# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=408 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 409 --- ## [Fourth Dimensional Volume.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-dimensional-volume/843966)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fourth-dimensional-volume/843966 "2019-11-29T02:00:13Z")
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I find mathematics and physics a fascinating subject. Such clockwork perfection. Probably why I still believe in a Creator (of one form or another). I digress though. My question … --- ## [Is it still possible to get radio scanners that will let you listen to police bands?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-still-possible-to-get-radio-scanners-that-will-let-you-listen-to-police-bands/606455)
**Author:** [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [November 29, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-still-possible-to-get-radio-scanners-that-will-let-you-listen-to-police-bands/606455 "2019-11-29T01:21:38Z")
I have done a little research on this and it seems that most departments have upgraded to something I think they call “trunked” frequencies. I think that is a form of frequency hopping but I’m not sure. It also seems t… --- ## [What is supposed to be the monetary underpinning of cryptocurrency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-supposed-to-be-the-monetary-underpinning-of-cryptocurrency/844040)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-supposed-to-be-the-monetary-underpinning-of-cryptocurrency/844040 "2019-11-28T21:35:14Z")
As I (sort of) understand it, the money supply of virtually every central banking jurisdiction worldwide is a monetization of government debt. If the supply of available coins, banknotes, and bank deposits isn’t excessi… --- ## [How effective would a trained military sniper team be on top of a skyscraper?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-effective-would-a-trained-military-sniper-team-be-on-top-of-a-skyscraper/843908)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-effective-would-a-trained-military-sniper-team-be-on-top-of-a-skyscraper/843908 "2019-11-28T21:33:58Z")
Let’s say there’s some event that requires multiple police or military sharpshooters to have a 360 degree field of view on a city. They decide to go to the highest building with a clear line of sight and take up position… --- ## [How much protection for Trump after he leaves office?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protection-for-trump-after-he-leaves-office/844088)
**Author:** [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-protection-for-trump-after-he-leaves-office/844088 "2019-11-28T18:00:51Z")
I saw another article today, mentioning tangentially about Trump relocating to Florida. I assume he would live at Mar-a-Loco. We know that presidents get protection for the rest of their lives, right? How much protect… --- ## [Children with amnesia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-with-amnesia/844077)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-with-amnesia/844077 "2019-11-28T15:55:26Z")
Is there any condition where children suffer acute amnesia and cannot remember anything from one day to the next. If there is, what is it called? Childhood amnesia search results show adults who cannot remember their ch… --- ## [Who controls the "Fox" trademark?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-controls-the-fox-trademark/843923)
**Author:** [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-controls-the-fox-trademark/843923 "2019-11-27T22:10:59Z")
Now that Fox has been split between Fox News (what used to be News Corp) and 21st Century Fox (Disney), who controls the “Fox” brand? Does Disney license the name from News Corp? Is there a separate trust that both compa… --- ## [Any data on longevity of newly-legal marriages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-data-on-longevity-of-newly-legal-marriages/843982)
**Author:** [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-data-on-longevity-of-newly-legal-marriages/843982 "2019-11-27T17:28:31Z")
Listening to a podcast the other day on the history of No-Fault divorce, there was a brief tangent about Same Sex Marriage, which made me wonder: Now that it’s been a few years, is there any data on the longevity of marr… --- ## [US Credit Card Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-credit-card-question/843890)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-credit-card-question/843890 "2019-11-27T17:03:48Z")
This question applies to the US only. Do they still provide people with credit cards that you have to swipe (i.e. don’t have chips)? I recently signed up for Square credit card processing for my non-profit and it comes … --- ## [Who is the Pres' Press Secretary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-pres-press-secretary/844046)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-pres-press-secretary/844046 "2019-11-27T16:42:35Z")
I am drawing a blank on the name of Sara Sanders Huckabee’s replacement. Yes, yes, yes! I’ve Googled only to go in circles coming back to her name and her name alone. Didn’t she resign??? Who is her replacement? :smack: --- ## [Ford Focus Hatchback Dash Lights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-focus-hatchback-dash-lights/844042)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ford-focus-hatchback-dash-lights/844042 "2019-11-27T15:27:06Z")
