# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=713 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 714 --- ## [green banana - not ripening](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-banana-not-ripening/789653)
**Author:** [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2017, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/green-banana-not-ripening/789653 "2017-06-23T12:25:41Z")
My wife always buys the greenest bananas she can find at the store, which then ripen over time. We live in the mid-western US, if that makes a difference. They usually have some yellow on them, but the last set she boug… --- ## [How to: securing a post in ground](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-securing-a-post-in-ground/789601)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2017, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-securing-a-post-in-ground/789601 "2017-06-23T08:29:18Z")
I’m considering building and installing a Little Free Library. In researching installing the 4x4 support post, several places online suggest digging the hole, pouring the concrete mix in dry then adding water. Example: … --- ## [Friend looking to move to Washington State or Oregon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-looking-to-move-to-washington-state-or-oregon/789319)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2017, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-looking-to-move-to-washington-state-or-oregon/789319 "2017-06-23T05:26:34Z")
What she hopes to find is a safe place with cheaper rent, that doesn’t rain too horribly much and has a lot of activities & venues for people- inexpensive zoos, museums, fairs, events, concerts. I know, not much- right… --- ## [Help me understand my CPU usage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-my-cpu-usage/789565)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 23, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-my-cpu-usage/789565 "2017-06-23T00:19:31Z")
Last week I bought a new Lenovo Ideapad 110 with Windows 10. It took me a while to get used to 10, I had 8.1 on my last PC. I’m impressed but for one thing. When I used Task Manager to check performance I saw that my CPU… --- ## [Systemic Insecticide - Imidacloprid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/systemic-insecticide-imidacloprid/789631)
**Author:** [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/systemic-insecticide-imidacloprid/789631 "2017-06-22T22:30:25Z")
I’m planning to apply the systemic insecticide Imidacloprid to my trees. It’s available, labeled for this use, from various manufacturers, e.g.: Bayer Advanced = 2.94% Home Depot generic brand = 1.47% I’m just a bit … --- ## [Where do phobias come from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-phobias-come-from/789506)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-phobias-come-from/789506 "2017-06-22T22:06:50Z")
My wife has a paralyzing phobia of snakes. Not a fear, a phobia. If we are walking in the woods and she sees a garter snake on the trail she will panic, scream and run the opposite direction until it is no longer in sigh… --- ## [Help identify a tree and white growth on it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-tree-and-white-growth-on-it/789497)
**Author:** [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-a-tree-and-white-growth-on-it/789497 "2017-06-22T21:28:51Z")
Can anyone help me identify this tree? I’m in Santa Fe, NM (high desert climate) - but this is obviously landscaped and irrigated, and it may not be endemic. In the second photo, you’ll see that there’s white growth … --- ## [Charging USB devices](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charging-usb-devices/789560)
**Author:** [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charging-usb-devices/789560 "2017-06-22T18:54:58Z")
I bought a new tablet and the manual states that you must only use the charging cable and adapter provided lest you damage it. I was wondering if my power strip that has the usb charging ports is okay to use. I hate thos… --- ## [What's the SD on artificial sugar sodas and "bad for diabetes?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sd-on-artificial-sugar-sodas-and-bad-for-diabetes/787546)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-sd-on-artificial-sugar-sodas-and-bad-for-diabetes/787546 "2017-06-22T17:49:21Z")
I’ve heard this more and more these days: something about the various sugar substitutes being unhealthy, not by causing cancer or halitosis or boogie-woogie flu, but the latest knock on them, that they are counterproduct… --- ## [Why do we need bearings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-need-bearings/789564)
**Author:** [@Kamaski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamaski)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-need-bearings/789564 "2017-06-22T17:42:39Z")
Why do we need bearings in a car/truck/firetruck/torque lever/driveshaft/pulley/robot/mechanical anything…? Why are there so many different kinds of bearing for each application, why can’t there just be one design? Why h… --- ## [Death Certificate = Legally Dead?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-certificate-legally-dead/789450)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-certificate-legally-dead/789450 "2017-06-22T17:26:08Z")
