# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=833 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 834 --- ## [Are the Clinton Joke quarters legal currency?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-clinton-joke-quarters-legal-currency/676035)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-clinton-joke-quarters-legal-currency/676035 "2016-10-13T04:55:15Z")
My dad died a couple years ago and had a unfinished state quarter set. It was complete except for the final year 2008 Hawaii, Alaska, Oklahoma, Arizona. I went through some sacks of change and found the ones I needed to… --- ## [Getting Wikipedia categories to populate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-wikipedia-categories-to-populate/768261)
**Author:** [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2016, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-wikipedia-categories-to-populate/768261 "2016-10-13T04:05:05Z")
Novice coder here, picking my way through my first wiki. I had some old world-building stuff stashed on a friend’s wiki and decided I’d transfer it to one of my own. I exported all the pages I wanted to XML. Set up the … --- ## [What does (or could) a "check engine light" being on, mean in modern day cars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-or-could-a-check-engine-light-being-on-mean-in-modern-day-cars/768037)
**Author:** [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Replies:** 59\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-or-could-a-check-engine-light-being-on-mean-in-modern-day-cars/768037 "2016-10-12T19:40:39Z")
In a move to the states (Hawai’i), I will most likely be obliged to purchase a second hand car. Was looking at ads on Craigslist and sometimes you see an ad (for a car) and in the ad, occasionally you will see written as… --- ## [What if your dog is named Siri, or Alexa, or Cortana, or Google?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-your-dog-is-named-siri-or-alexa-or-cortana-or-google/767977)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-your-dog-is-named-siri-or-alexa-or-cortana-or-google/767977 "2016-10-12T18:49:40Z")
Voice-responsive AI assistants are all over the place now, but do any of them make allowances for the (perhaps unlikely) situation where you need to frequently say something that sounds like their name? Do any of them… --- ## [Himmler's surrender offer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/himmlers-surrender-offer/768203)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/himmlers-surrender-offer/768203 "2016-10-12T17:43:21Z")
Himmler asked Churchill and Truman to surrender to them, and not the Russians. Truman and Churchill refused. Why the hell didn’t Himmler order his guys to surrender to the USA and Brittan, and hope for the best with the… --- ## [Jury Summons for a Nonresident](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-summons-for-a-nonresident/768299)
**Author:** [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-summons-for-a-nonresident/768299 "2016-10-12T15:47:00Z")
Every few years, my parents get a jury summons in the mail for me. I haven’t been a resident of their state for…going on ten years now. I always dutifully go online and tell them that I don’t live there any more, and t… --- ## [A question on American citizenship](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-on-american-citizenship/768247)
**Author:** [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Replies:** 46\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-on-american-citizenship/768247 "2016-10-12T15:26:03Z")
Are Americans citizens of their State (Arisona, New York, etc) first and the United States second or the USA first and the State second? I’m aware that Dependencies and Territories (e.g. Puerto Rico) are different. --- ## [DDT Causes Egg Shell Thinning?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ddt-causes-egg-shell-thinning/768271)
**Author:** [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ddt-causes-egg-shell-thinning/768271 "2016-10-12T13:31:19Z")
Rachel Carson’s book, “Silent Spring” was the impetus in banning DDT. She claimed, among other allegations, that it caused the thinning of the egg shells of Eagles. Since it was banned, the bald eagle has been removed f… --- ## [Police Uniform](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-uniform/768264)
**Author:** [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/police-uniform/768264 "2016-10-12T13:03:13Z")
I was just wondering " about" how much a police uniform costs. I just mean the part an officer buys, not what the department supplies. By the way, what does the police departments provide ? I know this probably depends… --- ## [Stink bugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stink-bugs/768266)
**Author:** [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stink-bugs/768266 "2016-10-12T12:35:16Z")
I just googled “stink bug” as a consequence of seeing one and wondering how damaging they are to roses, basil, trees etc. I ran into not one but at least three sites saying that stink bugs only appeared on this continen… --- ## [Statistics: repeatability](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistics-repeatability/768235)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statistics-repeatability/768235 "2016-10-12T12:08:45Z")
