# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=610 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 611 --- ## [Violated my own rules of email safety. What do I do now?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violated-my-own-rules-of-email-safety-what-do-i-do-now/810268)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violated-my-own-rules-of-email-safety-what-do-i-do-now/810268 "2018-03-09T16:15:22Z")
Last night I tried to buy a one-month-only $5 subscription to a podcast. (I had repeated problems doing this and it did not appear to go through.) After all that trouble and no joy, I wrote to the billing department of … --- ## [Has the FBI officially closed the Alcatraz escape case?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-fbi-officially-closed-the-alcatraz-escape-case/759865)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-the-fbi-officially-closed-the-alcatraz-escape-case/759865 "2018-03-09T16:02:28Z")
The Alcatraz case is ten years older than the DB Cooper case. Has the FBI closed it yet? Can former prisoners John Anglin, Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris relax and have a cold beer to celebrate? :smiley: a rhetor… --- ## [What all unique identifiers does an individual have](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-unique-identifiers-does-an-individual-have/810034)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-all-unique-identifiers-does-an-individual-have/810034 "2018-03-09T14:50:47Z")
I know fingerprints and DNA are unique to each individual (unless they are identical twins, then DNA is identical). What other physical attributes are totally unique to each individual? I assume facial recognition tech… --- ## [Why are sawed off shotguns illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sawed-off-shotguns-illegal/809944)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-sawed-off-shotguns-illegal/809944 "2018-03-09T14:16:37Z")
Compared to an AR-15, a shotgun’s firepower seems quaint. \*Only \*2-8 shots? The spread is nothing like it is in the movies and games, you still have to aim, fire from the hip and you will probably miss. Yet the small,… --- ## [Why Is Crystal Meth Called Tina?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-crystal-meth-called-tina/494869)
**Author:** [@Here\_Come\_Dots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Here_Come_Dots)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-crystal-meth-called-tina/494869 "2018-03-09T12:27:57Z")
The title pretty much says it all: why is crystal meth referred to as “tina”? --- ## [Why are anti-itch medicines so expensive? (Especially when they don't work very well)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-anti-itch-medicines-so-expensive-especially-when-they-dont-work-very-well/810213)
**Author:** [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-anti-itch-medicines-so-expensive-especially-when-they-dont-work-very-well/810213 "2018-03-09T11:48:49Z")
For the last several months I’ve been suffering from an extreme case of eczema, with all the dry skin and constant itching that comes along with it. (Actually it turned out not to be actual eczema, but a symptom of canc… --- ## [What was this magpie doing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-magpie-doing/810184)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-magpie-doing/810184 "2018-03-09T11:43:25Z")
Can anyone explain this strange behaviour by a magpie? I was in London the past two days and was walking in Hyde Park. I sat down beside an ornamental pool / fountain (if it was a fountain the fountain was switched off)… --- ## [What crime is being committed here? (hypothetical)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-crime-is-being-committed-here-hypothetical/810216)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-crime-is-being-committed-here-hypothetical/810216 "2018-03-09T03:24:22Z")
(Purely a hypothetical question, don’t need answer fast…) Joe and Jane are having a consensual affair. Joe invites Jane to go away with him for the weekend, she agrees. He picks her up and drives her to a room/cabin/con… --- ## [How long does it take to identify a body?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-identify-a-body/810205)
**Author:** [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 9, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-identify-a-body/810205 "2018-03-09T01:18:15Z")
Nearly 4 years ago in Dallas, a young woman disappeared after a night out with friends. It was a high profile case, and her body was never found. The friend she was with was found guilty of aggravated kidnapping and sent… --- ## [Free sources for police/criminal records?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sources-for-police-criminal-records/634056)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-sources-for-police-criminal-records/634056 "2012-09-08T02:49:01Z")
Is there a way to find a free criminal record on someone? If not, what’s the most reputable inexpensive online resource? Thanks! --- ## [Hollywood: "chloroform" on hanky, then face, and after a little struggle he's unconscious](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-chloroform-on-hanky-then-face-and-after-a-little-struggle-hes-unconscious/810017)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-chloroform-on-hanky-then-face-and-after-a-little-struggle-hes-unconscious/810017 "2018-03-08T21:57:20Z")
