# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1157 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 1158 --- ## [Baseball caps - flat brim w/stickers.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps-flat-brim-w-stickers/714198)
**Author:** [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-caps-flat-brim-w-stickers/714198 "2015-03-05T14:12:54Z")
Back in the day, when you bought a new baseball cap at the park or wherever, the first thing you did was peel what few stickers there were off the cap and form the bill into an arc so it would work better and fit better.… --- ## [How do I draw a flow chart in Word?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-draw-a-flow-chart-in-word/714168)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-draw-a-flow-chart-in-word/714168 "2015-03-05T12:58:53Z")
I want to do a very simple flow chart: four boxes, with a modicum of text in each one; the boxes stacked on top of each other in a column of four; with three down arrows linking the four boxes. Nice little si… --- ## [What is the purpose of paying bail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-paying-bail/713932)
**Author:** [@Dostoyevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dostoyevsky)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-paying-bail/713932 "2015-03-05T12:57:58Z")
The title says it all. I’m tempted to think that bail is merely blatant discrimination against the poor, but I’m hopeful that there’s more to it than that. At first glance, bail seems like a get-out-of-jail card that o… --- ## [Cost of a transatlantic flight in the 1940's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-a-transatlantic-flight-in-the-1940s/714199)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-a-transatlantic-flight-in-the-1940s/714199 "2015-03-05T12:40:11Z")
My dad recently forwarded an email about flying on the Boeing 314 clipper. It featured pics and info about how luxurious the accomodations were, e.g. the ability to sit at a real table for dining, a crew of ten for 74 p… --- ## [Do the big cats purr?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-big-cats-purr/714098)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-big-cats-purr/714098 "2015-03-05T04:07:10Z")
Lions and tigers, do they purr? --- ## [Was Albert Einstein Really the Smartest Human?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-einstein-really-the-smartest-human/712405)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 114\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-albert-einstein-really-the-smartest-human/712405 "2015-03-05T03:46:09Z")
I guess it’s more cliché than fact. But I think most of you will agree, theoretical physicist Albert Einstein was assumed to be the smartest human who ever lived. When you want to call someone smart, you say they are a r… --- ## [Military oath of enlistment and Posse Comitatus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-oath-of-enlistment-and-posse-comitatus/714219)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-oath-of-enlistment-and-posse-comitatus/714219 "2015-03-05T03:23:57Z")
Doesn’t the oath of enlistment, “defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” - clash a bit, logically, with the Posse Comitatus Act? Foreign enemies - yes, that’s what a milit… --- ## [take advantage of February?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-advantage-of-february/713864)
**Author:** [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/take-advantage-of-february/713864 "2015-03-05T01:11:47Z")
I’m the furthest thing from an expert in economics, so I have no idea if this is possible. But I’m thinking of that episode of Seinfeld where Newman tries to make money by redeeming bottles in Michigan (10 cents instead … --- ## [Members of the US military are called...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-us-military-are-called/714011)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/members-of-the-us-military-are-called/714011 "2015-03-05T00:08:15Z")
In the four branches of the US military, we have sailors, soldiers, airmen, and marines. Is there a generic term to describe a current member of the US military whose service branch is not specified? --- ## [Please help me figure out this network thing.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-figure-out-this-network-thing/714214)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-figure-out-this-network-thing/714214 "2015-03-04T23:31:54Z")
There are four computers in the house: my pc (running win7), living room pc (running XP), one roomie’s pc (running XP), and other roomie’s laptop (running linux, I think.) My pc and living room pc are plugged physical… --- ## [tax deductions: mixing busness with pleasure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-deductions-mixing-busness-with-pleasure/714028)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-deductions-mixing-busness-with-pleasure/714028 "2015-03-04T21:46:30Z")
