# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=659 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 660 --- ## [Safe way to print from a public PC?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safe-way-to-print-from-a-public-pc/759381)
**Author:** [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safe-way-to-print-from-a-public-pc/759381 "2016-07-09T20:14:47Z")
Let’s say I’m traveling with a Windows laptop, and I may need to print something at a hotel. Hotels often have a public PC hooked up to a printer. I don’t trust public PCs to be virus-free. So obviously I don’t want to… --- ## [Relevant Authors Contemporary With Russell, Especially Philosophers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relevant-authors-contemporary-with-russell-especially-philosophers/800132)
**Author:** [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relevant-authors-contemporary-with-russell-especially-philosophers/800132 "2017-10-30T02:51:05Z")
John Dewey is a prime example, and I am pursuing the connection. I just recently came across a professor of his, Gottlob Frege, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, a student of his. What other contemporary philosophers did he int… --- ## [clarity of live over the air TV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-of-live-over-the-air-tv/800079)
**Author:** [@dflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dflower)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 30, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarity-of-live-over-the-air-tv/800079 "2017-10-30T00:27:13Z")
I have noticed a difference in live vs taped TV that I pick up with my roof mounted antenna. The local CBS station shows the NFL game on Sunday and the picture quality is poor. But when 60 Minutes is shown immediately a… --- ## [Want to set up a Twitter account - any way to do it without giving my phone number?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-set-up-a-twitter-account-any-way-to-do-it-without-giving-my-phone-number/800145)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/want-to-set-up-a-twitter-account-any-way-to-do-it-without-giving-my-phone-number/800145 "2017-10-29T19:08:22Z")
I guard my cell phone number pretty aggressively. I want to set up The Twitter, but it seems they require my phone number. I understand they would need it (I guess) if I access Twitter from my phone (or would they?). Bu… --- ## [Cell site simulators and spectrum licenses](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-site-simulators-and-spectrum-licenses/800140)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-site-simulators-and-spectrum-licenses/800140 "2017-10-29T18:48:37Z")
Why are cell tower simulators allowed to use cellular carriers’ licensed frequencies? AIUI cellular providers have purchased the dedicated\* usage of certain frequency bands. So, when police (or other legal professionals… --- ## [Is there any evidence to support the view that Viking raids were revenge attacks for the Crusades?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-evidence-to-support-the-view-that-viking-raids-were-revenge-attacks-for-the-crusades/799956)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-evidence-to-support-the-view-that-viking-raids-were-revenge-attacks-for-the-crusades/799956 "2017-10-29T18:03:16Z")
Hi Is there any evidence to support the view that Viking raids on various European coasts and waterways were revenge attacks for the pillaging/plunder committed by Europeans during the Crusades? I look forward to your … --- ## [The square function, nature's preferred function?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-square-function-natures-preferred-function/799987)
**Author:** [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-square-function-natures-preferred-function/799987 "2017-10-29T15:46:04Z")
diagonal of a rectangle is sqrt( a^2 + b^2), diagonal of a cuboid is sqrt( a^2 + b^2 + c^2), not say cube\_root(x^3+y^3+z^3) etc. value of probability density func. of a standard normal distribution is proportional to e^… --- ## [Is this A380 OK (after a crappy landing)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a380-ok-after-a-crappy-landing/798698)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a380-ok-after-a-crappy-landing/798698 "2017-10-29T12:30:43Z")
Video here of an A380 during a wild crosswind landing. Does this plane need any sort of inspection afterward? Do tires need to be replaced? Thinking of American Airlines Flight 587 here…how much can the A380’s vertic… --- ## [Could a black hole be used by future humans to travel into the future](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-black-hole-be-used-by-future-humans-to-travel-into-the-future/800080)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-black-hole-be-used-by-future-humans-to-travel-into-the-future/800080 "2017-10-29T12:22:44Z")
Not so much going into it and hoping for a wormhole, but my understanding is that the closer you get to the event horizon the more time slows down. So could a ship somehow get extremely close to a black hole, and as a re… --- ## [How much money is all the world's economies worth combined?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-money-is-all-the-worlds-economies-worth-combined/800066)
