# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=763 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 764 --- ## [The ability of Quantum Computers to break different forms of encryption (symmetric vs asymmetric)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ability-of-quantum-computers-to-break-different-forms-of-encryption-symmetric-vs-asymmetric/781938)
**Author:** [@andrea\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrea_green)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ability-of-quantum-computers-to-break-different-forms-of-encryption-symmetric-vs-asymmetric/781938 "2017-03-12T14:44:27Z")
I came across the following statement on Ycombinator’s Hackernews: Quantum computing will defeat RSA, DH, ECC, asymmetric crypto, but it will only weaken symmetric crypto (eg. AES) by a factor of two. Can anyone explai… --- ## [Why does the White House need 90 attorneys?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-white-house-need-90-attorneys/781950)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-white-house-need-90-attorneys/781950 "2017-03-12T14:16:09Z")
From here: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=821308. I could see five or so, but 90 seems like way too many. --- ## [Forbidden fruit: On the legality of tech companies using stolen CIA crpto/malware data](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-fruit-on-the-legality-of-tech-companies-using-stolen-cia-crpto-malware-data/781778)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2017, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/forbidden-fruit-on-the-legality-of-tech-companies-using-stolen-cia-crpto-malware-data/781778 "2017-03-12T10:18:40Z")
The extent of the enormous theft of CIA Internet/comm/malware materials, posted by Assange on Wikileaks, is only beginning to become visible, even to “public” info on it, that is, the actual source code for the various d… --- ## [why half a "gassho" in some Buddhist traditions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-half-a-gassho-in-some-buddhist-traditions/441023)
**Author:** [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-half-a-gassho-in-some-buddhist-traditions/441023 "2017-03-12T06:49:59Z")
When Buddhist put their plams together with fingers up (as in “prayer position” in Christianity), why do some sects use just one (left?) hand? Or is this just from the kung fu movies of Chinese monestaries? Or is it a se… --- ## [What is a "broken seal" hearing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-broken-seal-hearing/781960)
**Author:** [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-broken-seal-hearing/781960 "2017-03-12T00:17:35Z")
I was doing some genealogical research, and found a newspaper with the legal announcements section mentioning the subject of my search. It said… Names changed to protect the questionably innocent, of course. Does any… --- ## [Furthest a Person Could Walk from Land](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furthest-a-person-could-walk-from-land/781760)
**Author:** [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/furthest-a-person-could-walk-from-land/781760 "2017-03-12T00:16:19Z")
Disregarding water temperature, where could a person of average height walk furthest away from land? Lake, river, ocean, sea, whatever. --- ## ["To do is to be" quote](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-do-is-to-be-quote/781940)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 12, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-do-is-to-be-quote/781940 "2017-03-12T00:03:24Z")
There’s an old jokethat returns about 134 million hits on Google. “To do is to be” - Nietzsche. “To be is to do” - Kant. “Do be do be do” - Sinatra. The first two phrases are attributed to various other philosophers,… --- ## [A question about tubal ligation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-tubal-ligation/781705)
**Author:** [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-tubal-ligation/781705 "2017-03-11T22:57:09Z")
My daughter got a tubal ligation with her last C-section birth about a month ago. A section of each Fallopian tube was removed (and given to her, like replacement parts at the car shop). She now cannot have more child… --- ## [Quickest way to reduce soft drink carbonation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-reduce-soft-drink-carbonation/482536)
**Author:** [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-reduce-soft-drink-carbonation/482536 "2017-03-11T21:40:08Z")
As weird as it sounds, I prefer my soft drinks to be as flat as possible. I really dislike carbonation (it’s the unpleasant throat-burning sensation that’s at the top of my reasoning). My current method of ridding a bott… --- ## [Were there ever any serious celebrity candidates for U.S. President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-ever-any-serious-celebrity-candidates-for-u-s-president/781748)
