# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=585 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 586 --- ## [Worksheets for Homework instead of the textbook (9th grade)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worksheets-for-homework-instead-of-the-textbook-9th-grade/814206)
**Author:** [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worksheets-for-homework-instead-of-the-textbook-9th-grade/814206 "2018-05-16T20:54:43Z")
The other question concerning the geometry worksheet made me post this question. My son is in 9th grade, his sister in 8th. In their math classes, they have perfectly good textbooks, but homework assigned to them is so… --- ## [Is "Dogcatcher" an elected position anywhere?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dogcatcher-an-elected-position-anywhere/813934)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-dogcatcher-an-elected-position-anywhere/813934 "2018-05-16T18:38:03Z")
I’ve heard the phrase “I wouldn’t elect that guy to be Dogcatcher!” This make me wonder: Is there any place in the USA, or even on the planet Earth, where that’s actually an elected office? --- ## [Google Sheets problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-sheets-problem/814269)
**Author:** [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-sheets-problem/814269 "2018-05-16T14:32:44Z")
I was addied up a column of numbers in Google sheets, and sent the result to my boss. He emailed me back, saying the total was wrong. I double and triple checked, and my boss was correct. The sum function was skipping on… --- ## [COBRA health insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cobra-health-insurance/814279)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cobra-health-insurance/814279 "2018-05-16T14:15:31Z")
I used to handle all HR stuff at our company 15 years ago but am very aware that things have changed. At that time, if I understood correctly, it was advisable for everyone eligible to elect COBRA even if only as a back… --- ## [Are my kids growing an apple tree? (pic inside)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-my-kids-growing-an-apple-tree-pic-inside/814165)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-my-kids-growing-an-apple-tree-pic-inside/814165 "2018-05-16T14:00:33Z")
OK, so the kiddos took a seed from an apple tree and planted it in our front yard. Ha ha, how cute. They are now convinced a baby apple tree is growing in our yard. They have put sticks around it and I avoided it when I… --- ## [Do you know why I pulled you over?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964)
**Author:** [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Replies:** 83\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964 "2018-05-16T13:38:49Z")
To me, this always seemed a smug and arrogant way for a person of authority to begin a conversation about a traffic stop. “Good afternoon sir, I pulled you over because…” seems more appropriate. Is there some legal pur… --- ## [Yet another Word question - updating cross-references in footnotes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-word-question-updating-cross-references-in-footnotes/814210)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-word-question-updating-cross-references-in-footnotes/814210 "2018-05-16T12:14:21Z")
Right, I’ve got a long document with a lot of foot-notes. In those footnotes, I’ve got cross-references to footnotes: “See Smith text, footnote ##” Now I’ve inserted some new footnotes so need to update the cross-refe… --- ## [What is the correct answer to my daughter's math homework? Third grade.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-answer-to-my-daughters-math-homework-third-grade/809006)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-answer-to-my-daughters-math-homework-third-grade/809006 "2018-05-16T04:11:49Z")
You can see her homework and answer here. Regroup 1 hundred for 10 tens: 438 = \_\_\_\_ hundreds \_\_\_\_\_\_ tens 8 ones. Write the missing numbers. My daughter answered “4 hundreds” and “3 tens”. Is this not right or do I no… --- ## [When did Canada start requiring Americans to get Passports?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-canada-start-requiring-americans-to-get-passports/701957)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-canada-start-requiring-americans-to-get-passports/701957 "2018-05-16T03:20:12Z")
I recall that we had an open border with Canada. There’s several towns that are divided by the border. I recall a news report that profiled a town library that was on the border. You could cross countries just walking fr… --- ## [Of Canada and severed feet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-canada-and-severed-feet/814166)
**Author:** [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-canada-and-severed-feet/814166 "2018-05-16T01:55:19Z")
This article is typical of many I have seen on Canada in recent years: severed human feet keep washing ashore in western Canada. In the article it is remarked that no foul play is suspected, and the feet are washing as… --- ## [Radio Tranmitters: No Ground Planes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-tranmitters-no-ground-planes/814183)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 16, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-tranmitters-no-ground-planes/814183 "2018-05-16T00:06:57Z")
