# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=825 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 826 --- ## [Could Disney sue over a duck cartoon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-disney-sue-over-a-duck-cartoon/769932)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-disney-sue-over-a-duck-cartoon/769932 "2016-10-28T20:45:17Z")
Yesterday, the Montreal Gazette had an editorial cartoon showing very Donald looking duck with his bill wide open ranting “Make white America great again”. Is this too close to copyright infringement? --- ## [Can Law Students Charge for Legal Services](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-law-students-charge-for-legal-services/769900)
**Author:** [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-law-students-charge-for-legal-services/769900 "2016-10-28T20:19:56Z")
Or…must someone be admitted to their local bar association before they can charge for legal services they provide? --- ## [How did Eva Braun address Adolf Hitler when she was speaking to him?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-eva-braun-address-adolf-hitler-when-she-was-speaking-to-him/769735)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-eva-braun-address-adolf-hitler-when-she-was-speaking-to-him/769735 "2016-10-28T20:02:56Z")
Mein Furer? Adolph? Love muffin? What? --- ## [Can the President by himself order a preemptive nuclear strike?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-by-himself-order-a-preemptive-nuclear-strike/722776)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-president-by-himself-order-a-preemptive-nuclear-strike/722776 "2016-10-28T18:34:55Z")
Mods: This isn’t intended to be a Great Debate. There should be a factual ‘yes or no’ answer to this question. Can the President of the United States, by himself or herself, order a preemptive nuclear strike against ano… --- ## [Why do whales breach & dolphins jump?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-breach-dolphins-jump/769905)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-whales-breach-dolphins-jump/769905 "2016-10-28T16:25:07Z")
I was out on a boat today in the ocean and saw a gray whale breach up close (incredible!) and a pod of dolphins jumping in and out of the water. Why do they do that? Is it just for sport or do they do this for some prac… --- ## [Skunk spray and open flame](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skunk-spray-and-open-flame/769928)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skunk-spray-and-open-flame/769928 "2016-10-28T16:13:34Z")
So, um, odd question, but what happens when skunk spray encounters an open flame or hot surface? Not pranking anyone but need answer fast. --- ## [Will increasing water pressure make it heat up faster?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-increasing-water-pressure-make-it-heat-up-faster/769935)
**Author:** [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-increasing-water-pressure-make-it-heat-up-faster/769935 "2016-10-28T15:23:16Z")
If I turn the hot water faucet or shower knob on just a teeeeensy bit, will it get hotter slower than if I turn it on all the way? Or will the water heat up at the same rate as long as the faucet is turned on at all? T… --- ## [Difference between a Standing and a Professional Army?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-standing-and-a-professional-army/769904)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/difference-between-a-standing-and-a-professional-army/769904 "2016-10-28T15:20:24Z")
According to Wikipedia A standing army is a permanent, often professional, army. It is composed of full-time soldiers (who may be either career soldiers or conscripts) and is not disbanded during times of peace. It di… --- ## [How soon can you smell a gas leak before it's actually explosive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-can-you-smell-a-gas-leak-before-its-actually-explosive/769906)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-can-you-smell-a-gas-leak-before-its-actually-explosive/769906 "2016-10-28T15:03:10Z")
My highrise has a restaurant on the ground floor, and recently two burners were left on overnight. Around 6 am, the fire department was called; supposedly gas could be smelled on the 10th floor near the elevator shafts.… --- ## [Republican consent decree](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-consent-decree/769899)
**Author:** [@AHarris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHarris)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-consent-decree/769899 "2016-10-28T14:45:16Z")
There’s been a lot of talk in the elections forum about the Republican party being subject to a consent decree. What exactly are the terms of this agreement other than that they not engage in voter suppression tactics? … --- ## [phone help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-help/769931)
