# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=353 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 354 --- ## [Potted orchid is growing big aerial root. Do I need to do something?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potted-orchid-is-growing-big-aerial-root-do-i-need-to-do-something/855652)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potted-orchid-is-growing-big-aerial-root-do-i-need-to-do-something/855652 "2020-06-14T13:17:29Z")
I have a potted orchid which is blossoming beautifully, but is now growing an extended horizontal aerial root. Here is a jpg for illustration. I understand this is quite common for orchids, but I wonder if this root, wh… --- ## [Oxygen carriers in animal blood. Iron, Copper, Vanadium (?) ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxygen-carriers-in-animal-blood-iron-copper-vanadium/855611)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxygen-carriers-in-animal-blood-iron-copper-vanadium/855611 "2020-06-14T11:09:51Z")
Most animals use iron to transport oxygen through their blood system. Some mollusks use copper to do the same job. There’s an unproven theory that some other animals used Vanadium (Vanabin - Wikipedia) During evolution… --- ## [Gun Licenses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-licenses/855559)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [June 14, 2020, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-licenses/855559 "2020-06-14T02:23:00Z")
My wife wants for me and her to apply for gun licenses. I am resistant to buying guns at this time. But she is afraid that if it ever came time to buy guns that the licensing process will take too long and/or the rules w… --- ## [Circumstances under which predatory pricing is legal](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumstances-under-which-predatory-pricing-is-legal/855404)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/circumstances-under-which-predatory-pricing-is-legal/855404 "2020-06-13T22:40:57Z")
Predatory pricing = deliberately setting artificially low prices to drive competitors out of business But suppose that someone’s motive is charity, not profit - does that change things? (Say a billionaire sees how affo… --- ## [Gmail; something odd](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-something-odd/855617)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-something-odd/855617 "2020-06-13T18:57:19Z")
When I’m logged into Gmail and I google something, I see a sign-in button at the top of the screen, like I have to log in. But I am already logged in. And even when I see that, I can still access my emails, contacts etc.… --- ## [How Did The Prophet Ezekiel Butter His Bread?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-prophet-ezekiel-butter-his-bread/855495)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-prophet-ezekiel-butter-his-bread/855495 "2020-06-13T18:30:59Z")
I’m reading a book on comparative religion, and at one point, discussing Ezekiel, the author says that he buttered his bread in a way that need not be described, to warn the people against eating contaminated food. Don’… --- ## [Chrome View Page Source: How can I see HTML content generated by JavaScript?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrome-view-page-source-how-can-i-see-html-content-generated-by-javascript/855607)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrome-view-page-source-how-can-i-see-html-content-generated-by-javascript/855607 "2020-06-13T17:01:06Z")
An an example, here is a link for the abstract of a paper. If you look at the page source, you will not see most of the content. It appears that there is JavaScript so the browser retrieves some content after the page is… --- ## [Truth or Consequences (New Mexico)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-or-consequences-new-mexico/855572)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/truth-or-consequences-new-mexico/855572 "2020-06-13T16:57:50Z")
Many of us are aware that the city of Truth or Consequences NM received its name from a game show in 1950 (on radio at the time - then for many years on TV). It’s original name was “Hot Springs”. The TorC program was to… --- ## [unrefridgerated food](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unrefridgerated-food/855453)
**Author:** [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unrefridgerated-food/855453 "2020-06-13T13:28:46Z")
Nasty storm last night, all along the coast of ohio. Some places got it bad, apparently a big M from McDonalds crashed to the ground in Avon. My electricity was off (at least my fridge and the building, my lights stayed … --- ## [Help me raccoon proof a garbage shed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-raccoon-proof-a-garbage-shed/855417)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-raccoon-proof-a-garbage-shed/855417 "2020-06-13T06:37:28Z")
A crafty raccoon has managed to penetrate the deterents of my girlfriend’s garbage shed. Currently a hefty 2 x 6 completely spans the double doors and slides neatly into two metal supports that are open at the top. The… --- ## [Photographers! Need help creating digital proof sheets: bad color balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographers-need-help-creating-digital-proof-sheets-bad-color-balance/855461)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photographers-need-help-creating-digital-proof-sheets-bad-color-balance/855461 "2020-06-13T06:17:45Z")
