# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=220 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 221 --- ## [A Question About Thunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-thunder/960962)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-thunder/960962 "2022-03-14T13:18:49Z")
How much does the surrounding landscape affect how thunder sounds to us? If located on a flat plain, will the boom have a less resonate sound than thunder heard in a valley? What about someplace with a decent covering … --- ## [Which academic discipline does logic belong to?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-academic-discipline-does-logic-belong-to/960689)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2022, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-academic-discipline-does-logic-belong-to/960689 "2022-03-14T00:26:31Z")
It seems that most academic writing on logic, in terms of papers and textbooks, is written by philosophers. Is it generally considered to be a branch of philosophy, and university teaching takes place in these department… --- ## [First usage of "...so THAT just happenned"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791)
**Author:** [@moses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moses)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2022, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-usage-of-so-that-just-happenned/960791 "2022-03-13T06:25:02Z")
What the title says; first documented use of the expression. Please. --- ## [Soldiers Who Lay Down Their Arms- What Happens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-lay-down-their-arms-what-happens/960355)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2022, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-who-lay-down-their-arms-what-happens/960355 "2022-03-13T03:50:53Z")
I’m looking for as close to a factual answer as possible, but if this should be in another forum so be it. I’m reading that some of the Russian soldiers are refusing to fight, not having been told that they were invadin… --- ## [Question about shopping for groceries in NYC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-shopping-for-groceries-in-nyc/960383)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2022, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-shopping-for-groceries-in-nyc/960383 "2022-03-13T03:42:20Z")
Okay, I’m from the Midwest and used to shopping in stand alone grocery stores. I know not every place is like that though. I’ve been watching some amusing videos on YouTube showing apartments in NYC. I’d never be able… --- ## [How often do Eskimos poop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-eskimos-poop/960759)
**Author:** [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2022, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-eskimos-poop/960759 "2022-03-13T03:01:57Z")
How often do Eskimos poop? Just wondering about the traditional diet; I assume they eat lots of meat, fish, and blubber and very little roughage. --- ## [Where do electric chairs obtain electricity from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-electric-chairs-obtain-electricity-from/960617)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2022, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-electric-chairs-obtain-electricity-from/960617 "2022-03-13T02:48:17Z")
Are they plugged in to the prison’s own mains or have their own generators? I would think the latter. --- ## [What would be the charges for stealing the Declaration of Independence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-charges-for-stealing-the-declaration-of-independence/960902)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-charges-for-stealing-the-declaration-of-independence/960902 "2022-03-13T02:13:53Z")
I’m mostly joking, but would it be treason? A very high-level of theft? --- ## [Cost/benefit of Amazon Prime](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-benefit-of-amazon-prime/960251)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2022, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-benefit-of-amazon-prime/960251 "2022-03-13T00:21:02Z")
Is there a way I can go through my Amazon purchases for the past year, and find what the cost of shipping would have been if I didn’t have Amazon Prime and free shipping? (And I realize that the existence of free shippi… --- ## [Filling an outdoor in-ground pool with gasoline to hoard, could it work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filling-an-outdoor-in-ground-pool-with-gasoline-to-hoard-could-it-work/960886)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2022, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filling-an-outdoor-in-ground-pool-with-gasoline-to-hoard-could-it-work/960886 "2022-03-12T23:37:15Z")
Somebody on Reddit is claiming they’re seeing their next door neighbor fill their outdoor in-ground pool with gasoline in an attempt to horde it in advance of growing gasoline prices. They haven’t given anymore details b… --- ## [Hypothesis vs. null hypothesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothesis-vs-null-hypothesis/960950)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hypothesis-vs-null-hypothesis/960950 "2022-03-12T20:19:03Z")
