# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=230 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 231 --- ## [How do the logistics of solitary confinement work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-logistics-of-solitary-confinement-work/958431)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-logistics-of-solitary-confinement-work/958431 "2022-01-26T18:21:12Z")
Presumably, a prisoner needs haircuts, otherwise he’ll have waist-long hair eventually. He also needs toilet paper, showers, soap/shampoo/toothpaste, maybe medical attention if something happens, and if the authorities … --- ## [How plausible in reality were the plots of Dr. Strangelove and Fail-Safe in regards to the bombers getting through?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-plausible-in-reality-were-the-plots-of-dr-strangelove-and-fail-safe-in-regards-to-the-bombers-getting-through/930781)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 26, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-plausible-in-reality-were-the-plots-of-dr-strangelove-and-fail-safe-in-regards-to-the-bombers-getting-through/930781 "2022-01-26T17:23:35Z")
I know I’m missing the point with those movies, but the plot of each movie is kick-started with a single wing/formation of bombers is tricked into thinking nuclear war has started and goes to bomb Soviet targets despite … --- ## [US-Mexican border: Is the passport check going out the same as coming in?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mexican-border-is-the-passport-check-going-out-the-same-as-coming-in/958260)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-mexican-border-is-the-passport-check-going-out-the-same-as-coming-in/958260 "2022-01-25T23:55:10Z")
Never been there before: Is Customs and Immigration essentially scanning your passport and “emigrating” you when you go into Mexico exactly the same when you come right back in and they scan and “immigrate” you? --- ## [Repair man says txts and phone calls to my phone don't work. Could he be right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repair-man-says-txts-and-phone-calls-to-my-phone-dont-work-could-he-be-right/958309)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repair-man-says-txts-and-phone-calls-to-my-phone-dont-work-could-he-be-right/958309 "2022-01-25T23:07:23Z")
I’ve been trying for weeks to get this repair man to come fix something and plans keep falling through, he says partly because he can’t send txts or get calls to ring or leave phone messages on my iPhone. However, it wor… --- ## [Digitizing Old Photos](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digitizing-old-photos/957929)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digitizing-old-photos/957929 "2022-01-25T21:44:12Z")
I came across a collection of old family photos. I am betwixt and between. On one hand, I have not bothered to look at these things in decades. They have little value to me, and will have less value when I pass away. On … --- ## [Popcorn Ceiling Coming down](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceiling-coming-down/925479)
**Author:** [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popcorn-ceiling-coming-down/925479 "2022-01-25T16:25:34Z")
I noticed last night that I have a foot long tear in the popcorn ceiling in my family room. The popcorn seems to have been put over wallpaper or something. The family room was built in 79 so that meant the popcorn mater… --- ## [The grammar of "got"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammar-of-got/958240)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2022, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-grammar-of-got/958240 "2022-01-25T12:45:17Z")
As I understand it, “got” is nothing but the simple past of “to get”, and in British English it is also the past participle of that verb (in American English, that participle would be “gotten”). Nonetheless, it seems th… --- ## [Trying to set up PureVPN (openVPN) on my Synology Diskstation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-set-up-purevpn-openvpn-on-my-synology-diskstation/958335)
**Author:** [@EmbarrassingDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmbarrassingDad)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 25, 2022, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-set-up-purevpn-openvpn-on-my-synology-diskstation/958335 "2022-01-25T11:39:07Z")
It’s asking for a ca.crt but I can’t seem to find or make one. Can anybody help? --- ## [Is the Dog and Cat War Biologically-Based?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-dog-and-cat-war-biologically-based/958254)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-dog-and-cat-war-biologically-based/958254 "2022-01-24T20:28:16Z")
Because I have had a large number of cats and dogs throughout my life. And they never quite got along. Some were certainly more tolerant than others (dogs). But that’s the farthest it went. We got this collie mix in 199… --- ## [Is there a free and simple program for Windows that will allow me to take separate MP3 files and generate one long MP3?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-and-simple-program-for-windows-that-will-allow-me-to-take-separate-mp3-files-and-generate-one-long-mp3/958229)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-and-simple-program-for-windows-that-will-allow-me-to-take-separate-mp3-files-and-generate-one-long-mp3/958229 "2022-01-24T12:53:16Z")
