# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=512 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 513 --- ## [Slap sound](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slap-sound/825827)
**Author:** [@BenedictusXIV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BenedictusXIV)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 9, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slap-sound/825827 "2018-12-09T00:58:29Z")
I am watching a rerun of Enter the Dragon and I am chuckling about the sound effects. For example, with every punch that is thrown (and that’s quite a few), you hear that ‘swoosh-bang’ sound that has been the de facto st… --- ## [What causes this circular pattern in the Canadian Arctic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-this-circular-pattern-in-the-canadian-arctic/825282)
**Author:** [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-this-circular-pattern-in-the-canadian-arctic/825282 "2018-12-08T23:34:53Z")
Look at this satellite view on Goolge Mpas in Victoria Island in northern Canada. See how the “grain” of the land, made of low ridges and small lakes, seems to form a semicircle around the area I linked to? It’s not a f… --- ## [What caused this car to break apart (drag racing)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-this-car-to-break-apart-drag-racing/825770)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-caused-this-car-to-break-apart-drag-racing/825770 "2018-12-08T19:16:30Z")
See video here. (This happened over 10 years ago.) Two dragster cars are accelerating off the line, one of them veers over onto the lights in the center of the track and part of the lights goes flying off and hits the ot… --- ## [Orbital buffer --\> Sander. Is it possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orbital-buffer-sander-is-it-possible/825814)
**Author:** [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orbital-buffer-sander-is-it-possible/825814 "2018-12-08T19:03:57Z")
I have seen various adapters that convert an orbital sander into a buffer… I have a Ryobi orbital buffer and was wondering if there exists an adapter kit to turn the buffer into a sander. It’s a 6 inch (15 mm) diameter … --- ## [cocaethylene question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaethylene-question/825776)
**Author:** [@SL8R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SL8R)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2018, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cocaethylene-question/825776 "2018-12-08T15:11:30Z")
I know what it is, and that it stays in the system longer. My question is, what is considered mixing the two to create it. Like doing a fat line and then drinking a beer? Or doing two in the same night in general, eve… --- ## [Growing plants in agar](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-plants-in-agar/825667)
**Author:** [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/growing-plants-in-agar/825667 "2018-12-08T12:26:32Z")
My daughter is 3. She’s very curious about everything, particularly plants (my wife is a big fan too). I’d like to grow some carrots in agar; this would hopefully give her a view on the development of the plant and root … --- ## [Left leather dress shoes out in near-freezing cold for a long time](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-leather-dress-shoes-out-in-near-freezing-cold-for-a-long-time/825787)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2018, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-leather-dress-shoes-out-in-near-freezing-cold-for-a-long-time/825787 "2018-12-08T10:39:07Z")
Leather (or fake leather) dress shoes left outside in near-freezing temps for weeks - would it make the shoes start to come apart at the seams? I think they’re glued together, not sewn. --- ## [When were the 9/11 attacks first called 9/11?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-were-the-9-11-attacks-first-called-9-11/825706)
**Author:** [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-were-the-9-11-attacks-first-called-9-11/825706 "2018-12-08T02:23:19Z")
I’m watching World Wrestling Entertainment’s first “Tribute to the Troops” show, which was called “Christmas in Baghdad” back then in 2003. One of the wrestlers said, “Since 9/11, there have been no further terrorist at… --- ## [Why don't we cry when we get physically hurt as adults?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-cry-when-we-get-physically-hurt-as-adults/825672)
**Author:** [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-cry-when-we-get-physically-hurt-as-adults/825672 "2018-12-07T22:23:11Z")
I’ve Googled this and the answer is nobody knows for sure. What’s your theory about why as adults, we generally don’t cry out of physical pain unless it’s really bad. Emotional crying I can understand. We try to suck it… --- ## [If an unmarried person dies in their house, how is their death discovered?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-unmarried-person-dies-in-their-house-how-is-their-death-discovered/825410)
