# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=444 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 445 --- ## [Lawyers and Defamation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-and-defamation/837256)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lawyers-and-defamation/837256 "2019-07-22T14:46:46Z")
Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard for defamation, for her having implied that he abused her. In the context of their legal representation, her lawyers have repeated these allegations in even more explicit form. For exampl… --- ## [Climate Deniers In Other Countries.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-deniers-in-other-countries/837408)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-deniers-in-other-countries/837408 "2019-07-22T14:17:22Z")
I just have to ask this. Are there climate change (i.e., global warming) deniers in any other countries? I know in the USA it is a partisan issue. But is it an issue at all in any other country? I know that the USA doe… --- ## [New sink failed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-sink-failed/837052)
**Author:** [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-sink-failed/837052 "2019-07-22T13:51:08Z")
I got a new marble counter and the sink is a large rectangular deep one. It detached on the front 2 weeks or so ago. They (the stone company is responsible) have been saying they need to remove the garbage disposal to d… --- ## [Who do federal U.S. prosecutors have subpoena power over?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-federal-u-s-prosecutors-have-subpoena-power-over/837430)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2019, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-federal-u-s-prosecutors-have-subpoena-power-over/837430 "2019-07-22T07:30:50Z")
AIUI, a federal U.S. prosecutor can subpoena any witness or victim in the United States, regardless of nationality - and/or a U.S. citizen anywhere in the world - but it does not extend beyond that (if, for instance, the… --- ## [What animals can be trained to look at where a finger is pointing rather than the finger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-be-trained-to-look-at-where-a-finger-is-pointing-rather-than-the-finger/688689)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-animals-can-be-trained-to-look-at-where-a-finger-is-pointing-rather-than-the-finger/688689 "2019-07-22T01:27:43Z")
Aside from humans. Are there animals which do this with no training? Are there animals which do this between themselves or have analogous behavior? --- ## [The "Man" in Manhole is really short for "Manual"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-in-manhole-is-really-short-for-manual/837311)
**Author:** [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 22, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-man-in-manhole-is-really-short-for-manual/837311 "2019-07-22T00:40:32Z")
So with the gender neutral language announcement made this week at Berkley, some folks on my Facebook blew up, of course, and a post mentioned the following: I think the person who posted this got it from here, …but it… --- ## [Do any countries have geographical centres outside their borders?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-countries-have-geographical-centres-outside-their-borders/837127)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-countries-have-geographical-centres-outside-their-borders/837127 "2019-07-21T23:51:20Z")
Let us define the geographical centre of a country as the point with the minimal sum of squared Euclidean distances between itself and every point within the country’s land borders, disregarding elevation. Under this de… --- ## [How do I get rid of Top Results malware?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-top-results-malware/836261)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-top-results-malware/836261 "2019-07-21T23:47:52Z")
Recently discovered that the Cub has downloaded something called “Top Results” on my Mac (using Mojave). Can’t delete it; just says it can’t be moved to trash because it’s open. Any thoughts on how to get rid of it? --- ## [How Does A Robocall Blocker "Know" That I'm Getting A Robocall And Not A Real Call?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-robocall-blocker-know-that-im-getting-a-robocall-and-not-a-real-call/837264)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-robocall-blocker-know-that-im-getting-a-robocall-and-not-a-real-call/837264 "2019-07-21T23:18:29Z")
3-4 times per week I get robocalls from “The Security Company,” always from a spoofed number. I’ve thought about installing a robocall blocker, but I’m concerned it would block legitimate calls, too. What’s the mechanism… --- ## [Denying Bail In Federal Cases.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denying-bail-in-federal-cases/837292)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/denying-bail-in-federal-cases/837292 "2019-07-21T21:16:43Z")
