# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=316 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 317 --- ## [Italian Pronunciation - "letteraturizzazione"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-pronunciation-letteraturizzazione/926080)
**Author:** [@Little\_Room](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Room)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2020, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-pronunciation-letteraturizzazione/926080 "2020-11-28T01:01:19Z")
In George Kennedy’s Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular Tradition, he uses the Italian term “letteraturizzazione” as a guiding concept. How would this be pronounced? Apparently, it’s not a common enough word… --- ## [Use of \> greater than and \< less than in a non-mathematical sentence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-greater-than-and-less-than-in-a-non-mathematical-sentence/926372)
**Author:** [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-greater-than-and-less-than-in-a-non-mathematical-sentence/926372 "2020-11-28T00:59:07Z")
The things that make you go hmmm… on the internet! :smiley: This has got me seriously wondering about the use of the \> and \< in a non-mathematical sentence or indicator of quantity. Thinking about, it is the use of the … --- ## [How Accurate are MS Word's Readability stats?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-are-ms-words-readability-stats/232648)
**Author:** [@presidebt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/presidebt)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-are-ms-words-readability-stats/232648 "2004-03-05T15:09:42Z")
I have MS Office 2003 and I have Word’s readibility stats eneabled for whenever I spell check. First, I’d like to know if Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level is a) accurate and b) does it go higher than 12.0? (that’s the highest … --- ## [Anyone in New Jersey see their 2020 Ballot status change from Received to Counted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-in-new-jersey-see-their-2020-ballot-status-change-from-received-to-counted/924020)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-in-new-jersey-see-their-2020-ballot-status-change-from-received-to-counted/924020 "2020-11-27T19:46:47Z")
I’m not sure if NJ DOS: New Jersey Division of Elections will be updating the Ballot Status field or not. I know they started counting the ballots on Saturday. I’m hoping that when checked they’ll update the Mail-In Bal… --- ## [Windows backup from a previous computer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-backup-from-a-previous-computer/926501)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-backup-from-a-previous-computer/926501 "2020-11-27T16:27:45Z")
Hi! My sister has a new laptop. Her previous laptop was backing up her files regularly, and I can find the files on her external drive. So far, so good. The problem is that the backup directories have multiple copies… --- ## [Does the amount of nutrition, scale with the size of the fruit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-amount-of-nutrition-scale-with-the-size-of-the-fruit/926427)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-amount-of-nutrition-scale-with-the-size-of-the-fruit/926427 "2020-11-27T14:40:33Z")
I see lots of big fruit in the stores but typically they don’t taste as good. But that could be my bias. Here’s the question which I believe has a straight answer. : “Consider 2 apples from the same tree. One has an ave… --- ## [Has there ever been a Buddhist war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-buddhist-war/542740)
**Author:** [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-a-buddhist-war/542740 "2020-11-26T17:43:24Z")
Something I’ve noticed since I’ve been doing the Buddhist thing is that Buddhist people (at least in the US) are very fond of saying that there has never been a Buddhist war. To what extent is that true? I understand t… --- ## [Math vs Reality in the kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-vs-reality-in-the-kitchen/926326)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-vs-reality-in-the-kitchen/926326 "2020-11-26T17:22:58Z")
I like cooking my turkey slow and low but cooking times are based on cooking a whole turkey. If I were to stick a thermometer in the breast and once the temperature starts going up I use two times and temperature (to ge… --- ## [Are there negative triangles? Using the negative root in the Pythagorean theorem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-negative-triangles-using-the-negative-root-in-the-pythagorean-theorem/926305)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2020, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-negative-triangles-using-the-negative-root-in-the-pythagorean-theorem/926305 "2020-11-26T14:28:09Z")
Basic math teaches us that with a right triangle with legs of 3 meters and 4 meters and an unknown hypotenuse that we can plug it into the Pythagorean theorem. 3 squared plus 4 squared = C squared. C squared is 25 and th… --- ## [Astronomy: What is it that defines the cardinal directions on extraterrestrial objects?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-what-is-it-that-defines-the-cardinal-directions-on-extraterrestrial-objects/926400)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-what-is-it-that-defines-the-cardinal-directions-on-extraterrestrial-objects/926400 "2020-11-26T13:28:00Z")
