# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=300 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 301 --- ## [Unfamiliar locations listed as Recently used devices](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841)
**Author:** [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfamiliar-locations-listed-as-recently-used-devices/932841 "2021-02-14T21:27:49Z")
I am not tech savvy at all. I’m looking at my sdmb profile preferences for my account and I noticed that under the header Recently used Devices were a couple of unfamiliar locations listed that apparently accessed my ph… --- ## [Messages for web app on computer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messages-for-web-app-on-computer/932868)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/messages-for-web-app-on-computer/932868 "2021-02-14T14:34:05Z")
I went to that page yesterday and scanned the bar code and it is working on my phone. But I can’t see messages on my computer. I go to the page below and get the bar code again. I see no way to log in. When you have un… --- ## [Why wasn't Dubya named George H.W. Bush Jr.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-dubya-named-george-h-w-bush-jr/931923)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [February 14, 2021, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-dubya-named-george-h-w-bush-jr/931923 "2021-02-14T07:22:33Z")
If George and Barbara were going to name their first son George, why not make him George Jr.? Omitting the “Herbert” deprived him of that honor. Had they ever said why they made that choice? --- ## [Help with Roku?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-roku/932786)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2021, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-roku/932786 "2021-02-13T23:26:40Z")
So we moved over to ATT TV from U verse and the process changed out our router and apparently the name of our router. One tv has a physical Roku 3 box and the dog had chewed up the remote long ago so I’ve been using the … --- ## [Record player hum](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/record-player-hum/754084)
**Author:** [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2021, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/record-player-hum/754084 "2021-02-13T23:02:32Z")
I got a new record player (TEAC TN-300. (Kids: records are like giant CDs except they break easier and sound worse.)) Anyway, there is a noticeable constant hum with this thing. I don’t think it’s a ground loop problem,… --- ## [There is now a third person who has lived to 118](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-now-a-third-person-who-has-lived-to-118/930688)
**Author:** [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-is-now-a-third-person-who-has-lived-to-118/930688 "2021-02-13T21:11:03Z")
We’ve previously had discussions on the SDMB about the people who are known (using modern verified data) to have lived the longest. For this purpose, I going to rely on the Wikipedia entry with a list of the oldest know… --- ## [Software engineers: what does reverse engineered code look like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-engineers-what-does-reverse-engineered-code-look-like/932772)
**Author:** [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-engineers-what-does-reverse-engineered-code-look-like/932772 "2021-02-13T13:46:30Z")
One of my early assignments in my first job was to disassemble a small binary image program into something halfway readable to the programming staff. The company had a disassembly program that turned the binary into mach… --- ## [Why are relatives speaking at a bond hearing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-relatives-speaking-at-a-bond-hearing/932719)
**Author:** [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2021, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-relatives-speaking-at-a-bond-hearing/932719 "2021-02-13T02:50:40Z")
I was watching the Rittenhouse bond hearing and was surprised to see a couple of the victim’s relatives speaking after the prosecutor. Is it normal for victims to appear in bond hearings? --- ## [How does surrogate pregnancy make a fetus different than with biological mother?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-surrogate-pregnancy-make-a-fetus-different-than-with-biological-mother/932651)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2021, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-surrogate-pregnancy-make-a-fetus-different-than-with-biological-mother/932651 "2021-02-13T00:35:52Z")
Suppose you have a couple - Mr. and Mrs. Smith - and then due to various issues, they need a woman to do the surrogate pregnancy on their behalf instead (we’ll call the surrogate Ms. Doe.) The zygote that gets implanted… --- ## [Current status of «proof of stake»](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-proof-of-stake/932802)
**Author:** [@Danger\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danger_Man)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2021, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-status-of-proof-of-stake/932802 "2021-02-13T00:22:28Z")
Wikipedia lists some criticisms, but does not say what the current status of the technology is. Is it something that will replace «proof of work» and stop cryptocurrencies from wasting so much power? --- ## [Leaving job notice time outside the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-job-notice-time-outside-the-us/932716)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-job-notice-time-outside-the-us/932716 "2021-02-12T16:08:51Z")
