# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=405 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 406 --- ## [Why are video streaming user interfaces s so bad, and why can't I...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-video-streaming-user-interfaces-s-so-bad-and-why-cant-i/844643)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-video-streaming-user-interfaces-s-so-bad-and-why-cant-i/844643 "2019-12-10T14:26:34Z")
…use one interface of my choosing on all of them? Back in the “bad old days” when we still used physical media, like BDs, DVDs, videotapes, and LaserDiscs, we had complete and very precise control over the media: we cou… --- ## [Why do AT&T remotes drain batteries so quickly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-t-remotes-drain-batteries-so-quickly/844584)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 10, 2019, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-at-t-remotes-drain-batteries-so-quickly/844584 "2019-12-10T07:45:50Z")
We have A.T.&T U-verse for television services. We’ve had it in 4 rooms for 3 years now… We use the OEM remotes and they work well with our televisions and home theater equipment. But gawd dam do they go through batteri… --- ## [What percentage of all life do humans make up on earth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-all-life-do-humans-make-up-on-earth/844574)
**Author:** [@smam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smam)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-all-life-do-humans-make-up-on-earth/844574 "2019-12-09T22:13:18Z")
A quick google said 10,000 trillion ants alive at any time. From a math point of view, if the Thanos snap was designed to remove 50% of life on earth alone then how many humans would be expected to die if every animal f… --- ## [Does nicotine addiction cause permanent changes in the brain/body?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-nicotine-addiction-cause-permanent-changes-in-the-brain-body/844520)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-nicotine-addiction-cause-permanent-changes-in-the-brain-body/844520 "2019-12-09T22:07:42Z")
That is, if you become addicted to nicotine, are you now forever a recovering addict even if you quit? Lots of quitters relapse. Bonus round: Same question for caffeine. Regular coffee drinkers get withdrawal symptoms i… --- ## [Climate Change Time Delay](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-time-delay/844550)
**Author:** [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-time-delay/844550 "2019-12-09T22:01:55Z")
Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that these conditions are true: \[ul\] \[li\]The climate sensitivity of CO\[sub\]2\[/sub\] is 3\[sup\]o\[/sup\] C. That is, a doubling of the CO\[sub\]2\[/sub\] concentration in the atmosphere to … --- ## [Civil lawsuit: plaintiff's word vs nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-lawsuit-plaintiffs-word-vs-nothing/844278)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-lawsuit-plaintiffs-word-vs-nothing/844278 "2019-12-09T20:47:59Z")
Legal reckoning: New abuse suits could cost church over $4B Leaving aside various other aspects of the church abuse issue, I’m curious about this particular aspect. ISTM that this circumstance is highly unusual if not… --- ## [The USSR's preparation for the violation of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ussrs-preparation-for-the-violation-of-the-molotov-ribbentrop-pact/675507)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ussrs-preparation-for-the-violation-of-the-molotov-ribbentrop-pact/675507 "2019-12-09T19:38:27Z")
Did Stalin expect Hitler not to invade the USSR? Did the USSR step up its building of war factories or military bases, its military output, its military technology or anything of the sort which would suggest that Stalin… --- ## [How plausible is this Facebook story about Wal-Mart employees driving a sick person home?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-plausible-is-this-facebook-story-about-wal-mart-employees-driving-a-sick-person-home/844458)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-plausible-is-this-facebook-story-about-wal-mart-employees-driving-a-sick-person-home/844458 "2019-12-09T17:46:01Z")
This story right here (sorry for it being screenshot only) Long story short, woman with her baby goes to Walmart on Black Friday to pick up her baby meds, gets caught in the giant crush of shoppers and has a seizure. Em… --- ## [What if everyone got the flu vaccine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-everyone-got-the-flu-vaccine/844589)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-everyone-got-the-flu-vaccine/844589 "2019-12-09T15:55:54Z")
According to the CDC, here in the US about 60% of kids and 45% of adults get the flu vaccine. The results? About 21M people still end up catching the flu, with about 50% of them visiting a doctor for treatment - and ab… --- ## [International Postal Statistics by Country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-postal-statistics-by-country/844588)
