# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=21 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 22 --- ## [How powerful is the Chinese Military?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-powerful-is-the-chinese-military/848203)
**Author:** [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Replies:** 272\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-powerful-is-the-chinese-military/848203 "2025-12-22T19:09:49Z")
I was just wondering about their actual capabilities rather than how capable they seem through their propaganda. What are their weaknesses, and will they ever achieve parity with the United States? Also, what are their s… --- ## [Any gift-wrapping services in Portland (OR)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-gift-wrapping-services-in-portland-or/1025914)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2025, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-gift-wrapping-services-in-portland-or/1025914 "2025-12-22T02:03:30Z")
I’ve picked up some Christmas presents and my fine motor skills have deteriorated significantly since the last time I wrapped presents. I’m getting a little tired of the old gift bag-and-tissue paper method of presenting… --- ## [Any idea where this building is? (Tall tower, windowless on one side, with red and cream-ish vertical stripes)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-where-this-building-is-tall-tower-windowless-on-one-side-with-red-and-cream-ish-vertical-stripes/1025739)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [December 22, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-where-this-building-is-tall-tower-windowless-on-one-side-with-red-and-cream-ish-vertical-stripes/1025739 "2025-12-22T00:48:00Z")
Where is #8 on this list? --- ## [Why "Merry" Christmas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-merry-christmas/47410)
**Author:** [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-merry-christmas/47410 "2025-12-21T17:50:13Z")
I checked the archives but didn’t find this asked previously: Why (in American English, at least) do we say “Merry Christmas” and not “Happy Christmas,” “Fan-tab-u-lous Christmas,” or some other variation? How far back … --- ## [Electromagnetic analogs in General Relativity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetic-analogs-in-general-relativity/1025894)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 21, 2025, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetic-analogs-in-general-relativity/1025894 "2025-12-21T12:28:25Z")
EM radiation…Light… has certain qualities: Varying frequency::wavelength describes “color”…at least perceptible in the visible part of the spectrum. One can even perceive the angle of polarization…using 3D glasses from… --- ## [A wild hair or a wild hare?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-wild-hair-or-a-wild-hare/91861)
**Author:** [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-wild-hair-or-a-wild-hare/91861 "2025-12-20T19:30:52Z")
Around here, (in central Indiana) “a wild hare (or hair)” is an expression that means an impulsive, crazy pursuit, such as driving an hour each way to get a bowl of spicy stew at the Mousetrap or leaving work in the midd… --- ## [2020 Kia remote start](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-kia-remote-start/1025764)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 20, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-kia-remote-start/1025764 "2025-12-20T16:38:53Z")
The Google is weak with this one. Kia after 2020 has a remote start function on the key fob, the little (unless you try to put it in your pocket) box that the key folds into, with switches to lock and unlock, sound the h… --- ## [The health benefits of certain foods eaten hot v.s. cold](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-health-benefits-of-certain-foods-eaten-hot-v-s-cold/1025753)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-health-benefits-of-certain-foods-eaten-hot-v-s-cold/1025753 "2025-12-19T17:31:38Z")
I’m putting this into F.Q. because I’m hoping for factual dietary and nutritional information. I love making overnight oats. A dash of cinnamon ( regarded as fairly healthy ) and a spoonful of unsugared peanut butter, a… --- ## [Why blue eyes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-blue-eyes/718718)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [December 19, 2025, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-blue-eyes/718718 "2025-12-19T04:08:36Z")
Looking at the map of the distribution of blue eyes in Europe made me wonder: why do Europeans have blue eyes? Were they found in other parts of the world before European expansion and inter-marrying? https://unsafehar… --- ## [How much does the US military need the input or involvement of the president?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-the-us-military-need-the-input-or-involvement-of-the-president/1025809)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-does-the-us-military-need-the-input-or-involvement-of-the-president/1025809 "2025-12-18T17:47:20Z")
