# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=929 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 930 --- ## [Florence mills.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florence-mills/750445)
**Author:** [@Daftjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daftjack)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2016, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florence-mills/750445 "2016-03-28T12:03:29Z")
Good day, I have a video of ‘Bugle Call Rag’ filmed on 23/05/1933. The two female dancers in the sequence are, Bessie Dudley and Florence mills. Could someone who may know, answer the following question for me: If Flo… --- ## [Another tricky math/probability question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tricky-math-probability-question/750420)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-tricky-math-probability-question/750420 "2016-03-28T09:17:21Z")
(This was the “puzzler” on 538.com recently) There’s a game at a fictional casino. If you choose to play, the casino randomly generates a number between 0 and 1. Then they generate another number between 0 and 1, and ad… --- ## [Not teaching cursive](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-teaching-cursive/750071)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/not-teaching-cursive/750071 "2016-03-28T02:46:41Z")
If students are no longer taught cursive, how do they sign their names? --- ## [CNN on an Android tablet. Flaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-on-an-android-tablet-flaky/750400)
**Author:** [@zuer-coli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zuer-coli)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-on-an-android-tablet-flaky/750400 "2016-03-28T00:59:54Z")
All, I do hope General Questions is the place for this post, if not will someone kindly report it. So, I have been following CNN with my Android tablet. I find CNN to be rather flaky, articles will not load, sometimes … --- ## [Does PC RAM still require installation in paired chips?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pc-ram-still-require-installation-in-paired-chips/750235)
**Author:** [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 28, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-pc-ram-still-require-installation-in-paired-chips/750235 "2016-03-28T00:52:03Z")
Dad has an Acer laptop that came with 6GB of RAM, installed as 4 and 2 GB modules. He’d like to expand this, but he’s unsure whether he needs to match either of the modules there, or if he’s not getting the full benefit… --- ## [What's the deal with non-iodized salt?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207)
**Author:** [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-non-iodized-salt/577207 "2016-03-27T21:58:16Z")
When you buy salt, the non-iodized kind has a label which reads “Does not contain iodine, a necessary nutrient.” Since iodine is a necessary nutrient, what reason would the salt companies have for making non-iodized, an… --- ## [Does the US have politically neutral civil servants?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-have-politically-neutral-civil-servants/750348)
**Author:** [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-us-have-politically-neutral-civil-servants/750348 "2016-03-27T20:18:30Z")
In the westminister parliamentary system each government minister will also have a permanent secretary who is the non-political head of the ministry (eg finance, defense, foreign office etc). Generally civil servants in… --- ## [Has there Ever Been an Attack on a Nuclear Power Plant?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-attack-on-a-nuclear-power-plant/750275)
**Author:** [@SHARKBITEATTACK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SHARKBITEATTACK)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-attack-on-a-nuclear-power-plant/750275 "2016-03-27T19:57:40Z")
I came across this article and it got me wondering Has there ever been a terrorist attack on an NPP? I’m not talking about stuxnet or Babylon either. A breach of the reactor core could be deadly. Even something sma… --- ## [Humans cheering and applauding](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humans-cheering-and-applauding/750256)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/humans-cheering-and-applauding/750256 "2016-03-27T18:41:31Z")
Across all cultures the dominant form of cheering and appreciation has been clapping. How and why did clapping evolve. Which culture has been credited with first using clapping as a form of apprciation? --- ## [Toilet Paper: "Double Roll"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-double-roll/749975)
**Author:** [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-paper-double-roll/749975 "2016-03-27T11:34:03Z")
Okay, in my 50 years on Earth, every roll of household toilet paper I’ve ever seen is the same size. Standardized, if you will, to fit every toilet paper holder. So why does almost every brand advertise itself as being … --- ## [Navy officer tried in bribery case. Why not court martialed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-officer-tried-in-bribery-case-why-not-court-martialed/750234)
