# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=751 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 752 --- ## [Dealing with rebound congestion from afrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-rebound-congestion-from-afrin/783796)
**Author:** [@identical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/identical)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-rebound-congestion-from-afrin/783796 "2017-04-05T14:11:28Z")
I used afrin for 6 days like a complete idiot because my doctor told me it could possibly help with my tinnitus. Didn’t read the instructions. I completely cut it out today but find it hard to breath. Should I go for sal… --- ## [Why do a lot of Africans have yellowish/reddish scleras?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-a-lot-of-africans-have-yellowish-reddish-scleras/783729)
**Author:** [@femmejean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/femmejean)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2017, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-a-lot-of-africans-have-yellowish-reddish-scleras/783729 "2017-04-05T11:26:59Z")
Even among first generation African kids who grew up in the West? Absolutely no racist intention; this is an observation which is fairly common among Africans (anecdotally and among others online). I don’t know why, but… --- ## [Pegboard invented to prevent spreading leprosy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegboard-invented-to-prevent-spreading-leprosy/783670)
**Author:** [@scratchmarc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratchmarc)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2017, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pegboard-invented-to-prevent-spreading-leprosy/783670 "2017-04-05T03:00:00Z")
Saw this posted elsewhere, seemed too farfetched to be true. If so, when did someone think to put hooks in all those holes? --- ## [What do you do when a lotion pump won't pop up?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-a-lotion-pump-wont-pop-up/537275)
**Author:** [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-a-lotion-pump-wont-pop-up/537275 "2017-04-05T01:04:15Z")
You know those pumps that come on bottles of cleanser and lotion and such. They arrive pushed down to almost meet the cap and you’re supposed to twist them until they pop up and then you can pump the dispenser like norma… --- ## [Does the size of a nuclear explosion make a difference at zero range?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-size-of-a-nuclear-explosion-make-a-difference-at-zero-range/783687)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [April 5, 2017, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-size-of-a-nuclear-explosion-make-a-difference-at-zero-range/783687 "2017-04-05T00:22:51Z")
That is, supposing advanced aliens with force field technology appeared and we brought out the nukes as the last resort. At point blank range (i.e. the nuke detonates on impact with the force field) would a 10 megaton bl… --- ## [Converting a 401k to a Roth IRA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-401k-to-a-roth-ira/783748)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-a-401k-to-a-roth-ira/783748 "2017-04-04T22:37:32Z")
I have a 401k that I want to transfer to my new broker as a Roth IRA. The first problem is that I got it as an adjunct at a school but due to enrollment I don’t have any classes and don’t foresee ever having classes in … --- ## [Does picking a lock leave tell-tale scratches?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-picking-a-lock-leave-tell-tale-scratches/783452)
**Author:** [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-picking-a-lock-leave-tell-tale-scratches/783452 "2017-04-04T21:43:01Z")
I’m finding it very common in the mystery books I read that a character can tell a lock has been picked by tell-tale scratches on the lock. I see it enough that it’s annoying. Now, I’ve seen locks scratched to hell fro… --- ## [Why are there Roth IRA income limits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-roth-ira-income-limits/783310)
**Author:** [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-roth-ira-income-limits/783310 "2017-04-04T21:36:16Z")
I had been dutifully contributing to a Roth IRA for years until last year, when I finally made too much money to contribute to it any more. Now, I’m not complaining about this since it’s frankly about the best problem y… --- ## [Need Help With Chainsaw: Chain Falling Off.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-chainsaw-chain-falling-off/354914)
**Author:** [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-chainsaw-chain-falling-off/354914 "2017-04-04T21:32:36Z")
I have a Poulan Pro with an 18" bar and it cuts great as long as I can keep the chain on. I can only get 5 - 20 log cuts out of it before the chain slips off. I was never taught about chainsaws and taught myself. I went … --- ## [OK, so who's the idiot who designed the unit circle to NOT be in accord with compass directions?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-whos-the-idiot-who-designed-the-unit-circle-to-not-be-in-accord-with-compass-directions/783696)
