# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=171 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 172 --- ## [Were pre-modern doctors any good?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-pre-modern-doctors-any-good/975580)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2022, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-pre-modern-doctors-any-good/975580 "2022-12-03T20:18:41Z")
When reading about the history of medicine, one often comes across old theories of anatomy and the origin of diseases which sound hair-curlingly wrong by modern standards but were apparently believed for a long time, suc… --- ## [How did the phrase "double-dollar" arise?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-phrase-double-dollar-arise/975901)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-phrase-double-dollar-arise/975901 "2022-12-02T23:29:27Z")
It sounds like something that originated in gambling parlance, now mostly used for things like lottery tickets or scratch-offs. By extension it’s used for things like 2-for-1 sales or matching-fund charities. But I don’t… --- ## [Alternate NATO alphabet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-nato-alphabet/975636)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-nato-alphabet/975636 "2022-12-02T20:46:35Z")
I was at the airport the other day, and there was a tram to take passengers from one terminal to the next. At each spot, a recorded voice would say “Next stop A gates, A as in Alpha”. And so on, with “B as in Bravo”, “… --- ## [My Android Clock Alarm doesn't play through bluetooth. Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-android-clock-alarm-doesnt-play-through-bluetooth-why/975841)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-android-clock-alarm-doesnt-play-through-bluetooth-why/975841 "2022-12-02T19:17:56Z")
I just tested this again to confirm. Set timer to 45 seconds. It paused my bluetooth music (earbuds) and the alarm sounded through the phone speaker. I could barely hear the muffled alarm. Only because I was listening fo… --- ## [Why is the audio quality of my own voice in a recorded Zoom video (MP4) worse than other participants' audio quality?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-audio-quality-of-my-own-voice-in-a-recorded-zoom-video-mp4-worse-than-other-participants-audio-quality/975827)
**Author:** [@TheUser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUser)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-audio-quality-of-my-own-voice-in-a-recorded-zoom-video-mp4-worse-than-other-participants-audio-quality/975827 "2022-12-02T18:48:29Z")
There’s a mystery that’s been puzzling me for a few months now. When I participate in Zoom calls, I record the call into an MP4 video file for later playback. During the live session, the people on the other side assure… --- ## [Quick DVD player question--need answer fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-dvd-player-question-need-answer-fast/975894)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-dvd-player-question-need-answer-fast/975894 "2022-12-02T18:23:14Z")
It was fine Monday. Had a hard time loading Wednesday, then kept listing the disc as “incorrect disc”. Now, it cannot read the disc at all. Canned air to clear the dust does not help. I am correct in assuming that I … --- ## [Can I Do This Electrical Thing-Water Heater Recirculating Pump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-this-electrical-thing-water-heater-recirculating-pump/975821)
**Author:** [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-do-this-electrical-thing-water-heater-recirculating-pump/975821 "2022-12-02T16:36:39Z")
I know, you’re not my electrician, so noted. I’m hoping for someone passingly familiar with electrical codes. My background is in electronics and I am comfortable working with normal house wiring. My water heater runs … --- ## [Prevention of cramps in abs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prevention-of-cramps-in-abs/975833)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prevention-of-cramps-in-abs/975833 "2022-12-02T00:21:26Z")
Sometimes I get a really nasty cramp/spasm in an abs muscle just below my rib cage. I don’t mean in the digestive system, I mean the muscles that you use for crunches. Which is why I’m having trouble Googling this. It is… --- ## [The Facts About 10-Year Batteries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-about-10-year-batteries/975811)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 2, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-facts-about-10-year-batteries/975811 "2022-12-02T00:10:27Z")
A question came up in the family: Many smoke alarms these days come with a 10-year battery. We know conventional batteries typically corrode in a year or so. Do these 10-year batteries also corrode in the same time as a … --- ## [Averaging ratios](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/averaging-ratios/975877)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/averaging-ratios/975877 "2022-12-01T22:49:27Z")
