# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=227 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 228 --- ## [How soon after eating gluten can I kiss my girlfriend?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-after-eating-gluten-can-i-kiss-my-girlfriend/959019)
**Author:** [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2022, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-after-eating-gluten-can-i-kiss-my-girlfriend/959019 "2022-02-09T04:03:28Z")
My girlfriend has Celiac’s. If I eat something with gluten while we’re together, or shortly before I see her, I’ll brush my teeth and rinse with Listerine. So far no issues. But, what if I have something with gluten a… --- ## [Why does water in a faucet change pitch as it heats up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-water-in-a-faucet-change-pitch-as-it-heats-up/959076)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2022, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-water-in-a-faucet-change-pitch-as-it-heats-up/959076 "2022-02-09T00:11:30Z")
I’ve noticed that in my bathroom sink, the pitch goes down as the water transitions from cold to hot. Why does it do that? --- ## [Why Are Human Mating Rituals The Opposite Way Round To The Rest Of The Animal Kingdom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-human-mating-rituals-the-opposite-way-round-to-the-rest-of-the-animal-kingdom/959124)
**Author:** [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-human-mating-rituals-the-opposite-way-round-to-the-rest-of-the-animal-kingdom/959124 "2022-02-08T23:43:13Z")
In the rest of the animal kingdom, the females don’t attempt to ‘impress’ potential mates or partners. It’s the males who make the effort and who use displays and rituals to try to prove their ‘fitness’ to be a mate: ela… --- ## [Apostrophes removed by the BGN/Post Office](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apostrophes-removed-by-the-bgn-post-office/959108)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apostrophes-removed-by-the-bgn-post-office/959108 "2022-02-08T23:21:14Z")
The BGN (US Board on Geographic Names) has a policy of not allowing possessive apostrophes in names. They’ve made a few exceptions over the years for natural features (notably Martha’s Vinyard), but as far as I can tell,… --- ## [Early Astronomy and Copernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-astronomy-and-copernicus/959023)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-astronomy-and-copernicus/959023 "2022-02-08T22:17:32Z")
According to a quick Google search, Copernicus published his “heliocentric theory of the universe” theory the year he died in 1543. Did he withhold his theory until he thought he was close to death knowing it would be co… --- ## [Geothermal Energy - Underground heat storage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geothermal-energy-underground-heat-storage/959059)
**Author:** [@PozhanPop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PozhanPop)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geothermal-energy-underground-heat-storage/959059 "2022-02-08T20:15:00Z")
Can it ever replace fossil fuels or other renewable energy sources ? Will it work near the equator where the temperature gradient is not as steep compared to cold countries like Canada ? What would be the temperature at… --- ## [Why are Polish people stupid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-polish-people-stupid/84547)
**Author:** [@MetropoChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MetropoChris)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-polish-people-stupid/84547 "2022-02-08T08:52:46Z")
OK, I know there not. But why all the jokes??? --- ## [Why does Netflix care if I watch anything at all?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-netflix-care-if-i-watch-anything-at-all/958917)
**Author:** [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-netflix-care-if-i-watch-anything-at-all/958917 "2022-02-08T08:40:35Z")
They already have my money so why are they trying to keep my eyes glued to their content? --- ## [Do zoos ever live feed their predators?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-zoos-ever-live-feed-their-predators/953681)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-zoos-ever-live-feed-their-predators/953681 "2022-02-08T06:38:21Z")
Pretty much the title covers it. With the emphasis now on zoos ‘enriching’ the lives of their animals, using bigger enclosures and adding more natural habitats and giving them things to play with or amuse themselves (li… --- ## [What kind of word-of-mouth evidence requires a subpoena, and which doesn't?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-word-of-mouth-evidence-requires-a-subpoena-and-which-doesnt/957947)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2022, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-word-of-mouth-evidence-requires-a-subpoena-and-which-doesnt/957947 "2022-02-08T05:49:56Z")
