# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=468 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 469 --- ## [Machine guns in the 1980s- fact vs. fiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-guns-in-the-1980s-fact-vs-fiction/833100)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/machine-guns-in-the-1980s-fact-vs-fiction/833100 "2019-05-02T20:08:57Z")
For those who remember the era, movies and television e.g. “Miami Vice” pictured an America where every street gang, let alone drug traffickers, had easy access to full-auto submachine guns such as the MAC-10, Uzi, and H&… --- ## [Does raising the height of a sofa compromise it in any way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-raising-the-height-of-a-sofa-compromise-it-in-any-way/833261)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-raising-the-height-of-a-sofa-compromise-it-in-any-way/833261 "2019-05-02T18:52:54Z")
I have three inch feet on my sofa. If I replace them with eight inch feet does that in any way make it less stable? The weight should still distribute the same way, right? From the perspective of the couch’s frame, does … --- ## [Is it true that marijuana is stronger today than in the past?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-marijuana-is-stronger-today-than-in-the-past/833162)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-true-that-marijuana-is-stronger-today-than-in-the-past/833162 "2019-05-02T17:01:21Z")
I keep hearing that marijuana today in 2019 is more potent than marijuana in the 1960s and 1970s. Is this true? Do they actually test for the the level of THC and do they have records of what past THC levels were back th… --- ## [How do Royal Warrants work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-royal-warrants-work/831744)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-royal-warrants-work/831744 "2019-05-02T08:42:35Z")
Who do these work in the UK? My understanding is that a business is granted a Royal Warrant which says that a member of the royal family uses their product. Are the warrants granted to the manufacturers or the retailers… --- ## [Enforceability of GDPR outside EU](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enforceability-of-gdpr-outside-eu/833322)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 2, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enforceability-of-gdpr-outside-eu/833322 "2019-05-02T00:05:53Z")
How can the EU presume to regulate activity that takes place outside the EU? The EU’s General Protection Data Regulation states (emphasis mine): It would seem this is entirely unenforceable and in practical terms is a … --- ## [Bronze Age Iron](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-age-iron/833145)
**Author:** [@Stinky\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinky_Pete)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-age-iron/833145 "2019-05-01T23:40:49Z")
Meteorite question but first some background. Reading book on ancient Babylon. Circa 2000 BCE in the Bronze Age in Mesopotamia. Author writes, “Iron - at this time in history probably only available from meteorites - … --- ## [Freecell on Windows 10?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell-on-windows-10/833193)
**Author:** [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freecell-on-windows-10/833193 "2019-05-01T23:34:32Z")
Is Freecell included in W10? --- ## [Birds eating bugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-eating-bugs/833266)
**Author:** [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birds-eating-bugs/833266 "2019-05-01T23:07:58Z")
Birds look as though they swallow living bugs whole. Do they swallow living bugs whole, i.e. while the bug is alive? Bugs, like beetles, can have powerful mandibles. Is a bird in danger of having its stomach damaged by… --- ## [What is the heaviest single object ever to be lifted by aircraft?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-heaviest-single-object-ever-to-be-lifted-by-aircraft/832999)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-heaviest-single-object-ever-to-be-lifted-by-aircraft/832999 "2019-05-01T22:12:26Z")
It doesn’t have to be a single aircraft, and by “aircraft” I mean any vehicle that moves above the ground. Also it can’t be the vehicle itself, so C-5 Galaxies and spacecraft are out. --- ## [Podcasts changing before my eyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podcasts-changing-before-my-eyes/833326)
**Author:** [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podcasts-changing-before-my-eyes/833326 "2019-05-01T20:56:50Z")
Anyone seeing this bizarre behavior from their iPhone lately? Among the podcasts I subscribe to is NPR’s Fresh Air. A few days ago i noticed it was no longer there, but a different NPR podcast was. Weird. I deleted it a… --- ## [How did Mohammed Noor face multiple charges?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mohammed-noor-face-multiple-charges/833308)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mohammed-noor-face-multiple-charges/833308 "2019-05-01T19:55:47Z")
Not just multiple charges, but Murder 2, Murder 3 and Manslaughter. Can the US judicial system list multiple charges, just so one (some) of them stick? --- ## [Quitting the job while on a space mission?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quitting-the-job-while-on-a-space-mission/833171 "2019-05-01T19:23:59Z")
What would happen if someone is on space mission for months and decides to quit their job? Would they have to be sent back right away? Or just wait for the next departure? They must have rules for this situation. … --- ## [Double insurance coverage: did things change since the 80's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-insurance-coverage-did-things-change-since-the-80s/832676)
**Author:** [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-insurance-coverage-did-things-change-since-the-80s/832676 "2019-05-01T18:06:43Z")
Back in the day, I worked for an educational institute where we had 2 medical insurances. One was provided by the institute (employee paid premiums) and one through an employee union (union member paid premiums). So if… --- ## [Chinese silver ingots. What were they used for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-silver-ingots-what-were-they-used-for/833181)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-silver-ingots-what-were-they-used-for/833181 "2019-05-01T17:55:24Z")
I tried to find a good image on Google and couldn’t find one. Basically they’re boat shaped ingots approximately 2 to 3 inches wide and 1 to to 2 inches deep. It seems to me it would be easier to carry around silver coin… --- ## [alabama killer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-killer/362141)
**Author:** [@aloishis89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aloishis89)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alabama-killer/362141 "2019-05-01T13:53:37Z")
hey, i have heard this story and everyone i have heard it from tells me it is true. However, since it was told to me at a camp, and the fact that i have done some research and found no evidence of this mans existance, i… --- ## [did sub-Saharan Africans have bows and arrows?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-sub-saharan-africans-have-bows-and-arrows/752529)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-sub-saharan-africans-have-bows-and-arrows/752529 "2019-05-01T02:06:07Z")
