# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=32 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 33 --- ## [US Interstates - maintenance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-interstates-maintenance/1022390)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2025, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-interstates-maintenance/1022390 "2025-09-03T15:31:53Z")
Many Interstates and other divided highways have wide, well-kept grassy medians and margins. However - I don’t ever recall seeing a mower doing their job. How is the grass so well kept in most places? How often is it mow… --- ## [End users buying goods from out of the country, how are tariffs paid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-users-buying-goods-from-out-of-the-country-how-are-tariffs-paid/1022069)
**Author:** [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Replies:** 103\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-users-buying-goods-from-out-of-the-country-how-are-tariffs-paid/1022069 "2025-09-03T14:08:03Z")
FQ? Politics? Somewhere else, I’m not sure, but it’s technically factual question, so I’ll start it here. We can skip the hypotheticals and jump right into the actual situation. There’s a product I’m looking to buy. It… --- ## [Factual Question about the Epstein Files](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-question-about-the-epstein-files/1021320)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/factual-question-about-the-epstein-files/1021320 "2025-09-03T00:01:17Z")
What is in the “Epstein files”? Who created the files, and who owns them (ie, has control over whether or not they’re released?) And how are they different from the grand jury testimony – whose release was recently sou… --- ## [Why do credit card companies charge annual fees for certain cards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-credit-card-companies-charge-annual-fees-for-certain-cards/1022640)
**Author:** [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2025, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-credit-card-companies-charge-annual-fees-for-certain-cards/1022640 "2025-09-02T20:52:46Z")
OK, to make money…i get that. But is that it? Is it to make it appear more “exclusive”? It seems that alot of people looking for a new card may skip the one with an annual fee and go with a no fee card that perhaps o… --- ## [Inflation index relative to silver and gold?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inflation-index-relative-to-silver-and-gold/1022605)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inflation-index-relative-to-silver-and-gold/1022605 "2025-09-02T20:44:25Z")
In the A time travelers dilemma: where to store vintage documents for hundreds of years thread, the question was raised of having to pay e.g. a law firm for document storage and thus eating into potential profits. I was … --- ## [How often do police officers commit murder?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-police-officers-commit-murder/1022609)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-police-officers-commit-murder/1022609 "2025-09-02T19:00:07Z")
Specifically excluding the use of excessive force in confrontations with the public while on duty. That is, how often do police officers jealously murder their significant others, or get into lethal bar fights while off-… --- ## [Developing an AI feature for free?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-an-ai-feature-for-free/1022660)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2025, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-an-ai-feature-for-free/1022660 "2025-09-02T09:40:21Z")
We’re producing a new version of an app that provides geospatial data and I want to explore adding a search feature that can turn a natural language query into structured data which contains the type of data (basically a… --- ## [Putting a golf ball on a rotating green](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putting-a-golf-ball-on-a-rotating-green/1022495)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2025, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/putting-a-golf-ball-on-a-rotating-green/1022495 "2025-09-02T03:11:29Z")
This came up in a movie I watched recently: a golfer was tyring to make a simple putt (3 or so meters) on a perfectly flat, level green. Because reasons, the green was rotating clockwise at a certain number of RPMs (use … --- ## [Quote source? "You cannot rationally argue out..."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-source-you-cannot-rationally-argue-out/532815)
**Author:** [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-source-you-cannot-rationally-argue-out/532815 "2025-09-01T18:02:44Z")
“You cannot rationally argue out what wasn’t rationally argued in”. I am trying to identify where this quotation comes from. Google doesn’t know, and the quotation websites I have searched also don’t seem to help. Once … --- ## [Can't access my Facebook account](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-access-my-facebook-account/1021331)
