# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=561 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 562 --- ## [Americans are losing the past participle of verbs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-losing-the-past-participle-of-verbs/818022)
**Author:** [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/americans-are-losing-the-past-participle-of-verbs/818022 "2018-07-18T08:03:17Z")
Half of the time that I hear a sentence with a legitimate present perfect structure with Americans speaking, they forego the past participle and use the past tense instead. (for example: “I’ve did this”) This is from my … --- ## [Do strong opiates (heroin, morphine) dull pain completely?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-strong-opiates-heroin-morphine-dull-pain-completely/817898)
**Author:** [@EricaRoche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EricaRoche)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-strong-opiates-heroin-morphine-dull-pain-completely/817898 "2018-07-18T07:23:32Z")
I suppose if we get into semantics, anesthetics could be considered pain-killers in the true sense though I have heard that strong opiates dull physical and mental discomfort to an extreme level. I was wondering if some… --- ## [Why the recent subject-verb disagreement epidemic?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-subject-verb-disagreement-epidemic/817968)
**Author:** [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-recent-subject-verb-disagreement-epidemic/817968 "2018-07-18T06:43:18Z")
I hear it mostly from British speakers, for example “Manchester United score the first goal of the match!”. To wit, Manchester United is the name of 1 soccer team and should therefore take the singular verb form 'scores"… --- ## [Vietnamese people in Japan](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vietnamese-people-in-japan/818115)
**Author:** [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vietnamese-people-in-japan/818115 "2018-07-18T02:54:51Z")
I boost posts and advertisements for my business page all over the world - usually US, Canada, and numerous European countries, but sometimes also Japan. (If there’s any text, I translate it into Japanese with Google Tra… --- ## [Lost my meds - what do I do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-meds-what-do-i-do/817443)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-my-meds-what-do-i-do/817443 "2018-07-18T02:03:12Z")
This afternoon I went to Walgreens to pick up refills for my prescription meds - a few each for blood pressure, asthma, and depression. After picking them up I went across the street to McDonald’s to get something to eat… --- ## [Can you drink lab alcohol?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-drink-lab-alcohol/473329)
**Author:** [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-drink-lab-alcohol/473329 "2018-07-18T01:48:35Z")
I have heard that the 99% has impurities. But what about the 70% and the 96%? --- ## [Does the POTUS have the authority to surrender the US to a foreign nation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-have-the-authority-to-surrender-the-us-to-a-foreign-nation/818091)
**Author:** [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-potus-have-the-authority-to-surrender-the-us-to-a-foreign-nation/818091 "2018-07-18T01:29:29Z")
Yes current events and all, but just a GQ, does the President have that authority, and if not who? --- ## [Logic/math phrasing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logic-math-phrasing/818061)
**Author:** [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 18, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logic-math-phrasing/818061 "2018-07-18T01:04:05Z")
Given three statements A B and C, is there any difference at all between an author’s claims: A and B are necessary and sufficient conditions for C. and A and B are individually necessary for C and jointly sufficient. … --- ## [Alpa Francovka.... the fuck is it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070)
**Author:** [@Hoodligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodligan)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070 "2018-07-17T23:38:55Z")
Just posted this in an old thread… no one is going to see it… my grandma passed away… so I had to clean out her house… got to the liquor cab… found the regular…rum, gin, vodka, scotch, whiskey… and this bottle… scary loo… --- ## [Why is my iPhone SE now doing the “predictive text” thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-iphone-se-now-doing-the-predictive-text-thing/818054)
**Author:** [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-iphone-se-now-doing-the-predictive-text-thing/818054 "2018-07-17T23:11:30Z")
I know how to turn predictive text on/off. However, I didn’t mess with the settings… it just started offering it in all my text messages about 7pm. When i go to settings it is now on, but I didn’t turn it on. Strangely e… --- ## [Battery backup for internet service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-backup-for-internet-service/818052)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/battery-backup-for-internet-service/818052 "2018-07-17T22:06:21Z")
