# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=910 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 911 --- ## [Blown gasket straight after a service?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blown-gasket-straight-after-a-service/753899)
**Author:** [@MrLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrLee)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blown-gasket-straight-after-a-service/753899 "2016-05-06T20:50:53Z")
Hello all My wife’s Ford Fiesta Style (2005) just blew a gasket while she was driving it home. Thing is, it had a major service last Saturday. The guy who came to pick it up (AA, in the UK) said he was very surprised th… --- ## [Clogged drain](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-drain/754065)
**Author:** [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clogged-drain/754065 "2016-05-06T20:29:17Z")
I’ve been renting the same apartment for about 18 months, but I have lately encountered an issue with a clog in the bathroom sink drain. I bought some Liquid Plumber and tried that a number of times (two bottles, half a… --- ## [Looking for information on illegal Mexican Immigrant crime](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-illegal-mexican-immigrant-crime/754006)
**Author:** [@GuestUser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuestUser)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-information-on-illegal-mexican-immigrant-crime/754006 "2016-05-06T19:40:56Z")
Hello everyone: I’m looking for statics on crime rates of illegal Mexican immigrants. I’ve been searching around the web trying to find what percentage of illegals commit crimes but i’m not really having any luck. --- ## [Prius battery life](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-battery-life/753994)
**Author:** [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prius-battery-life/753994 "2016-05-06T18:46:30Z")
Friends of mine are looking at an '04 Prius. It’s got low miles but back when I was considering buying one I remember the great panic of 5 year battery warranties and $8,000 replacement costs. AFAIK the battery apocaly… --- ## [Recovery rates for chemotherapy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovery-rates-for-chemotherapy/753208)
**Author:** [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recovery-rates-for-chemotherapy/753208 "2016-05-06T15:34:21Z")
This video is part of a popular internet series that makes startling claims about cancer treatment. Having a science background, some of this makes a sense. One particular claim is the chemotherapy has only a 2% cure r… --- ## [GFCI and my treadmill](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gfci-and-my-treadmill/753939)
**Author:** [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gfci-and-my-treadmill/753939 "2016-05-06T14:48:37Z")
I have a brand new house and in my unfinished basement I have constructed a little workout area. I have a treadmill plugged into the only really available outlet, which is a GFCI outlet. I have tripped this thing a bun… --- ## ["Bluebird" as "Windfall"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bluebird-as-windfall/754060)
**Author:** [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bluebird-as-windfall/754060 "2016-05-06T14:06:50Z")
What is the origin of referring to a windfall as a “bluebird”? In our business we use it for any sale or other piece of business that we obtain by chance, without our having done any work to earn it. I can site it going… --- ## [Apple Music deletes your hard drive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-music-deletes-your-hard-drive/753988)
**Author:** [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-music-deletes-your-hard-drive/753988 "2016-05-06T13:51:17Z")
This blog post says that when you sign up for Apple Music, it will delete tour stored files and make you listen to everything in the cloud. It even copies and then deleted his recordings of his own original compositions. … --- ## [RJ-45 used with a telphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rj-45-used-with-a-telphone/753998)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 6, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rj-45-used-with-a-telphone/753998 "2016-05-06T00:50:46Z")
I came across a desk phone with a 6 pin connector plugged into an RJ-45 jack. The RJ-25 plug pins line up with the RJ-45 jack, but is this a legitimate practice? --- ## [New drug called W-18](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-drug-called-w-18/753948)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-drug-called-w-18/753948 "2016-05-05T21:04:40Z")
Is this another fake scare, or are people actually dying from it? Also, why is it legal? --- ## [GQs about ogoing NHS doctor's strike in the U.K.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gqs-about-ogoing-nhs-doctors-strike-in-the-u-k/753898)
