# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=377 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 378 --- ## [Why reversed images on Facebook?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-reversed-images-on-facebook/850862)
**Author:** [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2020, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-reversed-images-on-facebook/850862 "2020-04-02T12:06:32Z")
I’ve noticed that a significant portion — I’d say close to a third — of the videos I see posted on Facebook are reversed to a mirror image. Why would this be? How would one avoid this in posting one’s video? --- ## [8 year old warning from Wikipedia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-warning-from-wikipedia/850770)
**Author:** [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2020, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/8-year-old-warning-from-wikipedia/850770 "2020-04-02T09:53:25Z")
Whilst pursuing some information and perusing Wikipedia as a result today, a page I was on came with a “You have a new message” near the top of the page. When I clicked on it, it was a warning from 2012 about two revisio… --- ## [The Avocado Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-avocado-gene/850537)
**Author:** [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2020, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-avocado-gene/850537 "2020-04-02T05:24:07Z")
Is there a genetic component to how an avocado tastes to someone? I know avocados are adored, but I also know more than a few folks who say it doesn’t really taste like anything to them. I’m one of those people. I don’t … --- ## [Do animals bruise, well, mammals anyway?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-bruise-well-mammals-anyway/850804)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-animals-bruise-well-mammals-anyway/850804 "2020-04-01T22:46:36Z")
These days prople are getting bored, and conversations come up with some odd questions. I just gave blood, and have some bruising at the needle site. I was showing it to my mom, a nurse, and I wondered the question in … --- ## [Annoying Blue Ray Behavior](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-blue-ray-behavior/850626)
**Author:** [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-blue-ray-behavior/850626 "2020-04-01T22:39:29Z")
Why when a Blu Ray disc has read errors (at least some of them) it essentially locks the machine. You can’t skip past the error. You’d think the machine would try to do that on its own, but it just keeps trying. Furth… --- ## [why do shipping labels have a dot code AND a bar code?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shipping-labels-have-a-dot-code-and-a-bar-code/850732)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-shipping-labels-have-a-dot-code-and-a-bar-code/850732 "2020-04-01T21:40:46Z")
Currently looking at a printed USPS shipping label. Near the bottom there’s a bar code, and near the top there’s a dot code. FedEx labels are the same way, and so are UPS labels. So why the two separate blocks of info… --- ## [Google search](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search/850817)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-search/850817 "2020-04-01T19:45:11Z")
English is not my native language, but I often do Google searches in English. Over the last few days, I’ve been seeing this notification “Google offered in: English” on the homepage. Also, when I get results in English, … --- ## [Why are biomedical engineers paid relatively little?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-biomedical-engineers-paid-relatively-little/850690)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-biomedical-engineers-paid-relatively-little/850690 "2020-04-01T17:48:50Z")
From an extremely limited bit of Google-searching, it appears that biomedical engineers are paid substantially less ($50-80k) than the vast majority of other engineers. Any particular reason why? I would have actually t… --- ## [How much of the 2 trillion stimulus is meant to be paid back by the ones who received the funds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-the-2-trillion-stimulus-is-meant-to-be-paid-back-by-the-ones-who-received-the-funds/850750)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-the-2-trillion-stimulus-is-meant-to-be-paid-back-by-the-ones-who-received-the-funds/850750 "2020-04-01T17:47:15Z")
Eventually it’ll all have to be paid back, but I’m wondering how much of the 2 trillion dollar stimulus is meant to be paid back by the ones who actually got it? I assume the corporate loans totaling almost 900 billio… --- ## [Access to Public Records?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-to-public-records/808198)
**Author:** [@perfidia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfidia)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2018, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/access-to-public-records/808198 "2018-02-06T09:29:54Z")
Is there any way I can find the death records of a person I use to know, that passed away about two years ago, in CA? The info I found was very general. Everything I’ve tried to look at, wants me to sign up for a t… --- ## [How does one isolate a virus?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-isolate-a-virus/850550)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-isolate-a-virus/850550 "2020-04-01T12:47:06Z")
I mean, you don’t just use a tweezers, right? So, how do you gene-sequence something that is undoubtably mixed with all kinds of other DNA? --- ## [Twilight prayer times](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twilight-prayer-times/850712)
**Author:** [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twilight-prayer-times/850712 "2020-04-01T12:30:18Z")
for Muslims, Jews, and others… A glance at this table of Muslim prayer times shows a number of different conventions and traditions. First of all, I assume the angles represent the altitude of the centre of the apparen… --- ## [Who's Louise Burg?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-louise-burg/547076)
**Author:** [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-louise-burg/547076 "2020-04-01T03:18:34Z")
I am doing a website and I have included a page on the Louise Burg Hospital. It was bought and renamed the Lakeside Community Hospital. The address was 255 West Cermak Rd. Chicago, Ill. 60616. OK I have looked through … --- ## [Do states have anything akin to the defense production act](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-states-have-anything-akin-to-the-defense-production-act/850716)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-states-have-anything-akin-to-the-defense-production-act/850716 "2020-04-01T01:09:37Z")
Can the governor of a state like Illiinois or California that has a lot of medical and manufacturing infrastructure pass a law or executive order demanding that private industry refocus on making medical supplies necessa… --- ## [Nationalising vs. Federalising indusries in the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationalising-vs-federalising-indusries-in-the-us/850673)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nationalising-vs-federalising-indusries-in-the-us/850673 "2020-03-31T23:12:16Z")
Hi I notice that British reporters on the US economy tend to use the term 'nationalise industries" when referring to the Trump Administration DPA (Defence Production Act), whereas American reporters use the term “federa… --- ## [Exploding bed caused by flatulence and static electricity.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987)
