# Factual Questions

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=893

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**Page:** 894

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## [Faint natural gas smell: Should I worry?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faint-natural-gas-smell-should-i-worry/383499)

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**Author:** [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\
**Replies:** 19\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faint-natural-gas-smell-should-i-worry/383499 "2016-06-08T20:41:46Z")

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Just moved into a tiny apartment in Manhattan. There is a faint odor of natural gas emanating from around the stove, but the pilot light seems to be working, as all four burners and the oven are operational. Being new …

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## [Why are scoliosis screenings only done in early elementary?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-scoliosis-screenings-only-done-in-early-elementary/756540)

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**Author:** [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\
**Replies:** 11\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-scoliosis-screenings-only-done-in-early-elementary/756540 "2016-06-08T19:29:24Z")

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In my own schooling I remember scoliosis screenings in early elementary–first or second grade. There were no more afterward. Reading about it though, many people don’t develop it until they’re adolescents. And I’m one o…

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## [Disposing of hard drive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-hard-drive/756118)

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**Author:** [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\
**Replies:** 48\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/disposing-of-hard-drive/756118 "2016-06-08T19:21:10Z")

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I had a drive die on me, as they do, and I took it apart to bash the disks a bit, just in case, because there was personal info on it. In the future I should just buy a powerful magnet and safe myself the hassle, righ…

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## [Can a nuclear explosion set off in the eye of a hurricane disrupt its intensity?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-nuclear-explosion-set-off-in-the-eye-of-a-hurricane-disrupt-its-intensity/756425)

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**Author:** [@mewmd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mewmd)\
**Replies:** 57\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-nuclear-explosion-set-off-in-the-eye-of-a-hurricane-disrupt-its-intensity/756425 "2016-06-08T17:30:16Z")

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Notwithstanding the radiation fallout, theoretically, can a nuclear explosion purposely set of in a mature severe hurricane disrupt the forces that propagate this weather phenomenon? This question may be moot if the radi…

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## [Search Message Rules in Win Live Mail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-message-rules-in-win-live-mail/756841)

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**Author:** [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/search-message-rules-in-win-live-mail/756841 "2016-06-08T17:12:32Z")

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I have tons of message rules set up and scrolling through them to check for duplicates is time consuming. I’m wondering if there’s a way to search message rules I’ve setup so I don’t have duplicates - I’m thinking I wou…

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## [Another D-Day Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-d-day-question/756670)

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**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\
**Replies:** 26\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-d-day-question/756670 "2016-06-08T16:31:20Z")

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I keep reading that Hitler was surprised when the Allies attacked at Normandy. For a while, we’re told, he thought the landings were a feint, and that a major attack was going to happen somewhere else, perhaps near Calai…

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## [Are CFLs more efficient than conventional fluorescent lights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cfls-more-efficient-than-conventional-fluorescent-lights/756832)

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**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-cfls-more-efficient-than-conventional-fluorescent-lights/756832 "2016-06-08T15:47:14Z")

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Subject line pretty much covers it. If I have a 40-watt fluorescent tube, and a 40-watt CFL (which might be labeled as being equivalent to a 200-watt incandescent bulb), which one puts out more visible light?

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## [When did birth certificates become standard and/or required in the U.S.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-birth-certificates-become-standard-and-or-required-in-the-u-s/377142)

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**Author:** [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-birth-certificates-become-standard-and-or-required-in-the-u-s/377142 "2016-06-08T15:06:03Z")

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Depending on their location of birth, some people in the 19th century had a birth certificate (issued by a church or some other organization) while many people did not. When did birth certificates become required in the…

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## [How to you call a if function in this scernio?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-you-call-a-if-function-in-this-scernio/756828)

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**Author:** [@Galatus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galatus)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-you-call-a-if-function-in-this-scernio/756828 "2016-06-08T14:41:17Z")

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I had a peace of code: \<head\> \<meta charset=“utf-8”\> \<title\>The Elements Search\</title\> \<style type=“text/css”\> \</style\> \</head\> \<body\> \<div id=“searchbar-frame”\> \<div id=“container-1”\> \<span id=“icon”\>\<i class…

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## [How would I write a math equation for this situation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-write-a-math-equation-for-this-situation/756671)

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**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Replies:** 13\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-i-write-a-math-equation-for-this-situation/756671 "2016-06-08T14:03:50Z")

