# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=828 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 829 --- ## [SMTP / DMARC / Webpage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smtp-dmarc-webpage/769177)
**Author:** [@jdc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdc)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 23, 2016, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smtp-dmarc-webpage/769177 "2016-10-23T02:15:26Z")
Nutshell: Website mailto: form started bouncing emails from Yahoo. Web hosting company says this is “DMARC” policy controlled by Yahoo, also in place for a few other big domains aol.com / gmail.com. They say that “yah… --- ## [Smartphone plastic screen protectors protect better than glass screen protectors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-plastic-screen-protectors-protect-better-than-glass-screen-protectors/769407)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smartphone-plastic-screen-protectors-protect-better-than-glass-screen-protectors/769407 "2016-10-22T22:37:31Z")
I switched over to glass screen protectors for my smartphones a few years ago because they did not scratch as easily or lift up at the corners over time like plastic and the hard glass surface felt better contact-wise th… --- ## [Is the American "grammar Nazi" in Finnish "comma fucker?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-american-grammar-nazi-in-finnish-comma-fucker/769137)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-american-grammar-nazi-in-finnish-comma-fucker/769137 "2016-10-22T21:10:27Z")
See query. I can’t remember if I read that or made it up. Because I like it. --- ## [Does this kind of 4 wheel drive have a name?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-kind-of-4-wheel-drive-have-a-name/769212)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-kind-of-4-wheel-drive-have-a-name/769212 "2016-10-22T19:05:24Z")
Imagine if you spun the wheels of a 4wd vehicle with four independently controlled motors, instead of any differentials. Based on the angle of the steering wheel, each wheel would turn at the correct proportional rate fo… --- ## [What is a POTUS usually doing at his/her Oval Office desk?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-potus-usually-doing-at-his-her-oval-office-desk/769198)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-potus-usually-doing-at-his-her-oval-office-desk/769198 "2016-10-22T17:32:52Z")
There isn’t any computer at the desk, although there do seem to be phones. Does he/she just sit there and read documents (paper documents) the old-fashioned way? Sign bills? Chill out on the Oval Office sofas, go throu… --- ## [three immiscible liquids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-immiscible-liquids/769155)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-immiscible-liquids/769155 "2016-10-22T17:11:19Z")
Here is an example: and here I’m aware of hydrophobic liquids like oil that won’t mix with water…and I’m vaguely aware of hydrophobic and oleophobic materials…but what are these li… --- ## [Why would an electric furnace use so much energy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-an-electric-furnace-use-so-much-energy/769276)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-an-electric-furnace-use-so-much-energy/769276 "2016-10-22T15:13:22Z")
I have one of those gizmos that shows how much electricity our house is using at any time. We have electric heat. Last winter, when our furnace kicked in, we’d jump up to 11, 12, or sometimes 13 kw/h, for the few minut… --- ## [Germany--is English language a required subject in high schools?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-is-english-language-a-required-subject-in-high-schools/768826)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-is-english-language-a-required-subject-in-high-schools/768826 "2016-10-22T11:52:22Z")
I just spent a week in Germany and was surprised at the number of people who knew no English. I found this both in Berlin, and also in the rural areas outside the city. I’m not surprised, of course, that people over 40… --- ## [West Virginia - why didn't they rejoin rest Virginia?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-virginia-why-didnt-they-rejoin-rest-virginia/768883)
**Author:** [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/west-virginia-why-didnt-they-rejoin-rest-virginia/768883 "2016-10-22T04:19:00Z")
Pretty much as the title, my understanding (such that it is) is that during the late unpleasantness the counties that comprised West Virginia weren’t down with that whole seceding business and split off to remain in the … --- ## [Female dog cocking leg to pee?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dog-cocking-leg-to-pee/769120)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 22, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/female-dog-cocking-leg-to-pee/769120 "2016-10-22T03:11:25Z")
