# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=836 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 837 --- ## [What are these things in grocery stores in Chinatown?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-things-in-grocery-stores-in-chinatown/767751)
**Author:** [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-things-in-grocery-stores-in-chinatown/767751 "2016-10-06T12:43:25Z")
In the Chinatown in downtown Manhattan. In a box next to the live crabs and the shrimp and the various exotic berries and all that, there are a bunch of what look like black plastic handlebar mustaches. The signs are all… --- ## [Why aren't kangaroos raised for their meat in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-kangaroos-raised-for-their-meat-in-the-us/597621)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2016, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-kangaroos-raised-for-their-meat-in-the-us/597621 "2016-10-06T09:11:16Z")
I don’t understand why there are no kangaroo farms in America. The meat is, apparently, tasty. I plan to order some of it online. The animals are easy to raise, and from what I have read, they have far less of an impact … --- ## [What percentage of the NYFD was occupied with the WTC on 9/11?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-the-nyfd-was-occupied-with-the-wtc-on-9-11/767635)
**Author:** [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-percentage-of-the-nyfd-was-occupied-with-the-wtc-on-9-11/767635 "2016-10-06T02:06:35Z")
If through bad luck there had been a major non terrorist related fire elsewhere in the city that morning were there enough available units on standby to deal with it? --- ## [What are the laws on political yard signs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-laws-on-political-yard-signs/767464)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2016, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-laws-on-political-yard-signs/767464 "2016-10-06T01:59:55Z")
I’m sure they vary by jurisdiction but how they vary would also be interesting… When you obtain a sign directly from the campaign are you required to sign anything re its use? Say you wanted to change and display it … --- ## [How do forensic matches work with shotguns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-forensic-matches-work-with-shotguns/767313)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-forensic-matches-work-with-shotguns/767313 "2016-10-06T00:13:04Z")
Watching a cop show made me realize that matching projectiles to weapons with rifled barrels is plain enough but how do police ID smoothbore shotguns used in crimes? If the shooter doesn’t leave spent shells around and … --- ## [Small animals native to the Pacific Northwest](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-animals-native-to-the-pacific-northwest/767665)
**Author:** [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/small-animals-native-to-the-pacific-northwest/767665 "2016-10-05T23:27:56Z")
I notice various small animals as I cycle the backroads around here (western Oregon). Squirrels, mostly, but also skunk, raccoon, possum, and even the occasional rabbit. Squirrels are native, the brown ones anyway, I’m n… --- ## ["To disrespect": how long has that been a verb? In different sociolinguistic areas (law/military)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-disrespect-how-long-has-that-been-a-verb-in-different-sociolinguistic-areas-law-military/767714)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-disrespect-how-long-has-that-been-a-verb-in-different-sociolinguistic-areas-law-military/767714 "2016-10-05T23:25:38Z")
See query.I seem to remember a first time when “he disrespected me” became a thing to say, more precisely, that I first heard it by and when American blacks were…shown, as we used to say…disrespect. It now is all over t… --- ## [Capital One VentureOne credit card question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-one-ventureone-credit-card-question/767713)
**Author:** [@Omar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capital-one-ventureone-credit-card-question/767713 "2016-10-05T19:55:49Z")
Does anyone have a newer VentureOne in their wallet that comes in VISA (as opposed to MasterCard)? My current VentureOne, opened about 6 years ago, is a MasterCard. To answer the future question of why does it matter?: … --- ## [Deezer music](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deezer-music/767278)
**Author:** [@MickeyMouseFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickeyMouseFace)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deezer-music/767278 "2016-10-05T08:50:39Z")
Hello Is there a legal and easy way to save to mobile storage some playlists I have in my Deezer account? --- ## [Steering wheel on the wrong side](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-wheel-on-the-wrong-side/767192)