I’ve decided to start the gargantuan process of digitizing my still film negatives and slides. For much of my adult life I have been a semi-professional photographer and journalist. I started taking pictures in high scho… --- ## [Water Deficiency.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-deficiency/855448)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-deficiency/855448 "2020-06-13T03:05:34Z")
I don’t have a cite. But for some time, some people, allegedly emboldened by the experts, said water deficiency was a big problem in the U.S. Then more recently they said (again after consulting with the ‘experts’?) that… --- ## [concerning bum guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-bum-guns/855498)
**Author:** [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concerning-bum-guns/855498 "2020-06-13T02:20:40Z")
AKA “hand held bidet sprayers”. During the great covid 19 TP crisis, I remembered I had one of these things lying around to try it out, and had never gotten around to installing it. Seemed like a good time. This is no… --- ## [Specific Gravities of liquids](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-gravities-of-liquids/855568)
**Author:** [@DrForrester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrForrester)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2020, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/specific-gravities-of-liquids/855568 "2020-06-13T01:57:59Z")
Does anyone know if the Specific Gravities of liquids are linearly additive for mixtures? I know that volumes are not. I am hopeful that Specific Gravities are, because my company’s accounting software thinks that they… --- ## [Excel Acting Weird](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-acting-weird/855476)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-acting-weird/855476 "2020-06-12T14:41:17Z")
I have a rather large spreadsheet of many worksheets - all with many columns. (Surprisingly, the size is only about 800K.) Sometimes, I type new text in a cell with lots of existing text (including new lines started by a… --- ## [Recovering from a hard drive failure](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-from-a-hard-drive-failure/855446)
**Author:** [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovering-from-a-hard-drive-failure/855446 "2020-06-12T14:33:06Z")
Executive summary: This is actually a pretty simple question, there’s just a lot of context I felt obliged to include. The computer I use to store digitized music has presented me with a unique upgrade opportunity, whic… --- ## [Pilot declares emergency (to get his way?) Any repercusions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pilot-declares-emergency-to-get-his-way-any-repercusions/855223)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pilot-declares-emergency-to-get-his-way-any-repercusions/855223 "2020-06-12T14:27:14Z")
American Airways 2 Heavy flying into JFK May 4, 2010 Lot’s of audio availableon this but basically it boils down to this. The plane is cleared to land on runway 22L. Later they hear there are gusts up to 35 knots (not… --- ## [Why do tick bites swell and itch nowadays? They never did when I was young...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-tick-bites-swell-and-itch-nowadays-they-never-did-when-i-was-young/855477)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-tick-bites-swell-and-itch-nowadays-they-never-did-when-i-was-young/855477 "2020-06-12T13:50:30Z")
While growing up in a rural area in the 60’s I used to play outside most of the time and accumulate attached ticks during the day, plucking them off when I noticed them or during a check in the evening. I never had any i… --- ## [Firefox: "Your browser is being managed by your organization"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-your-browser-is-being-managed-by-your-organization/855418)
**Author:** [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-your-browser-is-being-managed-by-your-organization/855418 "2020-06-12T00:07:43Z")
I just found a puzzling bit in the Firefox browser. If I open the Options, at the top of the “General” page I see this: “Your browser is being managed by your organization” It’s a clickable link that takes me to anothe… --- ## [How to set up recurring emails in Outlook 2016](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-up-recurring-emails-in-outlook-2016/855478)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2020, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-set-up-recurring-emails-in-outlook-2016/855478 "2020-06-11T22:19:46Z")
I need to send set up an email that gets sent on the first of every month. I apparently have Outlook 2016. (Microsoft doesn’t want people to know what version they’re using, so they hide that information instead of hav… --- ## [How are the majority of prosecution lawyers qualified compared to defence lawyers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-majority-of-prosecution-lawyers-qualified-compared-to-defence-lawyers/855071)
