# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=280 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 281 --- ## [Where is this rock pillar? What is it called?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-this-rock-pillar-what-is-it-called/942583)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-this-rock-pillar-what-is-it-called/942583 "2021-05-22T13:40:44Z")
Where is this rock pillar? What is it called? It’s in California, I believe. \[Album\] What is this? Where is it? Somewhere in California… --- ## [Kindle mystery page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-mystery-page/942685)
**Author:** [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2021, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-mystery-page/942685 "2021-05-22T12:05:10Z")
I just finished an e-book on my kindle and came across a page between the end of the story and the usual waffle about copyright etc. All that was on it was a list of well-known authors, in alphabetical order in small upp… --- ## [Credit card expiry date and CVV - what's the point?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-expiry-date-and-cvv-whats-the-point/941877)
**Author:** [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2021, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-expiry-date-and-cvv-whats-the-point/941877 "2021-05-22T08:22:11Z")
To use a credit card online you need to give the expiry date and CVV. I vaguely remember being told that the CVV in particular was to increase security and diminish C/C fraud. But in the end, they are just another seve… --- ## [Why is calling someone a dog an insult?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-someone-a-dog-an-insult/942529)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2021, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-calling-someone-a-dog-an-insult/942529 "2021-05-22T02:00:53Z")
I’m not sure that this has a factual answer but I’ll start it here. Dogs are fairly universally loved and valued by society big calling someone a dog is supposedly insulting. I believe that it is even more insulting in … --- ## [Several Questions About Mass (Physics)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-mass-physics/942532)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/several-questions-about-mass-physics/942532 "2021-05-21T22:13:33Z")
I actually have more than one question about mass in physics. So why not just put it in one thread? Einstein proved time and space are relative. Is mass relative too? Because I never hear people say that. Yet it is stil… --- ## [How to filter by time on Google News](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-filter-by-time-on-google-news/940797)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-filter-by-time-on-google-news/940797 "2021-05-21T21:50:04Z")
My Google News feed used to have filters at the top of the screen, including one that let you select only stories that were less than 1 day old, 1 week, 1 month, etc. Recently that’s disappeared. I tried the page on Fir… --- ## [Low cost funds that invest in the-world-minus-America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cost-funds-that-invest-in-the-world-minus-america/942526)
**Author:** [@longtry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longtry)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-cost-funds-that-invest-in-the-world-minus-america/942526 "2021-05-21T20:34:30Z")
I’m looking for funds that have a really low cost, like Vanguard, which invest in global stock markets but exclude the US. It’s better if that fund puts more weigh into emerging economies, like China etc… I can’t find t… --- ## [MS Outlook -- Well, I clicked somewhere wrong. Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-outlook-well-i-clicked-somewhere-wrong-again/942577)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-outlook-well-i-clicked-somewhere-wrong-again/942577 "2021-05-21T18:19:16Z")
I use MS Outlook at work. Somehow I accidentally clicked something, and now it’s different. I used to have something at the top of the page that said ‘Mark as read’ and ‘Mark as unread’. Those are gone. How do I get … --- ## [How Are Polygamous Relationships Handled With Regard To Immigration To The USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-polygamous-relationships-handled-with-regard-to-immigration-to-the-usa/942324)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-polygamous-relationships-handled-with-regard-to-immigration-to-the-usa/942324 "2021-05-21T17:03:55Z")
Imagine that Dr. Prominent Nigerian Professor (PNP) is offered a teaching post at Yale. Not unexpectedly, he would like to bring his family with him. However, not uncommonly for a Nigerian man, Dr. PNP has multiple wives… --- ## [Is the flow of time considered work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-flow-of-time-considered-work/942567)
**Author:** [@Someonewastaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Someonewastaken)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-flow-of-time-considered-work/942567 "2021-05-21T15:42:49Z")
Is the flow of time considered work? If not, would the expansion of space be considered work? Is there a difference? --- ## [Black vs. red thread marking sunset](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-vs-red-thread-marking-sunset/942509)
**Author:** [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-vs-red-thread-marking-sunset/942509 "2021-05-21T10:10:08Z")
I vaguely recall hearing once that, in Jewish tradition, a sunset ended at the point when you couldn’t distinguish a black thread from a red thread held up against the sky. Can anyone confirm my recollection, or supply a… --- ## [Lagrange Error Bound Confusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lagrange-error-bound-confusion/942588)
**Author:** [@Someonewastaken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Someonewastaken)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lagrange-error-bound-confusion/942588 "2021-05-21T08:01:26Z")
If you have e^x and you want to make sure that the error between the Taylor series (centered at 0) and the actual function is less than 0.000001 when x=2, to what degree must the Taylor polynomial be? I understand that … --- ## [Hillary Step collapsed - what effect did that have on summiting Everest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-step-collapsed-what-effect-did-that-have-on-summiting-everest/942596)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-step-collapsed-what-effect-did-that-have-on-summiting-everest/942596 "2021-05-21T07:40:54Z")
The Hillary Step was a near vertical rock face about 12 metres tall, near the summit of Everest. Climbing it was apparently one of the more technically difficult parts of the climb, plus zone of death. It collapsed in … --- ## [Google Chrome redirecting me to Spanish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-redirecting-me-to-spanish/942595)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-chrome-redirecting-me-to-spanish/942595 "2021-05-21T07:02:13Z")
Pulling up a website, Google Chrome decided I needed the page translated to Spanish. I turned it off but now the website gets redirected to their Spanish version. Think of me typing straightdope.com and it automaticall… --- ## [How would I calculate the probability of a random 6 digit number repeating?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-calculate-the-probability-of-a-random-6-digit-number-repeating/942124)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-calculate-the-probability-of-a-random-6-digit-number-repeating/942124 "2021-05-21T04:04:55Z")
