# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=647 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 648 --- ## [Two USB sticks died in a week](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-usb-sticks-died-in-a-week/802893)
**Author:** [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-usb-sticks-died-in-a-week/802893 "2017-11-28T22:05:15Z")
Two sticks, different brands, one brand new, died on me in the same week. I will look into RMA, but are there any factors that might have made this happen or is it likely a coincidence? They didn’t get wet, but was notic… --- ## [Question regarding the proper use of the relative pronoun "whom"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-proper-use-of-the-relative-pronoun-whom/802924)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-proper-use-of-the-relative-pronoun-whom/802924 "2017-11-28T21:27:04Z")
Hi The following use of the word "whom’ seems odd to me. I’d like to know if it’s correct. I look forward to your feedback. Whom else does the industry know about and protect? It’s hard to recall a time when the cul… --- ## [How long does a warning (speeding) stay on the books?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-warning-speeding-stay-on-the-books/324928)
**Author:** [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-warning-speeding-stay-on-the-books/324928 "2017-11-28T19:43:17Z")
I got pulled over by the Georgia State Patrol yesterday for speeding, but thankfully only got a warning. My assumption is that if I were to get pulled over again, it would be automatically a ticket once the officer sees… --- ## [Facebook News Feed Problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-news-feed-problem/802916)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-news-feed-problem/802916 "2017-11-28T19:42:22Z")
I just started up my Facebook page recently, and every time I change my news feed setting to “Most Recent”, I find that it defaults back to “Top Stories” a few minutes later. Is there a way to stop it from defaulting ba… --- ## [Using Pythagorean theorem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-pythagorean-theorem/802635)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-pythagorean-theorem/802635 "2017-11-28T17:29:09Z")
I’m reviewing my trig before helping my cousin tommorow. Been awhile. :wink: This web site is good. Except they leave the exponents on the numbers after doing the math. That’s not how I remember doing these problems. … --- ## [Do Car Dealers Own The Cars???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-car-dealers-own-the-cars/538582)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-car-dealers-own-the-cars/538582 "2017-11-28T15:43:01Z")
How does running a car dealership work? Do some actually own their stock outright? Or, are some on loan from the factory, perhaps? What other options are there, or does the OME force the local dealership to take all t… --- ## [Overheated aluminum engine block--damaged?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheated-aluminum-engine-block-damaged/802952)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheated-aluminum-engine-block-damaged/802952 "2017-11-28T14:46:56Z")
Bought a used 98 Subaru Legacy Outback. Ran a little rough but a quick inspection found a broken exhaust pipe up near the manifold and 2 of the 4 spark plugs were broken. After addressing those things, it was a lot bet… --- ## [Why do muscles stop working when they are cold?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-muscles-stop-working-when-they-are-cold/802904)
**Author:** [@Contemplation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contemplation)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-muscles-stop-working-when-they-are-cold/802904 "2017-11-28T14:41:03Z")
If you’ve ever drunken anything extremely cold before you should notice that your tongue gets numb and its hard to talk. Also, many people drown in cold water because they cannot move their legs once they get too cold. … --- ## [How are pump-and-dump schemes illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-pump-and-dump-schemes-illegal/802821)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-pump-and-dump-schemes-illegal/802821 "2017-11-28T14:30:51Z")
I’m not advocating pump-and-dump schemes, and i do understand, from a moral perspective why this sort of action shouldn’t be tolerated, but what exactly makes it illegal? Let’s say i own a penny stock, and feel really g… --- ## [A Question about cannon balls](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cannon-balls/802761)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-cannon-balls/802761 "2017-11-28T13:34:05Z")
I came across this old articletoday about a cannonball someone attempted to bring onto an airplane in their luggage. In the article, the projectile is described as “live” (in the title) and “explosively viable”. So my… --- ## [When will my flight fare go up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-my-flight-fare-go-up/802846)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-my-flight-fare-go-up/802846 "2017-11-28T01:02:59Z")
