# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=895 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 896 --- ## [toliet and radio dont mix](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toliet-and-radio-dont-mix/756251)
**Author:** [@brotherb2013](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brotherb2013)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2016, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toliet-and-radio-dont-mix/756251 "2016-06-05T03:28:37Z")
our family would like know why the radio in the bathroom becomes staticy(a lot of interference) when they flush the toilet? im the son of the family and I don’t have an answer for this unusual question:cool: --- ## [World War 2 sabotage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-war-2-sabotage/756457)
**Author:** [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [June 5, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-war-2-sabotage/756457 "2016-06-05T01:34:10Z")
I was watching a US WWII propaganda film, and one of the things they mentioned was looking out for sabotage. Were there ever any real examples of enemy sabotage in US factories during the war? --- ## [Where do islands get their water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-islands-get-their-water/315142)
**Author:** [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-islands-get-their-water/315142 "2016-06-04T21:30:00Z")
I just got back from my vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, and I have to wonder–where do islands like that get fresh water? That particular island is a good 5 miles from the mainland, and both it and that part of the mainlan… --- ## [How to put sound FX in s. vegas clips?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-put-sound-fx-in-s-vegas-clips/756522)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-put-sound-fx-in-s-vegas-clips/756522 "2016-06-04T20:27:04Z")
Hi, I know how to put audio effects in the ,tracks" in sony vegas pro, but how am I supposed to put audio effects in audio clips themselves and is it possible (by clips I mean things you create when you simply split up a… --- ## [Learning a Language](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-a-language/756473)
**Author:** [@Stinky\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinky_Pete)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/learning-a-language/756473 "2016-06-04T20:10:00Z")
Is learning sign language easier for adults than learning a spoken language? Let’s say for purpose of this discussion the spoken language is one of the easier ones like Spanish or Japanese. --- ## [Sleep patterns before electric lights?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-patterns-before-electric-lights/756485)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sleep-patterns-before-electric-lights/756485 "2016-06-04T19:53:35Z")
They had candles and lanterns but I wonder if people slept a lot more pre 1900? In the winter it might have been preferable to stay in bed under warm blankets. I also read somewhere that people would sleep in 2 shift… --- ## [Inactive ingredients in Debrox, an earwax removal product](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inactive-ingredients-in-debrox-an-earwax-removal-product/756192)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inactive-ingredients-in-debrox-an-earwax-removal-product/756192 "2016-06-04T17:29:26Z")
One “Inactive ingredient” in Debrox is “flavor.” WTF??? Flavor??? For earwax removal? I suppose if you have a perforated eardrum and some of the stuff leaks in and down your eustachian tube to your throat, you mig… --- ## [What weapons could be built (practically) that would be more powerful than nuclear weapons?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapons-could-be-built-practically-that-would-be-more-powerful-than-nuclear-weapons/756229)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 79\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-weapons-could-be-built-practically-that-would-be-more-powerful-than-nuclear-weapons/756229 "2016-06-04T15:40:21Z")
The only weapon that comes to mind at the moment would be some antimatter-based weapon, but that weapon would have an enormously dangerous drawback that would make it impractical, which is the fact that if there were som… --- ## [Why links to reddit?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-links-to-reddit/756012)
**Author:** [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-links-to-reddit/756012 "2016-06-04T12:00:13Z")
Every so often some fool posts links to something at reddit (such as here, until it’s deleted), usually labeled live stream. Why? What exactly are they links to? --- ## [When 2 lanes merge, who has right of way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-2-lanes-merge-who-has-right-of-way/65962)
**Author:** [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-2-lanes-merge-who-has-right-of-way/65962 "2016-06-04T06:54:05Z")
When 2 lanes merge into 1, who has the right of way, the car in the left lane, or the car in the right lane? (Assume they arrive at the merge at the same time). This has been a source of confusion for me. I’m not talking… --- ## [Laying Vinyl Tile After Ripping Out Carpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laying-vinyl-tile-after-ripping-out-carpet/756449)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laying-vinyl-tile-after-ripping-out-carpet/756449 "2016-06-04T05:00:50Z")
