# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=165 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 166 --- ## [Great Lakes Smuggling (spoilers for "The Jackal" 1997)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-lakes-smuggling-spoilers-for-the-jackal-1997/977748)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-lakes-smuggling-spoilers-for-the-jackal-1997/977748 "2023-01-08T20:37:36Z")
I’ve been watching older movies from the 80s, 90s and early 00s. And tonight I’m watching “The Jackal” starring Richard Gere and Bruce Willis. During the movie the assassin (The Jackal) has a remoted operated gatling gun… --- ## [Traveling to Kenya](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-kenya/977858)
**Author:** [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2023, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-to-kenya/977858 "2023-01-08T19:52:50Z")
My wife has decided she wants to go on a photo safari to Africa next year. It is going to be led by a well know wildlife photographer that my wife has become friends with over the past couple of years. The trip will be 1… --- ## [Why doesn’t propane go bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesn-t-propane-go-bad/977850)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesn-t-propane-go-bad/977850 "2023-01-08T19:03:30Z")
Other hydrocarbon fuels like gasoline, diesel, and kerosene have limited shelf lives but propane will seemingly last forever. What’s different about it? --- ## [Adoptions of Overseas Children not to the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adoptions-of-overseas-children-not-to-the-us/977859)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adoptions-of-overseas-children-not-to-the-us/977859 "2023-01-08T18:11:27Z")
In the US, a lot of families adopt children from other countries. Is this practice more widespread in the US than in other countries? Are French (or Brazilian, or wherever) families as likely to adopt a child from overse… --- ## [Japanese idiom](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-idiom/977621)
**Author:** [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-idiom/977621 "2023-01-08T18:05:44Z")
There is a saying, “猫の手も借りたい” meaning something like to be super busy. What does this have to do with cats? --- ## [LiPo battery charging question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lipo-battery-charging-question/977875)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lipo-battery-charging-question/977875 "2023-01-08T17:04:54Z")
I just bought something (used) that came with two LiPo batteries and a charger. The batteries are or seem to be completely drained (based on multi-meter). The charger has LEDs to indicate what is going on - Ready to cha… --- ## [Forced dieting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forced-dieting/977588)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forced-dieting/977588 "2023-01-08T14:51:29Z")
When I read about morbidly obese people who are unable to lose weight, I always wonder if the following would work. Let’s say you agree to be locked in a cell, be placed on an island or otherwise be isolated. Then the f… --- ## [Risks of using a car jack incorrectly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/risks-of-using-a-car-jack-incorrectly/977835)
**Author:** [@Caribbean\_cruiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caribbean_cruiser)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/risks-of-using-a-car-jack-incorrectly/977835 "2023-01-07T22:32:58Z")
Long ago, as a green undergrad, I decided to take my car out after a heavy snow – simply to see what it was like to drive in bad winter conditions, as I had never driven in snow before.I didn’t get far. Turns out, our pa… --- ## [Grolsch Beer Bottle Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grolsch-beer-bottle-questions/792277)
**Author:** [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grolsch-beer-bottle-questions/792277 "2023-01-07T21:54:41Z")
TL;DR Does anyone know when the Grolsch Brewery in Holland started exporting their beer to the US in green flip-top bottles (instead of amber flip-top)? Did they change the flip-top from ceramic to plastic at the same … --- ## [War Buffs: Comment on this video's accuracy \[last battle of the Bismark\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-buffs-comment-on-this-videos-accuracy-last-battle-of-the-bismark/977786)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/war-buffs-comment-on-this-videos-accuracy-last-battle-of-the-bismark/977786 "2023-01-07T21:38:34Z")
Someone pointed me at this really cool video today. I’m particularly curious about the conveyor mechanisms used for loading the artillery shells, but the I have a feeling there are lots of little details pr… --- ## [People Putting on Weight when They're in a Relationship - Fact or Fiction?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-putting-on-weight-when-theyre-in-a-relationship-fact-or-fiction/977644)
