# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=623 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 624 --- ## [Why don't we hear more from the President's cabinet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-hear-more-from-the-presidents-cabinet/808167)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-hear-more-from-the-presidents-cabinet/808167 "2018-02-04T19:24:23Z")
Most of the real work done by the executive branch happens in the agencies with little or no direct involvement from the president. Why don’t we hear more in the media from the department heads directly in charge of wha… --- ## [Tongue and Tongue, Groove and Groove Lumber](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-and-tongue-groove-and-groove-lumber/808173)
**Author:** [@Batano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batano)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-and-tongue-groove-and-groove-lumber/808173 "2018-02-04T19:20:42Z")
I was at a construction site in Eastern Europe and saw two stacks of boards. One was groove and groove, and the other was tongue and tongue. In the US I’ve only seen boards with tongues on one side and grooves on the ot… --- ## [Head-on Collision Physics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-on-collision-physics/24828)
**Author:** [@Bigtrout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bigtrout)\ **Replies:** 133\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-on-collision-physics/24828 "2018-02-04T16:45:19Z")
I have a knucklehead friend I am unable to convince of a fairly simple physics problem. He contends if two cars of equal mass (discounting crumple zones and the like) both traveling 35 mph meet head-on, the resulting col… --- ## ["Don't drive or operate heavy machinery": FDA-required? History of wording?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-drive-or-operate-heavy-machinery-fda-required-history-of-wording/808160)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-drive-or-operate-heavy-machinery-fda-required-history-of-wording/808160 "2018-02-04T15:21:59Z")
In subject: The boilerplate warning for zillions of medications, even OTC ones (I think) like antihistamines. Drug-release information specifications for prescribers and consumers is a hugely regulated process, with eno… --- ## [Who is this SPAM targetting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-spam-targetting/808155)
**Author:** [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-this-spam-targetting/808155 "2018-02-04T14:30:47Z")
Another board I moderate had a spammer drop the following across various threads. The preamble was different in each but the main part was cut and paste. I’ll edit a page long text down to the highlights. Now, is thi… --- ## [Some days I have blue eyes, other days I have green eyes.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-days-i-have-blue-eyes-other-days-i-have-green-eyes/86180)
**Author:** [@Infidel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infidel)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-days-i-have-blue-eyes-other-days-i-have-green-eyes/86180 "2018-02-04T14:30:32Z")
My eyes are kind of a bluish green in color. However, some days my eyes are very blue, almost like an ice blue color. Then, I’ve had days where my eyes go almost completely green. My wife noticed this many years ago when… --- ## [Is there a standard term for Jesus' conception?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standard-term-for-jesus-conception/807723)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standard-term-for-jesus-conception/807723 "2018-02-04T04:22:26Z")
As we know, the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary, Jesus’ mother. The birth of Jesus is known as the Virgin Birth. So we’ve got terms of art for Mary’s conception and Jesus’ birth. I’ve never hear… --- ## [When A Criminal Has To Pay Restitution To His Victims (Don't Need Answer Fast)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-criminal-has-to-pay-restitution-to-his-victims-dont-need-answer-fast/808059)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 4, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-a-criminal-has-to-pay-restitution-to-his-victims-dont-need-answer-fast/808059 "2018-02-04T02:19:34Z")
I’ve been Skyping with a man who defrauded investors out of millions (for a story). He did his time and is out now, and he’s been ordered by the court to pay back his investors. I consider that highly unlikely, since he … --- ## [Reading analog multimeter - Parasitic drain test on car](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-analog-multimeter-parasitic-drain-test-on-car/807990)
**Author:** [@Fantome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fantome)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-analog-multimeter-parasitic-drain-test-on-car/807990 "2018-02-03T23:27:41Z")
Here is a pic of my multimeter. \[Album\] imgur.com Wit… --- ## [Has any country with universal healthcare ever repealed it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-country-with-universal-healthcare-ever-repealed-it/777478)
