# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=74 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 75 --- ## [Social Security/Tax Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-tax-question/1007014)
**Author:** [@19USMC69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/19USMC69)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2024, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-tax-question/1007014 "2024-09-10T14:50:45Z")
Can federal taxes be withheld from monthly Social Security checks/payments? --- ## [What would have to happen for an upcoming British monarch to not be of House (Mountbatten-) Windsor?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-to-happen-for-an-upcoming-british-monarch-to-not-be-of-house-mountbatten-windsor/1004560)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 134\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2024, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-have-to-happen-for-an-upcoming-british-monarch-to-not-be-of-house-mountbatten-windsor/1004560 "2024-09-10T07:29:37Z")
King Charles III is of the House of Mountbatten-Windsor (oft rendered as just Windsor), as was his mother before him, as will his son and Heir Apparent, the (likely) King William V. Best I can figure, the only way for a … --- ## [How long do HDDs actually last](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-hdds-actually-last/1006542)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2024, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-hdds-actually-last/1006542 "2024-09-10T05:19:59Z")
When I look on google, they say they last 3-5 years. But I have a laptop that is almost 20 years old and still works. I just pulled a laptop out of a box that is 13 years old and it still works. I have external HDDs tha… --- ## [Can a charity sue you for donating to them with a bad check?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-charity-sue-you-for-donating-to-them-with-a-bad-check/1006865)
**Author:** [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-charity-sue-you-for-donating-to-them-with-a-bad-check/1006865 "2024-09-10T04:11:33Z")
Suppose a Girl Scout shows up at my door looking for donations and feeling in a generous mood I hand her a check for $2,956.03 no strings attached. Then later that night I go on a gambling spree in empty my bank accoun… --- ## [Need info on private club in Portland Oregon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-info-on-private-club-in-portland-oregon/1007018)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-info-on-private-club-in-portland-oregon/1007018 "2024-09-10T03:38:28Z")
I am looking for information concerning The Founders Club in Portland, Oregon. They met in a long-gone restaurant called Atwater’s back in the 80’s and 90’s, I think. The location was the 30th floor of the U.S. Bancorp … --- ## [Did any of the Founding Fathers advocate for a hereditary monarchy? And whom did they want to be king?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-of-the-founding-fathers-advocate-for-a-hereditary-monarchy-and-whom-did-they-want-to-be-king/1005509)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [September 9, 2024, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-of-the-founding-fathers-advocate-for-a-hereditary-monarchy-and-whom-did-they-want-to-be-king/1005509 "2024-09-09T04:49:17Z")
In elementary school our mushy 70s brains were taught that the God-ordained, glorious and forward-thinking Founding Fathers wanted a republic instead of a monarchy because American Exceptionalism (or something). Of cours… --- ## [What happens to a stateless person in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-a-stateless-person-in-the-us/1006834)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-a-stateless-person-in-the-us/1006834 "2024-09-08T14:59:02Z")
Some countries do not allow dual citizenship, so when being naturalized in the US, a person from such a country must renounce their native citizenship. For naturalized US citizens, the US can revoke their citizenship un… --- ## [Gravitational forces in sand or gravel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitational-forces-in-sand-or-gravel/1006841)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravitational-forces-in-sand-or-gravel/1006841 "2024-09-08T13:45:43Z")
I am reading an article in the current issue of The American Scientist. The subject is acoustic interaction with mud (on the ocean floor). Early on comes the following sentence: “Marine sediments can generally be divi… --- ## [Removing personal info from search engines?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-personal-info-from-search-engines/1006617)
**Author:** [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2024, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-personal-info-from-search-engines/1006617 "2024-09-08T11:07:59Z")
I recently discovered that my phone number was appearing online on a participant list for a meeting I attended a couple of years ago. I learned this because a marketer cold called me and mentioned how they got my number. … --- ## [Another “what the hell is this thing”? (Power lines)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-the-hell-is-this-thing-power-lines/1006927)
