# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=34 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 35 --- ## [What percentage of self-described atheists are Trump supporters, as opposed to the general population?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-self-described-atheists-are-trump-supporters-as-opposed-to-the-general-population/1021479)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-self-described-atheists-are-trump-supporters-as-opposed-to-the-general-population/1021479 "2025-08-12T20:15:47Z")
Just the facts to the best of your knowledge-no opinions as to why or why not. Thank you. --- ## [What is this carnival attraction called?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658 "2025-08-12T16:24:20Z")
Imagine a central axis that contains the machinery that powers the ride. A number of spokes (say, four for the purpose of this thread) emanate out from the central axis. At then end of each spoke is another central axis … --- ## [Monge's Theorem and the Euler Line](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monges-theorem-and-the-euler-line/1021707)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2025, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monges-theorem-and-the-euler-line/1021707 "2025-08-12T12:35:24Z")
Monge’s Theorem states that, when you graph the external tangent line linking three circles in a plane…none of which are inside each other…the intersection points of the tangents lie in a straight line. Monge’s theorem … --- ## [Can you demand to be charged with a crime?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-demand-to-be-charged-with-a-crime/1021817)
**Author:** [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2025, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-demand-to-be-charged-with-a-crime/1021817 "2025-08-12T10:34:15Z")
I was reading an article about Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics who was fired last week by Trump, because Trump claims the jobs report data she provided were “rigged to make him look b… --- ## [Latitude calculation problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latitude-calculation-problem/264393)
**Author:** [@PaperBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperBlob)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2025, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latitude-calculation-problem/264393 "2025-08-12T09:29:42Z")
I have the latitude and longitude of a point, say N 40 00 00, W 75 00 00. I want to find the latitude (with great precision!) of a point exactly 10 statute miles due south (so my second point is on the same meridian as … --- ## [Logarithmic Tables](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logarithmic-tables/793079)
**Author:** [@abashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abashed)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logarithmic-tables/793079 "2025-08-11T21:46:18Z")
How are logarithmic tables calculated? (Dumbed down plz). --- ## [Riding the waves on a floating bridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-waves-on-a-floating-bridge/1021369)
**Author:** [@Hapy-Mizri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hapy-Mizri)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riding-the-waves-on-a-floating-bridge/1021369 "2025-08-11T19:03:42Z")
Look at this video of cars on a waving bridge. Would you use more gas driving uphill on one of the waves? --- ## [Return On Investment (ROI) Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-on-investment-roi-question/1021895)
**Author:** [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-on-investment-roi-question/1021895 "2025-08-11T16:11:49Z")
There’s a new Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers being built in our area, I don’t know if it purchased the land on which it sits, but the construction is pretty significant. Notwithstanding the cost of the land (ownership … --- ## [Animals and pain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-and-pain/806668)
**Author:** [@Smudge777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smudge777)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-and-pain/806668 "2025-08-11T14:43:04Z")
What is pain? And can animals feel it? Growing up, I was taught that “scientists agree that animals can’t feel pain like humans, because our brains are unique”. Since then, I’ve heard an ever-growing list of animals wh… --- ## [1950s computers: question #2](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-computers-question-2/1021892)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1950s-computers-question-2/1021892 "2025-08-11T02:12:44Z")
An example calculation, to be done in 1953: How far from the Empire State Building to San Francisco City Hall, based on the Coast and Geodetic Survey lat-lons of 40.748329N 73.986067W and 37.779341N and 122.418135W? La… --- ## [Proper gauge for a 25 foot power cord](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-gauge-for-a-25-foot-power-cord/1021916)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proper-gauge-for-a-25-foot-power-cord/1021916 "2025-08-11T00:48:14Z")
I’m going to get 25 foot power cables for my JBL EON 715 speakers – they take IEC C13, regular computer cables. Looks like the speakers draw 1300 peak, 650 continuous. The only ones that Monoprice seems to have in stoc… --- ## [Visual Interps of Audio Input](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-interps-of-audio-input/1021843)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visual-interps-of-audio-input/1021843 "2025-08-10T17:25:37Z")
Way back when MTV made its debut and I was first hearing about this phenomenon of visual accompaniment to the soundtrack of an audio recording, I somehow imagined that what they’d do is really represent the sounds visual… --- ## [How much sour drink can I consume before it’s a problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sour-drink-can-i-consume-before-it-s-a-problem/1021877)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-sour-drink-can-i-consume-before-it-s-a-problem/1021877 "2025-08-10T01:56:54Z")
I like sour things. I put lemon in my iced tea. I order my Hot and Sour soup extra sour. I’ve taken to drinking “shrubs” from the local farmer’s market, and they are pretty sour. So - how much is too much? How much vin… --- ## [Do we know how much Saturn's rings move?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-know-how-much-saturns-rings-move/1021638)
**Author:** [@Timz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timz)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-we-know-how-much-saturns-rings-move/1021638 "2025-08-10T00:09:34Z")
Not talking about their changing appearance due to Earth’s and Saturn’s motions – I mean their orientation, relative to distant stars. Have we detected any motion in the plane of the rings? For that matter, how big would… --- ## [Can I get a single Pergo plank?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-a-single-pergo-plank/1021494)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-a-single-pergo-plank/1021494 "2025-08-09T20:27:23Z")
I have a flooring project and after doing all of the math I need 45 planks. But the ones I’m getting come 11 in a pack. I really don’t want to spend $65 for a plank and then 10 I’ll never use. Even if I need one or tw… --- ## [Electrician Dopers, how dangerous is it to reset a circuit breaker that was in Off position?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2025, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437 "2025-08-09T05:31:03Z")