Sometimes a crime is prosecuted with simple casual “Oh, this bystander says he or she saw something happen” testimony jotted by a cop on a notebook and sometimes it takes a really formal subpoena with a really formal wri… --- ## [How do Bitcoin nodes discover eachother](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-bitcoin-nodes-discover-eachother/959040)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2022, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-bitcoin-nodes-discover-eachother/959040 "2022-02-07T23:48:53Z")
From googling this, it seems like each node maintains a list of other know nodes, and this is in turn distributed to new nodes. There are also some hardcoded nodes to get the network started. But what happens if those h… --- ## [Why did download sites used to have you wait 5 seconds to download a file and why don't they do it anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-download-sites-used-to-have-you-wait-5-seconds-to-download-a-file-and-why-dont-they-do-it-anymore/959043)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-download-sites-used-to-have-you-wait-5-seconds-to-download-a-file-and-why-dont-they-do-it-anymore/959043 "2022-02-07T20:34:57Z")
I remember back in the 90s/2000s, it was common for download sites like cnet or tucows to have you click a link and there would be a big 5 second timer and then the download would start and there was always a tiny link b… --- ## [Tell me about India's caste system.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-indias-caste-system/533611)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2022, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-indias-caste-system/533611 "2022-02-07T18:11:58Z")
On this web page (an article about a border closing ceremony at the India-Pakistan border), I saw an ad for an Indian (Hindu?) dating service, www.bengalimatrimony.com. The ad flashes through a series of photographs of … --- ## [Identify this geographic location: Real or imaginary image? From The Expanse opening scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-geographic-location-real-or-imaginary-image-from-the-expanse-opening-scene/959004)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2022, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-geographic-location-real-or-imaginary-image-from-the-expanse-opening-scene/959004 "2022-02-07T13:14:52Z")
I keep seeing this particular ‘satellite’ image in the opening intro scene on “The Expanse”. It looks incredibly familiar to me. It’s labeled “Steven Strait” in the pic, but that’s just the main actor’s name. That pie… --- ## [Facebook problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-problem/958886)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2022, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-problem/958886 "2022-02-07T08:13:27Z")
All of a sudden when I go on my friends FB page all I see are posts from 3 years ago. He puts new stuff on almost daily. Up until 3 days ago I could see all his new stuff. This is on his home page, not my newsfeed. Any… --- ## [Don't Look Up Question (spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-up-question-spoilers/958916)
**Author:** [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-look-up-question-spoilers/958916 "2022-02-06T13:06:59Z")
Not sure if there is a factual answer to this but gonna give it a shot. The recent Netflix movie “Don’t Look Up” involves a killer comet that hits the US and humanity’s failure to pull together to avert the catastrophe.… --- ## [Chicken in the car and the car can't go](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-in-the-car-and-the-car-cant-go/22391)
**Author:** [@njk8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njk8)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2022, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chicken-in-the-car-and-the-car-cant-go/22391 "2022-02-06T01:48:02Z")
Does anyone know the origen or purpose of the saying, “Chicken in the car and the car can’t go,” and i believe it also has “and thats how you spell chicago.” --- ## [Generators](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870)
**Author:** [@Kalel1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalel1)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/generators/958870 "2022-02-05T01:00:13Z")
I have two 5500 watt generator power units running off the same motor how do I wire them as one unit ??? --- ## [Cryptocurrency exchange founder dies and takes password to the grave](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptocurrency-exchange-founder-dies-and-takes-password-to-the-grave/828963)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cryptocurrency-exchange-founder-dies-and-takes-password-to-the-grave/828963 "2022-02-05T00:38:38Z")
$190M of cryptocurrency at the QuadrigaCX exchange is inaccessible after apparently the only person with the key has died, leaving nobody else in the company knowing it or how to get it. What does a cryptocurrency excha… --- ## [Explain English geography to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-english-geography-to-me/957668)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 175\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-english-geography-to-me/957668 "2022-02-05T00:14:01Z")
