# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=543 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 544 --- ## [When was The White House wired for cable television?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-white-house-wired-for-cable-television/820770)
**Author:** [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-the-white-house-wired-for-cable-television/820770 "2018-09-04T23:04:13Z")
I was reading about how Trump likes to watch Fox News and just got me wondering when the White House was wired for cable television? Was the 70s? 80s? 90s? Or do they use satellite? --- ## [Is it possible to save bandwidth and listen to youtube audio?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-save-bandwidth-and-listen-to-youtube-audio/820765)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-save-bandwidth-and-listen-to-youtube-audio/820765 "2018-09-04T22:52:40Z")
I never waste my cellular data on YouTube. The audio wouldn’t be a drain. It’s the video that kills you. It’s especially galling when the video consists of a few still images in the video. My consumer Cellular plan giv… --- ## [Highlighted text doesn't highlight on the sdmb](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighted-text-doesnt-highlight-on-the-sdmb/820768)
**Author:** [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighted-text-doesnt-highlight-on-the-sdmb/820768 "2018-09-04T22:33:20Z")
So, I have a weird web browser problem that I can’t figure out. When I highlight text on the Straight Dope Message Boards, there’s no graphical indication that the text is selected. Everywhere else, I see the light blue… --- ## [Burning Man and Cell Service](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burning-man-and-cell-service/820275)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burning-man-and-cell-service/820275 "2018-09-04T18:55:07Z")
Anyone know if cell service is available? The site is about 120 north of Reno. --- ## [Pop under query](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-under-query/820687)
**Author:** [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-under-query/820687 "2018-09-04T18:31:46Z")
I have noticed this ad coming up as the pop under on the SD’s main page and am curious. I wouldn’t ask anyone to do this (Especially since I am not) but has anyone taken the bait to find out what Hillary’s cruel revenge… --- ## [Where is this precipitous road?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-this-precipitous-road/820672)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-this-precipitous-road/820672 "2018-09-04T17:52:01Z")
It has a vertical drop only a few feet off the side of the road. Doesn’t seem to have guard rails, just some rocks. Spotted in a Cadillac “Made to Move” commercial: Dennis --- ## [Stalingrad: 4 million troops involved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stalingrad-4-million-troops-involved/820646)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stalingrad-4-million-troops-involved/820646 "2018-09-04T16:40:08Z")
I can see stats for how many German and Soviet forces were at Stalingrad at the beginning and at its height, but is there a figure for all combatants involved who ever got a piece of the action at any point from beginnin… --- ## [Nutrition: raw nuts vs. roasted nuts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutrition-raw-nuts-vs-roasted-nuts/820735)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nutrition-raw-nuts-vs-roasted-nuts/820735 "2018-09-04T16:21:32Z")
I like roasted nuts as a snack. But I also like the nutrition of nuts, and wonder how much that nutritional value is compromised by roasting. Do they become empty calories, or do their health benefits remain largely in… --- ## [Debossed Invitations / back issues of Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debossed-invitations-back-issues-of-martha-stewart-weddings-magazine/213311)
**Author:** [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debossed-invitations-back-issues-of-martha-stewart-weddings-magazine/213311 "2003-11-16T18:38:38Z")
I hope this is in the right forum. It does have a factual answer, so I assume it is. I was wondering if someone could help me locate a company that advertised in MS Weddings’ older issues. All my old issues are in stor… --- ## [What kind of bug is this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bug-is-this/820698)
**Author:** [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-bug-is-this/820698 "2018-09-03T21:50:53Z")
--- ## [How to change default picture from file location in Mac Power Point](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-change-default-picture-from-file-location-in-mac-power-point/820649)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-change-default-picture-from-file-location-in-mac-power-point/820649 "2018-09-03T17:24:01Z")
I’m creating a slide show for a presentation using Mac Power Point 2011. All my images are in a folder called Slide Show. Every time I want to get a picture, Power Point opens by default my Documents folder. Silde Sho… --- ## [Data volume of a map of the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/data-volume-of-a-map-of-the-us/820665)