**Author:** [@Eggerhaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eggerhaus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/phone-help/769931 "2016-10-28T14:32:36Z")
I hope this is the best place in the boards for this. Mods feel free to move it if this doesn’t belong here. I have a smart phone from Verizon. I did something to it and now when I call someone or receive a call, I ge… --- ## [Does Trump have a legal case against the women who accused him?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-have-a-legal-case-against-the-women-who-accused-him/769392)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-have-a-legal-case-against-the-women-who-accused-him/769392 "2016-10-28T14:10:22Z")
At his campaign rally today, Donald Trump vowed to sue all the women who accused him of sexual assault. I presume he plans to sue for slander, libel, and/or defamation, but does he have a legal leg to stand on? Mods fee… --- ## [Unmarked police cars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmarked-police-cars/768835)
**Author:** [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Replies:** 64\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unmarked-police-cars/768835 "2016-10-28T13:14:56Z")
If an unmarked police car has blue & red lights flashing in the front window, am I obligated to stop? How do I know it’s not just some whacko? --- ## [Retired govt/military double-dipping?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-govt-military-double-dipping/590259)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 124\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retired-govt-military-double-dipping/590259 "2016-10-28T12:39:21Z")
Do retired government workers and military personnel continue to receive retirement benefits if they are also drawing income as government contractors? If so, why? What would be the public interest benefit of such a poli… --- ## [Q. about sharing and editing Google Docs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-sharing-and-editing-google-docs/769755)
**Author:** [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-sharing-and-editing-google-docs/769755 "2016-10-28T02:12:13Z")
I teach at a university. I have a university email address that i use for corresponding with my colleagues and my students. I have a regular old Gmail account that i use for my personal email. I keep these two addresses… --- ## [Were Banks Segregated? Could A Single Black Woman Open Her Own Account c. 1930?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-banks-segregated-could-a-single-black-woman-open-her-own-account-c-1930/768857)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-banks-segregated-could-a-single-black-woman-open-her-own-account-c-1930/768857 "2016-10-28T01:56:40Z")
I’m watching a movie that takes place in New Orleans at a non-specific time meant to evoke the 1920’s-1930’s. The protagonist, a single black woman of about 19 or 20, is shown saving her nickels and dimes in a bunch of c… --- ## [What happens to kinetic energy in annihilation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-kinetic-energy-in-annihilation/769833)
**Author:** [@komolono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/komolono)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-to-kinetic-energy-in-annihilation/769833 "2016-10-28T01:49:34Z")
A electron-positron annihilation creates two photons. What if the particles were accelerated - three photons? --- ## [Greek Equivalent of "Ceteris Paribus?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-equivalent-of-ceteris-paribus/769825)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greek-equivalent-of-ceteris-paribus/769825 "2016-10-28T01:23:50Z")
The Latin “ceteris paribus” – for one thing, I don’t know what it means literally. The idea is that you change only one thing, and see where that leads. In real life, you usually don’t get that degree of control… Anyw… --- ## [Poisonous caterpillars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poisonous-caterpillars/260121)
**Author:** [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poisonous-caterpillars/260121 "2016-10-28T01:19:29Z")
When I moved to Trinidad, people warned me about the fer de lance and coral snakes, scorpions and centipedes. Nobody told me about poisonous caterpillars. Yesterday morning, I saw something orange and furry on a twig… --- ## [Anxiety and food.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anxiety-and-food/769792)
**Author:** [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 28, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anxiety-and-food/769792 "2016-10-28T00:00:45Z")
Are there any foods (excluding St. John’s Wort) which has been scientifically proven in well designed studies to have a beneficial effect in people with generalised anxiety disorder and/or panic disorder? I tried googli… --- ## [How is a parent's educational level related to their odds of abusing or neglecting their children](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-a-parents-educational-level-related-to-their-odds-of-abusing-or-neglecting-their-children/766540)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-a-parents-educational-level-related-to-their-odds-of-abusing-or-neglecting-their-children/766540 "2016-10-27T22:35:19Z")