Let’s say you want to average two speeds. 100 km/h and 150 km/h. You will get 125 km/h But averaging 1/100 h/km and 1/150 h/km results in 0.0083 km/h. Take the inverse and you end with 120 km/h. Why is this different?… --- ## [19th century financial (?) idiom - "shaving" short paper? - and banknotes on the frontier](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-financial-idiom-shaving-short-paper-and-banknotes-on-the-frontier/975835)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/19th-century-financial-idiom-shaving-short-paper-and-banknotes-on-the-frontier/975835 "2022-12-01T14:30:49Z")
I’m reading some letters from a businessman to his brother-in-law about opportunities in Muscatine, Iowa in the 1850s. He’s extolling the low cost of living, the game so plentiful you can shoot it without getting out of … --- ## [What is the Sequence that Maximizes the Distance between my Wearing Two Similar Sweaters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-sequence-that-maximizes-the-distance-between-my-wearing-two-similar-sweaters/975852)
**Author:** [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2022, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-sequence-that-maximizes-the-distance-between-my-wearing-two-similar-sweaters/975852 "2022-12-01T13:35:51Z")
Let’s say that I have 5 sweaters. A white one (Wh), a brown one (Br), a blue one (Bl) and two purple ones (P1 and P2). Unfortunately, I’m also a very fussy person and I refuse to wear the same colour twice in a row. In … --- ## [Modern Antarctic Cruiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-antarctic-cruiser/975716)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2022, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-antarctic-cruiser/975716 "2022-12-01T12:18:34Z")
Going over an old post of mine: ​Where’s the Antarctic Monster-Truck? - Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS) - Straight Dope Message Board I wondered the feasibility of creating a Big-Wheeled or Cat-Tracked v… --- ## [Use of White Phosphorous in Korean War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-white-phosphorous-in-korean-war/975815)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 1, 2022, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-white-phosphorous-in-korean-war/975815 "2022-12-01T11:19:22Z")
Factual Question: Watching MASH for the 100th time, the question hit me: If white phosphorous was really used in the Korean War, wasn’t this considered chemical warfare? And, wouldn’t its use be against the Geneva Conven… --- ## [Stock Warrants](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-warrants/975753)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stock-warrants/975753 "2022-11-30T22:18:52Z")
I like to play with stock options and now looking at warrants. Think is, it seems impossible to find a company’s warrant strike price and expiration date online. Any clue on how to find this information? --- ## [Multi-surface circus arena?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-surface-circus-arena/975734)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multi-surface-circus-arena/975734 "2022-11-30T18:43:12Z")
Back around 1980, local TV would broadcast a regular program from Europe (France?) showing circus shows. This was when circuses with animals were still in vogue. In one of these shows, the ring was covered in a loose su… --- ## [How can I get a company to stop sending me letters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-company-to-stop-sending-me-letters/975597)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-a-company-to-stop-sending-me-letters/975597 "2022-11-30T18:05:25Z")
I get many offers for a piece of property I own. They have no interest in making a fair market value offer and assume I have no clue what the property is worth. I get really tired that they offer me 25 - 40% of the lan… --- ## [A Christmas mini-bulb polarity question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-christmas-mini-bulb-polarity-question/975763)
**Author:** [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-christmas-mini-bulb-polarity-question/975763 "2022-11-30T17:51:41Z")
OK, a strand of mini-bulbs has a plug that is not polarized; the socket isn’t either. If I wanted to plug, say, a flickering candle into the end of the mini-bulb strand – the candle has a polarized plug – I would have to… --- ## [Did I imagine this unique image search engine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-imagine-this-unique-image-search-engine/975690)
**Author:** [@Polarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polarity)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-imagine-this-unique-image-search-engine/975690 "2022-11-30T16:19:28Z")
I seem to remember many years ago there was a search engine for images. I believe you fed it text and it would pull up a series of images. You then clicked on the image that looked most like the one you were searching fo… --- ## [Can Russia be kicked off the internet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-russia-be-kicked-off-the-internet/960014)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-russia-be-kicked-off-the-internet/960014 "2022-11-30T16:00:06Z")