Man whose heart was still beating issued death certificate: suit So I’m curious about the legal status of death certificates? Does the issuing of a death certificate mean that the person is dead for all legal purpose… --- ## [Does Brushing your Teeth wear them down alot?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brushing-your-teeth-wear-them-down-alot/789521)
**Author:** [@Loyuod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loyuod)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-brushing-your-teeth-wear-them-down-alot/789521 "2017-06-22T13:52:42Z")
I brush my teeth once a day at night before bed & avoid brushing them in morning as in just a few hours I will be eating a meal. I usually take about 5mins to brush & go slow & gentle. But I can’t help think we are just… --- ## [does every US state require a unanimous jury verdict for "not guilty"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-require-a-unanimous-jury-verdict-for-not-guilty/789368)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-every-us-state-require-a-unanimous-jury-verdict-for-not-guilty/789368 "2017-06-22T13:46:40Z")
AIUI, in a criminal case tried before a jury anywhere in the US, every member of the jury must vote for a guilty verdict before a guilty verdict can be delivered. Is the same universally true for a not-guilty verdict? … --- ## [Japanese woodcut (sfw) - explain what is going on here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-woodcut-sfw-explain-what-is-going-on-here/789585)
**Author:** [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2017, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-woodcut-sfw-explain-what-is-going-on-here/789585 "2017-06-22T07:02:52Z")
Dōke hyakumanben A comic Buddhist rosary procession. I feel like there must be a lot of symbolism and/or jokes here that would be really interesting if I just knew what they meant. --- ## [Argentina Nazi Stuff - Illegal?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argentina-nazi-stuff-illegal/789508)
**Author:** [@ishamael69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ishamael69)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/argentina-nazi-stuff-illegal/789508 "2017-06-21T23:42:11Z")
What exactly was illegal about the Nazi cache found in Argentina? From what I can tell, they are still investigating where it came from, so that isn’t what makes it illegal. I know some countries have much more limited… --- ## [Facebook Tech Support: In App Notifications](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-tech-support-in-app-notifications/789510)
**Author:** [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-tech-support-in-app-notifications/789510 "2017-06-21T23:30:17Z")
Coming here as a last resort as a very frustrated spouse is making me frustrated. And finding any useful help from Facebook seems impossible since any attempt to search on notifications goes to talking about push notific… --- ## [Why is the Bagger 288 only used for removing overburden?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-bagger-288-only-used-for-removing-overburden/789460)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-bagger-288-only-used-for-removing-overburden/789460 "2017-06-21T23:10:42Z")
The \[del\]Bagger 288\[/del\] Bagger 288, if you haven’t seen it by now, is a gigantic excavator used in coal mining - except according to the Wikipedia page, it’s not used to mine the coal itself, but rather to remove the “… --- ## [Questions about extreme temperatures](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-extreme-temperatures/789491)
**Author:** [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-extreme-temperatures/789491 "2017-06-21T21:45:20Z")
While reading this story about the extreme heat currently felt in Death Valley, I noticed this quote: So that got me thinking: –Why are extreme temperatures measured in the shade, rather than in the sunlight? Wouldn’… --- ## [How much caffeine is in this coffee??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-caffeine-is-in-this-coffee/789451)
**Author:** [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-caffeine-is-in-this-coffee/789451 "2017-06-21T21:24:11Z")
Hey all, So here’s the situation. The coffee maker was given away during the last attempt to give up coffee. I decided to go back to it after 3 weeks , seeing as how coffee is CLEARLY the major nutrient required for hum… --- ## [Cheapest way to get a few forward-only email addresses for an existing domain?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-a-few-forward-only-email-addresses-for-an-existing-domain/789472)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheapest-way-to-get-a-few-forward-only-email-addresses-for-an-existing-domain/789472 "2017-06-21T18:34:08Z")
