# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=295 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 296 --- ## [Gregorian and Julian calendars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregorian-and-julian-calendars/926966)
**Author:** [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Replies:** 113\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2021, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gregorian-and-julian-calendars/926966 "2021-03-12T12:42:14Z")
My understanding is that the only difference between the Gregorian and Julian calendars is that the Julian calendar has a leap year every 4 years, while the Gregorian has a leap year every 4 years except years that are d… --- ## [Senate majority question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-majority-question/934079)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-majority-question/934079 "2021-03-11T15:40:53Z")
This is a question I feel dumb for not knowing. But I realize I don’t know the answer for sure. Is there any practical difference between when the senate is split 50-50 from when it is 51-49 or greater? The VP will cast… --- ## [Financial aid office for school sent me a series of checks - are previous ones cancelled?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/financial-aid-office-for-school-sent-me-a-series-of-checks-are-previous-ones-cancelled/937705)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/financial-aid-office-for-school-sent-me-a-series-of-checks-are-previous-ones-cancelled/937705 "2021-03-11T14:31:23Z")
I receive financial aid checks from my school from the leftover money from grants … whatever money is left after tuition is paid, to help with housing, transport, books, etc. Now - in previous semesters, if I didn’t sig… --- ## [What to do if a rear end accident is imminent. Don’t need answer fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-if-a-rear-end-accident-is-imminent-don-t-need-answer-fast/933702)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2021, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-if-a-rear-end-accident-is-imminent-don-t-need-answer-fast/933702 "2021-03-11T14:23:06Z")
Suppose that you are in a stationary vehicle and see that another vehicle is approaching fast from behind. Due to traffic, time, or whatever, you can’t move your vehicle out of the way. What would be the best body postur… --- ## [Green card questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-card-questions/844111)
**Author:** [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-card-questions/844111 "2019-12-09T19:16:24Z")
I’m writing a novel – or, more precisely, I like to think I’m writing a novel. This is the rough timeline of what some of my characters go through. I’ve done enough research on these questions to get answers, but I’m not… --- ## [Plumbing question, leaking toilet (sort of)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-question-leaking-toilet-sort-of/937549)
**Author:** [@dauerbach1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach1)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2021, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumbing-question-leaking-toilet-sort-of/937549 "2021-03-11T05:47:03Z")
I removed our toilet to paint behind it. There is a VERY slow leak from the end of the short pipe that leads from the valve itself to the toilet. I have tightened everything and the minimal leak is still there. I can … --- ## [North American telephone area codes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-telephone-area-codes/926588)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2021, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-american-telephone-area-codes/926588 "2021-03-11T05:11:31Z")
North American phone numbers are in the format xxx-yyy-zzzz. In theory - there could be 10 billion combinations - enough for all the phone numbers in the world. But they say we are running out of area codes. You can’t ha… --- ## [Phone calls from "None"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-calls-from-none/937471)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-calls-from-none/937471 "2021-03-11T01:51:35Z")
Since March 1st, we have been getting multiple calls each day from a party called “None”. These are coming from all over the country (supposedly), so it’s impossible to block them all, especially since Comcast only allow… --- ## [Help with Gmail Notifier Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-gmail-notifier-pro/937603)
**Author:** [@Chickenwrangler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickenwrangler)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2021, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-gmail-notifier-pro/937603 "2021-03-11T01:12:16Z")
I have been using Gmail Notifier Pro to check my E-Mails for some years without any problems. I have accounts with Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and Gmail and recently my two Yahoo Mail accounts have been giving a “failed” notice… --- ## [When did we start killing each other for gold?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-start-killing-each-other-for-gold/937369)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-we-start-killing-each-other-for-gold/937369 "2021-03-10T20:55:42Z")
