# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=492 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 493 --- ## [What kind of bird is this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bird-is-this/829089)
**Author:** [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bird-is-this/829089 "2019-02-08T18:37:12Z")
I’ve been keep seed on my window sill for these little neighborhood birds. What are they? --- ## [Can electric space heaters kill you via carbon monoxide poisoning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-electric-space-heaters-kill-you-via-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/742717)
**Author:** [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-electric-space-heaters-kill-you-via-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/742717 "2019-02-08T17:28:46Z")
The heating element is presumably interacting with the air in some way. If the room runs out of oxygen can carbon monoxide be released via some mechanism? --- ## [Why do people have heart attacks in their sleep, when presumably they are most relaxed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-have-heart-attacks-in-their-sleep-when-presumably-they-are-most-relaxed/829008)
**Author:** [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-have-heart-attacks-in-their-sleep-when-presumably-they-are-most-relaxed/829008 "2019-02-08T16:39:43Z")
When someone dies of an heart attack in their sleep, why was that the point when their heart failed? Their heart should be at a minimal level of exertion. The person is lying down, relaxed, with low heart rate. That s… --- ## [How does the US House of Reps scrutinise/exercise control over treaties, especially trade deals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-us-house-of-reps-scrutinise-exercise-control-over-treaties-especially-trade-deals/829161)
**Author:** [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-the-us-house-of-reps-scrutinise-exercise-control-over-treaties-especially-trade-deals/829161 "2019-02-08T15:09:15Z")
I don’t have a cite as it was a few days ago, but I read that with the Democrats in control of the House the UK has to treat Ireland with respect as there’s many pro-Irish Representatives in the House who would play havo… --- ## [NY abortion law: What does it do and not do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-abortion-law-what-does-it-do-and-not-do/828398)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ny-abortion-law-what-does-it-do-and-not-do/828398 "2019-02-08T13:17:40Z")
(not political) There’s been some social-media frenzy of late over New York’s recently passed law on abortion, with many claiming that it means that a woman can now get an abortion at any point of her pregnancy, even li… --- ## [Is there a easy add in to change case in Firefox or Ms Word?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-easy-add-in-to-change-case-in-firefox-or-ms-word/611256)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-easy-add-in-to-change-case-in-firefox-or-ms-word/611256 "2015-01-15T20:37:35Z")
Back in my mainframe days the Vax editor (EDT) had a very handy change case feature. Select the text and hit Gold 1 on the numpad. EDT is the best full screen editor I ever used in my career. tHERES NOTHING WORSE THAN T… --- ## [How do public holidays work outside the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-public-holidays-work-outside-the-us/828847)
**Author:** [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-public-holidays-work-outside-the-us/828847 "2019-02-08T06:22:08Z")
In the US we have “public holidays” but the only people who are guaranteed to get them off work for the government. Private companies are not required to give people any time off at all, be it holidays, sick time, or vac… --- ## [Can you pro-actively declare bankruptcy \*before\* you incur enough debt to actually be bankrupt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pro-actively-declare-bankruptcy-before-you-incur-enough-debt-to-actually-be-bankrupt/827808)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-pro-actively-declare-bankruptcy-before-you-incur-enough-debt-to-actually-be-bankrupt/827808 "2019-02-08T02:37:47Z")
I have seen numerous articles that say PG&E (a utility in California) is declaring bankruptcy in anticipation of huge liabilities from the recent wildfires. Note that the quote says “potentially staggering liability.” … --- ## [How secure is DuckDuckGo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-is-duckduckgo/829030)
**Author:** [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-secure-is-duckduckgo/829030 "2019-02-08T01:11:45Z")
The title says it all. When you use DuckDuckGo, is your personal information, including IP address, really not tracked either by them, or the sites you visit? Asking for a friend :wink: --- ## [Clutch questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clutch-questions/828825)
**Author:** [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clutch-questions/828825 "2019-02-08T00:31:43Z")
What kinds of things are actually bad for the clutch in a manual car? Using the clutch to hold yourself in place on a hill? Banging it into gear? Being in the wrong gear? Bunny hopping? Is going into reverse while you ar… --- ## [Could dinosaurs have eaten chilies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-dinosaurs-have-eaten-chilies/829039)