I deal with a few apps whose purpose is to generate a random 6 digit number every 30 seconds. That got me wondering about the likelihood of ever seeing any one of those numbers again with at least 50% probability. Here… --- ## [Identify this utility wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-utility-wire/942382)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-utility-wire/942382 "2021-05-21T01:41:24Z")
I posted in the MMP thread that the power went out this morning. Short version: A wire fell down from the power pole. There is a pole in front of the house, and another one at a T-intersection three houses down. The w… --- ## [Eighteen, not eightteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eighteen-not-eightteen/610771)
**Author:** [@srmccaffrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srmccaffrey)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eighteen-not-eightteen/610771 "2021-05-20T21:25:58Z")
The suffix is “teen”, yes? So why is 18 spelled “eighteen” and not “eightteen”? Is there a grammar rule governing double T’s? --- ## [Why does water make me urinate, but diet soda doesn't?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-water-make-me-urinate-but-diet-soda-doesnt/942508)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2021, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-water-make-me-urinate-but-diet-soda-doesnt/942508 "2021-05-20T20:53:59Z")
Pretty simple question, but to flesh it out more: I sometimes swing into a cycle of drinking vast quantities of diet soda. However much you are thinking, it is more than that… But, for whatever reason, if I drink two … --- ## [Why wrap trees in gauze?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wrap-trees-in-gauze/941935)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wrap-trees-in-gauze/941935 "2021-05-20T17:34:15Z")
In my neighborhood there are a few houses with smallish (6 to 10 feet) trees wrapped in what appears to be gauze. Why? It’s mostly transparent, so it doesn’t seem like it could protect them from the sun. Is it for some p… --- ## [Wrist watch garrote](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2021, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wrist-watch-garrote/705445 "2021-05-20T07:05:49Z")
I was just watching the movie Blowout and the bad guy used one. I think they used one in a Bond flick among others. Was this ever really a thing or is it just a movie fabrication? --- ## [Compact fluorescent bulbs: what's T2, T3, T4, T5?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compact-fluorescent-bulbs-whats-t2-t3-t4-t5/491980)
**Author:** [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 7, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compact-fluorescent-bulbs-whats-t2-t3-t4-t5/491980 "2009-04-07T03:37:20Z")
I’m guessing the T stands for “type,” but which T is what? Some Googling hints that T4 might designate “dimmable” but I’m not finding anything conclusive. Or does it refer to size, or type of ballast, or generation, or w… --- ## [Spacex Starship landing on the moon: how's that suppose to work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-starship-landing-on-the-moon-hows-that-suppose-to-work/942467)
**Author:** [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spacex-starship-landing-on-the-moon-hows-that-suppose-to-work/942467 "2021-05-20T02:52:30Z")
So SpaceX has been selected to develop a version of Starship that will land astronauts on the Moon, and return them to the Orion capsule orbiting the Moon. Is the Starship HLS (Human Landing System) profile substantiall… --- ## [How do I force Win Media Player to notice music?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-force-win-media-player-to-notice-music/941601)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2021, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-force-win-media-player-to-notice-music/941601 "2021-05-19T20:24:34Z")
I used Audacity to cut down some songs, and exported them as mp3 files, but WMP won’t see them. I can’t find a way to force it to re-examine the Music folder. I put the new versions in the same folder as the old ones, bu… --- ## [How did my smartphone do this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-my-smartphone-do-this/942416)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2021, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-my-smartphone-do-this/942416 "2021-05-19T15:13:30Z")
I was using Facebook Messenger and sent my friend a few photos from my Android smartphone. After sending it to her, I then went into my smartphone gallery and did some cropping and editing of the photos (for my own sake… --- ## [Google Maps and bus routes in Cyprus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-maps-and-bus-routes-in-cyprus/942366)
**Author:** [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2021, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-maps-and-bus-routes-in-cyprus/942366 "2021-05-19T12:28:21Z")
We recently spent some time in Cyprus, specifically in Larnica. Try as we might, we were unable to get Google Maps to show any bus routes. Why would this be? Are they blocked from showing the routes for some reason? --- ## [Question about HTML/CSS Coding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-html-css-coding/942379)
**Author:** [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-html-css-coding/942379 "2021-05-19T04:11:29Z")
I have a website that uses a lot of tables. Most, but not all, need borders on the table and table cells for readability. I have been using the following code to do this: The border=1 element places both external and i… --- ## [How good is Prince Philip’s German here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-is-prince-philip-s-german-here/942230)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-good-is-prince-philip-s-german-here/942230 "2021-05-19T01:58:10Z")
Speaking here The comments suggest it was ok, but what’s the straight dope. --- ## [How do meningococcal vaccines work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-meningococcal-vaccines-work/942269)
**Author:** [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2021, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-meningococcal-vaccines-work/942269 "2021-05-18T22:38:52Z")
Vaccines against against meningococcus and pneumococcus were devoloped in the 1970s, and they didn’t work. They were replaced with conjugate vaccines which did work. The first vaccines worked a little bit in adults, bu… --- ## [Question on house capital gains](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-house-capital-gains/942389)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-house-capital-gains/942389 "2021-05-18T20:28:23Z")
An unmarried (or married filing single) couple co-own their home. When it comes time to sell, does each person get the $250,000 credit for tax-free capital gains? --- ## [Canada and the Metric System](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-and-the-metric-system/938264)
**Author:** [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Replies:** 126\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-and-the-metric-system/938264 "2021-05-18T18:07:51Z")
I believe Canada has used the metric system since 1970. However, when I watch the various “Holmes” programs I note when measurements are required they use “feet/inches” tape measurements. In construction are “feet/inch… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=279) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=281)