# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=752 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 753 --- ## [Minivans with Stow 'N Go-like seating](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minivans-with-stow-n-go-like-seating/783487)
**Author:** [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minivans-with-stow-n-go-like-seating/783487 "2017-04-03T15:19:48Z")
My mother currently has a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan and a major selling point was its Stow 'N Go seating, in which the second and third rows of seats can be folded into the floor of the van, leaving a more-or-less flat-fl… --- ## [Gloria Allred: Accuser Will Sue Trump](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloria-allred-accuser-will-sue-trump/777404)
**Author:** [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloria-allred-accuser-will-sue-trump/777404 "2017-04-03T14:33:54Z")
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2017/01/17/gloria-allred-accuser-will-sue-trump.html Can a sitting President be sued? Does the fact that the suit is bring brought before he’s in office mean that it can go forward w… --- ## [Brexit: UK still going to be member of Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-uk-still-going-to-be-member-of-council-of-europe-european-court-of-human-rights/783603)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brexit-uk-still-going-to-be-member-of-council-of-europe-european-court-of-human-rights/783603 "2017-04-03T14:28:08Z")
Am I correct in thinking that the UK’s withdrawal from the EU doesn’t affect its membership in the Council of Europe, ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights, and jurisdiction of the European Court of Hum… --- ## [Is there another term to use than "mileage" when discussing kilometers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-another-term-to-use-than-mileage-when-discussing-kilometers/783295)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-another-term-to-use-than-mileage-when-discussing-kilometers/783295 "2017-04-03T13:37:20Z")
The term mileage is from the English measure of a mile. But the term is equally used when discussing kilometers traveled, when I read news articles or professional trade documents. But the terms usage in those contexts… --- ## [What are the names of the "non-male, non-female genders?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-names-of-the-non-male-non-female-genders/783649)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-names-of-the-non-male-non-female-genders/783649 "2017-04-03T12:59:11Z")
Question partially prompted by someone’s recent Facebook comments (mocking/satirical comments, I add) about identifying gender-wise as an attack helicopter and demanding to be addressed as “copter-self”: AIUI, the propo… --- ## [What does this symbol mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-symbol-mean/783440)
**Author:** [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-symbol-mean/783440 "2017-04-03T03:41:25Z")
Google is displaying a doodle today that was submitted by a teenage girl as part of a contest. The doodle is a group of young people representing different groups. They’re wearing t-shirts with symbols representing diffe… --- ## [Automatic garage door opener issue](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-garage-door-opener-issue/776825)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 18, 2017, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-garage-door-opener-issue/776825 "2017-01-18T14:38:04Z")
Scenario: 15 year old garage door opener is not working correctly. If one pushes the button to go up or down the door will move maybe 3-6 inches in that direction but will almost immediately go back to its starting posit… --- ## [From the Vatican's perspective which ecclesiastical laws did Henry VIII break?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-vaticans-perspective-which-ecclesiastical-laws-did-henry-viii-break/783399)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [April 3, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/from-the-vaticans-perspective-which-ecclesiastical-laws-did-henry-viii-break/783399 "2017-04-03T01:32:46Z")
Hi From the Vatican’s perspective which ecclesiastical laws did Henry VIII break when he broke with the Catholic Church and established the Church of England. I’m specifically looking for ecclesiastical laws in Latin pe… --- ## ["Legal" Question \[refusing to take oath\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-question-refusing-to-take-oath/783408)
**Author:** [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-question-refusing-to-take-oath/783408 "2017-04-02T23:21:46Z")
If, before testifying in court and after being offered to take an oath to tell the truth, what would happen to a reluctant witness if their response to the question was “No” instead of the usual “Yes” or “I do”? Has thi… --- ## [Excess Roth/nonRoth contributions - now what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excess-roth-nonroth-contributions-now-what/783300)