**Author:** [@millen85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/millen85)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 30, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exploding-bed-caused-by-flatulence-and-static-electricity/679987 "2014-01-30T21:52:34Z")
On several occasions I have noticed, when wearing pajamas in bed, If I roll around under the sheets, static electricity builds up and can cause very small electrical discharges (sparks). This got me thinking about if by… --- ## [How did the world economy recover from the 1918 Spanish Flu?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-world-economy-recover-from-the-1918-spanish-flu/850646)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-the-world-economy-recover-from-the-1918-spanish-flu/850646 "2020-03-31T14:27:36Z")
Apart from the massive human cost of Covid-19, a lot of discussion has happened on the economic impacts. The 1918 Spanish Flu was arguably worse than Covid-19, and presumably, brought much of the world economy to a halt… --- ## [Television Tax/Fee/whatever it's called in Britain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-tax-fee-whatever-its-called-in-britain/849158)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 95\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/television-tax-fee-whatever-its-called-in-britain/849158 "2020-03-31T13:12:37Z")
I’ve seen passing mentions over the years of a television tax/fee/something of the sort in Britain, but they always assume the reader OF COURSE knows what’s going on and don’t bother to explain. So enlighten this ignora… --- ## [How to find a person](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-a-person/849425)
**Author:** [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-a-person/849425 "2020-03-31T12:40:37Z")
I’m trying to find a person who I knew 40 years ago and who I think I saw recently in a public place. I have the person’s full name, date/place of birth, and a 40-year-old address. I’ve tried all the usual ways to sear… --- ## [Seat belt laws - for "classic" cars....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-laws-for-classic-cars/850578)
**Author:** [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seat-belt-laws-for-classic-cars/850578 "2020-03-31T11:23:39Z")
I was watching a video about a woman and her 1957 Chevy, and I noticed there were no seat belts. It wasn’t a “show car” - she used it for regular road/highway driving. From what I understand - if the car w… --- ## [What is it called when central banks buy stocks?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-central-banks-buy-stocks/849152)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-central-banks-buy-stocks/849152 "2020-03-31T11:19:15Z")
So the markets are tanking. People are declaring “the end of fiscal policy” and demanding more forceful measures to combat the looming recession than rate cuts and quantitative easing. Namely, I am seeing floated the ide… --- ## [Third Party Car Insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-party-car-insurance/850659)
**Author:** [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/third-party-car-insurance/850659 "2020-03-31T04:25:43Z")
Does anyone have experience with this? It seems to be a little like health insurance for cars-- you pay the company a premium, and then if your car need a repair, they cover it in full, or partially. It is really advant… --- ## ["The Germans are a swinsih people."](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-germans-are-a-swinsih-people/850668)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-germans-are-a-swinsih-people/850668 "2020-03-31T04:01:30Z")
Did Kaiser Wilhelm II say something like this on his abdication? I am fairly sure I read this in some book or another, but oddly I cannot find it on the Google. Can anyone set me straight? --- ## [Why are hearing aids so expensive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hearing-aids-so-expensive/850351)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-hearing-aids-so-expensive/850351 "2020-03-31T02:39:43Z")
I had a hearing test and will need hearing aids eventually, if not now. My sister has a pair that cost over $7000 :eek: Her insurance covered a chunk of that, but still. The technology in these must be similar to what’s … --- ## [Why does the IT department require (working from home) laptops to be permanently charged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-it-department-require-working-from-home-laptops-to-be-permanently-charged/850650)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-it-department-require-working-from-home-laptops-to-be-permanently-charged/850650 "2020-03-31T02:05:31Z")
I’m referring to the Lenovo laptops a specific financial institution has allotted its employees so that they can work from home. An internal memo insists that the laptops should be charged as soon as their batteries have… --- ## [how to use a webcam for work](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-use-a-webcam-for-work/850547)
**Author:** [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 31, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-use-a-webcam-for-work/850547 "2020-03-31T00:27:12Z")
Working from home. At my company we have a lot of remote workers, and we have meetings once a week. Microsoft Teams. These have never been video meetings. But now the company has requested that we have video when we hav… --- ## [Light triggering a small circuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-triggering-a-small-circuit/850421)
**Author:** [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-triggering-a-small-circuit/850421 "2020-03-30T19:11:29Z")
So my toddler has a woodblock puzzle. When a piece is put in place, the small magnet on the back of the piece triggers a circuit, which plays a sound (ambulance, jet plane, motorcycle, etc.). When I turn off the light i… --- ## [How much would fully loaded police style Ford Interceptor cost me?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-fully-loaded-police-style-ford-interceptor-cost-me/266629)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 2, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-would-fully-loaded-police-style-ford-interceptor-cost-me/266629 "2004-10-02T02:51:27Z")
Re the Ford “Interceptor” which is the police version of the Crown Victoria, I saw a really cool looking black one in front of me at the dry cleaners the other day. Assuming I can get the engine and suspension package i… --- ## [Birth certificate lost in the mail - worst case scenario?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-certificate-lost-in-the-mail-worst-case-scenario/850480)
**Author:** [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2020, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-certificate-lost-in-the-mail-worst-case-scenario/850480 "2020-03-30T12:29:57Z")
I really wanted to get a Real ID when I renew my license. I got an eye apt to see if I need glasses (yes, for distance) so I won’t fail the vision test and sent for a copy of my missing birth certificate. The universe is… --- ## [Why can Casinos kick out lucky winners?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-casinos-kick-out-lucky-winners/55277)
**Author:** [@curiousgeorgeordeadcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curiousgeorgeordeadcat)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [March 30, 2020, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-casinos-kick-out-lucky-winners/55277 "2020-03-30T08:09:53Z")
I don’t know if they actually do this, but in the movies when a character is doing really well they are kicked out of the casino. If this happens for real, do the casinos have a legal right to do this, or do they just … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=376) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=378)