# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=382 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 383 --- ## [Getting a month of free rent - what kind of taxable income is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-month-of-free-rent-what-kind-of-taxable-income-is-it/849180)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-a-month-of-free-rent-what-kind-of-taxable-income-is-it/849180 "2020-03-14T13:36:30Z")
Suppose my apartment complex suddenly gave me a month of rent-free dwelling (let’s say, errr, I won some “win-free-rent” raffle drawing,) what kind of taxable income would that be? It wouldn’t be income so much as it wo… --- ## [Did cowboys really duel each other?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-cowboys-really-duel-each-other/849099)
**Author:** [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2020, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-cowboys-really-duel-each-other/849099 "2020-03-14T10:20:01Z")
You’ve probably seen Western duels in movies or TV shows. Two cowboys standing at opposite sides of the town, seeing who can pull out their gun and shoot the other the fastest. Did cowboys really duel each other, or is … --- ## [Effect of dryness on mold after it's established a foothold](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-dryness-on-mold-after-its-established-a-foothold/849303)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2020, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-dryness-on-mold-after-its-established-a-foothold/849303 "2020-03-14T02:35:08Z")
Mold grows and develops a foothold if one allows a room’s humidity to get too high for too long, but if you dehydrate the room environment back to a dry state, does it inhibit the mold from growing or doing anything furt… --- ## [How bad did I lose in the Markets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-did-i-lose-in-the-markets/849378)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-bad-did-i-lose-in-the-markets/849378 "2020-03-13T22:02:39Z")
If I had $100,000 in the stock market when Trump was inaugurated, how much would I have now? --- ## [Is this simple flip-phone secure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-simple-flip-phone-secure/849369)
**Author:** [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-simple-flip-phone-secure/849369 "2020-03-13T18:27:47Z")
I have a simple flip-phone–an “Alcatel onetouch 3G”–that I use for voice conversation only, no apps or other misc stuff. I add time every 3-months w/TracFone. Is it safe/secure to use this phone for telephone banking? I… --- ## [Water fountain germs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-fountain-germs/849416)
**Author:** [@lacazet2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lacazet2k)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-fountain-germs/849416 "2020-03-13T17:58:16Z")
Just read a book called Did you Just eat That? by a Paul Dawson. In it, he discusses how many germs you can get by sharing popcorn, hand driers in bathrooms, etc. he didn’t mention water fountains. I do use these, shoul… --- ## [What countries have meaningful subdivisions? (States, provinces, etc)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-have-meaningful-subdivisions-states-provinces-etc/849021)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-countries-have-meaningful-subdivisions-states-provinces-etc/849021 "2020-03-13T17:22:52Z")
Or, since I’m not sure which is more typical, which countries DON’T have meaningful subdivisions? When I say “meaningful” I’m pretty much talking about the standard mailing address. If I send mail there, do I need to pu… --- ## [How do news outlets decide when to "call" an election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-news-outlets-decide-when-to-call-an-election/849281)
**Author:** [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-news-outlets-decide-when-to-call-an-election/849281 "2020-03-13T16:34:02Z")
With Biden winning the Michigan primary yesterday, I’ve been seeing complaints on social media from Bernie Sanders supporters complaining that MSNBC called the election for Biden while there were still people at some pol… --- ## [3Blue1Brown-video using high dimension geometry to solve probabilty question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3blue1brown-video-using-high-dimension-geometry-to-solve-probabilty-question/849343)
**Author:** [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3blue1brown-video-using-high-dimension-geometry-to-solve-probabilty-question/849343 "2020-03-13T12:46:50Z")
I spent some time yesterday searching through Grant Sanderson’s videos on youtube looking for a specific one I was sure existed, but that I don’t remember all the specifics of. And I just couldn’t find it. The closest I… --- ## [Marijuana states and drug dog searches](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-states-and-drug-dog-searches/808377)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-states-and-drug-dog-searches/808377 "2020-03-13T12:39:04Z")