I understand many omni-directional antennas utilize a ground (grounding?) plane to deflect the energy wasted (i.e., being projected downward) and utilize the energy more efficiently projecting upward and outward. Howeve… --- ## [Intermittent Car Starting Problems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-car-starting-problems/814026)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-car-starting-problems/814026 "2018-05-15T23:01:25Z")
I am in the States for a few weeks. I am driving my older-model (2010?) Toyota Corolla. My wife drives it from time to time when I am not home. I like it. So I got home a few days ago and took it to the car wash. I spra… --- ## [Who invented the folding stairs for attics? Which company originally sold them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-folding-stairs-for-attics-which-company-originally-sold-them/814149)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-folding-stairs-for-attics-which-company-originally-sold-them/814149 "2018-05-15T22:11:05Z")
I remember my uncle’s house had a 1940’s, folding attic stairway. It had large springs that creaked as it unfolded. My house from the late 50’s has much lighter springs. My mom bought a house built in 2013 and it’s att… --- ## [Where would I find out about Soviet GRU recruitment efforts in the third world in the 1970s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-i-find-out-about-soviet-gru-recruitment-efforts-in-the-third-world-in-the-1970s/814161)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-i-find-out-about-soviet-gru-recruitment-efforts-in-the-third-world-in-the-1970s/814161 "2018-05-15T18:03:55Z")
A family member has an awesome story about almost being recruited for Soviet military intelligence in the 1970s. She was a teenager in a soviet-aligned third world country, and (as everyone had to be) was part of the soc… --- ## [What body has the longest path around the sun](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-body-has-the-longest-path-around-the-sun/814185)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-body-has-the-longest-path-around-the-sun/814185 "2018-05-15T16:01:24Z")
See title. I was reading an article about the hypothetical Planet 9. And it got me wondering what body takes the longest time to orbit the sun. As far as planets go I think Neptune is the answer but surely there are com… --- ## [Name of the "We change something but everything else will remain unaffected" fallacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-of-the-we-change-something-but-everything-else-will-remain-unaffected-fallacy/814140)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-of-the-we-change-something-but-everything-else-will-remain-unaffected-fallacy/814140 "2018-05-15T14:54:59Z")
Trying to find an established/formal term for this fallacy: \*“Right now we sell blue jeans for $20 a pair, and we sell 10,000 pairs a month, earning $200,000 a month. So if we increase our blue-jean prices to $100 a pai… --- ## [Cicadas and Prime Numbered Year Birth Cycles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cicadas-and-prime-numbered-year-birth-cycles/814213)
**Author:** [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cicadas-and-prime-numbered-year-birth-cycles/814213 "2018-05-15T14:38:06Z")
I remember reading a great explanation, perhaps even here, on why certain cicadas have birth cycles that are prime years apart. It had something to do with preventing predators from correctly timing their births. Can s… --- ## [Why is there a snake on Apollo's staff?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-snake-on-apollos-staff/814096)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-a-snake-on-apollos-staff/814096 "2018-05-15T14:16:16Z")
He was supposed to be the god of medicine. Snakes are the last thing I think of when I think of healing. --- ## [Debunking of the Ghost of Flight 401?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-of-the-ghost-of-flight-401/117503)
**Author:** [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/debunking-of-the-ghost-of-flight-401/117503 "2018-05-15T13:35:21Z")
Got into an argument this morning with someone who believes in all sorts of paranormal and supernatural phenomena and has a certain disdain for skeptics. As support for his absolute belief that ghosts exist, he cited th… --- ## [Interested in a work by Karl Marx written in English vernacular for the English working class](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-a-work-by-karl-marx-written-in-english-vernacular-for-the-english-working-class/814162)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interested-in-a-work-by-karl-marx-written-in-english-vernacular-for-the-english-working-class/814162 "2018-05-15T13:31:02Z")
I remember reading about a particular work of Karl Marx, a work written in English vernacular for an English working class readership while he was living in England. I haven’t been able to locate it online or elsewhere. … --- ## [Low Ceiling, Low-Flying Airplanes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-ceiling-low-flying-airplanes/814181)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-ceiling-low-flying-airplanes/814181 "2018-05-15T08:37:01Z")
