# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=162 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 163 --- ## [Top Gun (1986): Locking On & War](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gun-1986-locking-on-war/977896)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gun-1986-locking-on-war/977896 "2023-01-26T21:47:57Z")
I’m still watching older movies. So at the start of the original Top Gun the US pilots in their F-14s engage a couple of Soviet “MiGs” (not really). Tom Cruise’s Maverick locks onto one of the “MiGs” and the Soviet pilot… --- ## [General Motors stock](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-motors-stock/978808)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-motors-stock/978808 "2023-01-26T18:05:41Z")
I’m trying to chart the price of General Motors stock (GM on NYSE) since 1920, from quotes in old online newspapers. However - there were unreported stock splits in the early days, and I’m trying to figure out what/when … --- ## [Is the situation on the TV show Emergency! still the reality for EMS care in California?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-situation-on-the-tv-show-emergency-still-the-reality-for-ems-care-in-california/978672)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-situation-on-the-tv-show-emergency-still-the-reality-for-ems-care-in-california/978672 "2023-01-26T03:52:09Z")
As a wee lad, I loved watching Emergency! on TV. However, even as a child, there were aspects of the way paramedics were dispatched that seemed extremely wasteful to me. On TV, our heroes John and Roy are firefighters … --- ## [Google spreadsheet question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-spreadsheet-question/978767)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2023, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-spreadsheet-question/978767 "2023-01-25T12:08:53Z")
I have a column of numbers and I want to add 10 to each number in the column. In Excel, as I recall, it’s been many years, you could highlight the cells and create a formula. How would I do this in Google? After it is… --- ## [Re-engineering a turbo-ramjet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-engineering-a-turbo-ramjet/978755)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2023, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-engineering-a-turbo-ramjet/978755 "2023-01-25T05:50:55Z")
Look at this image of a Pratt and Whitney J58 turbo-ramjet: 63ae17a2b5962683ab44f80b9934b6d5.jpg (1180×831) (pinimg.com) Specifically, the large tubes which bypass the compressor and turbine sections during supersonic … --- ## [How Do I Know A 100 Trillion Dollar Bill Is Real?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-know-a-100-trillion-dollar-bill-is-real/628856)
**Author:** [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2023, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-know-a-100-trillion-dollar-bill-is-real/628856 "2023-01-25T02:06:59Z")
OK I see these Zimbabwe 100 trillion dollar bills for sale on eBay and other sites, but my question is, how would you know if it’s real. I mean anyone with a color copier could just take a front and back copy and sell o… --- ## [Leaving an EV parked for a week - will it lose charge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-an-ev-parked-for-a-week-will-it-lose-charge/978661)
**Author:** [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-an-ev-parked-for-a-week-will-it-lose-charge/978661 "2023-01-24T23:06:17Z")
I’ll be taking delivery of a 2019 VW e-Golf tomorrow. It’s being provided by my employer to cover the period until my official company car (an Audi Q4 e-Tron) is delivered and will be my first EV. I have a wallbox instal… --- ## [Consent in marriage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consent-in-marriage/978425)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consent-in-marriage/978425 "2023-01-24T14:50:27Z")
An offshoot of this thread: Fictosexuals - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board Can a marriage be completed if one side does not clearly communicate consent? --- ## [The psychology behind police techniques: "DO IT NOW!"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-behind-police-techniques-do-it-now/978569)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-psychology-behind-police-techniques-do-it-now/978569 "2023-01-23T17:24:40Z")
Does yelling “DO IT NOW” at a suspect really want to make them do it now? I was driving on an interstate when I passed a police car stopped on the right shoulder. I drove by there about once a week and had never seen an… --- ## [Maths question related to circle packing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maths-question-related-to-circle-packing/978576)
**Author:** [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maths-question-related-to-circle-packing/978576 "2023-01-23T14:24:56Z")
If you’re expecting this to be an advanced maths question, you’ll be disappointed. It’s almost certainly simple trigonometry, I just seem to be having brain freeze. Start with a circle with radius R, we’ll call this cir… --- ## [Seeing Windows network users](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-windows-network-users/978462)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-windows-network-users/978462 "2023-01-23T02:00:29Z")
