# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=881 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 882 --- ## [Dangly bits on Apache Chopper?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dangly-bits-on-apache-chopper/758855)
**Author:** [@Chickenwrangler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickenwrangler)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dangly-bits-on-apache-chopper/758855 "2016-07-02T05:41:46Z")
Just been watching an interesting documentary about the Apache helicopter. On an extension arm from what appears to be the engine pod is mounted a dangly piece of equipment that seem to just wave about in the wind. Ther… --- ## [What is the meaning/connotation of "Little England?" I see it all the time in Brexit commentary...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-connotation-of-little-england-i-see-it-all-the-time-in-brexit-commentary/758845)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-meaning-connotation-of-little-england-i-see-it-all-the-time-in-brexit-commentary/758845 "2016-07-02T03:42:27Z")
See query. Is it a quotation or reference to some event or speech? What the heck does it mean? At one end, I’m guessing: "Plucky little England, back to its old independent and lean trim, ready for anything?; or the… --- ## [New thumb drives not working on MacBook. Need answer fast. Please help.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-thumb-drives-not-working-on-macbook-need-answer-fast-please-help/758874)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-thumb-drives-not-working-on-macbook-need-answer-fast-please-help/758874 "2016-07-02T03:41:05Z")
I am trying to transfer some files to a thumb drive on my MacBook. When I plug the thumb drive in to the USB port, an icon appears on my laptop screen. Whenever I try to transfer a file, however, a circle with a line thr… --- ## [William Pitt quote "Can he speak nonsense?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-pitt-quote-can-he-speak-nonsense/758651)
**Author:** [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/william-pitt-quote-can-he-speak-nonsense/758651 "2016-07-02T03:06:07Z")
There is a somewhat famous quote by William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham: “Don’t talk to me about a man’s being able to talk sense; everyone can talk sense – can he talk nonsense?” Does anyone know what the context of thi… --- ## [Federal Flagpole: Secret Stash](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-flagpole-secret-stash/62149)
**Author:** [@DataMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataMike)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/federal-flagpole-secret-stash/62149 "2016-07-02T02:42:49Z")
Yesterday at Easter brunch my nephew who is attending Purdue told the following tale: On the top of every Federal flag pole is a ball called the truck, the truck is designed to break into 13 pieces representing the 13 o… --- ## [Highest elected office reached by third party in USA?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highest-elected-office-reached-by-third-party-in-usa/758703)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highest-elected-office-reached-by-third-party-in-usa/758703 "2016-07-02T02:35:39Z")
I am asking about actual third parties, not independents like Angus King or Bernie Sanders. I am also not counting someone like Gary Johnson, who was elected Governor as a Republican, and switched to a third party after … --- ## [Do You Have The Right To Remain Silent In Prison?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-the-right-to-remain-silent-in-prison/758899)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-the-right-to-remain-silent-in-prison/758899 "2016-07-02T02:23:54Z")
On a show I watch, a prisoner (minimum security, if it makes a difference) is suspected of a murder and interrogated by a guard. I know that you give up many of your constitutional rights in prison, but AFAIK prisoners s… --- ## [Arrest Warrant](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-warrant/758871)
**Author:** [@Jrubas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jrubas)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-warrant/758871 "2016-07-02T02:17:33Z")
A friend of mine (cliche, but I’m being serious here) has a warrant out for his arrest for failure to appear in Virginia. He says that there was a website that had his info (name, case number, that it had been moved to a… --- ## [1) Bloodiest one-day battles ever? (Centennial of the Battle of the Somme) 2) "Kitchener's Army?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-bloodiest-one-day-battles-ever-centennial-of-the-battle-of-the-somme-2-kitcheners-army/758889)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-bloodiest-one-day-battles-ever-centennial-of-the-battle-of-the-somme-2-kitcheners-army/758889 "2016-07-02T01:56:23Z")
The chronology in human misery is marked today, with the centennial of the opening of The Battle of the Somme. (Wiki overview: Battle of the Somme - Wikipedia; profoundly worth reading: the opening day as reported in th… --- ## [Ramifications of Self-Driving Cars?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ramifications-of-self-driving-cars/753350)
