# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=28 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 29 --- ## [Stuff being delivered to my address erroneously](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-being-delivered-to-my-address-erroneously/1023969)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stuff-being-delivered-to-my-address-erroneously/1023969 "2025-10-15T19:54:26Z")
Here lately, I’ve been having a run of stuff being incorrectly delivered to my address. None is addressed to anyone who lives here, but it’s definitely our address. One is a woman’s medical stuff from Blue Cross/Blue … --- ## [How exactly does our body use up excess fat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-does-our-body-use-up-excess-fat/1023906)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-does-our-body-use-up-excess-fat/1023906 "2025-10-15T18:41:00Z")
So our reserve fat is sitting there all fat, dumb and happy and “Whaaaa, I’m disappearing!” What happens to trigger this? And how does that stored fat get into the digestive system? Asking for a umm “friend”. --- ## [Technical Difficulties w. Jon Steward Podcast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-difficulties-w-jon-steward-podcast/1023988)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 15, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-difficulties-w-jon-steward-podcast/1023988 "2025-10-15T13:57:26Z")
I subscribe to about a dozen podcasts, including The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. This one, and only this one, stalls out and freezes a couple minutes in. I’m accessing it on a MacBook Air (2020, Sequoia 15.6.1) with th… --- ## [Pre-emptive Rabies Vaccination (USA-specific)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-emptive-rabies-vaccination-usa-specific/1023873)
**Author:** [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-emptive-rabies-vaccination-usa-specific/1023873 "2025-10-14T17:59:27Z")
How does someone go about getting a pre-exposure rabies vaccination? Are they available to anyone who requests them? Or is proof of elevated risk required (Veterinary/Zoo employees or similar)? Do you simply ask your… --- ## [Is dark matter real, or another 'Planet Vulcan'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dark-matter-real-or-another-planet-vulcan/1023625)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dark-matter-real-or-another-planet-vulcan/1023625 "2025-10-12T02:29:19Z")
On the 19th century astronomers noted that the orbit of the planet Mercury didn’t quite match what was predicted by Newton’s laws. To explain this they concluded that there must be another planet, which they named ‘Vul… --- ## [Running a local copy of Wikipedia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-local-copy-of-wikipedia/1015611)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2025, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-a-local-copy-of-wikipedia/1015611 "2025-10-11T11:43:03Z")
Given the recent attacks on Wikipedia by Musk and his cronies, I have a strong feeling that the site will be forced offline within the next year or so. So I’d like to preserve its content, at least for my use – and it ma… --- ## [Does the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) still exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-fraternal-order-of-eagles-foe-still-exist/1023832)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-fraternal-order-of-eagles-foe-still-exist/1023832 "2025-10-10T02:02:05Z")
I know the north Portland branch was shuttered without notice and locks changed, in mid meeting, back in 2024 Eagles headquarters shuts North Portland Lodge - North Peninsula Review. I have heard nothing about a reestabl… --- ## [Is the Grand Canyon less polluted these days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-grand-canyon-less-polluted-these-days/1023748 "2025-10-09T20:23:09Z")
For many years, it was reported that the number of “clear” days at the Grand Canyon was dropping, and one of the reasons given was the pollution from Navajo Generating Station, which was the biggest coal-fired plant in t… --- ## [How difficult is it to back up a large trove of data?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-back-up-a-large-trove-of-data/1023820)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-difficult-is-it-to-back-up-a-large-trove-of-data/1023820 "2025-10-09T20:09:36Z")
Referencing this article: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/858tb-of-government-data-may-be-lost-for-good-after-south-korea-data-center-fire/ TL,DR: there was a fire at a data center in South Korea. Shit happ… --- ## [Nine Billion Names of God– combinatorics question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nine-billion-names-of-god-combinatorics-question/1023534)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nine-billion-names-of-god-combinatorics-question/1023534 "2025-10-09T02:43:32Z")
I don’t remember if the story specified that there would be exactly 9,000,000,000 names decimal. It seems more likely to me that it would be some number about nine billion reflecting some value arising from combinatorics… --- ## [What, if any, issues did Lincoln face from his own commanders at the start of the Civil War?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-any-issues-did-lincoln-face-from-his-own-commanders-at-the-start-of-the-civil-war/1023692)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-any-issues-did-lincoln-face-from-his-own-commanders-at-the-start-of-the-civil-war/1023692 "2025-10-09T02:18:23Z")
