# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=208 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 209 --- ## [Historical views about the revolution of the Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-views-about-the-revolution-of-the-moon/964384)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-views-about-the-revolution-of-the-moon/964384 "2022-05-14T16:21:18Z")
Copernicus and Galilei did away with Ptolemy’s belief that the Earth was at the centre of the Universe, and that all other celestial bodies (plus a concentric set of “spheres”) revolve around it. But in one aspect Ptole… --- ## [Microsoft Outlook Advert](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-outlook-advert/964388)
**Author:** [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-outlook-advert/964388 "2022-05-14T16:03:55Z")
I keep getting an advert from Outlook: “This is a new type of ad” “Get the latest premium Outlook features” I can’t block it and it keeps coming back. Any ideas on how to get rid of it? --- ## [Will residential solar panels hold resale value?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-residential-solar-panels-hold-resale-value/964341)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-residential-solar-panels-hold-resale-value/964341 "2022-05-14T15:18:40Z")
My wife is getting quotes on putting solar panels on our house. I am not too keen on this but quotes are free. They did a pretty good analysis and the payback period in today’s dollars is about 10 years. I might do it i… --- ## [Big fire in Maryland?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-fire-in-maryland/963367)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-fire-in-maryland/963367 "2022-05-14T13:43:24Z")
Last Thursday at 10:30-11:00 am I was travelling north on Rt 113 from Chincoteague, Va. to Assateague, Maryland. In the distant northwest here was a huge plume of black smoke. I checked local news sites via Google and co… --- ## [Warning when windows laptop is unplugged](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-when-windows-laptop-is-unplugged/961860)
**Author:** [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-when-windows-laptop-is-unplugged/961860 "2022-05-14T12:05:53Z")
Is there a way to have Windows 11 immediately notify me with a great big popup the instant my laptop gets unplugged? I’ve tried searching for this but all the hits are for how to turn on a battery saver mode when the ba… --- ## [More Questions - Miami Condo Collapse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-questions-miami-condo-collapse/945697)
**Author:** [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-questions-miami-condo-collapse/945697 "2022-05-14T07:07:10Z")
Personal Belongings. Obviously, those items in the collapsed portion are buried in the ruble. Some, I’m sure, are valuable. Will there be an effort to “sift through” the debris to recover items? Did the residents in th… --- ## [Conversion from gallons per gallons to oz. per gallon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversion-from-gallons-per-gallons-to-oz-per-gallon/964232)
**Author:** [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2022, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversion-from-gallons-per-gallons-to-oz-per-gallon/964232 "2022-05-14T02:12:39Z")
Former rental tenant left some commercial/industrial grade cleaner from a business he had that I would like to use. The directions say to mix at a rate of 2 gallons cleaner per 100 gallons of water. I am trying to figu… --- ## [How bad is it to just yank out your flashdrive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-is-it-to-just-yank-out-your-flashdrive/964371)
**Author:** [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-is-it-to-just-yank-out-your-flashdrive/964371 "2022-05-13T22:49:33Z")
Officially, you’re supposed to click on program which disconnects it, but sometimes that doesn’t let me do it (typically claiming that it’s in use even though it’s not AFAICT), and sometimes I just yank it out anyway. I’… --- ## [Who will pick a new executor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-pick-a-new-executor/963713)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-pick-a-new-executor/963713 "2022-05-13T18:16:33Z")
Just a hypothetical, but what if the lawyer named in the will or by the deceased has passed away or is no longer practicing? Who chooses a new person, or does it shift to, say, their legal partner? --- ## [Paint Chipping Off Kitchen Knife - Should I Be Worried?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-chipping-off-kitchen-knife-should-i-be-worried/718346)
**Author:** [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2022, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paint-chipping-off-kitchen-knife-should-i-be-worried/718346 "2022-05-13T12:45:26Z")
I have A Mircoban kitchen knife, and it was sold with a pink paint layer. This layer has started to chip, and I’m having trouble figuring out how worried I should be about this. I’m finding paint chips after slicing stuf… --- ## [Tuning an ethernet punchdown tool](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuning-an-ethernet-punchdown-tool/716917)
