# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=796 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 797 --- ## [Reusable Matchstick Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reusable-matchstick-question/776200)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reusable-matchstick-question/776200 "2017-01-03T19:37:24Z")
This question has to do with a movie, but it’s not really a movie question. Hopefully someone here will know the answer. It’s been bugging me for a while. I was watching The Maltese Falcon (1941) for the umpteenth time … --- ## [Audio settings for PS3 to HDTV](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audio-settings-for-ps3-to-hdtv/775907)
**Author:** [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/audio-settings-for-ps3-to-hdtv/775907 "2017-01-03T19:23:13Z")
Ok, I’m not a huge tech geek, but I can get by, so just go easy on me. I have a PS3 that I use for gaming sometimes, but more recently for streaming Netflix. I also use it as a DVD player sometimes. I have it hooked up … --- ## [Math or poker folks, a question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-or-poker-folks-a-question/775904)
**Author:** [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/math-or-poker-folks-a-question/775904 "2017-01-03T16:08:09Z")
Been playing a lot of free Texas Holdem 7 card stud. Cheap entertainment. What are the odds of getting a flush with two suited hold cards? Seems it rarely happens. Thanks troops. --- ## [Why is Darwin's work not even referenced in this 1896 "Science" Magazine article on evolution?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-darwins-work-not-even-referenced-in-this-1896-science-magazine-article-on-evolution/776015)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-darwins-work-not-even-referenced-in-this-1896-science-magazine-article-on-evolution/776015 "2017-01-03T15:11:34Z")
Re this 1896 article in “Science” magazine by Henry Osborn “Ontogenic and Phylogenic Variation " Darwin’s work " On the Origin of Species” published in 1859 is not even mentioned or referenced. Why? Even if he did not a… --- ## [Please explain: full birdbath collapsing into slush?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-full-birdbath-collapsing-into-slush/775790)
**Author:** [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-full-birdbath-collapsing-into-slush/775790 "2017-01-03T15:00:31Z")
This mystified me and I wonder if someone can explain it. We have a small birdbath, about 20" in diameter and about 4" deep in the center. It had been raining all morning and the birdbath was full to overflowing. Abou… --- ## [Where is the album cover art stored in my MP3s?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-album-cover-art-stored-in-my-mp3s/776191)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-album-cover-art-stored-in-my-mp3s/776191 "2017-01-03T14:05:52Z")
I have a USB reader in my car, and the display shows the song title and artist of what is being played. I knew that information is readily available in the MP3 metadata. But I am also seeing the album cover. Is that info… --- ## [Will the Secret Service extend protection for Obama's children after they become independent?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-secret-service-extend-protection-for-obamas-children-after-they-become-independent/776220)
**Author:** [@femmejean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/femmejean)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-secret-service-extend-protection-for-obamas-children-after-they-become-independent/776220 "2017-01-03T13:01:53Z")
Obama did say that he would stay in Washington, D.C after his term is over to let his younger daughter finish High School without an interruption. What I wonder however is how things would work out if Sasha and Malia de… --- ## [Screaming Boy Preacher 10 yrs ago?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screaming-boy-preacher-10-yrs-ago/120970)
**Author:** [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Replies:** 121\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/screaming-boy-preacher-10-yrs-ago/120970 "2017-01-03T09:36:18Z")
About 10 yrs ago, talk shows like Sally Jessy & Springer (when he was semi-respectable) had a 10 yr old boy & his family as guests. The boy had been suspended from public school for scream-preaching at teachers & other … --- ## [Airship to airship cargo transfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airship-to-airship-cargo-transfer/775951)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/airship-to-airship-cargo-transfer/775951 "2017-01-03T09:13:34Z")
Seeing this new Amazon flying warehouse idea leaves me with a question: how exactly are they going to restock it? The news stories I’ve read say that it’ll be restocked by a smaller airship flying up from ground-based wa… --- ## [Explain the 'Catholics aren't Christian' thing again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-catholics-arent-christian-thing-again/774812)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 112\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-catholics-arent-christian-thing-again/774812 "2017-01-03T08:24:57Z")