**Author:** [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 8, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-dinosaurs-have-eaten-chilies/829039 "2019-02-08T00:07:18Z")
I get it that most of the animals generally called dinosaurs became extinct around 66 million years ago, and the Capsicum genus evolved only about 17 million years ago. So they didn’t coexist AFAIK. But since birds, th… --- ## [How do some bank cards get direct deposit pay 2 days early?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-some-bank-cards-get-direct-deposit-pay-2-days-early/829086)
**Author:** [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-some-bank-cards-get-direct-deposit-pay-2-days-early/829086 "2019-02-07T23:55:11Z")
I’ve seen a number of tv ads for bank debit cards that promise direct deposits get credited to their accounts 2 days earlier than other cards. how do they do that? If payday is Friday, how can a particular bankcard make… --- ## [Why can Firefox access Internet when Chrome has difficulty?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-firefox-access-internet-when-chrome-has-difficulty/829021)
**Author:** [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-can-firefox-access-internet-when-chrome-has-difficulty/829021 "2019-02-07T20:10:42Z")
For a few weeks I’ve been having serious Internet problems. I get delays and messages like The problems come in spurts — after a few minutes boards.straightdope.com might be OK again. Some sites are unaffected; besid… --- ## [Capabilities of Key West Naval Air Station](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capabilities-of-key-west-naval-air-station/805373)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capabilities-of-key-west-naval-air-station/805373 "2019-02-07T16:41:35Z")
I see it is described as a training center for air to air combat. Is it also a defensive air base? Are there Marine detachments or other military presence in the Keys? Missiles? How about during the Cuban crisis? Looking… --- ## [Did the Allies abandon plans to assassinate Hitler due to fear of horrific reprisals?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-allies-abandon-plans-to-assassinate-hitler-due-to-fear-of-horrific-reprisals/640026)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-allies-abandon-plans-to-assassinate-hitler-due-to-fear-of-horrific-reprisals/640026 "2019-02-07T16:31:01Z")
I’ve just finished reading the quite wonderful Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre. One of the reasons I enjoyed it as much as I did was because it was full of many interesting little ‘asides’. By that, I mean, Macintyre peppe… --- ## [Since the switch to digital TV can one use an antenna?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-the-switch-to-digital-tv-can-one-use-an-antenna/522574)
**Author:** [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 29, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/since-the-switch-to-digital-tv-can-one-use-an-antenna/522574 "2009-12-29T01:22:04Z")
The old man at our local Radio Shack tells me no one can use an antenna anymore, that I must have satellite or cable or some such. --- ## [How strict are the EU's 'protected designation of origin' laws (e.g. Champagne)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strict-are-the-eus-protected-designation-of-origin-laws-e-g-champagne/828904)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strict-are-the-eus-protected-designation-of-origin-laws-e-g-champagne/828904 "2019-02-07T14:24:02Z")
I know that in the EU, any wine made outside the Champagne region of France can’t legally be called champagne, and similar laws exist for many other products named after an actual place. Could manufacturers call it “Cham… --- ## [Non-reproducing bull elephants controlling the herd](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-reproducing-bull-elephants-controlling-the-herd/829028)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-reproducing-bull-elephants-controlling-the-herd/829028 "2019-02-07T13:03:51Z")
I recently spoke to a girl (a Boer) from South Africa and this was her take on the situation. Occasionally, the old dominant male elephant in a particular herd becomes impotent due to age. However, he is still powerfu… --- ## [Largest country with a single drainage basin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-country-with-a-single-drainage-basin/828974)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/largest-country-with-a-single-drainage-basin/828974 "2019-02-07T11:51:21Z")
I recently came across Robert Szucs’s beautiful maps of the world’s drainage basins. Studying the maps got me thinking: what’s the largest country entirely contained within the drainage basin of a single river? Unfortu… --- ## [I don't get transistors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-transistors/829041)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-get-transistors/829041 "2019-02-07T05:12:21Z")
