# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=707 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 708 --- ## [Week delay to receive a fax?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-delay-to-receive-a-fax/790551)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/week-delay-to-receive-a-fax/790551 "2017-07-05T18:22:37Z")
I faxed a transcript order form to Prometric to have them send my DSST scores to my school. I called them immediately after to confirm that they received it, and they told me that they have a delay of about a week befor… --- ## [Vitamin B12 and soy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-b12-and-soy/790552)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-b12-and-soy/790552 "2017-07-05T17:54:41Z")
I keep reading that there is no vegan source of B12. But two days ago in the Science Times, an item mentioned that there is some B12 in tofu and in soy milk. So is there B12 in soy beans? And where do cows get their B… --- ## [Locating public records of a person in California](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locating-public-records-of-a-person-in-california/790511)
**Author:** [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locating-public-records-of-a-person-in-california/790511 "2017-07-05T17:43:51Z")
Long story short: there’s a person I’m considering a business relationship with who I don’t completely trust, and I am aware that they have a criminal record but they will not divulge details of it when asked directly. (… --- ## [Donkey Shows](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donkey-shows/396673)
**Author:** [@Andrew\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andrew_Bird)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donkey-shows/396673 "2017-07-05T16:40:42Z")
Can you really see a woman have sex with a donkey (or horse) in Mexico? Is this legal? --- ## [US / Russia Hotline](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-russia-hotline/790485)
**Author:** [@ishamael69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ishamael69)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-russia-hotline/790485 "2017-07-05T15:45:46Z")
A couple of questions about the US / Russia hotline… First, various sources state that it was first used by the US on the day of Kennedy’s assassination. However, nowhere I’ve found says what message might have been se… --- ## [Straight dope on earrings "sensitive ears"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-on-earrings-sensitive-ears/151876)
**Author:** [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [February 3, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-dope-on-earrings-sensitive-ears/151876 "2003-02-03T23:10:15Z")
I’ve been wearing earrings again, as part of my resolution to Look More Like a Grown-Up. I’m remembering why I quit wearing earrings in the first place, which is that the irritate my earring-holes like nobody’s business… --- ## [The human body is \_\_\_\_ percent water](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-body-is-____-percent-water/790423)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-human-body-is-____-percent-water/790423 "2017-07-04T21:10:44Z")
How much of the human body is water? Firstly, what about actual liquid water? There’s water in the blood plasma, and water in the protoplasm inside cells, and various other fluids in the body. How much is there as a pe… --- ## [What is this...chenille wool knitted thing I found?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-chenille-wool-knitted-thing-i-found/790472)
**Author:** [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-chenille-wool-knitted-thing-i-found/790472 "2017-07-05T14:07:02Z")
I found this mess of chenille interwoven strings in a back alley (I find lots of things in alleys), and I don’t know what the heck it is. It has one long string sticking out of it, suggesting that it is ravelling. It app… --- ## [Kick start and go fund me questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-start-and-go-fund-me-questions/790534)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kick-start-and-go-fund-me-questions/790534 "2017-07-05T13:19:32Z")
A few years ago because of my significant others cancer I put on hold a tour where I would go around the country and do bow builds with other semi well known bow builders. I do primitive archery bow building. The idea wa… --- ## [Number of commercial breaks in the past](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-commercial-breaks-in-the-past/677932)
**Author:** [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/number-of-commercial-breaks-in-the-past/677932 "2017-07-05T12:25:01Z")
There have been a lot of threads lamenting the number or length of individual commercials. I wonder how many commercial breaks in a given program was common in the past (say before 1980). I’m pretty sure commercial bre… --- ## [Lasik or lightwave eye surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lasik-or-lightwave-eye-surgery/790018)
**Author:** [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lasik-or-lightwave-eye-surgery/790018 "2017-07-05T12:04:51Z")
What are the pro’s and cons? --- ## [Blasting zone--turn off cell phones and 2-way radios](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-zone-turn-off-cell-phones-and-2-way-radios/790498)
**Author:** [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blasting-zone-turn-off-cell-phones-and-2-way-radios/790498 "2017-07-05T10:14:36Z")
Akron(where I live) is undergoing a 1.1 billion dollar repair to the entire sewer system. We’re the largest polluter of the Cuyahoga river and thus Lake Erie. Storm water floods our sewage treatment plant and dumps raw… --- ## [Need help with "forever" stamp calculations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-forever-stamp-calculations/776807)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-forever-stamp-calculations/776807 "2017-07-05T07:06:13Z")
I have a recurring mailing. It requires 6 forever stamps. When the postal rates go up will this affect the number of stamps I need to use? I tried to look it up but my google-fu failed me. Assume the weight of the packa… --- ## [What's the fundamental resonant frequency of an average adult human skull?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fundamental-resonant-frequency-of-an-average-adult-human-skull/548486)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fundamental-resonant-frequency-of-an-average-adult-human-skull/548486 "2017-07-05T05:32:31Z")
Including mandible. I’m thinking of making a xylophone. --- ## [I found some old ammunition boxes!! They're STUCK...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-old-ammunition-boxes-theyre-stuck/790428)
**Author:** [@Terri01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terri01)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-some-old-ammunition-boxes-theyre-stuck/790428 "2017-07-05T03:58:03Z")
I recently bought an RV. (1992) it hasn’t been driven in three years (since 2014). It was AS IS WHERE IS with all the inventory in the tool boxes and cubbies. In the back “bedroom” on the bare wood floor are two ammun… --- ## [Car engine oil level and splashing in the crankcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-engine-oil-level-and-splashing-in-the-crankcase/790343)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-engine-oil-level-and-splashing-in-the-crankcase/790343 "2017-07-05T00:25:15Z")
