# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=47 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 48 --- ## [How do tariffs work on transshipment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tariffs-work-on-transshipment/1016967)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tariffs-work-on-transshipment/1016967 "2025-04-19T18:32:57Z")
Specifically, suppose I buy an i-phone from China, paying whatever duty Canada collects and then go to the US with the declared intention of selling it. Would it be dutied as an import from China or one from Canada? --- ## [Time dilation and blue-shifting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-dilation-and-blue-shifting/1017123)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-dilation-and-blue-shifting/1017123 "2025-04-19T16:08:01Z")
The classic explanation for the phenomenon of time dilation in Special Relativity postulates one observer whose frame is taken to be “at rest” while observing someone in motion relative to them. The observer sees a clock… --- ## [MacBook won’t synch up with Canon printer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-won-t-synch-up-with-canon-printer/1017212)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macbook-won-t-synch-up-with-canon-printer/1017212 "2025-04-19T12:47:00Z")
MacBook won’t synch up with Canon printer. I recently bought a used, refurbished MacBook Air (2020, Sequoia 15.4.1) right before I changed jobs and cities, and I had no occasion to need a printer for about two months. T… --- ## [Does having passwords show up as dots provide protection against anything other than over the shoulder looking?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-having-passwords-show-up-as-dots-provide-protection-against-anything-other-than-over-the-shoulder-looking/1016741)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [April 19, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-having-passwords-show-up-as-dots-provide-protection-against-anything-other-than-over-the-shoulder-looking/1016741 "2025-04-19T12:00:22Z")
I had to change one of my passwords this morning. That means typing in the new one twice, presumably so that I don’t make a typo the first time and then not know what the typo was. Why might that be a potential problem… --- ## [California Earthquake App](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-earthquake-app/1017167)
**Author:** [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-earthquake-app/1017167 "2025-04-18T22:31:53Z")
Recently there was an earthquake in California. Some sort of alert went out to people once the P-wave hit. (Late night hosts mentioned it.) Can I, who has never been to California, subscribe to this app? How? (I would a… --- ## [What does it mean for an officer to get "fired"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-for-an-officer-to-get-fired/544314)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-for-an-officer-to-get-fired/544314 "2025-04-18T04:24:54Z")
Once in a while we hear about some high-ranking military officer getting fired for running a ship aground or dissing the president. But what really happens? He’s not getting discharged, right? Just reassigned. Why do… --- ## [Did Edgar Allan Poe die of rabies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-edgar-allan-poe-die-of-rabies/41743)
**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 18, 2025, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-edgar-allan-poe-die-of-rabies/41743 "2025-04-18T02:13:10Z")
Paul Harvey says yes. But I never believe anything that idiot says without checking and double-checking. This article describes the findings of Dr. R. Michael Benitez that purports to show that Poe probably died of rabie… --- ## [CPR: how long with no revival before they stop CPR?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-how-long-with-no-revival-before-they-stop-cpr/993943)
**Author:** [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cpr-how-long-with-no-revival-before-they-stop-cpr/993943 "2025-04-17T21:56:11Z")
For a person in an emergency room, say, if their heart stops and CPR is performed, if their heart does not restart then how long will CPR be tried before they stop and declare the person dead? There’s probably no fixed … --- ## [Why aren't police cars disabled by Spike Strips?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-police-cars-disabled-by-spike-strips/1017122)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-police-cars-disabled-by-spike-strips/1017122 "2025-04-17T20:34:19Z")
I often see body cam video of Spike Strips being deployed (in the road) to shred the tires of a fleeing suspect. The police cars are close behind, driving at high speeds, and chasing the suspect’s car. The police cars … --- ## [Missing baryonic matter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-baryonic-matter/451494)
**Author:** [@bryanmcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmcc)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/missing-baryonic-matter/451494 "2025-04-17T20:17:17Z")
There have been many reports floating around recently about the discovery of a good chunk of the “missing” matter of the Universe. First, some preliminary accounting of the Universe’s matter: 74% dark energy 22% dark m… --- ## [April Fool’s Day ends at noon in the UK?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fool-s-day-ends-at-noon-in-the-uk/1017019)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-fool-s-day-ends-at-noon-in-the-uk/1017019 "2025-04-17T19:46:55Z")
