# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=361 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 362 --- ## [A buoyancy question - esp. for gases in gases](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-buoyancy-question-esp-for-gases-in-gases/854102)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2020, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-buoyancy-question-esp-for-gases-in-gases/854102 "2020-05-21T02:40:56Z")
We had a big bonfire last night, and as I was watching the flames shoot into the sky and the smoke rise for dozens of feet, I got to thinking about buoyancy. For big objects with defined volumes, the buoyancy force on th… --- ## [What individual designed the most ubiquitous object](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-individual-designed-the-most-ubiquitous-object/853418 "2020-05-20T21:40:58Z")
I looked out my front window and saw a neighbor kid in one of those red and yellow Little Tikes cars. I realized I had seen the exact same car yesterday at my daughter’s house, and I wondered if one individual was the l… --- ## [Any reason I can't use plumbers putty to seal an outdoor light fixture?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-cant-use-plumbers-putty-to-seal-an-outdoor-light-fixture/854028)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-reason-i-cant-use-plumbers-putty-to-seal-an-outdoor-light-fixture/854028 "2020-05-20T20:48:02Z")
I just replaced an outdoor fixture, and as is frequently the case, the backing frame us not precisely the same size as the backing that it sits on (it’s slightly larger on top and bottom) which leaves a gap where rain an… --- ## [Ever heard of this ? Were we on the Internet or just the telephone network...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-heard-of-this-were-we-on-the-internet-or-just-the-telephone-network/854125)
**Author:** [@Sdowiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sdowiat)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-heard-of-this-were-we-on-the-internet-or-just-the-telephone-network/854125 "2020-05-20T17:38:10Z")
Does anyone know anything about this or ever done or experienced it? What was going on with what I describe? In the late 70’s, there was about a month when something odd happened to our telephones. I was only about 1… --- ## [What Is This \[American/Canadian\] Accent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-american-canadian-accent/854187)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-american-canadian-accent/854187 "2020-05-20T15:36:43Z")
This guy’s accent sounds almost like General American, but for the fact that some vowel sounds have a bit of a drawl – like when he says words like “on” and “are.” It’s not pronounced enough to be a true Southern accent,… --- ## [Finding an Integral Using u-substitution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-an-integral-using-u-substitution/854084)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-an-integral-using-u-substitution/854084 "2020-05-20T06:15:56Z")
Please explain finding an integral by u-substitution to me like I am a 5-year old. I can do it, but I don’t remember why it works. Someone explained it to me 25 or 30 years ago but I haven’t thought about it since and … --- ## [Would different car insurance or health and safety analysis be needed for driving supercar on road?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-different-car-insurance-or-health-and-safety-analysis-be-needed-for-driving-supercar-on-road/853208)
**Author:** [@Dunmurry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunmurry)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-different-car-insurance-or-health-and-safety-analysis-be-needed-for-driving-supercar-on-road/853208 "2020-05-20T05:07:25Z")
Well if you go to this video search on YouTube for for letting my girlfriend drive my Lamborghini Vehicle Virgins it shows his girlfriend driving car on public road. Would someone who drives a normal car have to purchase… --- ## [Why is a truly random "shuffle" musical function so difficult to execute?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-truly-random-shuffle-musical-function-so-difficult-to-execute/853892)
**Author:** [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-a-truly-random-shuffle-musical-function-so-difficult-to-execute/853892 "2020-05-20T03:25:27Z")
Feel free to split hairs about if I mean “random” or if I mean "varied." Since at least 2011, I’ve always been flabbergasted at the inability of any of my music devices being able to generate a truly random play list. L… --- ## [Does "Repent" require a belief in god or a religious context?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-repent-require-a-belief-in-god-or-a-religious-context/854110)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-repent-require-a-belief-in-god-or-a-religious-context/854110 "2020-05-20T02:22:17Z")
From an IRL debate. Looking up the definition, it doesn’t explicitly seem to state one must repent TO a god, but at the same time, all the examples are religious in nature. And I don’t believe I’ve ever heard the word us… --- ## [recurrent, course, kinda wierd facial hair](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recurrent-course-kinda-wierd-facial-hair/854021)