In my new store i am ripping out a section of carpet and laying down vinyl tile for the produce area. The carpet was glued down, and has obvious glue residue left over. Neither my father or I are tile experts and just … --- ## [Help me confirm a tree's identity, probably white ash.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-confirm-a-trees-identity-probably-white-ash/756453)
**Author:** [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-confirm-a-trees-identity-probably-white-ash/756453 "2016-06-04T04:14:06Z")
We are currently in the process of removing a tree that partially fell on and damaged my mother in law’s roof. I think the tree is probably white ash, but I’m not sure. The sticking point is that the leaves consist of fi… --- ## [Preferred order of units in unit strings?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-order-of-units-in-unit-strings/756160)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferred-order-of-units-in-unit-strings/756160 "2016-06-04T02:44:36Z")
When writing a complicated unit string in which several units are being multiplied together, is there any preferred way to order them? For example thermal resistivity could be written in (m K)/W or (K m)/W. To me both lo… --- ## [Old news story: Chrysler unhappy with use of word 'Jeep'](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-news-story-chrysler-unhappy-with-use-of-word-jeep/415564)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-news-story-chrysler-unhappy-with-use-of-word-jeep/415564 "2016-06-04T01:32:59Z")
I remember in the late 70s or early 80s reading an article in People(?) magazine about an entrepreneur who was being threatenened with legal action. They guy had some eponymous business, and some traveling Chrysler empl… --- ## [Why can't malware bots figure out the CAPTCHA text/mouse movements?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-malware-bots-figure-out-the-captcha-text-mouse-movements/756316)
**Author:** [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2016, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-malware-bots-figure-out-the-captcha-text-mouse-movements/756316 "2016-06-04T00:30:50Z")
Are our human brains ability to interpret data in a CAPTCHA text box or make mouse movements so complex that a malware bot cannot yet be programmed to interpret it or replicate it? --- ## [What type of civil judgments are a hit on a credit report?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-civil-judgments-are-a-hit-on-a-credit-report/646417)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-civil-judgments-are-a-hit-on-a-credit-report/646417 "2016-06-03T23:29:00Z")
We all know that “judgments” are death to a credit report. But which ones? If I skip out on a credit card bills, that obviously bad. But what if I have a legitimate beef with a contractor, let’s say, and we fight it o… --- ## [A-BomB: What was the decisive factor that allowed the Soviet Union to beat out Germany and Japan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bomb-what-was-the-decisive-factor-that-allowed-the-soviet-union-to-beat-out-germany-and-japan/755790)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bomb-what-was-the-decisive-factor-that-allowed-the-soviet-union-to-beat-out-germany-and-japan/755790 "2016-06-03T22:42:49Z")
Hi, I’ve tried to figure out what precisely the Soviet Union did right, despite it repressive policies and its paranoid leadership to beat out both Germany and Japan in developing the A bomb (admittedly after WWII). Wha… --- ## [Details of an old Donald Trump lawsuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/details-of-an-old-donald-trump-lawsuit/756335)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/details-of-an-old-donald-trump-lawsuit/756335 "2016-06-03T21:20:47Z")
Back in the '70s or '80s, I vaguely remember a case involving Donald Trump. There was a small grocery store owned by a couple whose name was also Trump. The store was called “Trump’s” or “Trump’s Grocery.” The Donald cla… --- ## [Importing mp3's into iTunes on a Mac](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importing-mp3s-into-itunes-on-a-mac/756360)
**Author:** [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/importing-mp3s-into-itunes-on-a-mac/756360 "2016-06-03T20:53:34Z")
Hi, I’m a PC. My friend is a Mac. I know nothing about the Apple world, and she is not particularly Mac savvy, despite owning one. I want to give her a bunch of mp3’s, and somehow they end up on her iPhone. In theory, … --- ## [Do darker pigmented individuals sweat more in the sun?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-darker-pigmented-individuals-sweat-more-in-the-sun/756418)
**Author:** [@mewmd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mewmd)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-darker-pigmented-individuals-sweat-more-in-the-sun/756418 "2016-06-03T20:45:20Z")
Hi Cecil, Most of us have learned, when returning from the beach in a bathing suit, that sitting in a car with dark upholstery will leave a lasting impression. Darker colors absorb more heat from sunlight than lighter c… --- ## [Open Heart Surgery WITHOUT Anesthesia: Possible?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-heart-surgery-without-anesthesia-possible/407332)