**Author:** [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gqs-about-ogoing-nhs-doctors-strike-in-the-u-k/753898 "2016-05-05T17:45:47Z")
The NHS doctor’s strike is not getting a lot attention in the U.S., but I did run across a reference to it on Cracked.com (of all places) and in this CBS News online article. The article prompts a few questions from this… --- ## [Did a lightning strike kill my lightswitch?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-lightning-strike-kill-my-lightswitch/753947)
**Author:** [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-a-lightning-strike-kill-my-lightswitch/753947 "2016-05-05T16:52:03Z")
Several days ago, we had thunderstorms come through the area over a period of a few days. Just for an example, let’s say we had storms last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Monday, we had a very close lightning strik… --- ## [Piss like a race horse](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-like-a-race-horse/753857)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/piss-like-a-race-horse/753857 "2016-05-05T16:31:13Z")
Hello Everyone, When I was younger, 1970’s-1980’s, men had to say "I have to piss like a race horse or sometimes a “Russian racehorse”. Now, we have horses and when they pee, it’s a river of piss, so I get that. But… --- ## [Help diagnose this transmission issue in my Jeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-this-transmission-issue-in-my-jeep/753858)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-diagnose-this-transmission-issue-in-my-jeep/753858 "2016-05-05T15:38:56Z")
Ran fine on Sunday and apparently had this problem all Monday. No check engine light so I have no codes. 2006 Jeep Commander 5.7L hemi. Works fine in 1st and 2nd gear (not in 4x4 low, I checked). As soon as it gets i… --- ## [Can you make a portable device that will automatically measure the interior dimensions of a shoe?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-a-portable-device-that-will-automatically-measure-the-interior-dimensions-of-a-shoe/753960)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-make-a-portable-device-that-will-automatically-measure-the-interior-dimensions-of-a-shoe/753960 "2016-05-05T15:04:45Z")
Lots of shoes are sold on the net and lots and lots of shoes are returned because of size issues and shoe sizing is not full consistent (to say the least) across manufacturers. I know laser measurers exist for measuring… --- ## [Ipads are a student safety issue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipads-are-a-student-safety-issue/753785)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipads-are-a-student-safety-issue/753785 "2016-05-05T14:31:47Z")
I went an elementary school today for an event. There was a sign on the front door saying “If you have an Ipad or tablet with please check in with the office as it is a student safety issue”. What is that about? --- ## [A knight charges a parked car on horseback. The result?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knight-charges-a-parked-car-on-horseback-the-result/753808)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-knight-charges-a-parked-car-on-horseback-the-result/753808 "2016-05-05T10:58:21Z")
For some reason I’ve been wondering about this. What would be the result if a fully armored knight and horse charged full speed at a car (say, a sedan) and struck it with his lance/spear? Would it significantly damage th… --- ## [How did "Mississippi" become the state name used when counting seconds?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mississippi-become-the-state-name-used-when-counting-seconds/753669)
**Author:** [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-mississippi-become-the-state-name-used-when-counting-seconds/753669 "2016-05-05T10:09:12Z")
Alabama. Arizona. California. Colorado. Etcetera. There are several states with four-syllable names, which means that any one of them, theoretically, could’ve become the standard word used (in the US) to estimate se… --- ## [Present day South Africa and the offensiveness of "kaffir" and "nigger"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/present-day-south-africa-and-the-offensiveness-of-kaffir-and-nigger/752833)
**Author:** [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/present-day-south-africa-and-the-offensiveness-of-kaffir-and-nigger/752833 "2016-05-05T08:43:30Z")
I used to work with a (white) guy who grew up in South Africa, and he said that as a kid, which I would guess would have been in 1950s or so, “kaffir” was much more offensive than “nigger”, both used as slurs against bla… --- ## [Is the mob (Mafia) still a thing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mob-mafia-still-a-thing/753875)
**Author:** [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mob-mafia-still-a-thing/753875 "2016-05-05T06:46:20Z")
(Might be better suited for IMHO…) Just something I wonder from time to time: Does the “Mafia” still exist? Are they still active… and if so, in what form, and where? If they don’t exist, when did they stop existing? W… --- ## [Quick question about Clinton's email server](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-question-about-clintons-email-server/753963)