**Author:** [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-what-the-hell-is-this-thing-power-lines/1006927 "2024-09-07T23:23:34Z")
What does the weird frisbee device do? \[Album\] imgur.com … --- ## [Were adoptive parents ever specifically advised NOT to tell their kids they were adopted? Or was it just Not Done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-adoptive-parents-ever-specifically-advised-not-to-tell-their-kids-they-were-adopted-or-was-it-just-not-done/1004892)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-adoptive-parents-ever-specifically-advised-not-to-tell-their-kids-they-were-adopted-or-was-it-just-not-done/1004892 "2024-09-07T21:41:03Z")
All of the adopted children I’ve ever known were well aware that they were adopted. All of the parents I’ve known who have adopted children have made the kids aware since Day One that they’re adopted. Was there a time i… --- ## [Is this television FUBAR?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-television-fubar/1006785)
**Author:** [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-television-fubar/1006785 "2024-09-07T02:15:00Z")
Have an LG 55 inch TV in our living room. Don’t watch it all that much. Have a bigger, better set in our rec room in the lower level. Bought living room set circa 2015. It’s never been turned off. You can see the scree… --- ## [Potassium hydroxide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-hydroxide/1006699)
**Author:** [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 6, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-hydroxide/1006699 "2024-09-06T03:02:34Z")
So I came across this polyethylene bottle half-full of what I guess may be KOH. What is a good way to confirm what is in there, as opposed to sodium hydroxide, or who knows what? --- ## [Did the Fertile Crescent used to be more fertile?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-fertile-crescent-used-to-be-more-fertile/989488)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-fertile-crescent-used-to-be-more-fertile/989488 "2024-09-05T19:49:06Z")
We learnt in school about how the Fertile Crescent was the cradle of western civilisation, etc. But nowadays countries like Israel, Iran, Iraq look pretty arid. Did it used to be more, well, fertile? Higher rainfall, ma… --- ## [Excel formula question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-formula-question/1006770)
**Author:** [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-formula-question/1006770 "2024-09-05T18:47:59Z")
I’ve got a pivot table pulling in data based on date. So the headers are “Sum of 1/31/2024” “Sum of 2/29/2024” etc. Is there a formula I can put in another row that just pulls the date from those cells? I tried the “Righ… --- ## [How is a MicroSD used in a Laptop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-a-microsd-used-in-a-laptop/1006762)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2024, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-a-microsd-used-in-a-laptop/1006762 "2024-09-05T05:18:40Z")
I have a Dell Latitude with SD tray. I want to transfer files from my Android phones MicroSd. My Dell has this in the SD slot. It won’t hold a microSD securely? What do I need to buy? 2 photos, top, bottom --- ## [Lithium-6 deuteride for hydrogen powered vehicles?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-6-deuteride-for-hydrogen-powered-vehicles/1006592)
**Author:** [@breakneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breakneck)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2024, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lithium-6-deuteride-for-hydrogen-powered-vehicles/1006592 "2024-09-05T03:22:24Z")
why does the FDA ban the use of lithium-6 deuteride for hydrogen powered vehicles?? thank you --- ## [Have any US Citizens been killed, disappeared, or kidnapped by foreign agents on US soil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-us-citizens-been-killed-disappeared-or-kidnapped-by-foreign-agents-on-us-soil/1006632)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-us-citizens-been-killed-disappeared-or-kidnapped-by-foreign-agents-on-us-soil/1006632 "2024-09-04T23:08:11Z")
That’s basically it. Has a foreign government ever sent assassins or special ops or what have you onto US soil to deal with a troublesome American? --- ## [What to Do with Old Foreign Coins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-foreign-coins/1006580)
**Author:** [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-with-old-foreign-coins/1006580 "2024-09-04T20:10:06Z")
I have a big bag of odd (and old) coins that were in my pockets whenever I returned from a trip out of the U.S. over the past half-century, and since I’m planning another trip this week, I decided to go through the bag a… --- ## [Can sleep “count less” under nonextreme circumstances?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-count-less-under-nonextreme-circumstances/1006725)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-count-less-under-nonextreme-circumstances/1006725 "2024-09-04T19:25:06Z")