Not property, or sexual partners, but the element Au, the metal gold? Does anyone know at what point in human history gold itself became worth dying or killing for? --- ## [Tools to cut a yardstick?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-to-cut-a-yardstick/848841)
**Author:** [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tools-to-cut-a-yardstick/848841 "2021-03-10T16:49:15Z")
If you poke around you can find a lot of craft projects made from cut up yardsticks. But to a one, every set of instructions I’ve run across says “cut yardsticks” without bothering to tell you what to cut them with. My … --- ## [Schools or courses on learning to sail (nautically)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-or-courses-on-learning-to-sail-nautically/933648)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2021, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/schools-or-courses-on-learning-to-sail-nautically/933648 "2021-03-10T13:35:31Z")
Perusing this thread, this morning, I wondered if there were still actual courses an aeronautically-minded landlubber like myself could enroll in to learn the basics of sailing on the water. Back in high school, I was i… --- ## [What if you have an Amazon locker pickup but no way to show the barcode with the email?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-have-an-amazon-locker-pickup-but-no-way-to-show-the-barcode-with-the-email/933517)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2021, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-you-have-an-amazon-locker-pickup-but-no-way-to-show-the-barcode-with-the-email/933517 "2021-03-10T01:46:37Z")
I had an Amazon locker pickup at Whole Foods and my phone is broken, so I brought my tablet PC with the email “pre-loaded” and displayed. I was going to ask the person what if I didn’t have the barcode, but forgot. Can… --- ## [Doors that can't be locked unless you slam them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doors-that-cant-be-locked-unless-you-slam-them/937497)
**Author:** [@blabbermeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blabbermeister)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doors-that-cant-be-locked-unless-you-slam-them/937497 "2021-03-09T23:46:24Z")
I’ve known several doors like this in my life, including my current apartment door and the house I grew up in. You close the door but you can’t turn the key unless you open the door and close it again louder. The door … --- ## [Questions about using the college 529 plan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-using-the-college-529-plan/937265)
**Author:** [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-using-the-college-529-plan/937265 "2021-03-09T22:24:29Z")
We’ve set aside money for the grandkids in some 529 plans. Once the kids are actually in college, how does the money get disbursed? The rules say it has to be used for educational expenses. So if the kid needs to buy … --- ## [Why did Navies select white as their uniform colour?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-navies-select-white-as-their-uniform-colour/937173)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-navies-select-white-as-their-uniform-colour/937173 "2021-03-09T20:46:20Z")
I mean, they didn’t till the late 19th century, and still today work uniforms tend to not be white as do shipboard ones. But why did White=Navy begin. Cannot think of a worse colour to wear onboard a ship or at a base. --- ## [Heritability of Bipolar I vs II](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heritability-of-bipolar-i-vs-ii/937500)
**Author:** [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heritability-of-bipolar-i-vs-ii/937500 "2021-03-09T19:35:51Z")
I don’t know if anyone knows, or at least is better at me than Googling. Bipolar disorder has subtypes I, II, and cyclothymia. They seem to be related in cause but have different symptoms. We know that these disorders a… --- ## [What to do with old National Geographic maps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-national-geographic-maps/937209 "2021-03-09T17:08:35Z")
Over the years (since the 1950’s) our family accumulated about 100 maps that came a few times a year along with the monthly National Geographic magazine. Besides areas of the world, there are maps of the Moon and the ste… --- ## [Why are passports no good within six months of expiration?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-passports-no-good-within-six-months-of-expiration/930434)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-passports-no-good-within-six-months-of-expiration/930434 "2021-03-09T16:36:03Z")
Subject kinda says it all. I have seen and experienced issues where your passport is no good for travel within six months of its expiration date. Why? I mean, if that has to be the case for some reason then why not ju… --- ## [Is too much yogurt bad for yogurt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-too-much-yogurt-bad-for-yogurt/937477)
**Author:** [@Stego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stego)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-too-much-yogurt-bad-for-yogurt/937477 "2021-03-09T06:32:23Z")
Dear ignorance fighters, This is my first post here after spending at least a couple of years reading the Master’s columns and your posts with vivid interest. Alas, all the reading was not enough to free me of all ignor… --- ## [Is there a term for mixing amphetamines and cocaine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-mixing-amphetamines-and-cocaine/937364)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2021, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-term-for-mixing-amphetamines-and-cocaine/937364 "2021-03-09T00:32:16Z")
