# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=552 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 553 --- ## [Can birds control the sex of the eggs they lay? If so, how?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-birds-control-the-sex-of-the-eggs-they-lay-if-so-how/819340)
**Author:** [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2018, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-birds-control-the-sex-of-the-eggs-they-lay-if-so-how/819340 "2018-08-10T03:46:09Z")
In the Wikipedia article on the house finch, I came across this interesting nugget: I would have assumed that egg-laying is pretty much random, but this seems to indicate that the mother can selectively determine the s… --- ## [Is lab glassware still made by glassblowers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lab-glassware-still-made-by-glassblowers/819292)
**Author:** [@Osano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osano)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2018, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-lab-glassware-still-made-by-glassblowers/819292 "2018-08-10T02:28:22Z")
I have an older colleague who knows a glassblower. We send our chipped and cracked glassware out to him and he fixes them and sends them back looking like new. Ive been told as long as it isnt a star crack he can fix it… --- ## [Have dental implants replaced bridge work for dental care?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-dental-implants-replaced-bridge-work-for-dental-care/818957)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-dental-implants-replaced-bridge-work-for-dental-care/818957 "2018-08-09T21:44:32Z")
I see ads for dental implants constantly on this board. Full plates of teeth screwed into the jaw. I got a implant several years ago and been very pleased. Works just like my original tooth. I assume years ago they wou… --- ## [Why So Many Rapes in Anchorage, Alaska?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-rapes-in-anchorage-alaska/819319)
**Author:** [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-rapes-in-anchorage-alaska/819319 "2018-08-09T20:13:18Z")
I was looking at this table of List of U.S. Cities by Crime Rape (as it was referenced in a thread here): When you sort on the column for rape Anchorage is almost 50% higher than the 2nd place site (Anchorage at 17… --- ## [What is this insect?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-insect/819360)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-insect/819360 "2018-08-09T20:00:31Z")
Sorry, no photo. My daughter took a video of it. It looks a lot like a mosquito eater: spindly legs and all, and the same size, but the legs have what I would describe as pads at the ends, which I haven’t seen before. An… --- ## [What's the worst that can happen if I eat 500 calories a day?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-that-can-happen-if-i-eat-500-calories-a-day/819008)
**Author:** [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-that-can-happen-if-i-eat-500-calories-a-day/819008 "2018-08-09T18:47:44Z")
Why do they say you should eat at least 1000 calories a day even when you’re trying to lose weight? Can’t the body just suck fat off itself if it needs energy? If I just say screw it and eat only, let’s say, 500 cal a … --- ## [\[Japanese help\]What does this text means?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329)
**Author:** [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329 "2018-08-09T17:37:40Z")
I have this wooden board, with Japanese text. From what I managed to learn, it means something like “know where your feet are”, but it doesn’t make sense to me. Can you help with the literal and/or broader meaning? --- ## [Women military snipers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-military-snipers/819127)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-military-snipers/819127 "2018-08-09T15:45:11Z")
A few questions about women snipers. Are there currently any female snipers in the US military? Are women allowed into US military sniper training programs? Are there active female snipers in any foreign army? If yes… --- ## [Why does my breath feel cool?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-breath-feel-cool/819274)
**Author:** [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-breath-feel-cool/819274 "2018-08-09T13:24:42Z")
I was working out this morning. There were a few times where I stopped to catch my breath, and as I bent over and breathed, I could feel my breath on my skin and it felt cool on my skin. I tried Googling it, but I’m st… --- ## [YouTube ads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-ads/819316)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-ads/819316 "2018-08-09T13:20:58Z")
Hello Everyone, I subscribe to severall YouTube channels and most of them have ads attached to their videos to create a revenue stream. For most ads you are able to skip them after 5 sec s or so. Does the content crea… --- ## [Alternate word for 'rare', as it pertains to meat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-word-for-rare-as-it-pertains-to-meat/818990)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternate-word-for-rare-as-it-pertains-to-meat/818990 "2018-08-09T05:45:19Z")
