s nothing up for grabs, so no prize to be shared, so… --- ## [How high can they fly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-can-they-fly/719588)
**Author:** [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-can-they-fly/719588 "2015-05-09T03:39:36Z")
No particular species, just birds in general. How high can a bird fly? --- ## [Why does this disc magnet act like a spiral spring?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-this-disc-magnet-act-like-a-spiral-spring/719459)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-this-disc-magnet-act-like-a-spiral-spring/719459 "2015-05-09T02:14:49Z")
Playing around with a disc magnet, I notice that if I set it on edge (so it looks kind of like a car tire or something) and roll it \<180 degrees, it rolls back, as if it were on a wound-up spring. So far, I’ve tried it … --- ## [Stupid flagpole question (small wall-mount kind)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-flagpole-question-small-wall-mount-kind/719496)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-flagpole-question-small-wall-mount-kind/719496 "2015-05-08T23:41:16Z")
Okay, so I’ve had too much reason to work with small flagpoles lately and I am completely mystified by one universal aspect. So you gots your basic 5 or 6 foot wall-mount flagpole. It’s in two sections. On most of those… --- ## [Question regarding silver and the Second Opium War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-silver-and-the-second-opium-war/719456)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-silver-and-the-second-opium-war/719456 "2015-05-08T23:12:50Z")
Hi, I’d like to know if the drain of British silver to balance Britain’s balance of payments deficit with China was the real reason for Britain’s colonial policy toward China. If it wasn’t the main reason, can it be sai… --- ## [Shares of Stock after purchase](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shares-of-stock-after-purchase/719411)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shares-of-stock-after-purchase/719411 "2015-05-08T21:43:33Z")
Say a company has 1,000,000 shares. Forgetting about Preferred shares lets say a million is the amount traded. I buy 100 shares. Is there now only 999,900 shares that are traded? Or do I never actually own shares? --- ## [Three questions about blood transfusions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-questions-about-blood-transfusions/718670)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-questions-about-blood-transfusions/718670 "2015-05-08T21:15:28Z")
If the patient was anemic or suffered blood loss, does it feel like the transfusion makes their strength return within an hour or two? Why do some patients in emergency care require dozens or even hundreds of units of … --- ## [Why am I getting zapped by my coffee grinder plug?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-getting-zapped-by-my-coffee-grinder-plug/719515)
**Author:** [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-am-i-getting-zapped-by-my-coffee-grinder-plug/719515 "2015-05-08T20:07:47Z")
I have an electric coffee-grinder that plugs directly into the mains (not via an adapter). When I have finished using it, I unplug it, wrap the power cord around it and put it away in a cupboard. Recently I’ve noticed t… --- ## [Is being high in and of itself illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-being-high-in-and-of-itself-illegal/719572)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-being-high-in-and-of-itself-illegal/719572 "2015-05-08T19:41:37Z")
A friend at work the other day got nabbed for having pot in his car when a cop pulled him over. Got me thinking about the laws and how all the ones you hear about are possession, trafficking, selling, manufacturing, driv… --- ## [What is a "Rounder"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-rounder/459478)
**Author:** [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-rounder/459478 "2015-05-08T19:36:06Z")
Several Appalachian folk songs use the term “rounder” but I am unsure of the definition. "Go dig a hole in the meadow, good people Go dig a hole in the ground Come around, all you good people And see this poor rounde… --- ## [Demographic changes Roman to Dark Ages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demographic-changes-roman-to-dark-ages/718638)
**Author:** [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/demographic-changes-roman-to-dark-ages/718638 "2015-05-08T19:08:18Z")
Is there anyone out there who has some information or references on the demographic changes that occurred from Roman times to the “dark ages”? Percentage of population living in cities/urban centers, percentage employed… --- ## ["Oh, no she didn't", with the second "D" silent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-she-didnt-with-the-second-d-silent/719326)
**Author:** [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-she-didnt-with-the-second-d-silent/719326 "2015-05-08T18:26:27Z")
I’m pop culture impaired. Where exactly did this come from? --- ## [How extreme would this practice be among muslims?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-extreme-would-this-practice-be-among-muslims/719538)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-extreme-would-this-practice-be-among-muslims/719538 "2015-05-08T17:56:35Z")
I can recall years ago reading a blog written by a muslim woman who was home schooling her kids. She mentioned how she kept every book or text bought for them in the garage, and before bringing it into the house she wou… --- ## [What's the Straight Dope on beer smoke?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-beer-smoke/719535)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-beer-smoke/719535 "2015-05-08T17:33:50Z")
When you open a bottle of beer sometimes what appears to be “smoke” comes out the bottle lip. I’ve tried quite a few beers and always figured it was just water vapor and it had to do with the temperature of the beer and … --- ## [Mexican Adoption Laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-adoption-laws/719565)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mexican-adoption-laws/719565 "2015-05-08T16:35:46Z")
A Mexican man has found a baby by the side of the road, and claims he plans to adopt her. Story here: Man 'plans to adopt' newborn baby girl he found abandoned in the dirt on his way to work | The Independent | The Indep… --- ## [why does lettuce turn brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-lettuce-turn-brown/206783)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-lettuce-turn-brown/206783 "2015-05-08T15:12:49Z")
