# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=703 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 704 --- ## [Polarized sunglasses. Why are they not standard?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polarized-sunglasses-why-are-they-not-standard/439731)
**Author:** [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [March 5, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polarized-sunglasses-why-are-they-not-standard/439731 "2008-03-05T03:15:45Z")
Or at least more common. If you go into a sunglass store and look through their glasses only 2-3% of them are polarized. And normally they are some of the ugliest glasses on the shelf, or the most expensive. Now I kno… --- ## [Is there a name for this situation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-situation/790397)
**Author:** [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2017, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-name-for-this-situation/790397 "2017-07-15T06:34:15Z")
I’m thinking of a pattern that fits many situations where a problem exists, a solution is applied and fixes 99.9% of the problem, but the remaining part of the problem is seen as just a big of a problem as the original. … --- ## [Is GMO/GE food actually harmful or "bad"? What about treated foods?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gmo-ge-food-actually-harmful-or-bad-what-about-treated-foods/789817)
**Author:** [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Replies:** 139\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2017, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-gmo-ge-food-actually-harmful-or-bad-what-about-treated-foods/789817 "2017-07-15T04:23:25Z")
So, I’m wondering about all those anti-GMO food advertisements and movements and forums that you sometimes see. Are these products safe to consume and grow, both for the environment and us, do you reckon? What do YOU thi… --- ## [Punishment for peeing on a police officer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punishment-for-peeing-on-a-police-officer/449765)
**Author:** [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/punishment-for-peeing-on-a-police-officer/449765 "2008-05-20T02:33:48Z")
I know state and local laws may differ but I was wondering what kind of sentence a man (I doubt a woman could pull it off) who willingly pees on a police officer would get? Say someone pees on a police vehicle stopped at… --- ## ["Burble" and "mush" in flying/aerodynamics: little more info](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burble-and-mush-in-flying-aerodynamics-little-more-info/791022)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burble-and-mush-in-flying-aerodynamics-little-more-info/791022 "2017-07-14T20:49:04Z")
Just saw a very informative and clear, even to me (!:)) pilot-training intro film from WWII era on the A-26 Invader. The pilot talks about “burble” and “mush” in situations of handling during a stall or near-stall situa… --- ## [Why isn't a sphere a Platonic Solid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-a-sphere-a-platonic-solid/790692)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-a-sphere-a-platonic-solid/790692 "2017-07-14T20:09:58Z")
Couldn’t a sphere simply be thought of a a polygon with an infinite number of infinitesimally small polygons? --- ## [Spider identification help - WARNING - PICS!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spider-identification-help-warning-pics/790976)
**Author:** [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spider-identification-help-warning-pics/790976 "2017-07-14T19:05:00Z")
So this lovely lady\* (I assume) has moved outside our kitchen window.\*\* I’ve tried to ID her and the best I can come up with is the common house spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum), but she doesn’t really match the pictu… --- ## [I only like General Questions on SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-only-like-general-questions-on-sdmb/791270)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-only-like-general-questions-on-sdmb/791270 "2017-07-14T18:31:40Z")
This is the only sub forum i visit. Anyone else like me? I cant be bothered with the other sub forums. Am i missing something? How long before it gets shunted to another sub forum and i wont ever find what the answer is… --- ## [How do I check a 13 digit VIN number?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-check-a-13-digit-vin-number/744800)
**Author:** [@THOUGHTCRIMlNAL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THOUGHTCRIMlNAL)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-check-a-13-digit-vin-number/744800 "2017-07-14T17:14:52Z")
So if a car im planning to buy has a 13 digit vin number. I have ran into some problems( spent over $50) on carfax, and other VIN websites but they dont seem to work for a 13 digit VIN…any help would be appreciated. --- ## [Webley air rifles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webley-air-rifles/791259)