Say there is a U.S. president who is totally uninterested in his or her Commander-in-Chief duties. Doesn’t give orders, doesn’t care about or want to be involved in anything military. Would the military still conduct exe… --- ## [Where do sovereign citizens get their scripts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-sovereign-citizens-get-their-scripts/1025066)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [December 18, 2025, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-sovereign-citizens-get-their-scripts/1025066 "2025-12-18T01:41:02Z")
I’ve seen quite a few SovCit videos, and they all say similar things. The throw around terms like “beneficiary of the estate” and “special appearance” and yada yada. This nonsense has to come from somewhere — these peopl… --- ## [Disableing or blocking AI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disableing-or-blocking-ai/1025737)
**Author:** [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disableing-or-blocking-ai/1025737 "2025-12-17T20:38:30Z")
Is it true that Meta is going to use our input to train their AI as of tomorrow, Dec. 16, 2025? Is it true that there is a way to prevent this? And If there is a way to prevent Meta using your content to train its AI, w… --- ## [What would be the safest speed to run a red in an emergency situation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-safest-speed-to-run-a-red-in-an-emergency-situation/1025360)
**Author:** [@CadmusDidIranContra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadmusDidIranContra)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-safest-speed-to-run-a-red-in-an-emergency-situation/1025360 "2025-12-17T19:38:27Z")
like e m e r g e n c y --- ## [An expert in avalanches works in the \[x\] department at the university?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-expert-in-avalanches-works-in-the-x-department-at-the-university/1024768)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 17, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-expert-in-avalanches-works-in-the-x-department-at-the-university/1024768 "2025-12-17T19:02:40Z")
Geology? Meteorology? Orology? --- ## [Youngest Civil War Grandchild?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-civil-war-grandchild/175389)
**Author:** [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Replies:** 92\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-civil-war-grandchild/175389 "2025-12-16T02:19:07Z")
Do any of you know of a surviving grandchild, under the age of 60, of a Civil War soldier? --- ## [Computer - "Add to dictionary" question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-add-to-dictionary-question/1025718)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 16, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-add-to-dictionary-question/1025718 "2025-12-16T02:15:45Z")
If I write an unknown word on the computer it gets highlighted and one option is to “Add to dictionary”. I do this fairly often if it is a word I will be using again. So where is this “dictionary”? How can I look at all … --- ## [Applied pressure of a hose clamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applied-pressure-of-a-hose-clamp/1025484)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/applied-pressure-of-a-hose-clamp/1025484 "2025-12-15T21:14:43Z")
I am trying to figure out the math on how much pressure per square inch my hose clamp is applying. The circumference of my hose clamp is 36 inches and I will be applying approximately 36 inch pounds of torque to the hose… --- ## [Police retrieving computer search history (Brian Walshe case)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-retrieving-computer-search-history-brian-walshe-case/1025599)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-retrieving-computer-search-history-brian-walshe-case/1025599 "2025-12-15T20:16:41Z")
I have seen this several times before where the police are able to find that a suspect has searched the Internet for things like, “How long before a body starts to smell” and “How to dispose of a body”. Can’t the perp ju… --- ## [Evolution of pole arms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-pole-arms/1025517)
**Author:** [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 14, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-of-pole-arms/1025517 "2025-12-14T16:12:38Z")
What drives the evolution of these weapons? Consider the fauchard, for example. Around 1300, you have your basic convex blade, while by 1400 a useful hook had been added. … --- ## [How can this billboard be legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-this-billboard-be-legal/1025592)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-this-billboard-be-legal/1025592 "2025-12-13T20:25:41Z")
Last night, I was driving on Interstate 35 northbound in Kyle, Texas (a suburb of Austin). I observed the following billboard: “Venmo me: @\[notarealuser\] Person who sends most money wins half of all money collected” … --- ## [Blowing up boats off So. America - war crime or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-up-boats-off-so-america-war-crime-or-not/1024479)