**Author:** [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/data-volume-of-a-map-of-the-us/820665 "2018-09-03T13:28:49Z")
For a Garmin GPS-like device, how much memory is required to store a map of the streets of the continental United States? --- ## [Did the Squirrel Try to KILL Me, or Was This Coincidence?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-squirrel-try-to-kill-me-or-was-this-coincidence/316584)
**Author:** [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-squirrel-try-to-kill-me-or-was-this-coincidence/316584 "2018-09-03T11:23:56Z")
I went out onto the porch for a smoke yesterday evening. There was a squirrel perched on top of the squirrel feeder, one I did not recognize. Though I crept to my chair slowly and quietly, he thought I was a threat and d… --- ## [Did James Joyce really coin "If you want to know what a man thinks watch what he does"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-james-joyce-really-coin-if-you-want-to-know-what-a-man-thinks-watch-what-he-does/820676)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-james-joyce-really-coin-if-you-want-to-know-what-a-man-thinks-watch-what-he-does/820676 "2018-09-03T10:36:15Z")
Hi Did James Joyce coin “If you want to know what a man thinks watch what he does”? I couldn’t find it. If not Joyce, who? I look forward to your feedback. 28 minutes into to video. Ex-ambassador: Trump is like a v… --- ## [Duress can't be used for murder...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duress-cant-be-used-for-murder/820598)
**Author:** [@bmasters1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmasters1)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duress-cant-be-used-for-murder/820598 "2018-09-03T03:44:41Z")
Why is it in the law that the defense of duress is invalid to murder? Consider: this man who you don’t even know accosts you on the street, and demands you kill a certain person by such and such a time (demands it of yo… --- ## [AFAR 300 sunglasses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afar-300-sunglasses/820611)
**Author:** [@shinnen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shinnen)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/afar-300-sunglasses/820611 "2018-09-03T03:08:20Z")
Hi, I bought a pair of, what I think are, sunglasses. They have AFAR 300 on them, and contain some sort of circuit board with button cells. I have found something like them on the net, but nothing quite like these, and … --- ## [Does ANYONE reupholster leather couches?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-reupholster-leather-couches/820644)
**Author:** [@Daffyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daffyd)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-reupholster-leather-couches/820644 "2018-09-03T02:32:09Z")
We have a great leather couch from Mitchell and Gold that we paid a huge amount for years ago. The couch is structurally in good shape, but some of the leather has started to fall apart… and since we paid thousands for t… --- ## [China "dumping US debt" - please explain to me in the most layman terms possible](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-dumping-us-debt-please-explain-to-me-in-the-most-layman-terms-possible/820057)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/china-dumping-us-debt-please-explain-to-me-in-the-most-layman-terms-possible/820057 "2018-09-03T00:49:31Z")
Hopefully some Doper(s) can, in a few words, explain to me in very-very-layman terms the “China dumping US debt” thing/threat that is oft-mentioned: China holds US debt - lots of it - but how does it “dump” it unless so… --- ## [Looking for words like vandal, thug, assassin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-words-like-vandal-thug-assassin/820582)
**Author:** [@yellow\_sausage\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellow_sausage_bandit)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2018, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-words-like-vandal-thug-assassin/820582 "2018-09-02T23:49:30Z")
I’m looking for more words to describe people that come from ethnic/religious groups. Any language is fine. Vandal - from the Germanic tribe Cannibal - from the Caribe tribe Thug - from the Indian Thuggee cult Assas… --- ## [What is the generally accepted meaning of "a living wage"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-generally-accepted-meaning-of-a-living-wage/820622)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2018, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-generally-accepted-meaning-of-a-living-wage/820622 "2018-09-02T13:37:49Z")
Recent arguments about raising the minimum wage and ‘turn the minimum wage into a living wage’ have me realizing I’ve never heard anyone lay out what a ‘living wage’ actually means. Not looking for a dollars and cents … --- ## [Which has a longer service life, Garand or M1A?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-a-longer-service-life-garand-or-m1a/820601)
