# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=26 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 27 --- ## [Do other languages use rhyming reduplication?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-other-languages-use-rhyming-reduplication/1024410 "2025-11-03T18:20:20Z")
Rhyming reduplication is phrases like artsy fartsy, boogie woogie, easy peasy, hanky panky, hoity toity, hurley burley, or okey dokey. Is this unique to English? Or do other languages do this? Is it widespread in most l… --- ## [Global warming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming/1024461)
**Author:** [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/global-warming/1024461 "2025-11-03T16:36:25Z")
Per Wikipedia: A change of 1.0-5.7 degrees C is a change of 1.8-10.26 degrees F. Cans someone explain why this is such a big deal? So Minneapolis in January is only -5 F instead of -15 – I’m sure Minnesotans can cope … --- ## [Being questioned by the Police in the UK: A suspect's rights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-questioned-by-the-police-in-the-uk-a-suspects-rights/1024480)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-questioned-by-the-police-in-the-uk-a-suspects-rights/1024480 "2025-11-03T15:13:05Z")
The wife & I are watching a series through US’ PBS, called Unforgotten–a cold-case police drama set in the UK. There are multiple scenes where the DCI & DIs are interviewing suspects with an audio recorder, in what app… --- ## [Standard light bulb in 3-way socket](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-light-bulb-in-3-way-socket/391536)
**Author:** [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-light-bulb-in-3-way-socket/391536 "2025-11-02T15:46:57Z")
My new floor lamp came with a warning label saying it should only be used with a 3-way bulb. What possible danger could there be if you used it with a standard (1-way?) bulb?? --- ## [A baby is born addicted to heroin, must he be off opiates for the rest of his life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baby-is-born-addicted-to-heroin-must-he-be-off-opiates-for-the-rest-of-his-life/1024259)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 2, 2025, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-baby-is-born-addicted-to-heroin-must-he-be-off-opiates-for-the-rest-of-his-life/1024259 "2025-11-02T02:08:56Z")
On a TV show I watch, the main character has adopted her grandson, who was born addicted to opiates thanks to his mother’s addiction. He’s a teen now and is fine, being raised in a loving home where his guardians speak o… --- ## [Google: how to turn off "See Results Closer to You?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-how-to-turn-off-see-results-closer-to-you/999784)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-how-to-turn-off-see-results-closer-to-you/999784 "2025-11-01T10:10:00Z")
I get this popup nowadays whenever I Google something: I’ve prowled through Settings and can’t find any obvious way to turn that off. I don’t have Location Services activ… --- ## [Who is responsible for insurance and other costs in two-story duplexes? (Example photo in OP)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-insurance-and-other-costs-in-two-story-duplexes-example-photo-in-op/1024316)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [November 1, 2025, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-responsible-for-insurance-and-other-costs-in-two-story-duplexes-example-photo-in-op/1024316 "2025-11-01T07:57:01Z")
Saint Louis, MO, and I assume multiple other US cities as well, has a lot of houses like this. Is it custom for the owner to occupy one floor and for him or her to rent out the other? Or can each floor be separately o… --- ## [Pets and pets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pets-and-pets/1024454)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pets-and-pets/1024454 "2025-10-31T17:09:40Z")
Are pets “pets” because we pet them or do we “pet” pets because they are pets? This is my cute way of asking which came first, the verb or the noun and is the first word related to the second? --- ## [Mail sent to non-existent address](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-sent-to-non-existent-address/1024339)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-sent-to-non-existent-address/1024339 "2025-10-31T16:21:03Z")
We are waiting for a check and found out today that despite repeated confirmations of our address, rather than sending it to 123 E Fake St. It got sent to 12 Fake St which doesn’t exist. I have no hope of tracking the … --- ## [Name this Taunt Song...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-taunt-song/470160)
**Author:** [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-taunt-song/470160 "2025-10-31T15:26:13Z")
I’m working on a screenplay and I want one of the characters to beep a horn in a very recognizable fashion, but I don’t know the name of the tune. Think of when someone knocks on your door in an attempt to be cute. Give… --- ## [Do commercial super-sonic flights make sense today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-commercial-super-sonic-flights-make-sense-today/1024395)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-commercial-super-sonic-flights-make-sense-today/1024395 "2025-10-31T15:14:03Z")