Concerning repeated measurements, what is the mathematical definition of repeatability? Some websites seem to give this as simply the standard deviation, but surely it’s more than that? (and surely it’s not just +/- 3\*… --- ## [I may be a diabetic, but I'm not adiabatic: what is exothermic at any one moment in my metabolism?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-a-diabetic-but-im-not-adiabatic-what-is-exothermic-at-any-one-moment-in-my-metabolism/768262)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-may-be-a-diabetic-but-im-not-adiabatic-what-is-exothermic-at-any-one-moment-in-my-metabolism/768262 "2016-10-12T08:40:07Z")
See query. You know, what with being warm-blooded and all. Can it be said how more or less clearly for my lame brain?; i.e., I “know” that fat and glucose and the hypothalamus all come into play, but then I get lost in … --- ## [Who were the German officers/generals who revealed the Schlieffen Plan to Joffre?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-german-officers-generals-who-revealed-the-schlieffen-plan-to-joffre/767837)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-were-the-german-officers-generals-who-revealed-the-schlieffen-plan-to-joffre/767837 "2016-10-12T00:39:23Z")
Hi The French High Command received intelligence from the Germans about the Schlieffen Plan which turned out to be accurate, but they ignored it. Was it a policy of the French High Command to just ignore what defectin… --- ## [Submarine VIP Cabin & Civilian Senority](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submarine-vip-cabin-civilian-senority/767542)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submarine-vip-cabin-civilian-senority/767542 "2016-10-12T00:32:30Z")
So I was watching 60 minutes tonight and they had this story about the competition in the arctic between the major powers for resources, strategic bases, etc. During the video piece they put together they highlighted a 5… --- ## [Netflix streaming & hotel question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-streaming-hotel-question/768161)
**Author:** [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2016, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/netflix-streaming-hotel-question/768161 "2016-10-12T00:27:42Z")
I watch Netflix at home on computer and thru the dvd player. When I am on the road I would like to watch it on something besides my little tablet. Most hotel rooms I stay in have an HDMI port for the tv. Can anyone rec… --- ## [How to report a phishing text?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-report-a-phishing-text/768285)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-report-a-phishing-text/768285 "2016-10-11T23:07:44Z")
I received a text message saying: BOfA: Your Bank Card is restricted. To prevent unauthorized transactions, follow (this hyperlink) to take necessary steps to secure your details. I don’t have a BofA account. Furthermo… --- ## [Banking question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banking-question/768242)
**Author:** [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/banking-question/768242 "2016-10-11T22:59:17Z")
Weird thing happened the other day. Called my banks automated 800 number to check on my checking account balance. Should have been around $800. Told me it was 0. Called right back thinking maybe a pushed a wrong butt… --- ## [Zeno/planck to multiverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeno-planck-to-multiverse/768175)
**Author:** [@Alonzo\_John\_Blitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alonzo_John_Blitz)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zeno-planck-to-multiverse/768175 "2016-10-11T20:33:48Z")
MODERATORS - please move as you see fit. Thanks. DISCLAIMER: I am not a scientist, nor have I never played one on streaming video. To the best of my understanding (appallingly limited as it is), Planck basically debu… --- ## [Sending a UK monitor to the US, potential problems?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-a-uk-monitor-to-the-us-potential-problems/767917)
**Author:** [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sending-a-uk-monitor-to-the-us-potential-problems/767917 "2016-10-11T20:08:39Z")
I have a spare Samsung monitor I was considering sending to a friend in the USA, would the different power supplies between the US and UK cause problems, or would it simply be a matter of getting an adaptor and plugging … --- ## [JFK Airport - Are there usually armed military guys in the check-in area?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-airport-are-there-usually-armed-military-guys-in-the-check-in-area/767779)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jfk-airport-are-there-usually-armed-military-guys-in-the-check-in-area/767779 "2016-10-11T19:40:05Z")
Just wondering if that’s standard in US airports? --- ## [Do Sovereign Citizens consider themselves to be U.S. citizens?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sovereign-citizens-consider-themselves-to-be-u-s-citizens/768267)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-sovereign-citizens-consider-themselves-to-be-u-s-citizens/768267 "2016-10-11T19:35:59Z")