In a show I’m watching, which takes place in the UK, two characters plan April Fool’s Day shenanigans. One reminds the other, “until mid-day, anything goes.” I’m not aware of any time limit on April Fool’s Day shenaniga… --- ## [How dire is the dire wolf?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dire-is-the-dire-wolf/1016814)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dire-is-the-dire-wolf/1016814 "2025-04-17T18:51:11Z")
A company has just brought back the dire wolf from extinction using DNA from fossils. Some claim they are not really dire wolves since the just changed a few genes from their gray wolf parents. But don’t WE have crap … --- ## [How did automotive carburetors compensate for altitude?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-automotive-carburetors-compensate-for-altitude/1016922)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-automotive-carburetors-compensate-for-altitude/1016922 "2025-04-17T16:02:33Z")
Back in ~1980, if you were riding across the US on a motorcycle, you needed to swap out jets in your carburetor(s) if you went through an elevation change of more than a few thousand feet - the reason being that simple c… --- ## [Does i to the power of infinity =...0?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-i-to-the-power-of-infinity-0/1017083)
**Author:** [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-i-to-the-power-of-infinity-0/1017083 "2025-04-17T14:16:47Z")
According to this Youtuber Mathematician, 1+1-1+1-1…to infinity equals .5. One minus one plus one minus one - Numberphile Ultimately, the value considered correct and accurate is the one in the middle of 1 and 0 (the a… --- ## [Need help with an op-amp circuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-an-op-amp-circuit/1016787)
**Author:** [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2025, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-an-op-amp-circuit/1016787 "2025-04-17T03:03:19Z")
You would think there’s plenty of material for this on the web, but surprisingly I can’t find what I need. And AI has been uniformly awful. I have what I think is a simple problem: a 0v to 3.3v input that I want to scal… --- ## [What's with the sudden pandemic of YouTube ads?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-sudden-pandemic-of-youtube-ads/1008770)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [April 16, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-sudden-pandemic-of-youtube-ads/1008770 "2025-04-16T15:46:22Z")
I have a habit of watching all sorts of YouTube videos on nights when I just can’t go to sleep. Videos on plate techtonics? Great. Cooking demos? Fine. Guy trimming diseases cow hooves? Okay, why not? People prying… --- ## [What were China’s import tariffs on US goods before the recent unpleasantness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-china-s-import-tariffs-on-us-goods-before-the-recent-unpleasantness/1016979)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-china-s-import-tariffs-on-us-goods-before-the-recent-unpleasantness/1016979 "2025-04-15T22:07:17Z")
I keep hearing that China was “taking advantage of us,” but I have found it very difficult to determine what their historical tariffs on US goods were. I’m aware that there is now a 104% tariff. --- ## [True Randomness](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-randomness/1016155)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/true-randomness/1016155 "2025-04-15T22:02:00Z")
There’s an announcement by JPMorgan today that they used a quantum computer to generate true randomness and that it was a big step forward. Has it always been possible to generate true randomness by sampling the decay o… --- ## [Way to ensure a message gets to family if stop interacting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-ensure-a-message-gets-to-family-if-stop-interacting/1015297)
**Author:** [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/way-to-ensure-a-message-gets-to-family-if-stop-interacting/1015297 "2025-04-15T17:00:37Z")
Just thinking about how long it took to realise there was a problem with Gene Hackman, and that could easily happen to me if I somehow disabled myself, could be nobody has reason to check on me for weeks. Is there a good… --- ## [Debit card: PIN or no PIN?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-card-pin-or-no-pin/1016452)
**Author:** [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debit-card-pin-or-no-pin/1016452 "2025-04-15T17:00:28Z")
For at least the last few years, every time I stick my debit card into a slot, I am given the option of typing in my PIN and hitting Enter or simply hitting Enter. I’m fairly sure this happens regardless of where I am or… --- ## [Question about old-fashioned newspaper headlines starting with a verb](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-fashioned-newspaper-headlines-starting-with-a-verb/1016420)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [April 15, 2025, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-fashioned-newspaper-headlines-starting-with-a-verb/1016420 "2025-04-15T03:42:43Z")