What is the state of the oil in an automobile engine while it’s running? Sketches describing how lubrication works show a horizontal oil level division between air above and oil below, with a few drops of oil being kicke… --- ## [How long can I expect a Lithium lawn mower battery to last?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-a-lithium-lawn-mower-battery-to-last/790501)
**Author:** [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-i-expect-a-lithium-lawn-mower-battery-to-last/790501 "2017-07-04T21:29:37Z")
I’m considering the purchase of a lithium battery-powered lawn mower, and I’d like to get some idea of battery lifetime. Assuming I can cut my lawn on one charge, I expect to charge the battery 30 to 35 times a year. I… --- ## [Building a xylophone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-xylophone/790430)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-a-xylophone/790430 "2017-07-04T21:11:08Z")
I have a question about mounting my wood keys on the base. I am going to try mounting them on springs. Trying to figure out what kind of load spring I should order. Something that barely compresses with the weight of the… --- ## ["The most frequently kidnapped category of people is adult males"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-kidnapped-category-of-people-is-adult-males/790380)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-frequently-kidnapped-category-of-people-is-adult-males/790380 "2017-07-04T17:52:40Z")
…So my mom used to tell me, with alarm, on more than one occasion, while I was growing up. (I’m a man.) If this true? I cannot tell if she was referring to statistics for the USA alone, or the whole world. I suspect th… --- ## [Help me help my Dad- Zeuss Virus Scam Page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-help-my-dad-zeuss-virus-scam-page/790493)
**Author:** [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-help-my-dad-zeuss-virus-scam-page/790493 "2017-07-04T17:23:40Z")
Hi Everyone I’m sure you all know that annoying scam where the popup tells you that they’ve detected the Zeuss virus, and you have to call Microsoft and give them all your money and credit cards… You know, where it spam… --- ## [How do I reproduce this shape? (math)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-reproduce-this-shape-math/790475)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-reproduce-this-shape-math/790475 "2017-07-04T15:55:53Z")
So, I have an object, that I would like to find and express the shape of. It’s approximately a rectangular prism, but one side is curved convex in both dimensions. I can measure the thickness at any point, though of co… --- ## [Duplicating audio cd's](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicating-audio-cds/790452)
**Author:** [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duplicating-audio-cds/790452 "2017-07-04T14:47:04Z")
I was somewhat surprised to learn that Windows no longer will copy an audio cd. I tried two free utilities - buggy, didn’t work. I normally work with mp3’s, but this music cd is all cross-fades from track to track. Gapl… --- ## [How (If They Did So At All) Did The Ancients Measure Temperature?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-if-they-did-so-at-all-did-the-ancients-measure-temperature/790202)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-if-they-did-so-at-all-did-the-ancients-measure-temperature/790202 "2017-07-04T14:06:40Z")
Did any ancient culture have any means of measuring/describing the temperature? Could Socrates, Cicero, Ramanedes, etc. have had any means of describing today’s temp other than “slightly warmer than it was yesterday, I t… --- ## [Help identifying sunglasses logo](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-sunglasses-logo/790477)
**Author:** [@Sparta360](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparta360)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-sunglasses-logo/790477 "2017-07-04T11:58:41Z")
Can anyone help me identify this sunglasses brand? Tried searching on google and didn’t have any luck at all. Thanks :cool: https://imgur.com/gallery/yzcXS --- ## [Do all Amtrak routes sell travel packages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-amtrak-routes-sell-travel-packages/790482)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-all-amtrak-routes-sell-travel-packages/790482 "2017-07-04T02:59:23Z")
Inspired by the Amtrak debate thread. My city is served by the Amtrak Downeaster, which is said to be one of Amtrak’s more financially successful routes(Brunswick, ME- Boston, MA). They offer special packages in additi… --- ## [USB Plugs on Modern Smartphones](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-plugs-on-modern-smartphones/790460)
**Author:** [@Clarence01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clarence01)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-plugs-on-modern-smartphones/790460 "2017-07-04T02:42:13Z")
some usb plugs work better than others but id like to not have any issue at all. has anyone heard of any modern smartphone having a plug that doesnt let a cable get loose when you simply tap it and stop charging the pho… --- ## [Backyard shed question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-shed-question/790357)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 4, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backyard-shed-question/790357 "2017-07-04T00:33:46Z")
Hi everybody, We have a storage shed in our backyard that was already there when we bought our house five years ago. It is a wood structure that the previous owner had it built by a custom shed company and it could be 1… --- ## [What happens if you accidentally design a 'fictional' classified real-life weapons system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-accidentally-design-a-fictional-classified-real-life-weapons-system/790043)
**Author:** [@dude\_robert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dude_robert)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-accidentally-design-a-fictional-classified-real-life-weapons-system/790043 "2017-07-03T23:19:07Z")
So, what would happen if a author, let’s say a sci-fi book author designed a fictional vehicular weapons system 100% from his original head, and published it in his book, when that weapons system was actually 99.9% the c… --- ## [Same-sex marriage and the German Basic Law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-and-the-german-basic-law/790235)
**Author:** [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-and-the-german-basic-law/790235 "2017-07-03T21:37:38Z")
The German Bundestag voted today to legalize same-sex marriage (& adoption). Chancellor Angela Merkel allowed the conscience vote at the last moment to avoid it being an issue in elections this fall, but she herself vot… --- ## [Space X rocket videos: operators talk](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-rocket-videos-operators-talk/790417)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 3, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-x-rocket-videos-operators-talk/790417 "2017-07-03T18:17:43Z")
Was curious as to why the radio talk over a Space X rocket launch uses the following words uttered by the technicians at various times… Propulsion system still nominal Front whatever still nominal This and that …still… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=706) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=708)