What is being done is states where weed is legal and drug dogs are conducting searches? The dog can’t tell the handler what kind of drug is present, only that one of the ones he was trained to alert on is (or was). It se… --- ## [Chemical allergy questions.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemical-allergy-questions/392087)
**Author:** [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemical-allergy-questions/392087 "2020-03-13T11:55:36Z")
So, Anagramless Guy (my bf, for those of you who don’t follow my SDMB life) claims to have an allergy to chemicals. Which chemicals? “Chemicals,” he tells me. Now, I’m no biochemist, so I have problems figuring out how o… --- ## [Mental Disease and Chemical Imbalances](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-disease-and-chemical-imbalances/232825)
**Author:** [@gregongie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregongie)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 13, 2020, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-disease-and-chemical-imbalances/232825 "2020-03-13T07:54:56Z")
I know little about psychiatry, but it’s popular knowledge that mental diseases are caused by certain types of chemical imbalances in the brain. This led me to wonder: What are the causes of these chemical imbalances? … --- ## [Retrieving the "Snoopy" Lunar Lander](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-the-snoopy-lunar-lander/849233)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrieving-the-snoopy-lunar-lander/849233 "2020-03-12T18:59:26Z")
Half a century ago, Apollo 10…NASA’s dress rehearsal for the Apollo 11 Landing…sent the spacecraft into orbit around the Sun. Apparently, it has been “Found”…and close to earth once every 15 years…could it be recovered? … --- ## [Free college around the world](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-college-around-the-world/849161)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-college-around-the-world/849161 "2020-03-12T18:33:15Z")
I was wondering about a certain aspect of free college that is offered throughout the world. I don’t want to debate what “free” means or the merits of different systems in different countries. Assume I’m talking about an… --- ## ["% Viking DNA" from Genetic Tests](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viking-dna-from-genetic-tests/849171)
**Author:** [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viking-dna-from-genetic-tests/849171 "2020-03-12T18:00:57Z")
I was chatting with a British friend on the weekend and she told me that her sister had done a DNA test from Ancestry.com and they reported she had 70% “viking” (Norse) DNA. She commented that she wasn’t surprised by th… --- ## [Piggybacking off a criminal investigation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggybacking-off-a-criminal-investigation/849218)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piggybacking-off-a-criminal-investigation/849218 "2020-03-12T16:12:00Z")
Say that student X had been accused of raping another student at a university. I have seen news reports of students being investigated by the University in cases like this, with no mention of the police. My guess would … --- ## [Ads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads/849336)
**Author:** [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ads/849336 "2020-03-12T14:59:57Z")
Am I seeing ads because my membership expired? I don’t remember a notification about it. Never mind, I see the word “Guest” by my name. LOL --- ## [5-minute epoxy: max temp reached while curing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-minute-epoxy-max-temp-reached-while-curing/849210)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/5-minute-epoxy-max-temp-reached-while-curing/849210 "2020-03-12T14:26:26Z")
I’m interested in filling small plastic item with epoxy to secure a threaded rod in it. Epoxy seems like it would work well, as it would pour in easily and then cure to a rock-hard state. The catch is that it generates… --- ## [Electric space heaters run at full 1500 watt rating tend to burn up AC sockets. Common or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-space-heaters-run-at-full-1500-watt-rating-tend-to-burn-up-ac-sockets-common-or-not/680811)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [March 17, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-space-heaters-run-at-full-1500-watt-rating-tend-to-burn-up-ac-sockets-common-or-not/680811 "2019-03-17T17:48:53Z")
When using variable power (600- 1500 watt) fan driven electrical box style heaters I often plug them into computer style power strips. In almost all cases I’ve found the female AC socket the male AC plug goes into becom… --- ## [OMG how to get around all the sites requesting I disable Adblock.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-how-to-get-around-all-the-sites-requesting-i-disable-adblock/843478)
**Author:** [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [November 18, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omg-how-to-get-around-all-the-sites-requesting-i-disable-adblock/843478 "2019-11-18T04:47:11Z")
I use AdBlock Plus because it makes the internet a reasonably better place. Lately, nearly every site pops up “disable adblock to continue,” in some form or another. On reddit, I was told applying a certain block list w… --- ## [The Atomic Hand Grenade](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atomic-hand-grenade/849114)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-atomic-hand-grenade/849114 "2020-03-12T05:26:05Z")
