# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=484 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 485 --- ## [The ins and outs of NDAs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ins-and-outs-of-ndas/830529)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ins-and-outs-of-ndas/830529 "2019-03-05T18:06:42Z")
Inspired by this article in The Atlantic: The History Behind the NDAs Trump Wants to Weaponize - The Atlantic (which I only skimmed) I was wondering what a typical “punishment” would be if someone were to break an NDA. H… --- ## [Are TV news shows allowed to be paid for "stories" that are really unlabeled ads?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tv-news-shows-allowed-to-be-paid-for-stories-that-are-really-unlabeled-ads/830050)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-tv-news-shows-allowed-to-be-paid-for-stories-that-are-really-unlabeled-ads/830050 "2019-03-05T17:07:38Z")
I would have thought this would be against some kind of FCC or FTC regulation. But my local CBS station just aired a “story” that consisted entirely of announcing that Taco Bell was now offering “rattlesnake fries”. Th… --- ## [Question for the medical types re: Parkinson's and sleep disorders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-medical-types-re-parkinsons-and-sleep-disorders/785544)
**Author:** [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-the-medical-types-re-parkinsons-and-sleep-disorders/785544 "2019-03-05T16:08:46Z")
A recent article on Cracked lists, if you scroll down to #4, Sleep Restlessness Can Predict Whether You’ll Get Parkinson’s Disease. It has a link to a report on the American Parkinson Disease Association website, which… --- ## [Any Help Establishing Lease Rates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-help-establishing-lease-rates/830531)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2019, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-help-establishing-lease-rates/830531 "2019-03-05T13:40:00Z")
Hi Everyone I have something I’m working on, and I am trying to figure something out that’s way outside my area of expertise. I’ve recently joined a small company, and some jobs just don’t have an assigned person. I am… --- ## [Large-scale artistic installation based on lightning rods?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-scale-artistic-installation-based-on-lightning-rods/830559)
**Author:** [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2019, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-scale-artistic-installation-based-on-lightning-rods/830559 "2019-03-05T11:56:07Z")
This was described to me by a friend, maybe 20 years ago, and I’ve never been able to find out more about it. My friend had not visited it, she had seen a documentary about it. She described a large field containing hun… --- ## [Evolution and biology: Why do humans like to make each other angry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-and-biology-why-do-humans-like-to-make-each-other-angry/830554)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2019, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolution-and-biology-why-do-humans-like-to-make-each-other-angry/830554 "2019-03-05T07:07:49Z")
From a societal and biology/evolution standpoint, it would seem that pissing off your enemies is a very bad survival strategy, yet huge numbers of humans derive gratification from it and the very existence of the trollin… --- ## [\[Organ\] donor \[How long are organs viable after death\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donor-how-long-are-organs-viable-after-death/830524)
**Author:** [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/organ-donor-how-long-are-organs-viable-after-death/830524 "2019-03-04T22:06:46Z")
while getting my new Drivers license, I chose to be donor, but later I thought if this is realistic option. After death, how long are kidneys, liver, etc viable for transplant? --- ## [Dead car battery/jumpstart problem diagnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-car-battery-jumpstart-problem-diagnosis/830373)
**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-car-battery-jumpstart-problem-diagnosis/830373 "2019-03-04T21:24:20Z")
Car is an '04 Audi A6. I go for short drives (grocery store, errands, etc.) about twice a week – maybe ten miles a week on average. Both my wife and I use public transportation for our commutes to work. About 6 weeks … --- ## [Investment Tax Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-tax-question/830534)
**Author:** [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/investment-tax-question/830534 "2019-03-04T17:52:23Z")
There is nothing that makes me feel like more of an idiot than trying to do my taxes I acknowledge that you are not my accountant, just trying to understand this Some mutual funds are reporting capital gains distributi… --- ## [Anyone remember Naturistics Sea Splash cologne? What WAS that smell?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-naturistics-sea-splash-cologne-what-was-that-smell/791554)
