# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=125 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 126 --- ## [A little personal tape recorder/reminder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-personal-tape-recorder-reminder/989674)
**Author:** [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2023, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-little-personal-tape-recorder-reminder/989674 "2023-09-08T11:58:20Z")
I need something simple I can use to remind myself of things. I write them down on sticky notes. I send reminders to myself. but I need something small I can speak into and play back later. Do you know what I mean? … --- ## [Common DFW bird with varying 2-note song?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-dfw-bird-with-varying-2-note-song/720343)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2023, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-dfw-bird-with-varying-2-note-song/720343 "2023-09-08T11:22:26Z")
Dammit. I’m not fond of ID guessing games, but I’m hoping someone can give me some idea of what bird I’ve been hearing all spring, mostly around dawn and dusk. It has a song consisting of two quick dropping/falling notes… --- ## [Trees growing together](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trees-growing-together/989757)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2023, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trees-growing-together/989757 "2023-09-08T06:59:19Z")
When trees are young if they’re close enough to touch they will fuse together as they grow and the resulting wood will be solid. But at some point they’re too old to do that any more and if they grow together the seam wh… --- ## [On the origin of the phrase "No scholar more saintly, no saint more scholarly"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-origin-of-the-phrase-no-scholar-more-saintly-no-saint-more-scholarly/989713)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2023, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-origin-of-the-phrase-no-scholar-more-saintly-no-saint-more-scholarly/989713 "2023-09-08T00:39:03Z")
I’m trying to figure out the origin of the phrase below. It may be from a 17th or 18th century eulogy, possibly for someone along the lines of Thomas More or Bishop Berkeley: “No scholar more saintly, no saint more sch… --- ## [Facebook group chats?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-group-chats/989738)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-group-chats/989738 "2023-09-07T20:17:54Z")
I’ve been made a moderator in a facebook group. There is of course a chat group for mods and admins. But i cannot figure out where it is. There’s a note that it’s not available in all areas etc., but I’m the same zip cod… --- ## [Can anyone help me navigate Facebook's new 2-/evel security](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-navigate-facebooks-new-2-evel-security/987223)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-navigate-facebooks-new-2-evel-security/987223 "2023-09-07T19:50:13Z")
I’ve been working on it for like 5 days, and every time it sends me down the same spirals and winds up at a blank white screen with a “loading” icon. And never proceeds beyond. Please help me :sob::pray: --- ## [Unmarried cohabitation in NYC, early 20th century](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmarried-cohabitation-in-nyc-early-20th-century/989653)
**Author:** [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2023, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmarried-cohabitation-in-nyc-early-20th-century/989653 "2023-09-07T18:43:02Z")
Anyone know what the legality of unmarried men and women living together in New York City in the early 20th century? Not just whether it was socially frowned upon, but whether or not there legal barriers to such an arran… --- ## [Typography: Are there words for the different parts of a footnote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typography-are-there-words-for-the-different-parts-of-a-footnote/989737)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2023, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typography-are-there-words-for-the-different-parts-of-a-footnote/989737 "2023-09-07T15:11:35Z")
You know, the footnote in the sense of the little superscript number that appears inside the main text of the page, as opposed to the text of the footnote that appears at the bottom of the page to which the aforementione… --- ## [Eye exams repeating the same chart](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exams-repeating-the-same-chart/989667)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-exams-repeating-the-same-chart/989667 "2023-09-06T21:00:40Z")
I have undergone 4 different comprehensive eye exams in the last few years. All were conducted at an ophthalmology office although the actual assessment was sometimes done by technicians. This includes the totally rout… --- ## [In sporting events (amateur and/or professional...any level) can an athlete be made to cover a tattoo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-sporting-events-amateur-and-or-professional-any-level-can-an-athlete-be-made-to-cover-a-tattoo/989539)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-sporting-events-amateur-and-or-professional-any-level-can-an-athlete-be-made-to-cover-a-tattoo/989539 "2023-09-06T17:41:13Z")
