# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=400 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 401 --- ## [US cell phone use in Thailand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cell-phone-use-in-thailand/845811)
**Author:** [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-cell-phone-use-in-thailand/845811 "2020-01-05T05:49:13Z")
I’m traveling for a couple weeks in Thailand, leaving this weekend. I’m finding different recommendations for cell phone use there. From purchase a SIM card and plan on arrival to purchase a burner phone while there. V… --- ## [Reasonable doubt vs. "forced doubt"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-doubt-vs-forced-doubt/845917)
**Author:** [@core](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/core)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-doubt-vs-forced-doubt/845917 "2020-01-05T02:50:57Z")
The Florida jury instructions say that a reasonable doubt is “not a mere possible doubt, a speculative, imaginary or forced doubt”. But I’m trying to wrap my head around what exactly a “forced” doubt is. Can anyone giv… --- ## [Sources to research a particular Jewish girl who died in Ukraine in or near WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-to-research-a-particular-jewish-girl-who-died-in-ukraine-in-or-near-wwii/845888)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-to-research-a-particular-jewish-girl-who-died-in-ukraine-in-or-near-wwii/845888 "2020-01-04T23:10:45Z")
A friend has asked me how she might go about locating any additional information on a particular Jewish girl who died in the war. My friend has the name of the girl, and she has an entry in the online “Holocaust Survivo… --- ## [a question about reposting something from twitter ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-reposting-something-from-twitter/845903)
**Author:** [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-reposting-something-from-twitter/845903 "2020-01-04T17:27:22Z")
Ok i found something amusing through twitter and started a thread I want to post the resulting twitter discussion on it as its amusing to my op but i opened it in the twitter app on my pc … how do I link to it? --- ## [Rhapsody In Blue goes public domain--impact on United Airlines?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rhapsody-in-blue-goes-public-domain-impact-on-united-airlines/845592)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rhapsody-in-blue-goes-public-domain-impact-on-united-airlines/845592 "2020-01-04T14:43:18Z")
Due to copyright term limits, the classic song “Rhapsody In Blue” goes into the public domain on Wednesday. If you are not up on Gershwin, you have probably heard in TV ads for United Airlines. They have adopted it as th… --- ## [Can nuclear reactions be influenced by catalysts?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nuclear-reactions-be-influenced-by-catalysts/845845)
**Author:** [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nuclear-reactions-be-influenced-by-catalysts/845845 "2020-01-04T14:26:29Z")
My daughter is in middle school and she was wondering about the Sun burning without oxygen. The conversation led to our visiting this page, where they say that rates of nuclear reactions are unaffected by catalysts. This… --- ## [A Blow To The Head From A Very Fast-Moving Apple](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-to-the-head-from-a-very-fast-moving-apple/845600)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2020, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-blow-to-the-head-from-a-very-fast-moving-apple/845600 "2020-01-04T07:00:47Z")
In this video, some Australian knuckleheads are trying to catch apples dropped from a helicopter at 500 feet (about 150 meters). They don’t wear helmets. Neither physics nor orthopedics nor botany are my strong suits, b… --- ## [Please explain the German word "Einlaufstraße"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-german-word-einlaufstrasse/845781)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-german-word-einlaufstrasse/845781 "2020-01-04T02:36:25Z")
Hi I’ve searched and cannot find any definition of the German word “Einlaufstraße”. I look forward to your feedback. Danke im Voraus “Promenade toll, Einlaufstraße leider ohne Flair”, Altstadt … https://www.holida… --- ## [Is the moon ever actually completely "new" when there's not a solar eclipse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-moon-ever-actually-completely-new-when-theres-not-a-solar-eclipse/845593)
**Author:** [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-moon-ever-actually-completely-new-when-theres-not-a-solar-eclipse/845593 "2020-01-03T19:01:44Z")
Because the moon’s orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to the Earth’s, we don’t get a solar eclipse every new moon: usually the new moon passes either above or below the sun from our POV. But if the moon is slig… --- ## [Would Roman numerals work on a check?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-roman-numerals-work-on-a-check/845778)
