# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=939 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 940 --- ## [Average speed of an airplane crash?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-speed-of-an-airplane-crash/748246)
**Author:** [@SHARKBITEATTACK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SHARKBITEATTACK)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-speed-of-an-airplane-crash/748246 "2016-03-08T21:35:42Z")
Of all the people who died in an airplane crash what is the average speed they were going? --- ## [What happened to beer brewing in the ancient middle east?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-beer-brewing-in-the-ancient-middle-east/748236)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-beer-brewing-in-the-ancient-middle-east/748236 "2016-03-08T21:15:52Z")
In ancient Sumerian culture, and other subsequent cultures (such as Akkadians) in the middle east,beer brewingfeatured heavily. But later Middle Eastern cultures (e.g. greek, roman as well as in new and old testament bib… --- ## [IRS tax donation per "item"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-tax-donation-per-item/748149)
**Author:** [@edwardcoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwardcoast)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irs-tax-donation-per-item/748149 "2016-03-08T20:55:55Z")
We donated a set of dinning room furniture in 2015 to a qualified charity. Got the paperwork from them too. I was reading in the IRS Publication 526, “Charitable Contributions” and it says on page 7: Clothing and House… --- ## [Nuclear Security Lapse?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-security-lapse/748110)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-security-lapse/748110 "2016-03-08T19:38:23Z")
So first of all this: Scuba diver thought he was going to die after being sucked into a NUCLEAR POWER PLANT | Daily Mail Online And this: http://www.wptv.com/news/region-st-lucie-county/scuba-diver-sucked-in-to-nuclear-… --- ## [Exorcism - which major religions still practice it?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exorcism-which-major-religions-still-practice-it/748282)
**Author:** [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/exorcism-which-major-religions-still-practice-it/748282 "2016-03-08T17:34:57Z")
I presume the Roman Catholics still do it but does it have papal sanction? Do the main Protestant churches use it? And what about Judaism and Islam? Frankly it astonishes me that this medieval nonsense survives at all bu… --- ## [Re searching for people do Private Investigators have access to databases the public does not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-searching-for-people-do-private-investigators-have-access-to-databases-the-public-does-not/748096)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-searching-for-people-do-private-investigators-have-access-to-databases-the-public-does-not/748096 "2016-03-08T17:17:36Z")
Just curious if there are super secret or controlled access databases private investigators have access to in searching for people that the public does not? --- ## [Does any professional body have privileged access to Facebook content?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-professional-body-have-privileged-access-to-facebook-content/748188)
**Author:** [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-any-professional-body-have-privileged-access-to-facebook-content/748188 "2016-03-08T16:21:59Z")
Specifically academia - can universities see more of a FB member’s content than the rest of us mortals? Reasons for asking: \[ul\] \[li\]In most cases, when I try searching for someone on Facebook, all I can see is a thum… --- ## [A tedious, trivial query with regards to Slate and Livefyre and Okta and who knows what else.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tedious-trivial-query-with-regards-to-slate-and-livefyre-and-okta-and-who-knows-what-else/748034)
**Author:** [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-tedious-trivial-query-with-regards-to-slate-and-livefyre-and-okta-and-who-knows-what-else/748034 "2016-03-08T16:21:27Z")
\>Reading a blog on Slate.com one often gets a link to comments. \>Comments say powered by Livefyre.com. \>Comments thus posted have options to “like” or “reply”. \>If one has set up the Slant Personal Profile to do so, l… --- ## [Survival chance with extreme facial wound](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survival-chance-with-extreme-facial-wound/748180)
**Author:** [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survival-chance-with-extreme-facial-wound/748180 "2016-03-08T15:18:51Z")
Hello Everyone, I’m currently reading a book about the battle for Iwo Jima. After reading hundreds of books on World War II nothing much makes me dwell on something, however I read something tonight that has given me t… --- ## [What is this on Google Maps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256)
**Author:** [@Cardboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardboard)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256 "2016-03-08T14:57:11Z")
I was looking at some local places on Google Maps and found something curious in the middle of a field. It’s probably something a farmer uses since it’s on farmland, but I was just curious if you guys knew what it was. H… --- ## [Physician assisted suicide and life insurance - a hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physician-assisted-suicide-and-life-insurance-a-hypothetical/747529)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physician-assisted-suicide-and-life-insurance-a-hypothetical/747529 "2016-03-08T14:30:56Z")