**Author:** [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blowing-up-boats-off-so-america-war-crime-or-not/1024479 "2025-12-13T16:29:19Z")
I’ve read a few threads that vaguely explain the concept of “illegal orders” and that those orders should not be obeyed. I’ve read a few threads that imply the blowing up of boats without some justification (declaration… --- ## [Security of encrypted messaging apps (e.g., WhatsApp, Signal)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-of-encrypted-messaging-apps-e-g-whatsapp-signal/1025622)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 13, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-of-encrypted-messaging-apps-e-g-whatsapp-signal/1025622 "2025-12-13T15:27:15Z")
These apps encrypt data for transmission. But how common is, really, it to attempt to intercept data in motion? Even if the messages were in plain text, how commonly has that occurred? All the hacking I’ve ever heard of … --- ## [Every blue eye from a single individual mutation? Really?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-blue-eye-from-a-single-individual-mutation-really/1025603)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-blue-eye-from-a-single-individual-mutation-really/1025603 "2025-12-12T22:33:31Z")
I’m sure you’ve heard the assertion that everyone who has blue eyes is descended from the same person. Wouldn’t that mean that the mutation occurred only once in all of human history? How likely is that? Every blue-eyed… --- ## [Scanning large documents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-large-documents/1025055)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scanning-large-documents/1025055 "2025-12-12T18:29:26Z")
I have a bunch of paper wiring diagrams for an old car I own. The size is 17 inches X 31 inches. I would like them scanned using a high-resolution scanner. Are there companies that do this? I have a regular scanner, an… --- ## ["Hurricane" Huron (1996)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-huron-1996/1025589)
**Author:** [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hurricane-huron-1996/1025589 "2025-12-12T14:39:24Z")
If ”Hurricane” Huron were plunked down in the middle of the western Caribbean or had somehow migrated there, would there be any reason not to say it was a hurricane rather than an extratropical cyclone? Didn’t it have al… --- ## [Earliest Maharg](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-maharg/824037)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2025, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-maharg/824037 "2025-12-12T04:02:59Z")
Maharg is a surname. For example, a John Archibald Maharg (1872-1944) was a Saskatchewan politician. But it also is a backwards spelling of Graham. Apparently someone named Graham (which is the name of a Scottish clan) r… --- ## [Would a single gunshot deflate a modern automobile tire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-single-gunshot-deflate-a-modern-automobile-tire/1025534)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 12, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-single-gunshot-deflate-a-modern-automobile-tire/1025534 "2025-12-12T00:46:42Z")
I’m currently binge-watching for the second time the excellent British cop series “Inspector George Gently,” which is set in the 1960s. In today’s episode, the Inspector fires a single bullet into each front tire of the … --- ## [Help Me Puzzle Out This Electrical Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-puzzle-out-this-electrical-question/1025607)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-puzzle-out-this-electrical-question/1025607 "2025-12-10T22:59:16Z")
I went to replace an 90s era fluorescent electrical fixture, and when I took the old one down I had a black hot connected to the fixture’s black, and two neutrals twisted together along with the fixture’s neutral. Nothin… --- ## [Is there a better word for "Non Biological Father"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-word-for-non-biological-father/224517)
**Author:** [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-better-word-for-non-biological-father/224517 "2025-12-10T18:18:05Z")
A friend asked me this earlier and I’m sure there is but I can’t think of it. What would you call a Father who - whilst not the biological father of his kids - has raised them and effectively been their ‘Father’ for mos… --- ## [Logistics of a looooong surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logistics-of-a-looooong-surgery/1020124)
**Author:** [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logistics-of-a-looooong-surgery/1020124 "2025-12-10T14:22:12Z")
You keep hearing about “such and such surgery took 13 hours” or whatever. I’m personally looking at one that will be 8ish hours (yikes) some time next year. How on earth does that work in terms of the staff? How do they… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=22)