I want to fly internationally on December 28 on American Airlines… But I want to wait until November 28 (two days from now) to buy the ticket, so that it goes on the following month’s credit card statement. Will the pric… --- ## [Can I have my mail sent to "General Delivery"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-have-my-mail-sent-to-general-delivery/472916)
**Author:** [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-have-my-mail-sent-to-general-delivery/472916 "2017-11-28T00:51:33Z")
Reading Rex Stout’s Murder by the Book, I came across a reference to the address of “General Delivery, Clinton Station, New York, NY.” I’m sure I’ve seen this in other films and novels, though I seem to associate it more… --- ## [Ohare airport](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohare-airport/802605)
**Author:** [@Getchyou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Getchyou)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [November 28, 2017, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohare-airport/802605 "2017-11-28T00:24:03Z")
I’m traveling to ohare airport via United airlines I have one hour to transfer to another United airlines flight would this be enough time --- ## [Does English have unusually large number of synonyms?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-have-unusually-large-number-of-synonyms/802622)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-english-have-unusually-large-number-of-synonyms/802622 "2017-11-27T23:57:29Z")
Any history of the English language will explain that because of the various invasions of the British Isles during its history, the English language has multiple words for the same concept from different languages (Germa… --- ## [What other fields besides high-end audio are susceptible to 'woo'?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-fields-besides-high-end-audio-are-susceptible-to-woo/801057)
**Author:** [@vonespy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vonespy)\ **Replies:** 144\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-other-fields-besides-high-end-audio-are-susceptible-to-woo/801057 "2017-11-27T23:51:55Z")
The thread on “What equipment do they use in audio recording studios?” got me to thinking about other fields that are highly susceptible to ‘woo’, with woo being defined as “Audio woo consists of various vague and unsupp… --- ## [Project MK ULTRA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-mk-ultra/802649)
**Author:** [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/project-mk-ultra/802649 "2017-11-27T22:33:40Z")
Have there ever been any verified cases or this project working on individuals where they could be ‘activated’ by using simple phrases or completely brainwashed into being a ‘sleeper’? I was watching The Manchurian Candi… --- ## [foreign exchange rates for ATM withdrawals and wire transfers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-exchange-rates-for-atm-withdrawals-and-wire-transfers/802877)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foreign-exchange-rates-for-atm-withdrawals-and-wire-transfers/802877 "2017-11-27T22:16:27Z")
I recently withdrew cash from my US-based bank account at an ATM in Japan; the exchange rate was exactly the market exchange rate for the day, about 113 yen per dollar. I also did a wire transfer from that same US-based… --- ## [Gravity Dampners or Gravity Plates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravity-dampners-or-gravity-plates/802468)
**Author:** [@rob0225](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rob0225)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravity-dampners-or-gravity-plates/802468 "2017-11-27T21:38:43Z")
I read quite a bit of science fiction. I understand it’s science fiction but I’ve always wondered the theory behind how gravity dampners or gravity plates work on space ships in these books? --- ## [Did the Nazis confine their occupation of Poland to areas they deemed part of the ancient Altreich?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-nazis-confine-their-occupation-of-poland-to-areas-they-deemed-part-of-the-ancient-altreich/802865)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-nazis-confine-their-occupation-of-poland-to-areas-they-deemed-part-of-the-ancient-altreich/802865 "2017-11-27T20:04:17Z")
Hi Did the Nazis confine their occupation of Poland only to areas they deemed part of the ancient/medieval Altreich? I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [Tell me about the Seabees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-seabees/802169)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 85\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-the-seabees/802169 "2017-11-27T19:42:14Z")
I know a young man who is thinking about them because he wants a construction career. Is it hard to get in? I mean I know certain navy ranks are more competitive than others to get into. What could a young man do t… --- ## [Insurance questions : Medicare versus supplemental insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-questions-medicare-versus-supplemental-insurance/790846)
