# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=843 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 844 --- ## [Can non-English speakers tell the difference between different English-speaker accents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-non-english-speakers-tell-the-difference-between-different-english-speaker-accents/765088)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-non-english-speakers-tell-the-difference-between-different-english-speaker-accents/765088 "2016-09-19T08:44:29Z")
I’m watching my way through the excellent Netflix series Narcos at the moment, which has apparently drawn some bemusement in Latin America because the actor playing Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) is Brazilian and speaks Sp… --- ## [iMac troubles](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imac-troubles/766214)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imac-troubles/766214 "2016-09-19T06:48:20Z")
I bought an iMac 27 late last year. Wow, cool colors, etc. I’ve let it update the OS as needed along the way. Over the past month the damn thing has been hanging up. I get the spinning wheel thingy that never goes away a… --- ## [What's the difference, in US jurisprudence, between "rights" and "laws?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-in-us-jurisprudence-between-rights-and-laws/766223)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-in-us-jurisprudence-between-rights-and-laws/766223 "2016-09-19T05:22:19Z")
See query. It happens that this is a spinoff on a current OP with “equal rights” in the title, but that’s a coincidence. Do I have a right to not be run down by a car when I have the green light and he doesn’t? Or is t… --- ## [\[If\]President Obama pardons Edward Snowden. Can any US agency do anything?\[ ed.title\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-president-obama-pardons-edward-snowden-can-any-us-agency-do-anything-ed-title/765967)
**Author:** [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-president-obama-pardons-edward-snowden-can-any-us-agency-do-anything-ed-title/765967 "2016-09-19T04:28:02Z")
There are several petitions online encouraging President Obama to pardon Edward Snowden. So, if Snowden does get a presidential pardon, Is there anything ANY government agency could somehow still bring him to trial for? … --- ## [Why does the sun have a surface?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-have-a-surface/766120)
**Author:** [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-have-a-surface/766120 "2016-09-19T03:55:44Z")
The sun is a gravitationally-bound ball of gas (or plasma) so it’s density should decrease continuously with distance from the center. But visually it looks like there is a boundary - and astronomers refer to the “surfac… --- ## [Eating poop in the US](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-poop-in-the-us/766323)
**Author:** [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-poop-in-the-us/766323 "2016-09-19T03:50:47Z")
If I took my dog for a walk outside and he pooped, would I be legally allowed to pick it up and eat it? --- ## [Pot goes legal all the way, any time. What happens to people serving time on pot charges?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-goes-legal-all-the-way-any-time-what-happens-to-people-serving-time-on-pot-charges/766105)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-goes-legal-all-the-way-any-time-what-happens-to-people-serving-time-on-pot-charges/766105 "2016-09-19T01:57:50Z")
See query. Historical parallels galore in US jurisprudence? Prohibition? Less famous cases where law changes? --- ## [Jeep 4WD systems](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeep-4wd-systems/766246)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jeep-4wd-systems/766246 "2016-09-19T01:41:25Z")
I have a 2002 Grand Cherokee with “Quadra-Drive”. It’s now throwing transmission codes (P0740 Torque Converter Clutch out of Range) and slipping between 2nd and 3rd so it seems to be time to replace it. I guess now ther… --- ## [Laptop makes noise when not in use](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-makes-noise-when-not-in-use/766248)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-makes-noise-when-not-in-use/766248 "2016-09-18T23:13:10Z")
This just started within the last week. When getting up during the night, and when all is still, I can hear my PC laptop making a noise as if it were working hard at something. I first thought it was the disc drive spin… --- ## [Are metal halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs interchangeable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-metal-halide-and-high-pressure-sodium-bulbs-interchangeable/711741)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-metal-halide-and-high-pressure-sodium-bulbs-interchangeable/711741 "2016-09-18T22:20:27Z")
I switched out my front and back porch lights with a 50W High Pressure Sodium fixture (this was in 2003). Link to the GE bulb that came with the fixture. A friend has a couple 100W metal halide ED17. here it is. t… --- ## [Suppose Kim Jong Un wants to attend a United Nations meeting in NYC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-kim-jong-un-wants-to-attend-a-united-nations-meeting-in-nyc/766182)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suppose-kim-jong-un-wants-to-attend-a-united-nations-meeting-in-nyc/766182 "2016-09-18T19:24:23Z")
