# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=19 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 20 --- ## [Straight line paradox?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-line-paradox/1026722)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-line-paradox/1026722 "2026-01-16T02:54:45Z")
Hypothetical: let’s say I have a magic space gun. When you fire it, it goes in a straight line forever. So I fire the gun, move it one plank length to the right and fire it again. For the longest time it will appear as… --- ## [Latin question: "ex officina" vs something else for 'from the \[book\]bindery"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-question-ex-officina-vs-something-else-for-from-the-book-bindery/1026728)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-question-ex-officina-vs-something-else-for-from-the-book-bindery/1026728 "2026-01-16T00:09:06Z")
I’m familiar with labels that you can paste into your books that say “ex libris \_\_\_\_\_\_” to indicate that the book came from your personal library. But if you’re a bookbinder, what do the labels say? I don’t fully trust … --- ## [How does operating an unprofitable business as a tax write-off work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-operating-an-unprofitable-business-as-a-tax-write-off-work/1026053)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-operating-an-unprofitable-business-as-a-tax-write-off-work/1026053 "2026-01-15T20:42:07Z")
If one operates a business that loses money, you’re entitled to declare the loss against your overall tax liability. What I may be misunderstanding is the practice of deliberately maintaining such a liability– or even go… --- ## [John Rolfe and tobacco](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rolfe-and-tobacco/1026686)
**Author:** [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-rolfe-and-tobacco/1026686 "2026-01-15T15:47:32Z")
I read a book some time ago –I think this may have been Charles Mann’s 1493, but I don’t have it here so I may be mistaken—that made a claim along the lines of how Rolfe risked his life to steal the tobacco seeds he took… --- ## [Using a video capture card](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-capture-card/1025883)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-video-capture-card/1025883 "2026-01-15T09:29:42Z")
This card. Avermedia GC571 Live Streamer Ultra HD 4K UHD. The user manual is skimpy. It has HDMI in and out. But do I have to use these? I wish to record the horrible time lag my internet is suffering. So I want to just… --- ## [History of using color to describe people/race](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-using-color-to-describe-people-race/1025127)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-using-color-to-describe-people-race/1025127 "2026-01-15T08:45:12Z")
How long have the terms “white” and “black” been used on a global scale to describe people’s skin? What about “red”, “yellow” and “brown”? Who came up with the descriptions? --- ## [Are there any real places named \[Someone's\] \[Some Intangible Thing\] like Ryan's Hope or Evelyn's Despair?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-places-named-someones-some-intangible-thing-like-ryans-hope-or-evelyns-despair/1026118)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-real-places-named-someones-some-intangible-thing-like-ryans-hope-or-evelyns-despair/1026118 "2026-01-15T02:34:39Z")
A video game I play has various places here and there across the map that follow the naming convention of assigning some intangible concept to a person. Like Dunelle’s Kindness or something similar. I know that around t… --- ## [Yiddish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yiddish/1772)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yiddish/1772 "2026-01-15T02:03:58Z")
\>Tzi redst di yidish, Rowan? Talk to me!! I need the practice.\< --Olentzero \>\>Taka, Ich sproyk’n a bissl Yiddish; Ich ken nisht leyn’n oider shrayb’n af Yiddish. Mein Doda Chana hot Yiddish fir a loshen irshten, un zi … --- ## [Straight-lined international and interior borders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-lined-international-and-interior-borders/1012484)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 111\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2026, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-lined-international-and-interior-borders/1012484 "2026-01-14T23:31:48Z")
Most borders between countries (and many internal borders as well) follow natural landmarks, such as bodies of water or heights of land. However - North America, Australia, and the leftovers from the post-WW1 Ottoman br… --- ## [Exercise machine Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercise-machine-q/1025056)
**Author:** [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exercise-machine-q/1025056 "2026-01-14T18:21:45Z")
This is not precisely a question of exercise physiology, but it might be related. Simply, if you go to the gym and warm up on one of the treadmills or other workout machines there, often there is a readout of “calories”.… --- ## [How did Lander and Parkin find the Euler Conjecture counterexample?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-lander-and-parkin-find-the-euler-conjecture-counterexample/1026665)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-lander-and-parkin-find-the-euler-conjecture-counterexample/1026665 "2026-01-14T00:30:17Z")