**Author:** [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/insurance-questions-medicare-versus-supplemental-insurance/790846 "2017-07-10T15:21:08Z")
My mother died last February. Part of her pension from the job she retired from many years ago was a supplemental (? I think that’s the term?) health insurance policy. After she died, my father was eligible for it via CO… --- ## [Harvesting Human Movement Energy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harvesting-human-movement-energy/802610)
**Author:** [@babarello47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/babarello47)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harvesting-human-movement-energy/802610 "2017-11-27T17:54:58Z")
I’ve been wondering recently about the power of human movement to generate, well, power. We do so many movements, from turning around or shaking hands to walking to standing up or sitting down, etc. – not to mention ae… --- ## [How can I sleep for 24 hours straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-sleep-for-24-hours-straight/802849)
**Author:** [@Toxii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxii)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-sleep-for-24-hours-straight/802849 "2017-11-27T16:06:13Z")
I’ve been wanting to sleep for 24 hours straight. It would be a personal achievement. I don’t think I could do it naturally, so what would be the best thing to take that will put me down for 24 hours, but won’t appear in… --- ## [Windows failed logins message: Glitch or always valid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-failed-logins-message-glitch-or-always-valid/802871)
**Author:** [@Dingbang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dingbang)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-failed-logins-message-glitch-or-always-valid/802871 "2017-11-27T14:53:14Z")
When I sat down to my PC this morning, I had the message saying there had been several failed login attempts and if I wanted to try again, type A1B2C3. It’s unlikely someone had tried to login without the passcode in the… --- ## [Capacitor Pyramids as Energy Source. Why or why not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capacitor-pyramids-as-energy-source-why-or-why-not/365029)
**Author:** [@internetslacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/internetslacker)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capacitor-pyramids-as-energy-source-why-or-why-not/365029 "2017-11-27T12:46:00Z")
Today on England’s Daily Mail news website there is a very interesting picture of a lightning storm in Las Vegas. It shows the pyramid-themed casino (Luxor, I think) being struck by lighting, at the very apex of the pyra… --- ## [Impending End of Net Neutrality: How Bad, Really?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impending-end-of-net-neutrality-how-bad-really/802851)
**Author:** [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/impending-end-of-net-neutrality-how-bad-really/802851 "2017-11-27T06:20:35Z")
I’m sufficiently liberal but I’m also sufficiently wary of chickens little. So how bad is it gonna be once NN ends? Not how bad could it be in principle, but how bad do most experts think it will be? --- ## [Is there any proof that Quetzalcoatlus' flew](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proof-that-quetzalcoatlus-flew/802825)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-proof-that-quetzalcoatlus-flew/802825 "2017-11-27T04:44:33Z")
Because it seems pretty implausible to me. Bigger than a giraffe, comically large head and folding leather wings doesn’t scream aerodynamic. This article even gives the altitude at which they “glided” around. I’m no expe… --- ## [How do you buy cannabis oil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-cannabis-oil/802704)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [November 27, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-buy-cannabis-oil/802704 "2017-11-27T01:17:02Z")
My dad has epilepsy and dementia and my mom has trouble sleeping. A couple of coworkers have told me that they take the oil in a gummy bear form that they buy from a dispensary that is just down the road from me (I am on… --- ## ["Spam" (?) phone calls that are only dead air](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-phone-calls-that-are-only-dead-air/802287)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spam-phone-calls-that-are-only-dead-air/802287 "2017-11-26T23:57:34Z")
What do they want from me (or perhaps what are they getting form me?) I get quite a few. --- ## [Are lakes Michigan and Huron one lake or two?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-lakes-michigan-and-huron-one-lake-or-two/802148)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [November 26, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-lakes-michigan-and-huron-one-lake-or-two/802148 "2017-11-26T23:17:04Z")
I was out with friends and for some reason the factoid that lakes Michigan and Huron are, hydrologically speaking, one lake…nevermind the names. Looking at a map you can see there is a very narrow link connecting the tw… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=646) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=648)