**Author:** [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2018, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-a-longer-service-life-garand-or-m1a/820601 "2018-09-02T05:08:54Z")
Assume unfired condition. The Garand has a definite limit to the load it can fire. The M1A, while firing a nominally weaker round in the 7.62 NATO, can nevertheless take hotter loads than standard ball ammo…just assume s… --- ## [Term for a woman who flirts to cause trouble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-woman-who-flirts-to-cause-trouble/820600)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2018, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/term-for-a-woman-who-flirts-to-cause-trouble/820600 "2018-09-02T02:36:40Z")
I’m something like 100% sure that there’s a term for this and thought I even knew what it was, but Google is refusing to confirm. But basically, the idea is that there is a certain type of woman who actively tries to get… --- ## [Do spys and undercover police types still use micro reel to reels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spys-and-undercover-police-types-still-use-micro-reel-to-reels/820502)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spys-and-undercover-police-types-still-use-micro-reel-to-reels/820502 "2018-09-02T02:19:14Z")
I’ve watched a couple of spy and police shows recently that were set in contemporary times in which they were still using those little reel to reels. Like this: Nagra SN Micro Reel to Reel Playback Test - YouTube I’m wo… --- ## [new cars, electronic steering and bad batteries](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cars-electronic-steering-and-bad-batteries/820604)
**Author:** [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-cars-electronic-steering-and-bad-batteries/820604 "2018-09-02T01:14:53Z")
A neighbor recently had the battery in her car die. When she got a jumpstart, the steering in the car was not normal. She was unable to accurately describe it, but it was bad enough that she was afraid to drive the car. … --- ## [Minimal anagram](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimal-anagram/820603)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minimal-anagram/820603 "2018-09-01T21:44:34Z")
I define a minimal anagram as two words that are the same except that two adjacent letters are swapped. There are many examples: altitude/latitude, ample/maple, casual/causal, martial/marital, option/potion, perfect/pref… --- ## [Monitor goes to sleep when playing Borderlands (2009) and ONLY Borderlands](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-goes-to-sleep-when-playing-borderlands-2009-and-only-borderlands/820623)
**Author:** [@Yask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yask)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-goes-to-sleep-when-playing-borderlands-2009-and-only-borderlands/820623 "2018-09-01T21:07:16Z")
Hi, thanks for any help or guidance you can suggest. This is a Windows 7 machine. Temperatures seem normal on GPU (Radeon R9 380 series; 52 – 57 C), CPU (i7 4770; ~53 – 67 C) and motherboard (Asus Z87 43 – 50 C), as me… --- ## [What military vehicle is pictured here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-vehicle-is-pictured-here/820593)
**Author:** [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-vehicle-is-pictured-here/820593 "2018-09-01T18:31:02Z")
What military vehicle is pictured here? LINK It looks something like a US army version of a John Deere GATOR. --- ## [Question on drug testing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-drug-testing/820576)
**Author:** [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-drug-testing/820576 "2018-09-01T18:13:44Z")
Simply, does my employer (or potential employer) have to disclose to me the results of a drug test they require me to provide a sample for? It seems to me that that information is confidential, but it is also mine, so I… --- ## [Cell signal booster?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-signal-booster/820514 "2018-09-01T15:43:28Z")
I’ve been having some issues with the signal strength where I’m currently living. I’ve missed calls from health providers several times. The signal is strong outside of the house but it varies inside. The area where I s… --- ## [What "types" of evidence is this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-evidence-is-this/820492)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2018, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-types-of-evidence-is-this/820492 "2018-09-01T05:08:08Z")
Let’s say I’m an alien, hovering above a major city in my space ship. I make the observation that the green traffic lights make the cars go. What kind of evidence would that be? I mean, it’s true in a sense that green l… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=542) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=544)