# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=72 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 73 --- ## [Car jump-starting and vulnerable electronics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-jump-starting-and-vulnerable-electronics/1007654)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-jump-starting-and-vulnerable-electronics/1007654 "2024-09-27T18:49:09Z")
For the purposes of this thread, the “conventional” way of jump-starting a car is: \*connect positive cable to positive terminal of dead battery \*connect positive cable to positive terminal of good battery \*connect neg… --- ## [Frog folks - genus Rana vs. Lithobates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frog-folks-genus-rana-vs-lithobates/1007795)
**Author:** [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frog-folks-genus-rana-vs-lithobates/1007795 "2024-09-27T16:03:39Z")
This is a possibly obscure question for the herpetologists and frog people out there. I’ve been looking into the North American Wood Frog lately (Lithobates sylvaticus)—largely because they’re all over my property at the… --- ## [Is there an app for this? \[Finding lost phone using laptop\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 27, 2024, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673 "2024-09-27T10:20:24Z")
Sometimes I put my phone down somewhere and then forget where it is. If somebody else is around, I can ask them to call my number and then locate my phone by the ringing. This doesn’t work when I’m by myself. I have to… --- ## [I'd really like to be able to watch Apple TV+, but.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-really-like-to-be-able-to-watch-apple-tv-but/1007630)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2024, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-really-like-to-be-able-to-watch-apple-tv-but/1007630 "2024-09-26T20:49:09Z")
It won’t allow me to do so. I had Apple TV in the past through a Roku device. I now have an LG smart TV which shows the app on board. I can log into my Apple account on my HP laptop. But I can’t subscribe to Apple TV no … --- ## [Parents Giving their Kids Alcohol In the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-giving-their-kids-alcohol-in-the-us/1007356)
**Author:** [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2024, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-giving-their-kids-alcohol-in-the-us/1007356 "2024-09-26T18:49:34Z")
Are there places in the US where it’s legal for a parent to give their own minor kid alcohol? I’ve heard of people that let their kid have wine at dinner or a dad who turns a blind eye to his son having some beers in th… --- ## [Is it possible to have an orgasm with no physical stimulation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-an-orgasm-with-no-physical-stimulation/406576)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-an-orgasm-with-no-physical-stimulation/406576 "2024-09-26T15:45:04Z")
First of all: wet dreams don’t count. Neither does artificial stimulation of the pleasure areas in the brain with electrodes, or anything like that. The question is, is it possible for someone to have an orgasm from pur… --- ## [Help! My menu bars(?) in Chrome keep disappearing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-menu-bars-in-chrome-keep-disappearing/1007751)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-menu-bars-in-chrome-keep-disappearing/1007751 "2024-09-26T15:16:11Z")
That is probably the wrong name for them, sorry. At the top of my Chrome window there are normally three lines of info/tools above the actual webpage site. From the top: First, a line with a down arrow that accesses o… --- ## [How do encryption algorithms pick prime numbers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-encryption-algorithms-pick-prime-numbers/1007315)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-encryption-algorithms-pick-prime-numbers/1007315 "2024-09-26T14:27:05Z")
Do computers have a monstrous file of prime numbers to pick from? --- ## [Before the 1975 Year of Intelligence](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-the-1975-year-of-intelligence/1007734)
**Author:** [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpicyDuckBillyHunt)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2024, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/before-the-1975-year-of-intelligence/1007734 "2024-09-26T05:33:07Z")
In 1975 the US Government had the Church Committee and the Rockefeller Commission. They investigated CIA and others dodgy activity. Before 1974 there was some media attention, was there any knowledge about these activiti… --- ## [Does the phrase "hale and hearty" appear in Shakespeare's works?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-phrase-hale-and-hearty-appear-in-shakespeares-works/1007699)
**Author:** [@Xocomil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xocomil)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2024, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-phrase-hale-and-hearty-appear-in-shakespeares-works/1007699 "2024-09-26T02:33:57Z")
During a rally Trump said the following about Biden: He was a hale and hearty guy, well-met. Did you ever hear Shakespeare? He was hale and hearty and well-met, but he wasn’t a smart person. “Well-met” shows up a lot… --- ## [Japan: why not "The Japans"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-why-not-the-japans/1007122)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japan-why-not-the-japans/1007122 "2024-09-25T17:29:38Z")
