# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=298 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 299 --- ## [Can the Supreme Court of the US issue bench warrents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-supreme-court-of-the-us-issue-bench-warrents/933512)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-supreme-court-of-the-us-issue-bench-warrents/933512 "2021-02-23T16:18:01Z")
That is, could the court bypass the executive branch’s control of the federal law enforcement apparatus by empowering bailiffs to arrest federal officials and forcibly bring them before the court? --- ## [Are there conspiracy theories outside the U.S. similar in popularity to QAnon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-conspiracy-theories-outside-the-u-s-similar-in-popularity-to-qanon/932866)
**Author:** [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-conspiracy-theories-outside-the-u-s-similar-in-popularity-to-qanon/932866 "2021-02-23T15:35:24Z")
Do other countries have conspiracy theories which are as popular as QAnon? Could you describe these theories and tell us how popular they are? I don’t know of any, but there are several possibilities why I don’t. It m… --- ## [Aversion to cucumber and melon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aversion-to-cucumber-and-melon/601426)
**Author:** [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aversion-to-cucumber-and-melon/601426 "2021-02-23T13:19:33Z")
I have a food quirk that other people always find odd, which is that I’m completely unable to tolerate the taste of cucumber or any sort of melon. I’m told that cucumbers taste of nothing, and that melons are sweet. But… --- ## [I am looking to buy a new toilet. Anything I should know? (gotchas...that sort of thing)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-looking-to-buy-a-new-toilet-anything-i-should-know-gotchas-that-sort-of-thing/932544)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-looking-to-buy-a-new-toilet-anything-i-should-know-gotchas-that-sort-of-thing/932544 "2021-02-23T13:06:52Z")
We use them every day and never think about them much. But, alas, I am faced with replacing a toilet in my home. While recommendations are fine what I am really interested in is whether I can just buy any toilet (withi… --- ## [What are the necessary components of air to sustain human or mammalian life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-necessary-components-of-air-to-sustain-human-or-mammalian-life/933009)
**Author:** [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-necessary-components-of-air-to-sustain-human-or-mammalian-life/933009 "2021-02-23T12:38:41Z")
I know we need a certain partial pressure of oxygen in the air we breathe, and a tiny partial pressure of carbon dioxide. We’re most comfortable within a specific humidity range and near-0% humidity is bad for long-term… --- ## [Math problem on combinations of components](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-problem-on-combinations-of-components/933430)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-problem-on-combinations-of-components/933430 "2021-02-23T03:02:26Z")
Let’s say you have a system where elementary components can be combined from 0-1 times with each other. E.g.: If you only have component A, you have 1 possibility: A. If you have components A and B, you get: A, B, A+B … --- ## [Will all 357 magnum revolvers also fire 38 special rounds, or do you need a 357 that explicitly say this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-357-magnum-revolvers-also-fire-38-special-rounds-or-do-you-need-a-357-that-explicitly-say-this/933407)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-all-357-magnum-revolvers-also-fire-38-special-rounds-or-do-you-need-a-357-that-explicitly-say-this/933407 "2021-02-23T02:36:58Z")
I was looking at 357 magnums, but some mention that they can fire 38 special rounds and some other models do not. They don’t say ‘do not use with 38 special rounds’, it just doesn’t mention 38 special rounds as a form of… --- ## [Sticky Outside of Liqueur Bottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-outside-of-liqueur-bottle/932908)
**Author:** [@yearofglad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yearofglad)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sticky-outside-of-liqueur-bottle/932908 "2021-02-23T01:32:55Z")
We have a bottle of elderflower liqueur, similar to St. Germain’s, and the outside is incredibly sticky. It wasn’t sticky when I bought it, and I’ve actually washed the outside once and it’s still sticky. We haven’t spi… --- ## [Booting an IBM ThinkPad off of an external HDD](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booting-an-ibm-thinkpad-off-of-an-external-hdd/933514)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 23, 2021, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/booting-an-ibm-thinkpad-off-of-an-external-hdd/933514 "2021-02-23T00:11:57Z")
Can it be done? We cannot afford a new machine for my wife and her HDD is making…bad sounds. Can we get a nice SSD and put everything onto it? How would I go about telling her machine to default to an external? Can that… --- ## [Tim Cook at Apple calls out Facebook as encouraging violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-cook-at-apple-calls-out-facebook-as-encouraging-violence/931786)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tim-cook-at-apple-calls-out-facebook-as-encouraging-violence/931786 "2021-02-22T23:31:05Z")
