# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=784 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 785 --- ## [GFCI Vs AFCI (EE Questions)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gfci-vs-afci-ee-questions/778462)
**Author:** [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gfci-vs-afci-ee-questions/778462 "2017-01-29T20:45:49Z")
1.) Which would be better to use for breakers, GFCI or AFCI? My breaker box has what I guess are standard breakers, they trip if lets say, I use a toaster and microwave on the same circuit like an idiot but are otherwise… --- ## [Re people who live without reporting any income what happens re Soc Security etc when they get old?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-people-who-live-without-reporting-any-income-what-happens-re-soc-security-etc-when-they-get-old/778360)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-people-who-live-without-reporting-any-income-what-happens-re-soc-security-etc-when-they-get-old/778360 "2017-01-29T20:25:26Z")
Let’s say you have someone who is not mentally compromised who lives at the margins and makes a living by odd jobs, begging, mooching or petty criminality and does not do any tax filing their entire life. Are they due an… --- ## [Are There Any Legal Restrictions On Political Speech for Resident Aliens in the USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-legal-restrictions-on-political-speech-for-resident-aliens-in-the-usa/776526)
**Author:** [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-legal-restrictions-on-political-speech-for-resident-aliens-in-the-usa/776526 "2017-01-29T20:21:23Z")
Background: As of last Fall, I made a major career change. I was fired in the tech world, but got hired as a teacher of Economics and Government at a high school in one of Austin’s more affluent suburbs. Those of you wh… --- ## [What is the largest (known) ad hoc "National Security Area" lockdown/lockout? Nuclear or otherwise?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-largest-known-ad-hoc-national-security-area-lockdown-lockout-nuclear-or-otherwise/778401)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-largest-known-ad-hoc-national-security-area-lockdown-lockout-nuclear-or-otherwise/778401 "2017-01-29T19:45:21Z")
See Office of Secure Transportation Wiki. It’s part of DOE. If a nuke-material (or other spooky stuff, I guess) transport through civilian areas gets into trouble, normal civil law is suspended and Shit Gets Real. I sa… --- ## [Wheel bearings: need qualified answers fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheel-bearings-need-qualified-answers-fast/777909)
**Author:** [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheel-bearings-need-qualified-answers-fast/777909 "2017-01-29T19:25:43Z")
So, very long story short, I finally got the Odyssey up on the rack and the jack and sure enough, that growing rumble is the driver’s side front wheel bearings. I’ve racked my brain and just don’t have anything to hang … --- ## [The Group That Sued Clint Eastwood...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-that-sued-clint-eastwood/778398)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-that-sued-clint-eastwood/778398 "2017-01-29T16:44:55Z")
Does anyone happen to know the name of the organization that sued Clint Eastwood regarding his restaurant not being ADA compliant? Googling around, I have found links to articles that just use general terms, such as “ADA… --- ## [USB Ports On My Laptop Are Fried, How To Fix?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-my-laptop-are-fried-how-to-fix/776228)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usb-ports-on-my-laptop-are-fried-how-to-fix/776228 "2017-01-29T16:38:35Z")
I have a beat-up old laptop that chugs along. Its newest problem is that the three USB ports (two on the right side, one on the left) don’t work. I’ll plug my mouse into all three, but none of them will “accept” the mous… --- ## [Vice-Presidential Term Question...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-term-question/777978)
**Author:** [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-term-question/777978 "2017-01-29T16:09:04Z")
I noticed that Mike Pence took the oath of office at 11:55am on Inauguration Day. However, Joe Biden’s term (as per the Twentieth Amendment) technically did not end until noon. Can a person legally take the Oath of O… --- ## [Physics nerds: External ballistics quandry.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-nerds-external-ballistics-quandry/778368)
**Author:** [@ZurBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZurBob)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physics-nerds-external-ballistics-quandry/778368 "2017-01-29T14:15:26Z")
When asked, this question has never been sufficiently explained by any gun nut I’ve talked to, and I am certainly at a loss to figure it out myself… The precondition is: A rifle and scope is “dialed in” (sighted properl… --- ## [Did Spain and USA ever bilaterally settle Spain's claim to Louisiana?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-spain-and-usa-ever-bilaterally-settle-spains-claim-to-louisiana/778451)