**Author:** [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-money-is-all-the-worlds-economies-worth-combined/800066 "2017-10-29T07:40:10Z")
Title. Also, what’s the total value of all the money in circulation today? --- ## [Do Hotel Housekeeping Staff Pool Tips?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-hotel-housekeeping-staff-pool-tips/800112)
**Author:** [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-hotel-housekeeping-staff-pool-tips/800112 "2017-10-29T05:08:14Z")
I’m staying in a hotel for 10 days and I was planning on just leaving a very nice tip the last day, but now I’m wondering if I’m rewarding the one person who may have cleaned my room that day and screwing everyone else. … --- ## [How poor do you have to be to be eligible for a public defender in a criminal case?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-poor-do-you-have-to-be-to-be-eligible-for-a-public-defender-in-a-criminal-case/800048)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 29, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-poor-do-you-have-to-be-to-be-eligible-for-a-public-defender-in-a-criminal-case/800048 "2017-10-29T04:02:32Z")
In the US you are entitled to a lawyer when you have to go to court accused of a crime. In Chicago some judges are refusing public defenders to people if they manage to post a bond to stay out of jail till the case is f… --- ## [Question regarding the cutting of the umbilical cord](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-cutting-of-the-umbilical-cord/800043)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-cutting-of-the-umbilical-cord/800043 "2017-10-28T23:22:46Z")
Hi, I came across this article The article doesn’t supply enough information to say whether the mother deliberately harmed her baby. How does cutting an umbilical cord (a normal practice) cause death? It intrigued m… --- ## [Astronomy Math Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-math-question/799978)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronomy-math-question/799978 "2017-10-28T19:36:05Z")
Many astronomy calculations (ie: eclipses, rise and set times, etc) take the current date and convert it to a Julian date. But, why should that matter? Does anyone know why the Julian date still has relevance? --- ## [Stamp for Multi-part Forms. Does This Exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-for-multi-part-forms-does-this-exist/799775)
**Author:** [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stamp-for-multi-part-forms-does-this-exist/799775 "2017-10-28T15:01:09Z")
(TL,DR Version at bottom) At work, I have to deal with four copy, carbon-less, multi-part forms. Each one requires four different addresses on it. One of the addresses never changes and two of them change maybe every … --- ## [General Guderian influenced by stydy of operations of Stonewall Jackson?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-guderian-influenced-by-stydy-of-operations-of-stonewall-jackson/799395)
**Author:** [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/general-guderian-influenced-by-stydy-of-operations-of-stonewall-jackson/799395 "2017-10-28T05:17:17Z")
I am just now reading a book titled ALONE by Michael Korda published by Liveright Publishing, a division of W. W. Norton Copyright 2017 by Success Research Corp. This book is about the period between the Munich agreemen… --- ## [JFK Files Release Date: 25 Years from...?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-files-release-date-25-years-from/799672)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-files-release-date-25-years-from/799672 "2017-10-28T03:03:55Z")
The news keeps mentioning this 25 year deadline to release the JFK files buried in the National Archives. Supposedly, we are approaching some 25 year deadline. But… 25 years from what event? The JFK assassination was 5… --- ## [What underlies mania?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-underlies-mania/799600)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2017, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-underlies-mania/799600 "2017-10-28T02:07:33Z")
Bipolar disorder is made up of both depression and mania. While it’s possible for someone to only ever have depression for weeks or even years at a time, I’ve never heard of someone having mania for weeks or months. How … --- ## [Halloween violence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-violence/799948)
**Author:** [@randompariah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompariah)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/halloween-violence/799948 "2017-10-28T01:31:13Z")
Are there more stabbings on Halloween than any other day of the year? --- ## [kissing, passing joints around, mate gourd... effects?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-passing-joints-around-mate-gourd-effects/800016)