**Author:** [@Princess\_Perfume](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princess_Perfume)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-there-ever-any-serious-celebrity-candidates-for-u-s-president/781748 "2017-03-11T21:24:52Z")
Jimmie Davis who wrote and sang “You Are My Sunshine” was suggested to me… but his racism would probably rule him off a national ticket. Any famous candidate who is vegan or anti-war is also probably ruled off a nationa… --- ## [Is this legal? (cash register discrepancy/tip jar)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal-cash-register-discrepancy-tip-jar/660519)
**Author:** [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-legal-cash-register-discrepancy-tip-jar/660519 "2017-03-11T20:29:52Z")
Say (in the US) a person works as a cashier at a fairly busy, locally owned takeaway food place, where there is a tip jar on the counter. If at the end of his/her shift there is determined to be a shortage in the cash r… --- ## [Mapping & Distance Calc: Distance of 3rd point from a Route](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mapping-distance-calc-distance-of-3rd-point-from-a-route/781906)
**Author:** [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mapping-distance-calc-distance-of-3rd-point-from-a-route/781906 "2017-03-11T19:40:24Z")
Let’s say you’ve got a travel route such as you’d get on Google maps by plugging in two locations and asking for driving directions. Is there a formulaic way (as opposed to hopping over to Google maps or ClassyGMaps and… --- ## [Canada not independent till 1982?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-not-independent-till-1982/780932)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-not-independent-till-1982/780932 "2017-03-11T16:54:59Z")
I read somewhere that Canada, although gaining independence from the British in 1931, did not get full independence until 1982. The lateness of that date really surprised me but what was even more surprising is that it w… --- ## [Why do vitamins taste so bad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-vitamins-taste-so-bad/288755)
**Author:** [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-vitamins-taste-so-bad/288755 "2017-03-11T16:12:41Z")
This thread by Eutychus reminded me of a question that’s been on my mind for a while now: Why do vitamin pills taste so goddamn awful? Every vitamin pill I’ve tried makes me wanna puke! It’s not the sort of thing that… --- ## [Car pulls lightly to the left when braking.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-pulls-lightly-to-the-left-when-braking/587897)
**Author:** [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-pulls-lightly-to-the-left-when-braking/587897 "2017-03-11T14:49:49Z")
I noticed the car (2008 Prius) pulls lightly to the left when braking. I had a tire of about 9 months of age on the driver front and 3 original, 3 year old, 46,000 mile tires everywhere else. I had a flat on the passen… --- ## [Service that will mail newspapers -- does such exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-that-will-mail-newspapers-does-such-exist/781896)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/service-that-will-mail-newspapers-does-such-exist/781896 "2017-03-11T13:19:33Z")
A client of mine has received the London Financial Times for many years. They are no longer offering a print subscription in his area. He could of course get an online subscription, but he doesn’t have a computer and d… --- ## [How to turn off Google calendar email notifications](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-google-calendar-email-notifications/781924)
**Author:** [@priority](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priority)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-turn-off-google-calendar-email-notifications/781924 "2017-03-11T13:04:38Z")
Starting last month or so, I’ve been getting one daily notification from Google calendar in my Yahoo email account (which is linked to my gmail account.) These notifications are useless to me, so I looked up how to turn… --- ## [Slow drain after new sink install](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-drain-after-new-sink-install/663452)
**Author:** [@Napo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napo)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2013, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slow-drain-after-new-sink-install/663452 "2013-07-15T08:44:48Z")
We had a pedestal sink installed a few years ago. The previous, cabinet mounted sink had no drain issues. This new sink has always drained slowly, then give one burp near the end. Both the plumber who installed it and a … --- ## [Stephen Hawking pop-up ad](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-hawking-pop-up-ad/781769)
**Author:** [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-hawking-pop-up-ad/781769 "2017-03-11T08:52:03Z")
While visiting the SDMB today I was presented with an excessively obnoxious pop-up ad. I’ll have to describe it as I don’t know to link to such a thing: It’s a photograph of Hawking and made to look like official news s… --- ## [Cash or check for a large transaction](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-or-check-for-a-large-transaction/781772)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 11, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cash-or-check-for-a-large-transaction/781772 "2017-03-11T03:47:32Z")