I’m going to try my best to explain what I’m talking about. Over the years I’ve come across old news headlines, old like from the 40s and earlier, that start off with a verb instead of the noun that is doing the verb. Ex… --- ## [What is this electrical(?) facility/structure in Central Illinois?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-electrical-facility-structure-in-central-illinois/1017041)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-electrical-facility-structure-in-central-illinois/1017041 "2025-04-14T17:43:34Z")
Near I-55 Exit 39 in Central/Southwestern Illinois, not far from the town of Hamel, on the west side of the road is some sort of facility/structure that I drove past yesterday on my way home. On Google Maps it’s labeled … --- ## [Information on a speeding ticket](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-on-a-speeding-ticket/1016970)
**Author:** [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2025, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-on-a-speeding-ticket/1016970 "2025-04-14T13:24:35Z")
I was reading a linked story in another thread about the 1980 Harvey’s Casino bombing and came upon this passage: On 14 August 1981, FBI special agents once again brought 20-year-old John Jr. in for questioning. They to… --- ## [Antibiotic resistance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotic-resistance/838110)
**Author:** [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 14, 2025, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antibiotic-resistance/838110 "2025-04-14T05:23:03Z")
Is it possible to become tolerant of antibiotics? I’ve taken them a lot when younger. I used to get upper respiratory infections every winter and was always given penicillin or amoxicillin. Last February (2018) I had to… --- ## [What's with these three painted dots on my windshield (they were there when I bought the car from the dealer)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2025, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-these-three-painted-dots-on-my-windshield-they-were-there-when-i-bought-the-car-from-the-dealer/1016927 "2025-04-13T08:28:11Z")
In case I didn’t do the pic-embedding thing right, I’m asking about three dots, forming a triangle, that are painted on my windshield of my new-to-me car. One is red, one is white, the other is green, forming a triangle.… --- ## [Explain trade deficits to me](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-trade-deficits-to-me/1016829)
**Author:** [@Honolulu\_Lulu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honolulu_Lulu)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [April 13, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-trade-deficits-to-me/1016829 "2025-04-13T00:38:42Z")
Please explain trade deficits to me. I don’t understand how they even exist. If I google it, I get, “A trade deficit occurs when a country’s imports exceed its exports, meaning it buys more goods and services from othe… --- ## [55,000 emails in Gmail - What to do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/55-000-emails-in-gmail-what-to-do/1016926)
**Author:** [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2025, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/55-000-emails-in-gmail-what-to-do/1016926 "2025-04-12T04:20:54Z")
My wife informs me that her Gmail suddenly shows more than 55,000 emails in her inbox, dating back to 2020. She says she has always saved important emails in separate folders, and swears she regularly cleaned out her inb… --- ## [Apple Watches - Educate me, please](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-watches-educate-me-please/977075)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [April 12, 2025, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-watches-educate-me-please/977075 "2025-04-12T02:59:51Z")
It looks like Series 8 is the current version. Series 9 is predicted to come out around September, 2023. I guess my main question is if any sort of monthly fee is required, or can you just pay for the watch and enjoy it… --- ## [Tree Root Decay](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-root-decay/1016905)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tree-root-decay/1016905 "2025-04-11T18:06:50Z")
After Hurricane Ian, I had to have the remains of some trees removed, including stumps. A few months ago, the location where my avocado tree was started sinking, creating a steep pit. I figured the remains of the grou… --- ## [Tetrahedral Pyramid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tetrahedral-pyramid/1016608)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [April 11, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tetrahedral-pyramid/1016608 "2025-04-11T14:38:02Z")
There are pyramid-shaped buildings all over the world – most famously the Pyramids of Egypt (and most famously, the three at Giza, although there are plenty of others elsewhere). There are pyramids in Mexico (in Teotihua… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=48)