# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=935 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 936 --- ## ["La Vieille" in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-vieille-in-georgian-bay-lake-huron/749140)
**Author:** [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/la-vieille-in-georgian-bay-lake-huron/749140 "2016-03-16T18:47:12Z")
I’m reading about Scottish fur trappers in Canada and came upon a reference to the French-canadian canoemen throwing trinkets into Georgian Bay to appease La Vieille. Who or what is she? A spirit? The wind? An island? T… --- ## [What's the optimum unemployment level?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-optimum-unemployment-level/749011)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-optimum-unemployment-level/749011 "2016-03-16T18:39:33Z")
I was cleaning the kitchen the other day and had the TV on. Some candidate (no idea which or even what office he was running for) claimed that if elected he’d get the unemployment rate down to 0. As I understand it, th… --- ## [Los Angeles Rams NFL team - Q. about MO and CA labor laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-rams-nfl-team-q-about-mo-and-ca-labor-laws/749002)
**Author:** [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/los-angeles-rams-nfl-team-q-about-mo-and-ca-labor-laws/749002 "2016-03-16T17:44:28Z")
So, the NFL Rams have decided to move from St. Louis to Los Angeles. They apparently prefer California to Missouri. Well, mostly. According to this NBC report, the Rams are trying to get their new player recruits to si… --- ## [Aerial Bombing of Civilian Targets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aerial-bombing-of-civilian-targets/749038)
**Author:** [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aerial-bombing-of-civilian-targets/749038 "2016-03-16T17:21:15Z")
In a war, is the intentional aerial bombing of civilian, non-military, targets considered a war crime? I saw a program on TV recently about a WWII project in the US to build in the desert architecturally accurate German… --- ## [Aspirin a day keeps death away](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-a-day-keeps-death-away/747072)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspirin-a-day-keeps-death-away/747072 "2016-03-16T16:49:36Z")
Hello Everyone, On the advice of my doctor I’ve been eating a children’s aspirin once a day. Other than chronic pain from a back injury in in good health. Doc said “if you want to live a long life the best thing you c… --- ## [Can't clear Firefox location suggestions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-clear-firefox-location-suggestions/748876)
**Author:** [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-clear-firefox-location-suggestions/748876 "2016-03-16T16:44:01Z")
I’ve been around and around with Mozilla help pages, and it’s like they’re lying or something. Pages appear in my URL suggestions that are not in my history, especially since I uninstalled Firefox and deleted all its fol… --- ## [What in the drug industry allows the price gouging?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-in-the-drug-industry-allows-the-price-gouging/732191)
**Author:** [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Replies:** 62\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-in-the-drug-industry-allows-the-price-gouging/732191 "2016-03-16T16:09:04Z")
Ok, so, generally in the free market, unless some massive shortage of raw materials comes out of the blue, prices usually flow along linear scales that reflect the value of a product. Even rare products that are hard to… --- ## [You're In Jail Awaiting Trial (But Not Convicted). Do You Get To Vote?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-jail-awaiting-trial-but-not-convicted-do-you-get-to-vote/749157)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-jail-awaiting-trial-but-not-convicted-do-you-get-to-vote/749157 "2016-03-16T15:13:14Z")
Let’s say someone with no priors is in jail on Election Day. He’s awaiting trial for \[insert heinous crime here\]. He has not yet been convicted, for this crime or any other crime. Does the jail have any obligation to ac… --- ## [Electronics notation - what does R1//R2 mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronics-notation-what-does-r1-r2-mean/749151)
**Author:** [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronics-notation-what-does-r1-r2-mean/749151 "2016-03-16T14:25:53Z")
Well, the question is in the title really. Never come across “//” before. Can’t seem to find a google search that will pull it up, probably because of the ubiquity of “//”. For context, see here --- ## [Is testing medication on rats really useful?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-testing-medication-on-rats-really-useful/749074)
**Author:** [@s0meguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/s0meguy)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-testing-medication-on-rats-really-useful/749074 "2016-03-16T14:20:33Z")
There are a lot of activists saying that testing medication on rats is pointless because the effects of medication in rats is a very inaccurate indication of what that medication would do in humans. A lot of the time the… --- ## [Any idea why "radio operator" is one of the deadliest jobs in America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-why-radio-operator-is-one-of-the-deadliest-jobs-in-america/748587)