**Author:** [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/navy-officer-tried-in-bribery-case-why-not-court-martialed/750234 "2016-03-27T09:06:04Z")
Article here. http://wapo.st/1RDK1FA It says he was tried in district court. He’s an active-duty captain–why isn’t this a court martial? --- ## [Air con compressor unit very hot???](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-con-compressor-unit-very-hot/750258)
**Author:** [@teddybound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teddybound)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-con-compressor-unit-very-hot/750258 "2016-03-27T07:43:48Z")
Hey there, A week ago, one of my system 3 air con broke down, so I arranged for an air con guy to come take a look. Today, He examined the air con compressor and said the capacity burst, so he exchanged a new one for U… --- ## [Weaknesses of the Soviet Army 1944-45?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaknesses-of-the-soviet-army-1944-45/750056)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weaknesses-of-the-soviet-army-1944-45/750056 "2016-03-27T04:42:18Z")
I was always under the impression that the Soviet army was an unstoppable juggernaut during the mid-40’s, having both relatively advanced and reliable weapons and tech as well as having sheer manpower to back it up. From… --- ## [Window-boxed Movies, Dammit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-boxed-movies-dammit/750286)
**Author:** [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 27, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/window-boxed-movies-dammit/750286 "2016-03-27T03:35:00Z")
“Window-boxed” movies are close to the wide screen 16:9 aspect ratio, but the picture is smaller than normal, causing black bars at the top and bottom of the screen, and also left and right. I could zoom the picture to … --- ## [Did Ed Trice sue to get his daughter's grade changed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ed-trice-sue-to-get-his-daughters-grade-changed/749794)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ed-trice-sue-to-get-his-daughters-grade-changed/749794 "2016-03-26T20:34:21Z")
You may have seen this by Ed Trice https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-largest-number-you-can-represent-3-digits-nope-its-ed-trice (I saw it because a friend of mine is a friend of a differnt Ed Trice) Many people are… --- ## [Definition of "Wazzick"? "Wozzuk"? (idk spelling) British term](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-wazzick-wozzuk-idk-spelling-british-term/749718)
**Author:** [@Enlightening\_Meditation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enlightening_Meditation)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definition-of-wazzick-wozzuk-idk-spelling-british-term/749718 "2016-03-26T18:47:29Z")
What the definition and spelling of this likely colloquial term used in British Parliament during the debate over whether Donald Trump should be banned from entering the United Kingdom? YouTube link of debate: https://… --- ## [Hillary Clinton - Who makes the Decision to prosecute?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clinton-who-makes-the-decision-to-prosecute/750240)
**Author:** [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillary-clinton-who-makes-the-decision-to-prosecute/750240 "2016-03-26T17:38:28Z")
Who would make the decision to prosecute or not Prosecute Hillary Clinton regarding the Email Server situation? --- ## [Usage Question: Hanged or Hung when Upside-down?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usage-question-hanged-or-hung-when-upside-down/750157)
**Author:** [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usage-question-hanged-or-hung-when-upside-down/750157 "2016-03-26T17:25:48Z")
Behold Wikipedia’s article on the imaginatively gruesome practices associated with hanging. My particular focus in this thread is the sections on hanging by methods OTHERR THAN the neck – upside-down, “by the feet,” a… --- ## [Batman v. Superman: What does Affleck see via the lighted-eye helmet?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-v-superman-what-does-affleck-see-via-the-lighted-eye-helmet/750135)
**Author:** [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-v-superman-what-does-affleck-see-via-the-lighted-eye-helmet/750135 "2016-03-26T14:41:17Z")
The promotional materials for Batman v. Superman heavily showcase photos of Batman in a helmet with lighted eyes. This looks cool, to be sure, but from the point of view of the person wearing the helmet, isn’t it the eq… --- ## [Any idea what unit this military patch represents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-unit-this-military-patch-represents/750168)
**Author:** [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-unit-this-military-patch-represents/750168 "2016-03-26T14:03:22Z")
Estate sale today. I scored a bag of military unit patches for a few bucks. I can’t identify this one. Any ideas? --- ## [Making combat optional for certain groups](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-combat-optional-for-certain-groups/749734)
