# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=942 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 943 --- ## [TV won't turn off](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-wont-turn-off/747508)
**Author:** [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-wont-turn-off/747508 "2016-03-03T22:01:53Z")
My 42" JVC tv won’t respond to the remote, either the original or the Comcast that we usually use. I am thinking about this at work and therefore do not have model number, but it is about 2 years old. Since I doubt b… --- ## [No, really, how much force to break a clavicle?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-really-how-much-force-to-break-a-clavicle/747665)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-really-how-much-force-to-break-a-clavicle/747665 "2016-03-03T21:38:54Z")
According to the internet, you can break a clavicle by applying just seven pounds of force. I know it’s a pretty common fracture, but seven pounds seems suspiciously low; it’s slightly less than the weight of a gallon o… --- ## [Unusual name ends up in spam file](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-name-ends-up-in-spam-file/747808)
**Author:** [@Always\_thinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Always_thinking)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-name-ends-up-in-spam-file/747808 "2016-03-03T20:14:56Z")
I have an unusual last name that can be sometimes found in spam/junk related emails. Think something like ‘enlarge’ that is innocent on its own, but can be not so innocent when used with other words. Personal email accou… --- ## [Earliest horse domestication: Botai Culture or Sredny Stog culture](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-horse-domestication-botai-culture-or-sredny-stog-culture/747818)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earliest-horse-domestication-botai-culture-or-sredny-stog-culture/747818 "2016-03-03T20:14:42Z")
Hi I’ve read many articles claiming that Kazhakstan’s Akmola Province was the site of the earliest domestication of the horse by the Botai people/culture. I just finished reading Jared Diamond’s “The Third Chimpanzee… --- ## [Where can I buy Argentine Pesos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-argentine-pesos/747632)
**Author:** [@HotDogWater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotDogWater)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-buy-argentine-pesos/747632 "2016-03-03T18:01:27Z")
I am headed to Buenos Aries for a rugby tour in 12 days, and have been attempting to understand the current dollar/peso exchange. It seems that the difference between the blue dollar and official rate is smaller than in … --- ## [Windows 10 Question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-question/747661)
**Author:** [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-10-question/747661 "2016-03-03T16:27:14Z")
My CD player won’t work under Win 10. I understand there’s a download that will fix this. It cost’s about fifteen dollars but where can I find it? What’s it called? And most importantly, does it work? Thanks for your h… --- ## [What, exactly, is a Center?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-center/747680)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-a-center/747680 "2016-03-03T14:56:51Z")
I have come to think of a center as a sort of think tank. Someone, maybe several people, devote their attention to a particular issue or problem. They find funding and do research into this topic. It could be one guy … --- ## [Legality of super heroes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-super-heroes/747345)
**Author:** [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legality-of-super-heroes/747345 "2016-03-03T13:37:04Z")
If super heroes existed in real life - like Superman, for instance, or Deadpool (on a more exciting world)… Would it be legal for them to fight crime using all their superpowers? I am pretty sure that FAA would not be ha… --- ## [Economic question regarding Charles Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-question-regarding-charles-dickens/747691)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economic-question-regarding-charles-dickens/747691 "2016-03-03T12:52:22Z")
Hi “The Charles Dickens Miscellany” by Jeremy Clarke, the author writes about Charles Dickens: "Merely the \*American tour, for example, £19,000 made him, despite the fact that he lost a fortune changing his dollars int… --- ## [Why Doesn't Tesla Advertise on TV?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-tesla-advertise-on-tv/747304)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-tesla-advertise-on-tv/747304 "2016-03-03T06:58:13Z")
I get it, demand is so great that people wait months or years to get their Tesla, and their current demographic is only the very rich, but they are planning to launch an affordable model in a year or two, and isn’t brand… --- ## [What does fluorine smell like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fluorine-smell-like/747497)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-fluorine-smell-like/747497 "2016-03-03T03:40:21Z")
Unusual question, I know - and the answer includes “you don’t want to know” and “why in the world do you think you could be smelling fluorine?” But I have my reasons. I’m going to try to describe the smells of the halo… --- ## [Special forces wild man look (beard, long hair)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-forces-wild-man-look-beard-long-hair/747629)
**Author:** [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [March 3, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-forces-wild-man-look-beard-long-hair/747629 "2016-03-03T02:28:53Z")
I don’t know if this is actually an urban legend/stereotype, but it seems that members of elite special forces units like the Army Delta Force or the Navy SEALS often sport a look that would otherwise be considered unbec… --- ## [What do pennies measure in a nail?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pennies-measure-in-a-nail/747649)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-pennies-measure-in-a-nail/747649 "2016-03-02T23:57:38Z")
You often see nails marked in both inches and pennies. What does the penny measure? Is it related to the antiquated unit of pennyweights? --- ## [Yiddish written from left to right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yiddish-written-from-left-to-right/747560)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yiddish-written-from-left-to-right/747560 "2016-03-02T23:39:01Z")
Is there any group that does this regularly? I went to a concert of Jewish music yesterday given by the Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal. There was a long piece of music set to Yiddish poetry. They included the ori… --- ## [Can we replace our cable box with a PC tuner card?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-replace-our-cable-box-with-a-pc-tuner-card/747771)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-replace-our-cable-box-with-a-pc-tuner-card/747771 "2016-03-02T23:09:48Z")
I asked this back in 2009, 2012, and 2013. Technology was kind of there, but there were still substantial hoops to jump through so it worth sticking with the cable box. It’s now 2016. We do watch a lot through their on… --- ## [Did I "break" the new gateway device?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-break-the-new-gateway-device/747719)