**Author:** [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-roman-numerals-work-on-a-check/845778 "2020-01-03T17:26:37Z")
This year is MMXX in Roman numerals. This got me thinking: What would happen if I wrote the date, or even the dollar amount, in Roman numerals? Would the bank accept it? --- ## [Can I submerge this electric tea maker in water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-submerge-this-electric-tea-maker-in-water/845810)
**Author:** [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-submerge-this-electric-tea-maker-in-water/845810 "2020-01-03T16:52:10Z")
It says “Do not submerge in water”. :smiley: It was given to me by an coworker because they no longer use it and I will. However, since it’s pre-owned I want to wash it. If i submerge it it soapy water then give i… --- ## [Do three stars align with the sunrise on the winter solstice? Need answer fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-three-stars-align-with-the-sunrise-on-the-winter-solstice-need-answer-fast/845198 "2020-01-03T15:17:26Z")
Several years ago I heard a theory that the story of the three wise men finding Jesus was a metaphor for how on the solstice there are three stars that align and point to where the sun will rise on the solstice morning. … --- ## [Is there an alternative to eBay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-alternative-to-ebay/845761)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-alternative-to-ebay/845761 "2020-01-03T12:29:42Z")
With the outrageous cost for the new/casual sellers and the licence for buyers to scam & steal along with having to do everything PayPal is there some aution site that is like the eBay of old? --- ## [Debunk this "unorthodox physicist", please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-unorthodox-physicist-please/825124)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunk-this-unorthodox-physicist-please/825124 "2020-01-03T02:54:41Z")
I’ve come across this website of a self-appointed researcher who claims that the law of preservation of angular momentum is wrong. He penned a large number of (poorly written) papers (and published them on his website, t… --- ## [How accurate are flight simulators?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-are-flight-simulators/845789)
**Author:** [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-accurate-are-flight-simulators/845789 "2020-01-03T02:07:34Z")
I’m talking about professional flight simulators used by professional pilots for training, to avoid the expense and danger of using real planes. They seem like a wonderful invention. They rely on accurately simulating … --- ## [Eccentric British Noble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eccentric-british-noble/845658)
**Author:** [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eccentric-british-noble/845658 "2020-01-03T00:57:26Z")
I vaguely remember seeing some article with pictures of some British noble \[but not Duke level\] that was effectively a hippy - he had long hair and his stately house was less than stately - it had really funky statuary a… --- ## [IPhone setup question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-setup-question/845794)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-setup-question/845794 "2020-01-02T23:20:36Z")
I just got an iPhone 11 (plain vanilla). It’s set up to my satisfaction, but on the wallpaper, both the settings and folder icons have a little red dot with a little 1 inside, indicating that something needs to be attend… --- ## [Knock-on physics effects of a change in the speed of light?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knock-on-physics-effects-of-a-change-in-the-speed-of-light/845738)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knock-on-physics-effects-of-a-change-in-the-speed-of-light/845738 "2020-01-02T22:34:36Z")
So God’s lab coat sleeve snags on a rheostat sitting on the benchtop where he’s running the UniverseAsWeKnowIt, and the speed of light is doubled. I assume we would all drop dead, but what does God observe? The speed of … --- ## [Webmail Connection Troubleshooting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webmail-connection-troubleshooting/845799)
**Author:** [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webmail-connection-troubleshooting/845799 "2020-01-02T19:33:21Z")
My husband has a Macbook Pro running OS 10.11.6. He has trouble logging on to his work webmail (his school at state university server) through our home internet. Sometimes it connects all right, sometimes it times out (T… --- ## [can a plane fly with spoilers deployed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-plane-fly-with-spoilers-deployed/845595)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-plane-fly-with-spoilers-deployed/845595 "2020-01-02T17:28:09Z")
More specifically: For a commercial airliner, is there some available combination of thrust, forward speed, and angle of attack that will enable it to sustain level flight with the spoilers fully extended? Or do spoile… --- ## [Microwave Ovens: why does fan stay for a second after time has elapsed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-ovens-why-does-fan-stay-for-a-second-after-time-has-elapsed/845736)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microwave-ovens-why-does-fan-stay-for-a-second-after-time-has-elapsed/845736 "2020-01-02T15:16:04Z")
