# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=305 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 306 --- ## [The president and NDAs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-and-ndas/930927)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-and-ndas/930927 "2021-01-21T23:45:17Z")
I was thinking about how (keeping politics out of it) entertaining tell all books about working in the White House would be from those currently or until recently working there. I was wondering about non-disclosure agre… --- ## [Right Triangles, and Trigonometry; Functions and Calculus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-triangles-and-trigonometry-functions-and-calculus/930948)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2021, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-triangles-and-trigonometry-functions-and-calculus/930948 "2021-01-21T22:26:10Z")
Something I have wondered since high school: why does trigonometry only use, or mainly concentrate on IAE, right triangles? There are a lot more triangles, than right, I should think. Actually, I think the vast majority … --- ## [Inauguration Day vs. The Time Zones](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-vs-the-time-zones/930904)
**Author:** [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2021, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inauguration-day-vs-the-time-zones/930904 "2021-01-21T17:39:14Z")
Both Trump and Biden are expected to be in the Eastern Time Zone at noon on Inauguration Day, so this question is (presumably) only academic. But I’ll ask anyway, because someday it might not be academic. The 20th Amend… --- ## [Jobs in Arabia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-in-arabia/300884)
**Author:** [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2021, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jobs-in-arabia/300884 "2021-01-21T17:07:13Z")
I understand there are a lot of jobs in Saudi Arabia with foreign (often American) corps. What companies operate there, and what do they hire for? Only engineers (sadly, I’m not)? Are there places for bright young people… --- ## [I need help with an Arts & Crafts project](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arts-crafts-project/931035)
**Author:** [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-help-with-an-arts-crafts-project/931035 "2021-01-21T13:54:55Z")
I want to remove the label off of an empty jug of pennzoil 5W30. This label is almost part of the jug. Is there a way to remove it? --- ## [Interrupting dryer mid-drying cycle is a fire hazard?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interrupting-dryer-mid-drying-cycle-is-a-fire-hazard/930790)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 21, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interrupting-dryer-mid-drying-cycle-is-a-fire-hazard/930790 "2021-01-21T03:11:11Z")
So I’ve read that if you interrupt a dryer when it is mid-flow (still in the heating cycle and drying the clothes, not yet cooled down), that it poses a fire hazard because it allows the temperature to suddenly spike wit… --- ## [Largest Possible Percentage of the Popular Vote for a Losing Presidential Candidate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-possible-percentage-of-the-popular-vote-for-a-losing-presidential-candidate/931017)
**Author:** [@richw697](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richw697)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-possible-percentage-of-the-popular-vote-for-a-losing-presidential-candidate/931017 "2021-01-20T23:37:32Z")
(Not sure if this topic should be in Politics or GQ - It’s a mathematical question about a set of political rules.) We all know that the electoral votes determine the the next President and it’s possible for the losing … --- ## [Echo Show 5: Educate me (please don't just post a link to the Amazon page selling it)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/echo-show-5-educate-me-please-dont-just-post-a-link-to-the-amazon-page-selling-it/930888)
**Author:** [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/echo-show-5-educate-me-please-dont-just-post-a-link-to-the-amazon-page-selling-it/930888 "2021-01-20T13:20:48Z")
I got this for Christmas, and am looking for a non-sales-oriented description of what I might use it for, what its limitations are, etc. I do not currently have Alexa (or any other, similar) devices in my home. Thanks. --- ## [Anybody subscribe to Discovery+?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-subscribe-to-discovery/930924)
**Author:** [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2021, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-subscribe-to-discovery/930924 "2021-01-20T02:14:30Z")
Can you tell me if all past seasons of The Next Iron Chef are streaming on it? --- ## [What is required for a presidential pardon to be legal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-required-for-a-presidential-pardon-to-be-legal/930828)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-required-for-a-presidential-pardon-to-be-legal/930828 "2021-01-20T01:40:51Z")