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I’m not sure if this is calculus or something else. You have a set of numbers. Each number is the previous number plus 7. You want to sum the sets. Let’s say you have four sets. That is 7 + 14 + 21 + 28. This gives an …

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## [Puka shell necklaces on Linus Pauling’s gravesite](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puka-shell-necklaces-on-linus-pauling-s-gravesite/756766)

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**Author:** [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puka-shell-necklaces-on-linus-pauling-s-gravesite/756766 "2016-06-08T07:59:33Z")

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My wife and I went graveyard hopping on Memorial Day. She’s an amateur genealogist and a member of her local DAR chapter. We started the day at a small cemetery in Vancouver, Washington where she and I, along with five o…

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## [How Does PayPal Handle Disputed Credit Card Charges?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-paypal-handle-disputed-credit-card-charges/223651)

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**Author:** [@Bag\_of\_Mostly\_Water](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bag_of_Mostly_Water)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [January 10, 2004, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-paypal-handle-disputed-credit-card-charges/223651 "2004-01-10T10:31:11Z")

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The background: I bought something from someone via eBay. Immediately after the auction closed, the person contacted me and requested I send payment to a specific PayPal account. As the email address associated with the…

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## [How does a prisoner hang himself in a county jail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-prisoner-hang-himself-in-a-county-jail/572846)

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**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\
**Replies:** 26\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-prisoner-hang-himself-in-a-county-jail/572846 "2016-06-08T05:13:50Z")

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I must say for full disclosure that I have been arrested a few times when I was younger and foolish. Each time, they stripped search me and didn’t allow shoelaces or belts. Then, when you get into the cell, there are n…

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## [Bodies remain on Mount Everest.   Why?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bodies-remain-on-mount-everest-why/725910)

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**Author:** [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\
**Replies:** 240\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bodies-remain-on-mount-everest-why/725910 "2016-06-08T03:43:53Z")

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I’ve seen estimates of the number of bodies left on Mt. Everest, after climbers succumb to the elements, that run as high as 200. Many of these deaths are events where the body is recoverable, not forever lost in so…

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## [Why isn't an older game like Quake 3 Arena as smooth as butter on this new high powered video card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-an-older-game-like-quake-3-arena-as-smooth-as-butter-on-this-new-high-powered-video-card/756782)

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**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-isnt-an-older-game-like-quake-3-arena-as-smooth-as-butter-on-this-new-high-powered-video-card/756782 "2016-06-08T02:08:41Z")

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I like to play the Quake Arena 3 botsfor relaxation. I don’t judge you, don’t judge me. The Game is 16 years old and plays fine on older video cards. So, anyway there was a Newegg sale happening and I got a relatively po…

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## [Would Saturn's rings be visible from Titan (or any of the other moons)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-saturns-rings-be-visible-from-titan-or-any-of-the-other-moons/644466)

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**Author:** [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\
**Replies:** 16\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-saturns-rings-be-visible-from-titan-or-any-of-the-other-moons/644466 "2016-06-08T00:22:33Z")

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If so, what would they look like?

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## [How long can an amphibian stay in suspended animation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-an-amphibian-stay-in-suspended-animation/756686)

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**Author:** [@CrowTitanium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrowTitanium)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [June 8, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-can-an-amphibian-stay-in-suspended-animation/756686 "2016-06-08T00:05:49Z")

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I was digging in some pretty tightly-packed soil recently, and found two salamanders (or maybe newts) buried about six feet down They were alive & seemed healthy, though they must have been buried for about a century. I’…

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## [Space-based telescopes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-based-telescopes/756641)

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**Author:** [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\
**Replies:** 22\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-based-telescopes/756641 "2016-06-07T22:41:22Z")

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Is there a limit to how good a space based telescope can see? If we could build a mirror the size of a football field would it be possible to see planets orbiting other stars? And I don’t mean just as some dot, but so…

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## [My computer would not connect to wireless.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-would-not-connect-to-wireless/756680)

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**Author:** [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\
**Replies:** 16\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-computer-would-not-connect-to-wireless/756680 "2016-06-07T22:32:49Z")

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Well – it does connect. Then it works about a minute and disconnects. The source seems to have no problem. Are there any devices which can improve the comp’s conductibility?

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## [Who Regulates UPS?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-regulates-ups/756731)

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**Author:** [@KSDeputy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSDeputy)\
**Replies:** 6\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-regulates-ups/756731 "2016-06-07T22:06:20Z")

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Does anyone know what federal agency regulates United Parcel Service, and how to make a complaint with them? Thank you.

