# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=210 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 211 --- ## [What kind of equipment punches holes in plastic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-equipment-punches-holes-in-plastic/529274)
**Author:** [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-equipment-punches-holes-in-plastic/529274 "2010-02-19T09:26:29Z")
I am looking to buy a tool that will punch out custom shapes from thin sheets of plastic and need to know the name of what I’d be shopping for. Basically I would want a half dozen or so specific, different, semi-elabora… --- ## [What does CBI mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-cbi-mean/963936)
**Author:** [@cannonkuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannonkuo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2022, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-cbi-mean/963936 "2022-05-05T05:16:50Z")
Argentina has expressed its concern over the provisions in the CBI concerning sugar. As an enticement, the US could offer a duty-free quota equivalent to their current export level of sugar. However, such an action could… --- ## [What the Heck Is It?! (semi trailer design)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-it-semi-trailer-design/963803)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2022, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-it-semi-trailer-design/963803 "2022-05-04T11:21:27Z")
My question is regarding a semi’s trailer design. First of all, it is a full semi trailer and not something that is shipped via railroad and bolted to a trailer frame. Second, I see them every day, so this design is no… --- ## [What's the biggest airline to have no flights going to/from/through the USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-airline-to-have-no-flights-going-to-from-through-the-usa/958712)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2022, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-biggest-airline-to-have-no-flights-going-to-from-through-the-usa/958712 "2022-05-04T09:30:08Z")
This is trivial enough that it could have gone into MPSIMS, but I’m trying to find the answer to it: What is the biggest airline in the world that runs no flight operations involving the USA at all? (no flights to, or fr… --- ## [Caterpillar ID anyone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caterpillar-id-anyone/963810)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caterpillar-id-anyone/963810 "2022-05-04T02:20:16Z")
Yesterday we were doing spring cleaning in our garage. My gf placed a birdhouse onto one of the lawn tractors that is covered by a sheet. Minutes later (?) the sheet was covered with tiny (2 mm) caterpillar/inchworm ty… --- ## [Will The Radio Buttons On My Steering Wheel Control An Aftermarket Radio](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-radio-buttons-on-my-steering-wheel-control-an-aftermarket-radio/963824 "2022-05-03T21:39:26Z")
My car ('06 Buick LeSabre) has buttons on the steering wheel that control the volume and band on the factory radio that came installed in the vehicle. Mrs. H and I would like to replace that with an XM-ready aftermarket … --- ## [How are Supreme Court decisions handled when there's disagreement as to WHY a decision should be made](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-supreme-court-decisions-handled-when-theres-disagreement-as-to-why-a-decision-should-be-made/963883)
**Author:** [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-supreme-court-decisions-handled-when-theres-disagreement-as-to-why-a-decision-should-be-made/963883 "2022-05-03T15:17:48Z")
Obviously inspired by current events, but lets keep this off of that. Sometimes the SC issues very broad rulings striking down whole laws and sometimes they issue very narrow ones regarding the specific case. So what hap… --- ## [Newly manufactured cars: tunnel of light](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newly-manufactured-cars-tunnel-of-light/963854)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newly-manufactured-cars-tunnel-of-light/963854 "2022-05-03T13:09:03Z")
I frequently see pictured of new cars rolling off the assembly line, but they’re going through a tunnel of light. Here’s an example: What the purpose of this? At one time, I thought … --- ## [Is it safe to jump up and down in elevators?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-jump-up-and-down-in-elevators/963733)
**Author:** [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2022, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-to-jump-up-and-down-in-elevators/963733 "2022-05-03T11:59:57Z")
It occurred to me this week that my children used to ask quite frequently if they could jump up and down while an elevator was in motion, because it was fun. I’ll allow that it might be fun, but the mere thought gave me … --- ## [Can civilizations work without trees and fossil fuels?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-civilizations-work-without-trees-and-fossil-fuels/963435)
