# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=493 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 494 --- ## [Beanie Baby experts: please help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beanie-baby-experts-please-help/828991)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beanie-baby-experts-please-help/828991 "2019-02-05T20:56:51Z")
My wife owns a first edition Princess Diana purple Beanie Baby. The value of which appears to be anything between $44,000 to $175 on eBay. How on Earth can we know how much to sell it for? --- ## [How likely is it that I'll die due to sinus rinse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-ill-die-due-to-sinus-rinse/828697)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-likely-is-it-that-ill-die-due-to-sinus-rinse/828697 "2019-02-05T20:22:09Z")
A few weeks ago there was a news story about a woman who died from using tap water in her neti pot. Basically, she was infected by a brain-eating amoeba. So the CDC now recommends using sterile water to rinse your sinu… --- ## [What Happens when your Back Cracks and Pops during Yoga Practice ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-your-back-cracks-and-pops-during-yoga-practice/829017)
**Author:** [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-your-back-cracks-and-pops-during-yoga-practice/829017 "2019-02-05T19:29:00Z")
I’ve taken up Yoga a couple of months ago and enjoy it quite a bit, although it’s definitely more intense than I expected. Now, in some positions, I feel (and hear) a very clear cracking sound in my upper back. What happ… --- ## [ID this news story (Dimwit on Mt. Everest)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-news-story-dimwit-on-mt-everest/828779)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-this-news-story-dimwit-on-mt-everest/828779 "2019-02-05T19:22:04Z")
This is a news item I hazily remember reading 15 or so years ago: An idiot American rich girl went up Mt Everest, bringing such necessities as a battery-powered coffee grinder and three laptop computers. The expedition d… --- ## [Is there any way to look up someone's land line phone number any more?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-look-up-someones-land-line-phone-number-any-more/828934 "2019-02-05T16:34:23Z")
That is, that doesn’t charge you a monthly premium? Once upon a time this was a public service provided by the local telephone company. Now, every website that claims you can look someone up for “free” is just a pitch fo… --- ## [Any detailed accounting of Superbowl expenditures?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-detailed-accounting-of-superbowl-expenditures/828947)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-detailed-accounting-of-superbowl-expenditures/828947 "2019-02-05T13:28:22Z")
Does anyone know of any single place that attempts to assess the economic expenditures/impact of the Superbowl? I’m thinking in terms of a comprehensive balance sheet as to who pays what, and who earns what. -How much … --- ## [can somebody explain post-landing taxi procedures?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-somebody-explain-post-landing-taxi-procedures/828706)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-somebody-explain-post-landing-taxi-procedures/828706 "2019-02-05T13:10:27Z")
Been watching some Kennedy Steve videos lately and I feel like I’m missing a bit that’s going on. Most of these videos are audio of ground control conversations. I know they’re in charge of guiding planes around the air… --- ## [Puma Punku](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puma-punku/828426)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puma-punku/828426 "2019-02-05T04:14:07Z")
I’m trying to find information on the settlement of Puma Punku. Specifically, scientific theories about how they quarried, transported and engineered the stones. Also about the civilization and people themselves. Any m… --- ## [Can you explain Massive Gravity simply?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-massive-gravity-simply/828891)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 5, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-explain-massive-gravity-simply/828891 "2019-02-05T01:40:08Z")
I was reading this Phys.org article about an alternative to Dark Matter which links to this page about Massive Gravity which loses me pretty much immediately. Okay, I get that the central idea is that there is a force-t… --- ## [Installing an outdoor water spigot](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-an-outdoor-water-spigot/828964)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-an-outdoor-water-spigot/828964 "2019-02-04T22:08:27Z")
Got a quote of hundreds of dollars and I just don’t get it. There is a crawl space under my house and I could theoretically T off there from the line that feeds my sprinkler backflow\* which would get it real close to it… --- ## [Uber phone # now](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-phone-now/828711)