**Author:** [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-spain-and-usa-ever-bilaterally-settle-spains-claim-to-louisiana/778451 "2017-01-29T06:34:12Z")
As I understand it, the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso conditioned the retrocession of Louisiana to France on France not turning around and selling to the Yankees. Which France did. That could imply that Spain continued t… --- ## [Why isn't there pork cat food?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-pork-cat-food/778264)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-there-pork-cat-food/778264 "2017-01-29T05:16:25Z")
Asking this here because I assume there’s a factual answer. I was at Petco this morning buying food for the feline-American members of my household. I bought a variety of fish-based foods, plus chicken, turkey, and org… --- ## [Where are all the airport protests occurring?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-airport-protests-occurring/778477)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-airport-protests-occurring/778477 "2017-01-29T05:11:28Z")
I’ve seen media accounts of protests at JFK, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Have also heard that the cabbies in New York have declared a one-hour embargo on trips to JFK. --- ## [Using regular instead of premium by mistake](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-regular-instead-of-premium-by-mistake/778335)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-regular-instead-of-premium-by-mistake/778335 "2017-01-29T03:40:47Z")
My 1994 Mercedes uses premium gas–octane rating of 91. I gassed up a little while ago, and at the price of $2.51.9 (0.341 gallon, according to calculations) I noticed I had the wrong grade, and restarted the pump, and fi… --- ## [Questions about formatting a book manuscript in Open Office or PDF](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-formatting-a-book-manuscript-in-open-office-or-pdf/778443)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-formatting-a-book-manuscript-in-open-office-or-pdf/778443 "2017-01-29T02:59:17Z")
I am working on the final formatting of a book my friend and I have been writing about repairing old radios and tube equipment. The publisher wants the entire book in PDF format once it’s completely finished, including … --- ## [Early 2011 MacBook Pro OS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-2011-macbook-pro-os/778436)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-2011-macbook-pro-os/778436 "2017-01-29T02:53:19Z")
Hello! My kid’s Mac hard drive died so I put in a new SSD. Yay speed! It automatically installed, uh, Maverick? The one with the M. It’s an early 2011 MacBook Pro, core i5, 4GB memory. Which is really the most rece… --- ## [WWE betting](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwe-betting/778442)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwe-betting/778442 "2017-01-29T00:42:50Z")
At several UK bookmakers you can bet on WWE events, (winner of Royal Rumble etc.) How does this make sense? Sports betting is generally on things that are unknown in advance, (like normal sports where every player is try… --- ## [Signing Executive Orders](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signing-executive-orders/778413)
**Author:** [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signing-executive-orders/778413 "2017-01-29T00:40:21Z")
Is it common for the President to hold up and display his signature on an Executive Order after signing? I don’t remember seeing it as much in prior administrations. I thought they’d just sign it, pass out a few pens, … --- ## [The Physics of Plinko](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-physics-of-plinko/778348)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 29, 2017, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-physics-of-plinko/778348 "2017-01-29T00:25:50Z")
I recently watched part of the (mediocre) new Chris Hardwick gameshow The Wall, which is essentially an hour long big money version of “Plinko” from The Price is Right. If you’re not familiar with Plinko, there’s a wall … --- ## [Looking for Program to identify songs on a Mix CD](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-program-to-identify-songs-on-a-mix-cd/330578)
**Author:** [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-program-to-identify-songs-on-a-mix-cd/330578 "2017-01-28T21:45:25Z")
I’m wondering if such a program exists. A while back, I made several “mix” CDs from songs I’d ripped from my CD collection. At the time, I didn’t think it was important to create a track list for these new Mix CDs, so … --- ## [carbon dioxide and the rice video](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-dioxide-and-the-rice-video/778313)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carbon-dioxide-and-the-rice-video/778313 "2017-01-28T16:59:11Z")
This video, called the rice video, downplays the importance of carbon dioxide emissions in the climate change debate. The goal of the speaker is to convince you that the contribution of anthropogenic greenhouse gases is… --- ## [Railroad-nerd question: concerning US gauge-changing project, 1886](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-nerd-question-concerning-us-gauge-changing-project-1886/778150)