The subject line pretty much says it. Defining the poles is easy; they are given by the axis of the object’s rotation. But one of these poles must be designated the “northern” one, the other the “southern” one. On Earth,… --- ## [Good free image manipulation software?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/726502)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/726502 "2015-08-03T19:29:52Z")
I’m no kind of artist and Photoshop is way more than I need. I’m looking for some simple and hopefully simple to learn freeware so I can experiment with different filters and mess around with color values in photographs… --- ## [Drug screen accuracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-screen-accuracy/926430)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2020, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drug-screen-accuracy/926430 "2020-11-26T12:03:20Z")
Hello Everyone, As some of you know, I’m a chronic pain patient. As such I’ve been taking opiods for 15 years now. Currently I’m taking extended release morphine and percocet for breakthrough pain. In the last few mo… --- ## [Obsure printing term in Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989)
**Author:** [@Hakushon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakushon)\ **Replies:** 81\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2020, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obsure-printing-term-in-rocky-and-bullwinkle-cartoon/924989 "2020-11-26T05:50:07Z")
In the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon “The Guns of Abalone,” there is a scene in which a British man is holding up a newspaper and another man is British reading the headline. The narrator says “…and there in black packer … --- ## [Late term abortion question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-term-abortion-question/926288)
**Author:** [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/late-term-abortion-question/926288 "2020-11-25T23:52:44Z")
Most countries allow abortion even after viability if the mother’s life is at risk. But I would assume in most of those cases the doctors would try to deliver the baby and save both, rather than perform an abortion. So w… --- ## [Trail cam question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349)
**Author:** [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349 "2020-11-25T19:24:44Z")
I’d like to set up a trailcam on my land to keep track of any animals coming thru (or people). Thing is I only get up there about twice a year. The area is secure so I’m not worried about theft. Would a camera with a 1… --- ## [Can I clone an HDD to an SSD that's smaller?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-clone-an-hdd-to-an-ssd-thats-smaller/926184)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2020, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-clone-an-hdd-to-an-ssd-thats-smaller/926184 "2020-11-25T08:16:53Z")
I want to replace the hard disk on my Windows 10 machine (it’s an old-school tower desktop, not a laptop) with an SSD to cut down on booting times. The way I understand the process is that I connect the new drive to the … --- ## [Question on aviation jargon 'injure' flight restrictions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-aviation-jargon-injure-flight-restrictions/926378)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2020, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-aviation-jargon-injure-flight-restrictions/926378 "2020-11-25T06:20:06Z")
I had never come across the term “injure” flight restrictions before. I couldn’t find the usage on Google either. Is the use of "injure’ (as in violate) restrictions a common term in the aviation industry? 1.52/53 minu… --- ## [No sound on three pc's with two different sets of new known good speakers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-sound-on-three-pcs-with-two-different-sets-of-new-known-good-speakers/926307)
**Author:** [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-sound-on-three-pcs-with-two-different-sets-of-new-known-good-speakers/926307 "2020-11-25T01:12:54Z")
My primary PC, an older Intel box running Windows 7, had good sound for many, many years and then one day the sound stopped working completely across all applications . IIRC I had attempted to update a sound card drive… --- ## [What happens if a President-elect dies before inauguration?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-a-president-elect-dies-before-inauguration/926309)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-a-president-elect-dies-before-inauguration/926309 "2020-11-24T23:39:14Z")
I’m sure this has been answered at some point but can’t find it. Title pretty much says it all. --- ## [How Many Election Lawsuits Have Been Filed By Trump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-election-lawsuits-have-been-filed-by-trump/926217)