**Author:** [@majorleap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/majorleap)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webley-air-rifles/791259 "2017-07-14T16:38:40Z")
Hi, Can anyone confirm if all Webley air rifles had to be proofed above a certain poundage to be imported into Austrailia in the 1920 -3Os any help would be appreciated. Regards majorleap ( from across the pond) --- ## [Source for quote: "Legislatures make laws wholesale, courts do so retail"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-quote-legislatures-make-laws-wholesale-courts-do-so-retail/791191)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-quote-legislatures-make-laws-wholesale-courts-do-so-retail/791191 "2017-07-14T15:46:14Z")
I know that this quotation is generally attributed to Professor Lawrence Friedman, sometimes with a year of 1984, but I can’t find the source of the quote online. Can anyone help? Thanks! --- ## [DE110 Maytag dryer o.k. fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de110-maytag-dryer-o-k-fritz/790968)
**Author:** [@Griva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Griva)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/de110-maytag-dryer-o-k-fritz/790968 "2017-07-14T11:15:55Z")
Anyone know what could be causing dryer to stop working? Stopped mid cycle…still turns on but just hums then turns off. Was going to start with cleaning out the lint exhaust…any other tips? Thanks! --- ## [Help settle a debate: Can the president pardon his own son if his son gets into trouble?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-can-the-president-pardon-his-own-son-if-his-son-gets-into-trouble/791135)
**Author:** [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-settle-a-debate-can-the-president-pardon-his-own-son-if-his-son-gets-into-trouble/791135 "2017-07-14T10:23:07Z")
Say Donald Trump Jr has charges brought up against him for all of this current drama. CAN his father pardon him or no? Just a simple yes or no answer will do. I say he can…but a friend of mine is insisting that he can’… --- ## [Pine pitch on my car](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pine-pitch-on-my-car/791026)
**Author:** [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pine-pitch-on-my-car/791026 "2017-07-14T08:52:16Z")
Recently I had to park my car in another location for a few days. Underneath pine trees in the hot weather that have bombarded my car with blobs of pitch. I went to a car wash, but of course that did nothing; I’ll bet th… --- ## [Who was the egyption female leader that did perfidy and set the birds of peoples houses on fire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-egyption-female-leader-that-did-perfidy-and-set-the-birds-of-peoples-houses-on-fire/790960)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-egyption-female-leader-that-did-perfidy-and-set-the-birds-of-peoples-houses-on-fire/790960 "2017-07-14T02:28:40Z")
I been trying to find this persons name but I can’t. IIRC the story was some women leader in egypt told some village that she’d spare their lives if they brought her the birds that have nests on their houses. So they all… --- ## [How much do hospitals spend on advertising?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-hospitals-spend-on-advertising/791173)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-hospitals-spend-on-advertising/791173 "2017-07-14T00:00:41Z")
I see a lot of advertisements for hospitals, and I know that TV commercials are not cheap to make. What percentage of a hospital’s budget goes to advertising? --- ## [When was evolution first considered to be proven fact by the majority of the scientific community?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-evolution-first-considered-to-be-proven-fact-by-the-majority-of-the-scientific-community/791169)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-was-evolution-first-considered-to-be-proven-fact-by-the-majority-of-the-scientific-community/791169 "2017-07-13T22:59:39Z")
Nowadays evolution is considered theory and fact. (If you wish to debate that, please start a new thread and debate that there.) But at what timeframe or year could one first say that accurately? In other words, if on… --- ## [Why do doctors get so obsessed with BP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-get-so-obsessed-with-bp/790866)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-doctors-get-so-obsessed-with-bp/790866 "2017-07-13T21:46:44Z")
They try their best to keep BP at levels of 120/80 by enforcing a pharmaceutical regime with all its side effects. But isnt it more realistic to accept that as humans age their blood vessels and its walls wont be as sup… --- ## [Girl electrocuted after dropping charging Iphone in tub.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-electrocuted-after-dropping-charging-iphone-in-tub/791037)
**Author:** [@pompeybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pompeybear)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-electrocuted-after-dropping-charging-iphone-in-tub/791037 "2017-07-13T20:17:29Z")
See the story below. I’m a bit stunned that there would be enough current running from an iPhone charger plug to kill you in the bathtub. What am I missing here? I can see a blowdryer killing you, but an iPhone? --- ## [Why does it take so long ot build a sofa?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-ot-build-a-sofa/791071)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-ot-build-a-sofa/791071 "2017-07-13T20:08:33Z")