Here is the 8th Amendment FWIW. As you can see, no one shall be given excessive bail. The only thing is I hear these newsstories in federal cases where people are denied bail altogether. (And these newsstories are on TV.… --- ## [Moon landing anniversary in Russia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-landing-anniversary-in-russia/837386)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/moon-landing-anniversary-in-russia/837386 "2019-07-21T14:01:31Z")
Was the moon landing anniversary acknowledged in Russia? Short of celebrating it, was it even mentioned in Russian media? --- ## [Collatz Conjecture Proof?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collatz-conjecture-proof/799356)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/collatz-conjecture-proof/799356 "2019-07-21T12:37:29Z")
I was thinking about the Collatz Conjecture and it seemed like it should be provably false, but I’m not sure how one computes probabilities on infinites. Basically, if instead of caring about discrete numbers, we just l… --- ## [Does the human head grow new hair follicles/strands?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-human-head-grow-new-hair-follicles-strands/837359)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-human-head-grow-new-hair-follicles-strands/837359 "2019-07-21T06:07:49Z")
Lately while showering, I’ve noticed that typically 10-30 strands of hair are coming out in each shower. Who knows why, maybe vitamin deficiency or something but it has me thinking, because given that the human head has … --- ## [Why doesn't my recycler accept cereal boxes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-my-recycler-accept-cereal-boxes/836941)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-my-recycler-accept-cereal-boxes/836941 "2019-07-21T03:37:09Z")
They take cardboard in general but specifically say they don’t take cereal boxes. Why is that? I have seen a few boxes that say “BHT added to packaging as a preservative,” but not commonly, and it seems that would be be… --- ## [Apollo 11 Landing question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-11-landing-question/837373)
**Author:** [@Tempe\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tempe_Jeff)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apollo-11-landing-question/837373 "2019-07-21T03:29:48Z")
Regarding the Apollo 11 landing and subsequent moon walk; why didn’t they wait until the Full Moon for the landing? By the way, Full moon was on the 28th that month. Seems to me, it would have been easier to communicate … --- ## [MacBook Pro/Mojave crtl=cursor configuration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-pro-mojave-crtl-cursor-configuration/837370)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2019, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-pro-mojave-crtl-cursor-configuration/837370 "2019-07-21T01:25:26Z")
Bear with me while I explain… I connect to my office PC from a MacBook, using OpenVPN and Microsoft Remote Desktop. Much of my work is done in Excel spreadsheets. At work, I can find the bottom of the data (first non-… --- ## [How does the Hydra Lamp "Anti-Gravity Fountain" work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-hydra-lamp-anti-gravity-fountain-work/837350)
**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-hydra-lamp-anti-gravity-fountain-work/837350 "2019-07-20T22:05:44Z")
How does the Hydra Lamp work? If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a newish consumer device in which water drops flow or appear to flow slowly upward. See a video of a cat interacting with the device here. Their website FAQ… --- ## [Can children or any beneficiary claim life insurance in a domestic violence death?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-children-or-any-beneficiary-claim-life-insurance-in-a-domestic-violence-death/837358)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-children-or-any-beneficiary-claim-life-insurance-in-a-domestic-violence-death/837358 "2019-07-20T18:50:44Z")
If someone murders their spouse, would life insurance (in general) pay the claim to anyone other than the one guilty? Not sure I’m wording that right. And no, I’m not planning anything. :yum: --- ## [Nest doorbell rings -- how to display who's there on Echo Show 5](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nest-doorbell-rings-how-to-display-whos-there-on-echo-show-5/837356)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nest-doorbell-rings-how-to-display-whos-there-on-echo-show-5/837356 "2019-07-20T17:34:03Z")
We just got an Echo Show 5 (great deal on Prime Day). We’ve connected our Nest Doorbell camera to the Echo Show and can successfully ask it to display the camera feed from our front door. What we want though is for the… --- ## [Why no Apollo 2 or 3?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-apollo-2-or-3/837332)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-apollo-2-or-3/837332 "2019-07-20T16:04:12Z")