I came across this comment on an article: Since I’m not religious, religion sometimes baffles me. I’ve heard the claim that Catholics aren’t Christians before. ‘They use a different Bible.’ But isn’t the Roman Catho… --- ## [Mythbusters missing cannonball - did they ever find it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-missing-cannonball-did-they-ever-find-it/776208)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-missing-cannonball-did-they-ever-find-it/776208 "2017-01-03T06:15:37Z")
I was thinking of posting the story of the time the Mythbusters called me up for help while they were planning their first season. I looked up the episode that concerned me and after refreshing my memory of the results,… --- ## [Facebook Admin? How to Contact?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-admin-how-to-contact/776202)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 3, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-admin-how-to-contact/776202 "2017-01-03T04:47:19Z")
I want to change the password to my Facebook account, but I cannot recall my password. Facebook wants my email, but Facebook thinks its illegit! I can’t find an email to contact them anywhere! What is one to do? (I am … --- ## [Why aren't old abandoned mental hospitals demolished?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-old-abandoned-mental-hospitals-demolished/775835)
**Author:** [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-old-abandoned-mental-hospitals-demolished/775835 "2017-01-02T23:21:47Z")
TL;DR in advance: Why are the rotting hulks of mental hospitals (other buildings too, but it seems mental hospitals in particular are prone to this) left to stand for years, in many cases decades, without being destroyed… --- ## [Who Wrote the Windows XP Welcome Music?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-the-windows-xp-welcome-music/481881)
**Author:** [@miked312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miked312)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-wrote-the-windows-xp-welcome-music/481881 "2017-01-02T21:01:01Z")
When you’ve just bought a new computer running Windows XP (which is becoming increasingly rare these days with the advent of (shudder) Windows Vista) and you’re turning it on for the first time to set it up, some nice, N… --- ## [World War II: Did German and Japanese children still go to school?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-war-ii-did-german-and-japanese-children-still-go-to-school/775631)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-war-ii-did-german-and-japanese-children-still-go-to-school/775631 "2017-01-02T16:46:02Z")
I’m assuming that at some point it simply wasn’t practical for German and Japanese children in World War II to go to school any longer, due to the nature of war ravaging closer and closer to home. At what point did they… --- ## [Question about a phrase \[selling like hotcakes\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-phrase-selling-like-hotcakes/776002)
**Author:** [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-a-phrase-selling-like-hotcakes/776002 "2017-01-02T15:05:45Z")
Where did the phrase “selling like hotcakes” come from? --- ## [What happen to the 2017 Times Square ball drop at midnight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happen-to-the-2017-times-square-ball-drop-at-midnight/776031)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happen-to-the-2017-times-square-ball-drop-at-midnight/776031 "2017-01-02T11:55:45Z")
Wasn’t shown on live TV here in southern CA at 9pm (midnight NY time). Did networks have to pay to show it and they refused? --- ## [Is there any data on how much money states are getting from collecting internet sales tax?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-data-on-how-much-money-states-are-getting-from-collecting-internet-sales-tax/776023 "2017-01-02T06:33:58Z")
I googled but can’t seem to find state internet sales tax income data. Amazon and many other portals charge me Maryland state sales tax on all purchases. How much does this mandated collection by internet sales portals … --- ## [Is there ANY means of defense against kinetic bombardment?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-means-of-defense-against-kinetic-bombardment/775921)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-means-of-defense-against-kinetic-bombardment/775921 "2017-01-02T04:58:46Z")
Either the currently envisioned “rods of god” concept of using orbital satellites capable of dropping inert projectiles, or the sci-fi hypothetical of accelerating objects to near-light speed and pointing them at planets… --- ## [Is there a limit to how many phone calls can occur simultaneously?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-limit-to-how-many-phone-calls-can-occur-simultaneously/776052)
