# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=470 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 471 --- ## [Another fence building question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-fence-building-question/833005)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-fence-building-question/833005 "2019-04-26T11:24:50Z")
The infamous 4x4 vs. 6x6 question and I’m looking for an engineering answer and not what looks good or "in my day … " or f-it and use metal. Putting in fence posts and the fence will span 15 feet with a gate. Posts wil… --- ## [Overturning Roe: What prevents federal abortion law from applying nationwide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overturning-roe-what-prevents-federal-abortion-law-from-applying-nationwide/833048)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 26, 2019, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overturning-roe-what-prevents-federal-abortion-law-from-applying-nationwide/833048 "2019-04-26T05:03:37Z")
AIUI, if Roe is ever overturned, the issue of abortion then goes down to state level - and the blue states would keep abortion legal while (some) red states would ban it - but what would prevent Congress from passing a n… --- ## [Strange bird behavior](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-bird-behavior/832682)
**Author:** [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-bird-behavior/832682 "2019-04-25T19:37:13Z")
About 10 days ago, a brown headed cow bird showed up in my yard, only one male as far as I can tell. I do have bird feeders so that might have attracted it. It came to my office window in the basement, where I sit at my … --- ## [Size of wood that will keep a non swimmer from drowning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-wood-that-will-keep-a-non-swimmer-from-drowning/833027)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2019, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/size-of-wood-that-will-keep-a-non-swimmer-from-drowning/833027 "2019-04-25T13:29:35Z")
Is there a calculation that a non swimmer can make when choosing bits of wood that are floating past so that he can grab one and stay afloat. Lets say the man is 65 kgs in weight What minimum size or weight of wood wil… --- ## [How did cars fuel economy and horsepower both go up the last few decades](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-cars-fuel-economy-and-horsepower-both-go-up-the-last-few-decades/832915)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [April 25, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-cars-fuel-economy-and-horsepower-both-go-up-the-last-few-decades/832915 "2019-04-25T12:37:12Z")
Cars have gotten better fuel economy but also more horsepower. I believe some mid-size sedans that get 30-40mpg have roughly the same hp as muscle cars in the 60s that got 10 mpg. Was this due to dozens of minor technol… --- ## [Please identify this store/business model](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-store-business-model/832800)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-identify-this-store-business-model/832800 "2019-04-24T21:55:07Z")
In 1981, or perhaps early in 1982, I bought my first 35 mm SLR. I didn’t get it from a camera store or a department store, and this was a long time before online shopping. I bought it from a store that seemed like a Ne… --- ## [Thermodynamics- is there a temp limit for computers to work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermodynamics-is-there-a-temp-limit-for-computers-to-work/832967)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thermodynamics-is-there-a-temp-limit-for-computers-to-work/832967 "2019-04-24T19:57:23Z")
So in simple thermodynamic terms, computers organize / process data and thus locally reduce entropy while on the larger scale entropy increases per the laws of thermodynamics. As temperature increases (due to radiation … --- ## [Costa Concordia Salvage Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-concordia-salvage-question/669117)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/costa-concordia-salvage-question/669117 "2019-04-24T17:45:07Z")
If you’ve seen the photos/video of the salvage operation you’ve seen the bank of cables and pulleys on the port side of the ship. Anyone know to what these cables are anchored? --- ## [Car tracking device advice?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-tracking-device-advice/832899)
**Author:** [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-tracking-device-advice/832899 "2019-04-24T17:26:22Z")
My daughter Littlest R recently misplaced her car; she had parked a couple blocks from her usual location, and the next morning when her car wasn’t in its accustomed spot, panic ensued. Mrs. R is wondering whether there… --- ## [Is there any way an embassy can move a sanctuary seeker to its country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-an-embassy-can-move-a-sanctuary-seeker-to-its-country/832636)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-an-embassy-can-move-a-sanctuary-seeker-to-its-country/832636 "2019-04-24T16:55:52Z")