**Author:** [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steering-wheel-on-the-wrong-side/767192 "2016-10-03T11:36:42Z")
Well, I just read an article about far east Russia driving habits. Bit outdated (2009), but I believe it is still actual. http://www.slate.com/articles/news\_and\_politics/dispatches/features/2009/where\_russia\_meets\_china/… --- ## [Can the Vice President Be Appointed as Secretary of State?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-vice-president-be-appointed-as-secretary-of-state/461832)
**Author:** [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-vice-president-be-appointed-as-secretary-of-state/461832 "2016-10-05T03:43:27Z")
Is there anything prohibiting the POTUS from appointing the VPOTUS to serve as Secretary of State or some other cabinet position? --- ## [Is there anything to cryotherapy?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-to-cryotherapy/767580)
**Author:** [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anything-to-cryotherapy/767580 "2016-10-05T03:42:49Z")
On an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown, he went to a cryotherapy clinic. I’d never heard of this before. Basically, you stand in this big box for 1 to 3 minutes, and they pump in liquid nitrogen which supposed… --- ## [Did Bill Clinton turn over US National Parks to the United Nations?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bill-clinton-turn-over-us-national-parks-to-the-united-nations/767193)
**Author:** [@aluminumdisc1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aluminumdisc1)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bill-clinton-turn-over-us-national-parks-to-the-united-nations/767193 "2016-10-05T02:42:23Z")
I was at dinner last night a group of people who insisted that the UN has control over the US state parks thanks to Bill Clinton. My Google Fu is pretty good and I can’t find any credible source but before I call bullshi… --- ## [Losing candidates not attending the inaugural ceremony](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658 "2016-10-05T01:00:26Z")
When have losing candidates (of a major party) in a Presidential election not attend the inaugural ceremony? --- ## [Suicide By Index Finger](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-index-finger/767596)
**Author:** [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-index-finger/767596 "2016-10-05T00:01:13Z")
(Disclaimer: I am not going to try this at home, and I am not going to commit suicide in any way, shape, or form. I’m just curious.) Factually, do you suppose this is a valid method? Let’s say I was in a prison cell, an… --- ## [Have any advances in quantum mechanics been made in... forever?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-advances-in-quantum-mechanics-been-made-in-forever/767222)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-any-advances-in-quantum-mechanics-been-made-in-forever/767222 "2016-10-04T23:15:35Z")
So in high school in the 80s, quantum mechanics seemed fresh. We read The Dancing Wu Li Masters, which had come out in 1979 (i.e., not that long ago), and it was like mind-blowing stuff! Recently, however, it occurred t… --- ## [Does this US national debt chart look correct?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-us-national-debt-chart-look-correct/767619)
**Author:** [@Sputnikkk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sputnikkk)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-this-us-national-debt-chart-look-correct/767619 "2016-10-04T21:34:19Z")
I’m looking for a chart showing which presidents are responsible for national debt. Does this look fake, exaggerated, or incorrect? http://goldsilverworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/US\_national\_debts\_since\_1940\_pre… --- ## [various "succession" questions regarding the election](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/various-succession-questions-regarding-the-election/767642)
**Author:** [@GVI-Wizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GVI-Wizard)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/various-succession-questions-regarding-the-election/767642 "2016-10-04T20:52:37Z")
I’m new to this message board and it was suggested I post these questions. Since I’m looking for a factual answer I chose this forum instead of Elections and I apologize if this question has already been addressed (plea… --- ## [What would cause a plastic to melt (in the absence of heat)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-cause-a-plastic-to-melt-in-the-absence-of-heat/767545)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-cause-a-plastic-to-melt-in-the-absence-of-heat/767545 "2016-10-04T20:45:56Z")
I happened to be looking for a particular cord connector in a box of ‘stuff’. Said stuff comprised everything from cords, odd paperwork, broken sunnies, superfluous bits of vacuum cleaner attachments and misc odds and e… --- ## [Excel question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/767553)
**Author:** [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-question/767553 "2016-10-04T20:04:58Z")
Anyone a whiz on excel? I can’t get it to recognize that I want my tables printed like A b and c etc. . It seems to want to print column a and then column C after and I cant have the sorted file printed right. I cant f… --- ## [Traveling at the speed of light away from the sun, part deux](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-at-the-speed-of-light-away-from-the-sun-part-deux/767559)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traveling-at-the-speed-of-light-away-from-the-sun-part-deux/767559 "2016-10-04T16:52:34Z")