**Author:** [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kissing-passing-joints-around-mate-gourd-effects/800016 "2017-10-27T23:33:38Z")
I remember when I used to be a big pot smoker back in the day, passing joints and pipes from mouth to mouth. I imagine that in terms of transfer/exchange of substances and bacteria, it must be right up there with kissing… --- ## [How does Jane Goodall stay alive being around chimps?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-jane-goodall-stay-alive-being-around-chimps/648949)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-jane-goodall-stay-alive-being-around-chimps/648949 "2017-10-27T23:28:03Z")
We hear stories once in a while about how someone got too close to a chimp, and ended up with some involuntary, unscheduled amputations–but Jane Goodall has made her life studying chimps, and somehow never managed to tic… --- ## [Why does the Airbus A350 have dark eyeliner?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-airbus-a350-have-dark-eyeliner/799734)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-airbus-a350-have-dark-eyeliner/799734 "2017-10-27T22:22:33Z")
Try a Google-image search for Airbus A350. No wait, let me do it for you. No matter what airline/paint scheme, it’s got a dark “mask” around the windshield panels. Why is that? Is this a technical requirement? A con… --- ## [Equivalent of "battlefield" for an air or sea battle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-of-battlefield-for-an-air-or-sea-battle/799898)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-of-battlefield-for-an-air-or-sea-battle/799898 "2017-10-27T21:56:32Z")
Would it be “battlespace” for an aerial battleground (i.e., Battle of Britain)? I can’t think of a water equivalent for a naval battle at sea. “Battlefield” seems to only describe land. --- ## [Why aren't bank teller cameras at face level?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-bank-teller-cameras-at-face-level/799405)
**Author:** [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-bank-teller-cameras-at-face-level/799405 "2017-10-27T20:47:45Z")
Watching Live PD tonight and they gave info on a bank robbery suspect still on the loose. All of the pictures of the robber were from a high angle security camera, and in every photo the guy’s baseball cap hid his face. … --- ## [Bar-, Bat-Mitzvah Question: If The Kid Is Developmentally Disabled Or Whatever](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-bat-mitzvah-question-if-the-kid-is-developmentally-disabled-or-whatever/799998)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bar-bat-mitzvah-question-if-the-kid-is-developmentally-disabled-or-whatever/799998 "2017-10-27T19:25:06Z")
You are the Jewish parent of a young lass who is coming up on her 12th (or 13th, depending on which brand of Judaism you subscribe to) birthday. Unfortunately, your daughter is developmentally disabled and can’t read, an… --- ## [The military fighting in a Category 4 hurricane](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-fighting-in-a-category-4-hurricane/794685)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-military-fighting-in-a-category-4-hurricane/794685 "2017-10-27T17:08:08Z")
Just out of curiosity, how effective would aircraft, warships, tanks, helicopters, etc. be if they had to fight in the very teeth of a Category-4 hurricane? (I am guessing that Category-5 would be impossible for anyone … --- ## [What drones does the Islamic State have?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drones-does-the-islamic-state-have/799835)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drones-does-the-islamic-state-have/799835 "2017-10-27T17:03:48Z")
This clip showsa drone dropping explosives. It can apparently hover. I thought they have Radio Shack rotor drones. This one apparently can carry enough load to have large bombs. They appear to be unguided bombs. --- ## [Who changed the pronunciation of Niger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-changed-the-pronunciation-of-niger/316309)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-changed-the-pronunciation-of-niger/316309 "2017-10-27T15:03:12Z")
I have always pronounced Niger as NY-jer. Recently I have heard most radio and TV reporters pronouncing it as nee-ZHAIR. My Webster’s new Collegiate from 1975 and my American Heritage from 1985 both show NY-jer as the … --- ## [Is Artificially Weakening/Destroying a Hurricane Possible, Even In Theory?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-artificially-weakening-destroying-a-hurricane-possible-even-in-theory/796415)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-artificially-weakening-destroying-a-hurricane-possible-even-in-theory/796415 "2017-10-27T14:31:49Z")
Given the destruction wrought by Harvey and Irma, to say nothing of the hundreds of destructive hurricanes that came before it, I’m curious if the idea of artificially altering hurricane strength (or existence) has any b… --- ## [Question regarding capitalization of body parts.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054)
**Author:** [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-capitalization-of-body-parts/534054 "2017-10-27T14:15:48Z")
I am currently writing a paper that requires referencing a number of muscles in the body. In some of the literature I am reading, the muscle names are capitalized (Rectus Abdominus) and in some it is not (transverse abdo… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=658) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=660)