So I’m in Bali at the moment, Land of the Gods and Land of the Dogs. Eating a meal tonight, a female dog was running around on the sidewalk and down the lanes, when suddenly she cocks her leg and takes a pee on a powerp… --- ## [Why is human skin so fragile? Is it just the lack of fur?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-human-skin-so-fragile-is-it-just-the-lack-of-fur/768944)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-human-skin-so-fragile-is-it-just-the-lack-of-fur/768944 "2016-10-21T23:56:09Z")
I sit here surrounded by the scent of drying Bactine, as a result of just a few seconds ‘play’ with one of my cats. :frowning: I’m sure every owner of more than one cat is well aware that these dainty little pussy cats … --- ## [1/998,001](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-998-001/769040)
**Author:** [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-998-001/769040 "2016-10-21T23:44:00Z")
Okay, so apparently 1/998,001=0.000001002003004…996997999000001002… But isn’t it the case that, by definition, every non-whole rational number (like 1/998,001) can be expressed as the result of dividing some pair of non… --- ## [The ease of counterfeiting currency, given samples of the currency itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ease-of-counterfeiting-currency-given-samples-of-the-currency-itself/769213)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ease-of-counterfeiting-currency-given-samples-of-the-currency-itself/769213 "2016-10-21T21:03:13Z")
North Korea is supposedly the world’s capitol of US-currency-counterfeiting. In recent years, the Treasury has been making new bills with new security features to thwart this sort of thing. Which makes me wonder: Suppo… --- ## [What Is This Weird Login Re-Direct Thing I Keep Getting?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-login-re-direct-thing-i-keep-getting/769267)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-weird-login-re-direct-thing-i-keep-getting/769267 "2016-10-21T19:30:07Z")
Half of the websites I’ve tried to go to today have loaded - briefly - and then the screen has been replaced with this: Imgur: The magic of the Internet My ISP is Meramec Interactive S-Something N-Something, neither VNE… --- ## [tissues/cell I've had the longest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissues-cell-ive-had-the-longest/769249)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissues-cell-ive-had-the-longest/769249 "2016-10-21T18:54:19Z")
What parts of my body have I had the longest? Its actually a bit tough to define. I was thinking when I die, which cells or tissues would I have carried around my whole life. I know that cells regenerate and even the s… --- ## [Electric cars](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-cars/769163)
**Author:** [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-cars/769163 "2016-10-21T17:52:09Z")
Everything that uses batteries slows down as the batteries wear down. How bad is this in electric cars ? --- ## [Sprinters upper bodies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinters-upper-bodies/630475)
**Author:** [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinters-upper-bodies/630475 "2016-10-21T17:14:36Z")
So why do the male Olympic sprinters and hurdlers have such well developed upper body muscles? Do they do weight training as well? Do they get that muscular in the upper body from sprint intervals alone? --- ## [Is Carter the longest lived President after his election?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carter-the-longest-lived-president-after-his-election/769012)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-carter-the-longest-lived-president-after-his-election/769012 "2016-10-21T16:54:25Z")
It suddenly occurred to me that it is forty years since Jimmy Carter was elected in 1976. Besides making me feel old, that raises a question: is Carter the former President who has lived the longest after his election? … --- ## [Land Survey Help](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-survey-help/769188)
**Author:** [@ronyrooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ronyrooman)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/land-survey-help/769188 "2016-10-21T16:26:43Z")
I’m trying to work with my neighbor to put up a fence on the property line between us. Unfortunately, I think the neighbor is trying to be difficult so I need a little advice. I have a plat survey that was provided whe… --- ## [Why is New Mexico more liberal, overall, than Arizona?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-new-mexico-more-liberal-overall-than-arizona/768959)
**Author:** [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-new-mexico-more-liberal-overall-than-arizona/768959 "2016-10-21T16:17:34Z")
Or, why is Arizona a red state and New Mexico a blue state? Every time I see one of the FiveThirtyEight maps, I’m reminded that New Mexico is solidly Blue/for Clinton/liberal, compared to Arizona, which has been solidly… --- ## [Chaplains: what percentage are in front lines? How many POWs (WWII-Vietnam)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chaplains-what-percentage-are-in-front-lines-how-many-pows-wwii-vietnam/768829)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chaplains-what-percentage-are-in-front-lines-how-many-pows-wwii-vietnam/768829 "2016-10-21T15:34:21Z")