Something I’ve always wondered: if I came home from work, fell asleep on the couch for three hours, woke up for four, then got seven hours of sleep overnight, does that fully count as having had ten hours of sleep that d… --- ## [What happens if your beach house DOESN'T fall into the ocean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-your-beach-house-doesnt-fall-into-the-ocean/1006704)
**Author:** [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-your-beach-house-doesnt-fall-into-the-ocean/1006704 "2024-09-04T14:14:53Z")
You regularly see news stories and videos about beach houses that fall into the ocean due to storm surges and/or beach erosion. The ocean basically encroaches on the property and there your investment goes. What happen… --- ## [So what do I have to do to get my webpage listed on search engines?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-i-have-to-do-to-get-my-webpage-listed-on-search-engines/239730)
**Author:** [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-do-i-have-to-do-to-get-my-webpage-listed-on-search-engines/239730 "2024-09-04T11:37:54Z")
well? --- ## [What's the original Anglo-Saxon word for "penis"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-original-anglo-saxon-word-for-penis/177458)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-original-anglo-saxon-word-for-penis/177458 "2024-09-04T11:01:41Z")
“Penis” is from Latin, and every other commonly used word for it in English is an obvious slang phrase. What was it’s proper name back in ye olde times? --- ## [Using a voltage reference as input voltage protection](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-voltage-reference-as-input-voltage-protection/1005602)
**Author:** [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-voltage-reference-as-input-voltage-protection/1005602 "2024-09-04T08:34:09Z")
I’m looking to fab some PCBs, and the place I’m looking at offers cheap assembly, as long as you stick to a limited set of components (a few thousand). One of the things I need is input voltage protection. I want to cl… --- ## [Geometric construction to transpose an angle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geometric-construction-to-transpose-an-angle/1006659)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geometric-construction-to-transpose-an-angle/1006659 "2024-09-03T21:46:34Z")
I want to transpose an angle about a 45 degree line. Imagine a right angle called ABC with A on the horizontal. Now imagine an acute angle ABD. I want to construct an angle ABE such that angle EBC is congruent to ABD … --- ## [Reversed videos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversed-videos/1006634)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reversed-videos/1006634 "2024-09-03T21:42:50Z")
When I watch ‘reels’ on Facebook, and sometimes on YouTube, the images are reversed. (i.e., mirror images show text backwards.) Is there a reason why people do this? --- ## [NEMA 14-50 wiring question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nema-14-50-wiring-question/1006528)
**Author:** [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nema-14-50-wiring-question/1006528 "2024-09-03T20:32:15Z")
My new Grizzlie car charger has only three connectors (hot hot ground). My outlet is a NEMA 14-50 outlet with four connectors (hot hot neutral ground). Everything I am finding indicates I should just leave the neutral … --- ## [Climate change: Sea level rising faster in the Pacific?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-sea-level-rising-faster-in-the-pacific/1006299)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climate-change-sea-level-rising-faster-in-the-pacific/1006299 "2024-09-03T03:14:11Z")
Reading this article this morning: I was struck by this line: Sea surface temperatures in the Southwest Pacific have risen three times faster than the global average since 1980, according to the World Meteorological… --- ## [Most reasonable way to get sodium malate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-reasonable-way-to-get-sodium-malate/1006648)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2024, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-reasonable-way-to-get-sodium-malate/1006648 "2024-09-02T23:11:52Z")
There’s a variety of low sodium salt replacements but, apparently, no low-chloride options. (It looks like we generally get more of it than necessary in our diet, as well.) I was curious to try some mix that would decre… --- ## [Caligula declaring war on the Sea. Did it happen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caligula-declaring-war-on-the-sea-did-it-happen/1006489)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caligula-declaring-war-on-the-sea-did-it-happen/1006489 "2024-09-02T02:22:18Z")
Sueutonius tells us that~~ At last, as if resolved to wage war, he drew up his army on the shore of the ocean \[the English Channel – Northern France\], with his ballistas and other war machines. And while no one could i… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=73) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=75)