**Author:** [@Lee\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lee_Q)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excess-roth-nonroth-contributions-now-what/783300 "2017-04-02T22:24:03Z")
I think there’s probably an objective answer to this, so I’m putting my Q here instead of IMHO but please move it if necessary, mod. Got a letter saying “Some of your contributions have been determined to be excess amou… --- ## [vBulletin and unintentional censoring of naughty words](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vbulletin-and-unintentional-censoring-of-naughty-words/145166)
**Author:** [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [December 28, 2002, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vbulletin-and-unintentional-censoring-of-naughty-words/145166 "2002-12-28T07:01:56Z")
Thankfully, we don’t use the auto-censor feature of vBulletin on this board. But some boards do use it, and this leads to the accidental censoring of URLs like http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk because of the embedded n… --- ## [LIBOR Question: Which 18 banks report to the British Bankers' Association?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libor-question-which-18-banks-report-to-the-british-bankers-association/783608)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/libor-question-which-18-banks-report-to-the-british-bankers-association/783608 "2017-04-02T21:25:48Z")
Hi I have a question regarding the banks that report to the British Bankers’ Association how much interest they expect to be charged by other banks for a short-term loan. Of the 18 that do. I only know of Barclays, Chas… --- ## [Tracing £5 notes?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracing-5-notes/783451)
**Author:** [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracing-5-notes/783451 "2017-04-02T20:02:36Z")
I was reading Alastair MacLean’s book, The Satan Bug, and in it the protagonist finds a stack of £5 notes apparently used as a payoff. He mentions that the notes can be traced. In another book (name eludes me), I saw t… --- ## [Absorption of Air into the Blood](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absorption-of-air-into-the-blood/783517)
**Author:** [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/absorption-of-air-into-the-blood/783517 "2017-04-02T17:23:02Z")
Air consists of approx. 21% oxygen, nitrogen comprising most of the rest. During respiration, oxygen is absorbed into our blood thru the alveoli, but does the entire air molecule get absorbed? I’m thinking that nitrogen… --- ## [Install/Turn On Bitlocker](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/install-turn-on-bitlocker/783488)
**Author:** [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/install-turn-on-bitlocker/783488 "2017-04-02T13:51:31Z")
The Saturday New York Times says I should use BitLocker. OK. A little poking around seems to indicate the the program is already installed on Windows 10. Or perhaps only on Enterprise Win 10, I am not sure. In any case… --- ## [Gene splicing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-splicing/783564)
**Author:** [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gene-splicing/783564 "2017-04-02T12:45:14Z")
My understanding of CRISPR is that it can be injected into an organism and be used to replace specific genes. I realize that is an incredibly simplified summation of it, but assuming that is correct, what I’m wondering i… --- ## [Taxes on IRA distributions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-on-ira-distributions/783480)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxes-on-ira-distributions/783480 "2017-04-02T11:01:26Z")
Someone I know took a $30K IRA (possibly 403(b) or 401(k) distribution and owes about $7K in taxes. The only other income was about 1800/month in social security. Are IRA distros taxed at your highest bracket rate (wh… --- ## [How do you use digital theater tickets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-digital-theater-tickets/783558)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-use-digital-theater-tickets/783558 "2017-04-02T05:57:34Z")
The theater emailed me a ticket. Includes a link to a QR code. Do I print this? Or wave my phone at a scanner at the theater? This is my first digital theater/concert ticket. I guess they are replacing paper tickets? --- ## [Help me identfy this bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identfy-this-bird/783546)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-identfy-this-bird/783546 "2017-04-02T03:29:15Z")
…from a subjective description of its call. Heh. Best I can do. Can’t see it; it’s on a peak of the roof I can’t see from here. It goes:\* tsktsk\* trill, cheep cheep cheep cheep! The tsk is like the similar sound a hum… --- ## [Conserving](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conserving/783551)
**Author:** [@sabernode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sabernode)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [April 2, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conserving/783551 "2017-04-02T00:42:20Z")
Hi. What steps do you take to conserve water and energy? My son has a project about conserving and he needs a long list of ways as possible. I just realized conserving is neglected these days. --- ## [How do tire balancing machines work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tire-balancing-machines-work/370978)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2006, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-tire-balancing-machines-work/370978 "2006-09-01T03:08:58Z")