Let’s say Russia starts doing some particularly nasty cyber warfare. Not just propaganda, but things like causing major blackouts, banks to lose their data, etc. Would it be possible for the US or western nations as a … --- ## [How common was castrating cats in 1955?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-castrating-cats-in-1955/975687)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-castrating-cats-in-1955/975687 "2022-11-30T15:46:41Z")
When I was little our family cat was an entire tom; that is, a male who had not been neutered. As a cat person today, I think of this as irresponsible. But should I? He joined the family in about 1955. Was it typical fo… --- ## [Question regarding electrical 'flow'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-electrical-flow/975676)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-electrical-flow/975676 "2022-11-30T13:47:34Z")
I’ve noticed how often the word ‘flow’ is electrical flow is often surrounded by inverted commas. So electricity doesn’t really flow. Is the statement below accurate? Electricity doesn’t actually flow through a wire l… --- ## [Did The Irish/Northern Irish People Support The IRA's Goals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-irish-northern-irish-people-support-the-iras-goals/975689)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 30, 2022, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-irish-northern-irish-people-support-the-iras-goals/975689 "2022-11-30T00:04:46Z")
I’m watching a TV series that takes place at the tail end of The Troubles, in Derry. The main character and her family are Catholics, but they seem horrified at all of the violence and mourn the inconveniences caused by … --- ## [Wouldn’t bent wings like those of the F4U Corsair decrease lift?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldn-t-bent-wings-like-those-of-the-f4u-corsair-decrease-lift/975635)
**Author:** [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wouldn-t-bent-wings-like-those-of-the-f4u-corsair-decrease-lift/975635 "2022-11-29T13:40:02Z")
I mean, when the wings are folded vertically, they’re not going to provide any lift. Doesn’t increasing the dihedral decrease lift? --- ## [What is Quora for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-quora-for/975524)
**Author:** [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2022, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-quora-for/975524 "2022-11-29T08:43:40Z")
I mentioned the Straight Dope to someone, as a good place to find answers to vexing questions from knowledgeable people, and my friend recommended I try Quora as a similar place on the internet. But when I tried it, I wa… --- ## [When was platinite discovered?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-platinite-discovered/975718)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2022, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-platinite-discovered/975718 "2022-11-29T06:40:05Z")
Platinite is an alloy of roughly 55-45 iron and nickel. It was used to replace platinum in early light bulbs as a conductor that had the same coefficient of expansion as glass to convey power to the filaments. My fathe… --- ## [If I built a Giant Table, would a Tiger push things off it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-built-a-giant-table-would-a-tiger-push-things-off-it/975315)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2022, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-built-a-giant-table-would-a-tiger-push-things-off-it/975315 "2022-11-29T05:58:46Z")
I’ve seen pictures and videos of Big Cats like Lions and Tigers duplicating the same weird actions that housecats do. They like to sit in huge cardboard boxes (even if they don’t fit), the same way our cats shove themsel… --- ## [What was this cabinet used for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-cabinet-used-for/975607)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2022, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-cabinet-used-for/975607 "2022-11-28T03:24:21Z")
My wife saw this today at a local Pioneer history museum: \[Album\] imgur.com … --- ## [Could I buy the moon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-i-buy-the-moon/975335)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-i-buy-the-moon/975335 "2022-11-28T02:57:29Z")
What is its value? --- ## [Please help me understand some things about schizophrenia and Bipolar-2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-some-things-about-schizophrenia-and-bipolar-2/975516)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-understand-some-things-about-schizophrenia-and-bipolar-2/975516 "2022-11-27T23:51:24Z")
I’ve posted before about the high frequency of mental illness in my family on both sides - paternal grandfather had OCD, I have OCD, my sister is bipolar-2, my maternal aunt has something like schizophrenia (although we’… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=170) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=172)