**Author:** [@cmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmore)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recurrent-course-kinda-wierd-facial-hair/854021 "2020-05-20T01:33:05Z")
I get a hair that grows on my chin that everytime it grows back it gets a little slightly raised red area on the skin surrounding it and its slightly sensitive to touch the area. I can take a cotton swab with peroxide o… --- ## [What are the pros and cons of taking courses pass/fail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-taking-courses-pass-fail/854109)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-taking-courses-pass-fail/854109 "2020-05-19T22:49:03Z")
When I was an undergrad in the 80s, students were offered a choice of taking courses on a pass/fail basis, and apparently any passing grade registered as a 4.0 towards your GPA. I did not do this, I thought there was pro… --- ## ["Texas Sharpshooter Syndrome" (Eric Haney book).......Has this ever happened in real life?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sharpshooter-syndrome-eric-haney-book-has-this-ever-happened-in-real-life/854064)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-sharpshooter-syndrome-eric-haney-book-has-this-ever-happened-in-real-life/854064 "2020-05-19T22:38:57Z")
In his memoir, Inside Delta Force, former U.S. Army commando Eric Haney states that would-be military snipers are screened to keep out two types of problematic personalities: “Munich Massacre Syndrome” - that is, snipe… --- ## [I lost my favorite soltaire game (whine)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-my-favorite-soltaire-game-whine/116271)
**Author:** [@thimblegirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thimblegirl)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-lost-my-favorite-soltaire-game-whine/116271 "2020-05-19T18:12:51Z")
I really want an older version of 123 FreeSolitaire which I have overwritten by upgrades on my computer and is no longer available from the download site. I tried to upload the .exe file of the older version from a frien… --- ## [Is it possible to adjust the volume within an MP3 file?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-adjust-the-volume-within-an-mp3-file/853868)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-adjust-the-volume-within-an-mp3-file/853868 "2020-05-19T15:12:24Z")
Suppose you have an MP3 file with some song which plays at a lower or higher volume than most of your other songs, which is jarring when you have it in a playlist with some other music. You can obviously just adjust the … --- ## [Which Olympian gods and goddesses ( and demi-god offspring) are accepted as imports into Greek myth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympian-gods-and-goddesses-and-demi-god-offspring-are-accepted-as-imports-into-greek-myth/852801)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympian-gods-and-goddesses-and-demi-god-offspring-are-accepted-as-imports-into-greek-myth/852801 "2020-05-19T14:04:14Z")
Hi Which Olympian gods and goddesses ( and demi-god offspring) are accepted as imports into Greek mythology? Zeus, Athena and Hercules to name a few, are thought to be imports. I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [Are options positions numerous to the extent that options strategies are?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-options-positions-numerous-to-the-extent-that-options-strategies-are/678122)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2014, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-options-positions-numerous-to-the-extent-that-options-strategies-are/678122 "2014-01-08T05:15:07Z")
Are options positions numerous to the extent that options strategies are? Online and in textbooks I usually see anywhere from four to eight. But I’m pretty sure there are many many more. I look forward to your feedback … --- ## [How long did it take scientific theorems/laws to catch on?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-did-it-take-scientific-theorems-laws-to-catch-on/853434)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 76\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-did-it-take-scientific-theorems-laws-to-catch-on/853434 "2020-05-19T05:40:43Z")
Ironclad laws and theorems such as: Newton’s laws of “for every action there is an equal and opposite action” or “energy can be neither created nor destroyed,” or the Pythagorean Theorem, or e=mc^2. Did the scientific … --- ## [Habeus Corpus VS In Absentia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/habeus-corpus-vs-in-absentia/854018)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/habeus-corpus-vs-in-absentia/854018 "2020-05-19T05:25:29Z")
Can anyone explain in simple terms the difference? On the surface HC seems to dictate a person needs to be in court for criminal proceedings, while IA allows for conviction without the person being involved at all. Thank… --- ## [What's the lowest value main currency today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-lowest-value-main-currency-today/818383)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-lowest-value-main-currency-today/818383 "2020-05-19T05:05:42Z")
1 USD is worth approx 45000 Iranian rial. Is there a currently tradeable currency where 1 of its main denomination, (ie no subdivisions) is worth less than 1 rial? --- ## [What is the neutral/non-negative proper term for the "mousy" hair color?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-neutral-non-negative-proper-term-for-the-mousy-hair-color/841559)