I heard a podcast about the SST Concord the other day and it’s been on my mind. Apparently there were several things that led to it’s demise. One was the crash which ironically was not the fault of the SST. It was cause… --- ## [Is a Category 6 Hurricane Meteorologically Possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-category-6-hurricane-meteorologically-possible/1024326)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-category-6-hurricane-meteorologically-possible/1024326 "2025-10-31T11:25:19Z")
This question is derived from Hurricane Melissa, whose strength is shocking given the late time of year. I’m posting this in “Factual Questions” because there are numerous conditions that govern the strength of hurrican… --- ## [Friend got fired as job of substitute teacher for a "false Positive" drug test, any truth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978 "2025-10-31T07:01:19Z")
Curious to see if he’s lying to me, though I’ll keep it vague just in case. Friend worked as a substitute teacher at a California public school for 14 years but iirc he’s not part of a Union. He randomly got drug tested… --- ## [Laundry pods and microplastics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laundry-pods-and-microplastics/1024335)
**Author:** [@Cachalot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cachalot)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 31, 2025, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laundry-pods-and-microplastics/1024335 "2025-10-31T06:16:05Z")
More and more, laundry detergent is coming in “pods” – single doses enclosed in a plastic(?) skin. They are undoubtedly convenient. No need to measure, just drop one in the washer with your laundry and press start. But … --- ## [Is there any connection whatsoever between getting a flu shot and getting the flu?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-connection-whatsoever-between-getting-a-flu-shot-and-getting-the-flu/1024362)
**Author:** [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2025, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-connection-whatsoever-between-getting-a-flu-shot-and-getting-the-flu/1024362 "2025-10-30T13:29:45Z")
I am not a conventional vaccine skeptic In fact, I’d probably be classified by genuine vaccine-skeptics as a liberal doctrinaire pro-vaxxer who wants anti-vaxxers arrested, jailed, and castrated, in that order. My posit… --- ## [Is reduced sleep a common side-effect of being paralyzed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-reduced-sleep-a-common-side-effect-of-being-paralyzed/1024378)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-reduced-sleep-a-common-side-effect-of-being-paralyzed/1024378 "2025-10-29T22:04:04Z")
I just watched a YouTube video of a young woman who is paralyzed (her lower-body). She was saying that when she was paralyzed her doctors and other medical people didn’t tell her that she would not be able to get a full… --- ## [X/X Spring, Montana - what is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-x-spring-montana-what-is-it/1024240)
**Author:** [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/x-x-spring-montana-what-is-it/1024240 "2025-10-29T03:39:39Z")
X/X Spring, Carter County, Montana 57724 While in recuperation I was reading through and mapping out a trip diary. I noticed this location with a curious name a bit off the beaten path which I travelled a couple of year… --- ## [Yellow disk on navy helicopter landing gear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-disk-on-navy-helicopter-landing-gear/1024292)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yellow-disk-on-navy-helicopter-landing-gear/1024292 "2025-10-28T15:44:40Z")
Watching the movie Final Countdown. I noticed fairly large yellow disks mounted on starboard side landing gear of the aircraft carriers helicopters. The disks were on the rear of the gear. Dish shaped. Some radial cutout… --- ## [How do casinos keep certain people from entering?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-keep-certain-people-from-entering/1024320)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2025, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-casinos-keep-certain-people-from-entering/1024320 "2025-10-28T12:31:21Z")
My experience is with a Racino near Cleveland that only has slot machines so maybe it is more low key. At the entrance is a single greeter standing at a small lectern. They don’t have any screens to watch or posters up o… --- ## [How to find the candlepower of a searchlight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-candlepower-of-a-searchlight/1024255)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-candlepower-of-a-searchlight/1024255 "2025-10-27T20:51:24Z")
