# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=212 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 213 --- ## [Aviation: pilot in command/captain in a military aircraft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-pilot-in-command-captain-in-a-military-aircraft/963305)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2022, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-pilot-in-command-captain-in-a-military-aircraft/963305 "2022-04-24T18:47:25Z")
Wikipedia describes “pilot in command” of an aircraft as “captain” in a multi-person flight crew. But Captain is also a military rank, at least for the US Navy and Air Force. So how is this handled in those branches of… --- ## [Is it just a coincidence that 9mm luger and .38 special are almost the exact same diameter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-a-coincidence-that-9mm-luger-and-38-special-are-almost-the-exact-same-diameter/963344)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-just-a-coincidence-that-9mm-luger-and-38-special-are-almost-the-exact-same-diameter/963344 "2022-04-24T15:44:36Z")
9mm is 0.355 and .38 is .0.357 diameter and I know the bullets are actually compatible with each other in reloading in their respective cases. (Though not recommended unless you’re an expert reloader) Since both are the… --- ## ["Pull yourself up by your bootstraps", young man!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps-young-man/963174)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps-young-man/963174 "2022-04-24T13:31:06Z")
What the hey-hoo is a bootstrap? --- ## [Protest notes and letters of protest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protest-notes-and-letters-of-protest/963304)
**Author:** [@cannonkuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannonkuo)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protest-notes-and-letters-of-protest/963304 "2022-04-23T15:05:48Z")
Can anybody tell me what “a protest note” and “a letter of protest” are? --- ## [Why is the Tube in MRI machines so small?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-tube-in-mri-machines-so-small/961691)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-tube-in-mri-machines-so-small/961691 "2022-04-23T00:37:51Z")
I had to endure an MRI yesterday. I do it without sedatives. I spent the entire 30 minutes in the machine doing multiplication. 14x6, 16x8. It distracts my mind. The claustrophobia is managable. It’s being jammed in tha… --- ## [Molotov cocktail questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molotov-cocktail-questions/960255)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2022, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/molotov-cocktail-questions/960255 "2022-04-22T20:52:21Z")
AFAIK, a Molotov cocktail is just a glass bottle filled with gasoline and with a rag stuck into the end. Light the saturated rag, throw the bomb, the glass shatters, and woof! This image shows what appears to be a thic… --- ## [Opel cars and GLONASS geolocation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opel-cars-and-glonass-geolocation/963138)
**Author:** [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opel-cars-and-glonass-geolocation/963138 "2022-04-22T16:38:59Z")
My wife and me are on vacation touring Spain: we have rented a car and have already driven 2,000 km, we are enjoying it a lot. The car we have rented is an Opel Crossland, which is not so great. I am a bit disappointed, … --- ## [GoDaddy Website Payment Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/godaddy-website-payment-question/963260)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/godaddy-website-payment-question/963260 "2022-04-22T16:06:07Z")
I realize this is weirdly specific, but I’m hoping someone has already solved this for me. GoDaddy customer support can’t really help me. Trust me, I’ve tried. I manage a website on GoDaddy for a local club. It currentl… --- ## [What could have been wrong with this airplane?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-have-been-wrong-with-this-airplane/963178)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-have-been-wrong-with-this-airplane/963178 "2022-04-22T14:05:42Z")
I live on the line connecting GSP to ATL, so there are many planes (and helicopters, and the rare blimp) that fly pretty much directly above me. Minutes ago, someting is flying over. Unseen, but from the sound seemed to … --- ## [Amy Schumer claims the US Secret Service contacted her about potential death threats, why the Secret Service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-schumer-claims-the-us-secret-service-contacted-her-about-potential-death-threats-why-the-secret-service/963147)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2022, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amy-schumer-claims-the-us-secret-service-contacted-her-about-potential-death-threats-why-the-secret-service/963147 "2022-04-22T01:26:54Z")
In a recent interview with Howard Stern Amy Schumer claims that due to jokes she made during the Oscars about Kirsten Dunst, she received death threats so bad both the Secret Service and LAPD reached out to her. Howeve… --- ## [Did this guy just commit a crime by driving off?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-guy-just-commit-a-crime-by-driving-off/961185)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-this-guy-just-commit-a-crime-by-driving-off/961185 "2022-04-22T03:26:24Z")