If at 11:59 on Wednesday, President Trump were to say “Oh yeah, I forgot. I hereby pardon the Tiger King, Joe Exotic”, would that be considered a legal pardon or is paperwork from the Department of Justice necessary? --- ## [Any statistics on sales of guns recently?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-statistics-on-sales-of-guns-recently/930880)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 20, 2021, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-statistics-on-sales-of-guns-recently/930880 "2021-01-20T00:01:47Z")
A couple months ago, there were reports of a large increase in gun sales. These were mostly from first-time buyers who were getting a gun license for the first time and taking courses for beginners on how to shoot. Th… --- ## [Uptowns and High streets instead of Downtowns and Main streets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uptowns-and-high-streets-instead-of-downtowns-and-main-streets/930278)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uptowns-and-high-streets-instead-of-downtowns-and-main-streets/930278 "2021-01-19T15:57:14Z")
In the United States, the term “downtown” generally refers to the central, most dense part of a city or town, where the tallest buildings are. And the principal street is generally literally called “Main Street.” There … --- ## [Do I need more ipad memory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-more-ipad-memory/930884)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-more-ipad-memory/930884 "2021-01-19T15:45:42Z")
Planning on buying an ipad 2020 for Mrs. CC. She doesn’t play video games on line (aside from Candy Crush). She doesn’t download movies to watch. She mainly uses her phone or big laptop for looking at various websites… --- ## [Biden's student loan forgiveness program](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-program/930885)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bidens-student-loan-forgiveness-program/930885 "2021-01-19T15:22:18Z")
A young relative of mine is in school and is paying part of her way herself. She has enough assets/income to pay the rest of what she owes, but is thinking of taking about $10K in student loans for the sole reason of hav… --- ## [The economics of petrol (gas) distribution and electric vehicles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economics-of-petrol-gas-distribution-and-electric-vehicles/930448)
**Author:** [@Baboonanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baboonanza)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 19, 2021, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economics-of-petrol-gas-distribution-and-electric-vehicles/930448 "2021-01-19T07:09:53Z")
Many nations and regions are planning to ban the sale of new ICE vehicles in the next 20 years (as soon as 2030 in the UK for instance). Whenever I read about this it comes with the proviso that ‘used vehicles will conti… --- ## [Why is it common in some cultures to go by a given name other than your first one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-common-in-some-cultures-to-go-by-a-given-name-other-than-your-first-one/930350)
**Author:** [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-common-in-some-cultures-to-go-by-a-given-name-other-than-your-first-one/930350 "2021-01-18T19:31:50Z")
In the Anglosphere, most people have more than one given name, typically two, and the second or middle name is usually not the one people use. Those who do typically do it for a specific reason (the main ones I can think… --- ## [Links on touchscreens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/links-on-touchscreens/930792)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2021, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/links-on-touchscreens/930792 "2021-01-18T15:12:33Z")
Is there any way to find out where a link goes before clicking it on a touchscreen device? Sometimes people unexpectedly link to YouTube videos and I don’t want my phone randomly blaring out sound. --- ## [Printing an Email](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-an-email/930532)
**Author:** [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printing-an-email/930532 "2021-01-18T14:35:12Z")
Is there a way to print just the text of an email so it doesn’t show the "From, To, Date, etc? --- ## [How secure are digital RF headphones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-are-digital-rf-headphones/930714)
**Author:** [@therealhoax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealhoax)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-are-digital-rf-headphones/930714 "2021-01-17T23:01:26Z")
Over the years I’ve owned a variety of digital and analog RF headsets. Back in the day it was not uncommon to accidently pick up other people’s cordless phones and wireless devices when using analog headphones. That do… --- ## [How do I adjust the screen size on my tv?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-adjust-the-screen-size-on-my-tv/930645)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-adjust-the-screen-size-on-my-tv/930645 "2021-01-17T19:23:59Z")
My tv display seems to be too big - it used to be that when I changed the channel with the remote, the channel number would show up in the bottom left corner. That doesn’t happen any more - when I enter the channel numb… --- ## [ELI5: Dial-up internet access](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eli5-dial-up-internet-access/930172)