**Author:** [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2022, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-civilizations-work-without-trees-and-fossil-fuels/963435 "2022-05-03T10:30:47Z")
Our civilization as we know it relies heavily upon trees for building materials, and ancient, dead plant matter for fuel. Also, we rely upon plant matter for food. But could our civilization, or some alien civilization, … --- ## [What are the limits of the First Amendment in terms of search engine content?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-limits-of-the-first-amendment-in-terms-of-search-engine-content/963601)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2022, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-limits-of-the-first-amendment-in-terms-of-search-engine-content/963601 "2022-05-03T05:29:25Z")
What are the limits of the First Amendment/freedom of speech in terms of search engine content? I’m specifically thinking of medical/pharmacological disinformation. How vigilant do companies like Google have to be to we… --- ## [Question about Libel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-libel/963825)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2022, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-libel/963825 "2022-05-02T22:04:12Z")
This was inspired by the whole Depp/Heard conflict. If I write an article alleging that someone (Person A) attacked me, but does not identify them, what standing (not sure that’s the right word) does Person A have to sue… --- ## [Who is the most prominent person to disappear?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-prominent-person-to-disappear/963546)
**Author:** [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-prominent-person-to-disappear/963546 "2022-05-02T16:48:15Z")
The most famous disappearance that comes to my mind is Jimmy Hoffa. He was a prominent trade union leader in the 1950s and 1960s. On July 30, 1975 he went missing and was never seen again, nor was his body ever found. M… --- ## [How is the Greek economy managing to pay out its debt and regular expenses?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-greek-economy-managing-to-pay-out-its-debt-and-regular-expenses/963670)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-greek-economy-managing-to-pay-out-its-debt-and-regular-expenses/963670 "2022-05-02T12:48:55Z")
GDP of Greece is slowly recovering, but it’s import is 40% larger than it’s export. It’s in budget deficit of -7.5 of the GDP, even though it’s supposed to have a suficit of +2% until 2060 to pay out the bailout debts (… --- ## [Excel Help: Count a cell if another cell is not blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-help-count-a-cell-if-another-cell-is-not-blank/963735)
**Author:** [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2022, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-help-count-a-cell-if-another-cell-is-not-blank/963735 "2022-05-02T12:20:10Z")
Difficulty: NO MACROS “Count” the cell is probably the wrong term when talking Excel. I want to do this: Cell A1 has a number value. Cell B1 may be blank or not blank. I want Cell C1 to have value of Cell A if and on… --- ## [Why when selling/buying a property do the buyer and seller never meet? (home sales)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-when-selling-buying-a-property-do-the-buyer-and-seller-never-meet-home-sales/962085)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2022, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-when-selling-buying-a-property-do-the-buyer-and-seller-never-meet-home-sales/962085 "2022-05-02T05:23:44Z")
I saw a post on Reddit asking this question but I never expect good answers there. The main answer (so far) seems to be to avoid racial discrimination. Ok…maybe but I’m dubious. Anecdotally, every time I have purchase… --- ## [Why did Britain merge Ireland into the United Kingdom in 1801?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-britain-merge-ireland-into-the-united-kingdom-in-1801/963723)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2022, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-britain-merge-ireland-into-the-united-kingdom-in-1801/963723 "2022-05-01T09:03:52Z")
I know that there was a separate Irish Parliament up to 1801, but subject to the British Parliament’s laws. Than in 1800 the British Parliament abolished the Irish Parliament and merged Ireland into the United Kingdom o… --- ## [Could a moon have a moon of its own?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-moon-have-a-moon-of-its-own/963716)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2022, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-moon-have-a-moon-of-its-own/963716 "2022-05-01T03:20:25Z")
I think there are no examples in our own Solar System. But suppose we imagine a Jupiter-like gas giant orbiting a faraway star. This has several moons, including an Earth-like ball. Could there be a Luna-like rock o… --- ## [What's the origin of the "Valley Girl" accent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-valley-girl-accent/963418)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2022, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-valley-girl-accent/963418 "2022-04-30T20:30:51Z")
I’m sure many of you are familiar with it. “What-eeevar!” But is it a real accent like the one found in the Southern states or New England? Or is it affected? --- ## [Earth lost 3 hours over 2000 years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earth-lost-3-hours-over-2000-years/963527)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earth-lost-3-hours-over-2000-years/963527 "2022-04-30T16:50:28Z")