OK, clearly Ecuador did not want to take Assange to its own country but suppose that had been their wish. Would the ambassador’s car be considered Ecuadorian territory? Or suppose they had a large bag, put Assange into … --- ## [Why don't banks support strong two-factor authentication?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-banks-support-strong-two-factor-authentication/832913)
**Author:** [@Bassman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bassman)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-banks-support-strong-two-factor-authentication/832913 "2019-04-24T16:33:34Z")
I’ve noticed that nearly all banks don’t support strong two-factor authentication. They either allow access with only a username and password or do two-factor authentication through SMS, which isn’t best practice accordi… --- ## [High cost chip keys](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-cost-chip-keys/832725)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/high-cost-chip-keys/832725 "2019-04-24T03:36:10Z")
We just bought a used car from Hertz. It came with one chip key remote (lock/unlock - no starter). We asked about a second key and were told that they don’t supply a second key and that’s just part of keeping the cost do… --- ## [Something & Something & Something marketing trope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-something-something-marketing-trope/832906)
**Author:** [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-something-something-marketing-trope/832906 "2019-04-24T02:48:42Z")
What’s the origin of this style of t-shirt and poster design where they list a bunch of things that go together with ampersands? Examples: TV characters Band members Astronauts I feel like it’s a reference to some o… --- ## [Chip and Pin credit card used in the US - what happens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chip-and-pin-credit-card-used-in-the-us-what-happens/832642)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chip-and-pin-credit-card-used-in-the-us-what-happens/832642 "2019-04-24T02:11:49Z")
I’ve used a US credit card in Europe which perhaps 80% of the time accommodates the signature. Other times ignores the lack of pin and still other times refuses to work at all. I was wondering what happens when someone… --- ## [How Do You Define 'e'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-e/832908)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 24, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-define-e/832908 "2019-04-24T00:07:10Z")
I just know I first heard about it in high school. It is irrational. It is used in the natural logarithm. And it apparently given as 2.718281828… My question is what exactly is e? And how is it defined? We all know pi … --- ## [Whatever process that created life on Earth... Is it still happening today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-process-that-created-life-on-earth-is-it-still-happening-today/832770)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-process-that-created-life-on-earth-is-it-still-happening-today/832770 "2019-04-23T21:32:50Z")
Title says it all. Basically what I’m asking is there still new life being created today? How would we know? --- ## ['Magic Coral', Sodium Silicate Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magic-coral-sodium-silicate-questions/832901)
**Author:** [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magic-coral-sodium-silicate-questions/832901 "2019-04-23T19:09:20Z")
I bought a ‘grow magic coral’ kit. It says in the instructions that the special solution is sodium silicate. It does not say what the starter ‘magic rocks’ are. The directions are for growing the ‘coral’ on an included p… --- ## [How does a country 'block social media'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-country-block-social-media/832896)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-country-block-social-media/832896 "2019-04-23T17:06:52Z")
The government of Sri Lanka has “blocked social media” in response to yesterday’s horrific, despicable attacks. How is that done? I kinda doubt there is one main ‘cable’ coming in the country? Presumably, you can access… --- ## [When did the term 'peasant' first come into use to describe 'villeins'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-peasant-first-come-into-use-to-describe-villeins/832855)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-peasant-first-come-into-use-to-describe-villeins/832855 "2019-04-23T16:01:53Z")
Hi When did the term ‘peasant’ first come into use to describe ‘villeins’? Who use it first and where? It certainly wasn’t during the Middle Ages. Was it the 1700’s or later? I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [Why did Apple Music eat all of my data when I wasn't using it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-apple-music-eat-all-of-my-data-when-i-wasnt-using-it/832926)