**Author:** [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-why-radio-operator-is-one-of-the-deadliest-jobs-in-america/748587 "2016-03-16T14:11:52Z")
Per this article: Tree feller, commercial pilot, hoist and winch operator, commercial diver - those I can understand. But radio operator? Are there hordes of sparkies getting electrocuted at work? Also, travel guide … --- ## [Can A Thrown "Ninja Star" Kill You](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-thrown-ninja-star-kill-you/748874)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-thrown-ninja-star-kill-you/748874 "2016-03-16T05:09:07Z")
Let’s not debate whether or not those “Ninja Stars” that you can buy at head shops and comic book shops are/were real weapons used, by ninjas or otherwise. I’m simply asking about the modern, stainless steel “weapon” tha… --- ## [Question on calculating a probability/expectation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-calculating-a-probability-expectation/749070)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-calculating-a-probability-expectation/749070 "2016-03-16T01:40:07Z")
I am pretty sure my mathematics correct and it is so simple but there is something bugging me like I’m missing something. Suppose the expectation of an event E(x) = n. Now we add some variables. The first variable inc… --- ## [What is the law regarding protesters at political rallies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-law-regarding-protesters-at-political-rallies/748851)
**Author:** [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Replies:** 93\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-law-regarding-protesters-at-political-rallies/748851 "2016-03-16T01:38:12Z")
In the Elections folder, and in other places around the web, I’m seeing a lot of people claim that protesters at a political rally have every bit as much right to free speech as the person speaking up on stage. I feel p… --- ## [Will Meth & Adderall ping the same on a drug test since they are almost identical chemically?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-meth-adderall-ping-the-same-on-a-drug-test-since-they-are-almost-identical-chemically/748773)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-meth-adderall-ping-the-same-on-a-drug-test-since-they-are-almost-identical-chemically/748773 "2016-03-16T01:25:29Z")
Discussion here about similarities Can drug screens distinguish between some taking prescription Adderall for ADD and someone using meth? --- ## [is the Coriolis Effect a mathematical principle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-coriolis-effect-a-mathematical-principle/748391)
**Author:** [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [March 16, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-coriolis-effect-a-mathematical-principle/748391 "2016-03-16T01:03:22Z")
Need answer fast - Is the Coriolis Effect a mathematical principle or a different sort of principle? (I’m thinking it has something to do with Gravity so should be called something else?) --- ## [Etymology of "The Fuzz" as slang for police](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804)
**Author:** [@Ivar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivar)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-the-fuzz-as-slang-for-police/201804 "2016-03-15T22:50:03Z")
Where did the term “the Fuzz” come from? My WAG would be truckers, but what is the meaning behind it? --- ## [Laws regarding "collect and win" games...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-collect-and-win-games/748637)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laws-regarding-collect-and-win-games/748637 "2016-03-15T20:48:38Z")
So there’s this multi-state, multi-grocery store chain Monopoly contest running. I looked at the rules, and one of them stated that with the largest prizes, there was one set of “rare” stamps to collect in the set, and … --- ## [Timing probability question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timing-probability-question/749049)
**Author:** [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/timing-probability-question/749049 "2016-03-15T20:11:50Z")
This is based on real life, and I’m curious about the answer. We have a tale of two programs A, and B, and a programmer who likes to live dangerously and doesn’t care about race conditions. Program A is a generation pr… --- ## [Does dyeing the Chicago river green affect the fish?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dyeing-the-chicago-river-green-affect-the-fish/748875)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dyeing-the-chicago-river-green-affect-the-fish/748875 "2016-03-15T18:15:53Z")
The Chicago river was dyed green yesterday. Does the dyeing process dye the fish too? Any harm to the fish? --- ## [Economically, how can drugs be cheaper in jail than on the streets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-how-can-drugs-be-cheaper-in-jail-than-on-the-streets/748703)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economically-how-can-drugs-be-cheaper-in-jail-than-on-the-streets/748703 "2016-03-15T18:14:19Z")
