# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=461 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 462 --- ## [Social Media Question - copy and paste, do not share](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-question-copy-and-paste-do-not-share/834452)
**Author:** [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-media-question-copy-and-paste-do-not-share/834452 "2019-05-24T14:22:11Z")
So, many moons ago my Facebook feed was graced with an emoji laden post from someone that doesn’t like cancer. Someone that was allegedly crying because cancer is bad and people have it. Someone that then looked out her … --- ## [Why does it cost so much to dig a well in Africa?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-cost-so-much-to-dig-a-well-in-africa/834236)
**Author:** [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-cost-so-much-to-dig-a-well-in-africa/834236 "2019-05-24T12:46:01Z")
On the NBA pre show recently Charles Barkley pledged 45 grand to a NBA players charity to build a well in Africa. That seems like a lot of money for one well. Labor in Africa is cheap, digging holes in the ground is a ve… --- ## [Not an urgent, but a very peculiar PC thing happened](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-an-urgent-but-a-very-peculiar-pc-thing-happened/834431)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-an-urgent-but-a-very-peculiar-pc-thing-happened/834431 "2019-05-24T02:56:50Z")
This is a very arcane issue, and that in itself makes me suspicious. I am running Windows 7. Yes, I know, it’s old. I like it. Anyway, on my taskbar I like to put a shortcut to the C:/ drive, so that I can easily navig… --- ## [Has anyone ever been licensed to practice law in all 50 states?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-licensed-to-practice-law-in-all-50-states/834438)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-been-licensed-to-practice-law-in-all-50-states/834438 "2019-05-24T02:23:43Z")
Has anyone ever been licensed to practice law in all 50 states of the United States of America at the same time? --- ## [Shopping Site Where The Catch is Shipping $$$](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-site-where-the-catch-is-shipping/834335)
**Author:** [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shopping-site-where-the-catch-is-shipping/834335 "2019-05-23T23:06:11Z")
Are there any general electronics / musical instruments / whatever shopping sites where they price much lower but the catch is high shipping? (eBay does this for example) --- ## [computer doesn't recognize smartphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-doesnt-recognize-smartphone/834326)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-doesnt-recognize-smartphone/834326 "2019-05-23T22:26:04Z")
I have lots of pics in the gallery of my smartphone. I have a laptop with Windows 7 home premium . I have an android smartphone — Xiaomi Redmi 6A I plug the cell phone into a usb port on the laptop, a message pops u… --- ## [Home Maintainence Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-maintainence-question/834317)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-maintainence-question/834317 "2019-05-23T21:29:24Z")
There is a series of soft spots, in my floor, near my sliding patio door. \[ol\] \[li\]In the past, it has been described as badly installed carpet padding.\[/li\]\[li\]There have been water leaks from outside. The Condo assoc… --- ## [Sending from USPS to an International Address?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-from-usps-to-an-international-address/834324)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-from-usps-to-an-international-address/834324 "2019-05-23T20:23:11Z")
Suppose I want to send a letter to a friend in China. I have an address, but it is written in Chinese, of course. I’m sure the address makes sense in China, but will the US Mail (USPS) know what to do with it? Should a… --- ## [Visualizing a Rubik's Cube.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visualizing-a-rubiks-cube/833067)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visualizing-a-rubiks-cube/833067 "2019-05-23T19:31:20Z")
Earlier today I heard a passing mention of a Rubik’s Cube and my mind drifted to cube-solving robots, and I started thinking about how many views would be needed to be sure of the configuration of every side, given a com… --- ## [Best way to deal with rats nesting in my tractor](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-deal-with-rats-nesting-in-my-tractor/834347)
**Author:** [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-deal-with-rats-nesting-in-my-tractor/834347 "2019-05-23T16:25:56Z")
Specifically, I want to know how best to keep them from coming back and building another nest. The whole story is that my tractor was on extended loan to a family member, when health problems struck and the tractor s… --- ## [Facebook question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-question/834410)