**Author:** [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-access-my-facebook-account/1021331 "2025-09-01T15:11:44Z")
A couple of days ago, my browser updated and that logged me off Facebook - and now I can’t log back in. At first, it just didn’t recognize my device - which is the only device that I’ve ever used Facebook on. I tried t… --- ## [Odds of picking at least one winning horse out of x races](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odds-of-picking-at-least-one-winning-horse-out-of-x-races/1022592)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odds-of-picking-at-least-one-winning-horse-out-of-x-races/1022592 "2025-09-01T01:35:47Z")
Imagine I’m going to the track. There are going to be ten races today. I’m going to bet on one horse, at random, to Win, for each race. Because the number of horses in each race will vary, I’m thinking my intuitive appr… --- ## [Sending emails as text messages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-emails-as-text-messages/430563)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-emails-as-text-messages/430563 "2025-08-31T21:10:29Z")
Can’t figure this out and perhaps a few Dopers can deliver the goods. I’m on Verizon. If I wish to send a text message by using my email, I can do so. I can sit at my computer and write a message to, say, 917-555-1212 @… --- ## [What heat-humidity combination will eventually kill you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heat-humidity-combination-will-eventually-kill-you/1022617)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2025, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-heat-humidity-combination-will-eventually-kill-you/1022617 "2025-08-31T18:03:40Z")
It seems just being out in X temperature, Y percent humidity is enough to kill you, sooner or later. Your body can’t cool itself, even if you’re just sitting around, and eventually your body temperature gets too high. W… --- ## [Why would the stadium lights be on in the daytime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-the-stadium-lights-be-on-in-the-daytime/1022614)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-the-stadium-lights-be-on-in-the-daytime/1022614 "2025-08-31T17:56:25Z")
I just finished watching today’s Texas Longhorns @ Ohio State Buckeyes football game. I noticed that the stadium lights were on even though the game was being played in full sunlight. That must have some expense associ… --- ## [I messed up my monitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-messed-up-my-monitor/1021915)
**Author:** [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-messed-up-my-monitor/1021915 "2025-08-31T17:42:58Z")
I’m using Windows 11 on an HP laptop with an NVidia graphics card. Nothing fancy, the one that came preinstalled. I have a large (3440x) LG external monitor. I tried to run Civ 3 today and let Windows run the compatibili… --- ## [A pen is attached to the wheel. Assume the pen is a sphere](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pen-is-attached-to-the-wheel-assume-the-pen-is-a-sphere/1022457)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-pen-is-attached-to-the-wheel-assume-the-pen-is-a-sphere/1022457 "2025-08-30T19:49:18Z")
OK. I don’t know how I’m going to explain this. Observing a bicycle with a reflector on the wheel drive by the other night, I was looking at the reflector go round and round. And I wondered: If that reflector had a pen … --- ## [How to recycle Amazon Al/Cardboard hybrid bags](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-recycle-amazon-al-cardboard-hybrid-bags/1022582)
**Author:** [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-recycle-amazon-al-cardboard-hybrid-bags/1022582 "2025-08-30T16:22:02Z")
I’ve started buying some stuff from Morrisons via Amazon, and anything that needs to be cold is stored in these cardboard bags with an aluminium lining. It says on the bag,fold flat for easy recycling, but where? I don’t… --- ## [How to calculate (handicapped) ramp effort to push?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-calculate-handicapped-ramp-effort-to-push/1022456)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-calculate-handicapped-ramp-effort-to-push/1022456 "2025-08-30T00:11:54Z")
I had the opportunity a while back to wheel someone in and out of a home via a ramp. The ramp (one solid piece of aluminum) was much steeper (~15º) than the ADA guidelines (~5º). What I’m curious about is there a way o… --- ## [Bridge to Sicily - what are the (span) limits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-to-sicily-what-are-the-span-limits/1021782)
**Author:** [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-to-sicily-what-are-the-span-limits/1021782 "2025-08-29T23:20:19Z")
I understand the often debated bridge between the boot and Sicily will be built (u$ 15bn, ETA 2033) … which brought me to the thought of what are the length maximums for bridges (7 miles bridge makes me think there is n… --- ## [Is anybody else having problems getting to cracked.com articles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-having-problems-getting-to-cracked-com-articles/1022261)
