# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=908 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 909 --- ## [air-conditioning and global warming](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioning-and-global-warming/754464)
**Author:** [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 11, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-conditioning-and-global-warming/754464 "2016-05-11T00:38:42Z")
How much does air-conditioning contribute to global warming? I don’t just mean the energy needed to run the units. When an air-conditioner cools a space, it heats up an equal space even more than it cools. That’s why… --- ## [Was survival possible for paraplegics 100+ years ago?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-survival-possible-for-paraplegics-100-years-ago/754428)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-survival-possible-for-paraplegics-100-years-ago/754428 "2016-05-10T22:43:17Z")
The question is prompted by the paraplegic character on Game of Thrones. The son of a friend became paraplegic four years ago and I have learned a great deal about the difficulties involved in living with half your body… --- ## [What are the penalties for posessing the illegal number?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-penalties-for-posessing-the-illegal-number/754039)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-penalties-for-posessing-the-illegal-number/754039 "2016-05-10T22:13:19Z")
An article about a key used in DVD encryption has been circulating the web lately. If you are caught with this number, what will the police really do, if anything? If I write the number on a flag, and hang it up outsid… --- ## [Feral hog problem](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feral-hog-problem/754301)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feral-hog-problem/754301 "2016-05-10T22:07:57Z")
Why are feral hogs more of a problem now then in the centuries since they were introduced to N. America? More food/fewer predators/less hunting or what? --- ## [What programming approach for continuously building data file over weeks and years?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programming-approach-for-continuously-building-data-file-over-weeks-and-years/754420)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-programming-approach-for-continuously-building-data-file-over-weeks-and-years/754420 "2016-05-10T21:57:57Z")
What approaches should I consider to write a program that will build a growing data file over the years, in a robust way? In my original source, data appear every day in a pretty continuous way. This is kind of like sto… --- ## [Estate taxes for non-resident US citizens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/estate-taxes-for-non-resident-us-citizens/754415)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/estate-taxes-for-non-resident-us-citizens/754415 "2016-05-10T21:38:28Z")
I have tried googling this, but the only information I can get concerns estate taxes for non-citizen non-residents. Our financial advisor claims that I will get no exemption (or actually a very tiny one) if I die and al… --- ## [How does Facebook know who my brother-in-law is?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-facebook-know-who-my-brother-in-law-is/754108)
**Author:** [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-facebook-know-who-my-brother-in-law-is/754108 "2016-05-10T21:32:33Z")
OK, so Facebook is freaking me out. The last couple of weeks, Facebook’s ‘people you may know’ list for me includes my brother-in-law. I have no idea how they could possibly have made the connection. We don’t have each… --- ## [Shipping via railway](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-via-railway/754273)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shipping-via-railway/754273 "2016-05-10T21:05:45Z")
I have never heard of a average person or company shipping something via railway. Is it possible to do this? Who generally ships via rail? Just large manufacturers or producers? --- ## [Double Jeopardy and Multiple Acts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-jeopardy-and-multiple-acts/754173)
**Author:** [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/double-jeopardy-and-multiple-acts/754173 "2016-05-10T20:47:16Z")
I’m having trouble wrapping my head around when criminal acts are considered singular or multiple for double jeopardy purposes. Suppose I illegally sell you one prescription pill on July 1 and another on July 2. I unde… --- ## [A very long vacuum tube](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-long-vacuum-tube/754459)
**Author:** [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-long-vacuum-tube/754459 "2016-05-10T20:38:09Z")
Suppose you had a very long tube, maybe a 100 miles long. The diameter of the tube was fairly large say 6 ft. The tube was leak proof 100%. Say you had a pump to bring it into a vacuum that took 3 months to pull it down … --- ## [propellers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propellers/754335)
**Author:** [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/propellers/754335 "2016-05-10T19:32:49Z")
I see airplanes with two, three and four or more blades on the propellers. does this help much ? --- ## [Lesbians, Nuns, Europeans: Is there significance to a "wedding band" on the right ring finger?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbians-nuns-europeans-is-there-significance-to-a-wedding-band-on-the-right-ring-finger/751096)
**Author:** [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lesbians-nuns-europeans-is-there-significance-to-a-wedding-band-on-the-right-ring-finger/751096 "2016-05-10T15:17:18Z")
The query is both addressed to lesbians, n’s, and E’s as a group or combinatorial, as well as being about them. I have heard/read and claimed in the first words I ever said to my wife when I met her in synagogue (TMI?–t… --- ## [Is this sentence grammatical?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-grammatical/754303)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-sentence-grammatical/754303 "2016-05-10T15:16:12Z")
Obviously the sentence “David, Sarah and myself went to the park.” is wrong wrong wrong despite the masses of people I hear using that format. However “David, Sarah and my good self went to the park.” although pretentiou… --- ## [Question about what "disabilities" are...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-what-disabilities-are/754117)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-what-disabilities-are/754117 "2016-05-10T12:43:21Z")
I read on Reddit about a guy who has a medical condition that causes him to strongly smell like rotten fish. It seems to me that someone with such a condition would be almost unemployable for anything except a work from … --- ## [Any countries left with racist laws on the books?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-left-with-racist-laws-on-the-books/753904)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 60\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-left-with-racist-laws-on-the-books/753904 "2016-05-10T09:09:29Z")
South Africa’s apartheid policies were scrapped in 1994. No doubt racist attitudes continue to fester there and elsewhere, but are there any countries left that still have similar explicitly racist laws on the books? --- ## [Chromecast in a motel/hotel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chromecast-in-a-motel-hotel/754380)