**Author:** [@MegaNazz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaNazz)\ **Replies:** 260\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ramifications-of-self-driving-cars/753350 "2016-07-02T01:47:52Z")
A FB friend of mine shared an auto shop blog article about self-driving cars being “the wave of the future.” I enjoy driving for the most part but could definitely get behind taking a Johnny Cab to work everyday for a mo… --- ## [What constitutes an assault weapon?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-assault-weapon/758890)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-constitutes-an-assault-weapon/758890 "2016-07-01T23:56:04Z")
I am looking for a legal, or technical, answer. Not a political debate. There have been a lot of debates about whether any particular gun is an “assault weapon” or not. Is there a clear answer? Has Congress, or the N… --- ## [Does Yogurt Have Any Real Health Benefits?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-yogurt-have-any-real-health-benefits/758571)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-yogurt-have-any-real-health-benefits/758571 "2016-07-01T23:54:35Z")
Yogurt. I used to hate it. Then, I tried Kroger’s Greek-Style Blueberry, & love it. But, all health food wacko stuff aside–is it beneficial to my health? --- ## [Problems with video files on DVD+R](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-video-files-on-dvd-r/758837)
**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problems-with-video-files-on-dvd-r/758837 "2016-07-01T23:00:25Z")
I was trying to burn a video file to DVD today–not authoring a DVD, just putting the mp4 file on the DVD. This is something I’ve done before successfully. However, the mp4 wouldn’t play properly from the DVD when I che… --- ## [The ADA act and foreign Airlines](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ada-act-and-foreign-airlines/758879)
**Author:** [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ada-act-and-foreign-airlines/758879 "2016-07-01T22:08:42Z")
My wife has a tendency to suffer from severe cellulitis. We are booked for a 12 hr light on El Al 777-200/200ER. We are both people of size and my wife will have a wheelchair assist to the plane but she can move on her o… --- ## [Can you roll a die and get the same number an infinite number of times?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-roll-a-die-and-get-the-same-number-an-infinite-number-of-times/758286)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-roll-a-die-and-get-the-same-number-an-infinite-number-of-times/758286 "2016-07-01T21:06:31Z")
I was watching a video by Vi Hart on YouTube and she mentions the chances of rolling the same number on a fair die an infinite number of times is literally zero. While I get your chances of rolling the same number decre… --- ## [Which kind of shower do I need to buy to suit my existing pipework?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kind-of-shower-do-i-need-to-buy-to-suit-my-existing-pipework/758689)
**Author:** [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-kind-of-shower-do-i-need-to-buy-to-suit-my-existing-pipework/758689 "2016-07-01T18:11:38Z")
Hi folks, As will become apparent, I’m a bit of a doofus at plumbing. Our shower gave up the ghost recently. We have a very simple mixer shower, with the hot and cold pipes running into it. Our water system used to be … --- ## [Why do we draw and photograph autos facing to the left?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-draw-and-photograph-autos-facing-to-the-left/758755)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-draw-and-photograph-autos-facing-to-the-left/758755 "2016-07-01T18:02:58Z")
If you search for photos or drawings of any particular car, the vast majority are facing to the left. You do see some facing right, most of those are 3/4 views of the front. Fairly rare to see a straight side shot facing… --- ## [Star Trek, Commander Data, and His SLOW Computational Speed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-commander-data-and-his-slow-computational-speed/134947)
**Author:** [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-trek-commander-data-and-his-slow-computational-speed/134947 "2016-07-01T17:22:02Z")
On a “Star Trek: Next Generation” episode, Commander Data is said to possess “a total linear computational speed rated at 60 trillion operations per second.” This strikes me as rather glacial, given that this Star Trek … --- ## [oxygen at 21,000 feet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxygen-at-21-000-feet/758830)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxygen-at-21-000-feet/758830 "2016-07-01T17:11:49Z")
Hello Everyone, I’m reading Fighter Pilot, an autobiography written by a WWI fighter pills. He treks of making flights at 21,000 feet in orb cockpit planes with no supplemental oxygen. I have no doubt one could aran … --- ## [Do soy products really lower testosterone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-soy-products-really-lower-testosterone/758817)