Suppose I own a second home in a foreign country and rent out that home to someone, i.e. I am the landlord. If I take a two-week vacation in that country and at some point I stop by for an hour to examine the property, … --- ## [Resident evil the umbrella corporation how realistically is it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resident-evil-the-umbrella-corporation-how-realistically-is-it/713806)
**Author:** [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resident-evil-the-umbrella-corporation-how-realistically-is-it/713806 "2015-03-04T21:11:20Z")
Okay I understand it is movie and scfi and every thing in the movie is way beyond today’s level of science. But that got me a idea not so much what they do in movie or the science in the movie!!! but got me thinking do… --- ## ["May you go from strength to strength": Jewish expression? Biblical?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-you-go-from-strength-to-strength-jewish-expression-biblical/714149)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/may-you-go-from-strength-to-strength-jewish-expression-biblical/714149 "2015-03-04T19:12:23Z")
see subject. I wrote it the other day to praise someone on a significant event; I don’t think I ever used it before, but it seemed just right when a “congratulations” or “glad you made it/it finally happened” isn’t up t… --- ## [Can anyone explain Marxism in the most simplistic terms possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-marxism-in-the-most-simplistic-terms-possible/713923)
**Author:** [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-marxism-in-the-most-simplistic-terms-possible/713923 "2015-03-04T18:51:06Z")
I am still unable to comprehend completely the idea of Marxism and materialism and dialectical materialism etc, I find some of the terminology verbose and unnecessarily complex, can anyone explain it in more simple layma… --- ## [Launching a Space Shuttle straight up](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/launching-a-space-shuttle-straight-up/714139)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/launching-a-space-shuttle-straight-up/714139 "2015-03-04T18:36:27Z")
I submitted this to What-If, but it doesn’t look like they were interested so I’m asking the Dopers. Suppose a Space Shuttle, instead of being launched into low orbit had instead been launched straight up? How high could… --- ## [Taking the 5th about things that \*can't\* incriminate you](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-the-5th-about-things-that-cant-incriminate-you/714065)
**Author:** [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-the-5th-about-things-that-cant-incriminate-you/714065 "2015-03-04T18:36:06Z")
What happens in court if a witness refuses to answer a question in court “on the grounds that the answer may tend to incriminate me”, but there’s no reasonable way it could incriminate them, or, at least, no obvious way.… --- ## [How high a temperature can polyester clothing withstand?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-a-temperature-can-polyester-clothing-withstand/714069)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-a-temperature-can-polyester-clothing-withstand/714069 "2015-03-04T18:31:11Z")
Quick household question: Most polyester clothing, I think, calls for low dryer temperatures, but what if you run it on high? High for an extended time? It doesn’t seem to melt or anything, but is it melting in an inv… --- ## [Any Old Style Online News Websites?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-old-style-online-news-websites/714181)
**Author:** [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-old-style-online-news-websites/714181 "2015-03-04T18:16:29Z")
Up until recently, I was content to read my news online, saving the expense of paying for a hard copy. However, now (in the past couple years or so) I’ve noticed that virtually all of the online news sites have adopted a… --- ## [Got a threatening text from an unknown number...spoofing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-threatening-text-from-an-unknown-number-spoofing/714035)
**Author:** [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-a-threatening-text-from-an-unknown-number-spoofing/714035 "2015-03-04T17:56:10Z")
I just got a new phone number last month, have only given it out to family and a few close friends, and today got two vulgar and threatening texts from a phone number with a 435 area code. I don’t know anyone from or in … --- ## [Using plastic to pay for things. Why do some places need to know if card is credit or debit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-plastic-to-pay-for-things-why-do-some-places-need-to-know-if-card-is-credit-or-debit/714208)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-plastic-to-pay-for-things-why-do-some-places-need-to-know-if-card-is-credit-or-debit/714208 "2015-03-04T17:54:04Z")
I am not sure I was able to succinctly describe my question in the title. Lets look at four situations: I go into a Chipotle restaurant. I hand the casher my credit card, he swipes it on his machine and hands it back … --- ## [How to replace Windows Live Mail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-replace-windows-live-mail/714130)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-replace-windows-live-mail/714130 "2015-03-04T17:29:51Z")