**Author:** [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-election-lawsuits-have-been-filed-by-trump/926217 "2020-11-24T20:00:07Z")
And how many have failed/been dismissed? Sorry, Google is giving me mixed results. --- ## [Explain this crossword answer to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-crossword-answer-to-me/330189)
**Author:** [@tiltypig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiltypig)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-this-crossword-answer-to-me/330189 "2020-11-24T19:43:22Z")
I have a book of crossword puzzles, and I just finished a crossword that I completely don’t understand. Usually I can figure out where they’re going with the “theme clues,” but after filling in this puzzle, I still don’t… --- ## [Cyclists: Why do trainers flatten the tire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-why-do-trainers-flatten-the-tire/926269)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cyclists-why-do-trainers-flatten-the-tire/926269 "2020-11-24T17:58:27Z")
I had my bike in the shop for maintenance and the tech looked at my rear tire and said, “You’ve been riding this on a trainer?” I have a trainer that uses fluid resistance. A bracket holds the axle and a spring holds the… --- ## [Internet/Wi-Fi connection problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-wi-fi-connection-problem/926359)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-wi-fi-connection-problem/926359 "2020-11-24T17:15:24Z")
We have an Xfinity wireless router, and we have two networks. (Why? I don’t know.) They are HOME-####-2.4 and HOME-####-5. Yesterday I suddenly wasn’t connected to the Internet. I tried unplugging and re-plugging th… --- ## [Were there actually any fake defections during the cold war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-actually-any-fake-defections-during-the-cold-war/926329)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-actually-any-fake-defections-during-the-cold-war/926329 "2020-11-24T14:29:51Z")
Any discussion of cold war defections, in either direction, there is always a discussion of the suspicion that the defector could be completely fake. A plant by the opposing intelligence agency that is following orders a… --- ## [Veteran's day freebies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-freebies/925374)
**Author:** [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-freebies/925374 "2020-11-24T11:27:18Z")
with all the freebies given away by restaurants, hair salons, etc, how do these places afford it? Do they get tax break? There’s no charity involved. --- ## [Do most people retain spoken or read information better?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-people-retain-spoken-or-read-information-better/926000)
**Author:** [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-most-people-retain-spoken-or-read-information-better/926000 "2020-11-24T00:03:02Z")
Google is being unhelpful over this question, because every time I ask it if comprehension is better for read or heard information, I get back a bunch of links about helping people with reading comprehension problems. I… --- ## [Music CDs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-cds/595)
**Author:** [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 1999, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-cds/595 "1999-06-03T18:48:00Z")
While pondering the scratches on a favorite CD that are vexing track #1, I noticed that track #6 is the longest on the CD, but carefully looking on the laser-read side of the disk, I see that track #7 is longest. Do… --- ## [What was Ingrid Pitt's mother tongue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-ingrid-pitts-mother-tongue/926247)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2020, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-ingrid-pitts-mother-tongue/926247 "2020-11-23T19:34:04Z")
According to Wikipedia, the famous horror actress was born in Warsaw in 1937 to “a father of German Jewish descent and a Polish Jewish mother”. But given what a cultural melting pot Warsaw was at the time, this isn’t en… --- ## [States changing their borders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/states-changing-their-borders/925977)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/states-changing-their-borders/925977 "2020-11-23T18:50:27Z")
I see parts of Oregon are talking about leaving Oregon and attaching themselves to Utah. What does it actually take from both states to do this? Is Congress, etc involved at all or is this just a state decision? I know t… --- ## [Tech Support Q: Cannot access and manage Google Fi dashboard due to inaccessible email address](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-support-q-cannot-access-and-manage-google-fi-dashboard-due-to-inaccessible-email-address/925259)
**Author:** [@AgentFoxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AgentFoxtrot)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tech-support-q-cannot-access-and-manage-google-fi-dashboard-due-to-inaccessible-email-address/925259 "2020-11-23T17:34:50Z")
Hi all, It’s been a good while since I’ve been to the SDMB and man, things sure have changed! It’s good to see some familiar faces here still. I have had a nasty bit of trouble with Google lately, and all attempts to r… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=315) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=317)