# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=613 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 614 --- ## [Amazon Pricing Weirdness?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-pricing-weirdness/809792)
**Author:** [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2018, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-pricing-weirdness/809792 "2018-03-02T02:54:28Z")
I’ve noticed something on Amazon and wondered if anyone could explain it to me. I was looking for a specific set of bike grips and noticed the price range of between about $45 and +$218. At full retail the grips are aro… --- ## [Any idea why this happened? (boiling eggs)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-why-this-happened-boiling-eggs/809861)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2018, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-why-this-happened-boiling-eggs/809861 "2018-03-02T00:51:52Z")
I bought some reasonably fresh eggs last week and boiled them today. When I peeled them they smelled strongly of sulfur. Any ideas? --- ## [Why does this used paperback mystery novel cost $700?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-this-used-paperback-mystery-novel-cost-700/550956)
**Author:** [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-this-used-paperback-mystery-novel-cost-700/550956 "2018-03-01T22:17:07Z")
Colour Scheme by Ngaio Marsh. It’s a HarperCollins mass market paperback from 1999. The seller says it’s in “acceptable” condition. --- ## [plants generating heat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plants-generating-heat/809678)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plants-generating-heat/809678 "2018-03-01T21:35:03Z")
Snowdrops, or Galanthus, have flowered here (Chicago area) already. They’re incredibly hardy and perplexing in their ability to push up through hard frosted ground. Sometimes, I’ve seen them come up when there’s snow on… --- ## [Did Chrome change the way it displays underlined text?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-chrome-change-the-way-it-displays-underlined-text/809831)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-chrome-change-the-way-it-displays-underlined-text/809831 "2018-03-01T21:07:52Z")
Today something seemed odd to me about the text in my Chrome browser. I never noticed before that when text is underlined, like the titles on SDMB threads, that the underline does not cross through the lower legs of any … --- ## [Looking for a specific word](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-specific-word/805684)
**Author:** [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-specific-word/805684 "2018-03-01T20:27:35Z")
I’m playing an online game with a chat window. There’s a brief real-world discussion. Somebody posts a word I’ve never heard of. :confused: I look it up - and it’s a real word. :cool: Then stuff happens - and now I can’… --- ## [How long does wine last after it has been opened, then resealed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-wine-last-after-it-has-been-opened-then-resealed/809635)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-wine-last-after-it-has-been-opened-then-resealed/809635 "2018-03-01T18:27:53Z")
I have a bottle of wine that came with a screw on cap. I drank some, now it has sat for over a year. Is it still good, or should I throw it out? It wasn’t expensive but I’d rather not throw it out unless I need to. It … --- ## [Can I see an E. coli bacterium with my naked eye?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-an-e-coli-bacterium-with-my-naked-eye/809824)
**Author:** [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-see-an-e-coli-bacterium-with-my-naked-eye/809824 "2018-03-01T17:17:44Z")
Ok, the title may be a little misleading. More like: Could a person with good sight detect the presence of a black dot (against a light background) the size of an E. coli bacterium? This cite says: “Each bacterium meas… --- ## [How many German Shepherds are...German Shepherds](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-german-shepherds-are-german-shepherds/809789)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-german-shepherds-are-german-shepherds/809789 "2018-03-01T15:32:54Z")
So my oldest - whom you oldsters might remember as Baby Kate a lifetime ago - hit me with the question in the thread title. Essentially, she wants to know what percentage of the total number of German Shepherds - both d… --- ## [How tall are golden retrievers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tall-are-golden-retrievers/809671)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-tall-are-golden-retrievers/809671 "2018-03-01T15:08:25Z")
I found data that they (males) are 23 to 24 inch high at the shoulders, but what about the top of their head? --- ## [How closely related are the plants that make foods spicy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-closely-related-are-the-plants-that-make-foods-spicy/809809)
**Author:** [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-closely-related-are-the-plants-that-make-foods-spicy/809809 "2018-03-01T14:47:29Z")
How closely related are the plants that make foods spicy? I.e., How far up the taxonomy do you have to go to find the category that includes Peppers (the plant), chili ,horseradish wasabi, and mustard? Is pepper (the … --- ## [Does 2... n ALWAYS include a higher or equal PERCENTAGE of prime numbers tan does 2... 2n?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-2-n-always-include-a-higher-or-equal-percentage-of-prime-numbers-tan-does-2-2n/809744)
**Author:** [@Steven\_Estes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Estes)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-2-n-always-include-a-higher-or-equal-percentage-of-prime-numbers-tan-does-2-2n/809744 "2018-03-01T13:17:20Z")
Does 2… n ALWAYS include a higher or equal PERCENTAGE of prime numbers tan does 2… 2n? --- ## [Interspecies Gender Recognition (& Attraction)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interspecies-gender-recognition-attraction/809686)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interspecies-gender-recognition-attraction/809686 "2018-03-01T11:56:33Z")
Question is whether an animal can recognize members of another species as either male or female, as they would recognize this in the case of members of their own species, and if so, how? ISTM that it makes sense to assu… --- ## [Good free image manipulation software?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798)
**Author:** [@lukekane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lukekane)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-image-manipulation-software/809798 "2018-03-01T11:36:16Z")
I’m no kind of artist and Photoshop is way more than I need. I’m looking for some simple and hopefully simple to learn freeware so I can experiment with different filters and mess around with color values in photographs–… --- ## [Low-poop foods](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233)
**Author:** [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/low-poop-foods/809233 "2018-03-01T05:31:46Z")
I’d like to temporarily decrease my poop output. What can I eat which will be mostly absorbed and result in little waste product? I’m having surgery and will have compromised mobility. It will be difficult for me to si… --- ## [Will bleach tear holes in a cotton T shirt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bleach-tear-holes-in-a-cotton-t-shirt/809620)