Where on a Windows server, can you see users and the devices they are logged into? --- ## [Question re sale of real estate held by a trust](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-sale-of-real-estate-held-by-a-trust/977986)
**Author:** [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-sale-of-real-estate-held-by-a-trust/977986 "2023-01-22T20:19:38Z")
We hold title to our home in the name of our trust. We should be selling the house in a few months. When we receive the proceeds from the sale, and they are deposited into our bank account, how does it work when our ba… --- ## [Why did the FAA change ECG requirements, and what is the change about?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-faa-change-ecg-requirements-and-what-is-the-change-about/978452)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-faa-change-ecg-requirements-and-what-is-the-change-about/978452 "2023-01-22T19:51:04Z")
In recent days, there are a lot of websites claiming that: The US Federal Aviation Administration has relaxed ECG requirements for pilots, i.e. people with less-than-stellar ECG measurements will now be medically clea… --- ## [Multiple choice conundrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-choice-conundrum/978611)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-choice-conundrum/978611 "2023-01-22T19:45:13Z")
I saw this elsewhere: If you pick an answer to this question at random, what is the chance that you are correct? A) 25% B) 50% C} 60% D) 25% No, there are no misprints. :smile: I’m thinking the answer is “B”. Am… --- ## [I have a request for real answer. It might be naughty. But here goes: \[meaning of 'fluffer'\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-request-for-real-answer-it-might-be-naughty-but-here-goes-meaning-of-fluffer/978595)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-request-for-real-answer-it-might-be-naughty-but-here-goes-meaning-of-fluffer/978595 "2023-01-22T17:08:59Z")
I was reading a book. The guy ask the the woman(love interest) if she thinks she needs a ‘fluffer’ Can anyone tell me what that means? --- ## [Distant distribution of Local Newspapers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distant-distribution-of-local-newspapers/978317)
**Author:** [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distant-distribution-of-local-newspapers/978317 "2023-01-22T15:16:44Z")
We live in South Florida, and in every supermarket and chain pharmacy is a newspaper rack, from which one can purchase USA Today, the New York Times, etc. Also available are that day’s copies of the New York Post and the… --- ## [Help me google this electrical connector](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-google-this-electrical-connector/978581)
**Author:** [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-google-this-electrical-connector/978581 "2023-01-22T06:53:29Z")
I’m replacing the thermostat in my coffee maker. It went bad and melted the connectors. This should be really easy but I can’t find the right connector and housing online. Part of my challenge is I don’t know the proper … --- ## [Medicare sign up question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-sign-up-question/978038)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicare-sign-up-question/978038 "2023-01-22T06:37:13Z")
I just signed up for Medicare online via the SS website. During the process I was asked if I wanted to sign up for Part B (I did). After completing and submitting the form it occurred to me that Part A was never mention… --- ## [What is the largest number arithmetic has been done on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-largest-number-arithmetic-has-been-done-on/978590)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-largest-number-arithmetic-has-been-done-on/978590 "2023-01-22T06:34:01Z")
There are lots of stupidly big numbers discussed in maths. E.g. grahams number, tree(3). These numbers have been used in proofs (in the case of grahams number) but are far too large to do arithmetic on or even represent… --- ## [Is there any kind of energy that doesn’t require other energy to produce?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-kind-of-energy-that-doesn-t-require-other-energy-to-produce/978515)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-kind-of-energy-that-doesn-t-require-other-energy-to-produce/978515 "2023-01-22T01:32:10Z")
Is there any kind of energy that doesn’t require other energy to produce? I don’t really understand that much about how energy is produced in anything more than a very simplistic way, so I rely upon others who know much… --- ## [Physics 101: Please settle a bar bet (collision physics)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-101-please-settle-a-bar-bet-collision-physics/978429)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-101-please-settle-a-bar-bet-collision-physics/978429 "2023-01-21T17:55:32Z")