I get the physics. A tire on a rim will have an uneven weight distribution that may cause it to wobble at certain RPMs. But what I don’t understand is how the Junior Mechanic who runs the tire balancing machine know we… --- ## [Why don't we hear about artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-hear-about-artificial-sweetener-acesulfame-potassium/783328)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-hear-about-artificial-sweetener-acesulfame-potassium/783328 "2017-04-01T20:12:46Z")
This was first approved for “tabletop use” in the US in 1988–the Wiki article doesn’t say if it was used a a food ingredient before that. Presumably so. In the 1980s, all you ever heard about was Nutrasweet (aspartame… --- ## [Word for someone who asks questions that wouldn't occur to most people](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-someone-who-asks-questions-that-wouldnt-occur-to-most-people/783104)
**Author:** [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-for-someone-who-asks-questions-that-wouldnt-occur-to-most-people/783104 "2017-04-01T17:58:37Z")
I came across (and forgot) a word that can be used to describe someone who makes observations about the world or asks seemingly simple questions that wouldn’t occur to most of us because they relate to things that we tak… --- ## [Carbonated beverages in space.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbonated-beverages-in-space/783414)
**Author:** [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbonated-beverages-in-space/783414 "2017-04-01T15:04:54Z")
I recently visited Kennedy Space Center. I participated in “Lunch with an Astronaut.” His topic of discussion that day was food in space. He mentioned that on one shuttle mission (not the one he was on) that Coke and Pep… --- ## [Chinese translation (to English) needed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-translation-to-english-needed/783419)
**Author:** [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chinese-translation-to-english-needed/783419 "2017-04-01T14:50:35Z")
A friend of mine recently found this in his stockpile of art, and he’s curious as to what the characters on it might say (I’ve been told they’re ‘tilted left’, but the source for that doesn’t know the translation of the … --- ## [Who can fire a House committee chairman?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-fire-a-house-committee-chairman/783447)
**Author:** [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-can-fire-a-house-committee-chairman/783447 "2017-04-01T12:34:32Z")
If the US House of Representatives ever decides they’re fed up with Devin Nunes being the head of the House Intelligence Committee, who has the authority to remove him as chairman? Does the committee get to vote, does t… --- ## [Can an oxygen-deprived brain cause seizures?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-oxygen-deprived-brain-cause-seizures/410373)
**Author:** [@Skott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skott)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-oxygen-deprived-brain-cause-seizures/410373 "2017-04-01T07:46:39Z")
I’ve had epilepsy for the past 18 years. When I was first diagnosed, they ran all the brain scans to try and figure out what was causing it, but could not find anything. The hypothosis was that there was a brain scar t… --- ## [Swallowed Whole By a Snake?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swallowed-whole-by-a-snake/290362)
**Author:** [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/swallowed-whole-by-a-snake/290362 "2017-04-01T05:51:41Z")
On Monday, CSI: Miami presented the following episode: FamilyScreenScene.com A woman swallowed whole and killed by a gigantic snake. This I could not buy. Yes, it was a purty big ole snake, but actually swallow a human… --- ## [How is carbon supposed to be priced?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-carbon-supposed-to-be-priced/783270)
**Author:** [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-carbon-supposed-to-be-priced/783270 "2017-04-01T03:06:38Z")
The US government seems to have a pretty good handle on where the greenhouse gas emissions are coming from: But in every discussion of cap and trade I’ve been involved in, the focus of cap and trade and trading permit… --- ## [British Overseas Territories and Brexit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-overseas-territories-and-brexit/783425)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-overseas-territories-and-brexit/783425 "2017-04-01T02:46:06Z")
I understand that Gibraltar was the only overseas territory that got a vote in Brexit. Why didn’t any of the others? Were places like Bermuda and the Falklands never in the EU to begin with? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=751) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=753)