HG Wells, apparently, had the concept of an “atomic hand grenade” which had the special property that, after it was triggered, it “would continue to explode indefinitely”. At the moment, we seem to have the ability to e… --- ## [Is any animal life TRULY inedible for humans?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-animal-life-truly-inedible-for-humans/474251)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-animal-life-truly-inedible-for-humans/474251 "2020-03-12T04:02:52Z")
There are lots of animals we don’t commonly eat, out of a sense of disgust (insects) or impracticality (hummingbirds) or because they don’t taste very good (carnivores?) but my understanding is that, due to common ances… --- ## [How to setup a wifi at work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-setup-a-wifi-at-work/849185)
**Author:** [@cornflakes2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes2)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-setup-a-wifi-at-work/849185 "2020-03-12T02:17:09Z")
I know how to set one up at home, but it seems like it’s a bit different at work as a simple plug in play isn’t enough. My workplace pc has a LAN/cable connection into the PC. I brought my TP LINK wifi router to work… --- ## [What are the Chinese spraying on the ground for Coronavirus](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chinese-spraying-on-the-ground-for-coronavirus/849235)
**Author:** [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-chinese-spraying-on-the-ground-for-coronavirus/849235 "2020-03-12T02:00:25Z")
I’ve seen multiple clips of people in hazmat unforms spraying stuff on ground. Like, on grass even. What is it and why are they doing that? --- ## [Youtube question: how to hide my comments/posts I've left on other videos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-question-how-to-hide-my-comments-posts-ive-left-on-other-videos/849191)
**Author:** [@cornflakes2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes2)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2020, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-question-how-to-hide-my-comments-posts-ive-left-on-other-videos/849191 "2020-03-12T01:33:58Z")
I’m not sure if there is a way, but I would like to block or disable the ability for others to look at all my recent posts or comments on other youtube videos. In other words, I don’t want there to be some sort of chron… --- ## [What is "inappropriate" about this phrase?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inappropriate-about-this-phrase/849215)
**Author:** [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-inappropriate-about-this-phrase/849215 "2020-03-11T23:00:41Z")
In Pokemon Go, you can assign nicknames to your Pokemon or other players that you denote as friends. Your friendship level can increase once per day if you interact with a person. While working my way up the friendship l… --- ## [Good RX, great service but why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-rx-great-service-but-why/849244)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-rx-great-service-but-why/849244 "2020-03-11T17:24:29Z")
Hello Everyone, I’M sure we are all aware of the app Good RX. I’ve used it and pay less with the app than with my insurance with all three of my scripts. I save more then half. I see the benefit to the consumer, but … --- ## [1:3 odds versus 33% chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-3-odds-versus-33-chance/848840)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-3-odds-versus-33-chance/848840 "2020-03-11T17:01:07Z")
I see both Biden and Saunders are rated at a “1 in 6” chance of winning the nomination outright. (On the 538 site.) How is this different from “fifteen point something percent chance?” Why are the numbers stated this wa… --- ## [Ok to start using marijuana in your 50s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-using-marijuana-in-your-50s/849163)
**Author:** [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-using-marijuana-in-your-50s/849163 "2020-03-11T14:07:26Z")
Most of the literature on the potential risks of marijuana focus on younger users and particularly the impact on the growing brain. The inherent risks of smoking any substance are, of course, well documented, and the da… --- ## [Inertia and Entropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inertia-and-entropy/849160)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2020, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inertia-and-entropy/849160 "2020-03-11T06:12:57Z")
Inspired by the thread on Perpetual motion and Inertia, I have a question that has bothered me some over the years. So Newton’s law says “ Every body in the universe keeps at rest or uniform rectilinear motion unless an… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=381) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=383)