**Author:** [@DudeManBro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudeManBro)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-soy-products-really-lower-testosterone/758817 "2016-07-01T16:30:58Z")
So what’s the final word on this? I’ve been craving this tofu/mushroom in soy sauce dish. Will probably make it soon, but don’t want to lose my bro-gains. Need answer kinda fast. --- ## [How are MIRVs steered?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-mirvs-steered/758826)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-mirvs-steered/758826 "2016-07-01T16:08:48Z")
In the thread about what one would write on a nuclear bomb, I came across this picture. I’ve seen similar ones before, just like the name says, they are independently targeted. But how do they steer them? There’s no obvi… --- ## [Windows 10 sign in question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-sign-in-question/758762)
**Author:** [@Always\_thinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Always_thinking)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-sign-in-question/758762 "2016-07-01T15:00:32Z")
My sister has a new Acer laptop. (Acer 1.60 GHz Intel Pentium N3700 4GB Ram 5000 Hdd). The problem she has is this: when she signs on to her computer - Windows 10 - she has to reset it each time with a new password as th… --- ## [Certified copies of wills](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/certified-copies-of-wills/758784)
**Author:** [@bmasters1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmasters1)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/certified-copies-of-wills/758784 "2016-07-01T14:45:37Z")
Is a certified, notarized copy of a will legal? --- ## [Why is there no video footage of Philippe Petit's WTC tightrope walk?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-video-footage-of-philippe-petits-wtc-tightrope-walk/758617)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-video-footage-of-philippe-petits-wtc-tightrope-walk/758617 "2016-07-01T12:55:00Z")
Ever since I saw “Man on Wire” and was like “WTF, after all that, all you have are still photos?!?” I have wondered about this. It’s so strange that he brought someone along to film it, but the guy didn’t get a single s… --- ## [motorsports: why nitrous oxide and not nitrogen dioxide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorsports-why-nitrous-oxide-and-not-nitrogen-dioxide/758785)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/motorsports-why-nitrous-oxide-and-not-nitrogen-dioxide/758785 "2016-07-01T03:03:45Z")
Nitrous oxide is N\[sub\]2\[/sub\]O. When piped to the intake tract of an internal combustion engine, it’s useful for boosting power output because it’s 36% oxygen by mass, whereas atmospheric air is only 20% oxygen; it let… --- ## [Law Enforcement Raids on Company Records](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/law-enforcement-raids-on-company-records/758772)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/law-enforcement-raids-on-company-records/758772 "2016-06-30T21:13:24Z")
Every once in a while you see reports of law enforcement teams swooping down on some business or institution and seizing their records. They cart out boxes and boxes of files, and computer hard drives and so on. My quest… --- ## [Artillery: hearing protection...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artillery-hearing-protection/758780)
**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artillery-hearing-protection/758780 "2016-06-30T20:38:09Z")
…for how long has it been considered important for the people operating the guns, and is there some kind of timeline for the evolution of various forms of hearing protection? --- ## [What was a Mycenean "Knight?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-a-mycenean-knight/758109)
**Author:** [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-a-mycenean-knight/758109 "2016-06-30T20:06:30Z")
So I’m reading the Iliad, and the translation I am using makes repeated references to “Nestor, knight of Gerene,” and also various references to unnamed “knights.” What, exactly, do they mean by this? I always get conf… --- ## [Is feeding a horse at high temps (95º F or more) harmful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-feeding-a-horse-at-high-temps-95-f-or-more-harmful/758627)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-feeding-a-horse-at-high-temps-95-f-or-more-harmful/758627 "2016-06-30T19:24:29Z")
I have a friend. . . \[seriously!\]. . . who is averse to feeding horses at high temps because it’s ‘not good for them.’ Of course, the big GI related issues you worry about with horses is colic, which can be pretty bad. … --- ## [electric generator with a load are harder to turn?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-generator-with-a-load-are-harder-to-turn/758513)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [June 30, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-generator-with-a-load-are-harder-to-turn/758513 "2016-06-30T17:16:31Z")
I believe this is true, but I’d like a demonstration of it or some simple explanation. I’m not getting much on my (admittedly limited) google search. Is it true that if I hand crank an electric generator with no load o… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=880) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=882)