# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=517 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 518 --- ## [How long can you leave things in lockers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-leave-things-in-lockers/825060)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-you-leave-things-in-lockers/825060 "2018-11-26T05:18:20Z")
A common thing in many movies is for something to be stored in a locker at a bus station or train station. ISTR at least a couple of movies where the Big Clue or the MacGuffin or whatever had been in the locker for year… --- ## [Local restaurant torn down and then rebuilt back up](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-restaurant-torn-down-and-then-rebuilt-back-up/824877)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-restaurant-torn-down-and-then-rebuilt-back-up/824877 "2018-11-25T21:10:16Z")
Something puzzling has happened in my local Austin neighborhood: A Chik Fil-A restaurant was torn down less than a year ago - completely razed to the ground - and then rebuilt back up on the same spot. As far as I can t… --- ## [What is this part on my dishwasher?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020)
**Author:** [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020 "2018-11-25T19:57:59Z")
I was installing a used dishwasher today and noticed this part. It is supposed to be plugged in there somehow. I have no idea what it is but when I turn the water on, water comes spraying out of it. Any ideas? Here i… --- ## [Duration of Mueller Grand Jury](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duration-of-mueller-grand-jury/824983)
**Author:** [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2018, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duration-of-mueller-grand-jury/824983 "2018-11-25T14:39:54Z")
The Grand Jury is close to 16 months in. How long can it go? Seems like a big time commitment. How do people keep their jobs/deal financially with this? Does it pay enough to compensate? --- ## [Questions about power transformer. (Step Down, 220 --\> 110)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-power-transformer-step-down-220-110/825019)
**Author:** [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-power-transformer-step-down-220-110/825019 "2018-11-25T01:53:06Z")
It seems that all of the larger (bigger than 300W) power transformers I have will noticeably hum when plugged in to the wall, even when there is nothing plugged into the unit. What causes the humming? Is there actually c… --- ## [Burned food, now how do I remove the smell??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burned-food-now-how-do-i-remove-the-smell/825027)
**Author:** [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 25, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burned-food-now-how-do-i-remove-the-smell/825027 "2018-11-25T00:06:55Z")
A friend burned pierogies on the stove and the apartment she rents filled with smoke. She has aired the place out, washed the curtains and so on, but there’s still a strong smell. She has no renters insurance, of cours… --- ## [Mass Equals Energy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-equals-energy/824746)
**Author:** [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-equals-energy/824746 "2018-11-24T23:29:28Z")
In e=mc^2 , ‘c’ really just equals 1 (unless you have engineering calcs to do). Can you apply the Lorentz Transformation to m=e by using metric tensor(flat spacetime) squared over metric tensor(curved spacetime) squared?… --- ## [What replaces plastic cutlery in take out and fast food?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-replaces-plastic-cutlery-in-take-out-and-fast-food/824795)
**Author:** [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-replaces-plastic-cutlery-in-take-out-and-fast-food/824795 "2018-11-24T21:14:18Z")
(Note: I know we had at least one thread on this months ago, but of course the Dope Search function ain’t helping.) Anyway, Seattle banned plastic cutlery and straws several months ago. What has replaced plastic in gene… --- ## [What is the Amazon Fire HD doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-amazon-fire-hd-doing/825014)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-amazon-fire-hd-doing/825014 "2018-11-24T20:35:34Z")
Mrs. L.A.'s Amazon Fire HD periodically plays four escalating notes; like ‘Do-re-me-fa!’ Why does it do this? --- ## [How are Family First, Focus on the Family, or Family Research Council Connected?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-family-first-focus-on-the-family-or-family-research-council-connected/819765)
**Author:** [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-family-first-focus-on-the-family-or-family-research-council-connected/819765 "2018-11-24T19:48:06Z")
Asking for a friend. Apparently her local school has had a years’ long association with the All Pro Dads program, which she already knows is sponsored by Family First. What she’s looking for is information on whether All… --- ## [Petroleum is fossil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petroleum-is-fossil/824979)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petroleum-is-fossil/824979 "2018-11-24T13:51:35Z")