**Author:** [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-whos-the-idiot-who-designed-the-unit-circle-to-not-be-in-accord-with-compass-directions/783696 "2017-04-04T20:47:17Z")
Student of mine tonight trying to learn vectors. As we did her lesson and tried to translate the points given into their correct directions (angles), it struck me: the unit circle has north to the right, not to the top,… --- ## [Polygraph reliability](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polygraph-reliability/783411)
**Author:** [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Replies:** 80\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polygraph-reliability/783411 "2017-04-04T19:38:45Z")
The Wikipedia article on the subject notes that many courts permit polygraph evidence under at least some conditions, but also observes that, “In 1991, two thirds of the scientific community who have the requisite backgr… --- ## [Why is Staples doing better than Office Depot, and OfficeMax even worse than that?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-staples-doing-better-than-office-depot-and-officemax-even-worse-than-that/484474)
**Author:** [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-staples-doing-better-than-office-depot-and-officemax-even-worse-than-that/484474 "2017-04-04T17:08:27Z")
According to this analyst, “Staples is easily the healthiest, and while Office Depot is struggling, OfficeMax looks worse” Why, for us students of business, is Staples doing well – and Office Depot and Max worse? I … --- ## [G2 cloud escaped being sucked into our galaxys black hole.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g2-cloud-escaped-being-sucked-into-our-galaxys-black-hole/783545)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/g2-cloud-escaped-being-sucked-into-our-galaxys-black-hole/783545 "2017-04-04T13:32:26Z")
So around 2013-14 a massive gas cloud called G2 passed very close to the super massive black hole at the centre of our galaxy but did not get sucked in. So it was observed in 2013-14. But when did it actually take pl… --- ## [How were Ford Model T body's painted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-ford-model-t-bodys-painted/783602)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-were-ford-model-t-bodys-painted/783602 "2017-04-04T13:19:55Z")
Re the Ford Model T how was paint applied to the metal? Brushes, spray guns or dipping or what? --- ## [Question about Fourier series](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-fourier-series/783475)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 45\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-fourier-series/783475 "2017-04-04T13:08:30Z")
I was just watching a Khan Academy vid where after having proved that the definite integral from 0 to 2 pi for sin(mt) is zero where m is non-zero, Sal said that that was actually true for any m. I didn’t understand thi… --- ## [When Neptune Strays From Predicted Orbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neptune-strays-from-predicted-orbit/783712)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-neptune-strays-from-predicted-orbit/783712 "2017-04-04T13:04:15Z")
For those into astronomy, is there a trend to when or by how much Neptune varies from its predicted orbit? Call me simplistic, but could the variation in its orbit be maximized when both Saturn and Jupiter are opposite N… --- ## [Tiny S hook - purpose or use](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-s-hook-purpose-or-use/783571)
**Author:** [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-s-hook-purpose-or-use/783571 "2017-04-04T12:48:10Z")
I found a teensy S-hook among my miscellaneous nails & screws, and am wondering how the hell it wound up orphaned in my toolbox among the other odds’n’ends, and what else I could use it for. (I love to MacGyver things, t… --- ## [Glue for cowboy boot heel pad (inside)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glue-for-cowboy-boot-heel-pad-inside/783636)
**Author:** [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glue-for-cowboy-boot-heel-pad-inside/783636 "2017-04-04T12:44:46Z")
What glue or cement can I use to secure the heel pad to the insole of my cheapish-but-name-brand cowboy boots? (Note that I’m NOT talking about the heel cap that strikes the ground.) The boots aren’t very old, but the fa… --- ## [ruby coin or what??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruby-coin-or-what/783561)
**Author:** [@agarwalaritesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agarwalaritesh)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruby-coin-or-what/783561 "2017-04-04T08:42:22Z")
strange…nearly perfect hexagon in ruby…can this be natural or any ancient coin…wondering if any one can help IMAGE https://ibb.co/gEvxka https://ibb.co/kySA5a --- ## [Why blank tracks at the end of audiobook CDs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-blank-tracks-at-the-end-of-audiobook-cds/783635)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-blank-tracks-at-the-end-of-audiobook-cds/783635 "2017-04-04T03:48:39Z")
Just listened to Simon & Schuster’s 2006 audiobook of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, on eight CDs. A great book, and well-read by actor John Slattery (Mad Men, Spotlight, Ed, Flags of Our Fathers, etc). However… --- ## [Can you clean Pyrex with baking soda?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-clean-pyrex-with-baking-soda/783406)