I have a 2015 Ford Focus Hatchback. The dash indicator light for “stability control” (i.e., the slippery when wet symbol) is on. I must have bumped something when trying to get in and out of this econobox (not my car cho… --- ## [What did I see? ~12 planes flying north?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-see-12-planes-flying-north/843962)
**Author:** [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-see-12-planes-flying-north/843962 "2019-11-27T13:37:51Z")
This morning at approximately 6am PST near the Salem, OR area I noticed there were approximately 12 lights way up in the sky moving south to north. They were mostly in a straight line, but not exactly. They were unevenly… --- ## [Does CPU stop accessing memory or stop operating (RAM) while a PCIe device access RAM?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cpu-stop-accessing-memory-or-stop-operating-ram-while-a-pcie-device-access-ram/844057)
**Author:** [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cpu-stop-accessing-memory-or-stop-operating-ram-while-a-pcie-device-access-ram/844057 "2019-11-27T13:20:24Z")
On electronics.stackexchange.com, it says I am wondering if the current computer architecture on desktop PCs (x86 PCs) completely stop accessing memory or stop process any instruction when they receive an “interrupt … --- ## [What is this accent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-accent/843929)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-accent/843929 "2019-11-27T13:03:12Z")
Example: Invest in Kazakhstan - YouTube I hear this kind of “Commonwealth” accent a LOT in Sunday morning commercials for international or high end investment, banking, consulting, and the like. To my ears, it sounds v… --- ## [Durling Clinton's impeachment trial where was Al Gore when the Senate was voting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durling-clintons-impeachment-trial-where-was-al-gore-when-the-senate-was-voting/843934)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/durling-clintons-impeachment-trial-where-was-al-gore-when-the-senate-was-voting/843934 "2019-11-27T12:16:05Z")
When the Senate was voting on whether or not to remove Bill Clinton from office where was Al Gore? Was he on standby in his ceremonial office at the Capitol in case the Chief Justice had to swear him into office, or was… --- ## [Electrical Question - is this legal for connecting a sub panel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-question-is-this-legal-for-connecting-a-sub-panel/843990)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-question-is-this-legal-for-connecting-a-sub-panel/843990 "2019-11-27T07:35:14Z")
I had an electrician run a 220v line for a hot water heater. My main panel was full and he brought a sub panel, wire, and other needed parts. The electrician discovered a small padlock on the meter box. It wasn’t the s… --- ## [Common (Industry) Practice vs The Letter of the Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-industry-practice-vs-the-letter-of-the-law/843813)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2019, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-industry-practice-vs-the-letter-of-the-law/843813 "2019-11-27T06:09:50Z")
The NYS AG is suing a major electronics retailer, B&H Photo, over uncollected/unpaid sales taxes. The issue concerns point-of-sale manufacturer rebates, which – per the lawsuit – are subject to sales tax under NY law. F… --- ## [GPS uses magnetic north? Eh?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-uses-magnetic-north-eh/843955)
**Author:** [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gps-uses-magnetic-north-eh/843955 "2019-11-26T21:50:19Z")
Earlier this year there were stories in the news about how the north magnetic pole is moving faster than modelled, and that this was causing problems for GPS navigation. Example 1 Example 2 I thought GPS just used th… --- ## [Arresting someone already in jail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arresting-someone-already-in-jail/843922)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arresting-someone-already-in-jail/843922 "2019-11-26T21:37:35Z")
Sometimes when I am bored I look at the local mugshots on the local news website. I see people arrested and the arrest location is the jail and they are wearing jail clothes. Does this mean they are charged with addi… --- ## [Bell Jet Ranger helicopter startup sounds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bell-jet-ranger-helicopter-startup-sounds/844012)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bell-jet-ranger-helicopter-startup-sounds/844012 "2019-11-26T20:00:48Z")
Here’s a video of a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter starting up. At :06 is when the sounds begin. I assume the first 9 seconds or so are just a battery-powered motor spinning up the turbine, along with the clicks of the… --- ## [name for learned physical responses that become automatic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-learned-physical-responses-that-become-automatic/843770)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-for-learned-physical-responses-that-become-automatic/843770 "2019-11-26T15:34:00Z")