**Author:** [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-phone-now/828711 "2019-02-04T21:50:07Z")
I abodolutely need to SPEAK with an Uber rep. Their app has no options. Their PHONE # is for nothing except death emergencies. I paid 19.00 to travel 1.3 miles from Ventura Bl to Moorpark St. Ventura Bl means you bette… --- ## [Nations unexpectedly using each other's war material - issues?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-unexpectedly-using-each-others-war-material-issues/828870)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-unexpectedly-using-each-others-war-material-issues/828870 "2019-02-04T19:35:59Z")
Suppose Sweden suddenly randomly gifted France a fleet of JAS-39 Gripens out of the blue (a warplane that France doesn’t own) but said “Figure it out, we aren’t providing operating manuals or training,” how long would it… --- ## ["Let a thousand \[hundred\] flowers bloom": Original poetic source?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-a-thousand-hundred-flowers-bloom-original-poetic-source/828874)
**Author:** [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-a-thousand-hundred-flowers-bloom-original-poetic-source/828874 "2019-02-04T17:05:31Z")
A friend would like to use the phrase “Let a thousand flowers bloom” on a plaque, possibly with an attribution. She and I are aware that the phrase’s modern incarnation comes from the Hundred Flowers Campaign in Communis… --- ## [New Snowblower Electric Start trips GFCI.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-snowblower-electric-start-trips-gfci/828906)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-snowblower-electric-start-trips-gfci/828906 "2019-02-04T16:50:54Z")
I recently burned out the electric starter of my snowblower. Replaced it with a $60 eBay knockoff instead of a $150 original manufacturers part. The old starter the previous owner had broken off the grounding pin but I w… --- ## [Harrison's H4 vs a $10 Casio wristwatch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrisons-h4-vs-a-10-casio-wristwatch/828913)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harrisons-h4-vs-a-10-casio-wristwatch/828913 "2019-02-04T16:26:10Z")
I’m kind of reluctant to add much more explanation to the title, honestly. Anyone who’d be able to answer would probably understand it immediately. :wink: But, to be thorough—a question inspired by a few time travel/alt… --- ## [Google+ shutting down](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-shutting-down/828887)
**Author:** [@Mislav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mislav)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-shutting-down/828887 "2019-02-04T16:18:00Z")
I recently received a notification saying that my Google+ profile will be deleted by April 2nd. I found a more detailed explanation here. I would just like to know will that affect my gmail and YouTube account somehow… --- ## [How to find the record low temperature for a given place and date range](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-record-low-temperature-for-a-given-place-and-date-range/828935)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-find-the-record-low-temperature-for-a-given-place-and-date-range/828935 "2019-02-04T09:21:35Z")
My brother recently posted on Facebook that it’s −40°C (not counting wind chill) where he lives, and that this is the coldest temperature he has ever experienced. I suspect he is wrong, but how can I prove it? Is there… --- ## [What if the US military lost all its satellites?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-us-military-lost-all-its-satellites/828770)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-the-us-military-lost-all-its-satellites/828770 "2019-02-04T03:36:24Z")
If some drunken bear or panda bear were to mess with satellites by jamming or destroying them, how would that affect US military operations? What do satellites currently do for the US military and what alternative means … --- ## [What's the Straight Dope on Acoustic Levitation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-acoustic-levitation/826945)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-acoustic-levitation/826945 "2019-02-03T21:25:54Z")
I was watching a video on the building of the great pyramids,and a new theory is that the blocks were kind of “floated” over to where they needed to go by acoustic levitation. I looked into acoustic levitation a bit, an… --- ## [Question re Withdrawing from Treaties](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-withdrawing-from-treaties/828832)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-re-withdrawing-from-treaties/828832 "2019-02-03T19:02:52Z")
The Constitution (Article II, Section 2, second paragraph) gives the President the power to make treaties, but only with the concurrence of a 2/3 majority of the Senate. AFAICT, the Constitution is silent on the subject… --- ## [Why did the INF Treaty focus specifically on ground-based missiles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-inf-treaty-focus-specifically-on-ground-based-missiles/828879)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-the-inf-treaty-focus-specifically-on-ground-based-missiles/828879 "2019-02-03T17:09:08Z")