Suppose that Kim Jong Un, dictator of North Korea, decided that he wanted to attend an assembly of the United Nations at its headquarters in New York City, in person. What legal, practical or diplomatic obstacles might p… --- ## [How Do They Launch Thousands Of Bottle Rockets At Once?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-launch-thousands-of-bottle-rockets-at-once/766224)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-launch-thousands-of-bottle-rockets-at-once/766224 "2016-09-18T19:12:14Z")
I’ve seen this video and several like it. TLDW: backyard ingenuity produces a contraption that launches thousands of bottle rockets in quick succession. They seem to be using a metallic screen, like on a screen door, to… --- ## [How much oil is in a potato chip? And general analysis of absorption...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-oil-is-in-a-potato-chip-and-general-analysis-of-absorption/766257)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-oil-is-in-a-potato-chip-and-general-analysis-of-absorption/766257 "2016-09-18T18:45:36Z")
See query. It’s on the physics and chemistry of the thing. I’m sure the chip manufacturers have it down (to a science, heh) to extreme precision when costing, etc. using at least preliminary theory before going to testi… --- ## [CSS experts, have a newbie question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/css-experts-have-a-newbie-question/766146)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/css-experts-have-a-newbie-question/766146 "2016-09-18T17:07:41Z")
Being a backend developer, I have avoided having to deal with CSS much. There is an aspect to it, that has bothered me, so perhaps CSS experts here can explain a concept for me and put me on the right track. In this exa… --- ## [Parachuting. Without a cell phone. Due to a miscalcultation you land on a building. Now what?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parachuting-without-a-cell-phone-due-to-a-miscalcultation-you-land-on-a-building-now-what/765801)
**Author:** [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parachuting-without-a-cell-phone-due-to-a-miscalcultation-you-land-on-a-building-now-what/765801 "2016-09-18T15:07:54Z")
As I drove to work this morning, I noticed something odd: a person attached to a parachute slowly drifting over the city. This was somewhat alarming because for a little while it seemed as though he was going to land on … --- ## [Come get you or put out warrants?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-get-you-or-put-out-warrants/766170)
**Author:** [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/come-get-you-or-put-out-warrants/766170 "2016-09-18T13:40:32Z")
Suppose you keyed a car and ran but someone got the license number and turned it over to the police. What’s happens then? Do the police come get you or they just put a warrant on the license plate and catch you on the s… --- ## [Common tv/movie trope - switching between Spanish and English.. is it a thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-tv-movie-trope-switching-between-spanish-and-english-is-it-a-thing/765553)
**Author:** [@guitario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guitario)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-tv-movie-trope-switching-between-spanish-and-english-is-it-a-thing/765553 "2016-09-18T13:35:18Z")
I’m just watching the tv show ‘Power’ and one thing they do in that, which I’ve seen in countless other shows and movies, is the bilingual characters switching between Spanish and English mid sentence, and back again… is… --- ## [why so many Palestinian knife attacks? No guns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-palestinian-knife-attacks-no-guns/766151)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-so-many-palestinian-knife-attacks-no-guns/766151 "2016-09-18T00:58:48Z")
Again, we read about an attack on an Israeli soldier by a Palestinian. A stabbing. Is this a particularly meaningful form of injuring someone, or do Palestinians lack access to guns? Or is there another reason that so… --- ## [Eye Contact](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-contact/765987)
**Author:** [@Bazoongas55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bazoongas55)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eye-contact/765987 "2016-09-17T23:37:11Z")
Do people tend to make eye contact with the opposite sex more often? For example, men making eye contact with women more than other men. I have a feeling that this is the case but can not find anything factual to back it… --- ## [How to hook a 3 jack 5.1 stereo speaker system to a 1 jack output source (mp3 player, etc)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-hook-a-3-jack-5-1-stereo-speaker-system-to-a-1-jack-output-source-mp3-player-etc/568239)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-hook-a-3-jack-5-1-stereo-speaker-system-to-a-1-jack-output-source-mp3-player-etc/568239 "2016-09-17T22:02:43Z")