**Author:** [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-break-the-new-gateway-device/747719 "2016-03-02T17:26:43Z")
By “break,” I mean something more like “mortally confuse.” I was setting up new Xfinity equipment. Formerly, there was a cable modem which provided one outgoing internet connection, and then a router to send the net wi… --- ## [What non-human/cat/dog food to use to bait a mousetrap?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-non-human-cat-dog-food-to-use-to-bait-a-mousetrap/747658)
**Author:** [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-non-human-cat-dog-food-to-use-to-bait-a-mousetrap/747658 "2016-03-02T17:17:58Z")
We need to bait no-kill mousetraps. Since the mice have never really ventured into living spaces (the pantry in particular), we don’t want to use traditional peanut butter or dried fruit because we’d hate to give trap-ev… --- ## [How fast does isostatic depression occur?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-isostatic-depression-occur/747729)
**Author:** [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-isostatic-depression-occur/747729 "2016-03-02T15:40:53Z")
Imagine a mile-thick sheet of ice instantaneously appears over a mountain chain. How soon will the chain sink? Around 1 cm a year? How far will it sink? I almost put this into Cafe Society, because this question came… --- ## [Marie Antoniette](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marie-antoniette/747331)
**Author:** [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marie-antoniette/747331 "2016-03-02T13:55:24Z")
Simple question. After leaving Austria at the age of 14 to get married to Louis XVI in France, did Marie ever return to her homeland to visit her siblings or mother. I know during her flight from Paris, her family reach… --- ## [Russian translation?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-translation/747701)
**Author:** [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/russian-translation/747701 "2016-03-02T12:59:12Z")
Unfortunately, I don’t have the movie in front of me anymore, so I can’t attest to what I transliterated, but it was approximately: Gospitl’ Skoroi Pomoshi. I got the idea it was some kind of hospital or medical facilit… --- ## [medal of honor Ed Byers, hearing aids?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medal-of-honor-ed-byers-hearing-aids/747624)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medal-of-honor-ed-byers-hearing-aids/747624 "2016-03-02T04:06:55Z")
I watched the news and saw several images of him, and it looks like he has hearing aids in both ears. see here: Is this true or am I imagining? I expect if so, its likely due to som… --- ## [why is Illinois pronounced that way?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-illinois-pronounced-that-way/747337)
**Author:** [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Replies:** 87\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-illinois-pronounced-that-way/747337 "2016-03-02T02:48:21Z")
Obviously Ill-i-noise isn’t correct, but why Ill-i-noy? If it’s from French, shouldn’t it be “Ill-in-wa”? --- ## [Don't ask for help here.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-for-help-here/747695)
**Author:** [@Ravjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravjas)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-ask-for-help-here/747695 "2016-03-02T01:40:49Z")
Seriously? Fight your own ignorance. No wonder you get no traffic here. Bullies. --- ## [parental kidnapping](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-kidnapping/201935)
**Author:** [@Amberlei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amberlei)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parental-kidnapping/201935 "2016-03-02T01:25:28Z")
What constitutes parental kidnapping? If one parent moves out of state with a child, with the other parent’s knowledge beforehand, and the absent parent is kept aware of the child’s whereabouts, would this constitute pa… --- ## [Custodial Kidnapping Term Paper...need help!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custodial-kidnapping-term-paper-need-help/747693)
**Author:** [@Ravjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravjas)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [March 2, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/custodial-kidnapping-term-paper-need-help/747693 "2016-03-02T01:24:10Z")
Hi folks. My daughter has a term paper due and she needs to interview three sources (10 questions) about custodial kidnapping. I’m thinking attorneys, casa volunteers, clergy, etc. Anyway, she has contacted 3 clergy m… --- ## [Why do Canada and Australia have so few people?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-canada-and-australia-have-so-few-people/747071)
**Author:** [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Replies:** 387\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-canada-and-australia-have-so-few-people/747071 "2016-03-01T21:52:09Z")
…compared to the United States? Both countries have vast land areas, many natural resources, successful democracies (more than we can say at the moment), healthy economies, and the same benefits of the British legal tra… --- ## [Taking the wind out (turbine question)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-the-wind-out-turbine-question/747597)
**Author:** [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-the-wind-out-turbine-question/747597 "2016-03-01T21:10:34Z")
I’m trying to figure out what happens to wind when you extract energy from it, specifically by going past a wind turbine. Before hitting the turbine the air has an amount of kinetic energy, based on its mass and (square… --- ## [Installing a diesel in a Chevy](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-a-diesel-in-a-chevy/747656)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-a-diesel-in-a-chevy/747656 "2016-03-01T21:06:16Z")
Is it possible to drop a Detroit Diesel V-12 in a 1st Gen Chevy Monte Carlo? http://image.hotrod.com/f/2004powertour/8728904+w799+h499+cr1+ar0/113\_04\_33az%2B1970\_chevrolet\_monte\_car… --- ## [Gandhi, Khan, Afghanistan--What gives with the silent H?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandhi-khan-afghanistan-what-gives-with-the-silent-h/747471)
**Author:** [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gandhi-khan-afghanistan-what-gives-with-the-silent-h/747471 "2016-03-01T21:02:00Z")
Is DH not pronounced like D? GH like a hard G? Or can I just blame the British, the way I blame the Portuguese for weird spellings of Chinese words? ETA: I suppose the KH comes from trying to keep the Khans and Kahns… --- ## [Why do cellphones RETAIN so much information?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cellphones-retain-so-much-information/747420)
**Author:** [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [March 1, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cellphones-retain-so-much-information/747420 "2016-03-01T20:34:06Z")
I understand aspects of cellphones pinging towers and such, being capable of tying into mapping services, and retaining recent call info. But why are cellphones set up such that they RETAIN such information - some of wh… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=941) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=943)