# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=325 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 326 --- ## [How can metformin inhibit gluconeogenesis without causing hypoglycemia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-metformin-inhibit-gluconeogenesis-without-causing-hypoglycemia/922691)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-metformin-inhibit-gluconeogenesis-without-causing-hypoglycemia/922691 "2020-10-13T21:28:37Z")
If you’re in a fasted state and your body can’t perform gluconeogenesis properly, wouldn’t this lead to low blood sugar? --- ## [Another question about a t-shirt slogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-a-t-shirt-slogan/922771)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-question-about-a-t-shirt-slogan/922771 "2020-10-13T00:04:25Z")
I’m getting pop-up ads for t-shirts. And sometimes their slogans are pop culture references I have no understanding of. There’s the red t-shirt with the slogan “This Shirt Is Blue - If You Run Fast Enough”. I understand… --- ## [Compressor for irrigation line blowout (to prevent freeze damage)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compressor-for-irrigation-line-blowout-to-prevent-freeze-damage/922352)
**Author:** [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compressor-for-irrigation-line-blowout-to-prevent-freeze-damage/922352 "2020-10-13T20:19:48Z")
In the fall here the standard procedure is to hook up an air compressor to your irrigation lines to blow the water out of the lines, to prevent freeze damage. I have a very simple drip irrigation system with one zone, … --- ## [Guantanamo Bay: Was it ever as dangerous as portrayed in A Few Good Men?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-bay-was-it-ever-as-dangerous-as-portrayed-in-a-few-good-men/746906)
**Author:** [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guantanamo-bay-was-it-ever-as-dangerous-as-portrayed-in-a-few-good-men/746906 "2020-10-13T19:54:50Z")
Seems lately there’s been a ton of questions inspired by this movie. Here’s another one. In A Few Good Men, Col. Jessup is constantly making allusions to the supposed fact that serving duty at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is i… --- ## [Italian & Brazillian accents and an extra vowel sounds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-brazillian-accents-and-an-extra-vowel-sounds/922815)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-brazillian-accents-and-an-extra-vowel-sounds/922815 "2020-10-13T17:18:40Z")
Watching this season of Fargo, which partially focuses on Italian immigrants, I noticed that when the Italians speak English they tend to add “-a” to the end of words. I also find that I find this unremarkable as it is t… --- ## [White House Press Coordinator (?) US Carbon Emissions Reduced by 30% (?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-press-coordinator-us-carbon-emissions-reduced-by-30/922671)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-house-press-coordinator-us-carbon-emissions-reduced-by-30/922671 "2020-10-13T13:28:52Z")
I heard this on NPR and I didn’t catch the guy’s name. Not the White House Press Secretary, but some White House Press liaison of some sort, so that’s my first question, who was that guy? His named was something like G… --- ## [Variant on Thin Blue Line Flag](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/variant-on-thin-blue-line-flag/922672)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/variant-on-thin-blue-line-flag/922672 "2020-10-13T05:30:43Z")
I learned about the US Flag where red is replaced with blue, to indicate solidarity with the police. I saw one today which was like that, except one of the blue stripes was green, instead. What does this signify? --- ## [How do I find comments I've made on Pinterest?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-comments-ive-made-on-pinterest/922849)
**Author:** [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-comments-ive-made-on-pinterest/922849 "2020-10-13T04:00:58Z")
I very rarely make comments on that site, but I have made a few. I’d like to go back and see if there are any responses or better answers than what I provided in my comments. I’m having zero luck discovering how. Anyone … --- ## [Weird webcam problem: Losing sound connection in the middle of a call](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-webcam-problem-losing-sound-connection-in-the-middle-of-a-call/922792)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2020, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-webcam-problem-losing-sound-connection-in-the-middle-of-a-call/922792 "2020-10-12T12:45:52Z")
I have a weird problem with my webcam (Logitech C170, running on a Windows 10 machine). The webcam has an integrated camera, and I use that camera to connect to video conferences (the webcam is connected to the computer … --- ## [False-flag recruitment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-flag-recruitment/922205)