‘Well-done’ meat is obviously cooked a lot. ‘Medium’ is less cooked. These words make sense. ‘Rare’? That doesn’t make sense; so I looked it up. Note the last sentence, which I have emphasized. If ‘rare’ is or was… --- ## [Is cigarette smuggling from MO ($0.17) into IL ($1.98) a problem for IL law enforcement?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cigarette-smuggling-from-mo-0-17-into-il-1-98-a-problem-for-il-law-enforcement/819249)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-cigarette-smuggling-from-mo-0-17-into-il-1-98-a-problem-for-il-law-enforcement/819249 "2018-08-09T03:52:57Z")
Missouri’s state cigarette tax is 17 cents a 20 pack. Next door in Illinois, the tax is $1.98 a 20 pack. Is there a problem with people smuggling large quanities of cigarettes from MO to IL? Is there any sort of border … --- ## [How to cool a house with window fans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cool-a-house-with-window-fans/819253)
**Author:** [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-cool-a-house-with-window-fans/819253 "2018-08-09T00:47:44Z")
So, in this thread I was asking about whole house fans https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=858958, but after reading a lot of the comments I started looking at info online about cooling the house with w… --- ## [Could the witnesses who have been "flipped" by Mueller be forced to testify in impeachment hearings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-witnesses-who-have-been-flipped-by-mueller-be-forced-to-testify-in-impeachment-hearings/819288)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-the-witnesses-who-have-been-flipped-by-mueller-be-forced-to-testify-in-impeachment-hearings/819288 "2018-08-08T21:41:33Z")
Various witness have been “flipped” by Mueller, and have signed deals for immunity or reduced sentences in exchange for testifying for the prosecution. e.g. Rick Gates who is currently testifying against Manafort. And th… --- ## [A few questions about the Tax Protestor Movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-tax-protestor-movement/819295)
**Author:** [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-the-tax-protestor-movement/819295 "2018-08-08T21:17:40Z")
In regards to Cheek v. United States, 498 U.S. 192 (1991): did John L. Cheek eventually pay his tax liability? He avoided the criminal conviction due to the whole “ignorance” vs “willingness” thing and the poor jury in… --- ## [Italian surnames with French spelling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-surnames-with-french-spelling/819107)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-surnames-with-french-spelling/819107 "2018-08-08T20:23:32Z")
I’ve got a friend whose last name is Chauppetta. He’s a Louisiana Italian, his family has been there for many generations. I realized at some point that his name must have been “Francized”. It’s not like I did any genaol… --- ## [GHI and Medicare](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghi-and-medicare/819272)
**Author:** [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghi-and-medicare/819272 "2018-08-08T19:46:11Z")
Turning 65 in a couple of months, but intending to stay fully employed, I was amazed to find that since I work for a company of less than 20 my GHI will cease and I HAVE to sign up for full medicare coverage (if I want t… --- ## [Did Henry Kissinger correspond with Asian leaders in French?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-henry-kissinger-correspond-with-asian-leaders-in-french/819225)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-henry-kissinger-correspond-with-asian-leaders-in-french/819225 "2018-08-08T19:03:41Z")
Hi, I know Kissinger speaks French. I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Henry Kissinger spoke French with Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiao Ping, but cannot find any reference to it. Nor can I find any reference to any of his … --- ## [large type in posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-type-in-posts/819240)
**Author:** [@ohiomstr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ohiomstr2)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-type-in-posts/819240 "2018-08-08T17:25:43Z")
Still a noob stumbling around the forums and trying to get get my finger to actually type on this phone. How come my posts sometimes show up smaller than other times. Apparently I am doing something wrong but cannot se… --- ## [A Marathon Of Punches](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-marathon-of-punches/819081)
**Author:** [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-marathon-of-punches/819081 "2018-08-08T17:23:52Z")
Suppose I am pursued by a horde of people numbering in the hundreds, maybe thousands. I am unarmed. However, they are also not procuring arms, and instead of ganging up, are choosing to charge me one by one, attempting… --- ## [Secondary Health Insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secondary-health-insurance/819206)
**Author:** [@ishamael69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ishamael69)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secondary-health-insurance/819206 "2018-08-08T16:58:45Z")
Short question: Assuming that both policies are free, can having a secondary health insurance policy be detrimental? Long question: I have good health insurance coverage for my family, paid for by my employer. My wife… --- ## [What are other examples of media investigation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-examples-of-media-investigation/819031)