I used to like to have a separate, actual phone line in case of natural disaster that knocked out or overwhelmed the cell towers. But I just moved and discovered that new phone service (at least where I live) can only b… --- ## [Why is the advantage to regular oven designed heat up slowly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-advantage-to-regular-oven-designed-heat-up-slowly/818068)
**Author:** [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-advantage-to-regular-oven-designed-heat-up-slowly/818068 "2018-07-17T21:09:52Z")
I recently moved and discovered that my owen seemed to be actijg funny. I had owned the same brand before but this one wouldn’t esrm itself up enough tonorr-heat until 40-60 minutes. Normal ovens pre-heat in 10-12z I… --- ## [Question about Shuttle Columbia rescue mission](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-shuttle-columbia-rescue-mission/817401)
**Author:** [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-shuttle-columbia-rescue-mission/817401 "2018-07-17T21:00:44Z")
Good article about the challenges of a proposed mission to rescue the Columbia astronauts by fast-tracking Atlantis preparation to go get them. Anyways, the article says that once the astronauts were safely aboard Atl… --- ## [What's a Dimm?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-dimm/788020)
**Author:** [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-dimm/788020 "2018-07-17T19:08:35Z")
The question comes from a political context, but this is not a political question. Lou Dobbs, of Fox Business, in reporting on Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Accord, is being quoted as saying that his viewers should… --- ## [Is there a name for this kind of game?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-game/818040)
**Author:** [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-kind-of-game/818040 "2018-07-17T18:55:16Z")
I read about a certain kind of situation a few years back but I don’t know whether it has a formal name. One player adopted a strategy that is expected to give him an advantage. It could be a new weapon, or a shopper’s… --- ## [Ceiling fan wobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fan-wobble/817964)
**Author:** [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fan-wobble/817964 "2018-07-17T18:26:17Z")
Someone who shall remain nameless because she is my girlfriend hit my ceiling fan with her arm. It abruptly stopped but then continued to work. No visible signs of damage. Since then there has been a pronounced wobble to… --- ## [Logic question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logic-question/818057)
**Author:** [@CanTak3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanTak3)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/logic-question/818057 "2018-07-17T17:57:56Z")
Taken from Brillant.org. On a particular island live humans and vampires. The normal humans always tell the truth and the normal vampires always lie. However, there are abnormal varieties of each. Abnormal humans always… --- ## [how is a tuning fork used to calibrate a radar gun?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-a-tuning-fork-used-to-calibrate-a-radar-gun/818087)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-a-tuning-fork-used-to-calibrate-a-radar-gun/818087 "2018-07-17T16:20:36Z")
On past occasions I have seen reference to the use of a tuning fork for calibrating the radar guns used by police to measure vehicle speeds. How does that work? --- ## [Are you less likely to vomit from medication when asleep?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-less-likely-to-vomit-from-medication-when-asleep/817996)
**Author:** [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-less-likely-to-vomit-from-medication-when-asleep/817996 "2018-07-17T13:52:31Z")
Let’s say I can take up to 2 pills of med X on an empty stomach during the day, but 3 pills will cause nausea or vomiting. At night many of our functions slow down. Does that include medication digestion? Hence if I to… --- ## [How many countries can non-Americans name on a blank map?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-can-non-americans-name-on-a-blank-map/817933)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-countries-can-non-americans-name-on-a-blank-map/817933 "2018-07-17T13:21:15Z")
We have probably all heard of the Americans who cannot name more than ten countries on a blank world map or cannot accurately point out even big nations on a map, but do non-Americans usually have 4-fold or 8-fold better… --- ## [Visiting Cuba. What can I bring back](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-cuba-what-can-i-bring-back/817397)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-cuba-what-can-i-bring-back/817397 "2018-07-17T13:03:46Z")
So I’m heading for Cuba in October. Just for a day or so as part of a longer trip. Will I run into any issues with getting stuff I purchase there…perhaps some rum and such…back into the United States? --- ## [What percentage of illegitimate children have their father's last name in the United States?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-illegitimate-children-have-their-fathers-last-name-in-the-united-states/817807)