Imagine an immovable plane, and on that plane at a specific point collides the full perpendicular force of a 1984 Chevy Corolla going 70 mph. Imagine the same point above a road where a 1984 Chevy Corolla going 70 mph c… --- ## [What laws forbid this practice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laws-forbid-this-practice/978523)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-laws-forbid-this-practice/978523 "2023-01-21T15:01:00Z")
Paying desperate people to do demeaning things, self-harming, etc. For example drug addicted people will do almost anything for the cash to buy drugs; I can easily see some sadist paying them to debase themselves. --- ## [Of falling chain ladders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-falling-chain-ladders/978332)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2023, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-falling-chain-ladders/978332 "2023-01-21T08:06:04Z")
In the video linked below, the chain ladder on the left (against my expectations) fell faster. I couldn’t understand this as the chain between the rungs is essentially slack after the rung below it hits the table. Then … --- ## [Question on house paint pigmentation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-house-paint-pigmentation/978455)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-house-paint-pigmentation/978455 "2023-01-20T23:12:38Z")
We are picking a new house color and so I am looking at various tints online then printing them on a color laser. The screen version of course looks vary different than the printed version. My question is how close the… --- ## [Why isn't the Milky Way spherical?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-milky-way-spherical/978439)
**Author:** [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-the-milky-way-spherical/978439 "2023-01-20T20:17:22Z")
(Or any other galaxy, really. Or the Virgo Supercluster. Or any other really big object.) More precisely, what is it about (most? all?) galaxies’ structures that they aren’t subject to the conditions of hydrostatic equi… --- ## [Is there a penalty (2023) for not participating in US health insurance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-penalty-2023-for-not-participating-in-us-health-insurance/978481)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-penalty-2023-for-not-participating-in-us-health-insurance/978481 "2023-01-20T16:47:01Z")
I’m currently on an ACA health insurance plan. My wife and I have been considering moving overseas for a year, possibly more. If we get health insurance coverage overseas (private insurance then local nationalized health… --- ## [What does “Jury of Peers” mean in a religious discrimination case ? (US context)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-jury-of-peers-mean-in-a-religious-discrimination-case-us-context/978434)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-jury-of-peers-mean-in-a-religious-discrimination-case-us-context/978434 "2023-01-20T14:43:32Z")
I believe there is a factual answer, but Mods please feel free to move. Inspired by this thread So suppose a religious accommodation case goes to trial. (Party A is of Religious belief X and is suing party B for not a… --- ## [What exactly is the "Most Decorated Battleship" in the United States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-most-decorated-battleship-in-the-united-states/978476)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2023, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-most-decorated-battleship-in-the-united-states/978476 "2023-01-20T02:48:43Z")
I’ve noticed the official websites for the USS North Carolina, USS South Dakota, and USS New Jersey all claim they’re the “Most Decorated Battleship in the History of the US Navy”. The USS South Dakota Museum website cla… --- ## [Windows 11 in S mode - no options for running virus/malware scans yourself?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-in-s-mode-no-options-for-running-virus-malware-scans-yourself/978293)
**Author:** [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-11-in-s-mode-no-options-for-running-virus-malware-scans-yourself/978293 "2023-01-20T00:22:11Z")
I got a new laptop for Christmas running Windows 11 Home in S mode. A little while ago I clicked on a link in a post and got a pop-up saying it was an unsafe site with a button to scan for viruses. It startled me and I… --- ## [A question about freeway barriers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-freeway-barriers/547318)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-freeway-barriers/547318 "2023-01-19T23:51:25Z")
Along the divided highways throughout Texas, TxDOT has taken to installing barriers on the grassy median. Sometimes, these are concrete walls. Mostly, though, they are barriers constructed of three steel cables running… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=161) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=163)