**Author:** [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Replies:** 163\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-any-country-with-universal-healthcare-ever-repealed-it/777478 "2018-02-03T23:25:26Z")
With all the controversy going on over the ACA (which I’m aware is not universal), I’m wondering if any other countries have faced a similar situation where substantial numbers of their population had their health insura… --- ## [How Many Dimensions Are There?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-dimensions-are-there/807215)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 128\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-dimensions-are-there/807215 "2018-02-03T08:30:12Z")
I don’t know if there is any exact answer to this question. But just exactly how many dimensions are there, altogether? I mean, is there any consensus on this? Just to review for you what I already know. Most humans onl… --- ## [Ordering of North American telephone area codes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-of-north-american-telephone-area-codes/807972)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-of-north-american-telephone-area-codes/807972 "2018-02-03T05:07:10Z")
In 1947, AT&T came up with its now-familiar (and -expanded) list of 86 three-digit area codes for the North American telephone system. For example, 504 was assigned to Louisiana, 306 to Saskatchewan, 715 to northern Wis… --- ## [trigonometry question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigonometry-question/807930)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigonometry-question/807930 "2018-02-03T02:02:53Z")
Recently I had occasion to work out a problem involving right triangles (long story short, I was doing a paper folding project and had to determine how far down the side of a sheet of paper to make a fold). Since I had t… --- ## [Why does my computer show "insecure connection" for all search engines except bing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-show-insecure-connection-for-all-search-engines-except-bing/807940)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-computer-show-insecure-connection-for-all-search-engines-except-bing/807940 "2018-02-03T01:35:06Z")
There are additional issues, as well. Firefox has been reconfigured so that when I hit the “home” icon, it goes to bing instead of google. I cannot log into several websites from Firefox, including Amazon, Gmail, and you… --- ## [Why do I have to update apps frequently?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-update-apps-frequently/807986)
**Author:** [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-have-to-update-apps-frequently/807986 "2018-02-03T00:29:23Z")
On my Android phone, running Marshmallow, I often get notifications from the Play Store that an app I recently updated needs a new update. For example, I just updated YouTube some 19 hours ago and it’s asking me to updat… --- ## [Why are companies still paying head hunters for jobs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-companies-still-paying-head-hunters-for-jobs/807638)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-companies-still-paying-head-hunters-for-jobs/807638 "2018-02-03T00:19:16Z")
A friend of mine recently told me he was contacted by a head hunter. Head Hunter is not someone from the company’s HR, a Head Hunter is someone who works on commission to place people with their client companies. With a… --- ## [A couple of questions about the lost Lady Be Good aircraft](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-questions-about-the-lost-lady-be-good-aircraft/808075)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-questions-about-the-lost-lady-be-good-aircraft/808075 "2018-02-02T23:52:38Z")
Wikipedia entry here. Fascinating story. Basically a plane goes down in the Libyan desert in 1n 1943 and was discovered about 15 years later. A couple of years later, in February 1960, the United States Army conducted a… --- ## [Idiot drivers causing others to crash.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-drivers-causing-others-to-crash/807974)
**Author:** [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiot-drivers-causing-others-to-crash/807974 "2018-02-02T21:26:28Z")
With the rise in dashcam video on youtube, one thing you see quite often is a clueless moron causing others to have an accident, but not actually hitting anything themselves. A typical scenario would be swerving across l… --- ## [Anyone ever get copyright permission for a Youtube video](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-get-copyright-permission-for-a-youtube-video/807908)
**Author:** [@LiveFree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveFree)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-ever-get-copyright-permission-for-a-youtube-video/807908 "2018-02-02T21:10:22Z")
I made a slideshow with music. I’d like to be able to post it on Youtube and have it be used by a public organization. Or have them use it on their social media sites. I don’t want to get in the way of copyright infri… --- ## [Can merchants forbid disputing charges?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-merchants-forbid-disputing-charges/807963)