I’m in the process of selling a motorcycle, and there’s a potential buyer out there who is offering me $7000, and says he’s willing to pay in cash. My scam prevention senses are tingling. My first thought is to say tha… --- ## [Can I file a FOIA with the FBI?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-a-foia-with-the-fbi/781832)
**Author:** [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-file-a-foia-with-the-fbi/781832 "2017-03-10T22:31:41Z")
No, I’m not a terrorist. (I’m formerly known as duffer here, though no access to that email so hence the new name.) Anyway, with all the info coming out about info gathering by the government (yes, I vociferously suppor… --- ## [purchasing a Windows OS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-a-windows-os/781450)
**Author:** [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/purchasing-a-windows-os/781450 "2017-03-10T22:31:20Z")
I thought I posted this question earlier, but I can’t find it. If this is a repost, apologies. I expect to soon acquire a Windows PC laptop. The catch is that the HD is toast and will have to be replaced. I can handle t… --- ## [An easy way to save a large number of links to iPhone safari](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-way-to-save-a-large-number-of-links-to-iphone-safari/781901)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-easy-way-to-save-a-large-number-of-links-to-iphone-safari/781901 "2017-03-10T21:30:32Z")
I have an iPhone 7 plus. I’m planning a trip and would like a convenient place to save the large number of travel links I run across when doing travel research. There’s got to be an easy way to do this, right? I’d also l… --- ## [What is the advantage of a smart TV?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-advantage-of-a-smart-tv/781742)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-advantage-of-a-smart-tv/781742 "2017-03-10T21:28:25Z")
I have thought smart TVs were a silly gimmick ever since they came out. There are plenty of streaming media players, Smart Blu-ray players, and game consoles that have the same functionality as a smart TV, and that way, … --- ## [Can The General Public Work On "Cold Case" Files?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-general-public-work-on-cold-case-files/591406)
**Author:** [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-general-public-work-on-cold-case-files/591406 "2017-03-10T21:25:44Z")
Why can’t I, as common ordinary John Q Slobb, walk into a major city police department and ask to see one of these files and take a shot? IIRC, aren’t those files public record anyway? Thanks Q --- ## [What does HE stand for in "explosive force of the HE"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-he-stand-for-in-explosive-force-of-the-he/781529)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-he-stand-for-in-explosive-force-of-the-he/781529 "2017-03-10T19:56:05Z")
Hi, I’ve been searching quite a while for the meaning of HE, as in “the explosive force of the HE” while reading up on the Manhattan Project. What does HE stand for? I look forward to your feedback. --- ## [Small Data transformation: need answer quickish](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-data-transformation-need-answer-quickish/781893)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-data-transformation-need-answer-quickish/781893 "2017-03-10T19:29:18Z")
Jesus, last week’s adventure with general anesthesia must have rotted holes in my brain. I’ve been poking at this simple data transformation for an hour and can’t make it work out. A little help, please and thank you. C… --- ## [Is there a budget limit on the POTUS security and travel?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-budget-limit-on-the-potus-security-and-travel/781464)
**Author:** [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-budget-limit-on-the-potus-security-and-travel/781464 "2017-03-10T19:17:18Z")
Yes this is related to politics but it has a factual answer. Right now Trump is flying to his Mar-a-lago resort more weekends than not. I’ve heard quotes it’s costing $3 million a day for the extra security costs and A… --- ## [Smelting iron ore with hydrogen](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelting-iron-ore-with-hydrogen/781866)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelting-iron-ore-with-hydrogen/781866 "2017-03-10T19:07:03Z")
Normally iron ore is smelted with coal or coke. The carbon steals the oxygen and leaves behind molten iron. What is the feasibility of using hydrogen instead of coal? Would it not give a higher temperature without the… --- ## [action used with cutting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-used-with-cutting/781876)
**Author:** [@bladerunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bladerunner)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 10, 2017, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/action-used-with-cutting/781876 "2017-03-10T17:01:28Z")
when cutting a sandwich in half is it best to use tip down of knife and saw or is it better to use whole knife straight across and saw? If you google sandwich cutting the images usually show either of the above actions u… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=762) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=764)