**Author:** [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2020, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/false-flag-recruitment/922205 "2020-10-12T06:18:54Z")
Over in the secret-agent TV show thread, I remembered the premise one of those shows was built around: a character (a) who‘s perfectly willing to get recruited by a given spy agency, with cover identities and front compa… --- ## [Lead Paint Concerns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-paint-concerns/922713)
**Author:** [@koenigSIGG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koenigSIGG)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lead-paint-concerns/922713 "2020-10-12T00:15:00Z")
Hello I have been getting conflicting messages online about lead road paint in uk. Some sites say it is still used to date, while others say in 2019 it was banned by EU, after they had previously allowed Dominion Colour… --- ## [Why did telegram services last as long as they did?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-telegram-services-last-as-long-as-they-did/921986)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-telegram-services-last-as-long-as-they-did/921986 "2020-10-11T20:23:02Z")
I saw an article that said the last telegram was sent in the US in 2006; two weeks later the world would see the first Tweet. When you consider the telephone was invented a little over 30 years after telegraph, it begs t… --- ## [Where do they get blood for emergency pet surgeries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-they-get-blood-for-emergency-pet-surgeries/922503)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-they-get-blood-for-emergency-pet-surgeries/922503 "2020-10-11T19:04:47Z")
I tried googling this but couldn’t find a good answer. I assume that blood transfusions are sometimes needed for pet surgeries much as they are for human surgeries. If it’s a planned surgery I assume they can remove som… --- ## [Plant id help - cannot reuse titles I guess](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plant-id-help-cannot-reuse-titles-i-guess/919250)
**Author:** [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plant-id-help-cannot-reuse-titles-i-guess/919250 "2020-10-11T15:37:18Z")
Does anyone know what this is? \[Album\] What the heck is this? … --- ## [Donating Your Body To Science: Does Science Have Too Many Bodies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-your-body-to-science-does-science-have-too-many-bodies/922346)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2020, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donating-your-body-to-science-does-science-have-too-many-bodies/922346 "2020-10-11T08:28:38Z")
You know how when there’s a natural (or unnatural) disaster and Americans show up in droves to give blood? And later the media says that most of that blood will go to waste, because supply and demand, and donor blood has… --- ## [Why doesn't "automatic aspect" on my TV work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-automatic-aspect-on-my-tv-work/922499)
**Author:** [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2020, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-automatic-aspect-on-my-tv-work/922499 "2020-10-11T08:19:57Z")
Any time I watch a show that is broadcast in 4:3 on an HD channel, or On Demand, I have to scroll through several screens to change the aspect ratio manually from “full” to 4:3. It’s got a couple of other settings too. O… --- ## [Could people that see "auras" just have synesthesia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-people-that-see-auras-just-have-synesthesia/432687)
**Author:** [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-people-that-see-auras-just-have-synesthesia/432687 "2020-10-11T01:12:20Z")
Searching synesthesia the threads that came up never really touched upon this specific topic so… I have synesthesia, for those that don’t know it’s a (correct my terminology if I’m using words oddly here) a sensory cros… --- ## [Please double-check my car repair diagnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-double-check-my-car-repair-diagnosis/921779)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-double-check-my-car-repair-diagnosis/921779 "2020-10-10T23:34:28Z")
2008 GMC Envoy 140K miles. While driving, the car pegs to the redline and Mrs Cad pulls off (I wasn’t in the car). I get there and there is coolant all over the engine compartment. I turn it on to make sure it still r… --- ## [I "see" sounds when I close my eyes. Is this synesthesia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sounds-when-i-close-my-eyes-is-this-synesthesia/922654)
**Author:** [@partialgrape](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partialgrape)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sounds-when-i-close-my-eyes-is-this-synesthesia/922654 "2020-10-10T21:21:17Z")
When I close my eyes and listen, I can “see” the sounds in colors. Sometimes they’re shapes, like my cat’s meow is a forest green square with a circle of mint green in the lower right corner or applause is a flashing cir… --- ## [Synesthesia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synesthesia/54200)
**Author:** [@ellis555](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellis555)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synesthesia/54200 "2020-10-10T19:40:34Z")
I just read this article in Smithsonian Magazine on synesthesia. This is a phenomenon of which I was not previously aware, wherein one experiences multiple sensory input to a single stimulus. For example, one lady mentio… --- ## [Judy's Hamburger vs Wendy's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judys-hamburger-vs-wendys/637430)