**Author:** [@JessicaHoyt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessicaHoyt)\ **Replies:** 75\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-an-unmarried-person-dies-in-their-house-how-is-their-death-discovered/825410 "2018-12-07T22:14:21Z")
Assume that they don’t have a live-in-boyfriend/girlfriend. And also that they don’t have any kids that live with them. (Either because their kids are grown or they never had any kids in the first place.) Since nobody e… --- ## [African Americans and LGBTQ Views.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-americans-and-lgbtq-views/825604)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/african-americans-and-lgbtq-views/825604 "2018-12-07T19:45:33Z")
Something I have wondered for a while now. What are African American views surrounding LGBT rights? I know I did hear a while back that they are less likely to support same sex marriage. But this was a while back. And … --- ## [Question regarding a cruel Viking practice.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-a-cruel-viking-practice/825008)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-a-cruel-viking-practice/825008 "2018-12-07T19:29:11Z")
Hi I’ve been trying to verify a cruel Viking practice that I heard about of throwing children (caught up in their raids) up in the air and skewering them as they landed on their spear tips. If this was indeed practiced,… --- ## [Targeted advertising in magazines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targeted-advertising-in-magazines/825223)
**Author:** [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/targeted-advertising-in-magazines/825223 "2018-12-07T16:43:59Z")
Just how specific is targeted advertising in magazines these days? I’ve subscribed to Wired for years, and a lot of the advertising seemed pretty much general for my demographic and interests. But lately, it seems a lot… --- ## [No Euphoria from opiates, just sleepiness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-euphoria-from-opiates-just-sleepiness/825748)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-euphoria-from-opiates-just-sleepiness/825748 "2018-12-07T15:49:46Z")
This recent thread made me wonder, because I have never felt euphoria from opiates. My only two experiences with opiates (I think) are: After a surgery, I was in recovery. I was still groggy, but experiencing a lot … --- ## [Excel doesn't have enough rows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-doesnt-have-enough-rows/794087)
**Author:** [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-doesnt-have-enough-rows/794087 "2018-12-07T13:17:52Z")
An engineer at work was working a project a couple months ago, wherein he acquired a bunch of RS-422 data using a digital oscilloscope. They’re CSV files, and quite large (around 117 MB). The engineer abruptly quit to b… --- ## [Tea-induced headaches](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-induced-headaches/106539)
**Author:** [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tea-induced-headaches/106539 "2018-12-07T13:10:35Z")
Occasionally, while drinking very bitter tea, I get a headache. It only lasts a brief while (until about five minutes after I finish the cup), but it’s intermittent. I can drink the same tea the next day, but steep it a … --- ## [Vacuum balloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-balloon/825556)
**Author:** [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-balloon/825556 "2018-12-07T05:18:39Z")
Is it possible to create a balloon rigid enough to contain a vacuum, but whose structure is not too heavy to not negate the bouyancy? How does feasibility change with scale? --- ## [Thing connected to car interior](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-connected-to-car-interior/825563)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thing-connected-to-car-interior/825563 "2018-12-07T03:07:03Z")
I was in the car of a relative a few nights ago and noticed some lights dangling in the floorboard on the driver’s side. She said that it had been there since the car was recently serviced. It is a black box approximatel… --- ## [Need help on vintage film formats](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-on-vintage-film-formats/825284)
**Author:** [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-on-vintage-film-formats/825284 "2018-12-07T03:02:32Z")
I’m looking for the name of the consumer photography format that was popular mid-1950s to late-1960s. 3.5" x 3.5" square, usually with the month/year stamped on one edge. Originally crinkly edge, later just square. I do… --- ## [Today's George H. W. Bush Ceremonies Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-george-h-w-bush-ceremonies-question/825644)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-george-h-w-bush-ceremonies-question/825644 "2018-12-07T01:43:35Z")
I noticed a Major (2 star) General was by the side of George Bush at every ceremony/casket move. Anyone know who he is and what he is to the Bush family? --- ## [Baptists and Godparents](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baptists-and-godparents/825628)