In the US you typically give 2 weeks notice you are quitting. Some places will escort you out that day and give you 2 weeks pay but that is not common. Someone told me in India it’s 3 months which is pretty strange. … --- ## [Appre-see-ate or appre-she-ate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appre-see-ate-or-appre-she-ate/321520)
**Author:** [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2021, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/appre-see-ate-or-appre-she-ate/321520 "2021-02-12T10:40:12Z")
I have heard the word appreciate pronounced by British speakers in both the ways suggested in the thread title: appre-see-ate and appre-she-ate. Are these two pronunciations generally mixed or are there certain localit… --- ## [What personal security risks is the a sitting US President allowed to take?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543 "2021-02-12T02:52:32Z")
In an old episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld’s guest was then-President Obama. Seinfeld arrived at the White House in a vintage Corvette, ostensibly intending to take Obama out somewhere for cof… --- ## [What does 13% false positives on a medical test mean (not Covid-19 related)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-13-false-positives-on-a-medical-test-mean-not-covid-19-related/853517)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-13-false-positives-on-a-medical-test-mean-not-covid-19-related/853517 "2021-02-11T17:16:45Z")
Let’s say the prevalence of a disease among those likely to take the test for that disease is 1%. So if you test a million people, you will find 10,000 people actually have the disease. However, what does it mean if the… --- ## [HAL\_INITIALIZATION\_FAILED (Also, Activating Win10 on a New Motherboard)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hal-initialization-failed-also-activating-win10-on-a-new-motherboard/932486)
**Author:** [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hal-initialization-failed-also-activating-win10-on-a-new-motherboard/932486 "2021-02-10T22:11:16Z")
Right off the bat I acknowledge that the problem I’m describing may not be solvable short of new hardware. But nothing ventured, &c&c&c. Anyway … The system in question is somewhat elderly (an AMD FX processor on an ASU… --- ## [How can bacteria grow in water without food](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-bacteria-grow-in-water-without-food/932419)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-bacteria-grow-in-water-without-food/932419 "2021-02-10T21:22:41Z")
I’ve been reading that with a humidifier you have to watch for growth of bacteria and algae in the tank and add additives to stop the growth. But how exactly do bacteria and algae grow in a water tank with no food? Algae… --- ## [Amazon.com Question \[On Low Stock Warnings\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-question-on-low-stock-warnings/932213)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-com-question-on-low-stock-warnings/932213 "2021-02-10T19:06:26Z")
When searching for something on Amazon I sometimes see a message in red on the right-hand box that says something like “Only 2 left in stock - order soon”. While it’s possible Amazon knows how much of a particular item … --- ## [Why does Firefox take so long sometimes to re-load pages that have already been loaded?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-firefox-take-so-long-sometimes-to-re-load-pages-that-have-already-been-loaded/932472)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-firefox-take-so-long-sometimes-to-re-load-pages-that-have-already-been-loaded/932472 "2021-02-10T17:57:41Z")
This can’t be just me, right? Every now and then I’ll have a few tabs open on Firefox, and I’ll try switching between them, and Firefox will take its own sweet time in reloading one that I’ve already loaded. It seems t… --- ## [I Have A Wordpress.com Site - Do I Need A Wordpress.org Site?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-wordpress-com-site-do-i-need-a-wordpress-org-site/932561)
**Author:** [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-wordpress-com-site-do-i-need-a-wordpress-org-site/932561 "2021-02-10T16:26:12Z")
I would like to develop a wordpress site for my business. My business is blogging, photography, recipes, and selling a few items, so the focus is not on ecommerce, but more on the blogging. All the self-help guides I’m u… --- ## [What did ancient people think of "the ancients?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-ancient-people-think-of-the-ancients/930910)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-ancient-people-think-of-the-ancients/930910 "2021-02-10T15:43:48Z")
To us, the Romans from 2,000 years ago are “the ancients.” Even people from the Middle Ages are ancient, too. But to people living in the year 100 B.C., what sort of opinion did they have about people from 2000 BC? Did … --- ## [Identify this failed electronic component for me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-failed-electronic-component-for-me/932601)