**Author:** [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chromecast-in-a-motel-hotel/754380 "2016-05-10T06:33:51Z")
I’m making a substantial trip soon. Any reason why a Chromecast wouldn’t work in a hotel/motel environment with in room wi-fi? Why? Can watch a couple of subscribed networks - netflix - hulu, and on-demand networks. Ca… --- ## [What have been the closest family member deaths of a U.S. President while in office?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-been-the-closest-family-member-deaths-of-a-u-s-president-while-in-office/754279)
**Author:** [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 10, 2016, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-have-been-the-closest-family-member-deaths-of-a-u-s-president-while-in-office/754279 "2016-05-10T01:20:42Z")
Although he seems a physically fit and healthy guy, if Hillary Clinton is elected President then Bill Clinton will be the oldest First Spouse ever. He’ll be older than Nancy Reagan was at the end of her eight years. So,… --- ## [What drains the CPU when nothing else is open?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drains-the-cpu-when-nothing-else-is-open/754442)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-drains-the-cpu-when-nothing-else-is-open/754442 "2016-05-09T22:42:31Z")
I’m using Firefox, I have only the g-mail open, and at times, things sort of lock up and the little CPU monitor runs up to 30%-50%. Usually, when things are moving smoothly, it’s down around the 1%-5% range. I know tha… --- ## [Reduce foot swelling: Foot above ankle or heart?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reduce-foot-swelling-foot-above-ankle-or-heart/754385)
**Author:** [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reduce-foot-swelling-foot-above-ankle-or-heart/754385 "2016-05-09T22:16:45Z")
(Note: I don’t think this is really medical advice, but if it belongs in IMHO, I won’t argue) I recently had ankle surgery to put in a plate. I’ve been instructed to keep my foot elevated in order to reduce swelling. … --- ## [Do deaf people have good vision?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-deaf-people-have-good-vision/754437)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-deaf-people-have-good-vision/754437 "2016-05-09T21:47:57Z")
By vision, I don’t mean that they can see 20/20, but rather that, in the same way that blind people often have exceptional hearing due to having to rely on the other senses to compensate for lack of sight, are deaf peopl… --- ## [Murder committed by numerous assailants](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murder-committed-by-numerous-assailants/754044)
**Author:** [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murder-committed-by-numerous-assailants/754044 "2016-05-09T20:45:03Z")
I was reading recently about a homicide case in Taiwan where one person was attacked by many assailants and eventually died. This made me wonder a legal question: Suppose - for sheer logical extreme’s sake - that a vict… --- ## [Can I use Adobe Creative Cloud on my Mac?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-adobe-creative-cloud-on-my-mac/754291)
**Author:** [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-use-adobe-creative-cloud-on-my-mac/754291 "2016-05-09T19:55:19Z")
Is Adobe Creative Cloud only for Windows users, or can I use it on my Windows-free Mac? --- ## [Is the composer, Franz Schubert gay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-composer-franz-schubert-gay/578661)
**Author:** [@peeyaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peeyaj)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-composer-franz-schubert-gay/578661 "2016-05-09T19:38:03Z")
http://rogerbourland.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/schubert\_4.jpg Franz Schubert, considered as the greatest songwriter who ever lived and one of the greatest in classical music, have been endlessly debated regarding h… --- ## [Preserving newsprint](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-newsprint/754088)
**Author:** [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preserving-newsprint/754088 "2016-05-09T19:07:58Z")
I’ve recently started writing for the local paper. My wife wants me to preserve my work. I don’t want to just shove clippings in a photo album from CVS. On the other hand, it’s not like they need to keep for 100 years, … --- ## [Filming, taping... recording?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filming-taping-recording/754223)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filming-taping-recording/754223 "2016-05-09T18:47:57Z")
If I’m using my 16 mm camera, I’m filming. If I’m shooting with a mini-DV camera, I’m taping. What am I doing if I’m recording video onto the flash drive of my DSLR? Just ‘recording’? ‘Videoing’? --- ## [Clinton's e-mail](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-e-mail/754047)
**Author:** [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-e-mail/754047 "2016-05-09T18:16:10Z")
Does anyone know exactly which federal statute Hillary might be suspected of violating? I cannot think of a single statute (though I am sure there must be some) in which a willful intent to violate the law is an element… --- ## [Concrete shoes, pulp fiction or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-shoes-pulp-fiction-or-not/458221)
**Author:** [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concrete-shoes-pulp-fiction-or-not/458221 "2016-05-09T17:55:28Z")
Just a random thought that popped in my mind, I´m sure you´ve heard the term concrete shoes, mobsters choice of swimwear for fellas with rodent traits and other individuals that ran afoul of them. But, is there any trut… --- ## [Could a rifle shot detonate 19th century dynomite?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-rifle-shot-detonate-19th-century-dynomite/754375)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-rifle-shot-detonate-19th-century-dynomite/754375 "2016-05-09T16:25:02Z")
The whole point of Alfred Nobel’s product was to make it stable. Still, there’s things likeTannerite. So, which is it? Could Butch Cassidy save himself by shooting a case of TNT? --- ## [Block foundations versus poured concrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/block-foundations-versus-poured-concrete/754144)
**Author:** [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/block-foundations-versus-poured-concrete/754144 "2016-05-09T16:10:38Z")
In my newly adopted town, in eastern Ontario, I’ve noticed that all new homes are being built with ye olde masonry blocks for the foundation. Why is that? The ground here is very extremely sandy. Would that play into … --- ## [Animated PNGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-pngs/754057)
**Author:** [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 9, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animated-pngs/754057 "2016-05-09T14:08:05Z")
I play around with Photoshop-type stuff from time to time - the occasional PS thread on FARK or Reddit, for example, and I do a lot of gfx for my gaming clan. A few years back, I played with making animated PNG files - … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=907) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=909)