An article (free link) in the NY Times says: \[emphasis mine\] Anyone know what they’re talking about? The Earth is slowing down, but no where near that fast. Yes, it’s a newspaper, which means they always get something… --- ## [Pop-top/pull-tab/ring-pull](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-top-pull-tab-ring-pull/677982)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-top-pull-tab-ring-pull/677982 "2022-04-30T16:41:12Z")
♫ \*Blew out my flip-flop Stepped on a pop-top Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home… \*♫ As the song says, pop-tops could cut you. I remember as a child having to be careful not to step on them at the beach. And th… --- ## [What happened to my truck's AC?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-trucks-ac/963679)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-my-trucks-ac/963679 "2022-04-30T15:39:13Z")
Same Envoy with a dying (but not dead) oil pump and major oil leak. Drove it all over Colorado last weekend. Monday morning Mrs Cad calls me and the truck engine is making popping sounds, smoke and a burning oil smell.… --- ## [How much time and money has the January 6th "incident" cost us, as taxpayer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-and-money-has-the-january-6th-incident-cost-us-as-taxpayer/963695)
**Author:** [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2022, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-and-money-has-the-january-6th-incident-cost-us-as-taxpayer/963695 "2022-04-30T13:46:12Z")
seriously, I do NOT want to end up in GD but i really want to know a “ball park” guestimate… The whole debacle (dare I say insurrection) on 1/6 how much are we STILL paying for it…in damages… deferred congressional att… --- ## [Why Does Vinegar Make Me Sweat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-vinegar-make-me-sweat/334139)
**Author:** [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2022, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-vinegar-make-me-sweat/334139 "2022-04-30T09:06:18Z")
I did a search on “vinegar sweat” but couldn’t find anything here. So, can any one explain why, when I eat anything with a good amount of vinegar in it (ketchup, Italian dressing, various vinegarettes, etc.) I break int… --- ## [Speedometer Checks on Highways](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speedometer-checks-on-highways/554719)
**Author:** [@GregH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GregH)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speedometer-checks-on-highways/554719 "2022-04-30T02:10:54Z")
So, how often are these used? Seems like some government has gone to a lot of time and expense to plant these markers on the edge of the highway. Has anyone here used these? Are they geared towards a specific group of… --- ## [When a public company goes private, what happens to the other shareholders?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-public-company-goes-private-what-happens-to-the-other-shareholders/963485)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-public-company-goes-private-what-happens-to-the-other-shareholders/963485 "2022-04-29T19:26:32Z")
So I understand that Elon Musk wants to turn Twitter from a publicly held company to a private one. But what about the other 49% of shareholders? Are they required to sell their shares even if they don’t want to? --- ## [When a Passenger Ship Full of Immigrants and Americans Pulled Into New York, c. 1912](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-passenger-ship-full-of-immigrants-and-americans-pulled-into-new-york-c-1912/963633)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-passenger-ship-full-of-immigrants-and-americans-pulled-into-new-york-c-1912/963633 "2022-04-29T18:36:43Z")
Let’s say a British ship, call it Titanic, pulls into New York on a Wednesday morning in mid-April in 1912. The passengers and crew are a mix of British, Irish, and Americans, an Italian or two, a few Hatians, yada yada.… --- ## [Energy in an electrical conductor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-an-electrical-conductor/955509)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2022, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/energy-in-an-electrical-conductor/955509 "2022-04-29T17:18:42Z")
I would like your opinions on this youtube link. The author postulates that energy is transmitted not in the conductors, but in the field established around the conductors. Thanks, --- ## [Whence the -i in “Kuwati,” “Pakistani,” etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-the-i-in-kuwati-pakistani-etc/963668)
**Author:** [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-the-i-in-kuwati-pakistani-etc/963668 "2022-04-29T17:03:07Z")
(My Googling was surprisingly unhelpful, even when I inserted the keyword “demonym”). What is the origin of the suffix -i as an adjective for “a country or its people”? It’s used (at least in English) for SOME of the … --- ## [How are food dyes named in the USA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-food-dyes-named-in-the-usa/963624)
**Author:** [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2022, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-food-dyes-named-in-the-usa/963624 "2022-04-29T11:51:29Z")
When I was a kid I remember Red Dye #2 was banned because it was carcinogenic or something. I think it might have been used in Funny Face Chinese Cherry. The following are the commonly used food dyes. Red No. 40 (Allura… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=209) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=211)