I have some chopped up MP3 files for an audio book. I would like to drop all of the audio MP3’s together, putting them in order, and then generate one long MP3 that plays them all straight through. Is there a simple sof… --- ## [Excel copy, paste, and formatting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-copy-paste-and-formatting/958274)
**Author:** [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-copy-paste-and-formatting/958274 "2022-01-23T18:04:58Z")
When I copy a part of a file and paste it in a new sheet it loses the format and becomes a jumble. Does anyone know how to fix this? --- ## [Cultural significance of age milestones in ancient Judaism](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-significance-of-age-milestones-in-ancient-judaism/958025)
**Author:** [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cultural-significance-of-age-milestones-in-ancient-judaism/958025 "2022-01-22T16:02:10Z")
Anybody who knows anything at all about Judaism knows that age 13 is culturally significant in Judaism; that’s the age when a boy does his bar mitzvah. What I’m wondering about is age 50. And the reason for that is a c… --- ## [Judge prevents at-will hospital employees from quitting and working new jobs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-prevents-at-will-hospital-employees-from-quitting-and-working-new-jobs/958222)
**Author:** [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-prevents-at-will-hospital-employees-from-quitting-and-working-new-jobs/958222 "2022-01-22T14:00:33Z")
Can some of the lawyerly types explain to me how this can be legal? Like I don’t understand how the judge can make this kind of ruling at all, regardless of whether you agree with the worker or the hospital. I’ve creat… --- ## [Sending an SMS using a cellular internet modem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-an-sms-using-a-cellular-internet-modem/958171)
**Author:** [@MozeJose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MozeJose)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2022, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-an-sms-using-a-cellular-internet-modem/958171 "2022-01-22T13:58:34Z")
My home Internet is provided through a cellular modem. Every time I hit a data cap, I have to take the SIM card out of my modem, put it into my phone, and send an SMS to my service provider. As one might imagine, this is… --- ## [Can One Fly to Any Country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fly-to-any-country/957521)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2022, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-one-fly-to-any-country/957521 "2022-01-22T09:22:36Z")
My son was wondering can you simply get up and fly to any country? I know the State Department posts warnings of going to certain countries, but does anything actually stop you? OK, one is limited by where the commercial… --- ## [Why do some spiders and snakes have more venom than they need?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-spiders-and-snakes-have-more-venom-than-they-need/958133)
**Author:** [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2022, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-spiders-and-snakes-have-more-venom-than-they-need/958133 "2022-01-21T20:13:56Z")
Take spiders: Black widows, brown recluses, and other spiders we would call “poisonous” don’t need to kill anything much bigger than a housefly to have a nice meal, but they have the power to kill a small human. Compare … --- ## [Annoying VPN issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-vpn-issue/958006)
**Author:** [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-vpn-issue/958006 "2022-01-21T17:58:40Z")
I have to disable it to reply to an email sent to me, however I can send an email that I write to someone. TIA --- ## [Conflict of Interest and appointing a proxy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflict-of-interest-and-appointing-a-proxy/853637)
**Author:** [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2022, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conflict-of-interest-and-appointing-a-proxy/853637 "2022-01-21T13:49:33Z")
Short Version: If you are barred by a judge’s ruling from serving on a public Board due to a conflict of interest, can you appoint someone to take your place and no longer have that conflict of interest? Long Messy Ver… --- ## [Spelling: Traveling or Travelling?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2022, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-traveling-or-travelling/953900 "2022-01-21T12:58:36Z")
Subject line says it all. I constantly write “travelling” and get spell-checked to “traveling.” Dunno if it happens to anyone else but there are a few words I am just programmed to spell wrong. Even if I know better (I… --- ## [Why do some British buildings use "House" as part of their name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-british-buildings-use-house-as-part-of-their-name/958120)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2022, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-british-buildings-use-house-as-part-of-their-name/958120 "2022-01-21T11:26:54Z")