What I mean is, when they say one of the Luxor lights produces a billion candlepower, how did they determine that? Here’s the puzzle. Build a theoretical searchlight with a perfect parabolic reflector and a point light … --- ## [Flying thru the Luxor Sky Beam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-thru-the-luxor-sky-beam/1024310)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-thru-the-luxor-sky-beam/1024310 "2025-10-27T20:46:16Z")
It seems the Luxor Sky Beam in Las Vegas (36.09547N 115.17583W) now uses about twenty 7000-watt xenon bulbs – 350000 lumens apiece? Supposedly the beam from each bulb is a billion candlepower, which would mean each beam … --- ## [Is there anything to Raycon's (fancy audio gizmos) claim about "bone-conduction headphones"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-to-raycons-fancy-audio-gizmos-claim-about-bone-conduction-headphones/1024125)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-to-raycons-fancy-audio-gizmos-claim-about-bone-conduction-headphones/1024125 "2025-10-27T02:14:16Z")
This Youtuber is pimping his sponsor’s product, Raycon’s Bone Conduction Headphones. Supposedly the sound doesn’t go into your ears, but it (literally) rattles your skull, transmitting the sound through your bones. Thus,… --- ## [Introduction of dignitaries & Etiquette](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introduction-of-dignitaries-etiquette/1024233)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/introduction-of-dignitaries-etiquette/1024233 "2025-10-27T00:50:19Z")
Let’s say you have three people in an order of precedence. For an example: President, Vice-President, Secretary of State. At a formal event, it is your intention to have the SoS speak first, VP second, Prez third. I w… --- ## [Wind and high tides](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wind-and-high-tides/1024012)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wind-and-high-tides/1024012 "2025-10-27T00:41:10Z")
I live on the coast in NE U.S. and we just went through a Nor’easter. The tides were greatly impacted with very high (high and low) tides. This was very noticeable behind the barrier islands. At one point, low tide was h… --- ## [Educate me on these LEDs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-on-these-leds/1023595)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-on-these-leds/1023595 "2025-10-27T00:01:53Z")
I bought some LEDs for a school science lab, and they say they are for 1.5V throught 3V. I can’t get them to light with 2 AAA batteries. I’ve switched the input direction to account for the fact that they’re diodes, tryi… --- ## [Are private rooms the norm for hospitals now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-private-rooms-the-norm-for-hospitals-now/1023753)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-private-rooms-the-norm-for-hospitals-now/1023753 "2025-10-26T23:49:14Z")
I’ve been a visitor to quite a few hospitals over the past decade due to aging parents and in laws. In every case, they’ve had a private room. As a child of the 60’s, it seems that most rooms were semi private and that p… --- ## [How does Global Entry facial recognition work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-global-entry-facial-recognition-work/1024303)
**Author:** [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-global-entry-facial-recognition-work/1024303 "2025-10-26T23:06:05Z")
Just went through GE at LAX. In less than 1 second it has my original picture on the screen to compare to the current shot. Do they coordinate with the airlines so they have a limited data set or is the system really m… --- ## [How did the magician "move Diamondhead"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-magician-move-diamondhead/63230)
**Author:** [@richman2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richman2)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-magician-move-diamondhead/63230 "2025-10-26T21:38:37Z")
They had a special a couple of days ago with Harry Anderson “revealing” some magic tricks. While some were actually explained, a couple weren’t. One was where a group of people sitting in rows on a special stage on Waik… --- ## [Spanish speakers: what is your word for prayer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-speakers-what-is-your-word-for-prayer/1023724)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 26, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-speakers-what-is-your-word-for-prayer/1023724 "2025-10-26T21:37:03Z")
Google Translate gives me oracion— oration. A nice word but I don’t think it’s correct. How would you say, “the priest says a prayer during Mass”? Also, do you guys have a placeholder word for an object whose name you d… --- ## [How can I make myself into a Halloween decoration after death?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228)
**Author:** [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 25, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-make-myself-into-a-halloween-decoration-after-death/1024228 "2025-10-25T14:46:36Z")
After my death, I want to leave my body to my kids to use as a Halloween decoration, specifically a skeleton. A real skeleton is much more eco-friendly than those plastic ones. So this raises several questions. First, a… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=27)