The handy knockout method, if you happen to have a bottle ready. described in the subject. Cite: The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant. There was lot that seemed fishy in that movie scientifically, and this particular mo… --- ## [Facebook privacy(need answer fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-privacy-need-answer-fast/810099)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-privacy-need-answer-fast/810099 "2018-03-08T20:19:42Z")
How to prevent someone from not only not contacting me on FB, but also prevent them from even finding my profile or account on FB at all in the first place? --- ## [How common was gun prohibition before 1934?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-gun-prohibition-before-1934/810243)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-gun-prohibition-before-1934/810243 "2018-03-08T20:03:53Z")
As I understand it, the first federal gun law was passed in 1934, which (among some other things) imposed an onerous tax on machine guns to get them out of the hands of mobsters who were outgunning cops. Before that, th… --- ## [Alexa's random laughter](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexas-random-laughter/810242)
**Author:** [@ArtBeforeScience](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArtBeforeScience)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alexas-random-laughter/810242 "2018-03-08T17:49:48Z")
Alexa is reported to issue “random laughter” which reminds me of those old joke-shop devices that emitted maniacal screaming laughter. Now it seems like our own devices are actively gaslighting us. When my phone does so… --- ## [Two Related Questions for co-op apartment owner or real estate agent.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-related-questions-for-co-op-apartment-owner-or-real-estate-agent/810222)
**Author:** [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-related-questions-for-co-op-apartment-owner-or-real-estate-agent/810222 "2018-03-08T17:20:38Z")
Two Related Questions for co-op apartment owner or real estate agent. For election of members to their boards, Manhattan co-ops usually give each shareholder the number of votes equal to the shares the apartment repr… --- ## [Are there any legislative checks or balances on executive orders?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-legislative-checks-or-balances-on-executive-orders/810240)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-legislative-checks-or-balances-on-executive-orders/810240 "2018-03-08T16:18:50Z")
Take, for example, Trump’s intention to place tariffs on steel and aluminum. Presumably, he would impose these charges via executive order, or some other presidential prerogative. Does congress have any capacity to ove… --- ## [The brightness of a clear blue sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-brightness-of-a-clear-blue-sky/810068)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-brightness-of-a-clear-blue-sky/810068 "2018-03-08T15:02:59Z")
On most sunny days around here (midwest USA), the cloudless sky is what I would call a light blue color at the zenith, fading toward nearly white at the horizon. Even in the absence of obvious clouds, any kind of humidit… --- ## ["Whom would you" vs "Who would you"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-vs-who-would-you/810172)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-vs-who-would-you/810172 "2018-03-08T05:44:45Z")
In sentences such as “who(m) would you rather have dinner with, Joe or Bob”, some quick googling suggests that “whom” is, by the book, grammatically correct. But I’m a quite literate native English speaker, one who is u… --- ## [Water rises inside a sealed container over a candle. Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-rises-inside-a-sealed-container-over-a-candle-why/810146)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-rises-inside-a-sealed-container-over-a-candle-why/810146 "2018-03-08T04:04:30Z")
I placed a candle in a shallow water bath. I lit the candle and then placed a beaker over the candle. The candle goes out and the water rises in the beaker. I have just done this experiment recently in my class and I … --- ## [When did disposable hypodermic needles and syringes displace reusable ones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disposable-hypodermic-needles-and-syringes-displace-reusable-ones/810067)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-disposable-hypodermic-needles-and-syringes-displace-reusable-ones/810067 "2018-03-08T03:45:35Z")
Through the 1960s and perhaps beyond, hypodermic needles and syringes were typically fancy assemblies of glass and stainless steel, and they were washed and sterilized and re-used. When did the disposable versions first … --- ## [Legal eagles: Can a Facebook post be sufficient grounds for a libel suit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-eagles-can-a-facebook-post-be-sufficient-grounds-for-a-libel-suit/810149)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-eagles-can-a-facebook-post-be-sufficient-grounds-for-a-libel-suit/810149 "2018-03-08T02:06:48Z")