**Author:** [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 2, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-limit-to-how-many-phone-calls-can-occur-simultaneously/776052 "2017-01-02T01:30:14Z")
Back in the 70s, and maybe the 80s, on New Years Day and other such events, it was sometimes impossible to make a phone call, you would get the NC intercept (No Circuits), meaning that somewhere there was a bottleneck, … --- ## [A couple of "How To" math questions regarding superscripts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-how-to-math-questions-regarding-superscripts/775947)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-how-to-math-questions-regarding-superscripts/775947 "2017-01-01T23:06:14Z")
reading this thread, I followed a link someone posted into a wooly tangent of science articles on Wikipedia. In one of the articles, the number 10 superscript 10 superscript 10 superscript 56 is mentioned. Is there a b… --- ## [What happens to therapy dogs and service animals when their person dies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-therapy-dogs-and-service-animals-when-their-person-dies/775751)
**Author:** [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-therapy-dogs-and-service-animals-when-their-person-dies/775751 "2017-01-01T21:02:12Z")
Inspired, of course, by the news of Carrie Fisher’s death. Her adorably dorky French Bulldog, Gary, was actually a therapy dog. What happens to these animals when their person dies? Do they get reassigned to a new person… --- ## [Simple Geometry work problem eluding me.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-geometry-work-problem-eluding-me/775854)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-geometry-work-problem-eluding-me/775854 "2017-01-01T12:45:23Z")
I have a 6ft pipe. I want to insert it into a hollow wall with an inside measurement of 3 1/2". The pipe is 1/2" id plush 1/16 thickness sides for a total of 5/8 Diameter. What is the shortest I could possible make the s… --- ## [Why would mayonnaise separate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-mayonnaise-separate/775983)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-mayonnaise-separate/775983 "2017-01-01T05:06:16Z")
We didn’t see this in the store, and maybe it hadn’t happened yet, but when we got it home, the jar of mayo had separated - it was apparently no longer emulsified. Maybe it was that way on the shelf and we didn’t notice… --- ## [How many possible UPS tracking numbers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-possible-ups-tracking-numbers/775962)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-possible-ups-tracking-numbers/775962 "2017-01-01T03:45:44Z")
I have heard of great confusion being caused by UPS reusing old tracking numbers. A 16 character string that can include letters should provide a vast amount before having to use the same one twice. Of course, some of … --- ## [Whom are duty-free shops in airports for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-are-duty-free-shops-in-airports-for/775660)
**Author:** [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [January 1, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-are-duty-free-shops-in-airports-for/775660 "2017-01-01T01:04:34Z")
This is one of those “explain it to me like I’m ten years old” questions. I’m an American and have never left the continental 48 states, so I’m extremely international-travel-ignorant and naive. I don’t have a passport,… --- ## [Why are some people smarter than others?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-people-smarter-than-others/775048)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-some-people-smarter-than-others/775048 "2016-12-31T19:24:33Z")
And I mean people in general not nonsensical stuff about races. Is it something physical, something to do with differences in the brain itself? It surely can’t be environmental, too many dumb rich people and smart poor o… --- ## [Facebook question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-question/775886)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-question/775886 "2016-12-31T18:56:16Z")
Hi all, I have never had a Facebook account and, because of my military background, could be considered a tad paranoid (or careful, depending on how you look at it). I am interested in establishing a Facebook presence b… --- ## [Your Online Purchases: Protected Information Requiring A Warrant, Or Public Activity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-online-purchases-protected-information-requiring-a-warrant-or-public-activity/775859)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-online-purchases-protected-information-requiring-a-warrant-or-public-activity/775859 "2016-12-31T18:26:46Z")
In some jurisdictions, cops have been known to hang out at indoor gardening shops, taking down license plates of cars shopping there and then showing up at the buyers’ houses with warrants. How does that shake out with … --- ## [In-laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-laws/775823)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 31, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-laws/775823 "2016-12-31T18:19:00Z")
If my wife’s father died before I met her, is he still my late father-in-law? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=795) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=797)