**Author:** [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-putting-on-weight-when-theyre-in-a-relationship-fact-or-fiction/977644 "2023-01-07T17:42:18Z")
For decades, I’ve heard that people start putting on weight shortly after the start of a new relationship. It’s mostly said of men but I’ve recently come across an article that described the same phenomenon for women. I… --- ## [Anal beads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-beads/977795)
**Author:** [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2023, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anal-beads/977795 "2023-01-07T16:49:31Z")
I don’t know if this question has been answered before, but here goes. Back in Sept, it was discussed here about the chess scandal here in St Louis, but is it actually possible for a computer inside anal beads to transmi… --- ## [Could the minority party elect a Speaker?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-minority-party-elect-a-speaker/977687)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2023, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-minority-party-elect-a-speaker/977687 "2023-01-07T00:24:02Z")
The Speaker is elected by members-elect; the constitution says nothing about parties. If the majority party is splintered, couldn’t the minority party easily have enough votes, more than either faction of the majority, t… --- ## [Were there entities like DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Products Agency) in the ancient world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-entities-like-darpa-defense-advanced-research-products-agency-in-the-ancient-world/977516)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-entities-like-darpa-defense-advanced-research-products-agency-in-the-ancient-world/977516 "2023-01-06T20:33:27Z")
How did the ancient world come up with advanced weapons of war? Anything from better metallurgy to better armor designs to better weapon designs. Or better siege equipment. Who bothered to invent a catapult and later a… --- ## [Snow accumulating on driveways, but not sidewalks/streets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-accumulating-on-driveways-but-not-sidewalks-streets/977720)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-accumulating-on-driveways-but-not-sidewalks-streets/977720 "2023-01-06T17:53:05Z")
We live in a typical Chicago suburb, where attached garages are even with the fronts of most houses, with paved driveways to the street. There is a front sidewalk parallel to the street, which divides the front lawn fro… --- ## [Who is missing 435th speaker vote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-missing-435th-speaker-vote/977691)
**Author:** [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-missing-435th-speaker-vote/977691 "2023-01-05T23:23:50Z")
Been flipping through all the cable news channels, and none of them have explained why there is only 434 votes being cast? Maybe a case of wrong channel at the wrong time. There are 435 US Representatives, but each vot… --- ## [What is the Latin phrase for Imperial Roman authority?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-latin-phrase-for-imperial-roman-authority/977684)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-latin-phrase-for-imperial-roman-authority/977684 "2023-01-05T22:38:12Z")
When Rome set about annexing territory how would they have expressed it legally ? As the imperial Roman authority would have been vested in the emperor would it be something like "legem imperium’.I’ve seen “cum ipse imp… --- ## [Could the inscription SPQR technically have be borne on any of the four Roman standards or only on the Aqila?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-inscription-spqr-technically-have-be-borne-on-any-of-the-four-roman-standards-or-only-on-the-aqila/977743)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-inscription-spqr-technically-have-be-borne-on-any-of-the-four-roman-standards-or-only-on-the-aqila/977743 "2023-01-05T20:31:46Z")
I haven’t been able to find any artilcles or websites specifying on which ancient Roman standards the inscription SPQR could be used. All of them? Only on the Aqila ? --- ## [Questions about home electrical wiring, hallway light switches and latching relays](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-home-electrical-wiring-hallway-light-switches-and-latching-relays/977596)
**Author:** [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2023, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-home-electrical-wiring-hallway-light-switches-and-latching-relays/977596 "2023-01-05T20:29:52Z")
I have two hallways in my home. Each of them has a light operated by three remote switches and a latching relay/impulse switch. Here is a picture of the type of relay they use: https://ibb.co/wK2qhmd Here is a picture … --- ## [Word for the sound of ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-sound-of-ice/977700)