After a technician installed a washer and dryer in my apartment, I then had no hot water for days. It finally occurred to me that it might be a circuit breaker issue (the technician had asked me for access to the circuit… --- ## [Possible Real ID problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 329\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2025, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-real-id-problem/1017664 "2025-08-09T03:05:50Z")
So I am following procedure to get my birth certificate from Guam, which means I have to snailmail a $5 money order to them and wait. The trouble is that this birth certificate will have the last name from my first fath… --- ## [Is there a name for people who just get paid to be geniuses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-people-who-just-get-paid-to-be-geniuses/1021795)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-people-who-just-get-paid-to-be-geniuses/1021795 "2025-08-08T18:06:39Z")
I can’t remember the thread, but in another thread a couple of posters were talking about how at tech companies there were some employees who were basically considered ‘consultants’, which in practice meant that they wer… --- ## [International Control Dam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-control-dam/1021822)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-control-dam/1021822 "2025-08-07T17:30:49Z")
I got curious about Niagara Falls and looked at the aerial view on Google Maps. I noticed a dam named International Control Dam a little ways upriver from the falls. This dam only goes halfway across the Niagara River, b… --- ## [Whatever happened to tax stamps on liquor bottles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-tax-stamps-on-liquor-bottles/846087)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-tax-stamps-on-liquor-bottles/846087 "2025-08-07T16:28:12Z")
In my teens and early twenties during the Seventies, I worked as a stockboy at a liquor store. In those days, every bottle of distilled spirits had a paper tax stamp sealing the bottle cap. Now that I actually buy distil… --- ## [What level of humidity should I expect from an evaporative humidifier?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-level-of-humidity-should-i-expect-from-an-evaporative-humidifier/1021758)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-level-of-humidity-should-i-expect-from-an-evaporative-humidifier/1021758 "2025-08-07T04:20:57Z")
I live in Las Vegas and my bedroom is typically somewhere around 22-24% relative humidity at around 25c. The house has central AC of course and AC-dried air is blown into my room. I get some issues with how dry it is (m… --- ## [Why do so many feminine names end in -a?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-feminine-names-end-in-a/1021722)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-so-many-feminine-names-end-in-a/1021722 "2025-08-06T21:26:19Z")
Samantha, Rebecca, Olga, Anna, Luna, Michaela, Isabella, Claudia, Maria, Sarah, Victoria, Alexandra, Carla, Svetlana… across many different Western languages, the “-a” suffix for feminine (or feminized) names is quite co… --- ## [How can an incline be 106%?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-an-incline-be-106/960571)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-an-incline-be-106/960571 "2025-08-06T16:53:29Z")
100% is vertical. How can an incline be more than that? There is a funicular in Switzerland claiming “a gradient of 106 per cent”. This figure widely quoted in many other sites that reference this railway. The steepest… --- ## [Korean translation, please (or it's possible that this is just Korean-sounding gibberish)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/korean-translation-please-or-its-possible-that-this-is-just-korean-sounding-gibberish/1021697)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2025, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/korean-translation-please-or-its-possible-that-this-is-just-korean-sounding-gibberish/1021697 "2025-08-06T01:53:46Z")
This comedian (a Filipino American) does a bit about Asian accents. He thinks the Korean accent sounds like someone just smoked weed. Is he saying anything, or is it just Korean-sounding gibberish? --- ## [Minimal sub-launched ballistic missile flight time](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimal-sub-launched-ballistic-missile-flight-time/1021693)
**Author:** [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimal-sub-launched-ballistic-missile-flight-time/1021693 "2025-08-06T00:50:06Z")
Since the 1980’s I’ve heard that the advance warning of an SLBM attack was as little as 6 minutes, and I took it as self-evidently correct, since the subs might be launching from a much shorter distance, potentially righ… --- ## [Finding the steepness/grade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688 "2025-08-04T19:46:05Z")
This is a place near me: Is there a way for me to track down what the grade is for that road? --- ## [“The Crown” is the metonym for a kingdom; what is the metonym for a fiefdom?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crown-is-the-metonym-for-a-kingdom-what-is-the-metonym-for-a-fiefdom/1021598)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-crown-is-the-metonym-for-a-kingdom-what-is-the-metonym-for-a-fiefdom/1021598 "2025-08-04T18:55:04Z")
Ok, so a metonym, for those who don’t know, is when one thing serves as a representation of a much larger thing. Like “Wall Street” instead of “the financial industry,” or “the White House” instead of “the president and/… --- ## [Question About CPU Design](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cpu-design/1021477)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2025, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cpu-design/1021477 "2025-08-04T12:43:33Z")
How hard would it be for a chip designer to build in some kind of backdoor when designing a modern CPU that would enable someone who knew how it worked to gain secret remote access to the machine? If it can be done, how … --- ## [To The Hydrofoil,Robin!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-hydrofoil-robin/760510)
**Author:** [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 4, 2025, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-hydrofoil-robin/760510 "2025-08-04T00:08:39Z")
Before I fell asleep last night my mind was idle and thinking about the Bras D’Or, another of those curious Canadian innovations that seem to constantly fall to the wayside due to politics.It got me thinking about all th… --- ## [Do people froth at the mouth from poison?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-froth-at-the-mouth-from-poison/1021622)
**Author:** [@Loggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loggins)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-froth-at-the-mouth-from-poison/1021622 "2025-08-03T19:04:43Z")
Ive seen it countless times in british crime mysteries. Not sure about american frothing. So, does this happen when you are poisoned? Cyanid for example? And if so, why? Or is it movie licence? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=33) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=35)