Why was intermediate range (500-5500km) a big deal over ICBMs and tactical BMs? Why were ground-launched missiles singled out over sea or air-launched ones? Why include cruise missiles since they would be less useful f… --- ## [Are Caribbean Islands Part of North America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-caribbean-islands-part-of-north-america/828718)
**Author:** [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-caribbean-islands-part-of-north-america/828718 "2019-02-03T16:50:53Z")
A lunch discussion at work led to this argument: I had said that I had never been off this continent and a cow-orker commented that she had, rattling off a list of locations that are indeed not in North America (Scotland… --- ## [Democrat vs. democratic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-vs-democratic/828846)
**Author:** [@shinnen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinnen)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-vs-democratic/828846 "2019-02-03T16:41:39Z")
In my understanding ‘Democrat’ is a member of a political party, and democratic is an adjective describing a political system. Yet most people refer to the Democrats as democratic, which they surely are, just as are the … --- ## [Questions re the metric system](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-re-the-metric-system/817778)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 173\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-re-the-metric-system/817778 "2019-02-03T16:20:11Z")
I often hear how Americans are resistant to switching to the metric system. It just seems too much trouble to relearn. It made me start wondering why we didn’t use it since the people that came from England and started o… --- ## ["Peoria collar" as a clothing insult?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peoria-collar-as-a-clothing-insult/828732)
**Author:** [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/peoria-collar-as-a-clothing-insult/828732 "2019-02-03T15:24:46Z")
I recently heard a musical from about 1966 called “It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Superman!” which is largely terrible. Anyway, in the midst of this, they introduced a young Linda Lavin as the bad guy’s secretary (name… --- ## [Fathometer Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fathometer-question/828816)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2019, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fathometer-question/828816 "2019-02-02T23:14:51Z")
How long would it take a “ping” (that might not be the correct terminology) to return to a Fathometer atop the Mariana Trench (36,000’)? --- ## [Where can I find who voted for and against a bill in the Senate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-who-voted-for-and-against-a-bill-in-the-senate/828840)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-find-who-voted-for-and-against-a-bill-in-the-senate/828840 "2019-02-02T21:15:13Z")
A bill that was unanimously passed in the House failed to pass in the Senate. (FWIW, it was H.R. 299, but I’d be interested in finding this information on any bill.) How do I find out who voted for it, and against it? --- ## [Will my car heat up, or cool down the garage?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-my-car-heat-up-or-cool-down-the-garage/828721)
**Author:** [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-my-car-heat-up-or-cool-down-the-garage/828721 "2019-02-02T21:06:42Z")
My wife wanted to put her car in the garage due to the cold (relatively cold I suppose, around 10 degrees). I don’t care one way or another, other than the issue that she can’t back into it and I have to. But I got won… --- ## [What exactly is the phenomenon that occurs on a supercharged muscle car to make this sound at idle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-phenomenon-that-occurs-on-a-supercharged-muscle-car-to-make-this-sound-at-idle/828824)
**Author:** [@SHARKBITEATTACK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SHARKBITEATTACK)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-phenomenon-that-occurs-on-a-supercharged-muscle-car-to-make-this-sound-at-idle/828824 "2019-02-02T17:12:24Z")
take this video for example Big Cam BLOWER SURGE Supercharged 1967 Camaro SS "CRUSHER" Start Up Leaving MCACN Muscle Car Show - YouTube The way the engine sort of revs up and then exhales, what is this? I’ve always refe… --- ## [Does Windows 7 still have the "Latest downloads" list?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-7-still-have-the-latest-downloads-list/828805)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-windows-7-still-have-the-latest-downloads-list/828805 "2019-02-02T00:38:51Z")
ON Win XP the last 10 downloads appeared on a list when you pressed the left mouse button on the “Start” menu. You could move the mouse pointer to those downloads and when you got to the one you want you lifted your fing… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=492) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=494)