Inspired by several recent threads, including the ones about Pete Hegseth as well as blue state “soft secession”. I had honestly never considered this issue, but now it seems like something obvious, and I’m sure somethi… --- ## [Reemergence of Chinese business class after Mao?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reemergence-of-chinese-business-class-after-mao/1023725)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2025, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reemergence-of-chinese-business-class-after-mao/1023725 "2025-10-09T00:07:20Z")
A work of fiction I came across the other day was talking about the many unspoken norms of Chinese businessmen today. But that got me to thinking: Didn’t Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party do everything in their … --- ## [Package delivery service tracking](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/package-delivery-service-tracking/1023381)
**Author:** [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/package-delivery-service-tracking/1023381 "2025-10-08T17:35:23Z")
Lets say I ordered an item off of eBay. The seller decided to ship it through FedEx. The tracking number showed it was picked up, moved through 1 city and now, for the last 2 weeks, it hasn’t moved from the 2rd city list… --- ## [Why do sunburns take a while to hurt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sunburns-take-a-while-to-hurt/1023446)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-sunburns-take-a-while-to-hurt/1023446 "2025-10-08T14:45:13Z")
Anyone that’s had a sunburn knows that the pain gets worse hours after the sun exposure. Why does it take so long for the body to feel the pain? --- ## [Some questions related to particle physics and cosmology (Higgs field, dark energy, and more)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-questions-related-to-particle-physics-and-cosmology-higgs-field-dark-energy-and-more/1023696)
**Author:** [@Pasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pasta)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-questions-related-to-particle-physics-and-cosmology-higgs-field-dark-energy-and-more/1023696 "2025-10-06T03:10:18Z")
In another thread, @dougrb asks a few questions related to particle physics and cosmology. To not hijack that thread (which was originally about gravity), I am bringing @dougrb’s questions into a new thread. He notes t… --- ## [Amelia Earhart's plane found on the sea floor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amelia-earharts-plane-found-on-the-sea-floor/58693)
**Author:** [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Replies:** 218\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amelia-earharts-plane-found-on-the-sea-floor/58693 "2025-10-05T22:21:36Z")
My mom asked me to check into something she heard on TV, she said she caught the tail end of some cable “news” show that claimed that Amelia Earhart’s plane had been located on the sea floor with sonar. Supposedly this w… --- ## [Why are European apartment doors built like bank vaults?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-european-apartment-doors-built-like-bank-vaults/1023610)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-european-apartment-doors-built-like-bank-vaults/1023610 "2025-10-05T14:58:23Z")
Just moved to Europe from the US and have been thinking about something I’ve noticed on previous visits: The doors. Our apartment door could probably stop a police battering ram as well as high-powered rifle fire. The d… --- ## [What is a Witching Signal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-witching-signal/1018118)
**Author:** [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2025, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-witching-signal/1018118 "2025-10-05T12:33:31Z")
Yesterday, I was out for a walk when I noticed the words “Witching Signal” painted neatly on the pavement. Within the next block, I saw it twice more. Then I saw it in an alley .5 miles away. It’s painted like those “bur… --- ## [Is old bottled whisky still good?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-bottled-whisky-still-good/1011900)
**Author:** [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-bottled-whisky-still-good/1011900 "2025-10-04T22:29:03Z")
My mother-in-law passed away about 6 weeks ago, and my wife, brother-in-law, and I, have been working our way through the house, getting rid of all the crap that’s accumulated over the years. We found a few cartons of wh… --- ## [WWI Question: Could Hungary hsve refused to go to war in 1914?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwi-question-could-hungary-hsve-refused-to-go-to-war-in-1914/1023593)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwi-question-could-hungary-hsve-refused-to-go-to-war-in-1914/1023593 "2025-10-04T18:32:10Z")
Query about the dual monarchy, Austria-Hungary. Could Hungary have refused to go to war in 1914? Or was the decision to go to war a decision of the central government that bound Hungary ? Follow-up question: was there m… --- ## [Attempted Murder {of Justice Brett Kavanaugh}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-murder-of-justice-brett-kavanaugh/965920)