**Author:** [@TokenRing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokenRing)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-this-failed-electronic-component-for-me/932601 "2021-02-10T15:42:08Z")
I have a failed network switch (Netgear4 port POE FWIW) that I fancy attempting to repair. I’ve gone to the trouble of disassembling the miscreant device and have located a component on the board with signs of catastroph… --- ## [Roth conversion question: it was never a "traditional" IRA, was always taxable](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-conversion-question-it-was-never-a-traditional-ira-was-always-taxable/932555)
**Author:** [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2021, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roth-conversion-question-it-was-never-a-traditional-ira-was-always-taxable/932555 "2021-02-10T15:18:48Z")
Mrs. ToKnow opened a retirement account in 1998 with $8,000 post-tax money. She’s been paying taxes on the dividends (when there were any). Last April, we decided to take advantage of the downturn to convert it to a Roth… --- ## [Vegetarians and B vitamins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-and-b-vitamins/138251)
**Author:** [@kitarak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitarak)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vegetarians-and-b-vitamins/138251 "2002-11-25T15:29:01Z")
I’m a vegetarian, and to be on the safe side I take vitamin supplements - in particular B vitamins. Recently I was talking to a friend who is also veggie (and infinitely more fanatical about it than I am) was telling me… --- ## [What is the SHORTEST a person's hair will grow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-shortest-a-persons-hair-will-grow/932440)
**Author:** [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2021, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-shortest-a-persons-hair-will-grow/932440 "2021-02-09T20:14:36Z")
Different people’s hair has a different terminal length, that is, the length at which it stops growing and will eventually fall out. In other words, not everyone can grow their hair down to the same length. Some people c… --- ## [New Hampshire Taxation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-hampshire-taxation/932480)
**Author:** [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-hampshire-taxation/932480 "2021-02-09T17:31:33Z")
In my job as a financial advisor, I had a recent conversation with a new client who resides in New Hampshire. He mentioned being a retired U.S. Department of Agriculture employee who had lived in various places throughou… --- ## [Credit score when applying for loan 50 pts higher than monitoring service's score?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-score-when-applying-for-loan-50-pts-higher-than-monitoring-services-score/932524)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2021, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-score-when-applying-for-loan-50-pts-higher-than-monitoring-services-score/932524 "2021-02-09T16:38:24Z")
I’m shopping for home equity loans, and making a few applications. As a result, lenders are running my credit score. I also, through my bank account, have access to my FICO score, which is updated regularly. Here’s the … --- ## [Best way to dispose of old textbooks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-textbooks/930681)
**Author:** [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-dispose-of-old-textbooks/930681 "2021-02-09T15:51:54Z")
My wife and I have a lot of college textbooks, mostly science/engineering, circa '93-'06. (And a few much older inherited from others). With everything going digital, I doubt there’s much demand for them, but I feel t… --- ## [Excel Q on averaging of interpolated data](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-q-on-averaging-of-interpolated-data/932467)
**Author:** [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 9, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-q-on-averaging-of-interpolated-data/932467 "2021-02-09T02:21:18Z")
If I have 4 readings: Timestamp Value 2/6/21 6:00 20 2/7/21 6:00 44 2/7/21 7:00 46 2/7/21 8:00 45 The average of the values is 39. But that’s not correct - the average should account for the missing rea… --- ## [How long does it take for a parachute to fall 3,000 meters? Banzai parachuting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-for-a-parachute-to-fall-3-000-meters-banzai-parachuting/451227)
**Author:** [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-for-a-parachute-to-fall-3-000-meters-banzai-parachuting/451227 "2021-02-08T21:01:52Z")
For those unaware of banzai parachuting, it involves: getting a plane to 3,000 meters, throwing your parachute out, then waiting, then jumping after the parachute, and trying to get it on and deployed in time. The curre… --- ## [When writing SAT essays what is the most favored format?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-writing-sat-essays-what-is-the-most-favored-format/741862 "2021-02-08T13:17:27Z")
Hi When writing SAT essays, do examiners prefer to see pros and cons on an issue expressed in the same paragraph or in separate paragraphs? I look forward to your feedback. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=299) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=301)