# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=467 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 468 --- ## [Yesterday, I met an infant who was wearing glasses. How does that work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-met-an-infant-who-was-wearing-glasses-how-does-that-work/833472)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-i-met-an-infant-who-was-wearing-glasses-how-does-that-work/833472 "2019-05-06T19:14:16Z")
I got to meet a little boy yesterday who was about a year old. He was cute as the Dickens and was wearing a tiny pair of eyeglasses. I wear glasses/contacts, but when I go to the ophthalmologist, I can tell her when th… --- ## [Is it legal for a church to discriminate potential employees?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-a-church-to-discriminate-potential-employees/833264)
**Author:** [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-legal-for-a-church-to-discriminate-potential-employees/833264 "2019-05-06T18:49:11Z")
Had a job match on Indeed for a senior graphic designer for a church. I meet all of the practical requirements, but they have a section in the job description about “loyalty”; applicant must be dedicated to the pastor’s … --- ## [How Best to Send an HDMI Signal 100 Meters?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-send-an-hdmi-signal-100-meters/833432)
**Author:** [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-best-to-send-an-hdmi-signal-100-meters/833432 "2019-05-06T12:17:53Z")
Let’s say you want to send an HDMI signal (or VGA, if that helps) from a podium on a stage to a control booth about 70 meters away as the crow flies, meaning you’d probably need about a hundred meters of cabling to run i… --- ## [What percentage of US Civil War soldiers were in combat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-us-civil-war-soldiers-were-in-combat/833555)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-us-civil-war-soldiers-were-in-combat/833555 "2019-05-06T11:11:10Z")
There are lots of sites about Civil War casualty rates, but I can’t find the answer to the related question of how many (what percentage) actually saw action. What was the chance of a being in a battle, in combat, for C… --- ## [Toy helicopters: vintage vs today's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-helicopters-vintage-vs-todays/776099)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 4, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-helicopters-vintage-vs-todays/776099 "2017-01-04T16:25:01Z")
I remember when flying a remote control helicopter required almost the same skills as a real pilot. People used to practice with tethered flights to gain experience. Now, you just flip the switch and off they go, up, do… --- ## [Streaming videos and gifs no long play. I just upgraded to Firefox 66.0.3](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-videos-and-gifs-no-long-play-i-just-upgraded-to-firefox-66-0-3/833489)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-videos-and-gifs-no-long-play-i-just-upgraded-to-firefox-66-0-3/833489 "2019-05-06T08:26:25Z")
I have a discussion on this going on over at reddit. Their solutions did not help. It isn’t just Youtube. It’s gifs on Reddit(and videos on Reddit). It’s facebook videos. It’s not merely autoplay. I can’t even click th… --- ## [Popess Joan.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popess-joan/833499)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popess-joan/833499 "2019-05-06T05:55:19Z")
What exactly is the straight dope on Popess Joan? In case you don’t know, some people claim there was a female pope (Joan, as I said). I don’t know all the details off-hand. But if I find anymore on the internet, I will … --- ## [Is there a word for this type of involuntary memory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-this-type-of-involuntary-memory/833532)
**Author:** [@KellyCriterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyCriterion)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2019, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-this-type-of-involuntary-memory/833532 "2019-05-06T03:28:43Z")
Sometimes I will be thinking about something, and a completely unrelated memory will pop in to my head. Often it’s a memory from something that happened a long time ago, of something I may not have consciously thought ab… --- ## [Looking for translation with transliteration](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-translation-with-transliteration/833525)
**Author:** [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-translation-with-transliteration/833525 "2019-05-05T22:30:26Z")
In trying to translate an English word into some languages, e.g. Hebrew, I get an answer in Hebrew script, which I don’t read. How can I get the Hebrew word in its Roman alphabet form? ETA: I’ve used translate.com, Goog… --- ## [Human chin - Denisovan jawbone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-chin-denisovan-jawbone/833349)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-chin-denisovan-jawbone/833349 "2019-05-05T17:48:38Z")