**Author:** [@human\_extinction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/human_extinction)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-postal-statistics-by-country/844588 "2019-12-09T11:32:14Z")
Maybe I didn’t ask Google correctly, but these stats don’t seem readily available: I’m looking for per-country postal system statistics, especially for international mail. I’d like to see it separate by letters & packag… --- ## [Need help with calculation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-calculation/844526)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-calculation/844526 "2019-12-09T06:10:08Z")
I don’t know how to calculate vacuum. I will give a little work problem with two slight variants. I have a sealed pipe that is 10 ft long with a 4" diameter ( About 12.5 sq inches) At the top of this pipe I have a foot … --- ## [Iphone without subscription?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-without-subscription/843688)
**Author:** [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-without-subscription/843688 "2019-12-09T04:17:19Z")
Walmart has an Iphone 6S for $99 on Black Friday, which seems like a very good price. I’m an old fart, competent at computers but not phones. The deal requires activation with a service I never heard of (Total Wireless… --- ## [What is f\_ε0(3)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-f_-0-3/844543)
**Author:** [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-f_-0-3/844543 "2019-12-09T03:45:02Z")
I’ve been studying the Fast-growing hierarchy and I’m trying to figure out the value of f\_ε0(3). This number is undoubtedly too large to directly calculate, but I should be able to reduce it to f\_n(3), where n is a natu… --- ## [Largest land mass with no internet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-land-mass-with-no-internet/843858)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-land-mass-with-no-internet/843858 "2019-12-09T03:18:18Z")
When I first got online in 1994, a Usenet group participant mentioned that the largest land mass without internet service was Sumatra. 25 years later, I’m pretty sure Sumatra has at least dial-up, but I wonder what islan… --- ## [One Hundred Dollar United States Note](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hundred-dollar-united-states-note/844536)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hundred-dollar-united-states-note/844536 "2019-12-09T02:01:17Z")
Are any SDMB posters notaphilists? A United States Note is a particular type of United States currency. Unlike Federal Reserve Notes, which are an obligation of the Federal Reserve banks, United States Notes are a dire… --- ## [Strange Gas Line Wire](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-gas-line-wire/844391)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-gas-line-wire/844391 "2019-12-09T00:15:07Z")
I recently bought a 15-year-old house in a development that is about 20 years old. Near the front corner of the lot is a plastic “Warning Gas Line” sign which is important if you plan on doing any digging in the area. I … --- ## [Car in Hawaii photographed with Pennsylvania license plate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-in-hawaii-photographed-with-pennsylvania-license-plate/844392)
**Author:** [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-in-hawaii-photographed-with-pennsylvania-license-plate/844392 "2019-12-09T00:04:38Z")
This photo related to the Pearl Harbour shooting has raised some eyebrows on Facebook, especially here in PA: https://www.wfmz.com/news/ap/ap-national/military-sailor-shoots-at-pearl-harbor-takes-own-life/article\_9d6eb7… --- ## [Dark Energy Stars...alternatives to Black Holes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-energy-stars-alternatives-to-black-holes/844567)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dark-energy-stars-alternatives-to-black-holes/844567 "2019-12-08T22:07:07Z")
Discuss. --- ## [Explain the Amazon HQ withdrawal from NYC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-amazon-hq-withdrawal-from-nyc/829550)
**Author:** [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-amazon-hq-withdrawal-from-nyc/829550 "2019-12-08T20:18:07Z")
As is typical all the news articles say nothing of the specifics. They allude to some politicians not liking us and mayor saying they didn’t want to play ball. How informative. So what was the point(s) of contention tha… --- ## [No Poo and Sebum Production](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-poo-and-sebum-production/844477)