**Author:** [@nzingaseated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nzingaseated)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-the-sound-of-ice/977700 "2023-01-05T15:31:02Z")
I can’t remember if the word is for the sound of ice freezing (water freezing, I guess) or the sound of it cracking. But I think it was a word for the creaking sound it makes as it freezes. It started with a “B” I thin… --- ## [Life reverses local entropy, does gravity also do this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-reverses-local-entropy-does-gravity-also-do-this/977558)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2023, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/life-reverses-local-entropy-does-gravity-also-do-this/977558 "2023-01-05T06:08:22Z")
Life reverses local entropy, does gravity also do this, and is there loss of entropy for falling into the gravity well? --- ## [In which works does Cicero discuss SPQR as a compromise between the Roman government and its people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2023, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-works-does-cicero-discuss-spqr-as-a-compromise-between-the-roman-government-and-its-people/977627 "2023-01-04T21:41:50Z")
In which works does Cicero discuss SPQR as a compromise between the Roman government and its people? is it in the Catilinarian Orations? --- ## [Does this Reliefband thing really work? (nausea relief via acupressure on wrist)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-reliefband-thing-really-work-nausea-relief-via-acupressure-on-wrist/963273)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-reliefband-thing-really-work-nausea-relief-via-acupressure-on-wrist/963273 "2023-01-04T18:20:19Z")
it’s a wristband that is supposed to relieve nausea via acupressure, which makes me very skeptical. Sounds like snake oil. I found some old threads here where people lauded its usefulness, but we all know personal st… --- ## [Who decides on the names of battles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decides-on-the-names-of-battles/976789)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decides-on-the-names-of-battles/976789 "2023-01-04T18:16:33Z")
After a battle someone has to call it something for the history books. I suppose when the battle is at a well-defined location like Stalingrad, the name comes naturally. But what about say, fleet action on the open sea… --- ## [Rich/Famous Folks Licensing their Names](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-famous-folks-licensing-their-names/977589)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rich-famous-folks-licensing-their-names/977589 "2023-01-04T13:15:52Z")
I posted this in a different thread. Please excuse the grift comment as potential well-poisoning. I’m genuinely curious whether anybody has made quite so much money as the Trump family simply on licensing their names. … --- ## [Trivial questions: Windows 10 "shut down" colors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivial-questions-windows-10-shut-down-colors/977569)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2023, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivial-questions-windows-10-shut-down-colors/977569 "2023-01-04T04:46:07Z")
I’m posting here because I am convinced that this must have a factual answer. This has nagged at me ever since I got this (my first and only) Windows 10 computer. When I shut down my Windows 10 computer, there is always… --- ## [Blacks In The British Aristocracy, c. 1714-1830](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blacks-in-the-british-aristocracy-c-1714-1830/977426)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blacks-in-the-british-aristocracy-c-1714-1830/977426 "2023-01-03T19:10:17Z")
I’m watching a TV show that includes among its characters a Georgian-era noblewoman. The actress who portrays her is Black. I’m not asking from a place of complaint – bully for inclusive casting and all that – but is the… --- ## [Facebook recipe videos asking for your city?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-recipe-videos-asking-for-your-city/977354)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-recipe-videos-asking-for-your-city/977354 "2023-01-03T18:25:43Z")
Occasionally I’ll watch a recipe video on Facebook. (About half the time they’re pretty lame.) Every one of them asks, ‘Tell me the city you’re watching from, so I can send you special greetings.’ OK, I get that if yo… --- ## [Help me with new light bulbs. sigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-new-light-bulbs-sigh/976035)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-new-light-bulbs-sigh/976035 "2023-01-03T15:33:51Z")
It used to be easy. 40 watt? 60 watt? 100 watt? tri-light? done. Now I spend 20 minutes at the light bulb aisle, trying to figure out what to buy, and in the end I’m not sure what I’ve got. I want to get a tri-lig… --- ## [Do Marines shout "Medic" when they're injured?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-marines-shout-medic-when-theyre-injured/977587)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-marines-shout-medic-when-theyre-injured/977587 "2023-01-03T14:34:12Z")
I’ve learned that U.S. Marines don’t have medics with them, but Navy Corpsmen who serve the same function. So do they call “Corpsman” or stick with “Medic” since everyone knows what it means anyway? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=164) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=166)