**Author:** [@Magicicada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magicicada)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-naturistics-sea-splash-cologne-what-was-that-smell/791554 "2019-03-04T16:20:57Z")
Late 80s into the 90s there was a rash of sea-related scents available. Sea Splash is the one I remember best, but Avon also had Soothing Seas, and I can remember also owning assorted no-name sea-scented candles and bat… --- ## [Do your power bills go up substantially switching from gas to electric water heater?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-power-bills-go-up-substantially-switching-from-gas-to-electric-water-heater/830136)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-power-bills-go-up-substantially-switching-from-gas-to-electric-water-heater/830136 "2019-02-28T18:46:02Z")
We’ve been without hot water since friday night. An inspection of the water heater reveals a tank that is leaking internally and a pilot which refuses to light. Everyone is afraid to call the landlady because she is a h… --- ## [Four threats, and their legality](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-threats-and-their-legality/830480)
**Author:** [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/four-threats-and-their-legality/830480 "2019-03-04T07:34:50Z")
I was idly thinking about threats last night, and about the edges of what’s legal. Consider: The conditional: “If you take the last doughnut from the break room, I swear I’m gonna burn your house down tonight.” There’… --- ## [A Question For Edgar Allan Poe Scholars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-edgar-allan-poe-scholars/23304)
**Author:** [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-edgar-allan-poe-scholars/23304 "2019-03-04T04:06:09Z")
Thiis has been bugging me for years…at the end of EA poe’s classic story “THE PREMATURE BURIAL” (possibly the scariest story he wrote-still gives me the creeps), there is a reference to “Afrasiab” making a voyage down th… --- ## [Why the southern district of New York?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-southern-district-of-new-york/830317)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-southern-district-of-new-york/830317 "2019-03-04T01:20:45Z")
Without getting into a great debate, is there anything different about the southern district of New York with regards to mandate or operations? They seem to come up frequently as of late. Does it have anything to do wit… --- ## [Statute of Limitations and indictments](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statute-of-limitations-and-indictments/830464)
**Author:** [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 4, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statute-of-limitations-and-indictments/830464 "2019-03-04T00:41:07Z")
Suppose it is assumed that a sitting President cannot be indicted. If the statute of limitations would expire before the President’s term is over, could the indictment be made and postponed somehow? I believe they have… --- ## [Today's name that fallacy thread - The "doomsayer" fallacy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-name-that-fallacy-thread-the-doomsayer-fallacy/830450)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-name-that-fallacy-thread-the-doomsayer-fallacy/830450 "2019-03-03T22:26:02Z")
So thought about this in unrelated thread, about Trump suspending the constitution. Someone said this: Actually that’s a logical fallacy IMO. The fact that people have said this about other presidents, and they were … --- ## [A question about bar codes and qr codes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-bar-codes-and-qr-codes/830170)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-bar-codes-and-qr-codes/830170 "2019-03-03T21:52:24Z")
What information can be coded with each, for instance I know a bar code can be read by machine to mean “peaches canned delmonte 16oz” at the piggly wiggly or “jeans wrangler 33x40” at the local farm fuel feed and sundri… --- ## [Can a sitting U.S. President be removed from office for crimes committed before he was President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sitting-u-s-president-be-removed-from-office-for-crimes-committed-before-he-was-president/830453)
**Author:** [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-sitting-u-s-president-be-removed-from-office-for-crimes-committed-before-he-was-president/830453 "2019-03-03T20:42:35Z")
The U.S. Constitution lists treason, bribery, and high crimes and misdemeanors as the grounds for removing someone from office. It’s my understanding that the phrase “high crimes and misdemeanors” refers specifically to… --- ## [What was this security guard doing when checking every door electronically?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-security-guard-doing-when-checking-every-door-electronically/830380)
**Author:** [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-security-guard-doing-when-checking-every-door-electronically/830380 "2019-03-03T20:15:39Z")
Yesterday, because I had the day off, I decided to walk to a coffee shop about 2 blocks away to get a cup of coffee. This entailed walking past a mixed-use building whose first floor, along the street I was walking down… --- ## [What accent might this be](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-accent-might-this-be/830406)
