# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=330 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 331 --- ## [Selling used books on Amazon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-used-books-on-amazon/920706)
**Author:** [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-used-books-on-amazon/920706 "2020-09-21T18:36:40Z")
…which is how it started, before it took over the free world. But I digress. I’ve got a few hundred used books in varying conditions. Hardback and paperback. Visits to used bookstores yield precious little in sales beca… --- ## [Diarrhea: Deadly and Not](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diarrhea-deadly-and-not/920627)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diarrhea-deadly-and-not/920627 "2020-09-21T16:06:06Z")
I guess I can tell you all. I am doing the prep for a colonoscopy tomorrow, tonight. I basically take this saline solution. And thru reverse osmosis, it goes right thru me. This got me to thinking. Why is some diarrhea … --- ## [Help with a possible math discrepancy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-possible-math-discrepancy/920855)
**Author:** [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2020, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-possible-math-discrepancy/920855 "2020-09-21T11:41:21Z")
I am attempting to resolve an apparent mathematical discrepancy I encountered while helping one of my kids with her homework. The problem is as follows: Given a cone with a base radius r of 5 cm and a slant height (L)… --- ## [When You Grunt, Push, And Strain To Defecate, What's Actually Happening](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-grunt-push-and-strain-to-defecate-whats-actually-happening/921005)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-grunt-push-and-strain-to-defecate-whats-actually-happening/921005 "2020-09-20T23:37:47Z")
Like, are you contracting certain muscles around the rectum that put pressure on it to force the stool out? --- ## [Question about the Stone of Scone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-stone-of-scone/921007)
**Author:** [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-stone-of-scone/921007 "2020-09-20T14:05:10Z")
Is there any tradition regarding the Stone of Scone that involved rival claimants to the Scottish throne having to race each other to be first to sit on the Stone of Destiny to be considered the rightful king of Scotland… --- ## [Banning TikTok \[Technical issues only\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-tiktok-technical-issues-only/920924)
**Author:** [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2020, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banning-tiktok-technical-issues-only/920924 "2020-09-20T08:37:40Z")
I don’t mean to debate the legality of this, or the morality. This is a technical question based on my ignorance of internet technology. Beginning Sunday, it will be illegal to host or transfer internet traffic associ… --- ## [What Are Placebos Made Of?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-placebos-made-of/920436)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-placebos-made-of/920436 "2020-09-20T01:33:48Z")
When a patient or test subject is given a placebo, what, specifically, are they given? In college the textbook said “sugar pill,” but I’m unclear on if that’s industry speak or if the placebo is literally made of sugar. … --- ## [Any examples of top government officials / soldiers refusing illegal orders?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-examples-of-top-government-officials-soldiers-refusing-illegal-orders/920496)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-examples-of-top-government-officials-soldiers-refusing-illegal-orders/920496 "2020-09-14T15:51:55Z")
We now have various threads going on about what will happen if Trump refuses to leave after losing the election. Any scenario in which he attempts to stay will likely involve Trump himself, or possibly William Barr, iss… --- ## [Federal Reserve Notes and Federal Reserve Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-reserve-notes-and-federal-reserve-banks/918457)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-reserve-notes-and-federal-reserve-banks/918457 "2020-09-15T17:26:04Z")
Have you ever noticed that every United States Federal Reserve Note purports to be issued by one of the twelve individual federal reserve banks? It used to be obvious on all of the notes. Just look at the black seal wi… --- ## [What the hell is a gender reveal party and why do they cause wildfires?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-gender-reveal-party-and-why-do-they-cause-wildfires/920967)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-hell-is-a-gender-reveal-party-and-why-do-they-cause-wildfires/920967 "2020-09-19T00:30:12Z")
I feel like the first time I ever heard of a gender reveal party was a couple years ago, and back then it struck me as some silly thing that rich(?) or young (?) or newagey (?) parents did. Is this a new phenomenon? Some… --- ## [How do they engrave new names on existing headstones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-engrave-new-names-on-existing-headstones/237399)
**Author:** [@NFlanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NFlanders)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 10, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-engrave-new-names-on-existing-headstones/237399 "2017-01-10T16:33:49Z")
My grandfather-in-law has already been buried and has a rather large headstone cemented in place. When my grandmother-in-law dies, how will they engrave her name on it? Will they dig out the whole stone or engrave her ra… --- ## [What is this mystery sphere?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-mystery-sphere/920440)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2020, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-mystery-sphere/920440 "2020-09-19T14:22:38Z")
Ms. Napier spotted this sphere in an antiques, minerals, and curiosity shop yesterday and bought it for me, at the price of “$18 for pair” though nobody could find its supposed mate. I can’t figure out what it is. It is… --- ## [Is this "ritual" from The Wyoming Incident ARG really "dangerous"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ritual-from-the-wyoming-incident-arg-really-dangerous/758030)
**Author:** [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-ritual-from-the-wyoming-incident-arg-really-dangerous/758030 "2020-09-19T12:57:49Z")
The Wyoming Incident is an Alternate Reality Game that started almost a decade ago in 2006. It’s not really important to the question, but if you want background, there’s a 44 minute video on the subject by Night Mind he… --- ## [Were There Many "White" Slaves in Antebellum America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-many-white-slaves-in-antebellum-america/329387)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-many-white-slaves-in-antebellum-america/329387 "2020-09-19T02:42:40Z")
I was reading about Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson’s slave, mistress, and mother to his children (strong DNA evidence). However, I suprised about a few things. First was that she was Thomas Jefferson’s sister-lin-law. T… --- ## [Woman killed in "freak elevator accident" - how did the elevator fall?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-killed-in-freak-elevator-accident-how-did-the-elevator-fall/920794)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2020, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-killed-in-freak-elevator-accident-how-did-the-elevator-fall/920794 "2020-09-19T00:53:14Z")