**Author:** [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/railroad-nerd-question-concerning-us-gauge-changing-project-1886/778150 "2017-01-28T09:41:16Z")
Something hitherto unknown to me, recently come upon by chance in a MPSIMS thread from a few years ago – link to same, here. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=607927&highlight=locomotive I learn that… --- ## [How do you financially organize as an activist organization?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-financially-organize-as-an-activist-organization/778315)
**Author:** [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-financially-organize-as-an-activist-organization/778315 "2017-01-28T06:52:03Z")
I’ve been trying to figure this out but I guess I just don’t know the right keywords, and there’s a bad signal to noise ratio. Let’s say you’ve formed a new activist organization (political but nonpartisan) and everybody… --- ## [Flying on Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-on-mars/778140)
**Author:** [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-on-mars/778140 "2017-01-28T04:30:42Z")
So if/when we send people to live on Mars would they be able to build airplanes that could fly there? As I understand it the atmosphere is very thin so I’m guessing the plane would have to get to a very high speed before… --- ## [Long-term economic impacts of short-term actions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-economic-impacts-of-short-term-actions/778152)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/long-term-economic-impacts-of-short-term-actions/778152 "2017-01-28T02:28:28Z")
I have posted this in GQ because I am looking for answers that have been provided by economists or other professionals in this field, rather than general public opinion. However, I suspect that any thread with the name T… --- ## [Anybody know the meaning/origin of the term "freezer eagle"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-the-meaning-origin-of-the-term-freezer-eagle/778109)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-the-meaning-origin-of-the-term-freezer-eagle/778109 "2017-01-28T01:56:55Z")
I first encountered the phrase decades ago, in National Lampoon. I didn’t get it then. Lately I saw the term used to describe Nancy Pelosi. I don’t get it now. My internet searches have not been helpful in explicatin… --- ## [brain injury: leading cause of death in kids? Really?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-injury-leading-cause-of-death-in-kids-really/778221)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brain-injury-leading-cause-of-death-in-kids-really/778221 "2017-01-28T01:32:19Z")
I went to this website and they make this claim: http://www.biausa.org/brain-injury-children.htm I’m not convinced, so I went to the CDC website and poked around a bit, but didn’t find anything satisfying that explici… --- ## [What's the difference between a border adjustment and a tariff? And who pays?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-border-adjustment-and-a-tariff-and-who-pays/778312)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-a-border-adjustment-and-a-tariff-and-who-pays/778312 "2017-01-28T01:29:27Z")
Articles like this talk about options for how the administration would pay for the wall. and What’s not clear is who is paying these various taxes. If you tax imports, you tax imports. Why does it matter whether you … --- ## [Can Non-operative Internal House Phone Wiring be Used to Connect Phones?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-non-operative-internal-house-phone-wiring-be-used-to-connect-phones/777434)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-non-operative-internal-house-phone-wiring-be-used-to-connect-phones/777434 "2017-01-28T01:05:29Z")
In the following situation: You have always had standard phone service from Verizon or whoever. The wires go from the street into a phone connector attached to the outside of the house, and from there they go into the h… --- ## [Sealed adoptions invalidating marriages?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sealed-adoptions-invalidating-marriages/778304)
**Author:** [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sealed-adoptions-invalidating-marriages/778304 "2017-01-28T00:54:31Z")
Or, A Close Melodrama: Prose and Consanguinity. Let’s say an infant is adopted in a closed adoption. The blood parents are not known to the child, and they do not want to be known to the child. However, the child grows … --- ## [HELP! Can this bag still be recovered/repaired/saved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-this-bag-still-be-recovered-repaired-saved/778218)
**Author:** [@teddybound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teddybound)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 28, 2017, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-can-this-bag-still-be-recovered-repaired-saved/778218 "2017-01-28T00:35:15Z")
Hi there, thanks to everyone who had always provided very good methods for my DIY stuff. This time, I have a messenger bag that needed saving. It is a CK bag I still love very much. But the leather linings are made wit… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=783) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=785)