I recently moved and it was time to get a new sofa. I have not shopped for a sofa in 15-some years and it was quite the surprise to my get things in two days mindset. To be fair I never thought I would get one in two d… --- ## [What conditions would a pre-modern doctor be able to treat effectively?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-conditions-would-a-pre-modern-doctor-be-able-to-treat-effectively/789774)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-conditions-would-a-pre-modern-doctor-be-able-to-treat-effectively/789774 "2017-07-13T16:58:27Z")
Pre-modern doctors (for the sake of argument say prior to 18th century, but could go much later than that if you felt like it) on the whole get have a fairly bad reputation. What with the lack of antibiotics, anesthetic … --- ## [Edjaculith? Cum Stone?? (NSFW)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edjaculith-cum-stone-nsfw/790974)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/edjaculith-cum-stone-nsfw/790974 "2017-07-13T15:59:39Z")
We have tonsil stones kidney stonesgallbladder stonesEven salivary stones Do any calcified obstructions gumm up the works in the jizzum department? --- ## [Which is safer AC or DC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-safer-ac-or-dc/791104)
**Author:** [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-safer-ac-or-dc/791104 "2017-07-13T15:49:49Z")
Back during the current wars Thomas Edison tried to make the argument that DC power was inherently safer than AC was he right? Is there something more dangerous about AC that at the same power level you’re more likely to… --- ## [British evacuation of Norway, 1940.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-evacuation-of-norway-1940/791166)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-evacuation-of-norway-1940/791166 "2017-07-13T15:49:33Z")
Churchill writes in his book The Gathering Storm that a shore based squadron of Hurricanes was evacuated by landing on the aircraft carrier Glorious. Did all Hurricanes have tail hooks? --- ## [Can a college athlete pursue a 2nd sport in Graduate School?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-college-athlete-pursue-a-2nd-sport-in-graduate-school/791117)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-college-athlete-pursue-a-2nd-sport-in-graduate-school/791117 "2017-07-13T13:49:27Z")
Let’s say Joe was a track star in college. He’s used his 4 years NCAA eligibility. Is he eligible to participate in another sport if he stays in school? Perhaps for a 2nd degree or Graduate studies? --- ## [Is playtime in the animal kingdom universal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-playtime-in-the-animal-kingdom-universal/791151)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-playtime-in-the-animal-kingdom-universal/791151 "2017-07-13T13:14:42Z")
We have all seen it, dogs play, cats play, deer, bear, basically all the bigger animals i can think of, enjoy “playtime” I hope that we can all agree on what play time is, but i guess i would consider it, anything the a… --- ## [Prius bluetooth problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-bluetooth-problem/791164)
**Author:** [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-bluetooth-problem/791164 "2017-07-13T12:08:29Z")
I just got a 2017 Prius. I have an iphone 5S. When I try to listen to podcasts stored on the phone over bluetooth playback is garbled. It sounds as though I am hearing 2 second bursts every 3 or 4 seconds and the soun… --- ## [Is there any way to preserve the camera timestamp when emailing or uploading a photo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-preserve-the-camera-timestamp-when-emailing-or-uploading-a-photo/648743)
**Author:** [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 31, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-preserve-the-camera-timestamp-when-emailing-or-uploading-a-photo/648743 "2013-01-31T01:57:52Z")
If I take a picture with my Android phone’s camera, is there any way to email it, or to upload it to a photo-sharing site, without losing the camera’s time stamp? I’m trying to prove that an event occurred at the time I… --- ## [Vacuum in our atmosphere](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-in-our-atmosphere/791129)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacuum-in-our-atmosphere/791129 "2017-07-13T10:14:19Z")
Are there any circumstances where a vacuum is created in our atmosphere. Could any combination of weather or electrical factors create the right situation for a vacuum. What would be the effects on humans. Has any atmos… --- ## [Please explain the logic of this sentence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-logic-of-this-sentence/791139)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 13, 2017, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-the-logic-of-this-sentence/791139 "2017-07-13T06:22:39Z")
On page 228 of Ron Chernow’s “Washington” it says ‘By bestowing on him (Washington) an a honorary degree, Harvard supplied the long-standing defect in his education.’ I don’t understand how the author can use the word ‘… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=702) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=704)