I can’t think why they would not have, it’s a such a simple and useful and widespread invention. But, in all the movies I’ve seen where Africans are hunting game or fighting Europeans or fighting each other, they use sp… --- ## [Automatic Low Price Search](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-low-price-search/833132)
**Author:** [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-low-price-search/833132 "2019-05-01T01:14:23Z")
Is there a website like camelcamelcamel, only that it will look everywhere for a lower price, not only on Amazon? Better yet, is there such a website where you can exclude eBay from the search? --- ## [Looking For Search Term--at a loss](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-search-term-at-a-loss/833199)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-search-term-at-a-loss/833199 "2019-04-30T22:00:31Z")
I’m looking for a cover for the head area of a leather recliner, to prevent damage to the leather. But for the life of me, I can’t figure out a good search term. Not “furniture covers”–because that gets me stuff to cov… --- ## [How much will I cost this political party if I watch their ad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-will-i-cost-this-political-party-if-i-watch-their-ad/833283)
**Author:** [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-will-i-cost-this-political-party-if-i-watch-their-ad/833283 "2019-04-30T21:30:53Z")
You may or may not know that Australia is having an election in a couple of weeks. There is a particular political party which is running a lot of ads. LOTS of ads. In fact, right now, whenever I go to YouTube, there’s … --- ## [Russian dash cams. Why so many?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-dash-cams-why-so-many/787812)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-dash-cams-why-so-many/787812 "2019-04-30T18:15:01Z")
Hello Everyone, I’m watching FAIL videos on YouTube (great fun!) Which has led me to car crash videos (interesting, but horrific). Misty of the crash footage seems to come from Russia. Why is itoso many people use das… --- ## [Sholder bag identification](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sholder-bag-identification/833180)
**Author:** [@shinnen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinnen)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sholder-bag-identification/833180 "2019-04-30T13:49:48Z")
Hi, I have a shoulder bag, that I use to carry my camera, and I’m trying to identify the manufacture. The tag on the inside says “Outline”, but the logo is not like theirs, (a circle with a line though it). I am includ… --- ## [Are there any dogs which have been bred or trained to bite and not bark?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dogs-which-have-been-bred-or-trained-to-bite-and-not-bark/833170)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-dogs-which-have-been-bred-or-trained-to-bite-and-not-bark/833170 "2019-04-30T12:20:17Z")
There are dog breeds which have been bred/trained to only bark and not bite, others to bark & bite, others to neither bark nor bite. Have there been dog breeds or types of dog training which aim to get dogs to bite witho… --- ## [First photos in newspapers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-photos-in-newspapers/833183)
**Author:** [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-photos-in-newspapers/833183 "2019-04-30T05:32:52Z")
I’m eating lunch in a restaurant that has replicate newspapers reporting on Civil War battles and other events during the war on the wall. There are etchings for illustrations. It got me thinking about when photos were … --- ## [Why is America so fat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-america-so-fat/832583)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 203\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-america-so-fat/832583 "2019-04-30T02:35:40Z")
Speaking as an American, we the people are fat. We’re not the fattest - we’re only #17 - but we’re pretty close, and more to the point, we’re fatter than we were just a few short decades ago. Why is that? There are o… --- ## [The Queen's Speech](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-speech/832699)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 63\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-queens-speech/832699 "2019-04-30T01:12:51Z")
I was reading up on the latest Brexit shenanigans and came across an article about whether or not May would call for (schedule? demand? propose?) a Queen’s Speech. From context and from Wiki I gather that such a thing… --- ## [Any replacement for AllChars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-replacement-for-allchars/833235)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-replacement-for-allchars/833235 "2019-04-30T00:50:17Z")
I used to use a program called AllChars that made it easy to enter accented characters and other things like cent signs. It trapped the ctl key when you hit it and released it without using and then looked at the next t… --- ## [Chrome Extension "Open link in new tab AND change focus"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrome-extension-open-link-in-new-tab-and-change-focus/833241)
**Author:** [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chrome-extension-open-link-in-new-tab-and-change-focus/833241 "2019-04-30T00:39:08Z")
I had an extension on two Win7 computers that would middle click a link in a new tab and change focus to that tab. The extension disappeared off both and now middle click opens a new tab but focus stays on current tab. I… --- ## [Do \*sheets of fabric pulled off to reveal something\* actually exist/have a name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186)
**Author:** [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 30, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sheets-of-fabric-pulled-off-to-reveal-something-actually-exist-have-a-name/833186 "2019-04-30T00:03:40Z")
Sometimes seen on TV or in a movie, such as here, someone will pull off, in one swift motion, a thin sheet of fabric that’s covering something, thus revealing it for display. Do these bits of fabric actually exist for t… --- ## [Why is 1 not a prime number?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-1-not-a-prime-number/832549)
**Author:** [@Deltree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deltree)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-1-not-a-prime-number/832549 "2019-04-29T22:38:18Z")
According to Wikipedia, “1 is not prime, as it is specifically excluded in the definition.” Why is 1 excluded? What’s the reasoning for not including it? Does it lead to some sort of contradiction that I’m not seeing? T… --- ## [If usain bolt sprinted through a school zone, exceeding the 25mph speed limit, could he be cited?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [April 29, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-usain-bolt-sprinted-through-a-school-zone-exceeding-the-25mph-speed-limit-could-he-be-cited/833020 "2019-04-29T15:18:18Z")
Just a thought - I know you can receive a ticket for breaking the speed limit on a bicycle. But what about on foot, if you can sprint faster than the sign…? Err, meant to post this in General Questions, not great debat… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=467) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=469)