# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=328 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 329 --- ## [Is this how they wake you up from anaesthesia? (graphic)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-how-they-wake-you-up-from-anaesthesia-graphic/920260)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-how-they-wake-you-up-from-anaesthesia-graphic/920260 "2020-10-01T18:25:07Z")
A YouTube video. It’s looks pretty bad, but am no expert. I have had surgery under general anaesthesia a few times and my recollection is of waking up, not struggling with the nurses. --- ## [How do they determine "visibility" in weather forecasts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-determine-visibility-in-weather-forecasts/921975)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-determine-visibility-in-weather-forecasts/921975 "2020-10-01T17:45:04Z")
Is this mostly useful to aviation? Or does the weather person go to the top floor and look for all the pre-marked landmarks around the area? --- ## [LG V35 ThinQ screen turns on too easily. (Settings question)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lg-v35-thinq-screen-turns-on-too-easily-settings-question/921928)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lg-v35-thinq-screen-turns-on-too-easily-settings-question/921928 "2020-10-01T12:05:23Z")
I switched from an S8 to the ThinQ a few months ago and I’m really not liking it. Mainly because to turn the screen off you need to hit the power button which is on the back of the phone. So instead of just tapping a sid… --- ## [Unpacking the Supreme Court](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpacking-the-supreme-court/921673)
**Author:** [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unpacking-the-supreme-court/921673 "2020-10-01T04:52:15Z")
I’ve been poking around the USSC website looking for historical info on the membership of the court. Of course we’ve been hearing about the Dem’s threat of packing the court, thanks to McConnell’s refusal to follow the … --- ## [Odds of correctly guessing the color of a card in a deck](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odds-of-correctly-guessing-the-color-of-a-card-in-a-deck/921508)
**Author:** [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odds-of-correctly-guessing-the-color-of-a-card-in-a-deck/921508 "2020-10-01T02:32:42Z")
Is it the same as a coin flip? What are the odds of correctly guessing every red or black in a 52 card deck? How about a half deck, assuming is was evenly 13 reds 13 blacks? --- ## [Men's shirts - last button has horizontal buttonhole - why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-shirts-last-button-has-horizontal-buttonhole-why/919709)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2020, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-shirts-last-button-has-horizontal-buttonhole-why/919709 "2020-10-01T02:18:25Z")
Something I’ve noticed on a number of my button-down shirts - the bottom button has a buttonhole that is horizontal, not vertical like the rest. What’s the reason? I’m guessing it has to do with that part of the shirt us… --- ## [Speed of a sailboat in 20 MPH winds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-a-sailboat-in-20-mph-winds/920506)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-a-sailboat-in-20-mph-winds/920506 "2020-09-30T21:20:01Z")
This may be a dumb question, but maybe not. In any case, it’s fantasy, so bear that in mind. If a sailboat is on relatively calm waters with winds blowing at 20 mph, how fast will it move at top speed? Specifically, if… --- ## [Corsican political history question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corsican-political-history-question/921754)
**Author:** [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corsican-political-history-question/921754 "2020-09-30T17:59:27Z")
The island has a long history of militant separatist movements, but can anyone fill in some specific background/explanation for the following (simplified) sequence of events: \[0. Conquered by France in 1768–1769. Napole… --- ## [WWII German Aircraft Carriers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-german-aircraft-carriers/573763)
**Author:** [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-german-aircraft-carriers/573763 "2020-09-30T15:44:31Z")
Why didn’t the Germans use any aircraft carriers in WWII? I know they built a few, but either they were never completed or they were never used. --- ## [FIFA World Cup Question: How much did the winning 1954 German team take home after beating Hungary](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-question-how-much-did-the-winning-1954-german-team-take-home-after-beating-hungary/921588)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2020, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fifa-world-cup-question-how-much-did-the-winning-1954-german-team-take-home-after-beating-hungary/921588 "2020-09-30T14:35:56Z")
FIFA World Cup Question: How much did the winning 1954 German team take home after beating Hungary (3-2). I haven’t found anything online. Was there even a payout? --- ## [Opt out of Social Security payroll tax?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opt-out-of-social-security-payroll-tax/921614)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opt-out-of-social-security-payroll-tax/921614 "2020-09-29T23:28:21Z")
I’ll try to make this short. A friend was over a few nights ago and a political ad came on, don’t recall who (whom?) because they all run together to me. She’s on SSD from a bad surgery and it’s worried about benefit cu… --- ## [Questions about the New York Times expose on Trump's tax returns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-new-york-times-expose-on-trumps-tax-returns/921765)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-the-new-york-times-expose-on-trumps-tax-returns/921765 "2020-09-29T18:20:22Z")
Does the NY Times public release of detailed information on Trump’s recent tax returns compromise or help D.A. Cyrus Vance’s case against Trump make the NY Times liable for law suits since Judge Victor Marrero of Fede… --- ## [Peter Ustinov's humor: I don't get this one](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719)
**Author:** [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peter-ustinovs-humor-i-dont-get-this-one/921719 "2020-09-29T14:53:43Z")
A few days go I saw a rerun of his appearance on Cavett. But I didn’t get the a bit of his humor that Cavett did. Ustinov was speaking about his great-uncle, saying he “was one of the founders of Russian ballet: he did … --- ## [Illegal to bribe or proposition a police officer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-bribe-or-proposition-a-police-officer/921645)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegal-to-bribe-or-proposition-a-police-officer/921645 "2020-09-29T14:27:19Z")
Nothing to do with current events; just something I was wondering about. Officer Doright pulls over a speeder, Joe Sleazebag, and starts to write a ticket. Joe offers him twice the amount of the fine to cancel the ticke… --- ## [Soldiers shot as spies - real or just a movie/TV thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-shot-as-spies-real-or-just-a-movie-tv-thing/921760)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2020, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soldiers-shot-as-spies-real-or-just-a-movie-tv-thing/921760 "2020-09-29T08:39:08Z")