When I was a very young child, my dad told me about a friend of his who fell down an elevator shaft and died. Maybe this was to try to scare me away from open elevator shafts specifically, but its result was to give me a… --- ## [Question about hair - on body](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-hair-on-body/920876)
**Author:** [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-hair-on-body/920876 "2020-09-18T22:02:19Z")
At 50 – suddenly it startet to grow dark hair on me. Ive always been a hairless person (exept the usual places) Its under the t-shirt on the arms - but some on my legs? --- ## ["Property of US Government"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/property-of-us-government/920852)
**Author:** [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/property-of-us-government/920852 "2020-09-18T20:35:00Z")
The other day I ordered a 2.5 gallon water container from REI’s website for use when I go on photo trips. When I received the box and opened it and looked at my new acquisition, well… there on the side, molded into the… --- ## [Next number in this sequence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-number-in-this-sequence/920832)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/next-number-in-this-sequence/920832 "2020-09-18T20:31:54Z")
I found this video on Youtube, where Harvard students are asked five questions of varying difficulty. At 2m55s they ask the question: which number logically follows this series? 4, 6, 9, 6, 14, 6, … ? The answer they … --- ## [Elements chemistry I guess](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elements-chemistry-i-guess/920621)
**Author:** [@breakneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breakneck)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elements-chemistry-i-guess/920621 "2020-09-18T16:15:02Z")
Hello this might sound like a dumb question . But for example When say hydrogen is extracted from water during electrolsis if enough hydrogen is extracted when does the water start not to be water ? does it just start dr… --- ## [What is the predominant flavor in ranch dressing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-predominant-flavor-in-ranch-dressing/409583)
**Author:** [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-predominant-flavor-in-ranch-dressing/409583 "2020-09-18T15:05:37Z")
Clearly there isn’t something called “Ranch” that’s used to flavor it, but I’m not familliar with anything else that has that “ranch” tang to it. Reading the label of the handy bottle in the fridge gives scant clues as … --- ## [Really strange recurring computer crash](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strange-recurring-computer-crash/919137)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/really-strange-recurring-computer-crash/919137 "2020-09-18T15:04:40Z")
I have a computer that I built myself at least three years ago. Since March it has suddenly developed a habit of freezing and becoming unresponsive. The only thing I’ve changed was to plug in a second monitor. The proble… --- ## [Famous couples with the same first name](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-couples-with-the-same-first-name/920266)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-couples-with-the-same-first-name/920266 "2020-09-18T05:40:06Z")
British writer Evelyn Waugh was (briefly) married to a socialite named Evelyn Gardner. Are there any other famous couples with the same first name? --- ## [Spec for power plug on SATA drives](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spec-for-power-plug-on-sata-drives/920836)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spec-for-power-plug-on-sata-drives/920836 "2020-09-18T02:22:26Z")
There are several pins on the power connector for a SATA hard drive. Why so many? --- ## [Can the police really commandeer a car?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-police-really-commandeer-a-car/577102)
**Author:** [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2020, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-police-really-commandeer-a-car/577102 "2020-09-17T21:16:34Z")
Can the police really commandeer a car and chase a bad guy or whatever? If so, what happens with any subsequent damage to the car? --- ## [Continual stop code errors in Windows 10](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continual-stop-code-errors-in-windows-10/920602)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/continual-stop-code-errors-in-windows-10/920602 "2020-09-17T21:00:31Z")
I stared getting them last week and I thought I had fixed them with driver updates but they kept happening so I reinstalled Windows thinking that would update all drivers but it did not, so I got a program to search for … --- ## [Facebook messenger alerts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-messenger-alerts/920816)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-messenger-alerts/920816 "2020-09-17T19:29:34Z")
I’ve had a Facebook page for a while but I’m barely aware of how it works. I’ve noticed that a lot of times when I check my page, there will be a little alert on my messenger icon (the one that looks like a lightning bo… --- ## [Why does my local elementary school have THREE security patrol cars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-local-elementary-school-have-three-security-patrol-cars/920823)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-local-elementary-school-have-three-security-patrol-cars/920823 "2020-09-17T16:36:00Z")
On my way to work every single day I pass by a normal looking elementary school (California btw and in a “middle class” neighborhood) that I notice had multiple SUV type vehicles that look like black and white police car… --- ## [Gmail advanced search](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-advanced-search/920299)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2020, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-advanced-search/920299 "2020-09-12T06:35:51Z")
I am trying to find out when I bought this computer. I didn’t register with Dell so I am searching gmail. I tried date ranges with yyyy/mo/day and day/month/year with subject Dell, searching all mail including spam. Noth… --- ## [What is the health plan for families of ex Vice Presidents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-health-plan-for-families-of-ex-vice-presidents/920313)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-health-plan-for-families-of-ex-vice-presidents/920313 "2020-09-17T02:01:11Z")
Honest question, I’ve never thought to look into it. And this isn’t trolling, just wondering details. I keep seeing ads from Biden with him, speaking (it just happened to play again while writing this) that he promises i… --- ## [Do phone companies actually keep call and text records indefinitely?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-phone-companies-actually-keep-call-and-text-records-indefinitely/920718)
**Author:** [@DoctorPurple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorPurple)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-phone-companies-actually-keep-call-and-text-records-indefinitely/920718 "2020-09-16T21:19:02Z")
Do phone companies actually keep call and text records indefinitely? Practically every time someone is subpoenaed, they often subpoena their phone records as well. As a matter of “security” (and just to keep my phone c… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=329) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=331)