**Author:** [@Paul\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_F)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judys-hamburger-vs-wendys/637430 "2020-10-10T17:53:14Z")
Who has iinfo on Judy’s Hamburgers… the store was identical to the Original Wendy’s Hamaburgers, except the girls hair was blonde instead of red/orange. --- ## [Taser question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taser-question/922523)
**Author:** [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taser-question/922523 "2020-10-10T14:00:19Z")
I am planning on travelling back in time to the olden days and I’m thinking of taking a taser for personal protection. However, I’m worried in case I meet a fully-armoured knight. Will the taser turn him into a giant f… --- ## [Are fake/stolen passports no longer a thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fake-stolen-passports-no-longer-a-thing/922575)
**Author:** [@alanmartin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alanmartin)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-fake-stolen-passports-no-longer-a-thing/922575 "2020-10-10T13:34:45Z")
I remember the days as a kid travelling with a passport that had a photo inserted. This was in the early-2000s. Then during the mid-noughties, countries started introducing bio-metric passports for citizens. There was a … --- ## [eBay communication -- Does this sound like a scam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-communication-does-this-sound-like-a-scam/922265)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2020, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ebay-communication-does-this-sound-like-a-scam/922265 "2020-10-10T03:16:09Z")
Someone contacted me about the ejection seat I’m selling on eBay. Here’s the eBay message: Is there a rush to get this items sold and out of your way? I ask because I’m very interest. However, I would like to have the… --- ## [What is the state of the Russian navy today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-state-of-the-russian-navy-today/922512)
**Author:** [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-state-of-the-russian-navy-today/922512 "2020-10-09T20:06:03Z")
How is the VMF doing today? --- ## [What concrete strategic or tactical result came from propaganda efforts in the World Wars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-concrete-strategic-or-tactical-result-came-from-propaganda-efforts-in-the-world-wars/921324)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-concrete-strategic-or-tactical-result-came-from-propaganda-efforts-in-the-world-wars/921324 "2020-10-09T18:11:15Z")
So another random Q from reading about the Glorious Revolution in Britain in the 1680s. There is a pretty compelling case that one of the deciding factors in William of Orange successfully seizing power from James II wa… --- ## [Speeding questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeding-questions/922522)
**Author:** [@ponderit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ponderit)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speeding-questions/922522 "2020-10-09T16:44:49Z")
I was wondering if there is a cop trick where the passenger side cop comes running towards your ca with his hand on his gun so that the occupant of the car flees the scene? This is done so they can charge the driver with… --- ## [Cloning and instinct](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloning-and-instinct/922309)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cloning-and-instinct/922309 "2020-10-09T16:27:12Z")
I was reading this article that wondered aloud which extinct species we should bring back - if we had the ability. It mused about woolly mammoths roaming the arctic again. And it got me wondering, would cloning an extinc… --- ## [If an ex-president goes to prison (for whatever reason) does he still get Secret Service protection?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-ex-president-goes-to-prison-for-whatever-reason-does-he-still-get-secret-service-protection/922267)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-ex-president-goes-to-prison-for-whatever-reason-does-he-still-get-secret-service-protection/922267 "2020-10-09T13:10:30Z")
Title says it all. Would an ex-president have Secret Service agents protecting him/her if the ex-president goes to prison? --- ## [Making furniture out of pine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-furniture-out-of-pine/521544)
**Author:** [@Mr.Lahey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Lahey)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 9, 2020, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-furniture-out-of-pine/521544 "2020-10-09T12:04:22Z")
Is there a way to make pine work well for furniture such as tables? Is there a decent stain and coating that can be used to make it look like a higher quality wood and increase the durability? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=324) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=326)