First, yes, I know anyone can sue anyone else for anything. That’s not my question. If I run an ad in the newspaper (you remember those?) saying “Mr John Smith is being investigated by the grand jury for conflict of int… --- ## [Die a virgin, get a star in your crown](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-a-virgin-get-a-star-in-your-crown/743166)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-a-virgin-get-a-star-in-your-crown/743166 "2018-03-08T00:47:56Z")
There’s a show playing on the television, which I’m not paying any attention to. It’s about a woman who is kidnapped and raped by a former neighbour. One thing I did hear was that this woman believed that if she died a… --- ## [Computer experts: Can I move an EFI System Partition so I can merge two non-adjecent areas?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-experts-can-i-move-an-efi-system-partition-so-i-can-merge-two-non-adjecent-areas/810033)
**Author:** [@Oglomott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oglomott)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-experts-can-i-move-an-efi-system-partition-so-i-can-merge-two-non-adjecent-areas/810033 "2018-03-08T00:18:12Z")
I recently had a hard drive failure, and had a local repair shop install a new 2TB hard drive. The machine is an HP Pro running Windows 10 Pro. The way the new drive was partitioned, about half of the 2 TB is the “C” d… --- ## [Was Noam Chomsky correct about there being universal structural elements for language.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-noam-chomsky-correct-about-there-being-universal-structural-elements-for-language/810101)
**Author:** [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-noam-chomsky-correct-about-there-being-universal-structural-elements-for-language/810101 "2018-03-08T00:02:17Z")
Noam Chomsky held that the biology of the brain set limits of possibility on the structure of language. These were manifested in universal elements common yo all languages. Much of Chomsky’s work concerned the nature o… --- ## [Is this an English or American golden retriever?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-an-english-or-american-golden-retriever/810178)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-an-english-or-american-golden-retriever/810178 "2018-03-07T20:58:55Z")
I don’t know much about variants of golden retrievers, just that they are more white when young and that you can tell their future color by their ears, but that English variant is much more white, than the american one. … --- ## [Why do dogs like to kill things?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-like-to-kill-things/807326)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2018, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-like-to-kill-things/807326 "2018-03-07T20:17:43Z")
Here’s a spoilered video link: The video shows a farmer turning over soil with a pitchfork, gradually unearthing a massive tunnel network that is home to a gazillion rats. Every few seconds, when he turns over a load… --- ## [Keeping pipes unfrozen at -25C](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-pipes-unfrozen-at-25c/810114)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-pipes-unfrozen-at-25c/810114 "2018-03-07T18:41:47Z")
The UK has just had a cold snap. I don’t actually think it got much colder than -5C in Southern England but a lot of pipes, including mine, froze over. In Eastern Europe they regularly have temps of -25 or colder, yet th… --- ## [Something I don't understand about the Vegas shooting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-dont-understand-about-the-vegas-shooting/797894)
**Author:** [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-i-dont-understand-about-the-vegas-shooting/797894 "2018-03-07T16:29:10Z")
Is it, or is it not the case, that the windows in all Las Vegas hotels are unable to be opened? I believe this is to prevent suicide attempts. I am further given to understand that all these windows have sensors, and th… --- ## [So what do I do with these savings bonds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-i-do-with-these-savings-bonds/806607)
**Author:** [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-i-do-with-these-savings-bonds/806607 "2018-03-07T14:21:17Z")
So my mom as going through her papers a few weeks back, and she found a bunch of U.S. savings bonds my grandfather had taken out in my name back in the 1990s. Not a huge amount of money - 7 EE bonds with a face value of … --- ## [Sulphur smell in bathroom](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sulphur-smell-in-bathroom/810127)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2018, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sulphur-smell-in-bathroom/810127 "2018-03-07T14:11:50Z")
From time to time we smell a (to me) sulphur-type odor in one of our bathrooms. I can’t tell where its coming from and I can’t connect it to any particular activity like using the shower or flushing a toilet. I’ve never … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=609) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=611)