In the recent “Shogun” miniseries, the English-speaking characters conspicuously referred to Japan as “the Japans.” The creators of the miniseries seem to have put considerable effort into historical accuracy - if not f… --- ## [Are these painkillers I bought a placebo?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-painkillers-i-bought-a-placebo/1007318)
**Author:** [@WalterBishop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WalterBishop)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-painkillers-i-bought-a-placebo/1007318 "2024-09-25T02:00:47Z")
I bought some OTC pain meds for backache. Each tablet contains 500mg paracetamol and 7.5mg dihydrocodeine tartrate. Apparently, these are the strongest painkillers you can buy without prescription in the UK. However, I … --- ## [Does the U.S. violate Russia's/China's airspace or engage in hacking activities on a similar scale?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-u-s-violate-russias-chinas-airspace-or-engage-in-hacking-activities-on-a-similar-scale/1007565)
**Author:** [@Caribbean\_cruiser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caribbean_cruiser)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-u-s-violate-russias-chinas-airspace-or-engage-in-hacking-activities-on-a-similar-scale/1007565 "2024-09-24T21:59:13Z")
News stories often bring word of the latest Russian (and more recently, Chinese) violations of U.S. airspace around Alaska – and of Russian and Chinese fighter jets buzzing U.S. Navy ships in international water. Other r… --- ## [Would an updated boarding ax/gun work properly?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-an-updated-boarding-ax-gun-work-properly/1007161)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2024, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-an-updated-boarding-ax-gun-work-properly/1007161 "2024-09-24T06:25:35Z")
So in the midst of looking up weird weapons for a story I may or may not write, I came across information about this combination boarding ax/rifle. It’s apparently workable (though you obviously couldn’t run around with … --- ## [What is going on with my network connection?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-going-on-with-my-network-connection/1007541)
**Author:** [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-going-on-with-my-network-connection/1007541 "2024-09-23T22:43:45Z")
I think I need a serious network engineer for this. I’d file an IT request but it takes them forever to escalate things. I noticed some strange network issues on my work machine. I popped open Task Manager (this is Wi… --- ## [Shit through a canebrake query](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shit-through-a-canebrake-query/1007617)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shit-through-a-canebrake-query/1007617 "2024-09-23T21:29:22Z")
I vaguely remember this phrase, attributed to Barry Goldwater(?), that “\[something\] went through \[him? it?\] like shit through a canebrake” and though the phrase is colorful, I have no idea what it means. Wot is a canebr… --- ## [Am I required to provide my SSN to a third-party payor in this situation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-provide-my-ssn-to-a-third-party-payor-in-this-situation/1007557)
**Author:** [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-required-to-provide-my-ssn-to-a-third-party-payor-in-this-situation/1007557 "2024-09-23T18:34:21Z")
I’ll try to keep this simple. I regularly teach classes for a Large Training Company, as do a dozen other people, as a contractor. Large Training Company has just informed me that they have engaged a Third-Party Payor … --- ## [Does Trump's Private Jet Have a Military Escort?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trumps-private-jet-have-a-military-escort/1007382)
**Author:** [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2024, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trumps-private-jet-have-a-military-escort/1007382 "2024-09-23T09:37:09Z")
Does Trump’s private jet have a military escort of fighter aircraft as it flies around the country? --- ## [One magnetic monopole in the universe =\> quantized electric charges](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-magnetic-monopole-in-the-universe-quantized-electric-charges/1007090)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-magnetic-monopole-in-the-universe-quantized-electric-charges/1007090 "2024-09-22T18:04:39Z")
I tried to read Dirac’s paper on this and soon got lost. Can someone dumb it down for me? --- ## [LED Power Consumption](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-power-consumption/1007309)
**Author:** [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/led-power-consumption/1007309 "2024-09-22T17:10:26Z")
I’ve got a garage door opener whose light refuses to go off. Power to the bulb is supposed to terminate 3 minutes after the door opens and/or closes. I’ve unscrewed the bulb so as not to waste electricity. Having replac… --- ## [My lips to yours](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lips-to-yours/1007544)