What is the evidnce for it. Is it just a theory or is there concrete proof that the billions of gallons of Petroleum that we have been pumping out of the earth is just rotten pre historic plankton and sea creatures. Are… --- ## [Does the weight of evidence support or deny that Ptolemy created maps of the world?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-weight-of-evidence-support-or-deny-that-ptolemy-created-maps-of-the-world/824624)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-weight-of-evidence-support-or-deny-that-ptolemy-created-maps-of-the-world/824624 "2018-11-24T12:07:07Z")
Hi I have seen websites online both supporting and denying credible evidence that Ptolemy was a cartographer. No maps of the world, if he ever did create them, exist today. I’m not sure if there is still disagreement b… --- ## [An uncontained gas would never cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-uncontained-gas-would-never-cool/824953)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-uncontained-gas-would-never-cool/824953 "2018-11-24T01:50:45Z")
Suppose you had a gas at a particular temperature but the gas did not have a container. As such the particles could have nothing to collide with except themselves. Moving freely through space they lose no energy. Coll… --- ## [Network connection aggregation.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-connection-aggregation/824763)
**Author:** [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 24, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-connection-aggregation/824763 "2018-11-24T01:38:22Z")
We have a Dell Powerconnect 5524 with two 10 gig fiber ports. Our server has an Intel X520 dual 10 gig fiber port. I wish to create a static LAG. 24 connections come into the switch. We have two cables out to the NIC. I… --- ## [Replacing old iTunes library with newly found music cache](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-old-itunes-library-with-newly-found-music-cache/824978)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacing-old-itunes-library-with-newly-found-music-cache/824978 "2018-11-23T20:43:19Z")
I was holding a friend’s old computer which held two music libraries, one with 4000 items & another with 7000. Due to her mislabeling, we just found her larger one, which I’ve put onto a thumb drive for her & she wants m… --- ## [Educate me on naval warships and fleet formation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-on-naval-warships-and-fleet-formation/824781)
**Author:** [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-on-naval-warships-and-fleet-formation/824781 "2018-11-23T17:16:07Z")
There’s something I don’t fully get (and have no idea where to look up myself) is why do we need so many classes of ships, and what are their roles? Why do battleships need destroyers, cruisers and frigates? Is it more p… --- ## [Low-latency Linux Kernel tuning for financial industry - questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-latency-linux-kernel-tuning-for-financial-industry-questions/824916)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-latency-linux-kernel-tuning-for-financial-industry-questions/824916 "2018-11-23T16:14:46Z")
I have seen a number of jobs asking for experience with low-latency, performing tuning of the Linux Kernel. These positions are for the financial industry. I imagine a financial trading company makes more money if they … --- ## [New Zealand Mount Stevens disappears - or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-mount-stevens-disappears-or-not/824902)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-mount-stevens-disappears-or-not/824902 "2018-11-23T12:27:52Z")
I’m reading a newspaper article from June 24, 1929 when two earthquakes struck New Zealand. The article states, “…as a result of the earthquakes, Mount Stevens, nearly 4000 feet high, disappeared completely. Slopes have… --- ## [Streaming PC gaming from PC to TV: suggestions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-pc-gaming-from-pc-to-tv-suggestions/824101)
**Author:** [@Kamaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamaski)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/streaming-pc-gaming-from-pc-to-tv-suggestions/824101 "2018-11-22T16:51:04Z")
So I need some suggestions. I have a nice 4K 65” flat screen snoy Bravia tv (the model is xbr-65d if that helps) and I would like to get stuff from my pc to the tv (to play games like red dead 2 and fallout 76/fallout 4… --- ## [Question regarding silent demolitions.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-silent-demolitions/824937)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-silent-demolitions/824937 "2018-11-23T03:13:57Z")