If you are traveling at the speed of light away from the sun, and looking back at the sun, what would you see? Wouldn’t you see the unchanging features the sun had, the instant you left? --- ## [Line of Succession Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-of-succession-question/767530)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/line-of-succession-question/767530 "2016-10-04T15:12:27Z")
What would happen in a “Designated Survivor” type scenario if all of Congress was to be wiped out and only the cabinet designated survivor lives and becomes President? Would there be immediate elections to fill the vaca… --- ## [What do you call this kind of timer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-kind-of-timer/767564)
**Author:** [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-this-kind-of-timer/767564 "2016-10-04T15:04:07Z")
I need to purchase a timer that you can plug into a wall outlet, and then plug an electric skillet into in order to prevent the electric skillet from being accidentally left on and starting a fire. Searching turns up lo… --- ## [Navy Anchor question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-anchor-question/767532)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-anchor-question/767532 "2016-10-04T14:19:26Z")
So I stumbled across this video US Navy Ship loses anchor and chain - YouTube and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what i’m seeing (like for example what specifically does the wheel do that the sailors are spinni… --- ## [Are all calories equal when it comes to weight loss?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-calories-equal-when-it-comes-to-weight-loss/766975)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-all-calories-equal-when-it-comes-to-weight-loss/766975 "2016-10-04T12:10:31Z")
Suppose a pair of identical twins who have identical weight, percent fat is of body weight, etc. etc. They decide to go on a diet to lose weight. Twin 1 decides to go the healthy route and consumes 1200 calories a day … --- ## [Scribing an arc: do I have this right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scribing-an-arc-do-i-have-this-right/767600)
**Author:** [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scribing-an-arc-do-i-have-this-right/767600 "2016-10-04T11:38:28Z")
I want to pound a stake in the ground and scribe out a regular (centered) arc between two points (call them m\[sub\]0\[/sub\] and m\[sub\]1\[/sub\]), through a center point (call it q\[sub\]0\[/sub\]). I know the distance between m\[… --- ## [Are there any thinkers Enlightenment through the New Deal that argue for strong central government?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-thinkers-enlightenment-through-the-new-deal-that-argue-for-strong-central-government/766998)
**Author:** [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2016, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-thinkers-enlightenment-through-the-new-deal-that-argue-for-strong-central-government/766998 "2016-10-04T07:22:54Z")
I always read about those who think government is ruinous and I was just trying to find an argument from the other side for fun. I’m kinda specifically interested in anyone who almost out-and-out suggests that human natu… --- ## [How does a bell curve distribution change if you cut off the end](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-bell-curve-distribution-change-if-you-cut-off-the-end/767217)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-bell-curve-distribution-change-if-you-cut-off-the-end/767217 "2016-10-03T17:52:29Z")
Let’s say you have a bell curve distribution. You cut off the bottom 25%. What happens to the mean and median? How do you calculate that? What if you only take the top 10%? Is there a website where I can put I number … --- ## [Why do people choose to use revolvers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-choose-to-use-revolvers/766612)
**Author:** [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-choose-to-use-revolvers/766612 "2016-10-03T16:35:07Z")
I spent 32 years in the Canadian military and our sidearm of choice when I first joined was the Browning 9 mm. Over time we switched to Sig Sauer P226s (I think, but it’s been awhile). I certainly had no issues with eit… --- ## [Ice bullets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-bullets/767539)
**Author:** [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 3, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-bullets/767539 "2016-10-03T14:58:13Z")
I’ve just watched an old murder mystery, where the victim seemed to have been shot, but there was no bullet found in the body. I guessed the bullet was made of water ice. I was almost right, it was made of frozen blood. … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=835) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=837)