**Author:** [@SpicyDuckBillyHunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpicyDuckBillyHunt)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-lips-to-yours/1007544 "2024-09-21T16:34:59Z")
In the second Hot Shots film. US President Benson meets the Japan PM. Benson: My intestines were removed during action in the North Atlantic. My bowels were replaced with hemp. Clogs easily. Mishahuru Soto: I hope you… --- ## [Is a \*rising inflection\* when asking a question universal among languages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-rising-inflection-when-asking-a-question-universal-among-languages/1007471)
**Author:** [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-rising-inflection-when-asking-a-question-universal-among-languages/1007471 "2024-09-21T02:41:46Z")
Just that. Would everyone recognize when a question was asked with rising inflection at the end? How widespread is this understood among different languages? --- ## [Can someone help me recover my Gmail account?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-help-me-recover-my-gmail-account/1006774)
**Author:** [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-help-me-recover-my-gmail-account/1006774 "2024-09-20T21:31:24Z")
A while back I was warned that unless I deleted some of my data I would soon run out of memory space. So I reduced it from almost 15G (the limit) to less than 1G. Nonetheless I was soon notified that unless I bought more… --- ## [Apparent text size affected by color? Name for that effect?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparent-text-size-affected-by-color-name-for-that-effect/1007444)
**Author:** [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apparent-text-size-affected-by-color-name-for-that-effect/1007444 "2024-09-20T15:34:09Z")
There are street light decorative banners in our downtown that display identical text, but some banners are black text/yellow background, and others are yellow text/black background. Although I’m sure the actual font si… --- ## [What kind of pressurization issue would cause nose/ear bleeds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-pressurization-issue-would-cause-nose-ear-bleeds/1007387)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2024, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-pressurization-issue-would-cause-nose-ear-bleeds/1007387 "2024-09-20T12:06:19Z")
Just saw this news piece today: Have never heard of such a thing, and that includes explosive decompression incidents like Southwest Airlines 1380, in which an engine failure took out a window and caused a rapid cabin… --- ## [If a head of state enters another country without permission, is it an act of war?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-head-of-state-enters-another-country-without-permission-is-it-an-act-of-war/1006772)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-a-head-of-state-enters-another-country-without-permission-is-it-an-act-of-war/1006772 "2024-09-19T23:32:13Z")
Presidents must undergo presenting their credentials to a host nation when arriving (handled by staff, of course). If they didn’t, could that be considered an act of war? --- ## [Why are wide-mouth bottles hard to make sound from?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wide-mouth-bottles-hard-to-make-sound-from/1007486)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2024, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-wide-mouth-bottles-hard-to-make-sound-from/1007486 "2024-09-19T22:10:10Z")
It’s fairly easy to blow over the top of an empty open pop bottle or similarly shaped container in order to produce a tone. Maybe that’s the bottle’s fundamental. But try to do it with a Gatorade bottle and it’s almost… --- ## [Odd youtube comment question re: visibility to channel owner](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-youtube-comment-question-re-visibility-to-channel-owner/1007442)
**Author:** [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-youtube-comment-question-re-visibility-to-channel-owner/1007442 "2024-09-19T18:55:40Z")
Is there some youtube algorithm/glitch that could make my comments invisible to the channel owner? I subscribe to several youtube channels and have been posting (positive/complimentary) comments for years. The channel o… --- ## [What's With This Weird Disclaimer I Hear On Some Drug Ads](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-this-weird-disclaimer-i-hear-on-some-drug-ads/919373)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-this-weird-disclaimer-i-hear-on-some-drug-ads/919373 "2024-09-19T01:50:47Z")
“Colon Blow should not be given to children under six, and should not be given to children under 18.” They could have skipped the first clause and just said “…not be given to children under 18” and been done with it. It… --- ## [So how does the binding of an agonist to a receptor work](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-the-binding-of-an-agonist-to-a-receptor-work/1007443)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-does-the-binding-of-an-agonist-to-a-receptor-work/1007443 "2024-09-18T23:58:43Z")
You’d assume I would know this, but I don’t. I know binding energy is a measure of how strongly the agonist binds to the receptor. But what does that mean in practice? What does agonist A with more binding energy than a… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=71) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=73)