Zuck responds by saying Apple is just abusing its market position. Story here: Can some of you smart techno people explain what’s going on? And what the new Apple App tracker feature will do? (Putting this in GQ b… --- ## [Short selling: Who lends you the stock?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-selling-who-lends-you-the-stock/931952)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-selling-who-lends-you-the-stock/931952 "2021-02-22T23:23:10Z")
Everybody is talking about short sales this week. Everybody knows, or at least they know now, that “A short sale is the sale of an asset or stock the seller does not own. It is generally a transaction in which an investo… --- ## [Can you explain this sun rising photo? What's it depicting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-sun-rising-photo-whats-it-depicting/933409)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-this-sun-rising-photo-whats-it-depicting/933409 "2021-02-22T22:26:59Z")
This is a composite photo of the sun set Dec 5 and Feb 18. I understand the sun is further to the right. The caption says it’s shifting Northward? Why is it doing that? Sun sets in the west? What’s changing? Does it re… --- ## [What fraction of Texas windturbines were frozen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fraction-of-texas-windturbines-were-frozen/933267)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fraction-of-texas-windturbines-were-frozen/933267 "2021-02-22T22:13:21Z")
Question in the subject line. I’ve heard that it was actually a fairly small percentage, but can’t find specific numbers by googling. \[Note: I know that the main cause of the power outage in Texas was fossil fuel power … --- ## [What do you call a jagged edge on a diagram to show that the object continues?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-jagged-edge-on-a-diagram-to-show-that-the-object-continues/933391)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-a-jagged-edge-on-a-diagram-to-show-that-the-object-continues/933391 "2021-02-22T19:07:31Z")
What is the term of art for using a jagged or zig-zag edge in a diagram to show that an object continues, but you are seeing the important part? Example of this done for a screen shot: … --- ## [Understanding Some Mac Air Specs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-some-mac-air-specs/933322)
**Author:** [@Ptolomy57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptolomy57)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/understanding-some-mac-air-specs/933322 "2021-02-22T17:49:18Z")
What is throughput? Can someone translate what does the following mean (with regards to an Apple Macbook Air with M1 processor): “The Mac Air will perform at up to 1.2 Gbits/sec throughput via Wi-Fi.” How does this rela… --- ## [Turning off Audio Description, Amazon Prime, Sony TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-audio-description-amazon-prime-sony-tv/933352)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-off-audio-description-amazon-prime-sony-tv/933352 "2021-02-22T14:54:32Z")
In December, 2019 we bought a Sony 4K UHD LED Smart Android TV. My wife has an Amazon Prime account, and occasionally we remember we can watch ‘free’ movies. A couple of the movies have Audio Descriptions for the sight… --- ## [What can in do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-in-do/933439)
**Author:** [@Harry780](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry780)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-in-do/933439 "2021-02-22T10:20:48Z")
In this forum 3 times, my account has been banned without any reason, I hope this time member didn’t do this again. Thanks --- ## [Questions about sleet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-sleet/933294)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-sleet/933294 "2021-02-22T06:58:20Z")
Had a lot of that lately. Two questions: How exactly does sleet so quickly turn into a solid sheet of slippery ice? What exact conditions make precipitation fall as sleet (vs rain/snow/hail)? --- ## [Where did matter and energy come from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-matter-and-energy-come-from/933187)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-matter-and-energy-come-from/933187 "2021-02-22T05:36:07Z")
I’m certain this question has been asked before and I’m just not smart enough to search for it, but: if matter and energy can neither be created or destroyed, where did it all come from in the first place? A friend of mi… --- ## [Why would someone apply for unemployment with my personal details?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-apply-for-unemployment-with-my-personal-details/932355)
**Author:** [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-apply-for-unemployment-with-my-personal-details/932355 "2021-02-22T02:02:23Z")
About 10 days ago, my wife and I received separate notices from the Colorado Dept of Labor and Employment that they had received our unemployment claims. The notices had our correct full names in addition to obviously ha… --- ## [Commercial jets: where are all the contained engine failures?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-jets-where-are-all-the-contained-engine-failures/933405)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-jets-where-are-all-the-contained-engine-failures/933405 "2021-02-22T01:30:14Z")