**Author:** [@Muddibog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muddibog)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eli5-dial-up-internet-access/930172 "2021-01-17T15:29:04Z")
Obviously I am young. I know what dial-up is, but how does a voiceband modem work? Why would you hear all those noises when you were establishing a connection and when you lifted the phone from the receiver? Is it repre… --- ## [Little-used credit card, and my credit rating](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-used-credit-card-and-my-credit-rating/930626)
**Author:** [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-used-credit-card-and-my-credit-rating/930626 "2021-01-17T14:34:20Z")
Greetings dopers. I have an Amex card that I haven’t used in many years. Today I got a letter from them saying they will close the account, which is fine by me; however they also say that if they do, it could affect my c… --- ## [Is capitalizing the 'B' in "Black" a new thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-capitalizing-the-b-in-black-a-new-thing/854984)
**Author:** [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2021, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-capitalizing-the-b-in-black-a-new-thing/854984 "2021-01-17T06:39:37Z")
As in this article: I’ve seen it a few times recently and I don’t remember it being the case (heh) in the past but then I could be clueless. I saw a tweet with “Woman” capitalized as well. Is this maybe a result of c… --- ## [Commercial flights: how much time does a stop add?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-flights-how-much-time-does-a-stop-add/930334)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/commercial-flights-how-much-time-does-a-stop-add/930334 "2021-01-16T22:42:42Z")
Suppose I’m on a flight from NY to CA. Halfway through, a passenger starts acting up, and the captain decides to land and get him off the plane. As luck would have it, there’s an airport ahead directly under our origin… --- ## [Can magnets be magnified](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-magnets-be-magnified/930662)
**Author:** [@komolono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/komolono)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-magnets-be-magnified/930662 "2021-01-16T21:54:17Z")
If I machine a cone-like piece of ferrous material, would the narrow end have more magnetism than the other end where the magnet is placed? Any ways to “concentrate” magnetism? --- ## [I gave a phone scammer partial SS#--what to do? How much danger am I in?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gave-a-phone-scammer-partial-ss-what-to-do-how-much-danger-am-i-in/930585)
**Author:** [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-gave-a-phone-scammer-partial-ss-what-to-do-how-much-danger-am-i-in/930585 "2021-01-16T02:30:17Z")
title says it all, but details (for venting purposes, mainly): I got a call on my cel that read that “Verizon” was calling me, my cel provider, and a voice recording telling me that my phone service was about to be disc… --- ## [DVM Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvm-question/930486)
**Author:** [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2021, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvm-question/930486 "2021-01-15T23:22:29Z")
I am watching streaming of Animal Planet. If you are a DVM how qualified would one be to work on humans? I am thinking of Dr. McCoy in Star Trek…“He’s dead Jim”. Would animal Xray, lab equipment, etc. be sufficient to… --- ## [Google Maps - City Borders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-maps-city-borders/930487)
**Author:** [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-maps-city-borders/930487 "2021-01-15T14:51:12Z")
Google Maps has a feature for showing the borders of any city or zip code in the USA. Just search on the city name, or enter the zip code, and you’ll see a red line around the area. (I am somewhat annoyed about how it co… --- ## [How common was it for JFK to be referred to as "Jack Kennedy?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-it-for-jfk-to-be-referred-to-as-jack-kennedy/922460)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-it-for-jfk-to-be-referred-to-as-jack-kennedy/922460 "2021-01-15T02:30:39Z")
Pre-coverage of the vice presidential debate that’s about to occur in a few minutes, has included references to the notorious “You’re No Jack Kennedy” line during the 1988 debate between Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle. I h… --- ## [Whatever happened to Janet Baird (Adventuress, Cook, Author, Consumer Adviser)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-janet-baird-adventuress-cook-author-consumer-adviser/930552)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2021, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-janet-baird-adventuress-cook-author-consumer-adviser/930552 "2021-01-14T21:27:12Z")
Came across her name while trying to find info on the ‘Bonus Gifts Coupons’ that were seen on products in the late 1960s. She was the face of the program, although I haven’t been able to determine exactly who started it… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=304) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=306)