Legislation will soon be introduced in Canada to legalize ‘physician-assisted death’ which, in at least some cases will actually be ‘physician-assisted suicide’. I use the latter phrase (with the word ‘suicide’) since so… --- ## [Satellite orbiting geometric center or barycenter?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-orbiting-geometric-center-or-barycenter/748245)
**Author:** [@Jpeg\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jpeg_Jones)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-orbiting-geometric-center-or-barycenter/748245 "2016-03-08T12:47:19Z")
The beginning of the problem is fairly simple: A system of two bodies will orbit around their mutual barycenter, which is a point defined by their respective masses. Often that point is inside the larger body, but somet… --- ## [Whatever happened to generic product labelling](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-generic-product-labelling/747937)
**Author:** [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-generic-product-labelling/747937 "2016-03-08T09:25:55Z")
If you were around in the US during the 1970’s and 1980’s chances are you recall seeing products on grocery store shelves without brand labels. The packaging was typically white and featured the name of the product print… --- ## [Is there an ad hoc online service that can do this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-ad-hoc-online-service-that-can-do-this/748233)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-ad-hoc-online-service-that-can-do-this/748233 "2016-03-08T07:10:56Z")
I’m an Uber driver living in Madison, and the other day I got caught a bit by surprise with a ride to the Milwaukee airport. I suppose I could have kept my Uber app open and picked up rides in the area, but I don’t know… --- ## [If there are parallel universes and other dimensions, what is the term for reality as a whole](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-are-parallel-universes-and-other-dimensions-what-is-the-term-for-reality-as-a-whole/747890)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 65\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-there-are-parallel-universes-and-other-dimensions-what-is-the-term-for-reality-as-a-whole/747890 "2016-03-08T05:12:44Z")
So the term the Universe is used to describe reality in its largest form, as far as I know. Everything that is real is a part of the Universe and nothing that exists is outside of it. If it turns out that we live in a mu… --- ## [What happened? Electrical circuit education needed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-electrical-circuit-education-needed/747622)
**Author:** [@greggamma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greggamma)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-electrical-circuit-education-needed/747622 "2016-03-08T04:59:45Z")
I hooked a 9 Volt battery using 2 alligator clips to a piece of copper plate. Here is what happened 1) My volt meter read nothing. 2) There was a pop sound 3)The battery heated up quickly…less than 15 seconds. Now A) W… --- ## [Tears Under Microscope](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tears-under-microscope/748174)
**Author:** [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 8, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tears-under-microscope/748174 "2016-03-08T03:21:45Z")
Has anyone given this phenomenon a good debunking/confirming? I couldn’t find it on Snopes, and something about it doesn’t sit well with me, but I can’t put my finger on it. --- ## ["Strictly Enforced" Speed Limits](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strictly-enforced-speed-limits/654175)
**Author:** [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strictly-enforced-speed-limits/654175 "2016-03-07T23:08:23Z")
I regularly come across posted speed limits that have a smaller sign underneath that reads “Strictly Enforced.” Is there a point to this? Shouldn’t a responsible (ha!) driver reasonably assume that all speed limits are… --- ## [Military Weapons sales question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weapons-sales-question/747888)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weapons-sales-question/747888 "2016-03-07T23:06:47Z")
Does the selling country install software/hardware into the weapon that could be accessed by the selling country to make the weapon inoperable in case of war with the purchasing country? I would think that this would be… --- ## [Diver sucked into power plant intake](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diver-sucked-into-power-plant-intake/748223)
**Author:** [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diver-sucked-into-power-plant-intake/748223 "2016-03-07T22:54:07Z")
It was all over the news. How is it possible to be sucked through a pipe and spit out the other end without passing through an impeller or turbine blades or something? --- ## [Off the Grid....\[reporting a birth\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/off-the-grid-reporting-a-birth/748168)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/off-the-grid-reporting-a-birth/748168 "2016-03-07T22:21:19Z")