How is that possible? I thought the more risk and the smaller the supply, the higher the prices. Getting drugs into a prison should require more risk than getting them into a country, and there should be a bigger supp… --- ## [PC replaying activities - can't interupt](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-replaying-activities-cant-interupt/748864)
**Author:** [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-replaying-activities-cant-interupt/748864 "2016-03-15T17:14:57Z")
My wife has been having a problem with her Dell PC - originally running Windows 8 but now running Windows 10, problem happened with both OS. The machine goes into an odd mode where it seems to be replaying previously ru… --- ## [Michio Kaku's steam powered rocket](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979)
**Author:** [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michio-kakus-steam-powered-rocket/748979 "2016-03-15T15:27:19Z")
In this video, esteemed theoretical physicist Michio Kaku proposes a rocket powered by steam. The steam is created by using ground based lasers heating the water carried by the rocket. In the video he claims that the pro… --- ## [Android XML Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-xml-question/749061)
**Author:** [@Tehanu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tehanu)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-xml-question/749061 "2016-03-15T13:24:31Z")
I am a second-year computer science student helping a professor in another department develop a custom app for a research project. My task right now is to write code to flash an image on a screen, accompanied by an audi… --- ## [big problems putting car on non op. CA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-problems-putting-car-on-non-op-ca/748956)
**Author:** [@ironic55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ironic55)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 15, 2016, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-problems-putting-car-on-non-op-ca/748956 "2016-03-15T06:56:06Z")
so here is the deal. i bought a car back in 2013 and it broke down. and the reg expired. the car is a 78 so it needs to have a smog. and some other work to get in running order i went to the dmv to get a moving permit s… --- ## [How to burn CDs to iTunes without a built-in CD drive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-burn-cds-to-itunes-without-a-built-in-cd-drive/748901)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2016, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-burn-cds-to-itunes-without-a-built-in-cd-drive/748901 "2016-03-14T23:31:05Z")
I have a new MacBook that doesn’t have a CD drive. I’ve got several old CDs that I want to burn to iTunes so I can get rid of the physical CDs. How do I do that? :confused: --- ## [I screwed up: In a light switch, where do I put the black wire, and where the red?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-screwed-up-in-a-light-switch-where-do-i-put-the-black-wire-and-where-the-red/748689)
**Author:** [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-screwed-up-in-a-light-switch-where-do-i-put-the-black-wire-and-where-the-red/748689 "2016-03-14T22:27:52Z")
This has a factual answer, so I think GQ is the correct place. A single-pole light switch needs to be replaced in my house. It has 3 wires: 2 for power, and 1 for ground. I marked the ground wire so I wouldn’t mistake… --- ## [Avoiding the new car delivery fee](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoiding-the-new-car-delivery-fee/748850)
**Author:** [@mdcatdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdcatdad)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoiding-the-new-car-delivery-fee/748850 "2016-03-14T19:42:29Z")
Since the delivery charges on new cars are usually over $500 is it possible to pick the car up at the factory (if assembled in the U.S.) and save the cost? Does any manufacturer allow this? --- ## [How do you pronounce "Capital" "Capitol"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-capital-capitol/748426)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-capital-capitol/748426 "2016-03-14T18:26:54Z")
In another thread one of the posters mentioned that a Jeopardy contestant said “Capital” rather than “Capitol”. I guess I would have lost too. I would pronounce both as Cap-it-ul. --- ## [For what, exactly, was Galileo threatened with torture?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-what-exactly-was-galileo-threatened-with-torture/609114)
**Author:** [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [March 14, 2016, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-what-exactly-was-galileo-threatened-with-torture/609114 "2016-03-14T17:20:46Z")
Everyone agrees that Galileo was threatened with torture by the Catholic Church during his 1633 trial, in which he was accused of defending Copernicanism. This trial culminated with his being forced to recant and abjure… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=934) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=936)