In 1966, in a famous two-sentence paper, they announced that 27^5 + 84^5 + 110^5 + 133^5 equaled 144^5, the first counterexample to the Euler Conjecture. They mentioned the Control Data 6600, but nothing else. How would … --- ## [Are flagships still a thing in current navies? Does the US have a ship they designate as the flagship of the US Navy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-flagships-still-a-thing-in-current-navies-does-the-us-have-a-ship-they-designate-as-the-flagship-of-the-us-navy/1023892)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 13, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-flagships-still-a-thing-in-current-navies-does-the-us-have-a-ship-they-designate-as-the-flagship-of-the-us-navy/1023892 "2026-01-13T17:30:54Z")
Title says it all. I get what a flagship used to be back in Napoleonic times. Then it morphed into more of a place of honor when flags were no longer used. Is it still a thing? If so, what is the current flagship of t… --- ## [Hairdryer -\> Bathtub killings (are settings relevant?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairdryer-bathtub-killings-are-settings-relevant/1026547)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hairdryer-bathtub-killings-are-settings-relevant/1026547 "2026-01-12T19:50:56Z")
One of my many random shower-thoughts (bathtub?) … We have all seen the tv-trope of somebody killing a person who is taking a bath, by throwing the hairdryer into the tub. Which triggered the following Q of mine: Many… --- ## [Can I make my own wood putty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-make-my-own-wood-putty/1026563 "2026-01-12T18:58:30Z")
I generally don’t like any store bought wood putty. But upon finishing a new railing for our stairs to the garage, I do have a small gap. Not really a big deal. The rail is made of oak. and I have a lot of very fine/sm… --- ## [What is this … thing (probably has something to do with livestock)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-probably-has-something-to-do-with-livestock/1026408)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-probably-has-something-to-do-with-livestock/1026408 "2026-01-12T13:04:57Z")
What is this? There are a few for sale on the side of the road on my way to and from work (Salem, Missouri, USA). I imagine it has some agricultural purpose, as lots of folks around here raise chickens, turkeys, goats, e… --- ## [Probability of my car's VIN being accidentally duplicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probability-of-my-cars-vin-being-accidentally-duplicated/1026423)
**Author:** [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/probability-of-my-cars-vin-being-accidentally-duplicated/1026423 "2026-01-12T10:00:28Z")
I have been having a very long back and forth with Peugeot customer service over a problem with my real time traffic, and at one point I received an automatically-generated message informing me that my online services ac… --- ## [Name for this feature of typefaces?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-this-feature-of-typefaces/1026505)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 12, 2026, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-this-feature-of-typefaces/1026505 "2026-01-12T09:18:28Z")
Take the letter combination VA. If you look closely, you can see that the A kind of sneaks underneath the V - the bottom left corner of the A is further left than the bottom right corner of the V, and the diagonal stroke… --- ## [How does food poisoning work? How does your body "know" so quickly something is wrong?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-food-poisoning-work-how-does-your-body-know-so-quickly-something-is-wrong/1026543)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-food-poisoning-work-how-does-your-body-know-so-quickly-something-is-wrong/1026543 "2026-01-11T23:21:07Z")
I was on a trip a week ago and got food poisoning. At least, it sure seemed like it (first time for me for food poisoning). I ate something and 3-4 hours later I was hugging a toilet and that continued for several hour… --- ## [How to pronounce Thebes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pronounce-thebes/1026558)
**Author:** [@Jarragum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jarragum)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-pronounce-thebes/1026558 "2026-01-11T21:17:21Z")
My question is not new. I just wanted to answer someone’s question about how to pronounce Thebes but I couldn’t find it after I signed up. --- ## [Could dark matter be...heat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-dark-matter-be-heat/1026480)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 11, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-dark-matter-be-heat/1026480 "2026-01-11T17:09:25Z")
The Galaxy rotates as if it contains more mass than can be seen. Due to E=mc^2, matter and energy are interchangeable. Heat is a form of energy. Energy can distort spacetime like mass. Can a galaxy full of heat from … --- ## [Does the speed of light still = c...when NOT observed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-speed-of-light-still-c-when-not-observed/1026499)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2026, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-speed-of-light-still-c-when-not-observed/1026499 "2026-01-10T18:17:39Z")