I am the webmaster for my homeowner’s association. We have our web site hosted at a turnkey vendor who provides a web site package tailored for HOAs. It works fine. Originally it included 10 email addresses but now they … --- ## [Word doc with flashing box. How to do it.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-doc-with-flashing-box-how-to-do-it/789545)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-doc-with-flashing-box-how-to-do-it/789545 "2017-06-21T16:25:26Z")
I was sent doc by email. I opened it and filled out the relevant boxes. It was a restricted document so has the word restricted flashing in the page in 2 diff colours. Thought it was good. I tried to save the document … --- ## [German Embassy, Buenos Aires May 1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-embassy-buenos-aires-may-1945/789500)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/german-embassy-buenos-aires-may-1945/789500 "2017-06-21T15:23:42Z")
A secret room filled with Nazi stuff was just found in Argentina. Looking at it, I suspect it was from the Germany embassy. I suppose we will find out soon enough. But that has me asking, what in the world did the Germa… --- ## [Technically speaking, is a cathedral a church?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-speaking-is-a-cathedral-a-church/786644)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technically-speaking-is-a-cathedral-a-church/786644 "2017-06-21T13:26:28Z")
See query. By “technical,” I assume in the language of designations by the Catholics. The question sounds a little like is Grand Central Station a station or a terminal I guess. --- ## [Did WWII glider pilots get wings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-wwii-glider-pilots-get-wings/789499)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-wwii-glider-pilots-get-wings/789499 "2017-06-21T13:25:55Z")
On their uniforms? --- ## [What is it called when you let someone pay lower % off their debt for more $ upfront?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-let-someone-pay-lower-off-their-debt-for-more-upfront/789427)
**Author:** [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-let-someone-pay-lower-off-their-debt-for-more-upfront/789427 "2017-06-21T13:16:36Z")
Say someone sells you property, you pay them a certain amount each month for that property. You decide to give them the property for a lesser price than what it’s valued at. They pay a lower % amount upfront then you sel… --- ## [Question regarding Washington's command titles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-washingtons-command-titles/789429)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-washingtons-command-titles/789429 "2017-06-21T12:56:41Z")
Hi I was a little confused between the following titles awarded George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Are there any differences between them. Are they both used interchangeably? I look forward to your feedbac… --- ## [Acids and toxicity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-toxicity/788724)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acids-and-toxicity/788724 "2017-06-21T10:09:36Z")
I know there are a lot of different kinds of acids. What I am wondering about is are most of those still toxic once they have been neutralized? Does neutralizing an acid create all new set of chemicals or chemical? --- ## [Astronauts/Cosmonauts with ground combat experience?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronauts-cosmonauts-with-ground-combat-experience/789513)
**Author:** [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronauts-cosmonauts-with-ground-combat-experience/789513 "2017-06-21T05:56:01Z")
From the earliest days of spaceflight, human space travelers have come from military backgrounds, and indeed from backgrounds with combat experience. Mostly, as would be expected, air combat. However, I’ve been wonderin… --- ## [Mistrial and Statute of Limitations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistrial-and-statute-of-limitations/789505)
**Author:** [@ishamael69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ishamael69)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 21, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mistrial-and-statute-of-limitations/789505 "2017-06-21T03:45:45Z")
From what I recall pretrial, charges were filed against Bill Cosby shortly before the statute of limitations expired. Now with the mistrial, is there any further limitation on how long the state can wait before retrying… --- ## [Styptic pencil and clotting questions, one particularly concerning women](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styptic-pencil-and-clotting-questions-one-particularly-concerning-women/525353)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 17, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/styptic-pencil-and-clotting-questions-one-particularly-concerning-women/525353 "2010-01-17T22:52:39Z")
I’ve read the Wiki article on antihemorrahagic agents, where styptic pencils–made of a kind of alum–is discussed. While vainly trying to rescue my face after a particularly idiotic shaving slip, I thought, as I ditche… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=712) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=714)