**Author:** [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-combat-optional-for-certain-groups/749734 "2016-03-26T13:28:09Z")
I was reading this book recently and came upon what I considered a very odd claim. It states that when the American Air Force carried out a bombing raid on Rome, Catholic soldiers were given the option of turning down t… --- ## [iPhone blocked number. What does a caller/texter experience?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-blocked-number-what-does-a-caller-texter-experience/749956)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-blocked-number-what-does-a-caller-texter-experience/749956 "2016-03-26T10:51:04Z")
Longishstoryshort: I blocked someone on my iPhone. I am curious what he will experience if he calls or texts my number. Longish story: \[spoiler\]I am a bit anal about keeping my number private. I do not give anyone my n… --- ## [Financial Advisor Disclosing Costs](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/financial-advisor-disclosing-costs/749782)
**Author:** [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/financial-advisor-disclosing-costs/749782 "2016-03-26T06:47:19Z")
My husband and I are talking to a financial advisor and we feel like she is being evasive about investment costs. For almost a week now I’ve been trying to get her to send us an itemized list of costs for the investments… --- ## [Founder's Day - Real or Just My Imagination?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/founders-day-real-or-just-my-imagination/749722)
**Author:** [@Anxious\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anxious_Squirrel)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/founders-day-real-or-just-my-imagination/749722 "2016-03-26T04:42:24Z")
So I’m writing a cozy mystery that’s going to be called “Founder’s Dead.” Which I thought was a clever play on words for Founder’s Day. (Because I’m super clever like that and stuff.) And then I was thinking, hey, I sho… --- ## [Does grass really need to be cut?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-grass-really-need-to-be-cut/750095)
**Author:** [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-grass-really-need-to-be-cut/750095 "2016-03-26T03:24:53Z")
We don’t have a lawn. I’ve never lived anywhere with a lawn. I thought that the main reason to keep the grass mowed was to stop the neighbors from complaining. We do grow pots of grass for the cats. My BB says that we n… --- ## [What would these hotel "cabinets" have been used for?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-these-hotel-cabinets-have-been-used-for/750181)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-these-hotel-cabinets-have-been-used-for/750181 "2016-03-26T01:24:00Z")
Last night I saw Bruce Springsteen live up in Seattle. (Hell of a show, but that’s a topic for another thread.) As I usually do when I see a show in Seattle, I stayed overnight in a hotel a few blocks away. This time, I … --- ## [statue slowly covered by pavement (india?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-slowly-covered-by-pavement-india/750125)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2016, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/statue-slowly-covered-by-pavement-india/750125 "2016-03-25T23:55:21Z")
In my old Anthropology days, (1980’s), my cultural Anthro prof showed us a picture of a statue that appeared to be sinking into pavement. Over the years, new pavement had been added to the road/sidewalk and was slowly c… --- ## [Explain my Schedule K-1?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-my-schedule-k-1/749809)
**Author:** [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-my-schedule-k-1/749809 "2016-03-25T21:43:18Z")
Last year, I invested in an oil partnership (betting on rising prices, but that’s a different thread). I received a K-1 from the deal, and I can’t make heads or tails of it. Box L says my year increase is $5,176, and t… --- ## [Blind Spot Monitoring](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blind-spot-monitoring/750059)
**Author:** [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blind-spot-monitoring/750059 "2016-03-25T18:35:49Z")
I have a 2016 Toyota with their blind spot monitoring system. I know it uses millimeter radar to detect vehicles. It also detects people as you’re backing out of a parking spot. But it does not alert if I’m driving righ… --- ## [How to see Milky Way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-see-milky-way/749991)
**Author:** [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [March 25, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-see-milky-way/749991 "2016-03-25T18:07:51Z")
I read late summer is the best time. True? And that I need to go far away from city lights. Wilderness area is best but there is not one near me. How far from city lights do I need to be? 30 miles ? 60? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=928) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=930)