**Author:** [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-merchants-forbid-disputing-charges/807963 "2018-02-02T21:04:06Z")
My understanding is with the major credit card providers (VISA is the one I have in mind, but I’m asking in general), if I buy something and the seller doesn’t deliver, I can simply dispute the charge with my credit card… --- ## [What about the Neurophone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-neurophone/702673)
**Author:** [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-neurophone/702673 "2018-02-02T19:24:00Z")
Dear Cecil, Can you find out if this is for real? Since it was invented in 1958, and they sell them online, and Snopes has nothing, I would like to know. Google scholar has 202 articles on it, but since Wikipedia has … --- ## [The economics of grocery store magazine sales](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economics-of-grocery-store-magazine-sales/807961)
**Author:** [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-economics-of-grocery-store-magazine-sales/807961 "2018-02-02T18:43:38Z")
Every large grocery store, at least in the U.S., has a magazine section, with the standard news and sports publications, and specialty stuff like autos, etc… The thing is, I don’t recall ever seeing anyone buying a maga… --- ## [Self heating shaving cream in the 1960s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-heating-shaving-cream-in-the-1960s/807705)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-heating-shaving-cream-in-the-1960s/807705 "2018-02-02T18:13:54Z")
I used it a few times and thought it was great. You just squirted it in your hand and the foam got hot. I guess the FDA finally decided the idea of an exothermic reaction on your face might cause problems. Or maybe it di… --- ## [Unix/Linux shell script help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unix-linux-shell-script-help/808016)
**Author:** [@Batano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batano)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unix-linux-shell-script-help/808016 "2018-02-02T11:40:31Z")
I used to know this stuff cold, but it has been a couple of decades. I want to create a shell script that reads links of text and replaces characters with a sequence of 1 to 3 other characters. For example, a-\>g, b-\>fd, … --- ## [Signal that alerts me that I left my headlights on](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signal-that-alerts-me-that-i-left-my-headlights-on/807804)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signal-that-alerts-me-that-i-left-my-headlights-on/807804 "2018-02-02T05:55:29Z")
Why did it take so long to add this super-useful feature to cars? Surely 50 years ago, after the 5 millionth car battery was drained (made up, no cite) and it’s owner cursing, the technology existed! No? --- ## [Omega 3](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-3/808004)
**Author:** [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-3/808004 "2018-02-02T05:26:02Z")
I read that omega 3 can help dry eyes, which I have, especially the omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Since I hate fish which is the only real source of DHA and EPA, I was reading up on this. There are other supplements o… --- ## [I need your communitites help!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-your-communitites-help/807998)
**Author:** [@TeardropJulio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeardropJulio)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-your-communitites-help/807998 "2018-02-02T04:52:12Z")
First let me introduce myself, My name is Julio, 25 of age, Married with two kids and proudly served our United States in the USAR. Second let me thank this community for allowing me to register and join your online mess… --- ## [W10 upgrade, now music app can't play MIDI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/w10-upgrade-now-music-app-cant-play-midi/737048)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/w10-upgrade-now-music-app-cant-play-midi/737048 "2018-02-02T04:11:38Z")
I upgraded from Windows 7 to 10. I have two music composition apps and now neither of them can play back music due to being unable to find the specified MIDI devices. When I search on this issue I get a lot of informati… --- ## [How far back do musical instruments go?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-back-do-musical-instruments-go/807859)
**Author:** [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-back-do-musical-instruments-go/807859 "2018-02-02T02:48:02Z")
My oldest and I were kicking around the concept of musical instruments this evening. They’re history and development and such. We both seemed to agree that some sort of percussion - the secret’s to bang the rocks toget… --- ## [Withdrawing from 401(k) dividends and interest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/withdrawing-from-401-k-dividends-and-interest/807698)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/withdrawing-from-401-k-dividends-and-interest/807698 "2018-02-02T02:32:06Z")
Call me financially illiterate, but I only noticed now - after having had a Fidelity 401(k) for over 7 years - that there is this part called “dividends and interest.” I have a couple thousand dollars in there. I had nev… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=622) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=624)