**Author:** [@The\_Maple\_Leaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Maple_Leaf)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-neutral-non-negative-proper-term-for-the-mousy-hair-color/841559 "2020-05-19T03:24:36Z")
Hair that is somewhere in the dark-ashy-blond to ashy-brown range is normally described as “mousy”. I could be wrong, but I have gotten the impression that this word carries negative connotations, I.E. that it implies th… --- ## [British court procedure question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-court-procedure-question/853899)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2020, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-court-procedure-question/853899 "2020-05-19T01:42:45Z")
This comes from something that was on Broadchurch season 2 so if you don’t want spoilers stop right now. During a murder trial the detective that heard the confession of the defendant is on the stand. He gives his testi… --- ## [How easy is it for a rich person to buy out most of a company's stock?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-is-it-for-a-rich-person-to-buy-out-most-of-a-companys-stock/853749)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-easy-is-it-for-a-rich-person-to-buy-out-most-of-a-companys-stock/853749 "2020-05-18T20:14:46Z")
Suppose Bill Gates one day suddenly takes a liking to XYZ Company, and decides he must have a big say in XYZ’s affairs, and decides he wants to buy up most of XYZ’s stock. That stock is currently selling for $27 a share.… --- ## [Disappointed Liberals Moving to Canada](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-liberals-moving-to-canada/579901)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disappointed-liberals-moving-to-canada/579901 "2020-05-18T19:52:20Z")
NOTE: I am NOT looking for any form of debate, political sniping, etc. Are there any hard-and-fast statistics on how many Americans, disappointed with the re-election of George W Bush, actually followed through on plans… --- ## [Random Strangers Saying 'Let's Be Friends' In YouTube Comments - What's The Play Here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-strangers-saying-lets-be-friends-in-youtube-comments-whats-the-play-here/853716)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/random-strangers-saying-lets-be-friends-in-youtube-comments-whats-the-play-here/853716 "2020-05-18T18:43:44Z")
I have a YouTube channel, with my videos averaging 5-10 views each. Sometimes a video will go all gangbusters and get 25 views. Every few videos or so will get a comment from one of 3 different users, each commenting me… --- ## [How to save someone's Twitter feed into a .pdf file?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-save-someones-twitter-feed-into-a-pdf-file/853997)
**Author:** [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-save-someones-twitter-feed-into-a-pdf-file/853997 "2020-05-18T18:02:23Z")
Not mine. --- ## [Infinite decimal property](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinite-decimal-property/853995)
**Author:** [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infinite-decimal-property/853995 "2020-05-18T17:56:02Z")
It’s often said that because pi is an infinite, non-repeating decimal it must contain all possible lengths of digits and then can be transformed into jpegs of the Mona Lisa or whatever. A common response is that that is… --- ## [Fast Train, c. 1930](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-train-c-1930/775534)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-train-c-1930/775534 "2020-05-18T16:41:51Z")
More of my interest in time-travel. So how fast were passenger trains in the US c.1930? Where they amongst the fastest in the world? More to the point, what was the limiting factor on passenger train speed in that era? … --- ## [Can you really burn fat specifically in one part of the body?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-burn-fat-specifically-in-one-part-of-the-body/853778)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-really-burn-fat-specifically-in-one-part-of-the-body/853778 "2020-05-18T16:29:26Z")
You see all sorts of ads for regimens to burn fat in the belly, or burn fat in the thighs, etc. But I was under the impression that fat is only burned when calories expended exceed calories taken in - and that any time … --- ## [How does antitrust work on an international scale?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-antitrust-work-on-an-international-scale/854000)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-antitrust-work-on-an-international-scale/854000 "2020-05-18T14:21:38Z")
If some American company gets too powerful and begins stamping out all domestic competition, the U.S. government can step in and enforce antitrust laws, but how does this work if some foreign company gets too dominant an… --- ## [Do Nonhuman Animals Have "Types" That They Look For In Mates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nonhuman-animals-have-types-that-they-look-for-in-mates/853786)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 18, 2020, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-nonhuman-animals-have-types-that-they-look-for-in-mates/853786 "2020-05-18T12:27:07Z")
In the wild (or in captivity, I suppose), have animals been observed choosing mating partners that have consistent features? Like, in Africa, Dr. Important Primate Researcher noted that this male chimpanzee prefers to m… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=360) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=362)