An example here. Athlone House - Wikipedia Is it just a tendency in the language that stuck? I wasn’t sure how to Google it. --- ## [Video chat app for within home network?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-chat-app-for-within-home-network/958125)
**Author:** [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2022, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/video-chat-app-for-within-home-network/958125 "2022-01-21T06:12:08Z")
My husband and I are both retired and are each often on the computers in our respective offices. He’s upstairs and I’m downstairs. Obviously we can do Zoom meetings between each other, but I was wondering, is there som… --- ## [Car tire pressure at high elevation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-tire-pressure-at-high-elevation/958063)
**Author:** [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-tire-pressure-at-high-elevation/958063 "2022-01-20T21:46:17Z")
I live at 7,000 ft. I’m having my car serviced, and the mechanic is telling me that I should inflate my tires to higher pressure because of the elevation. I’m trying to make sense of this. I think what he must be sayi… --- ## [How does Ted Cruz have standing to bring this lawsuit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-ted-cruz-have-standing-to-bring-this-lawsuit/958112)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-ted-cruz-have-standing-to-bring-this-lawsuit/958112 "2022-01-20T18:18:37Z")
I just ran across this article on the AP: The Federal government has responded, in part, that Cruz doesn’t have standing: Standing is defined as: Where is the injury that Ted Cruz has suffered? How does he even … --- ## [Mathematics site help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathematics-site-help/958099)
**Author:** [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mathematics-site-help/958099 "2022-01-20T15:29:38Z")
There is a wonder site at which you can pose math problems and get help with the answers. I’ve lost the URL. Can anyone supply it? The only real description I can give is they’re “touchy” about encoding math like x^2. … --- ## [What are those thingies that screws attach to called?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994)
**Author:** [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-those-thingies-that-screws-attach-to-called/957994 "2022-01-20T14:42:45Z")
Not talking about nuts. :slight\_smile: But it’s common in furniture, and some toys, for sections to be attached via a screw and another metal piece which the screw goes into. The way it’s done is that one section has a … --- ## [Anyone know how to read the writing in the Mandarin logo in Iron Man 3?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-read-the-writing-in-the-mandarin-logo-in-iron-man-3/657516)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-read-the-writing-in-the-mandarin-logo-in-iron-man-3/657516 "2022-01-20T14:26:27Z")
I’m curious if it’s real Manchu writing or just bullshit. Thanks! --- ## [PNP transistor model question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pnp-transistor-model-question/957890)
**Author:** [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pnp-transistor-model-question/957890 "2022-01-20T06:44:16Z")
Edit, for some reason when I try to post the just image I’m told it can’t be found, so you’ll have to click the link to see it full size. In this image, why are the IBE and IBC currents shown going against the diodes? --- ## [Would a clone have the same sexual orientation as myself?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-clone-have-the-same-sexual-orientation-as-myself/958005)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-a-clone-have-the-same-sexual-orientation-as-myself/958005 "2022-01-20T05:10:48Z")
Just a question that popped into my head and that Google doesn’t seem to have a quick answer to right now. Also I’m 99% I made a grammatical mistake in that title, so I apologize beforehand. --- ## [What happens when authorities cannot determine whether a crook was a juvenile or adult at the time?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-authorities-cannot-determine-whether-a-crook-was-a-juvenile-or-adult-at-the-time/958022)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-authorities-cannot-determine-whether-a-crook-was-a-juvenile-or-adult-at-the-time/958022 "2022-01-20T01:00:49Z")
Question pertaining to US law only, although discussions about other countries’ laws would be welcome as well: Suppose that John Doe commits a crime (theft, embezzlement, whatever) - but the exact time cannot be determi… --- ## [Phone scams: is there (still) a danger of being billed just for pressing 1?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-scams-is-there-still-a-danger-of-being-billed-just-for-pressing-1/957986)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-scams-is-there-still-a-danger-of-being-billed-just-for-pressing-1/957986 "2022-01-20T00:51:50Z")
Most scam phone calls are just ordinary phishing, getting the victim to reveal a credit card number or some other info to a “live” operator. The initial, automated part asking the victim to press 1 is just to skim out th… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=229) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=231)