In the thread How to distinguish between minority opinions and misinformation, many posters said a scientist must formulate a hypothesis when conducting research. And indeed, this has been hammered in to me all my life, … --- ## [High velocity water missile defense?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-velocity-water-missile-defense/960944)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-velocity-water-missile-defense/960944 "2022-03-12T19:49:50Z")
How high could a jet of water be streamed without it breaking up or vaporizing, given an arbitrary amount of power to accelerate it and any arbitrary diameter on the stream? --- ## ["Saran"wrap on russian POWs - is this a new thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saran-wrap-on-russian-pows-is-this-a-new-thing/960164)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saran-wrap-on-russian-pows-is-this-a-new-thing/960164 "2022-03-03T18:26:46Z")
Hi there, yes, I do spend way too much time informing myself what is going on in Ucraine … A “new” thing (to me) … I have seen a few pics of russian POWs, with some sort of saran-wrap over eyes and ears. Unfortunately … --- ## [Understood pronouns in Spanish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understood-pronouns-in-spanish/960769)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2022, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understood-pronouns-in-spanish/960769 "2022-03-12T05:31:25Z")
When speaking in Spanish, are pronouns frequently dropped or just occasionally and does it matter which person is being used? For example: I often hear “¿Como estas?” or “¿Como esta usted?” but I don’t think that I’ve … --- ## [Wood gathering before metal tools](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-gathering-before-metal-tools/960694)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2022, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-gathering-before-metal-tools/960694 "2022-03-12T02:58:50Z")
Basic question - how did people gather sufficient firewood in times before they had metal saws/axes? We recently attended a presentation on people in the Chicago area over the past 12,000 years. They had displays of th… --- ## [In the absence of radio, can outside information get to Russians?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-absence-of-radio-can-outside-information-get-to-russians/960899)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-the-absence-of-radio-can-outside-information-get-to-russians/960899 "2022-03-11T23:52:25Z")
I don’t know if Russians listen to the radio anymore - or if anyone does. Radio Free Europe and Voice of America used to be able to send their signal into places that the truth had been hidden. Today, the Russians are … --- ## [Problem playing EAC3 and TrueHD audio on a Mac connected to an Arcam amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-playing-eac3-and-truehd-audio-on-a-mac-connected-to-an-arcam-amp/960879)
**Author:** [@MozeJose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MozeJose)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2022, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-playing-eac3-and-truehd-audio-on-a-mac-connected-to-an-arcam-amp/960879 "2022-03-11T22:45:39Z")
I know this is a very specific topic for this message board, but I’ve already asked it on the Apple, Arcam, and Plex forums without any replies. I have an M1 Mac mini running Monterey (12.2.1) and am using Plex Media Pl… --- ## [Current status of Ukrainians in Russia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-ukrainians-in-russia/960827)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-ukrainians-in-russia/960827 "2022-03-11T21:03:55Z")
Apparently there are over 2.5 million Ukrainian citizens living in Russia. Certainly a good number of these may be native Russian speakers with no particularly strong affinity to the Ukrainian state, but I’m sure many o… --- ## [Does the us still have a ban on using assassinations as a foreign policy option?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-still-have-a-ban-on-using-assassinations-as-a-foreign-policy-option/960820)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-still-have-a-ban-on-using-assassinations-as-a-foreign-policy-option/960820 "2022-03-11T15:18:49Z")
I know after CIA shenanigans in the 50s and 60s were exposed Gerald ford issued an executive order banning assassinations but I heard that either Clinton or bush overturned it but I don’t think it’s been done even after … --- ## [Looking for a Latin term if there is one to designate land received by a Roman soldier in lieu of money](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-latin-term-if-there-is-one-to-designate-land-received-by-a-roman-soldier-in-lieu-of-money/960867)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2022, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-latin-term-if-there-is-one-to-designate-land-received-by-a-roman-soldier-in-lieu-of-money/960867 "2022-03-11T13:56:25Z")
I’m looking for a Latin term, if there is one, to describe land received by a Roman soldier in lieu of monetary compensation for military service. Did Pompeii serve as such? I remember reading somewhere that Roman soldie… --- ## [Something else we can all do to help Ukrainians perhaps?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-else-we-can-all-do-to-help-ukrainians-perhaps/960852)