**Author:** [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-question/834410 "2019-05-23T15:47:24Z")
Ok, so when a person sends a PM to another person on Facebook who isn’t on their friends list and have had no contact thru FB at all, the message is filtered into another, separate folder titled “message requests”. This … --- ## [How long to level Mt Everest? (I have unlimited funds)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-to-level-mt-everest-i-have-unlimited-funds/834078)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-to-level-mt-everest-i-have-unlimited-funds/834078 "2019-05-22T21:55:59Z")
I want to remove Mount Everest, cart away completely and leave a fairly neat, level plain in its place. I have unlimited funds to do this, but I want to start right away - so I can’t wait for new technologies to be deve… --- ## [Origin of quotation relating to dangers of war](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-quotation-relating-to-dangers-of-war/834377)
**Author:** [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-quotation-relating-to-dangers-of-war/834377 "2019-05-23T14:34:52Z")
Many years ago, I heard someone use a quote to the effect of: Do not charge into war, because the decision to go to war, and the decision to end war, are usually not made by the same person. I think it could be from a R… --- ## [Size of silverware/flatware (esp. spoons)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-silverware-flatware-esp-spoons/834407)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-silverware-flatware-esp-spoons/834407 "2019-05-23T14:17:45Z")
I’m pretty sure that the amount of liquid contained in a standard teaspoon or tablespoon is not necessarily the same as the exact measure of “teaspoon” or “tablespoon” that you might find in a recipe. But do the manufact… --- ## [Painters used semi-gloss instead of matte. Can it be painted over?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painters-used-semi-gloss-instead-of-matte-can-it-be-painted-over/834268)
**Author:** [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/painters-used-semi-gloss-instead-of-matte-can-it-be-painted-over/834268 "2019-05-23T11:12:22Z")
We just had some rooms painted, and once the painters left and the paint dried, it became obvious that they used the glossier kind of bathroom paint in our hallway. It’s shiny as hell. We’re going to have to argue them… --- ## [How do you say “@“ in French?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-in-french/834193)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-say-in-french/834193 "2019-05-23T03:32:50Z")
For courriel / e-mail : what word is used for the @ sign. “Vers” ? “ à “? --- ## [Surface tension, surface energy, and molecules - a basic question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surface-tension-surface-energy-and-molecules-a-basic-question/834350)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surface-tension-surface-energy-and-molecules-a-basic-question/834350 "2019-05-23T03:00:44Z")
The root cause of surface tension, and thus the tendency for droplets to form with a shape that minimizes their surface area, is stated to hinge upon the fact that “A molecule in contact with a neighbor is in a lower sta… --- ## [Problem posting on website](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-posting-on-website/834361)
**Author:** [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-posting-on-website/834361 "2019-05-23T01:17:18Z")
One of my go-to websites won’t let me post comments. I have no idea why. I want to log in with a different user name, but cannot. When a access the comment page , it shows my user name and lets me enter text, but when I… --- ## [Is it legal to order drugs from a "Canadian" Pharmacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-order-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy/833832)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-to-order-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy/833832 "2019-05-22T13:50:26Z")
I’m American and have crappy health insurance. I pay over $700 per month for prescription drugs & found those same drugs at online “Canadian” pharmacies (I put Canadian in quotes because it looks like some of them are ac… --- ## [Another element thread - scanning for heart problems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-element-thread-scanning-for-heart-problems/829780)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-element-thread-scanning-for-heart-problems/829780 "2019-05-22T13:50:08Z")
Years ago I had a stress test for heart issues where I had to walk on a treadmill until my heart rate was high enough then they injected a radioactive tracer while I was on a scanning table of some sort. The doctor expla… --- ## [WWI/WWII graffiti](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwi-wwii-graffiti/834301)