Yesterday in Denver was the most recent uncontained engine failure to make the news. There seem to have been quite a number of them in the past decade or so. OTOH, where are all the contained engine failures? A critic… --- ## [Why is "u" sometimes pronounced "yu" and sometimes "u"? Preceding-letter dependent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-u-sometimes-pronounced-yu-and-sometimes-u-preceding-letter-dependent/933255)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [February 22, 2021, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-u-sometimes-pronounced-yu-and-sometimes-u-preceding-letter-dependent/933255 "2021-02-22T00:25:14Z")
When pronounced as oo, that is. ISTM - just based on thinking of words off the top of my head - that the difference is dependent on the preceding letter. For example, debut, cute, refute, mute, and repute have the “y” s… --- ## [Has the "hang loose" gesture been co-opted by nefarious types?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-hang-loose-gesture-been-co-opted-by-nefarious-types/933367)
**Author:** [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-hang-loose-gesture-been-co-opted-by-nefarious-types/933367 "2021-02-21T23:09:49Z")
General question, but has the surfer’s “hang loose” gesture been co-opted by nefarious (alt-right, Proud Boys, etc.) organizations or attributed to negative purposes? I know the “okay” unfortunately got co-opted as a wh… --- ## [Identify my Seed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-my-seed/933365)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-my-seed/933365 "2021-02-21T17:17:38Z")
I was trying to order some Amelanchier Utahensis (Juneberry) seeds and found a seller on Amazon. I was surprised to see that they are coming from China, despite not being a popular tree outside of the US (so far as I can… --- ## [Car people: what the hell is this thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-people-what-the-hell-is-this-thing/933371)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-people-what-the-hell-is-this-thing/933371 "2021-02-21T16:21:39Z")
I don’t know what this thing is. It’s the wet/oily cylindrical thing that reminds me of a fuel filter. It connects to the air intake: I am… no… --- ## [How much energy is in neutrino radiation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-energy-is-in-neutrino-radiation/933286)
**Author:** [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-energy-is-in-neutrino-radiation/933286 "2021-02-21T03:42:38Z")
Okay, so I have here a nice chunk of unobtanium, don’t ask how I got it. It has the property that it absorbs all the neutrinos that hit it, not allowing any to pass. How much energy is it absorbing? Does it have a noti… --- ## [Cancer Protection and 'Canned' Fruits and Vegetables?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-protection-and-canned-fruits-and-vegetables/933091)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-protection-and-canned-fruits-and-vegetables/933091 "2021-02-20T18:51:25Z")
I put canned in parentheses because I am referring to V-8 juice too (i.e., in the bottle). Anyway, I have Type 2 Diabetes and I am a little overweight. And my diet isn’t always perfect. (I just couldn’t live without at … --- ## [Can we start ground fires with space lasers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-ground-fires-with-space-lasers/932132)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 98\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2021, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-start-ground-fires-with-space-lasers/932132 "2021-02-20T05:42:41Z")
Just in case you haven’t heard, there’s a conspiracy theory out there which claims that the 2018 Camp Fire in California was deliberately started by a space-based solar power collection system. For the record, I don’t b… --- ## [Could a Member of the House or Senate Not Serve on Any Committees?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-member-of-the-house-or-senate-not-serve-on-any-committees/932170)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2021, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-member-of-the-house-or-senate-not-serve-on-any-committees/932170 "2021-02-20T03:36:49Z")
Is there a precedent for a congress-person being stripped of their committee posts and just … not serving on any of them? --- ## [How to sync Google Calendar with iCal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sync-google-calendar-with-ical/933291)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 19, 2021, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-sync-google-calendar-with-ical/933291 "2021-02-19T19:25:25Z")
\*\* NOTE - Please do NOT hijack this thread to start wars between Apple OS and Android. I am looking for hard answers here. \*\* Using High Sierra on a new machine. Using newest release of Android on my Note 8. Carefull… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=297) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=299)