I would assume there is a negative correlation between education level of a parent and levels of child abuse and neglect. There will be outliers, but I’m guessing people who are high school dropouts are more likely to ab… --- ## [Richard Nixon's state crimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-nixons-state-crimes/769753)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-nixons-state-crimes/769753 "2016-10-27T21:54:50Z")
Richard Nixon’s involvement in the Watergate scandal led to impeachment proceedings, and then to his resignation as president. His successor, Gerald Ford, controversially awarded him a full pardon for any federal crimes… --- ## [Windows 10 laptop--can you boot fr/DVD drive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-laptop-can-you-boot-fr-dvd-drive/769153)
**Author:** [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-laptop-can-you-boot-fr-dvd-drive/769153 "2016-10-27T21:48:33Z")
As a newbie to both Windows10 and laptop computers, I have a very basic question: With a new Windows10 laptop computer with a DVD drive, can I assume I’ll be able to boot from a Linux LiveDVD? The sales guy I spoke wit… --- ## [MacMail Problem: why do I have a Google mailbox? & and how do I get rid of it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmail-problem-why-do-i-have-a-google-mailbox-amp-and-how-do-i-get-rid-of-it/769820)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macmail-problem-why-do-i-have-a-google-mailbox-amp-and-how-do-i-get-rid-of-it/769820 "2016-10-27T21:36:58Z")
We have e-mail accounts with our local internet provider. They work fine. But somehow we now has a Google inbox listed under our e-mail accounts. We have no idea how it got there. Worse, Google Mail keeps trying to con… --- ## [What Happens When a Submarine Hits Crush Depth?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-a-submarine-hits-crush-depth/530245)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-a-submarine-hits-crush-depth/530245 "2016-10-27T21:26:27Z")
I mean, does the sub sink because internal valves, pipes, etc. start leaking and fill the sub with water? Or does the hull implode in one massive event? I would hope (for the crew’s sake), that the event is quick and pa… --- ## [Rotation of Uranus and Pluto: When did we know that they rotated 'sideways?'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rotation-of-uranus-and-pluto-when-did-we-know-that-they-rotated-sideways/769798)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rotation-of-uranus-and-pluto-when-did-we-know-that-they-rotated-sideways/769798 "2016-10-27T20:18:22Z")
Uranus was discovered in 1781, Pluto in 1930. How long did it take, or did they know pretty much immediately? I’d think that for several years at least they were just tiny specks in the nighttime sky. --- ## [recovered memory therapy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovered-memory-therapy/769734)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovered-memory-therapy/769734 "2016-10-27T20:15:41Z")
After today’s masterful Cecil column from 2003 on multiple personalities, I wonder what the latest take is on memories (especially of sexual abuse of children) recovered either by hypnosis or otherwise by recovered memor… --- ## [Huge cursor (mouse pointer)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-cursor-mouse-pointer/769804)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/huge-cursor-mouse-pointer/769804 "2016-10-27T16:52:22Z")
Since upgrading to macOS Sierra, I’ve been experiencing my cursor occasionally appearing huge, like over 1/2" in length. This flashes for only a fraction of a second, while the mouse is moving, then returns to normal. I’… --- ## [Why is This Exit Sign Here?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-exit-sign-here/769719)
**Author:** [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-exit-sign-here/769719 "2016-10-27T16:47:28Z")
There’s an Exit sign in my office that is irrationally bugging me and I want to know why it’s there. I’m going to try and describe the layout as best as I can, but I think you all can get it… First off, the building is… --- ## [Why don't laptop manufacturers standardize on power supply plugs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-laptop-manufacturers-standardize-on-power-supply-plugs/769654)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 27, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-laptop-manufacturers-standardize-on-power-supply-plugs/769654 "2016-10-27T16:16:03Z")
My son came home from college for a long weekend with his HP laptop. He forgot to bring his charger. I said no problem, I have an HP laptop. It turned out the plug for my laptop was a different size than his, so my charg… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=824) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=826)