Imagine if an athlete is tattooed in Nazi symbols or tattooed with vulgar words or tattooed with pornographic drawings…or whatever. Can they be made to cover those at a given event? I am curious if there are rules abou… --- ## [Was the Vatican territory (what is now Vatican City) at any time ever ruled by a foreign power : Venetian or Habsburg or French?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-vatican-territory-what-is-now-vatican-city-at-any-time-ever-ruled-by-a-foreign-power-venetian-or-habsburg-or-french/989552)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-the-vatican-territory-what-is-now-vatican-city-at-any-time-ever-ruled-by-a-foreign-power-venetian-or-habsburg-or-french/989552 "2023-09-06T16:15:55Z")
Was the Vatican territory at any time ever ruled by a foreign power : Venetian or Habsburg or French ? --- ## [Social Security Income Cap](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-income-cap/989650)
**Author:** [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2023, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-income-cap/989650 "2023-09-06T11:09:35Z")
I’ve recently been involved in a debate where someone told me that social security would fail anyway even it the income cap was raised. Now I’ve watched news programs that claim the opposite of that. This person also sai… --- ## [Wasp in between two windows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-in-between-two-windows/989510)
**Author:** [@Marie11967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marie11967)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wasp-in-between-two-windows/989510 "2023-09-06T00:18:46Z")
Okay so i have windows where there two windows so like a double window type deal, well the outside one wasnt shut for the longest time. Well wasp had made a pretty decent nest on the corner of the window so i figured it … --- ## [Help me ID these fonts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-these-fonts/989536)
**Author:** [@Mr.Baggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Baggins)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-id-these-fonts/989536 "2023-09-05T21:15:34Z")
I’ve been asked to remake this school bulletin, as close as possible to the original. Problem is, I’m not a graphic designer (not even close), and I’m hoping someone here can help. Is there any way to determine what the … --- ## [With the advances of modern medicine, how long could a victim be tortured, healed, and tortured again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-the-advances-of-modern-medicine-how-long-could-a-victim-be-tortured-healed-and-tortured-again/989614)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-the-advances-of-modern-medicine-how-long-could-a-victim-be-tortured-healed-and-tortured-again/989614 "2023-09-05T21:12:19Z")
Morbid question: I recall reading from Foxe’s Book of Martyrs that, hundreds of years ago, the Spanish Inquisition had doctors whose job it was to heal torture victims so they could be tortured again. This had me wonde… --- ## [Is telling a witness not to testify witness tampering?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-telling-a-witness-not-to-testify-witness-tampering/988568)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-telling-a-witness-not-to-testify-witness-tampering/988568 "2023-09-05T19:50:40Z")
Suppose I know a person (Mr. Bloggins) is about to testify before a grand jury about my many, many, crimes. I posts on social media “Mr. Bloggins is about to testify before the grand jury. He shouldn’t. I barely know Mr.… --- ## [The given name "Cotton".](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929)
**Author:** [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-given-name-cotton/555929 "2023-09-05T19:50:17Z")
Where did the name “Cotton”, as a first name, come from? Is it any reference to the fabric, maybe? Most of the people I know of are from the southern part of North America. There’s a character with the name in “King of t… --- ## [When does a "verbal contract" (or written contract...not sure in this case\*) actually become a contract?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-a-verbal-contract-or-written-contract-not-sure-in-this-case-actually-become-a-contract/989628)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-a-verbal-contract-or-written-contract-not-sure-in-this-case-actually-become-a-contract/989628 "2023-09-05T16:36:46Z")
Let’s say I text someone that I will take them to dinner and I will take them anywhere they want, my treat. They say great! They want to go to some restaurant in Tokyo (we are in Chicago). Have I committed to flying t… --- ## [Caffeine and its effects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-and-its-effects/989538)
**Author:** [@Malkav23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malkav23)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-and-its-effects/989538 "2023-09-05T14:12:21Z")
Caffeine is supposed to keep one awake, yes? For me and my brother, caffeine (in any form) makes us sleepy. It does this to noone else in our family, nor to anyone else we know. Is it a medical condition, or are we just … --- ## [What kind of stuff is OK to leave in an unconditioned garage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-stuff-is-ok-to-leave-in-an-unconditioned-garage/989519)
