# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=620 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 621 --- ## [Would those Gilded Age mansions cost more or less to build today?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-those-gilded-age-mansions-cost-more-or-less-to-build-today/808500)
**Author:** [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2018, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-those-gilded-age-mansions-cost-more-or-less-to-build-today/808500 "2018-02-13T03:59:55Z")
Places like Biltmore in Asheville, NC and The Breakers in Newport, RI. A brief search indicates George Vanderbilt spent around $5 million on Biltmore, completed in 1895. Inflation calculator says that would be the e… --- ## [Are there any roblox devs out there that have scripting tips](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-roblox-devs-out-there-that-have-scripting-tips/808749)
**Author:** [@Jswat10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jswat10)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-roblox-devs-out-there-that-have-scripting-tips/808749 "2018-02-13T03:30:01Z")
I need help I am hoping to be a future roblox Developer any scripting tips --- ## [Another EXCEL kerfuffle; sorting data](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-excel-kerfuffle-sorting-data/808654)
**Author:** [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2018, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-excel-kerfuffle-sorting-data/808654 "2018-02-13T00:08:49Z")
I have developed, in Excel 2003, (now don’t yell at me about using his ancient version of Excel - I just haven’t seen any good reason to upgrade) a rather large workbook consisting basically of dates and numbers represen… --- ## [aeola.us spam and how to kill it off](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aeola-us-spam-and-how-to-kill-it-off/795453)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [February 13, 2018, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aeola-us-spam-and-how-to-kill-it-off/795453 "2018-02-13T00:05:17Z")
Since 8/31/17 I have received 119 pieces of spam from an annoying new source. The emails’ FROM header always takes the form “contact@” & {random characters} & “aolea.us” Examples: contact@zjwjFD5EEM8Taolea.us contact… --- ## [Best way to keep Windows secure?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-keep-windows-secure/808680)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-keep-windows-secure/808680 "2018-02-12T23:26:03Z")
If it’s so easy to change a Windows password, what’s the point? What method can I use to make my stolen Windows 7 more secure? --- ## [How do some made-for-microwave meals heat up so quickly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-some-made-for-microwave-meals-heat-up-so-quickly/808713)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-some-made-for-microwave-meals-heat-up-so-quickly/808713 "2018-02-12T22:32:59Z")
Almost all pre-cooked meals/entrees I’ve come across require 3-5 minutes in a typical microwave (according to instructions, which usually works out alright). However, I’ve recently seen a couple that call for just 1 min… --- ## [How do you really compare the economic mights of countries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-really-compare-the-economic-mights-of-countries/808447)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-really-compare-the-economic-mights-of-countries/808447 "2018-02-12T21:38:41Z")
There is GDP and there is GDP per capita, but none really shows you how much the country is strong. The first one shows how much your country produced/provided, while the second one showed how much that is when you split… --- ## [What's the male equivalent for "crazy cat lady"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-male-equivalent-for-crazy-cat-lady/616236)
**Author:** [@morlamweb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/morlamweb)\ **Replies:** 88\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-male-equivalent-for-crazy-cat-lady/616236 "2018-02-12T20:03:29Z")
I volunteer at a local cat shelter, and this subject has come up for debate amongst the volunteers on several occasions. We’ve heard of the term “cat lady” or sometimes “crazy cat lady” to refer to some female owners of… --- ## [General Dynamics to buy CSRA for almost $7 billion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-dynamics-to-buy-csra-for-almost-7-billion/808687)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-dynamics-to-buy-csra-for-almost-7-billion/808687 "2018-02-12T18:11:59Z")
What does this mean? Why would General Dynamics pay (7) billion dollars for this company? At 73 I am getting old, uh? But I don’t understand the positive value here … You can comprehend this better than I can, right? h… --- ## [Origin of USA! USA! chant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-usa-usa-chant/226805)
**Author:** [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-usa-usa-chant/226805 "2018-02-12T14:45:17Z")
Did the USA! USA! chant first emerge at the 1980 Olympics during/after the hockey game between the US and the Soviet Union? --- ## [parallel lines never meeting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parallel-lines-never-meeting/808333)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parallel-lines-never-meeting/808333 "2018-02-12T14:10:32Z")