**Author:** [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trapezoidal_jellyfish)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-clean-pyrex-with-baking-soda/783406 "2017-04-04T03:34:00Z")
I have inherited a glass baking dish from a former roommate. The inside feels clean to the touch, but the outside is stained and feels gritty. The only thing that seems to get it clean is baking soda and a whole lot of … --- ## [Do prosecutors use their own investigators?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-prosecutors-use-their-own-investigators/783642)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-prosecutors-use-their-own-investigators/783642 "2017-04-04T00:58:37Z")
In other words do they have their own cops rather than using the normal ones? TV, my educator in these matters (!), is telling me different stories here. On the old Law & Order series the investigating was done by the co… --- ## [Legality of music locker services (like google play)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-music-locker-services-like-google-play/783573)
**Author:** [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-music-locker-services-like-google-play/783573 "2017-04-03T23:37:28Z")
So google play has a subscription music service that works a lot like spotify, apple music, etc. where you pay monthly to have access to a huge catalog of music. They also offer a free “music locker” service that can be… --- ## [Volts, Amps, Watts, and Hours](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/volts-amps-watts-and-hours/783478)
**Author:** [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/volts-amps-watts-and-hours/783478 "2017-04-03T19:48:39Z")
So my fish-finder is 12VDC and the manufacturer says the “Power Consumption” is 2.7W RMS. So I get that it’s 2.7/12=.225 Amps, but is there a time scale? In other words, how do these .225 amps figure into the amp-hour … --- ## [Did the news include a weather forecast before satellites? If so, how?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-news-include-a-weather-forecast-before-satellites-if-so-how/783556)
**Author:** [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-news-include-a-weather-forecast-before-satellites-if-so-how/783556 "2017-04-03T19:12:16Z")
You’ve all seen it: Besides reporting when the weather is noteworthy (such as a blizzard), an important role of the local news’ weather person is to give the upcoming forecast. Usually, it’s a multi-day prediction, whic… --- ## [Radar gates and updates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radar-gates-and-updates/783617)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/radar-gates-and-updates/783617 "2017-04-03T19:08:09Z")
Do I have the following right: Tracking works by making range/angular/velocity gates which act as blinders into which energy is focused. At each cycle, the computer determines the strongest return within the gates and re… --- ## [Historical Verdict on the 1876 Election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-verdict-on-the-1876-election/783456)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historical-verdict-on-the-1876-election/783456 "2017-04-03T19:00:15Z")
In the 140 years that have passed since that election, with contemporary passions given time to die down, have historians and scholars arrived at a consensus as to who should have been awarded the 20\* disputed electoral … --- ## [If lying to the the police is illegal, why the need for an oath in court?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-lying-to-the-the-police-is-illegal-why-the-need-for-an-oath-in-court/783030)
**Author:** [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-lying-to-the-the-police-is-illegal-why-the-need-for-an-oath-in-court/783030 "2017-04-03T17:29:16Z")
Presumably, it’s just as illegal to lie in court as it is to an officer of the law. Does the oath actually accomplish anything? --- ## [Isolating Pure Capsaicin: Can It Be Done By A Home Chemist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolating-pure-capsaicin-can-it-be-done-by-a-home-chemist/783606)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isolating-pure-capsaicin-can-it-be-done-by-a-home-chemist/783606 "2017-04-03T17:06:36Z")
Using materials and techniques available to the average Joe, and in conditions found in the average home kitchen, is it possible to isolate pure capsaicin? Or does it require laboratory conditions and/or specialized equi… --- ## [Who pays for property damage caused during police action?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-pays-for-property-damage-caused-during-police-action/783396)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-pays-for-property-damage-caused-during-police-action/783396 "2017-04-03T16:04:27Z")
Hello Everyone, I just finished watching the movie Patriots Day, they showed the capture of the second Boston Marathon bomber. He was hiding in a citizens boat and during the showdown, the police filled that persons … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=750) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=752)