I found a decent deal on a 5.1 stereo system, but I don’t know much about stereos or speakers. It comes with 3 wires (light green, pink and black) for different speakers. My laptop has 3 jacks in the front, but only the… --- ## [What is the total passenger capacity of all street-legal cars in the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-total-passenger-capacity-of-all-street-legal-cars-in-the-u-s/766005)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-total-passenger-capacity-of-all-street-legal-cars-in-the-u-s/766005 "2016-09-17T21:03:01Z")
IOW, if you could put a person in every seat of every street-legal car in the U.S., how many persons would that be? This would be excluding vehicles designed for mass transit (buses and the like) and commercial trucks, … --- ## [World's longest lightning bolt was 200 miles long.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-longest-lightning-bolt-was-200-miles-long/766123)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-longest-lightning-bolt-was-200-miles-long/766123 "2016-09-17T16:40:40Z")
Story Here. How could that possibly be the path of least resistance? --- ## [Public Relations](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-relations/765997)
**Author:** [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-relations/765997 "2016-09-17T16:13:53Z")
Can anyone submit a public announcement or a press release to the media? Or, are these things reserved for charities, superstars, and others with press agents or their own publicists/PR people? What are the details on ho… --- ## [What cell phone records are available and how accurate are they?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cell-phone-records-are-available-and-how-accurate-are-they/766147)
**Author:** [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-cell-phone-records-are-available-and-how-accurate-are-they/766147 "2016-09-17T14:30:31Z")
My daughter, Alice, was rear-ended by a woman, Betty, traveling at/near the speed limit of 40 MPH. Because Betty made no attempt to slow down, Alice believes Betty was distracted by her cell phone at the time. I know … --- ## [What am I smelling when my pee smells like canned soup?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-smelling-when-my-pee-smells-like-canned-soup/766139)
**Author:** [@watergallop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watergallop)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-am-i-smelling-when-my-pee-smells-like-canned-soup/766139 "2016-09-17T08:18:05Z")
Whenever I eat canned soup, even the fancy kind, a couple hours later, I pee and it smells strongly like the soup. Nothing else makes my pee smell like itself (besides asparagus). What ingredient in the soup is it, whose… --- ## [Is a bathroom exhaust fan more effective with the bathroom door open, closed, or cracked?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bathroom-exhaust-fan-more-effective-with-the-bathroom-door-open-closed-or-cracked/737696)
**Author:** [@iceiso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iceiso)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bathroom-exhaust-fan-more-effective-with-the-bathroom-door-open-closed-or-cracked/737696 "2016-09-17T02:51:24Z")
So, I had Chipotle last night and this morning got to thinking… Is a bathroom exhaust fan more effective with the bathroom door closed, open, or cracked? Let’s make three assumptions: The purpose of the exhaust fan i… --- ## [Power outages and surge protectors](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-outages-and-surge-protectors/765767)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-outages-and-surge-protectors/765767 "2016-09-17T00:15:51Z")
The electric company that serves our mobile-home park issued the tenants a notice that they would be shutting our power off temporarily today to do maintenance on the equipment. I did not switch my computer on today–I’m… --- ## [Pressure wash inside of car?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pressure-wash-inside-of-car/766060)
**Author:** [@Dirt\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dirt_Man)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pressure-wash-inside-of-car/766060 "2016-09-17T00:13:05Z")
Hey guys So I’ve inherited a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The soft top roof on this car has apparently been leaking for years, the rear window is barely hanging on. The interior smells horrible it has signs of animal… --- ## [Technician removed air filter, damage done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technician-removed-air-filter-damage-done/766050)
**Author:** [@Jacqbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jacqbean)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technician-removed-air-filter-damage-done/766050 "2016-09-16T19:43:40Z")
A technician did some work on my car (Hyundai Elantra) a few weeks ago. I noticed that since then, the engine sounds have been louder than normal. I was able to get the car back into the shop and it was realized (by anot… --- ## [How poisonous is the Upas tree?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-poisonous-is-the-upas-tree/766007)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-poisonous-is-the-upas-tree/766007 "2016-09-16T19:30:57Z")
I know it’s said to be incredibly deadly, but on the range of poisonous plants, where does it fall? And how dangerous is it to encounter in nature? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=842) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=844)