Hi, I have heard of silent demolitions of buildings and infrastructure that do not use explosives. Does that go for roads too? How are these demolitions achieved and how silent are they? What are the decibel levels? --- ## [Question for HVAC folks](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-hvac-folks/824960)
**Author:** [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [November 23, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-hvac-folks/824960 "2018-11-23T00:14:56Z")
I’ve got a 30 ton Carlyle condensing unit that out of nowhere blew the fusible plug on the suction line. Unit was calling for cooling, the TXV’s were good to go and the sight glass was indicating some flashing. Made repa… --- ## [That weird stuck moment in time.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-weird-stuck-moment-in-time/767680)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-weird-stuck-moment-in-time/767680 "2018-11-22T17:55:59Z")
Why, when I look at a clock that shows seconds, does the first second that I see seem to take much longer than the subsequent seconds? It doesn’t matter if it’s digital or a second hand on a traditional clock. I look a… --- ## [Bookstores and Barcodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bookstores-and-barcodes/824918)
**Author:** [@uncle\_squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uncle_squeegee)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bookstores-and-barcodes/824918 "2018-11-22T16:55:21Z")
Many bookstores I’ve frequented over the years cover the barcodes on the books with a sticker that has another barcode on it; that one is scanned during checkout. This seems inefficient from both a labor and a supply per… --- ## [What was the point of a dive bomber?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-a-dive-bomber/824688)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-a-dive-bomber/824688 "2018-11-22T15:15:53Z")
Why were there dive bombers in WWII? Did it give greater accuracy in delivering the bomb? How hard was it to pull out of the dive? Are there still dive bombers? --- ## [Question regarding William Dampier, pilot of the Duke. Was it a galley?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-william-dampier-pilot-of-the-duke-was-it-a-galley/824884 "2018-11-22T11:57:33Z")
Hi I haven’t been able to find any description of the Duke, a ship piloted by William Dampier and captained by Woodes Rogers. Was it a galley/galleon? Were most privateers galleys? What was its tonnage and gunnage? I l… --- ## [Military Fly Overs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-fly-overs/824742)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-fly-overs/824742 "2018-11-22T08:05:20Z")
At some events, such as NASCAR races, the Navy or Air Force performs fly overs. Anyone know who pays for them? --- ## [preparing/holding a body for cremation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preparing-holding-a-body-for-cremation/824851)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preparing-holding-a-body-for-cremation/824851 "2018-11-22T04:18:44Z")
After an acquaintance died, it was four full days before the body was cremated. Other than keeping the body refrigerated for this interval, is there anything else done to it to keep it from degrading? AIUI, embalming i… --- ## [How long would a parachute “survive” exposed to the elements](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-a-parachute-survive-exposed-to-the-elements/824873)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-would-a-parachute-survive-exposed-to-the-elements/824873 "2018-11-22T03:20:46Z")
Inspired by this thread: https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=21333456 I don’t necessarily believe that DB survived the jump but if his chute would have hung up in a tree, how long would it la… --- ## [F 35 "Elephant walk" \[Fighter jet launching exercise\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-35-elephant-walk-fighter-jet-launching-exercise/824915)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/f-35-elephant-walk-fighter-jet-launching-exercise/824915 "2018-11-22T01:33:26Z")
What was the purpose of this exercise? Does that sort of launch have any practical application? While I can see there would be considerable logistics involved, isn’t it really just line 'em up and launch 'em as fast as y… --- ## [Which vitamins/minerals can you space out, and which are important on hourly/daily basis](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vitamins-minerals-can-you-space-out-and-which-are-important-on-hourly-daily-basis/824684)
**Author:** [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [November 22, 2018, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-vitamins-minerals-can-you-space-out-and-which-are-important-on-hourly-daily-basis/824684 "2018-11-22T00:39:35Z")
I hate trying to cut vitamin/mineral pills to get the exact amount I should be having a day. Is it okay in general to space things out, like every 3 days take a pill that’s 3x as strong as the RDA? How about specifics?… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=516) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=518)