I just got a new computer. My old one had Windows XP and I used Outlook Express for email. It worked fine. Now I have Windows 7 and Windows Live Mail. It sucks! It is NOT intuitive. It lists all the emails as threads, … --- ## [Help ID this pyramid of cannonballs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-pyramid-of-cannonballs/713725)
**Author:** [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-id-this-pyramid-of-cannonballs/713725 "2015-03-04T16:52:35Z")
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/legendcity/media/SA8\_zpstjjmnyv0.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0 This photo shows someone I believe to be a relative. I’m curious to see if anyone knows where this was taken and what it is? This sho… --- ## [long time "pub debate" about car jacking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-pub-debate-about-car-jacking/714178)
**Author:** [@Nightaudit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightaudit)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-time-pub-debate-about-car-jacking/714178 "2015-03-04T16:41:35Z")
what is your legal liability is such a situation? this discussion/ debate in a pub after a few drinks and revolved around being held liable for the “safety and well being” of the carjacker in the event you where the vi… --- ## [Udders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/udders/714080)
**Author:** [@jezzaOZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jezzaOZ)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/udders/714080 "2015-03-04T15:47:46Z")
Why do humans have their udders on their chests, cows and goats and sheep have their udders near their groin, and the rest of the mammals usually seem to have lots of them and spread out along their belly and chest? --- ## [Are there any statistics for the number of Shopper deaths in Malls and big box stores?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-statistics-for-the-number-of-shopper-deaths-in-malls-and-big-box-stores/714017)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-statistics-for-the-number-of-shopper-deaths-in-malls-and-big-box-stores/714017 "2015-03-04T15:16:01Z")
I witnessed one elderly man collapse in a mall. Fortunately a nurse was close by and rendered aid until EMS arrived. I don’t think he made it. :frowning: He never moved after collapsing. This was in the mid 1990’s and I… --- ## [Two grains of sand, alone in the universe . . .](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-grains-of-sand-alone-in-the-universe/713986)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-grains-of-sand-alone-in-the-universe/713986 "2015-03-04T08:56:18Z")
Not to hijack this thread: This question was posed to me back in the '60s, either in a high school or college physics class. It wasn’t particularly difficult, but my knowledge of physics has become somewhat rusty. Supp… --- ## [How confusing/unintuitive is the metric system to the average American?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-confusing-unintuitive-is-the-metric-system-to-the-average-american/713698)
**Author:** [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-confusing-unintuitive-is-the-metric-system-to-the-average-american/713698 "2015-03-04T06:33:35Z")
Being only used to the metric system myself, I am always struggling when I have to convert centimeters, meters and kilometers into inches, feet and miles. As far as temperatures go, I do know that 32 degrees Fahrenheit i… --- ## [Where are all the marine mammals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-marine-mammals/714109)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-marine-mammals/714109 "2015-03-04T06:19:00Z")
I recently enjoyed a Caribbean cruise. I spent a fair amount of my time scanning the sea in search of a surfacing whale or dolphin. I saw nary a one. I have since learned that whales must surface for air at least every … --- ## [Excel charting question (formatting legend)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-charting-question-formatting-legend/714064)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-charting-question-formatting-legend/714064 "2015-03-04T03:56:35Z")
I googled this but didn’t find anything. Let’s say I have an X-Y scatter plot with multiple data series. The legend in the chart will show the line for each data series, along with the series name. I can change the fon… --- ## [What percentage of weight is on an aircraft's nose gear?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-weight-is-on-an-aircrafts-nose-gear/714100)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-weight-is-on-an-aircrafts-nose-gear/714100 "2015-03-04T02:07:10Z")
I recall a story from an RC aircraft newsgroup many years ago in which a hobbyist had built a prototype aircraft, but through some oversight or design error had put the main gear too far to the rear with respect to the c… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1156) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=1158)