**Author:** [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baptists-and-godparents/825628 "2018-12-07T01:09:20Z")
Question inspired after watching the Netflix show, “Insatiable”, but putting this in GQ because I’m looking for a factual answer to something I wonder if the show got wrong. Does the Baptist denomination actually do “Go… --- ## [Marriage licenses (strangely hard to find answer)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marriage-licenses-strangely-hard-to-find-answer/825534)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 7, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marriage-licenses-strangely-hard-to-find-answer/825534 "2018-12-07T01:01:40Z")
Say the groom is a Texas resident and bride is a California resident. Wedding is in California. Does the groom apply for a marriage license from the government of Texas or California? Does it make any difference if the … --- ## [Structuring, personal checks between family](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structuring-personal-checks-between-family/825699)
**Author:** [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structuring-personal-checks-between-family/825699 "2018-12-06T22:28:25Z")
My MIL gave us $15,000 for Christmas, in the form of a personal check. My wife and I have a joint account at my bank, Navy Federal. I couldn’t deposit the check there for a variety of reasons, which were: I couldn’t us… --- ## [This is not intended to be racial..but has a racial component to it. \[Asian-owned chair massage\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-intended-to-be-racial-but-has-a-racial-component-to-it-asian-owned-chair-massage/825654)
**Author:** [@rob0225](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rob0225)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-not-intended-to-be-racial-but-has-a-racial-component-to-it-asian-owned-chair-massage/825654 "2018-12-06T22:21:29Z")
I travel for work quite a bit and will occasionally get a chair massage at the local malls. My question i: Why are the majority of these owned and operated by orientals? I’m guessing most are Koreans? --- ## [Right side hypotenuse - why is a right angle needed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-side-hypotenuse-why-is-a-right-angle-needed/825636)
**Author:** [@CanTak3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanTak3)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-side-hypotenuse-why-is-a-right-angle-needed/825636 "2018-12-06T21:31:55Z")
From Wikipedia: RHS (Right-angle-Hypotenuse-Side), also known as HL (Hypotenuse-Leg): If two right-angled triangles have their hypotenuses equal in length, and a pair of shorter sides are equal in length, then the trian… --- ## [A few George HW Bush funeral questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-george-hw-bush-funeral-questions/825622)
**Author:** [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-george-hw-bush-funeral-questions/825622 "2018-12-06T21:23:39Z")
Sorry, title should read “A few George HW Bush funeral questions” Never afraid to ask the dumb questions: Although I’m not much for televised funerals (I’m pretty sure mine won’t be), I’m rather impressed by the logi… --- ## [Do you still have to pay the mortgage if your house burns down?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-to-pay-the-mortgage-if-your-house-burns-down/825018)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-still-have-to-pay-the-mortgage-if-your-house-burns-down/825018 "2018-12-06T20:48:30Z")
We’ve had two huge fires here in Northern California in the last five months, the Carr fire and now the Camp fire with 10’s of thousands of homes burned to the ground in the last one. What happens to the mortgage is you… --- ## [NYC accent curiosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-accent-curiosity/825412)
**Author:** [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-accent-curiosity/825412 "2018-12-06T16:24:03Z")
This always intrigued me after 40+ years of observations of people I’ve met and/or knew, but never got around to asking. Why, when going north from New York City, the accent fades very quickly. It’s noticeable to some d… --- ## [The last grain of sand to fall in an hourglass](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-last-grain-of-sand-to-fall-in-an-hourglass/825665)
**Author:** [@Ferris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferris)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-last-grain-of-sand-to-fall-in-an-hourglass/825665 "2018-12-06T16:04:31Z")
From idle observation of a typical hourglass, the grains of sand on the top appear to slide towards the centre, and the position of that centre is itself ‘dropping’. If you could position one red grain amongst all the o… --- ## [What was Military Academy policy for Cadets during WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-military-academy-policy-for-cadets-during-wwii/825675)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 6, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-military-academy-policy-for-cadets-during-wwii/825675 "2018-12-06T15:48:13Z")
It came out this week that Bush and Carter are only a few months apart in age. Both were born in 1924. Bush had quite a combat record in WWII. I was surprised to read that Carter spent the war years at the Naval Academ… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=511) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=513)