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## [Do protocols to treaties have the same force as the treaty itself? (Re NATO expansion)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-protocols-to-treaties-have-the-same-force-as-the-treaty-itself-re-nato-expansion/756719)

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**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-protocols-to-treaties-have-the-same-force-as-the-treaty-itself-re-nato-expansion/756719 "2016-06-07T21:58:21Z")

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In an interview yesterday, Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson seemed to imply that the US does not have the same treaty obligations to the Eastern European members as to the original NATO signatories. I am trying…

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## [Can the District Attorney appeal against sentence in the US?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-district-attorney-appeal-against-sentence-in-the-us/756697)

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**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-district-attorney-appeal-against-sentence-in-the-us/756697 "2016-06-07T20:56:24Z")

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Or is the sentence caught by double jeopardy? (Question inspired by the Brock Turner six month sentence for attempted rape. )

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## [Are Individual Mosques Specific To One Faction Of Islam Or Another?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-individual-mosques-specific-to-one-faction-of-islam-or-another/756527)

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**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Replies:** 15\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-individual-mosques-specific-to-one-faction-of-islam-or-another/756527 "2016-06-07T20:20:36Z")

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This list of mosques in Saint Louis doesn’t seem to specify if this Mosque is associated with Shia Islam or that Mosque is associated with Sunni Islam or this other Mosque is associated with \[some faction of Islam I’ve n…

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## [Method for drawing very large radius?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/method-for-drawing-very-large-radius/756486)

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**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\
**Replies:** 15\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/method-for-drawing-very-large-radius/756486 "2016-06-07T19:00:58Z")

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Is there a method I could use for example to draw a 40 ft radius on a 3 ft piece of wood without building a 40 ft compass? Maybe some kind of radius compounding device?

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## [Why does plastic feel less cold/hot than glass or metal ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-plastic-feel-less-cold-hot-than-glass-or-metal/756720)

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**Author:** [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\
**Replies:** 20\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-plastic-feel-less-cold-hot-than-glass-or-metal/756720 "2016-06-07T17:09:59Z")

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This morning, while preparing beakfast, I picked a plastic box from the fridge and noticed that it felt… not cold to the touch. My first thought was that I may have left the fridge door ajar during the night but then I r…

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## [Why do Austrians speak German?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-austrians-speak-german/756638)

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**Author:** [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\
**Replies:** 83\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-austrians-speak-german/756638 "2016-06-07T16:13:19Z")

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People from England speak English. People from France speak French. People from Norway speak Norwegian. People from Greece speak Greek…and so on. Austrians speak…German. Why didn’t Austria ever develop its own indig…

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## [Constructing a polygon within a given circle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constructing-a-polygon-within-a-given-circle/756677)

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**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Replies:** 13\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/constructing-a-polygon-within-a-given-circle/756677 "2016-06-07T15:37:48Z")

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What is the regular polygon with the least number of sides that cannot be constructed within a given circle, using only a straightedge and a compass?

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## [Tigers,  Lions and Bears Oh My](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tigers-lions-and-bears-oh-my/755721)

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**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\
**Replies:** 51\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tigers-lions-and-bears-oh-my/755721 "2016-06-07T15:22:05Z")

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Hello Everyone, I’ve seen a bunch of videos of people playing with baby Lions, tigers and such. As these animals grow older can the people that raised then still do things like cuddle with them and play with them? Or …

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## [Anybody remember the website that promised no updates. Is it still there?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-the-website-that-promised-no-updates-is-it-still-there/756657)

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**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\
**Replies:** 11\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-remember-the-website-that-promised-no-updates-is-it-still-there/756657 "2016-06-07T05:00:57Z")

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I remember a website, I think in the late 90s or so that had as it’s gimmick that it was an unchanging area of the internet, as everywhere else was being updated and changed, this would be one spot that you could be sure…

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## [Explain Tapatalk to me, please.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-tapatalk-to-me-please/756059)

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**Author:** [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Replies:** 9\
**Last updated:** [June 7, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-tapatalk-to-me-please/756059 "2016-06-07T03:51:33Z")

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I have been posting to the SDMB on Android-based mobile devices for several years. When I wish to compose a post, I tap into the composing field, and a little QWERTY keyboard appears on my touchscreen. I touch the charac…

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