There’s plenty of measurables which only take on a value when observed. Something with an indeterminate value due to superposition…until the act of observation collapses a wavefunction, thus locking in a value. can a p… --- ## [Car ID from TV show](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-id-from-tv-show/1026514)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-id-from-tv-show/1026514 "2026-01-09T23:32:48Z")
In an episode of Leverage, ‘The Real Fake Car Job’ (2012), Timothy Hutton is driving this car: What kind of car is it? --- ## [White tie attire: Length of waistcoat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 9, 2026, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-tie-attire-length-of-waistcoat/1026281 "2026-01-09T02:40:51Z")
How far below the front of a (buttoned) tailcoat should the bottom of the white waistcoat extend? I’ve seen images depicting the waistcoat not extending below the topcoat at all, to more-commonly, maybe an inch, to one … --- ## [What is the name of the ICE agent who shot Renee Good in Minneapolis?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-ice-agent-who-shot-renee-good-in-minneapolis/1026468)
**Author:** [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-name-of-the-ice-agent-who-shot-renee-good-in-minneapolis/1026468 "2026-01-08T23:14:18Z")
Title says it… What is the name of the ICE agent who shot Renee Good yesterday in Minneapolis? And why is this not being reported? And why did the local police not arrest him? --- ## [Is there a strategy to this game (odd number of players, each must attempt to guess the median of all other players' guesses)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-strategy-to-this-game-odd-number-of-players-each-must-attempt-to-guess-the-median-of-all-other-players-guesses/1026409)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-strategy-to-this-game-odd-number-of-players-each-must-attempt-to-guess-the-median-of-all-other-players-guesses/1026409 "2026-01-08T23:09:46Z")
I saw a variation of this game in an episode of Taskmaster. Take an odd number of people – 3, 5, 101, whatever – and instruct each to choose a number between one and whatever. Or, in a more specific iteration, determine … --- ## [Does milk clean ivory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-milk-clean-ivory/1026426)
**Author:** [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-milk-clean-ivory/1026426 "2026-01-08T20:00:55Z")
I have a beautiful old upright piano, that as of now, is at least 99 years old. I got it from my parents, who got it from my paternal grandmother, whom I presume bought it new in about 1927 or so. It is a fine old inst… --- ## [How do Certificates of Deposit work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-certificates-of-deposit-work/1026387)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-certificates-of-deposit-work/1026387 "2026-01-07T18:40:32Z")
I understand the fundamental structure of this product, but I’m confused on the details. Let’s say I put a grand in a six-month CD for 4% fixed APY. Does that mean that at the end of six months, the bank cuts me a check … --- ## [Why does the sun feel warmer from a reflection than it does straight on in this situation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-feel-warmer-from-a-reflection-than-it-does-straight-on-in-this-situation/1026278)
**Author:** [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 7, 2026, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-feel-warmer-from-a-reflection-than-it-does-straight-on-in-this-situation/1026278 "2026-01-07T13:22:51Z")
On my morning dog walk, there’s a place where I’m in the shadow of a house to the east but I’m hit with the light from the sun reflecting on a window from a house across the street on the west. Something like this: … --- ## [A “Dawn to Dusk” sensor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dawn-to-dusk-sensor/1026250)
**Author:** [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dawn-to-dusk-sensor/1026250 "2026-01-06T15:31:10Z")
We have an outdoor fountain we keep running during the day but shut off at night. My wife asked me to set up a timer on the power outlet, but a light sensor that turns on the power when it is light out makes more sense t… --- ## [Why do we find some wild animals infested with ticks and fleas and whatnot (ringworm) while so many other wild animals seem to have little to no problem with this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-find-some-wild-animals-infested-with-ticks-and-fleas-and-whatnot-ringworm-while-so-many-other-wild-animals-seem-to-have-little-to-no-problem-with-this/1026289)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-find-some-wild-animals-infested-with-ticks-and-fleas-and-whatnot-ringworm-while-so-many-other-wild-animals-seem-to-have-little-to-no-problem-with-this/1026289 "2026-01-06T01:10:09Z")
Title kinda says it all. I was watching some animal rescue videos and the animals were often in bad shape due to parasites of various kinds slowly killing them. Presumably there was no underlying problem with the animal… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=20)