Reading an article on the Denisovan jawbone, (link below) it mentioned that it doesn’t have a chin like modern humans. Thinking about it, I don’t any other primates have chins. Nor did (I think) any other early humans. … --- ## [Neural networks and cost functions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neural-networks-and-cost-functions/833469)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neural-networks-and-cost-functions/833469 "2019-05-05T17:14:19Z")
In machine learning (which I am trying to learn about, rather unsuccessfully), the ‘cost function’ is an important tool. In the examples I’ve seen, the cost function looks to be nothing more than the variance between one… --- ## [Water in car engine - what symptoms?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-car-engine-what-symptoms/833448)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-in-car-engine-what-symptoms/833448 "2019-05-05T14:02:20Z")
I have a 2009 SmartCar and it’s been thunderstorming hard here in Texas. Drove through some deep puddles that fan-sprayed water left and right, and a truck also pelted me with a major puddle bath. If water got into the e… --- ## [Is this sale price good tomorrow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sale-price-good-tomorrow/833495)
**Author:** [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sale-price-good-tomorrow/833495 "2019-05-05T04:00:33Z")
Menard’s home improvement store’s flyer reads: Valid April 21, 2019 - May 05, 2019 They always come out with a new flyer on Sundays so the next items will be on sale from May 05 - May 19. Will I still receive the sale pr… --- ## [What are some C segment sedan cars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-c-segment-sedan-cars/833436)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2019, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-c-segment-sedan-cars/833436 "2019-05-05T00:42:02Z")
C segment are cars the size of VW Golf, Opel Astra,etc. , most of these seem to be hatchbacks, but are there any sedans there as well? Honda Accord, BMW 3, Mercedes C, Audi A4 and so on are all D segment, so I’m essenti… --- ## [Identifying Military helicopter 'convoy'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identifying-military-helicopter-convoy/833420)
**Author:** [@Grave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grave)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identifying-military-helicopter-convoy/833420 "2019-05-04T22:39:09Z")
At about 730 CST this morning I went to take some garbage outside, so no phone for pics. Looking up (due to the sound) I saw a procession of 5 helicopters in a V formation. They all appeared to be grey or grey blue and … --- ## [Question about cricket ball velocity. (Physics question)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cricket-ball-velocity-physics-question/833415)
**Author:** [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cricket-ball-velocity-physics-question/833415 "2019-05-04T21:43:19Z")
Help me solve an argument I had with a collegaue. Speed is simply distance over time, hence a scalar. Velocity is rate of change of position over time. (half remembered school physics classes). A ball delivered to a b… --- ## [Why did Joseph I of Portugal want to marry his daughter to his grandson?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-joseph-i-of-portugal-want-to-marry-his-daughter-to-his-grandson/833427)
**Author:** [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-joseph-i-of-portugal-want-to-marry-his-daughter-to-his-grandson/833427 "2019-05-04T16:17:36Z")
In 1777, Joseph I, king on Portugal, on his deathbed, made sure that his youngest daughter, Benedicte, would marry the son, also called Joseph, of his eldest daughter and heir, Maria. I came across this fact today, and … --- ## [Suddenly getting Youtube ads??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-getting-youtube-ads/833456)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suddenly-getting-youtube-ads/833456 "2019-05-04T15:17:20Z")
Anyone know why I would suddenly be getting ads on Youtube? Nothing has changed on my end. It’s super annoying to get a 60 second unskippable ad to watch a 2 minute video. --- ## [Explain like I'm 5: Gravitons and gravitational waves.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-like-im-5-gravitons-and-gravitational-waves/833422)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-like-im-5-gravitons-and-gravitational-waves/833422 "2019-05-04T15:12:48Z")
What, if any, is the relationship between gravitons and gravitational waves? I understand that waves have been detected indirectly (although I’m not quite sure what that means) and that there is a near infinite likeliho… --- ## [Timeline of Presidential Tweets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeline-of-presidential-tweets/833414)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timeline-of-presidential-tweets/833414 "2019-05-04T14:04:59Z")