I know coke and heroin is a speedball. Is there a term for amphetamine and coke? Google didn’t help. --- ## [SD card in Android 9 phone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-card-in-android-9-phone/937399)
**Author:** [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2021, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sd-card-in-android-9-phone/937399 "2021-03-08T21:57:11Z")
I really need to be able to move some of my apps from internal memory to SD card on my Android 9 LG Stylo 5 phone. AppMgr (which works fine on DH’s Android 10 Samsung Galaxy A20) says the SD card needs to be formatted as… --- ## [This Chemical Doesn't Exist (yet)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-chemical-doesnt-exist-yet/937403)
**Author:** [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2021, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-chemical-doesnt-exist-yet/937403 "2021-03-08T08:11:25Z")
I’ve been playing around with various “This X Does not Exist” sites, including this one, for chemicals. Each time you visit and/or refresh that link, it will generate some new tinkertoy-type 3D model of some molecule tha… --- ## [HSAs and Retirement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hsas-and-retirement/933845)
**Author:** [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2021, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hsas-and-retirement/933845 "2021-03-08T05:41:46Z")
Well retirement is still a ways away but I daydream about it a lot and try to figure out when I’ll be (at least financially) ready to call it. I read the other day that you’re still able to use an HSA for medical expens… --- ## [Is "swimmer's body" the healthiest possible body?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-swimmers-body-the-healthiest-possible-body/933706)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2021, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-swimmers-body-the-healthiest-possible-body/933706 "2021-03-08T03:25:43Z")
Looking at Olympic swimmers: ISTM that that might be the most ideal possible human body, health and physiology-wise, in terms of muscle proportion and everything being as it is. Sprinters, football players, bodybuilders… --- ## ["Cost-saving bottom flap envelope" -- why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-saving-bottom-flap-envelope-why/937338)
**Author:** [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2021, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-saving-bottom-flap-envelope-why/937338 "2021-03-07T21:24:26Z")
I got a bill in the mail today with a weird envelope. The flap (opening) of the envelope is on the bottom; i.e., if you look at the front of the envelope right-side up and then flip it to the back, the flap is not on th… --- ## [The Altair 8800 is supposed to bethe first pc but did anyone ever make anything useable or useful for it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-altair-8800-is-supposed-to-bethe-first-pc-but-did-anyone-ever-make-anything-useable-or-useful-for-it/937325)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2021, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-altair-8800-is-supposed-to-bethe-first-pc-but-did-anyone-ever-make-anything-useable-or-useful-for-it/937325 "2021-03-07T19:36:35Z")
i was reading about the the original homebrew computer club from the 70sin an article and it mentioned the altair iit also said microsoft made the first version of basic and a lunar lander game for it…but did anything a… --- ## [Identifying a bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identifying-a-bird/934278)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2021, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identifying-a-bird/934278 "2021-03-07T03:28:32Z")
Small thrush-like in Northern Colorado. Gray feathers but red iridescence on its head and chest so that it looks gray from the side and you see the color more the straighter-on you see it. What bird could it be? --- ## [Bedbugs - Best Way to Get Rid of Them](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedbugs-best-way-to-get-rid-of-them/917599)
**Author:** [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2021, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bedbugs-best-way-to-get-rid-of-them/917599 "2021-03-06T23:07:53Z")
What is the best way? We don’t have a lot, but they are a problem. --- ## [100 percent polyester = "tumble dry low" vs "do not tumble dry"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-percent-polyester-tumble-dry-low-vs-do-not-tumble-dry/937361)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 6, 2021, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-percent-polyester-tumble-dry-low-vs-do-not-tumble-dry/937361 "2021-03-06T21:49:23Z")
There is 100 percent polyester clothing that has care tags “Tumble dry low.” Then there is 100 percent polyester clothing that says “Do not tumble dry.” Are there different…versions of polyester? And if one uses a dry… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=294) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=296)