**Author:** [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-poo-and-sebum-production/844477 "2019-12-08T18:31:38Z")
In this thread the idea of “no poo” or no shampoo was touched on. One of the ideas behind that seems to be that if you use shampoo to remove the oil (sebum) from your scalp and hair, that causes the scalp to over-produc… --- ## [Political campaigns, 501c4s, PACs, SuperPACs...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-campaigns-501c4s-pacs-superpacs/844555)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/political-campaigns-501c4s-pacs-superpacs/844555 "2019-12-08T15:31:53Z")
Every election cycle, I have to try to re-remember the labyrinth of political bribery in the United States. Is there a table anyway outlining the different types of political organizations and their respective limits? … --- ## [Acidic ocean water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acidic-ocean-water/844528)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2019, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acidic-ocean-water/844528 "2019-12-08T05:41:52Z")
If increased C02 raises the acidity of the ocean will the acidity constantly be seeking neutral by reacting with other things and breaking down? If so what is it when it breaks down? --- ## [Liquid Oxygen Explosions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-oxygen-explosions/844468)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liquid-oxygen-explosions/844468 "2019-12-07T23:23:29Z")
Looking at a NASA pic, I see a tank marked, “Liquid Oxygen No Smoking.” I think, “Yeah, duh.” But then I wonder, when the Liquid O does explode, what is it combusting with? When gasoline or hydrogen tanks explode, the… --- ## [Where Is All the CO?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-the-co/844044)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-all-the-co/844044 "2019-12-07T22:42:55Z")
While everyone is worried about CO2 levels, what about CO levels in the atmosphere? It is widely known that CO is an unavoidable waste product of combustion. So, after all the ages of burning things, why hasn’t the CO le… --- ## [Help with a simple(?) python animation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-simple-python-animation/844522)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-simple-python-animation/844522 "2019-12-07T18:32:29Z")
First, I can do what I want with animation software but I want to integrate math elements (think 3 Blue 1 Brown). What I need the animation to do is to take a sprite or a PNG picture, fade it in, move it, and fade out. … --- ## [Contradictory legal decisions on unrelated issues](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contradictory-legal-decisions-on-unrelated-issues/844464)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contradictory-legal-decisions-on-unrelated-issues/844464 "2019-12-07T18:23:41Z")
I have an example I’m thinking of, but would rather not get bogged down in the details, so I’m going to try to go without it for now. The question is as follows: Suppose you have a legal question, e.g. “how does the law… --- ## [Osteoporosis and weight-bearing exercise](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osteoporosis-and-weight-bearing-exercise/844426)
**Author:** [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/osteoporosis-and-weight-bearing-exercise/844426 "2019-12-07T15:57:00Z")
Weight-bearing exercise is supposed to help with osteoporosis. The list of weight-bearing exercises includes walking. Is standing also considered a weight-bearing exercise? As far as the leg bones are concerned, is th… --- ## [First corporate acronym](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-corporate-acronym/844228)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-corporate-acronym/844228 "2019-12-07T14:32:46Z")
What was the first company name to be acronymized? Either officially or in informal use, it doesn’t matter. Some time back I compiled a list of plane names derived from company acronyms. I later tried to find the earlie… --- ## [Blow Holes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blow-holes/844480)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blow-holes/844480 "2019-12-07T04:53:29Z")
How could blow holes evolve in whales, porpoises and dolphins? I can see how other features came about from limbs changing shape to become more paddle-like. But the blow hole seems like such a departure from terrestria… --- ## [Looking for a practical explanation of range of vision with different strength lenses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-practical-explanation-of-range-of-vision-with-different-strength-lenses/844475)
**Author:** [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2019, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-practical-explanation-of-range-of-vision-with-different-strength-lenses/844475 "2019-12-07T03:12:56Z")
I am facing cataract surgery for non age related reasons and require a mono-focal lens implant which means I won’t be able to focus. I told the doctor I wanted “mini-monovision” and I want a computer distance lens in t… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=404) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=406)