Do Sovereign Citizens consider themselves to be U.S. citizens, under the U.S. Constitution (as opposed to ‘common law’ citizens)? --- ## [Camera question - need answer fairly quickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question-need-answer-fairly-quickly/767937)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camera-question-need-answer-fairly-quickly/767937 "2016-10-11T19:29:13Z")
My wife bought a Nikon Coolpix 8800 digital camera in the early 2000s. So far it’s been a great purchase, until now. It has to be connected to a PC by cable and requires Nikon “Picture Project” software to download any i… --- ## [Question about Impressionists and Singers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-impressionists-and-singers/768179)
**Author:** [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-impressionists-and-singers/768179 "2016-10-11T18:01:33Z")
There are a few things I don’t much like about myself: the sound of my voice on recordings, which doesn’t sound like I think I sound; the fact that I’m not great at impressions; and the fact that I’m not great at singi… --- ## [The Moon- does it stay or go](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-does-it-stay-or-go/768125)
**Author:** [@ric62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ric62)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-moon-does-it-stay-or-go/768125 "2016-10-11T15:06:18Z")
I have read multiple articles talking about how our moon is receding from Earth several centimeters every year. This is followed up by the article saying that the moon one day will leave Earth’s orbit forever and drift a… --- ## [Dope seeks simple math answer...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-seeks-simple-math-answer/765625)
**Author:** [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 11, 2016, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dope-seeks-simple-math-answer/765625 "2016-10-11T09:18:06Z")
Say I have white, red, and blue poker chips. They’ve been given these point values: white=1, red=2, blue=4. I want to give each player an assortment of chips that will total 12 points. How many different combinations are… --- ## [Does Hillary Clinton still get Secret Service protection?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hillary-clinton-still-get-secret-service-protection/690467)
**Author:** [@Suicide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suicide)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hillary-clinton-still-get-secret-service-protection/690467 "2014-06-13T15:38:45Z")
Hillary Clinton is no longer First Lady nor Secretary of State, and is not yet a declared Presidential candidate, so I’m wondering whether she still has Secret Service protection? :mad::mad::mad: She showed up on ‘Good … --- ## [Empirical result of random event: when does degree of precision stop? Statistics and proof?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empirical-result-of-random-event-when-does-degree-of-precision-stop-statistics-and-proof/768052)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/empirical-result-of-random-event-when-does-degree-of-precision-stop-statistics-and-proof/768052 "2016-10-10T21:46:04Z")
In a current thread on a particular problem in of probability approaching (heh) “0.999=1” caliber, the roll of a dice under a particular set of (argued) conditions reveals a probability of 1/6 that a particular die will … --- ## [Why don't we know how many people died in many 20th century atrocities?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-know-how-many-people-died-in-many-20th-century-atrocities/768098)
**Author:** [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-know-how-many-people-died-in-many-20th-century-atrocities/768098 "2016-10-10T21:14:18Z")
There’s a thread about the Rape of Nanjing, and when I read about it on Wiki, I noticed something I’ve seen many times before about events of the 20th century - a huge possible range of deaths. In the specific example o… --- ## [Lost Firefox "Restore Previous Session"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-firefox-restore-previous-session/768087)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-firefox-restore-previous-session/768087 "2016-10-10T20:28:25Z")
I had a brief power outage, less than a minute. When I restarted my computer (a 2012 Mac Pro with Sierra) and launched Firefox, my previous session didn’t come back. And under “History,” “Restore Previous Session” is gra… --- ## [Do bacteria evolve resistance to the human immune system?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-bacteria-evolve-resistance-to-the-human-immune-system/768123)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-bacteria-evolve-resistance-to-the-human-immune-system/768123 "2016-10-10T20:20:20Z")
We hear all the time about how bacteria are becoming resistant to various antibiotics, threatening to evolve into superbacteria against which we’ll have no defense. Do bacteria also evolve to counter the human immune sy… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=832) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=834)