Taking my daughter to school just now I was pulled up in a queue of traffic at a light. On my left two young (young by my standards, and I’m in the “everyone under 25 looks 12 to me” stage of life) guys in tricked out D… --- ## [What's the point of those internet political polls that are heavily biased?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-those-internet-political-polls-that-are-heavily-biased/963149)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-point-of-those-internet-political-polls-that-are-heavily-biased/963149 "2022-04-21T22:29:05Z")
I saw this ad on the Talking Points Memo website, a popular left-leaning political blog. Obviously, if you’re on a left wing website, if you had to choose your “Favorite President” I guarantee you’d pick Obama over Trump… --- ## ["should have sent a poet" - Origins?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-have-sent-a-poet-origins/209072)
**Author:** [@Slugworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slugworth)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2022, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-have-sent-a-poet-origins/209072 "2022-04-21T15:17:41Z")
Not a whole lot more to add, really. This is a quote I’ve always seen quoted as an incomplete sentence, and in a breathless manner, like “should… have… sent… a… poet”. A google search basically just brings up people usin… --- ## [Do they make a device to keep your shirt collar upright?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-device-to-keep-your-shirt-collar-upright/963114)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-make-a-device-to-keep-your-shirt-collar-upright/963114 "2022-04-21T12:44:07Z")
Hello Everyone, I wear a uniform everyday that has insignia pinned to both collars. It really annoys me that throughout the day I’ll find my collar laying flat against the shirt instead of upright. I’ve tried heavy sta… --- ## [Arabic speaking Dopers - verb/noun gender agreement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arabic-speaking-dopers-verb-noun-gender-agreement/963089)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 21, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arabic-speaking-dopers-verb-noun-gender-agreement/963089 "2022-04-21T03:34:02Z")
I know essentially nothing about Arabic, but I am told that Arabic nouns are gendered, and that the verbs have gendered conjugations - feel free to stop me right there if I’m wrong about that, and tell me what the real s… --- ## [Keeping two separate Google accounts separate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-two-separate-google-accounts-separate/963133)
**Author:** [@ranwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ranwill)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-two-separate-google-accounts-separate/963133 "2022-04-20T22:19:35Z")
My girlfriend created a new Google account. I was surprised to see that when I went to Google and clicked on the circle in the upper right hand corner with my initial in it that the box containing my name and email addre… --- ## [Television set keeps "blinking" on cable. Is this part of having cable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-set-keeps-blinking-on-cable-is-this-part-of-having-cable/963129)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-set-keeps-blinking-on-cable-is-this-part-of-having-cable/963129 "2022-04-20T19:20:10Z")
We just got cable television service for the first time. Now, when showing the programs we want to watch, the television randomly “blinks” several times a minute. I mean, it looks like the screen goes black for maybe 1 o… --- ## [Questions: Logging out of website - Why delays?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-logging-out-of-website-why-delays/963078)
**Author:** [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2022, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-logging-out-of-website-why-delays/963078 "2022-04-20T10:24:34Z")
Sometimes I can leave or log-out of a website, then discover I’m still logged in many minutes later. As in the following steps: Log out and/or close browser. Realize I want to revisit something 5 minutes later. Re-ope… --- ## [What new weapons/weapons tactics have the Russians so far introduced in Ukraine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-weapons-weapons-tactics-have-the-russians-so-far-introduced-in-ukraine/960204)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 187\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2022, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-weapons-weapons-tactics-have-the-russians-so-far-introduced-in-ukraine/960204 "2022-04-20T05:52:55Z")
See subject. This could be part of a more general and less answerable (here) factual question, which is, What is the USA, and the rest of the world’s good defense forces, closely observing, noting, and in time integrat… --- ## [Please help me decipher the names of my ancestors on an old document](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decipher-the-names-of-my-ancestors-on-an-old-document/962978)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2022, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-decipher-the-names-of-my-ancestors-on-an-old-document/962978 "2022-04-20T05:09:03Z")