**Author:** [@LivingGhost371](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LivingGhost371)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-stuff-is-ok-to-leave-in-an-unconditioned-garage/989519 "2023-09-05T13:41:21Z")
Been on a binge redoing all the storage areas, and am wondering what kind of stuff is or is not OK to leave in an unheated Midwestern garage long term, or what needs to be stored in the house, it can get well below zero … --- ## [How far in the past would my vaccinations be effective](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-in-the-past-would-my-vaccinations-be-effective/989554)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-in-the-past-would-my-vaccinations-be-effective/989554 "2023-09-05T05:37:10Z")
Of course based on bacteria/virus mutations Let’s say I get a full battery of modern vaccinations including smallpox for my time travel adventure in the past. How far into the past could I go and still reasonably expec… --- ## [Why Does KY Start School Year So Early?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-ky-start-school-year-so-early/989025)
**Author:** [@Guapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guapo)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-ky-start-school-year-so-early/989025 "2023-09-05T01:59:10Z")
Just read https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kentucky-school-district-cancels-classes-covid-flu-strep-rcna101511 article. Kentucky started school August 9. Why start school in the middle of summer? In my area, we start… --- ## [How much control over weather balloon type devices? ( or small blimps?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-control-over-weather-balloon-type-devices-or-small-blimps/989604)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2023, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-control-over-weather-balloon-type-devices-or-small-blimps/989604 "2023-09-05T00:19:01Z")
How high could a weather balloon ascend while under control. Can we control the ascent and decent speeds? Could we program it to respond to various climate inputs? How is the monitoring of the atmospheric conditions pres… --- ## [Is Ukraine the first country in the world with a Jewish president and a Muslim defense minister?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ukraine-the-first-country-in-the-world-with-a-jewish-president-and-a-muslim-defense-minister/989570)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ukraine-the-first-country-in-the-world-with-a-jewish-president-and-a-muslim-defense-minister/989570 "2023-09-04T23:17:50Z")
As seen on Twitter: Zelinsky just appointed a defense minister who is a Muslim Crimean Tartar. Does that make Ukraine the only country in history to have a Jewish president and a Muslim defense minister? Seems like a… --- ## [What is the history of breathing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-history-of-breathing/989598)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-history-of-breathing/989598 "2023-09-04T21:37:26Z")
Humans can breathe either through the nose or the mouth. Tradeoffs ensue. A clogged nose, say from a cold, doesn’t turn off life, but food can easily slip into the windpipe and choke a person. How did this develop? Do o… --- ## [What the HELL did I just see in the night sky tonight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-did-i-just-see-in-the-night-sky-tonight/989486)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-did-i-just-see-in-the-night-sky-tonight/989486 "2023-09-04T01:52:07Z")
Sitting in the hot tub with my wife, circa 9 PM central time, I suddenly looked up at the sky, and saw the strangest thing: A whole long straight line of tiny pinpoint white lights, moving together from west to east, se… --- ## [How Is Legalizing Marijuana...Legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-legalizing-marijuana-legal/974218)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-legalizing-marijuana-legal/974218 "2023-09-03T17:56:08Z")
US Dopers: Many States have legalized OR are considering legalizing the use of marijuana in one form of another for medicinal or recreational use. Maybe everything I was taught in school was wrong, but I thought no State… --- ## [Felines vs. canines - in terms of size](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felines-vs-canines-in-terms-of-size/989480)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/felines-vs-canines-in-terms-of-size/989480 "2023-09-03T04:07:20Z")
Hi there, random shower thought: why do cats (felines) come in all kind of sizes, from you own 2kg kiddy all the way up to many hundrets of kgs of a siberian tiger (300kg/700lb) … --- ## [What defines a manifesto?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-a-manifesto/989464)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2023, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-defines-a-manifesto/989464 "2023-09-03T03:10:47Z")
The recent shooting suspect in Florida had pages of racist writings in his room to justify his crime He was apparently suffering from some mental health problems, so they’re probably not as coherent as a screed made by … --- ## [What's the largest island you can drive to from the mainland?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-island-you-can-drive-to-from-the-mainland/989457)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2023, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-largest-island-you-can-drive-to-from-the-mainland/989457 "2023-09-02T16:18:36Z")
What’s the largest island you can drive to from the mainland? Just got to wondering. After a small bit of research, I decided to break it into three sub-questions based on whether you can drive via a bridge, a causeway,… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=124) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=126)