# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=676 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 677 --- ## [Space Rocket launches. Why need for countdown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-rocket-launches-why-need-for-countdown/795943)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-rocket-launches-why-need-for-countdown/795943 "2017-09-12T22:49:23Z")
After decades of rocketlaunches what is the need for a human voice to countdown the launch. Apart from the thrill for the observer ie if it is broadcast, why cant they have an alternate way to get to point zero when th r… --- ## [Vehicular neglect at its best, read on.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicular-neglect-at-its-best-read-on/796157)
**Author:** [@Mictoppo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mictoppo)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicular-neglect-at-its-best-read-on/796157 "2017-09-12T22:18:51Z")
I drive a 2000 model hiace ( old shape). Brief history, front brakes have been grinding for a while ( badly). Have been using handbrake and gears. Last week my hand brake snapped, and lights came on ( 2 oil, one with squ… --- ## [Mail On Patriot Day.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-on-patriot-day/796178 "2017-09-12T22:18:16Z")
Yesterday (Patriot Day, if you are reading this later), I thought I might go to the post office to check my P. O. box mail. Then it occurred to me. It is Patriot Day, a federal holiday, to commemorate 9-11. Mail people g… --- ## [MS Project and the cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-project-and-the-cloud/796072)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-project-and-the-cloud/796072 "2017-09-12T22:07:20Z")
I have an idea for work but I need to figure out if MS Project will work for us. Does MS Project in any flavor do this? Projects are available via the cloud, preferably needing a google drive account to access. Along … --- ## [what are these berries?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-berries/796060)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-berries/796060 "2017-09-12T21:47:48Z")
Friend has a couple of bushes that have produced these berries. Before I eat them, I’d like to confirm what they are. \[Album\] imgur.co… --- ## [Educate me on this resume/job scam.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-on-this-resume-job-scam/796183)
**Author:** [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-on-this-resume-job-scam/796183 "2017-09-12T21:33:51Z")
Get a call from what’s obviously an off-shore recruiter. They found my resume on one of the job boards and would like to submit me to their client in my area for a job that is a very good fit for my skill set. Once we … --- ## [Bean pea lentil gram legume pulse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bean-pea-lentil-gram-legume-pulse/796040)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bean-pea-lentil-gram-legume-pulse/796040 "2017-09-12T21:24:42Z")
For whatever reason the Wikipedia articles I’ve found don’t clear up this question for me. The terms bean, pea, lentil, gram, legume, and pulse — are they interchangeable? So they designate separate things? Or is it all… --- ## [The statistics of risk...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-statistics-of-risk/795747)
**Author:** [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-statistics-of-risk/795747 "2017-09-12T15:29:35Z")
I regularly swim in Los Alamitos Bay, in Southern California and it amazes me how often people see this as some sort of foolhardy thing to do because, well, you know, SHARKS! My contention is that what I’m doing is less… --- ## [DNA / surrogate question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-surrogate-question/796085)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dna-surrogate-question/796085 "2017-09-12T12:53:10Z")
An embryo is created via in vitro fertilization and then implanted in a surrogate mother and carried to term. If a DNA test is done on the resulting child will he or she carry any of the surrogates DNA? --- ## [Motorcycle engines - front/rear intake/exhaust](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-engines-front-rear-intake-exhaust/796139)
**Author:** [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorcycle-engines-front-rear-intake-exhaust/796139 "2017-09-12T12:41:07Z")
I was reading a review of a new single cylinder motorcycle (BMW G 310 R) which mentioned it has the intake in the front of the engine and the exhaust in the rear - the opposite of the normal arrangement (intake in the re… --- ## [What sort of berries are these?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-berries-are-these/796063)
**Author:** [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sort-of-berries-are-these/796063 "2017-09-12T12:13:04Z")
\[Album\] Bush I just noticed that someone else coincidentally poste… --- ## [Any Westernized culture where women are not shy about their weight and/or age?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-westernized-culture-where-women-are-not-shy-about-their-weight-and-or-age/795589)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-westernized-culture-where-women-are-not-shy-about-their-weight-and-or-age/795589 "2017-09-12T05:53:59Z")