When I stop a microwave oven mid-cycle by pressing the ‘Stop’ button, everything just shuts off immediately. But if I let the full time elapse, the noise (I assume it’s a fan) stays on for a bit longer after 0:00 has be… --- ## [American Indian drum signals](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-indian-drum-signals/845762)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-indian-drum-signals/845762 "2020-01-02T15:00:58Z")
I was watching an episode of Wagon Trail, which takes great liberties with Western history; horses instead of oxen pulling wagons, crossing deserts instead of following rivers, and probably other things that I am not awa… --- ## [How do you download movies to a tablet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-download-movies-to-a-tablet/845368)
**Author:** [@Dunmurry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunmurry)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-download-movies-to-a-tablet/845368 "2020-01-02T14:02:09Z")
Well I have a tablet computer and on certain websites you can purchase some movies for download and a page appears with a link to a file in .wmv format and it says to right-click it for download to your computer and sele… --- ## [iphone 6 Disable Peak Performance Capability??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-6-disable-peak-performance-capability/845735)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-6-disable-peak-performance-capability/845735 "2020-01-02T13:40:56Z")
Checking various sites to solve a sudden quick battery drain problem, I see reference to the battery setting where Peak Performance Capability is listed. But instead of a number, which I’d expect to see, I see a note (t… --- ## [Who Discovered Zero?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-discovered-zero/845599)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-discovered-zero/845599 "2020-01-02T13:40:56Z")
Sorry I have no cite. Actually I think I heard it on satellite TV. (You can learn a lot on satellite TV;).) But ancient people didn’t know about the number Zero. Apparently even for scientifically advanced civilizations,… --- ## [Why did humans choose to domestic only the birds with penises?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-humans-choose-to-domestic-only-the-birds-with-penises/845692)
**Author:** [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2020, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-humans-choose-to-domestic-only-the-birds-with-penises/845692 "2020-01-02T00:27:32Z")
In the course of a discussion on Twitter regarding what makes a good (more usually a bad) sex scene, someone mentioned that people should try reading a book of comparative reproductive systems, and that even amongst mamm… --- ## [Pumping water out of a sealed sphere](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumping-water-out-of-a-sealed-sphere/845702)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pumping-water-out-of-a-sealed-sphere/845702 "2020-01-01T22:30:05Z")
For New Years my oldest and I have been blowing stuff up. Including underwater. Big fun. Got her thinking: Scenario. A sphere filled with water. Sealed. Pump some out. Say a quarter. No air goes in. Question: what ha… --- ## [Do fish get fevers? Cold-blooded defense against viruses and infection....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-get-fevers-cold-blooded-defense-against-viruses-and-infection/845604)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-fish-get-fevers-cold-blooded-defense-against-viruses-and-infection/845604 "2020-01-01T22:07:35Z")
I was thinking about the role of fever in humans–as I understand it, the temporary suckiness to the organism is still worth it to make the host less hospitable to viruses and, in ways I understand even less, benefits our… --- ## ["Your connection is not private" error](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-connection-is-not-private-error/845730)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-connection-is-not-private-error/845730 "2020-01-01T19:01:56Z")
I’ve been trying to access this site, and I keep getting “Your connection is not private” error. This isn’t the first time that happened. It only started happening when the site switched to a new server, and it would usu… --- ## [Why won't Text send attachment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-text-send-attachment/845458)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-text-send-attachment/845458 "2020-01-01T13:18:13Z")
I’ve been having fits trying to send a Text attachment. It’s a 1 page PDF, 385kb Sets there for 15 mins “sending” Then comes back, press to try again Same BS for another 15 mins. Finally get pissed off enough to delet… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=399) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=401)