Please do not tell me you found it in one Google. It might be amusing and interesting to have a time-stamped chronology of all Presidential tweets, including the deleted ones. I would be interested for example to know h… --- ## [How was the Norse mythological creature 'Fenrir' used or misused by the Nazis in WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-the-norse-mythological-creature-fenrir-used-or-misused-by-the-nazis-in-wwii/833463)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-was-the-norse-mythological-creature-fenrir-used-or-misused-by-the-nazis-in-wwii/833463 "2019-05-04T09:57:04Z")
Hi How was the Norse mythological creature ‘Fenrir’ used or misused by the Nazis in WWII? I haven’t been able to find any direct usage of Fenrir as such. The wolf’s head is a common symbol. but the doomsday wolf as a Na… --- ## [Depletion (or not) of oil reserves](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depletion-or-not-of-oil-reserves/3929)
**Author:** [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/depletion-or-not-of-oil-reserves/3929 "2019-05-04T01:49:14Z")
I’ve recently read a couple of articles postulating that our previous estimates indicating that we would run out of oil by the mid twenty first are way off. Basically, this was based on the fact that many (most?) of the … --- ## [Camping Supplies store — in or closest to Manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-supplies-store-in-or-closest-to-manhattan/357659)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camping-supplies-store-in-or-closest-to-manhattan/357659 "2019-05-03T21:54:30Z")
I’m looking for the kind of store where one picks up iodine or halozone tablets, beef jerky, freeze-dried suppers, Swiss Army knives, dried fruit roll-ups, and other things that one might wish to stuff into a backpack be… --- ## [Speculate on what happened to my truck](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculate-on-what-happened-to-my-truck/833302)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speculate-on-what-happened-to-my-truck/833302 "2019-05-03T17:43:15Z")
I own a 2010 Toyota Tundra TRD with 80k miles on it that has been a dependable workhorse for me. The only money I put into it has been routine maintenance items like brakes. Back in February, I replaced the battery as it… --- ## [Who are the people in MS Office wallpaper?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-people-in-ms-office-wallpaper/833429)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-people-in-ms-office-wallpaper/833429 "2019-05-03T17:00:02Z")
We recently had our work computers upgraded to Windows 10. Now, on the start-up page where we are prompted to “cntrl-alt-delete”, the default background is one of a few nature photos. One appears to be looking out of a… --- ## [Why Does My Faucet Have a Screen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-faucet-have-a-screen/833310 "2019-05-03T14:35:48Z")
My faucets in my home seem to invariably have screens on them. It’s almost as if it is trying to stop something from emerging from the tap. But what could possibly emerge from the tap? A baby alligator? A pebble? FWIW t… --- ## ['By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/by-appointment-to-her-majesty-the-queen/833309)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/by-appointment-to-her-majesty-the-queen/833309 "2019-05-03T08:18:43Z")
Every so often, I get an item from the UK. (I live in Detroit, MI in case you were wondering.) I don’t get them at a special store or anything. They are for sale in the general market. And every so often, I notice it sa… --- ## [How does a country change its currency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-country-change-its-currency/833035)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [May 3, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-country-change-its-currency/833035 "2019-05-03T00:07:13Z")
We can use the changeover to the Euro or British decimalisation or any other recent developed country as an example. How exactly does a developed country go about the difficult process of changing currencies?Let’s say y… --- ## [Does the human body bleed spontaneously without external injury](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-human-body-bleed-spontaneously-without-external-injury/833352)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-human-body-bleed-spontaneously-without-external-injury/833352 "2019-05-02T22:55:43Z")
Drugs like warfarin have been used as a poison because they cause bleeding. But the warfarin, as far as I know, don’t cause bleeding they just stop blood from clotting. So does the human body suffer injuries everyday th… --- ## [Beneficiary-paid life insurance: A fund raising option for an organization?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beneficiary-paid-life-insurance-a-fund-raising-option-for-an-organization/833303)
**Author:** [@Turki-lurki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turki-lurki)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beneficiary-paid-life-insurance-a-fund-raising-option-for-an-organization/833303 "2019-05-02T21:21:52Z")
Everybody dies. Also, almost all fraternal groups and churches are losing aging members faster than newcomers join. The conjunction of these facts suggest a convenient way to put a new roof on your church or pay your clu… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=466) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=468)