My mother has been doing some research into her family’s history. She found a death certificate of her paternal great-grandmother. We’re trying to figure out what her maiden name was. Nobody knows anything about that sid… --- ## [Is there any sort of clearinghouse for oral histories and memoirs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sort-of-clearinghouse-for-oral-histories-and-memoirs/963048)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 20, 2022, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-sort-of-clearinghouse-for-oral-histories-and-memoirs/963048 "2022-04-20T01:05:32Z")
Say someone decides to write a memoir about, oh, working in a NYC restaurant in the early 1970s. I have done this, just to get my thoughts down on paper, and I’m pleased with the result. My kids couldn’t care less (for n… --- ## [Types of dog breeds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-dog-breeds/962982)
**Author:** [@breakneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breakneck)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/types-of-dog-breeds/962982 "2022-04-19T22:58:23Z")
Hello . From what I understand humans Domesticated dogs from the Wolf? If that is true how were we able to "domesticate " or "make " all the diverse dog breads wiener dog to a great dane . Were there wild species that re… --- ## [IRS: how do you prove a windfall is a tax-free inheritance?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-how-do-you-prove-a-windfall-is-a-tax-free-inheritance/962957)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-how-do-you-prove-a-windfall-is-a-tax-free-inheritance/962957 "2022-04-19T18:59:21Z")
Suppose I have a crazy uncle who accumulated massive amounts of cash under his mattress over his lifetime. He dies, and in his will he bequeaths me a briefcase with a million dollars in cash. I go to my bank, deposit s… --- ## [Effect of reduced new car sales on global warming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-reduced-new-car-sales-on-global-warming/962924)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-reduced-new-car-sales-on-global-warming/962924 "2022-04-19T18:17:00Z")
Over the past two years, new car production and sales have been significantly reduced. And they’ll likely to continue to go down this year. There’ve been a number of causes (and note that the pandemic caused chip shortag… --- ## [What happens when Boeing runs out of numbers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-boeing-runs-out-of-numbers/963003)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-boeing-runs-out-of-numbers/963003 "2022-04-19T12:55:45Z")
What happens when Boeing runs out of numbers? They still have ‘797’ to go. What then? Go to four-digit numbers like ‘7107’ (Seven-Ten-Seven), ‘7117’ (Seven-Eleven-Seven), and so forth? Or do they just stop making air… --- ## [Doing a roll when landing from a jump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-a-roll-when-landing-from-a-jump/962995)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-a-roll-when-landing-from-a-jump/962995 "2022-04-19T12:52:42Z")
I think I am missing something when it comes to how this works for dissipating energy. If you fall completely vertically onto level ground, you still have to stop the entire vertical component of your speed. I see how k… --- ## [Can MANPADS lead a target?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-manpads-lead-a-target/961201)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-manpads-lead-a-target/961201 "2022-04-19T06:06:16Z")
Do Man-Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) have the ability to lead their targets, like a hunter shooting at ducks? Or do they head straight for the target and chase it? --- ## [Genetics question -- organ and related donation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetics-question-organ-and-related-donation/962889)
**Author:** [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genetics-question-organ-and-related-donation/962889 "2022-04-19T05:20:04Z")
I was reading the Reddit group “Am I The Asshole?” (which apparently I’m addicted to). Today there was a post that summarized like this: Woman was dating man and got pregnant. They split up. Man refused to claim son … --- ## [Ronald Reagan Quote about Layoffs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-reagan-quote-about-layoffs/962997)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ronald-reagan-quote-about-layoffs/962997 "2022-04-19T00:08:50Z")
I’m looking for information on something Reagan supposedly said. I’ve been told he said (paraphrasing) that the layoffs in the steel industry in the early 80s were the price of capitalism. I’d like to know if he said th… --- ## [How do I send people complete programs that include .exe files?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-send-people-complete-programs-that-include-exe-files/962602)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-send-people-complete-programs-that-include-exe-files/962602 "2022-04-18T21:32:43Z")
I write for a roleplaying site. One of the things I do is, I’ve created my own language for one of the races in the game. Many years ago, a friend of mine wrote a simple program that will translate English text into th… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=211) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=213)