**Author:** [@loninappleton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loninappleton)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [April 8, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tuning-an-ethernet-punchdown-tool/716917 "2015-04-08T20:32:07Z")
The ethernet punch down tool is a device for inserting wires into an ethernet jack. I just bought one which was very inexpensive. Giving the device a try, it does not trim the wires cleanly. This is called a Kd-1. It… --- ## [What makes one toilet perform better than another?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-one-toilet-perform-better-than-another/964311)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2022, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-one-toilet-perform-better-than-another/964311 "2022-05-13T04:47:47Z")
I’m talking about unpowered household toilets with no fancy features like a vacuum flush. Just your standard toilet that works by emptying the tank into the bowl to flush the contents. All toilets drain to a waste line … --- ## [Paying taxes on a Vegas windfall](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-taxes-on-a-vegas-windfall/964218)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [May 13, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-taxes-on-a-vegas-windfall/964218 "2022-05-13T00:24:04Z")
Let’s say I get lucky in Las Vegas (NV not NM) and win a quarter-million ($250,000) on the penny slots. I need to pay taxes so … Federal: The marginal tax rate for $250,000 is 35% so would I just ship the Department o… --- ## [Do wiretap rules apply if no recording is made?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wiretap-rules-apply-if-no-recording-is-made/964227)
**Author:** [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2022, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-wiretap-rules-apply-if-no-recording-is-made/964227 "2022-05-12T10:28:43Z")
Scenario: I expect to have a difficult conversation with someone. I don’t want them to have any “I didn’t say that” deniability later. I am not in a “one party consent” jurisdiction for recording, and I consider it unlik… --- ## [The Polish situation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polish-situation/963994)
**Author:** [@cannonkuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannonkuo)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2022, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-polish-situation/963994 "2022-05-12T09:46:53Z")
To moderate the Argentine’s position towards the UK in the Falklands Crisis, the US recognizes that the most effective measures are also the most drastic, the most likely to do permanent damage to our long-term relations… --- ## [Questions concerning J & J Baby Milk Lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-concerning-j-j-baby-milk-lotion/964265)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 12, 2022, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-concerning-j-j-baby-milk-lotion/964265 "2022-05-12T09:15:54Z")
I couln’t find any refernce to J&J Baby Milk Lotion being classed as a corticosteroid. Is it one? Given the backlash against J&J’s use of cancer-causing formaldehyde and talc in their lotions (in 2016 there was a repo… --- ## [Question about PC I bought in 1991](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pc-i-bought-in-1991/964259)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-pc-i-bought-in-1991/964259 "2022-05-11T21:47:17Z")
Back in 1991, my wife and I bought our first PC . IIRC it was a 386 that ran on DOS. One of the switches on it was labeled “TURBO,” and when it was pressed, a little green LED would light up. I don’t see TURBO buttons o… --- ## [Another recording a call question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-recording-a-call-question/964251)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-recording-a-call-question/964251 "2022-05-11T17:08:18Z")
This is purely hypothetical. I am expecting a friend to call me and fess up to a serious crime. I am not a cop, and I have not gotten permission to record the phone call. (If I told my friend I was going to record the ca… --- ## [Why do you season only cast iron?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-season-only-cast-iron/964263)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-season-only-cast-iron/964263 "2022-05-11T17:07:38Z")
What’s special about seasoning cast iron? Why not season every type of metal pan? Wouldn’t it confer the same non-stick qualities? Can’t I season my Revereware aluminum pan? --- ## [Class C Gaming Machines in the U.K](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/class-c-gaming-machines-in-the-u-k/964281)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/class-c-gaming-machines-in-the-u-k/964281 "2022-05-11T14:17:10Z")