**Author:** [@Covfefe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covfefe)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-accent-might-this-be/830406 "2019-03-03T20:00:42Z")
…If someone pronounces the president’s name: DOUGH-nold TRAAHMP. The first name is just how it looks. The first syllable is one and the same with the word. I can only describe the phonetic vowel sound in the last name … --- ## [United States military veteran suicides](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-military-veteran-suicides/830461)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-military-veteran-suicides/830461 "2019-03-03T19:52:30Z")
Nation wide 22 vets commit suicide every day on average. Nation wide 129 people commit suicide every day on average. These are obviously terrible stats, but when we look at “percent of population”, are vets killing the… --- ## [Math Question Too Long For Thread Title (Multiplying Yuge Exponent By Another Yuge Exponent)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-question-too-long-for-thread-title-multiplying-yuge-exponent-by-another-yuge-exponent/830436)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-question-too-long-for-thread-title-multiplying-yuge-exponent-by-another-yuge-exponent/830436 "2019-03-03T19:44:50Z")
I’m trying to get my head around some math here. The scientific consensus is that there are 10 to the power of 86 subatomic particles in the observable universe. Let’s call that number “L.” Now take L to its own power, L… --- ## [Can you transfer .mp3 to kindle fire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transfer-mp3-to-kindle-fire/829289)
**Author:** [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-transfer-mp3-to-kindle-fire/829289 "2019-03-03T18:25:16Z")
Gah. Long story short. Can a Kindle Fire copy .mp3s from a Windows 7 machine. My Mom is going blind. She has a Kindle Fire (Silk Operating system). And a windows 7 computer. She would like to be able to listen to au… --- ## [2012 Olympics host team was Great Britain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-host-team-was-great-britain/830454)
**Author:** [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-host-team-was-great-britain/830454 "2019-03-03T16:39:35Z")
Why not United Kingdom? https://youtu.be/4As0e4de-rI?t=11047 --- ## [The science behind chilling hours requirement for temperate fruit trees ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-science-behind-chilling-hours-requirement-for-temperate-fruit-trees/830486)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-science-behind-chilling-hours-requirement-for-temperate-fruit-trees/830486 "2019-03-03T16:32:16Z")
A number of temperate climate fruit trees (apples, pears, …) and vegetables require chilling hours to flower / bear fruits. So, what’s going on at the biochemistry level ? What does the chilling hours (1000, 500, …) … --- ## [Computer question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/830447)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question/830447 "2019-03-03T14:38:44Z")
I cannot find a driver for my Cannon laser jet printer. My old computer has the right drivers, can I remove those to a flash drive and install them on my newer computer? --- ## [BA492 aborted windy landing. Crazy oscillations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ba492-aborted-windy-landing-crazy-oscillations/830193)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ba492-aborted-windy-landing-crazy-oscillations/830193 "2019-03-03T01:29:42Z")
British Airways flight 492 aborted a landing recently. Someone on the ground recorded this video of the climbout after abort. Note the massive roll oscillations, which appear to be very repeatable in terms of amplitude… --- ## [Unemployment - how is eligibility determined](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-how-is-eligibility-determined/830187)
**Author:** [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unemployment-how-is-eligibility-determined/830187 "2019-03-03T00:23:45Z")
This is a hypothetical question about how the law around unemployment works. I’m not actually in this situation, and I’m sure the answer varies from state to state, but I’m curious about the process. My understanding of… --- ## [Illegally leaving water for immigrants.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegally-leaving-water-for-immigrants/830358)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/illegally-leaving-water-for-immigrants/830358 "2019-03-03T00:20:04Z")
Border guards are arresting people who leave water for people trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States. What laws are these people breaking? --- ## [Geometric proof: term for "it is wrong"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geometric-proof-term-for-it-is-wrong/830381)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2019, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geometric-proof-term-for-it-is-wrong/830381 "2019-03-03T00:17:04Z")
I have a distant memory that in geometric proofs, there was a term that the teacher could insert at the end if the result has an error. Essentially saying, “result is absurd so there must be a mistake; re-do” Opposite … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=483) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=485)