**Author:** [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-illegitimate-children-have-their-fathers-last-name-in-the-united-states/817807 "2018-07-17T09:23:15Z")
I really don’t care for the term “illegitimate” in regards to children, but it was quicker to write it that was. Particularly circa 1998, what percentage births where parents were not married, but father on the birth ce… --- ## [Looking for animation software](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-animation-software/804438)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 15, 2017, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-animation-software/804438 "2017-12-15T08:05:35Z")
I’m looking to make a few math animations and I want the look and feel and feel of 3blue1brown (example here SFW). He uses python which I could certainly do but I need a primer on the animation libraries and how to do g… --- ## [Pyramids, Step Pyramids, and Ziggurats. What's the difference?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pyramids-step-pyramids-and-ziggurats-whats-the-difference/817934)
**Author:** [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pyramids-step-pyramids-and-ziggurats-whats-the-difference/817934 "2018-07-17T05:38:32Z")
I always thought of them as: classic Egyptian pyramid, 4 smooth sides, rising to a point at the top. ziggurat as a stack of boxes, each one smaller than the one below it. Like a pyramid built out of legos. A step pyra… --- ## [Can I eat an olive oil soap?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-eat-an-olive-oil-soap/817988)
**Author:** [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-eat-an-olive-oil-soap/817988 "2018-07-17T03:26:00Z")
Don’t need answer fast. I’m looking at Kiss My Face Olive Oil Bar Soap, which claims to be 86% olive oil, made with only 3 ingredients (listed below), and fragrance-free. I’m not asking if I ought to eat soap, but wheth… --- ## [How can I learn more about this pottery?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-learn-more-about-this-pottery/818006)
**Author:** [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-learn-more-about-this-pottery/818006 "2018-07-17T02:12:44Z")
I have a ceramic teapot & bowl that I inherited from my mother. On the bottom of the teapot, there’s a hand-written note from my grandmother (I think?) saying it was a wedding gift to her mother in 1888, and it was from … --- ## [Human Resources question about terminations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-resources-question-about-terminations/817977)
**Author:** [@steveisoverthere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steveisoverthere)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2018, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-resources-question-about-terminations/817977 "2018-07-17T00:25:37Z")
People with HR experience: how often are large organizations terminating employees if they aren’t the best performers? I’ve heard there is some hesitancy in terminating because it’s so costly to try and hire someone new,… --- ## [What are people listening to when walking around with earphones plugged into their cell phone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-listening-to-when-walking-around-with-earphones-plugged-into-their-cell-phone/817886)
**Author:** [@ssgenius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ssgenius)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-people-listening-to-when-walking-around-with-earphones-plugged-into-their-cell-phone/817886 "2018-07-16T23:48:42Z")
I see a lot of people (mostly teenagers and ones in their 20s ) walking/jogging around with earphones plugged into their smart phone. I am assuming that they are listing to music stored on their smart phone similar to W… --- ## [The trustworthiness of surge-protector power strips](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trustworthiness-of-surge-protector-power-strips/817574)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trustworthiness-of-surge-protector-power-strips/817574 "2018-07-16T23:17:23Z")
So I work a remote job online from home, and the forecast is for thunderstorms for a few hours - unfortunately, I cannot avoid working during those hours. I do have my computers and router/modem etc. hooked up to surge-… --- ## [Sexist/racist facial recognition tech?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexist-racist-facial-recognition-tech/818012)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 16, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sexist-racist-facial-recognition-tech/818012 "2018-07-16T21:51:48Z")
From what I’ve read, facial recognition technology tends to mis-identify females and non-whites more often than others. Why would this be so? I don’t know how it all works but I thought it was based measurements. What wo… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=560) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=562)