**Author:** [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwi-wwii-graffiti/834301 "2019-05-22T11:09:39Z")
Came across the following on Quora: ‘I remember a picture from a high school history book showing part of a wall in France where a soldier had scratched his name, rank and date during WWI. Below that was the scratched t… --- ## [Why are Shariah fixed rate interest rates higher than the market?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-shariah-fixed-rate-interest-rates-higher-than-the-market/834234)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-shariah-fixed-rate-interest-rates-higher-than-the-market/834234 "2019-05-22T09:41:47Z")
In the UK Sharia based fixed rate accounts offer higher interest\* than any others. This is despite the fact that they still have to follow the same UK regulations\*\*, and provide themselves with a list of restrictions on … --- ## [What is the Hawaiian word for pineapple itchy mouth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-hawaiian-word-for-pineapple-itchy-mouth/834238)
**Author:** [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-hawaiian-word-for-pineapple-itchy-mouth/834238 "2019-05-22T08:26:44Z")
You know when you end up biting into too much core or some of the skin while overeating on some delicious fresh pineapple. --- ## [Does the house holding impeachment hearings give them any powers they don't normally have](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-house-holding-impeachment-hearings-give-them-any-powers-they-dont-normally-have/834329)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-house-holding-impeachment-hearings-give-them-any-powers-they-dont-normally-have/834329 "2019-05-22T03:00:51Z")
Impeachment to me seems like a waste of time because the senate will not convict. However if the house does impeach does doing so give them any special powers to subpoena, investigate or indict just based on an impeachme… --- ## [What settings control variable sounds on a sound system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-settings-control-variable-sounds-on-a-sound-system/834262)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-settings-control-variable-sounds-on-a-sound-system/834262 "2019-05-22T01:17:25Z")
I have a Yamaha later model TV surround sound system. It’s great. My main complaint is watching movies or modern TV shows to control the volume level, especially late at night. When the movie is at a conversational le… --- ## [Why is the U.S. Army changing the basic color of everyday service uniforms AGAIN?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-army-changing-the-basic-color-of-everyday-service-uniforms-again/833795)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-u-s-army-changing-the-basic-color-of-everyday-service-uniforms-again/833795 "2019-05-22T01:16:53Z")
Just a few years ago, the U.S. Army transitioned away from green service uniforms to blue. I still am getting used to seeing army officers in blue, and I learn that the army is changing back to green. – It’s official: Ar… --- ## [There was...something...in my beer.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-was-something-in-my-beer/834137)
**Author:** [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-was-something-in-my-beer/834137 "2019-05-21T21:32:40Z")
I was enjoying being outside. Until this…abomination crawled in my beer and I almost drank it. It WAS in my mouth briefly. WtFis it? (Crossposting at Giraffe since I can can upload a photo there) --- ## [Can my laptop be salvaged or is it beyond hope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-laptop-be-salvaged-or-is-it-beyond-hope/834164)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-my-laptop-be-salvaged-or-is-it-beyond-hope/834164 "2019-05-21T16:37:56Z")
So yesterday it worked fine. But I think plugging the HDMI cable in to watch a movie on TV did something. When I did that it made some weird beeping noises I’ve never heard. After I finished watching a movie I unplugged … --- ## [Airsoft Gun -- Seeing the Projectiles Hit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airsoft-gun-seeing-the-projectiles-hit/834266)
**Author:** [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2019, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airsoft-gun-seeing-the-projectiles-hit/834266 "2019-05-21T14:04:22Z")
I cannot see the balls on the (sticky) target unless I am really close – this is like shooting blind… Is there a solution? (I must shoot indoors) --- ## [Are these gooseberries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-gooseberries/834258)
**Author:** [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2019, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-gooseberries/834258 "2019-05-21T12:04:46Z")
A friend has a volunteer plant in his yard that has berries on it. He’s interested in whether they’re edible. The fruit look like gooseberries to me, but I’m not sure about the leaves. My friend lives in the Cincinnati a… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=460) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=462)