See query. Spinoff from thread (newly revived on the treatment Jewish POWs in WWII Europe (What did the Nazis do with captured American soldiers who were Jewish? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board Any bre… --- ## [How much of a brain is necessary to live?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-brain-is-necessary-to-live/769037)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-brain-is-necessary-to-live/769037 "2016-10-21T13:43:08Z")
Hi, I was curious to see these articles about people surviving horrific injuries to the head and surviving. This prompted my question as to how much/which parts of the brain are necessary to survive and function. I loo… --- ## [Rabies Prevalence and the Milwaukee Protocol - Don't need answer fast](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabies-prevalence-and-the-milwaukee-protocol-dont-need-answer-fast/769122)
**Author:** [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rabies-prevalence-and-the-milwaukee-protocol-dont-need-answer-fast/769122 "2016-10-21T13:38:14Z")
A friend of mine had his puppy vaccinated a few weeks ago. Now, since I live in one of the few countries that is rabies-free in large part thanks to vaccination, I have never seen or heard of anyone catching it and I dec… --- ## [Divorce rates in same sex or heterosexual marriages](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/divorce-rates-in-same-sex-or-heterosexual-marriages/769127)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/divorce-rates-in-same-sex-or-heterosexual-marriages/769127 "2016-10-21T13:22:12Z")
Is it too early to make comparisons. Is one type of marriage more stable than the other. Any recent stats? --- ## [Our colorful organs: why are irises so variable but not our livers? Genetics and biomaterials](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-colorful-organs-why-are-irises-so-variable-but-not-our-livers-genetics-and-biomaterials/769124)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-colorful-organs-why-are-irises-so-variable-but-not-our-livers-genetics-and-biomaterials/769124 "2016-10-21T10:30:57Z")
See query. It’s about evolution and function, I guess, like everything else. My thinking: Iris tint or lack (blue), does not, as far as I know, change vision, as long as the material fits with other possible variations–… --- ## [Is it possible to increase my sprinting speed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-increase-my-sprinting-speed/427075)
**Author:** [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [November 20, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-increase-my-sprinting-speed/427075 "2007-11-20T00:20:08Z")
It seems that the obvious answer would be yes, but I guess the real question is “to what extent?” That is, how much could I actually expect to increase my running speed? How much is just based on natural innate ability (… --- ## [Recess-appointed Cabinet secretary becomes President?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointed-cabinet-secretary-becomes-president/769165)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recess-appointed-cabinet-secretary-becomes-president/769165 "2016-10-21T04:32:24Z")
Inspired by the TV show Designated Survivor… Say there’s a mass disaster or terrorist attack in Washington. Tragically, the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President pro tem of the Senate and all but o… --- ## [Own fecal matter dangerous?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/own-fecal-matter-dangerous/488809)
**Author:** [@Hotel\_Cass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hotel_Cass)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 21, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/own-fecal-matter-dangerous/488809 "2016-10-21T04:26:11Z")
There’s no delicate way to ask this: is exposure to one’s own fecal matter (quite apart from grossing us out) dangerous? It’s commonly understood that exposure to that of others poses a plethora of health risks, which … --- ## [Are there historical precursors to Internet message boards?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-historical-precursors-to-internet-message-boards/292154)
**Author:** [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-historical-precursors-to-internet-message-boards/292154 "2016-10-20T22:58:59Z")
The question’s in the title – are there any historical institutions that might be considered similar to an internet message board, or did the idea spring into being fully formed the instant people got online? I’m famili… --- ## [Self-defense question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-defense-question/769077)
**Author:** [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-defense-question/769077 "2016-10-20T22:57:30Z")
Saw this in a comic book and realized I didn’t quite know the answer. So our hero is fighting the villain, and renders him unconscious; and, for the sake of argument, assume he’s justified in so rendering said escaped k… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=827) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=829)