Was it ever proven that parallel lines on a surface with zero curvature never meet? --- ## [Temperature of the Universe at t=0](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temperature-of-the-universe-at-t-0/808669)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temperature-of-the-universe-at-t-0/808669 "2018-02-12T08:49:49Z")
The temperature of the Universe at Plank time was about 100 million trillion trillion kelvin. Is it possible to know (or predict) the temperature of the universe at exact t=0 ? Also was Entropy=0 when t was = 0 ? Thank… --- ## [What is the current term and understanding of the basic state of any given point in the Universe](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-term-and-understanding-of-the-basic-state-of-any-given-point-in-the-universe/808653)
**Author:** [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 12, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-term-and-understanding-of-the-basic-state-of-any-given-point-in-the-universe/808653 "2018-02-12T02:42:11Z")
What is the current understanding and what the hell are children calling it these days? Back in the 1800’s, “Luminous Aether” was proposed, then discarded. I’ve heard terms like “quantum foam” in the past and read desc… --- ## [Are there any public transit busses with seats that can be removed during peak hours?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-public-transit-busses-with-seats-that-can-be-removed-during-peak-hours/808126)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-public-transit-busses-with-seats-that-can-be-removed-during-peak-hours/808126 "2018-02-11T23:15:33Z")
Seats on busses are great during low demand periods but they seem like a massive waste of space when busses are running at capacity. If bus seats were designed in a way where they could be easily removable, busses could … --- ## [Attempted-murder legal scenarios](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-murder-legal-scenarios/808620)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attempted-murder-legal-scenarios/808620 "2018-02-11T21:52:55Z")
A couple of legal scenarios I was pondering last night: \[ul\] \[li\]Jack intends to murder Kevin, and so slips some cyanide into Kevin’s food, but it’s Amy who inadvertently eats Kevin’s food instead and nearly dies as a … --- ## [Can law enforcement do this yet? In regards to casting a wide net....](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-law-enforcement-do-this-yet-in-regards-to-casting-a-wide-net/808455)
**Author:** [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-law-enforcement-do-this-yet-in-regards-to-casting-a-wide-net/808455 "2018-02-11T18:18:59Z")
Lets say a body is discovered in a remote area. No real clues were left behind. In an effort to narrow down the search can LE go to Google and request location services data to see whose cell phone was in the area rece… --- ## [How to make a time machine, some special gadgets, and do special things with them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-time-machine-some-special-gadgets-and-do-special-things-with-them/808617)
**Author:** [@Triner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triner)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-make-a-time-machine-some-special-gadgets-and-do-special-things-with-them/808617 "2018-02-11T07:53:31Z")
This is a serious thread. I have a few questions for everyone: How can I create a real working time machine with a modern sport wrist watch or anything else? How can I use time travel without the symptoms and side… --- ## [“Muestra de v”? Spanish translation of medical terminology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muestra-de-v-spanish-translation-of-medical-terminology/808563)
**Author:** [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muestra-de-v-spanish-translation-of-medical-terminology/808563 "2018-02-11T07:25:44Z")
I was in a hospital room recently that had one of those signs on the wall displaying the name of the nurse on duty, specifics of the visit, and so on. All of the wording on the sign was rendered in English and Spanish (… --- ## [How do banks or investors profit from funding start-ups if most fail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-banks-or-investors-profit-from-funding-start-ups-if-most-fail/808216)
**Author:** [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [February 11, 2018, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-banks-or-investors-profit-from-funding-start-ups-if-most-fail/808216 "2018-02-11T07:09:16Z")
If I lend ten people $10,000, but only ONE of them pays it back, then they have to pay back $100,000 for me just to break even loaning out the money. So, if 90% of start-up businesses fail, how can there be business loa… --- ## [“Jury will disregard”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-will-disregard/808470)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-will-disregard/808470 "2018-02-10T23:00:20Z")
I hear that term a lot in the Law & Order series. Assuming the show is based enough in reality that that phrase actually does happen in court. It seems really strange to me, the court can’t force the jury to forgot any… --- ## [Can anyone tell me what's wrong with my system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-whats-wrong-with-my-system/808597)