**Author:** [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-apple-music-eat-all-of-my-data-when-i-wasnt-using-it/832926 "2019-04-23T14:42:07Z")
Yesterday afternoon while I was out shopping I got an text message from my network provider warning me that I had used 80% of my monthly data. I thought that was a bit odd as it renews on the 15th of the month so I shoul… --- ## [Does a 31-year old adult need a meningitis vaccination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-31-year-old-adult-need-a-meningitis-vaccination/832923)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-31-year-old-adult-need-a-meningitis-vaccination/832923 "2019-04-23T14:00:34Z")
I see it’s recommended for teens, and also adults over 50, but apparently no mention of the age gap in between? Also, vaccines can only prevent virus-related stuff, not bacterial? --- ## [A question about iCal (macOS 10.14.4)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-ical-macos-10-14-4/832900)
**Author:** [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 23, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-ical-macos-10-14-4/832900 "2019-04-23T12:50:24Z")
I usually use iCal in Week view. Is there any way to force iCal to make the left-most day in the calendar Today (as opposed to a given day of the week?). In general, I don’t have much of a need to see what happened befor… --- ## [Vehicle purchase: sales tax on price, or on price minus trade in?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-purchase-sales-tax-on-price-or-on-price-minus-trade-in/832811)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-purchase-sales-tax-on-price-or-on-price-minus-trade-in/832811 "2019-04-22T20:10:25Z")
If you’re buying a vehicle and there’s a state sales tax of x%, is that calculated on the price of the vehicle? or on the price minus the trade in allowance? --- ## [Keep gasoline in generator or jug?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-gasoline-in-generator-or-jug/832866)
**Author:** [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-gasoline-in-generator-or-jug/832866 "2019-04-22T18:54:21Z")
I have an emergency generator for my refrigerator and freezer, and maybe a couple of other small things. I keep it outside, next to the house, under cover. Long story short, sometimes I don’t test the generator every mo… --- ## [VHS tapes and tape degradation--also TV inputs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vhs-tapes-and-tape-degradation-also-tv-inputs/832839)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vhs-tapes-and-tape-degradation-also-tv-inputs/832839 "2019-04-22T16:33:27Z")
Two related questions: I got a box of old “mini” VHS tapes from my mom this weekend. They are little tapes that you put inside a bigger VHS size tape and the device spools the tape out and allows it to play in a VHS p… --- ## [Use of redwood in a fence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-redwood-in-a-fence/832870)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/use-of-redwood-in-a-fence/832870 "2019-04-22T16:09:46Z")
I hear all opinions from redwood is ok for ground contact to only pressure-treated lumber can be used. As for weathersealing, some say the old redwood was great but the new redwood is no different from any other wood so… --- ## [Format and language problems importing text into Excel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/format-and-language-problems-importing-text-into-excel/832663)
**Author:** [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/format-and-language-problems-importing-text-into-excel/832663 "2019-04-22T15:43:46Z")
I often need to import into Excel text files which are codified using ISO (Excel calls it 28591 Western European ISO), but Excel keeps trying to read them as being Japanese, which reads English-alphabet characters normal… --- ## [What are the bare essentials for a web app?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-bare-essentials-for-a-web-app/832859)
**Author:** [@Saffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saffer)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-bare-essentials-for-a-web-app/832859 "2019-04-22T15:34:25Z")
I want to build a web app, for fun. I have built various air quality sensors running on ESP8266micro-controllers, communicating via a message broker to an agent which persists the readings to a MariaDbdatabase. I have … --- ## [Very Large Microchips](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-large-microchips/832807)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-large-microchips/832807 "2019-04-22T14:29:47Z")
This is an idea I just had and I want to know if it’s even theoretically possible. Imagine a piece of silicon a few inches on a side, etched with a couple transistors in a simple circuit of some kind. Think a single reg… --- ## [Does the AC dehumidify when not set on "Cool"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-ac-dehumidify-when-not-set-on-cool/832827)
**Author:** [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 22, 2019, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-ac-dehumidify-when-not-set-on-cool/832827 "2019-04-22T12:20:13Z")
That’s it. I guess if it says “fan only” it must not be doing it. But I wonder if it’s more complicated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=469) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=471)