I’ve been given a physics class to teach in HS, and some of them aren’t very math oriented, so I’ve been trying to show how some practical things work, like car engines, refrigerators, CD players, speakers, microphones, … --- ## [So what was the drama over Maroon 5 playing at the Superbowl?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-drama-over-maroon-5-playing-at-the-superbowl/828978)
**Author:** [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 7, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-was-the-drama-over-maroon-5-playing-at-the-superbowl/828978 "2019-02-07T01:00:19Z")
Apparently there was some drama preceding the game about Maroon 5 performing. Enough that Adam Levine was interviewed about it on TV. I never got an explanation of what the controversy was. Does anyone know? Because t… --- ## [Cruise Ships & Immigration/Customs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cruise-ships-immigration-customs/828951)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cruise-ships-immigration-customs/828951 "2019-02-06T22:34:17Z")
We recently returned home after two weeks on St Martin. While there, we took a 20 minute ferry trip over to Anguilla to visit with a friend who lives there. We had to present our passports, go through customs/immigration… --- ## [New Mexico National Guard Chain of Command](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-national-guard-chain-of-command/829082)
**Author:** [@n5tp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/n5tp)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-mexico-national-guard-chain-of-command/829082 "2019-02-06T22:04:48Z")
President orders National Guard to Southern Border. NM Governor orders National Guard to stand down. Whose orders do the Guardsmen obey? --- ## [How do the Indian (subcontinent) languages separate words and sentences?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-indian-subcontinent-languages-separate-words-and-sentences/828993)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-the-indian-subcontinent-languages-separate-words-and-sentences/828993 "2019-02-06T20:50:02Z")
Watching some tech tutorial videos lately, a lot of which are narrated by people with varying thicknesses of Indian accent. They speak quickly and with little or no pause between words or sentences, making it very hard t… --- ## [On the placement of the Parliamentary mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-placement-of-the-parliamentary-mace/828943)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-placement-of-the-parliamentary-mace/828943 "2019-02-06T20:30:41Z")
Those who have been watching the recent Brexit debates in the House of Commons (or any other Parliamentary business) will have noticed the ceremonial mace that normally rests in a cradle on the chamber’s central table. … --- ## [AOC Pins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-pins/829074)
**Author:** [@n5tp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/n5tp)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-pins/829074 "2019-02-06T17:58:54Z")
What pins was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wearing on her jacket during the SOTU? --- ## [Is it easy to make an AR-15 rifle full auto?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-easy-to-make-an-ar-15-rifle-full-auto/828982)
**Author:** [@NanaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanaMan)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-easy-to-make-an-ar-15-rifle-full-auto/828982 "2019-02-06T17:45:23Z")
I know regular AR-15s are semi-auto, but if the bolt is changed to a “full-auto style”, will that make it M-16ish? This part is available many places, here is one: \ Carrier Design M16 Full Auto Style I… --- ## [Warren's wealth tax](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warrens-wealth-tax/828996)
**Author:** [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warrens-wealth-tax/828996 "2019-02-06T15:18:09Z")
I keep reading that Republicans are arguing that Senator Warren’s proposal to tax the wealth, property and all assets of individuals who accumulate more than $50 million in these categories is unconstitutional. Is this… --- ## [Spanish-speakers, how do you pronounce the name "Jaime"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-speakers-how-do-you-pronounce-the-name-jaime/829018)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spanish-speakers-how-do-you-pronounce-the-name-jaime/829018 "2019-02-06T02:06:12Z")
I knew a Mexican guy with this name years ago and he pronounced it: “hah-MAY” I’ve just met a guy from South America who pronounces it: “HIGH-mee” I know a person is the ultimate authority on how to pronounce his own n… --- ## [Low flying jet due to door noise. What happened?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-flying-jet-due-to-door-noise-what-happened/828987)
**Author:** [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 6, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-flying-jet-due-to-door-noise-what-happened/828987 "2019-02-06T01:26:31Z")
I was curious if any of our aviation industry members could satisfy my curiosity. On the flight I just took to SF the pilot announced we’d be flying low (I think 13000 feet) because the galley door was making a high pitc… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=491) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=493)