So say you have a kid and its a wonderful kid and the birth happens at home and everything goes swimmingly. Are you legally required to report the birth and get a birth certificate? Say you don’t report the birth and d… --- ## [Neanderthal gene - alcoholism link](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthal-gene-alcoholism-link/748047)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neanderthal-gene-alcoholism-link/748047 "2016-03-07T21:27:19Z")
A friend tells me there is a study that links a higher Neanderthal DNA percentage to a predisposition to alcoholism. Googling, I find mainly articles about Ozzy. Is there anything to this or is my friend full of hooey? --- ## [Do crab gills-"dead man's fingers," really make you ill if you eat them?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-crab-gills-dead-mans-fingers-really-make-you-ill-if-you-eat-them/197206)
**Author:** [@amoamasamat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amoamasamat)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-crab-gills-dead-mans-fingers-really-make-you-ill-if-you-eat-them/197206 "2016-03-07T21:07:46Z")
I have always been told that to properly prepare the cooked Maryland Blue Crab (either hard or softshell), after cracking off the shell the gills must be removed. These are feathery-looking spongy structures also call… --- ## [Are ratings for the presidential debates down?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ratings-for-the-presidential-debates-down/748197)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-ratings-for-the-presidential-debates-down/748197 "2016-03-07T20:58:15Z")
I’ve never been a big fan of presidential debates, but this years’ have been particularly painful to watch; I don’t even like seeing excerpts on the news. Am I alone in this, or is this feeling widespread? Factual ques… --- ## [What is the correct form and meaning of this colloquialism.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-form-and-meaning-of-this-colloquialism/247282)
**Author:** [@Voluble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voluble)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-form-and-meaning-of-this-colloquialism/247282 "2016-03-07T20:51:28Z")
I have often heard my mother say in reference to someone driving too fast that the person was “ballin’ the jack”. Does anyone know the origin of this phrase? Is this the correct formulation of the phrase? Am I correct… --- ## [Air Ferry](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-ferry/748214)
**Author:** [@Potestas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Potestas)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/air-ferry/748214 "2016-03-07T20:18:57Z")
So I was thinking, what if someone wanted to get from Miami to Chicago very quickly by air but didn’t want to rent a car when they landed because they want their car and all the homeiness that comes with their own car. S… --- ## [Why couldn't IBM protect their rights to the first 8088 based Personal Computer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-couldnt-ibm-protect-their-rights-to-the-first-8088-based-personal-computer/747897)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-couldnt-ibm-protect-their-rights-to-the-first-8088-based-personal-computer/747897 "2016-03-07T19:55:19Z")
Hobbyist PC’s had been around for a few years. The Osborne 1, Altair 8800 etc. CPM was a popular operating system. IBM designed a pc based on the 8088 and a new OS, Ms DOS. They included a expansion bus. IBM PC was an … --- ## [App question (iPad)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/app-question-ipad/748206)
**Author:** [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/app-question-ipad/748206 "2016-03-07T18:51:57Z")
How do you (or can you) see what apps are on your iPad, even if they don’t show up anywhere? I’ll explain. I had a game that I downloaded years ago. (Cannot remember if I paid for it or it was free), but I hadn’t play… --- ## [Consitutional Charge](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consitutional-charge/747786)
**Author:** [@bomberswarm2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bomberswarm2)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consitutional-charge/747786 "2016-03-07T18:00:40Z")
I know that people use amendments to get cases thrown out because a lawsuit was infinging on the consistution. But what does someone get charged with if they violate the consitution? Say i tried to stop free speech by no… --- ## [What was the fine for violating the last of the Jim Crow laws just before they were abolished 1965?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-fine-for-violating-the-last-of-the-jim-crow-laws-just-before-they-were-abolished-1965/747960)
**Author:** [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 7, 2016, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-fine-for-violating-the-last-of-the-jim-crow-laws-just-before-they-were-abolished-1965/747960 "2016-03-07T17:05:10Z")
Like say a black guy using a white restroom. Also, could white people use “black” restrooms and such with impunity? Thanks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=938) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=940)