SmarterEveryDay is one of my favorite YouTube channels; Destin Sandlin, the creator, is a charismatic communicator who finds interesting subject matter and does a great job of enthusiastically explaining complicated mate… --- ## [What's the best way to measure the throughput of my WiFi (rather than my broadband speed)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-measure-the-throughput-of-my-wifi-rather-than-my-broadband-speed/843897)
**Author:** [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2019, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-measure-the-throughput-of-my-wifi-rather-than-my-broadband-speed/843897 "2019-11-26T11:13:39Z")
I would like to measure what speeds I am getting from my home WiFi network. I’m not talking about things like speedtest.net and the like, because they measure the speed of the broadband line. I’m talking about only measu… --- ## [Are ovaries as impact-sensitive as testicles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ovaries-as-impact-sensitive-as-testicles/843646)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ovaries-as-impact-sensitive-as-testicles/843646 "2019-11-26T00:04:45Z")
inspired by this thread, in which the sensitivity of non-human testicles to impact is discussed. In stark contrast to a man’s testicles, a woman’s ovaries are well protected deep inside the abdomen. However, AIUI teste… --- ## [Did black people face voter suppression outside the south before the voting rights act](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-black-people-face-voter-suppression-outside-the-south-before-the-voting-rights-act/843845)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-black-people-face-voter-suppression-outside-the-south-before-the-voting-rights-act/843845 "2019-11-25T19:20:45Z")
Like in 1920 Chicago or 1890 New York, could black people vote freely and did they do so? What about in northern states before the civil war but after those states abolished slavery? A lot of northern states abolished s… --- ## [Article about musicians wages declining](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-musicians-wages-declining/843774)
**Author:** [@ClickMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ClickMe)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2019, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/article-about-musicians-wages-declining/843774 "2019-11-25T17:21:13Z")
I read and was impressed by a long article probably a decade or more (maybe a few decades ago) that I think was by Cecil in a Straight Dope column in the Washington City Paper. The article was about how much musicians g… --- ## [What IS the deal with all the prenatal tests for Down's syndrome?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-deal-with-all-the-prenatal-tests-for-downs-syndrome/507036)
**Author:** [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-deal-with-all-the-prenatal-tests-for-downs-syndrome/507036 "2019-11-25T16:53:23Z")
Yes, I have another pregnancy-related post. So be it. Being over 35 (as in, I’m 36), I’m considered “advanced maternal age.” This means my aging eggs are more likely to result in chromosomal abnormalities should they … --- ## [How old was the average slave in history](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-was-the-average-slave-in-history/843799)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2019, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-was-the-average-slave-in-history/843799 "2019-11-25T13:52:20Z")
I’m watching 12 years a slave, most of the slaves look like their in their 40s. But you’d assume most people are barely healthy enough to be productive by that age back before modern medicine and doing lives of hard labo… --- ## [How elite are the Gurkhas compared to SAS or Delta Force?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-elite-are-the-gurkhas-compared-to-sas-or-delta-force/843243)
**Author:** [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2019, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-elite-are-the-gurkhas-compared-to-sas-or-delta-force/843243 "2019-11-25T05:51:53Z")
I guess this is one of those classic who would win questions. So would win between SAS or Delta vs the Gurkhas? Who has the hardest training? --- ## [Worldwide fossil fuel reserves in terms of the modern biosphere...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worldwide-fossil-fuel-reserves-in-terms-of-the-modern-biosphere/843892)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worldwide-fossil-fuel-reserves-in-terms-of-the-modern-biosphere/843892 "2019-11-25T03:35:40Z")
As an order-of-magnitude estimate, worldwide coal reserves are about a trillion tonnes (from here, and oil reserves of about 2 trillion barrels (from here.), or (2 trillion barrels/7barrels/tonne) = 285 billion tonnes of… --- ## [First, second ~ 1, 2 ~ ?, deuce](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2019, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-second-1-2-deuce/843532 "2019-11-24T12:12:53Z")
This is probably easy but I swear I tried to look it up. My googlfu being what it is, failed me. Anyway, what word represents the “1” place if deuce represents the 2? I suspect it has something to do with a French corr… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=407) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=409)