As I understand it, a fruit machine (class C) is not the same as a slot machine, there’s no random number generator in a chip which determines the payback percentage and every spin is an independent event. So, a fruit m… --- ## [TV screen "fuzz"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-screen-fuzz/964157)
**Author:** [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2022, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-screen-fuzz/964157 "2022-05-11T04:33:52Z")
Many years ago when I was a child, I remember large TV screens (CRT screens) that had been switched on for a while would accumulate a layer of “fuzzy air” that you could feel if you put your hand very close to the screen… --- ## [MSRP and new vehicle prices](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msrp-and-new-vehicle-prices/964220)
**Author:** [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/msrp-and-new-vehicle-prices/964220 "2022-05-11T01:23:04Z")
My understanding was the MSRP for a vehicle was the highest price a dealer could charge for the vehicle. It was usually inflated somewhat, on purpose, and the salesmen would absolutely let you pay full price if you didn… --- ## [Dropping "the" in Front of Chef or Coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-the-in-front-of-chef-or-coach/963954)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-the-in-front-of-chef-or-coach/963954 "2022-05-10T16:06:12Z")
My son was watching one of the cooking shows and it reminded me how people often drop the “the” in front of chef when referring to the chef. For example, someone told a lie to the chef and someone else commented “I can’… --- ## [How, Exactly, Are The Dead Identified By 'Dental Records'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-are-the-dead-identified-by-dental-records/964143)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-are-the-dead-identified-by-dental-records/964143 "2022-05-10T13:31:39Z")
Do dentists send off xrays to some office in Washington or something? --- ## [Calculating my weight with no scales](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-my-weight-with-no-scales/964181)
**Author:** [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calculating-my-weight-with-no-scales/964181 "2022-05-10T13:31:34Z")
I don’t own any scales and don’t want to buy any scales, but I have a questionnaire asking me for my weight. This doesn’t need to be super accurate but I want it to be reasonable. I was assuming there would be at least o… --- ## [Putin's Victory Day speech](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putins-victory-day-speech/964225)
**Author:** [@its\_the\_daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/its_the_daddy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2022, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putins-victory-day-speech/964225 "2022-05-10T12:32:44Z")
Ukraine War: Putin’s Victory Day speech fact-checked - BBC News President Putin has repeatedly said Ukraine plans to acquire nuclear weapons as a justification for Russia’s invasion, although there’s no evidence this i… --- ## [House wiring question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-wiring-question/964096)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2022, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-wiring-question/964096 "2022-05-10T03:27:00Z")
My wife’s bedroom and the kitchen are on separate circuit breakers. She has her space heater on all the time, and usually her light. When I use the stove, the circuit breaker to her bedroom will flip, but not the kitch… --- ## [Questions about contesting a will](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-contesting-a-will/964186)
**Author:** [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2022, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-contesting-a-will/964186 "2022-05-10T02:55:42Z")
I’ll be making a will. Sooner rather than later. One of the beneficiary’s might be a problem. I’m not certain that anything will be contested. I’ve seen that the following are some of the reasons someone might use to con… --- ## [How long does a Phobos/Mars solar eclipse take?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-phobos-mars-solar-eclipse-take/964153)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-phobos-mars-solar-eclipse-take/964153 "2022-05-09T22:23:04Z")
A recent video of a Martian solar eclipse of the sun by the moon Phobos is fascinating. (NASA's Perseverance Rover Sees Solar Eclipse on Mars - YouTube) But how long did it actually take? Was the video real time? S… --- ## [Acupuncture-vs-Neuropathy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acupuncture-vs-neuropathy/964166)
**Author:** [@n5tp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/n5tp)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acupuncture-vs-neuropathy/964166 "2022-05-09T16:25:15Z")
Has anyone experienced successful results following acupuncture treatment for neuropathy (specifically numbness/tingling feet)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=207) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=209)