**Author:** [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-question-about-clintons-email-server/753963 "2016-05-05T04:05:19Z")
Hopefully this will be a simple question. Back when Hillary Clinton was using a private email server for all her email while she was secretary of state, what was her email address? what was the domain name? Thanks --- ## [Any solutions to fixing this wobbly bar table?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-solutions-to-fixing-this-wobbly-bar-table/753106)
**Author:** [@teddybound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teddybound)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-solutions-to-fixing-this-wobbly-bar-table/753106 "2016-05-05T03:49:56Z")
Hi there, I have a glass bar table which is supported by a metal pole to a metal base. I like this table very much. But unfortunately, as it is barely supported by a metal pole, it tends to wobble side to side, hence th… --- ## [Question about old legal documents and their value](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-legal-documents-and-their-value/198797)
**Author:** [@Herge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Herge)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-old-legal-documents-and-their-value/198797 "2016-05-05T03:37:38Z")
Can anybody give me an idea of the value, if any, of some papers I have. They are ink on a parchment type paper, dating from about 1800 to 1900. The font is in a flowing, classical style. The parchments are quite large,… --- ## [Speed of light: Changing the celestial speed limit- I can't drive 3x10^8 m/s!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-light-changing-the-celestial-speed-limit-i-cant-drive-3x10-8-m-s/753894)
**Author:** [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-light-changing-the-celestial-speed-limit-i-cant-drive-3x10-8-m-s/753894 "2016-05-05T03:04:10Z")
Suppose that I am walking down a beach and open a bottle, only to have a genie appear and offer me 3 wishes. Because I find Newtonian physics much easier to understand than relativity, I ask him to get rid of the speed … --- ## [Speed of Light question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-light-question/753812)
**Author:** [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [May 5, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/speed-of-light-question/753812 "2016-05-05T01:28:08Z")
According to The Big Bang Theory, from which I derive most of my scientific understanding, light is the speed limit of the universe. Nothing can go faster than light. This point is also made in the seminal physics docu… --- ## [Artificial Turf ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artificial-turf/753842)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artificial-turf/753842 "2016-05-04T23:56:14Z")
I play ball on a few fields that have artificial turf in the outfields. The turf seems to be “sprinkled” with what looks like small black pellets. What’s the purpose of this? And did I not hear some controversy about che… --- ## [Renting a Car from Expedia...When do I pay?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-a-car-from-expedia-when-do-i-pay/753943)
**Author:** [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/renting-a-car-from-expedia-when-do-i-pay/753943 "2016-05-04T23:43:26Z")
It’s a fairly straightforward question that I’m asking because I couldn’t tell you the last time I rented a car in any sort, much less on Expedia. I intended to use a specific credit card to pay for it, but it wasn’t un… --- ## [Finding last week's news on the Web](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-last-weeks-news-on-the-web/753860)
**Author:** [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-last-weeks-news-on-the-web/753860 "2016-05-04T19:42:36Z")
I’ve been abroad and off the Web for a couple of weeks. I’d like to catch up on the headline news for each day that I missed. How can I do that? Ideally you’d be able to access the New York Times front page (or indeed, … --- ## [Water outage: How long to let it run?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-outage-how-long-to-let-it-run/753685)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/water-outage-how-long-to-let-it-run/753685 "2016-05-04T19:23:35Z")
This morning, there was a water outage in my building. I don’t know how long it lasted: When I got up, I used the restroom, and couldn’t wash my hands. So I went for the hand sanitizer, and as I was using it, heard th… --- ## [Finding older Kelley Blue Book car values](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-older-kelley-blue-book-car-values/753893)
**Author:** [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 4, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-older-kelley-blue-book-car-values/753893 "2016-05-04T19:14:32Z")
I have a VW that is expected to be part of a buy-back program because of the diesel scandal. The expectation is that I should be able to sell my car back to VW at a fair market value price before the diesel scandal was … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=909) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=911)