**Author:** [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anybody-else-having-problems-getting-to-cracked-com-articles/1022261 "2025-08-29T22:05:56Z")
Is anybody else having problems getting to cracked.com articles? I’ve had problems with this for a week or two. What’s going on? --- ## [What Do Mohels Do With the Foreskins?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-mohels-do-with-the-foreskins/262992 "2025-08-29T01:17:06Z")
I’m assuming that a full-blown Jewish circumcision (as opposed to a run-of-the-mill Christian circumcision done in a hospital) complete with a Mohel and all that is done at the baby’s home. If so, what does the Mohel do … --- ## [Explain how the US - Intel takeover works](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-how-the-us-intel-takeover-works/1022419)
**Author:** [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 28, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-how-the-us-intel-takeover-works/1022419 "2025-08-28T14:27:36Z")
Trump got Intel to give the US 10% ownership of Intel. In practice, how does that work? This article says: The president proposed that Intel give the U.S. government a 10 percent stake in exchange for the CHIPS Act mon… --- ## [Explain electroweak unification me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-electroweak-unification-me/1022492)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2025, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-electroweak-unification-me/1022492 "2025-08-27T23:41:22Z")
Correct me if I’m wrong with any of my prior knowledge. In electromagnetism, the force is carried by the photon and the the weak force is carried by the W+, W- and Z bosons. I get that. AIUI, At suitable energies the e… --- ## [Level 1 EV chargers and extension cords?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-1-ev-chargers-and-extension-cords/1021917)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/level-1-ev-chargers-and-extension-cords/1021917 "2025-08-27T22:07:37Z")
Continuing the discussion from Proper gauge for a 25 foot power cord: We recently got an EV, and would like to connect it to a standard outdoor 110V outlet for level 1 overnight charging. It seems like many EV manufactu… --- ## [Importing Firefox bookmarks from an external drive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importing-firefox-bookmarks-from-an-external-drive/1022500)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importing-firefox-bookmarks-from-an-external-drive/1022500 "2025-08-27T11:50:32Z")
I would like to import my Firefox bookmarks from my old hard drive. I have the drive in an external enclosure and it shows up as drive E. I found the bookmark backups in my old profile but they are JZOLN4 files and impor… --- ## [Mercator projection: why aren't parallels equidistant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercator-projection-why-arent-parallels-equidistant/90960)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 27, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mercator-projection-why-arent-parallels-equidistant/90960 "2025-08-27T02:45:15Z")
I was just looking at the Mercator-projection World Map on my wall here at work, and something occurred to me: Why does the distance between the parallels get larger as you approach the poles? The map I have is marked ou… --- ## [Haboob/Aircraft Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haboob-aircraft-question/1022513)
**Author:** [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2025, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haboob-aircraft-question/1022513 "2025-08-26T23:55:07Z")
As evidenced by the recent activity in and around Phoenix, it’s Haboob season. Unless I am mistaken, I thought I saw a video of an aircraft taking off during during such an event. I also saw numerous aircraft sitting on … --- ## [Numbered streets outside of North America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbered-streets-outside-of-north-america/1020356)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2025, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/numbered-streets-outside-of-north-america/1020356 "2025-08-26T21:00:20Z")
Are numbered streets (i.e. 5th Ave., 2nd St., etc.) strictly a Canada/USA thing? I don’t recall seeing them in Europe, Asia, or Australia. It could be to do with the general lack of a grid street layout in most older cit… --- ## [Is Chicago "out of control" and is it a sanctuary city](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-chicago-out-of-control-and-is-it-a-sanctuary-city/1022334 "2025-08-26T17:54:45Z")
I have a friend on the east coast who is a Paul McCartney fanatic. I noticed he has playing near her and so I forwarded her a link. She wrote back: “Yes, I saw the news about the Get Back Tour. Macca will be in Chicago … --- ## [Was earth forming a sudden thing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-earth-forming-a-sudden-thing/1021938)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [August 25, 2025, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-earth-forming-a-sudden-thing/1021938 "2025-08-25T23:29:54Z")
Or how do we determine when earth was “earth”? I realize that earth was formed through a process of swirling gas clouds being pulled together by gravity, it’s a fluid process. But is there a point towards the end where i… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=33)