**Author:** [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-tell-me-whats-wrong-with-my-system/808597 "2018-02-10T21:21:17Z")
I love to watch a show called “The Profit” on CNBC Watch Live. For unknown reasons it’s stopped working so I can’t watch it on my computer (via my browser). It worked last fall, and all the way up to about December, th… --- ## [Purple - The Raw Egg Test -- Is this a legitimate test?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purple-the-raw-egg-test-is-this-a-legitimate-test/758039)
**Author:** [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 30, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purple-the-raw-egg-test-is-this-a-legitimate-test/758039 "2016-12-30T13:39:05Z")
I have been seeing a lot of ads for a new mattress called Purple on Facebook. The l nik is here: www.onpurple.com In the ads, they demonstrate why all other mattresses are awful by using “The raw egg test” where they … --- ## [Prison time for DUI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prison-time-for-dui/808405)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prison-time-for-dui/808405 "2018-02-10T16:02:24Z")
This lady called me about a landscape project she wanted done. While there she asked if I was interested in any of her husband’s construction equipment. She was selling it because he was just sentenced to 5 years in pers… --- ## [Will scanning old photos damage them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-scanning-old-photos-damage-them/275207)
**Author:** [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 17, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-scanning-old-photos-damage-them/275207 "2004-11-17T06:49:29Z")
With my newfound time off, I have been going through a large box of old family photos, some dating back to the early 1920’s. TThere are some that I would like to be able to send to family members, but I want to keep the … --- ## [TV display only showing top left corner of Computer when connected through HDMI cable.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-display-only-showing-top-left-corner-of-computer-when-connected-through-hdmi-cable/805829)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-display-only-showing-top-left-corner-of-computer-when-connected-through-hdmi-cable/805829 "2018-02-10T08:50:55Z")
You can see the issue in this pic I took. Brand new laptop last Friday, works fine. Windows 10 keeps updating like a maniac. I usually play games by connecting my laptop to the Samsung TV I have via the HDMI cable. Thi… --- ## [Question about Chinese Military Outposts in the South China Sea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-chinese-military-outposts-in-the-south-china-sea/808523)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-chinese-military-outposts-in-the-south-china-sea/808523 "2018-02-10T05:55:57Z")
According to this NY Times article, China is building a significant presence in the South China Sea on various natural and man-made reefs. How do they plan to address global warming and the subsequent sea level rise anti… --- ## [A Police Practice That's Been Ruled Unconstitutional But Still Goes On (Missouri, if it matters)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-police-practice-thats-been-ruled-unconstitutional-but-still-goes-on-missouri-if-it-matters/808489)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-police-practice-thats-been-ruled-unconstitutional-but-still-goes-on-missouri-if-it-matters/808489 "2018-02-10T01:38:14Z")
There’s this little trick that cops in some Missouri towns, including one near me, have been known to employ. A half-mile before an exit ramp that goes to nowhere (like a county road with no nearby services), they’ll put… --- ## [Annual fee for a credit card I'm not using](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-fee-for-a-credit-card-im-not-using/808180)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-fee-for-a-credit-card-im-not-using/808180 "2018-02-10T01:33:13Z")
I have a credit card that I signed up for, used for a while, and paid off (primarily to get bonus points). Then I forgot about it, and haven’t used it for a while. I just got a bill with a $95 annual fee, so the total … --- ## [How long does it take vagina to clean sperm inside it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-vagina-to-clean-sperm-inside-it/808467)
**Author:** [@MaverocK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaverocK)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-vagina-to-clean-sperm-inside-it/808467 "2018-02-10T01:20:12Z")
Please forgive me for my ignorance. In a hypothetical situation, a male ejaculates into a females reproduction organ (vagina). I am curious about how long at maximum (worst case scenario) it takes vagina to completely g… --- ## [If X is partner with Y, can Y be partner with Z, where X may compete with Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-x-is-partner-with-y-can-y-be-partner-with-z-where-x-may-compete-with-z/808514)
**Author:** [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 10, 2018, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-x-is-partner-with-y-can-y-be-partner-with-z-where-x-may-compete-with-z/808514 "2018-02-10T01:07:29Z")
If Michael Jordan partners with GoPro (cameras for sports), i.e. via an endorsement deal where Jordan promotes GoPro cameras to his fans, then can Jordan NOT also partner with Epson (cameras, printers, Augmented Reality … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=619) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=621)