**Author:** [@SpacemanSpiff\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpacemanSpiff_II)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-murder-of-justice-brett-kavanaugh/965920 "2025-10-04T13:41:29Z")
Nicholas Roske charged with attempting to murder Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh - CBS News A California man who was allegedly armed with a gun, knife and various tools when he was arrested in the early morning n… --- ## [When, in human history, did the concept of paid, sustained (not contractual, not ad hoc) employment become a thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-human-history-did-the-concept-of-paid-sustained-not-contractual-not-ad-hoc-employment-become-a-thing/1023528)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-in-human-history-did-the-concept-of-paid-sustained-not-contractual-not-ad-hoc-employment-become-a-thing/1023528 "2025-10-03T19:18:56Z")
Paid employment is mentioned a in the Bible (for example, Ruth 2) in the context of day laborers. And of course, we know that the Pyramids were built not by slaves, but by paid laborers – but I asume their emplyment was … --- ## [Anthropic Copyright Settlement math questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropic-copyright-settlement-math-questions/1023634)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2025, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthropic-copyright-settlement-math-questions/1023634 "2025-10-03T12:05:46Z")
Nevermind; off in my initial number! Mods, please close. --- ## [Why is a spinning Black Hole distinct from one that doesn't? How does a Black Hole even spin? Why is it important?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-spinning-black-hole-distinct-from-one-that-doesnt-how-does-a-black-hole-even-spin-why-is-it-important/1023270)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2025, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-spinning-black-hole-distinct-from-one-that-doesnt-how-does-a-black-hole-even-spin-why-is-it-important/1023270 "2025-10-03T01:27:32Z")
Title says it all I think. Why is a spinning black hole different than one that doesn’t? How do we even know one from another? Why is it important to make that distinction? How does a singularity spin? If I was fallin… --- ## [Is there a word for when someone gets extremely smug about something they misunderstand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-when-someone-gets-extremely-smug-about-something-they-misunderstand/1021210)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-when-someone-gets-extremely-smug-about-something-they-misunderstand/1021210 "2025-10-02T19:42:28Z")
The germans have a word for everything. What I’m thinking of is a scenario where a person has a wildly simplistic understanding of something, then they get really smug about it based on how obvious the correct answer sh… --- ## [What's the purpose of the double flap on a dog's ear?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-double-flap-on-a-dogs-ear/68212)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2025, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-purpose-of-the-double-flap-on-a-dogs-ear/68212 "2025-10-02T17:18:03Z")
Although I’ve not done a scientific survey, most dogs have a little double flap, or double layer of skin, on one side of their ear, the side closer to the ground. What’s the purpose of that little flap? just a quirk of … --- ## [Can fired military officers be re-hired?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-fired-military-officers-be-re-hired/1023391 "2025-10-02T15:16:18Z")
The secretary of defense has called an unusual meeting of all the generals and admirals from all of the US armed forces. So far no reason has been given, but let’s consider a hypothetical that in some way or another the… --- ## [Lost Weight: Pants altering needed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-weight-pants-altering-needed/1023570)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-weight-pants-altering-needed/1023570 "2025-10-01T21:44:17Z")
Due to significant weight loss, my old pants don’t fit. For all my other pants I just toss them and get new (or thrift) pants but I have two pair of wool dress slacks that I really want to keep. The waist needs to have … --- ## ['Honky donkey', or 'Hunky dunky'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honky-donkey-or-hunky-dunky/975180)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2025, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honky-donkey-or-hunky-dunky/975180 "2025-10-01T19:42:23Z")
We’re watching Christmas In Connecticut (1945), and S.Z. Sakall’s character says, ‘Hunky Dunky.’ Or is it ‘Honky donkey’? On one hand, there’s a ‘Little Rascals’ short called Honky Donkey (1934). ‘Honky’ rhymes with ‘… --- ## [Did jet airliners fly faster in the past?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jet-airliners-fly-faster-in-the-past/813629)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-jet-airliners-fly-faster-in-the-past/813629 "2025-10-01T16:46:10Z")
As an aviation and vintage airliner enthusiast, I’ve watched numerous early promo films introducing new aircraft models and extolling their capabilities, some targeted at airline executives and others vying for the atten… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=29)