Is there any Westernized (or, for that matter, non-Western) culture in the world where women are not shy about revealing their age or weight (the traditional “Two things you don’t ask a woman”)? (Don’t ask why I ask thi… --- ## [Driving Question: Does A Car Need "Rest" On Long Drives?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-question-does-a-car-need-rest-on-long-drives/795958)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-question-does-a-car-need-rest-on-long-drives/795958 "2017-09-12T04:08:33Z")
Mrs. Homie and I are doing a 16-hour drive in the next few months. Our car, a 2007 Yaris with 170k miles, isn’t new by any means, but it’s a trooper. Nevertheless, will driving 16 hours straight (excluding stopping for g… --- ## [Zedge: How do I get ringtones to use out of "My Zedge" list?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zedge-how-do-i-get-ringtones-to-use-out-of-my-zedge-list/796116)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zedge-how-do-i-get-ringtones-to-use-out-of-my-zedge-list/796116 "2017-09-12T00:59:26Z")
I had to get a new cell phone recently, and had to start collecting ringtones over again. How do I select a ringtone from My Zedge to use as my phone’s actual ringtone? --- ## [How Would Old GMAT Scores Correlate With New GMAT Scores?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-old-gmat-scores-correlate-with-new-gmat-scores/524537)
**Author:** [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 12, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-old-gmat-scores-correlate-with-new-gmat-scores/524537 "2017-09-12T00:07:49Z")
Just wondering, is all. I took the GMAT back in 1984 and did OK on it, more than good enough to get into grad school then for a master’s degree. Perusing some universities’ sites on their PhD programs today, I come acr… --- ## [So, how do I compare private health care online without salesmen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-compare-private-health-care-online-without-salesmen/796017)
**Author:** [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-do-i-compare-private-health-care-online-without-salesmen/796017 "2017-09-11T19:27:59Z")
I’m within a few years of that “retire or keep working a while?” question, part of that decision is around health care for the decade+ until medicare starts kicking in. While I realize that while the GOP controls the … --- ## [Why aren't inflatable dams a scalable way of dealing with flooding?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-inflatable-dams-a-scalable-way-of-dealing-with-flooding/795712)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-inflatable-dams-a-scalable-way-of-dealing-with-flooding/795712 "2017-09-11T17:25:30Z")
This picture has gone viral recently, showing a house with an inflatable dam being completely protected from the Houston floods of 2016. Given that such a simple solution seemingly exists, and given how much cheaper it … --- ## [How much do the intelligence/security services know about us normies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-the-intelligence-security-services-know-about-us-normies/795131)
**Author:** [@MrLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrLee)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-the-intelligence-security-services-know-about-us-normies/795131 "2017-09-11T17:03:53Z")
(As a bit of context, I am a fairly uninteresting middle-class English guy; I do not have any links to terrorists, organised crime or whatever. I am also not a conspiracy theorist - this is asked more out of curiosity th… --- ## [So with dual Super-hurricanes this year, is it conclusive that it's from global warming?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-with-dual-super-hurricanes-this-year-is-it-conclusive-that-its-from-global-warming/795745)
**Author:** [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-with-dual-super-hurricanes-this-year-is-it-conclusive-that-its-from-global-warming/795745 "2017-09-11T15:05:07Z")
I can’t claim to understand the dynamics of hurricane formation or large weather systems in general. So all I can use is basic reasoning : The news articles on it talk about how layers of warm water near the ocean surf… --- ## [How can I fix this dressor which some liquid ate through the top of](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-fix-this-dressor-which-some-liquid-ate-through-the-top-of/795734)
**Author:** [@Clarence01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence01)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-fix-this-dressor-which-some-liquid-ate-through-the-top-of/795734 "2017-09-11T14:32:45Z")
Either the hand sanitizer or the tiger balm ate through the finish of this dressor. https://ibb.co/fUvb6v Question: How do I fix this? What options do I have? Aside Questions: Why does this area now smell like a … --- ## [Charging a 16v lithium ion battery with a 15v charger, how much will it charge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charging-a-16v-lithium-ion-battery-with-a-15v-charger-how-much-will-it-charge/795923)