**Author:** [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/open-heart-surgery-without-anesthesia-possible/407332 "2016-06-03T19:15:19Z")
My mother works with a woman who claims to be able to control pain with her mind. She’s trained herself so well that she claims not to need any anesthesia during surgery. Now, the human mind is capable of wonderful thi… --- ## [Masses in perpetuity: Are there any still being done?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masses-in-perpetuity-are-there-any-still-being-done/750970)
**Author:** [@funky\_little\_lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funky_little_lee)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/masses-in-perpetuity-are-there-any-still-being-done/750970 "2016-06-03T17:52:37Z")
Every so often you read about medieval notables who left money for masses to be said for ever and ever for the benefit of their souls. Obviously at some point the money was going to run out–but are there any cases where … --- ## [Diagnose this car engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diagnose-this-car-engine/756167)
**Author:** [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diagnose-this-car-engine/756167 "2016-06-03T17:47:06Z")
2000 Chevy Prizm, with 258K miles. Check engine light went on - fortuitously, a few days after passing state inspection - and AutoZone says it’s two codes: P0300 and P0301. What these mean is that there is a misfire in … --- ## [Tax questions on carrying a mortgage on a house.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-questions-on-carrying-a-mortgage-on-a-house/756346)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-questions-on-carrying-a-mortgage-on-a-house/756346 "2016-06-03T16:59:58Z")
We are thinking of selling our house in a year and we anticipate a $60K profit and yes it would be tax free for us. One possibility is to sell it to Mrs Cad’s son. He would get a mortgage for the balance of our loan an… --- ## [Any Roofing Experts on this site?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-roofing-experts-on-this-site/756353)
**Author:** [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-roofing-experts-on-this-site/756353 "2016-06-03T16:28:50Z")
I’m in the process of getting quotes for a new roof on my house. It’s a low slope roof, less then 2:12, and is presently a torched-on roof. I have three quotes so far, two are for torched-on, $9,500 and $14,000. But a… --- ## [Iphone Apps In "Photography" Bubble](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-apps-in-photography-bubble/756385)
**Author:** [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-apps-in-photography-bubble/756385 "2016-06-03T15:33:02Z")
I was rearranging the screen placement of my iphone apps and one of them landed on top of the other sending both of them into a separate app bubble labeled “photography”. When I hold my finger on an app bubble so that al… --- ## [Android app remembers me afer uninstall/reinstall. How to stop?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-app-remembers-me-afer-uninstall-reinstall-how-to-stop/756310)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-app-remembers-me-afer-uninstall-reinstall-how-to-stop/756310 "2016-06-03T15:10:38Z")
I downloaded the MyVegas 21 app, because I want to try out Free Bet Blackjack, and that’s the only place I can find that seems to run a simulation of it. However the jerks who run the app require you to tediously level-g… --- ## [What is the procedure if an aircraft elevator/aileron is jammed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-procedure-if-an-aircraft-elevator-aileron-is-jammed/756231)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-procedure-if-an-aircraft-elevator-aileron-is-jammed/756231 "2016-06-03T14:03:54Z")
This is not a need answer quick situation :slight\_smile: What is a pilot supposed to do if the airplane tail elevator or a wing aileron is jammed in its up or down position and cannot be un-jammed? Seems that this woul… --- ## [My daughter is getting bitten at night! Help!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughter-is-getting-bitten-at-night-help/271745)
**Author:** [@sixor9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sixor9)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-daughter-is-getting-bitten-at-night-help/271745 "2016-06-03T13:49:04Z")
My daughter seems to get as many as 8 or 9 bug bites overnight every once in a while. Sometimes it will be just one or two, other times more. When it happens, it seems to happen frequently, like 3 or 4 times in a week to… --- ## [What's biting me?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-biting-me/672416)
**Author:** [@CastleAnthrax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastleAnthrax)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2016, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-biting-me/672416 "2016-06-03T13:30:32Z")
For the past several months, every few days, I notice a new itchy red mark that looks like an insect bite somewhere on my body. It gets maybe 1/3" at most and is slightly raised and very itchy, with irregular edges and … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=894) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=896)