If i get a bag of shredded lettuce it turns brown in a couple of days, why does it do this? is it due to Oxygen, water or what? Ive heard and discovered that a paper towel in the bag will slow down the rate of browning b… --- ## [Aristotle's laws of thought - examples](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aristotles-laws-of-thought-examples/719502)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aristotles-laws-of-thought-examples/719502 "2015-05-08T13:59:33Z")
I need some good examples to help distinguish between the law of noncontradiction and the law of the excluded middle. Can anyone help? --- ## [Suggest a good free (or cheap) CD to MP3 converter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-free-or-cheap-cd-to-mp3-converter/719443)
**Author:** [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-good-free-or-cheap-cd-to-mp3-converter/719443 "2015-05-08T13:43:19Z")
Going way back I used DBPoweramp. Its still out there but there doesn’t appear to be a scaled down free version anymore. I just want something to turn my CD’s into MP3’s, tag them correctly etc. Im sure this is pretty … --- ## [Why doesn't GMail recognize an Outlook Express attachment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-gmail-recognize-an-outlook-express-attachment/667762)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 7, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-gmail-recognize-an-outlook-express-attachment/667762 "2014-05-07T13:41:01Z")
This irritates me. My mom forwarded me some email attachments from Norton Antivirus. She had renewed her annual subscription. GMail doesn’t display the attachment. It show a link “View as Text”. Which displays gibberish… --- ## [Any techies out there with Macbook Air knowledge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-techies-out-there-with-macbook-air-knowledge/719447)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-techies-out-there-with-macbook-air-knowledge/719447 "2015-05-08T12:51:39Z")
Have a macbook air 11 inch (from mid 2013) that will only power on if the magsafe adapter is plugged in. After it is running, the magsafe can be removed, and it works fine. Power button will turn it off/on as it should… --- ## [Why does the border of Northern Ireland have this unusual feature?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-border-of-northern-ireland-have-this-unusual-feature/719540)
**Author:** [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-border-of-northern-ireland-have-this-unusual-feature/719540 "2015-05-08T11:23:32Z")
Not that the path the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland follows is particularly logical in the first place but it has at least one particularly unusual piece of meandering. I’m not sure how to … --- ## [Do contractors dock workers' pay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-contractors-dock-workers-pay/718964)
**Author:** [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-contractors-dock-workers-pay/718964 "2015-05-08T11:13:52Z")
My neighbor resisted paying a plumber for a recent service call for a water heater because she’d been told there was no charge to simply look at it. It turned out that her earthquake shut-off valve was the problem, but… --- ## [Keyboard PS/2 to USB Adapters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-ps-2-to-usb-adapters/719520)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keyboard-ps-2-to-usb-adapters/719520 "2015-05-08T07:02:47Z")
What is the situation with PS/2 to USB adapters? I’ve gotten some to connect my keyboard (PS/2) to my laptop and they haven’t worked. --- ## [Need a CHEAP digital projector for Powerpoint presentations-- help!!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-cheap-digital-projector-for-powerpoint-presentations-help/719489)
**Author:** [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-cheap-digital-projector-for-powerpoint-presentations-help/719489 "2015-05-08T05:14:07Z")
Hey all, So I’m starting to do presentations for speaking at different events/groups and giving a PPT presentation as part of it. A digital projector that hooks up to my laptop and shows PPT is something I’m just going … --- ## [How would you express these two lines of dialogue in more natural-sounding English?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-express-these-two-lines-of-dialogue-in-more-natural-sounding-english/719117)
**Author:** [@Melia\_Antiqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melia_Antiqua)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-express-these-two-lines-of-dialogue-in-more-natural-sounding-english/719117 "2015-05-08T04:28:57Z")
I’ve translated two lines of dialogue in fiction from Japanese to English, which is my favourite hobby. Female Mechanic: Those who work in the commercial district have it easy, surrounded by glamour and glitz, while we … --- ## [Police force promotions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-force-promotions/719516)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-force-promotions/719516 "2015-05-08T01:51:44Z")
I’ve seen a lot of cases where a police officer has to pass a test to move up to a higher level such as sergeant or detective. Is this just a big city thing like NYC? Is this done because of union rules? --- ## [Changing the page layout in Open Office](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-the-page-layout-in-open-office/719519)
**Author:** [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changing-the-page-layout-in-open-office/719519 "2015-05-08T01:12:47Z")
I’m using Open Office and viewing my document in a print layout. All the pages were arranged vertically, until I accidentally pressed some combination of keys with my elbow. Now the pages are arranged in sort of a square… --- ## [7.62mm or 5.56?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-62mm-or-5-56/719419)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-62mm-or-5-56/719419 "2015-05-08T00:24:14Z")
I have no idea what is the difference and which is better, so can someone explain? Basically if I were offered an AK or some other gun that had both a 5 and 7mm version, which would give me a better chance to survive (I’… --- ## [Better to charge battery as often as possible, or let discharge first?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-to-charge-battery-as-often-as-possible-or-let-discharge-first/719452)
**Author:** [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 8, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/better-to-charge-battery-as-often-as-possible-or-let-discharge-first/719452 "2015-05-08T00:16:25Z")
I’ve seen conflicting info over the years on whether it is better to charge batteries as often as possible, or to let them fully discharge between charges. With both methods claiming longer life over time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1117) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1119)