AS-204 was retronymed into Apollo 1 after Grissom, White and Chaffee died in a fire. The next flight was an unmanned flight of the Saturn IB and it was called . . . Apollo 4?! What happened to 2 and 3? Wackypedia impl… --- ## [Need examples of temperature sensation from 30 through 210 F (at ten-degree intervals)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-examples-of-temperature-sensation-from-30-through-210-f-at-ten-degree-intervals/837288)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-examples-of-temperature-sensation-from-30-through-210-f-at-ten-degree-intervals/837288 "2019-07-20T14:07:37Z")
Hi, could use some help with making a list of what temperatures feel like at 30 F (roughly freezing) through 210 F (roughly boiling,) at ten-degree-F intervals: 30 F: Feels like ice 40 F: ? 50 F: cold day 60 F: 70… --- ## [FDR paraphrasing Mark Twain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fdr-paraphrasing-mark-twain/837282)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fdr-paraphrasing-mark-twain/837282 "2019-07-20T13:16:14Z")
I am reading American Warlords, about Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s generals and admirals. US intelligence read Japanese codes, found that Yamamoto was flying from one place to another, and intercepted his aircraft with P… --- ## [Communal toilet use](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communal-toilet-use/837269)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/communal-toilet-use/837269 "2019-07-20T13:15:44Z")
In the present day most people in almost every country will refuse to go to the toilet, as in do a poo, next to another stranger. Why was it that the Romans, Turkish and other cultures had communal toilets where men (an… --- ## [Construction planning for demolition?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-planning-for-demolition/837333)
**Author:** [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/construction-planning-for-demolition/837333 "2019-07-20T03:04:51Z")
Watching a documentary about demolition of large structures. Is the inevitability of this ever anticipated during design/construction? --- ## [Did the hedgehogs do Germany any good on D-Day?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-hedgehogs-do-germany-any-good-on-d-day/837237)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-hedgehogs-do-germany-any-good-on-d-day/837237 "2019-07-20T03:04:25Z")
If\* Saving Private Ryan\* is any indication, it seems like all those big metal obstacle “hedgehogs” on the beach did on D-Day was give the Allied troops places to hide for cover from German machine-gun fire. Were they wo… --- ## [IP cameras won't work on my network.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ip-cameras-wont-work-on-my-network/837046)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ip-cameras-wont-work-on-my-network/837046 "2019-07-20T01:16:49Z")
So I’ve tried a series of four different IP cameras and none of them work. I can understand one or two of them being defective, but all four of them? Camera 1: This was an Amcrest. I plugged it in and it worked, and I u… --- ## [How are construction workers paid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-construction-workers-paid/836993)
**Author:** [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2019, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-construction-workers-paid/836993 "2019-07-19T21:02:11Z")
I’ve been staying in a motel in Utah, USA, for 5 days. A 5-story building is going up across the parking lot from me. Condominiums. I can tell there’s a lot of workers inside—lots of saws and nail guns, lots of yelling a… --- ## [Fatherland = Motherland](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fatherland-motherland/837285)
**Author:** [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fatherland-motherland/837285 "2019-07-19T18:56:46Z")
Why do some citizens refer to there homeland / nation as mother as in Mother Russia and some use the Fatherland? WWII Germany comes to mind. --- ## [Soundproof Glass Windows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soundproof-glass-windows/562903)
**Author:** [@PokerAKQJT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PokerAKQJT)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soundproof-glass-windows/562903 "2010-12-04T19:12:26Z")
I have some street traffic noise that I want to reduce, for my home. I am thinking about installing soundproof windows. Have you done the same project, and could you share your experience, including results you have se… --- ## [Can you identify the eyeglass frames in this photo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-the-eyeglass-frames-in-this-photo/837275)
**Author:** [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 19, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-identify-the-eyeglass-frames-in-this-photo/837275 "2019-07-19T15:54:42Z")
Ok here’s the photo. It’s Senator Susan Collins and she’s wearing a really slick pair of frames. I know it’s kind of obscure but that’s our métier, isn’t it? It’s from this article h… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=443) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=445)