**Author:** [@civilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/civilis)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-else-we-can-all-do-to-help-ukrainians-perhaps/960852 "2022-03-11T13:53:54Z")
Why don’t Nato leaders advise their people the web addresses of Russian military and governmental institutions so that we can participate in denial of service attacks? --- ## [Very pure water dangerous to drink?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pure-water-dangerous-to-drink/959706)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 160\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-pure-water-dangerous-to-drink/959706 "2022-03-10T23:50:18Z")
There is an article in today’s Times that claims that very pure water would burn your insides if you drank it. Can this be true. The article was about the making of the curling rink in Beijing. It said that the tap wa… --- ## [Given the current situation, what are the implications for someone who has a large amount of Russian and Russian-backed debt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-the-current-situation-what-are-the-implications-for-someone-who-has-a-large-amount-of-russian-and-russian-backed-debt/960559)
**Author:** [@MozeJose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MozeJose)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/given-the-current-situation-what-are-the-implications-for-someone-who-has-a-large-amount-of-russian-and-russian-backed-debt/960559 "2022-03-10T23:43:38Z")
Hypothetically, say I owed hundreds of millions of dollars to Russian banks, high-net-worth Russians and western banks that made loans backed with Russian collateral? In light of current events, what type of financial ch… --- ## [Mutual intelligibility of Russian and Ukrainian](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mutual-intelligibility-of-russian-and-ukrainian/960765)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mutual-intelligibility-of-russian-and-ukrainian/960765 "2022-03-10T23:29:23Z")
Obviously inspired by current events. How much would two monolingual speakers be able to understand each other if at all. I realize lots of Ukrainians are likely to have at least a passing familiarity with Russian, (I … --- ## [Tidal tails make dark matter-less galaxies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tidal-tails-make-dark-matter-less-galaxies/960774)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tidal-tails-make-dark-matter-less-galaxies/960774 "2022-03-10T19:46:02Z")
Here’s a blog by an astrophysicist which I think says that tidal tails caused by two galaxies making a near pass to each other will result in a dark matter-less satellite galaxy. However he isn’t as clear on this as c… --- ## [Usability of captured Russian equipment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usability-of-captured-russian-equipment/960754)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usability-of-captured-russian-equipment/960754 "2022-03-10T16:48:22Z")
Maybe this has been answered elsewhere but there’s just too much to read. Given the commonality of much of the equipment on both sides, are things like the multiple launch rocket systems, shoulder fired rockets, newer ta… --- ## [Trans legal status in male primogenitor inheritance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trans-legal-status-in-male-primogenitor-inheritance/960464)
**Author:** [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trans-legal-status-in-male-primogenitor-inheritance/960464 "2022-03-10T16:43:27Z")
Has female trans person made an inheritance (property and/or title) case against a younger male sibling? --- ## [Purpose of "Declaration of War"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-declaration-of-war/960719)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purpose-of-declaration-of-war/960719 "2022-03-10T08:56:55Z")
I believe it was reported that Putin officially declared war on Ukraine, but what’s the point to this “official declaration”? He could have simply invaded without a word, and it would make no difference. Declaring war do… --- ## [UK Police and sidearms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-police-and-sidearms/960686)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-police-and-sidearms/960686 "2022-03-10T05:54:51Z")
My wife and I watch a fair bit of Brit TV shows (Midsomer Murders, Broadchurch among others) and the cops very rarely, if ever, carry sidearms and collaring the murderer generally seems to go something like this: some… --- ## [Question about speed of light](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-speed-of-light/960784)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2022, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-speed-of-light/960784 "2022-03-10T02:00:33Z")
Shine a flashlight on a reflector. The light travels to the reflector, and then bounces back to the flashlight. This video by Veritasium seems to be saying the speed of the light from the flashlight to the reflector is … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=219) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=221)