**Author:** [@Contemplation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contemplation)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-bleach-tear-holes-in-a-cotton-t-shirt/809620 "2018-03-01T05:23:31Z")
If you bleach a cotton T-shirt, will holes appear? --- ## [Trying to solve the starless sky problem with VR (but nearsighted!)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-solve-the-starless-sky-problem-with-vr-but-nearsighted/809719)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-solve-the-starless-sky-problem-with-vr-but-nearsighted/809719 "2018-03-01T02:34:36Z")
I’m sick of not seeing any stars around here because of the level of light pollution and constant bad weather conditions. So I got this app on my smartphone: SkyView. It shows me what stars I would be seeing if there ha… --- ## [When was smoking banned in hospitals (USA)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-smoking-banned-in-hospitals-usa/809523)
**Author:** [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-smoking-banned-in-hospitals-usa/809523 "2018-03-01T01:44:40Z")
How and when did people stop smoking in American hospitals? Was there a national ban? --- ## [Did American and Soviet troops ever actually shoot at each other in the cold war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-american-and-soviet-troops-ever-actually-shoot-at-each-other-in-the-cold-war/679998)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-american-and-soviet-troops-ever-actually-shoot-at-each-other-in-the-cold-war/679998 "2018-03-01T00:55:01Z")
Was there ever a case, during the cold war, of US and Soviet (or Warsaw Pact) uniformed ground troops actually exchanging small-arms fire? If not, what was the closest they came? This is assuming (as it is generally d… --- ## [Does this Norwegian name mean what I think it does?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-norwegian-name-mean-what-i-think-it-does/809675)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-norwegian-name-mean-what-i-think-it-does/809675 "2018-02-28T22:58:58Z")
There was an Olympic athlete name Nedregotten. I don’t know any Norwegian, but to me it looks like The Lower God or maybe Lesser. He (and his partner) just belatedly won bronze medals in mixed double curling after the … --- ## [Do cloned dogs necessarily look like the somatic cell donor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cloned-dogs-necessarily-look-like-the-somatic-cell-donor/809779)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cloned-dogs-necessarily-look-like-the-somatic-cell-donor/809779 "2018-02-28T21:19:19Z")
I know that in the cases of horses and cats, the cloned critter will have ‘access to’ the same hair colors from the donor DNA, but the color patterns can be very different. Does the same apply to dogs? (It looks like B… --- ## [Three sided coin ( basic math question)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-sided-coin-basic-math-question/809066)
**Author:** [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-sided-coin-basic-math-question/809066 "2018-02-28T21:08:41Z")
In this PDF there is a comparison of different models describing 3-sided coins. Now,on page 3 Model 1 is pretty clear, to calculate the probability (of the flipped coin landing on its side ) they consider coin si… --- ## [Selling obsolete software](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-obsolete-software/809498)
**Author:** [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-obsolete-software/809498 "2018-02-28T20:28:06Z")
If you want to install Office 2010 on a computer, you can’t buy it new from Microsoft. They will sell you Office 2016 or a subscription to Office 365. The older product is no longer available from MS or other official re… --- ## [I cant believe the cost of a replacement car key!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-the-cost-of-a-replacement-car-key/809771)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-the-cost-of-a-replacement-car-key/809771 "2018-02-28T20:24:07Z")
I lost my key for our new Honda CRV and they want $249 just for a new key and $500 for the electronic key fob you leave in your pocket! Damn! What a ripoff! --- ## [How would the United States enforce economic sanctions against China?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-united-states-enforce-economic-sanctions-against-china/809525)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-the-united-states-enforce-economic-sanctions-against-china/809525 "2018-02-28T16:22:48Z")
Hi How would the United States enforce economic sanctions (particularly shipping and energy firms doing business with North Korea) against China? I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [Finding food on Earth millions or billions of years ago](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-food-on-earth-millions-or-billions-of-years-ago/809509)
**Author:** [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-food-on-earth-millions-or-billions-of-years-ago/809509 "2018-02-28T15:51:56Z")
What’s the furthest someone (or a small group) could travel back in time on Earth, and still find enough edible plants or animals to live indefinitely? I’m assuming unlimited hunting/gathering supplies (rifles, ammo, ne… --- ## [OK so here's my last thread to settle down my stuff-](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736)
**Author:** [@Luciano700](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luciano700)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-heres-my-last-thread-to-settle-down-my-stuff/809736 "2018-02-28T15:03:38Z")
Look I am trying to understand American social and political culture, that’s all. Why I am doing this? To understand and know the world around me better, and I really been over thinking my shit and you know what I am pr… --- ## [Dual-weighting of an annual return calculation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-weighting-of-an-annual-return-calculation/809625)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-weighting-of-an-annual-return-calculation/809625 "2018-02-28T14:46:25Z")
Suppose I want to find the annual return on a stock. Thing is I bought two different amounts for different price. Assume I will use CAGR. Day A, Bought B shares at price C/share Day I, Bought J shares at price K/sha… --- ## [Why is flour still usually packaged in paper bags?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-flour-still-usually-packaged-in-paper-bags/653368)
**Author:** [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-flour-still-usually-packaged-in-paper-bags/653368 "2018-02-28T14:33:12Z")
(Promped by a rant from my sister-in-law and a follow-up conversation with her and other family members.) Flour is generally packaged and sold in paper bags. These bags are frequently difficult to open unless you’re qu… --- ## [MRI and needles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mri-and-needles/226349)
**Author:** [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2018, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mri-and-needles/226349 "2018-02-28T10:41:39Z")
I had to have a MRI done on my head today. After about 20 mins in the machine, the tech pulled me out and gave me a shot in the arm. Then I went back into the machine for about 5 minutes. What drug did he give me and wh… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=612) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=614)