I’m in the 40-60 mile range from Philadelphia International Airport. I notice the planes fly under the ceiling on cloudy days…whatever altitude that is. Yet, on clear days, it is not conspicuous. As such, I can only conc… --- ## [What name was given to the lowest Ottoman army foot soldiers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-name-was-given-to-the-lowest-ottoman-army-foot-soldiers/813212)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-name-was-given-to-the-lowest-ottoman-army-foot-soldiers/813212 "2018-05-15T04:43:45Z")
Hi I’m looking for the name for the lowly Ottoman foot soldiers who would usually do a lot of the grunt work and tire out the enemy before the crack troops (the Janissaries) would wade into the battle. I look forward t… --- ## [Weather Balloons.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weather-balloons/814157)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 15, 2018, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weather-balloons/814157 "2018-05-15T04:37:55Z")
Just two questions: what on earth are weather balloons? And more to the point: why do people keep confusing them for UFO’s? :slight\_smile: --- ## [Condensation caused in smartphone by AC vent blowing cold air](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condensation-caused-in-smartphone-by-ac-vent-blowing-cold-air/814093)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/condensation-caused-in-smartphone-by-ac-vent-blowing-cold-air/814093 "2018-05-14T21:18:04Z")
When my smartphone overheats, I like to cool it down by holding it right up to the air conditioning vent of my car, and let the cold air drop it down from 99 F down to 84 F straightaway. But does this risk condensation m… --- ## [How could the manufacturing of an 8km diameter and 32km length cylinder in zero gravity work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-manufacturing-of-an-8km-diameter-and-32km-length-cylinder-in-zero-gravity-work/813986)
**Author:** [@Lucubratory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucubratory)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-the-manufacturing-of-an-8km-diameter-and-32km-length-cylinder-in-zero-gravity-work/813986 "2018-05-14T20:45:37Z")
Steel is the most obvious material but I’ve seen basalt fibre suggested. The purpose is to rotate it to produce 1g of gravity, which would induce similar stresses to the surface being a suspension bridge of equal length … --- ## [Up until 1965 what was the role of US advisors to Vietnam and what did they actually do?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-until-1965-what-was-the-role-of-us-advisors-to-vietnam-and-what-did-they-actually-do/813981)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2018, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/up-until-1965-what-was-the-role-of-us-advisors-to-vietnam-and-what-did-they-actually-do/813981 "2018-05-14T20:20:25Z")
Hi Up until 1965 what was the role of US advisors to Vietnam and what did they actually do? Did they perform any unofficial functions. Any combat for example? I look forward to your feedback --- ## [NYC Street names / numbers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-street-names-numbers/814099)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-street-names-numbers/814099 "2018-05-14T20:02:59Z")
Listening to a song and the lyric is East two nine, rather than east twenty nine. Also I’ve seen on TV shows where they say precinct two seven rather than twenty seven. Is this a common way to say numbers in NYC? --- ## [How Do Recyclers Sort All That Stuff Out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-recyclers-sort-all-that-stuff-out/813438)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-recyclers-sort-all-that-stuff-out/813438 "2018-05-14T16:09:49Z")
Typical rules about recycling trash are that certain types of things go in the (common) recycling bin. But it’s several different types of things. Where I live, it’s plastic bottles, narrow-necked glass bottles, and corr… --- ## [Does cannibalism actually produce "the shakes"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cannibalism-actually-produce-the-shakes/813906)
**Author:** [@Wakky\_Bakky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakky_Bakky)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2018, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cannibalism-actually-produce-the-shakes/813906 "2018-05-14T15:53:38Z")
After re-watching “The Book of Eli” for the nth time, I wondered about a concept from the movie… The movie suggests that human cannibalism would, at some point, result in “the shakes” or trembling of the hands (and poss… --- ## [How does an escape scuttle work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-escape-scuttle-work/814100)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 14, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-an-escape-scuttle-work/814100 "2018-05-14T14:04:07Z")
I recently toured the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas. In various places on lower decks, there were small, round hatches in the floor. The hatches were about 24" in diameter. A sign placed over one said that the… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=584) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=586)