Based on Hollywood if a solider is not in uniform and captured they get shot. Did/does that really happen in wars? --- ## [Tool guys, help finding tool](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tool-guys-help-finding-tool/834140)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tool-guys-help-finding-tool/834140 "2019-05-20T02:35:53Z")
This video: Around the 6:03 mark. It’s a spring loaded punch. All of the ones I find online are for breaking glass. This one doesn’t seem to be that. I need one and would appreciate any help identifying it… --- ## [Tax Rate on Social Security Benefits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-rate-on-social-security-benefits/921746)
**Author:** [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2020, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-rate-on-social-security-benefits/921746 "2020-09-29T06:28:43Z")
This will be rather general. Am I missing something? I want to know the rate at which my benefits will be taxed. I see plenty of sites saying what percentage of my rates will be taxed, but not the former. For the sake o… --- ## [What percent of the pre-modern world was blind?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percent-of-the-pre-modern-world-was-blind/921642)
**Author:** [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2020, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percent-of-the-pre-modern-world-was-blind/921642 "2020-09-29T02:06:08Z")
In 2010, about 289 million people had visual impairments (4% of world population) and 39 million were blind (about 0.2%). Numbers per: https://www.who.int/blindness/publications/globaldata/en/#:~:text=Globally%20the%20nu… --- ## [The concept of "Left" and "Right"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-left-and-right/921049)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-concept-of-left-and-right/921049 "2020-09-28T22:56:12Z")
Is it possible to explain the concept of, and the difference between, the directions of “Left” and “Right” without referring to specific objects or visual aids? --- ## [New ID requirements for travel WITHIN the United States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-id-requirements-for-travel-within-the-united-states/921360)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-id-requirements-for-travel-within-the-united-states/921360 "2020-09-28T22:48:19Z")
So, I was in the local driver’s license office having a restriction removed from my commercial driver license, when I noticed a poster from the Texas Department of Public Safety on the wall. The poster reminded citizens… --- ## [5 Love Languages books - does the author cite research?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-love-languages-books-does-the-author-cite-research/921620)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-love-languages-books-does-the-author-cite-research/921620 "2020-09-28T18:06:15Z")
Maybe someone has a copy, or can check with their library? I went to get the ebook, and it and the physical copy were out and had a waiting list. If he actually does cite research, I don’t need specifics, just … --- ## [Sex Ratio question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-ratio-question/918904)
**Author:** [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-ratio-question/918904 "2020-09-28T16:03:10Z")
I’ve read an excellent book called Too Many Women the sex ratio question by Marcia Guttentag a few times. I wont get into debating it, though that would be nice. I am just wondering what the sex ratio is in America right… --- ## [Can I be a resident of NO US state?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-a-resident-of-no-us-state/920314)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-be-a-resident-of-no-us-state/920314 "2020-09-28T13:23:08Z")
Let’s say I’m contemplating the digital nomad life for a year because of COVID, traveling from state to state, staying at temporary lodging for a few weeks at a time. Can I simply abandon my current residency (Illinois) … --- ## [Does a frog know where it's going to land?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-frog-know-where-its-going-to-land/919627)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-frog-know-where-its-going-to-land/919627 "2020-09-28T04:00:01Z")
Frogs jump much higher and further than their body length/size, and also frequently do this in environments where there are obstacles in their way, e.g. grass and other vegetation. In particular, they frequently take a w… --- ## [What's the meaning of the term "wet seal"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-term-wet-seal/921695)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-meaning-of-the-term-wet-seal/921695 "2020-09-28T01:48:29Z")
I saw this picture online. It’s a note where a woman is quitting her job with the caption saying “My coworker went all wet seal on our boss today”. I tried googling this but all I could find were a lot of sexual slangs,… --- ## [Do NPR donations go directly to the radio station?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-npr-donations-go-directly-to-the-radio-station/921157)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-npr-donations-go-directly-to-the-radio-station/921157 "2020-09-28T00:27:45Z")
During quarantine, I’ve found a few NPR classical music stations that aren’t near me but have amazing programming that I stream. If I donate to them, does the money go directly to them or does it dumped into a giant NPR … --- ## [What is a 'box suit'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-box-suit/919350)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2020, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-box-suit/919350 "2020-09-27T23:48:50Z")
The question is in the title. --- ## [What Are the Greek Orthodox Church's Views?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-greek-orthodox-churchs-views/921552)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-greek-orthodox-churchs-views/921552 "2020-09-27T17:17:22Z")
Interesting story, the Roman Catholic Church, in relatively recent years. They very much have a social conscience. And it has been this way since at least the late 19th century. In fact, Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) even wr… --- ## [Spam calls from my area code](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-calls-from-my-area-code/921616)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-calls-from-my-area-code/921616 "2020-09-27T13:01:28Z")
I don’t know what list I got on, nor any idea how many times it’s been sold to other “businesses”, but along with annoyance I have questions. I get automated calls that come up with my area code (I know they do it as ba… --- ## [How do fresh-water fish populate different basins?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fresh-water-fish-populate-different-basins/852117)
**Author:** [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2020, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-fresh-water-fish-populate-different-basins/852117 "2020-09-27T04:15:19Z")
I wonder if anyone knows how fresh-water fish species populate separated river basins. They cannot take the sea route and they cannot jump the mountains in between, do they? How do they manage? I guess some were introduc… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=327) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=329)