**Author:** [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charging-a-16v-lithium-ion-battery-with-a-15v-charger-how-much-will-it-charge/795923 "2017-09-11T10:48:21Z")
The title is most of the question, Nissan Leaf batteries are 7.x volt lithium ion so running a pair of them in series gets you just about 16v. I want to run these in a 12v automotive system and I am having trouble findi… --- ## [whole-house generator and fuel efficiency — need answer kinda fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-house-generator-and-fuel-efficiency-need-answer-kinda-fast/795846)
**Author:** [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whole-house-generator-and-fuel-efficiency-need-answer-kinda-fast/795846 "2017-09-11T06:49:59Z")
A whole-house generator burns gasoline and produces electricity. Is the rate at which it burns through the gas affected by how much electricity is used? In other words, if one has lost power and it may be several days o… --- ## [Radio interference from my comcast lines?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-interference-from-my-comcast-lines/795869)
**Author:** [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radio-interference-from-my-comcast-lines/795869 "2017-09-11T06:42:17Z")
Ok, I know just enough about electronics to be dangerous. I’m a computer guy, but not really an expert in advanced radio phenomenon but what comcast is telling me sounds like cow excretions. A pair of comcast feild tec… --- ## [Can anyone explain the symbols on this logo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-symbols-on-this-logo/795661)
**Author:** [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2017, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-symbols-on-this-logo/795661 "2017-09-11T05:59:05Z")
It’s the Minnesota State Arts Board logo, on the right in this image: MY friends and I are stumped. --- ## [AQI and health effects](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqi-and-health-effects/796002)
**Author:** [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aqi-and-health-effects/796002 "2017-09-10T23:18:12Z")
Being in Oregon has meant a lot of talk recently about AQI and what events need to be cancelled, reduced or otherwise modified because of this. I’ve read the EPA pamphlet on AQI and what it means, but they give precious… --- ## [Geographic range of Amber/Silver alerts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographic-range-of-amber-silver-alerts/796031)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographic-range-of-amber-silver-alerts/796031 "2017-09-10T23:08:38Z")
Occasionally, I see alerts appear either on my phone, or in retail stores(Lottery retailers are required to display these alerts) about a missing child or senior hundreds of miles away. How large an area are the alerts … --- ## [Do spider webs have any nutritional value for humans](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spider-webs-have-any-nutritional-value-for-humans/489325)
**Author:** [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2017, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-spider-webs-have-any-nutritional-value-for-humans/489325 "2017-09-10T16:26:05Z")
Could you get any nutritional value out of eating spider webs, if you needed food. Only the web is being asked about no detritus stuck to it. --- ## [Help with home network setup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-home-network-setup/795909)
**Author:** [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-home-network-setup/795909 "2017-09-10T15:40:26Z")
So, for the last year, I’ve had my home network up and running just fine, but I feel there must be a better way to do this. Right now, I am at my main desktop, a MacPro (Late 2013). I also have a MacPro (2007/8-ish) run… --- ## [Would this solar-powered RV actually have any sort of useable range?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-solar-powered-rv-actually-have-any-sort-of-useable-range/795855)
**Author:** [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2017, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-this-solar-powered-rv-actually-have-any-sort-of-useable-range/795855 "2017-09-10T12:24:26Z")
A friend’s Facebook feed today contained a link to this article about an RV covered in solar cells. The title of the piece is “This Solar-Powered RV Runs Without Fuel Or Charging Stations,” and in the body of the articl… --- ## [Biggest spider in my area? (Nashville, TN, USA)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-spider-in-my-area-nashville-tn-usa/795827)
**Author:** [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2017, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biggest-spider-in-my-area-nashville-tn-usa/795827 "2017-09-10T10:44:52Z")
I know that, outside the zoo and exotic pet stores, there are no tarantula-size arachnids in my area – Nashville, Tennessee. What is the biggest spider species native to the area? (Don’t need answer fast.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=675) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=677)