**Author:** [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-examples-of-media-investigation/819031 "2018-08-08T15:21:27Z")
I know we have Watergate and “Spotlight” where the media has done some amazing things in the past, but what are some other cases? What are other instances where journalists solved mysteries or made discoveries? I like … --- ## [Why don't scissors follow the law of the lever?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-scissors-follow-the-law-of-the-lever/819162)
**Author:** [@Kavaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kavaj)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-scissors-follow-the-law-of-the-lever/819162 "2018-08-08T15:13:03Z")
We all know that the farther from the fulcrum a force is applied to a lever, the greater the force. You can hold a lever steady with a tiny weight against a huge weight, provided the tiny weight is far from the fulcrum a… --- ## [How is the validity of credit card tested in online payment systems?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-validity-of-credit-card-tested-in-online-payment-systems/819197)
**Author:** [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-the-validity-of-credit-card-tested-in-online-payment-systems/819197 "2018-08-08T14:22:09Z")
I tried entering fake credit card information in the registration system of an online newspaper to be able to read an article. The first few tries were not accepted. Then I found another website which generates fake cred… --- ## [1) Non-biblical story about Joseph, Mary, and the fruit tree: Source/spread? 2) Joseph's jealousy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-non-biblical-story-about-joseph-mary-and-the-fruit-tree-source-spread-2-josephs-jealousy/819135)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-non-biblical-story-about-joseph-mary-and-the-fruit-tree-source-spread-2-josephs-jealousy/819135 "2018-08-08T13:12:11Z")
I wish I could remember where, but I recently read a story about the Holy Family which intrigued me: Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary are walking and Mary sees some lovely fruit hanging just out of reach. She asks Jose… --- ## [Why do Golden retrievers pant to much?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-golden-retrievers-pant-to-much/819104)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-golden-retrievers-pant-to-much/819104 "2018-08-08T10:09:56Z")
I tried looking on Google for an answer, but all answers I found were about how “extreme panting may be a medical problem” and stuff like that, I am not talking about that, if you looked at any Golden retriever on a Yout… --- ## [What event might cause a "temporary" use of martial law by the US Federal Government](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-event-might-cause-a-temporary-use-of-martial-law-by-the-us-federal-government/819034)
**Author:** [@ohiomstr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ohiomstr2)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-event-might-cause-a-temporary-use-of-martial-law-by-the-us-federal-government/819034 "2018-08-08T03:42:29Z")
I am still new at posting to the forum so I apologise in advance if this is the wrong place for this post. No doubt the moderator will correct my error😂 While purusing a thread https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showt… --- ## [Why can't I get porn sites to work on my i-6 anymore?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-get-porn-sites-to-work-on-my-i-6-anymore/819148)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 8, 2018, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-get-porn-sites-to-work-on-my-i-6-anymore/819148 "2018-08-08T01:53:23Z")
Ok, now, I’m serious. Two days ago I stopped being able to get the little videos on porn sites to play. I can get to the sites, but none of the movies play. I figure there must be some sort of setting I can fool with,… --- ## [When counting the words in a sentence, do contractions count as one word or two?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-counting-the-words-in-a-sentence-do-contractions-count-as-one-word-or-two/819122)
**Author:** [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-counting-the-words-in-a-sentence-do-contractions-count-as-one-word-or-two/819122 "2018-08-07T16:28:27Z")
According to Wiki, George Mallory’s famous reply to the question why he wanted to climb Mount Everest (“Because it’s there”) has been called “the most famous three words in mountaineering”. Similarly, Ronald Reagan has s… --- ## [Military funerals without a body](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-funerals-without-a-body/490554)
**Author:** [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-funerals-without-a-body/490554 "2018-08-07T16:19:09Z")
So, uh, here’s a morbid question inspired by nothing but…morbid curiosity. I know there have been military members in just about every modern conflict who are “presumed dead” or, say, POW/MIA since Korea or Vietnam, and… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=551) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=553)