When I watch TV set in the UK, they often refer to English place names like Sussex, Northumberland, Cornwall, Yorkshire … and I realized that I really don’t have any idea what those names represent. Are they geopolitica… --- ## [Different pitch human males vs females](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-pitch-human-males-vs-females/957523)
**Author:** [@doubleminus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doubleminus)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-pitch-human-males-vs-females/957523 "2022-02-04T23:03:35Z")
What are the evolutionary hypotheses for this type of dimorphism? Are there any other mammals with similar differences? And as a bonus question - do transitioned persons develop the target gender pitch, if the transitio… --- ## [Fish tank technology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tank-technology/958672)
**Author:** [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-tank-technology/958672 "2022-02-04T22:48:18Z")
After keeping fish (mumble) decades ago I’m getting a small, 5-gallon tank to keep a betta in. The 15-gallon tank ages ago had a 3/8-inch high perforated platform that kept the gravel off of the bottom, the idea being t… --- ## [Electric Charge on Comb that Raises Hair After Blow-Drying](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-charge-on-comb-that-raises-hair-after-blow-drying/958815)
**Author:** [@TheUser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheUser)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-charge-on-comb-that-raises-hair-after-blow-drying/958815 "2022-02-04T22:05:43Z")
After I blow-dry my hair (with a typical blow-dryer, like ConAir-1875), if I take a comb afterwards and run it through my hair, I hear “crackles” as I do so wherever the comb goes through the hair. Afterwards, if I simpl… --- ## [Which heads of state have actually resigned in disgrace, and under what circumstances?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-heads-of-state-have-actually-resigned-in-disgrace-and-under-what-circumstances/958922)
**Author:** [@CHealy7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CHealy7)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-heads-of-state-have-actually-resigned-in-disgrace-and-under-what-circumstances/958922 "2022-02-04T19:32:48Z")
Topic as suggested here. --- ## [Question on the orbit of the Webb telescope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-orbit-of-the-webb-telescope/958576)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-the-orbit-of-the-webb-telescope/958576 "2022-02-04T18:15:00Z")
In the ongoing thread about JWST James Webb Space Telescope general discussion thread - #401 by Senegoid a side question arose–but was not satisfactorally answered of whether the telescope speeds up, resp. slows down, as… --- ## [Can I fix my water heater?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-fix-my-water-heater/222637)
**Author:** [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-fix-my-water-heater/222637 "2004-01-10T02:02:17Z")
The water heater seemed to gradually quit heating. I found that one of the fuses was blown, and replaced both of them. Now, the water is barely not-icy–not as freezing cold as it was, but definitely NOT hot. Not even lu… --- ## [What happened to the Chinese economy since 2008?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-chinese-economy-since-2008/958874)
**Author:** [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-chinese-economy-since-2008/958874 "2022-02-04T14:26:11Z")
I am writing a report about trade on a particular high-value wildlife commodity from Canada to China in the years 2007-2021. Trade boomed from 2008-2013, peaking in 2012-2013 at approximately 300 items per year, then sud… --- ## [APR on a home mortgage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apr-on-a-home-mortgage/958580)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2022, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apr-on-a-home-mortgage/958580 "2022-01-31T23:00:01Z")
Note: this is for teaching older teens, not a technical accounting class. APR is (total interest and fees) ÷ (principal x time). No problem there. The problem comes from making a down payment on a mortgage. No matter… --- ## [Highway weigh stations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highway-weigh-stations/958793)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highway-weigh-stations/958793 "2022-02-04T02:46:20Z")
I’ve been browsing through a few years/decades old posts about highway weigh stations (why so few are ever open, etc.), but I have some unanswered questions. Suppose your truck is overloaded (detected either at a supe… --- ## [California Residents: is the Golden State stimulus taxable by the Fed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-residents-is-the-golden-state-stimulus-taxable-by-the-fed/958837)
**Author:** [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2022, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-residents-is-the-golden-state-stimulus-taxable-by-the-fed/958837 "2022-02-04T02:17:20Z")
I received a California stimulus check last year. I’ve looked online, but can only find confirmation that it isn’t taxable by the state. Does anyone know if I have to report it to the IRS? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=226) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=228)