**Author:** [@Dunmurry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunmurry)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-the-majority-of-prosecution-lawyers-qualified-compared-to-defence-lawyers/855071 "2020-06-11T20:07:40Z")
Well I was just wondering if the majority of prosecution lawyers tend to be more qualified or experienced than defence lawyers or maybe there is no difference so for example in the UK it is not unusual for a case to have… --- ## [Elephant on I-84 in CT - what's the straight dope??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358)
**Author:** [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elephant-on-i-84-in-ct-whats-the-straight-dope/855358 "2020-06-11T18:55:18Z")
Spotted this while stuck in traffic northbound on I-84 in CT. Probably 20 or 30 miles in from NY border if I remember right. What the heck is a concrete (?) elephant statue doing in CT? Anyone?? A concrete elephant! --- ## [Best way to become fluent in Spanish in a jiffy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-become-fluent-in-spanish-in-a-jiffy/145130)
**Author:** [@PublicBlast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PublicBlast)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-become-fluent-in-spanish-in-a-jiffy/145130 "2020-06-11T16:59:22Z")
I’m halfway through a Master’s degree program in education at a certain big-name expen$ive Eastern School ™. While searching for jobs, I came to realize that my job prospects increase exponentially if I become very good… --- ## [Caterpillar 797 Production Numbers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caterpillar-797-production-numbers/778193)
**Author:** [@SHARKBITEATTACK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SHARKBITEATTACK)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2020, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caterpillar-797-production-numbers/778193 "2020-06-11T12:46:41Z")
How many have been made? how many are still in use? and where are they being used? I think I had heard that almost half were in Canada working in the Tar sands… --- ## [Deaf people and "hearing voices"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-and-hearing-voices/855016)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deaf-people-and-hearing-voices/855016 "2020-06-11T01:20:18Z")
At some times, for various reasons, people hallucinate someone talking to them. It can be due to a mental illness such as schizophrenia, or in a dream or dreamlike state, or the result of hallucinogenic drugs, or whatev… --- ## [Garden/House Plant ID, please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garden-house-plant-id-please/855311)
**Author:** [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 11, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garden-house-plant-id-please/855311 "2020-06-11T00:37:32Z")
Hello everyone, What plant is this? It looks similar to the arum that grows in our yard. I got it from my mom’s place, and we don’t know how to care for it. … --- ## [David Brock, Media Matters, and the IRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brock-media-matters-and-the-irs/855379)
**Author:** [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brock-media-matters-and-the-irs/855379 "2020-06-10T20:28:15Z")
I got in a discussion with my mother about some of the finer points of political discourse. She made the claim that the IRS had David Brock in court over financial irregularities. Looking into it, I find that some grou… --- ## [Henry 8th heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-8th-heir/855231)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/henry-8th-heir/855231 "2020-06-10T20:11:47Z")
When Henry VIII died, his son,Edward VI of England was crowned, and 'ruled" until he died at the age of 15 or 16. Edward picked Lady Jane Grey. But the Powers that Be Cut Janes head off and put Mary on the throne. The f… --- ## [IMPORTANT: Go to UserCP and verify your email.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-go-to-usercp-and-verify-your-email/855392)
**Author:** [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-go-to-usercp-and-verify-your-email/855392 "2020-06-10T19:49:28Z")
As we prepare to migrate to the new Straight Dope Message Board site, it’s really important that your personal information be correct and up to date. Right now go here: UserCP / Your Profile Look at that page. You s… --- ## [Actual pic of JFK Secret Service agent. . . or TV prop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-pic-of-jfk-secret-service-agent-or-tv-prop/855207)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2020, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-pic-of-jfk-secret-service-agent-or-tv-prop/855207 "2020-06-10T18:05:16Z")
In the “Quantum Leap” episode “Lee Harvey Oswald,” as the story ends, we see Sam, who has replaced a Secret Service Agent leaning against a wall. As he leaps, the frame dissolves to a picture of (possibly) a Secret Serv… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=352) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=354)