# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=959 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 960 --- ## [Word - autocreate tables (or save for copying and pasting)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-autocreate-tables-or-save-for-copying-and-pasting/744936)
**Author:** [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/word-autocreate-tables-or-save-for-copying-and-pasting/744936 "2016-02-02T18:45:15Z")
I use Word 2003 (I know, I know) on Windows 7. I use the same few tables over and over again in word - they take time to create and fill, so normally I copy and paste them, then delete the changeable bits - it takes nee… --- ## [Caucus vs Primary - what are the meaningful differences?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caucus-vs-primary-what-are-the-meaningful-differences/744900)
**Author:** [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caucus-vs-primary-what-are-the-meaningful-differences/744900 "2016-02-02T18:44:40Z")
As a Canadian, I have always found two aspects of American politics confusing - the electoral college (for POTUS) and the various state caucuses and primaries held on the way to a presidential election. I am hoping you c… --- ## [Anybody Ever Build an Above-Ground Swimming Pool?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-an-above-ground-swimming-pool/203959)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 26, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-ever-build-an-above-ground-swimming-pool/203959 "2003-09-26T22:08:08Z")
I ask becuase I wopuld like to have a lap pool-and the advertised ones go for $18,000! Seems to me that a 6’ X 20’ x 5’ (deep) pool could be built (using 1" PT plywood, and 4"x4" timbers, for around $1000@! (exclusive of… --- ## [Bail until sentancing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bail-until-sentancing/744930)
**Author:** [@bomberswarm2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bomberswarm2)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bail-until-sentancing/744930 "2016-02-02T17:01:19Z")
Why is this a thing? Shouldn’t all criminals be remanded until sentencing (or have sentencing take place in the same court in any minor offences that wouldn’t warrant jail time?) --- ## [tissue swelling in response to envenomation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissue-swelling-in-response-to-envenomation/744951)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tissue-swelling-in-response-to-envenomation/744951 "2016-02-02T16:55:59Z")
Inspired by this collection of photos of dogs who thought it was a good idea to eat bees. Why is swelling a common response to insect stings? Is this: A) an evolved response on the part of the victim that somehow help… --- ## [Korean Star Wars question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/korean-star-wars-question/744909)
**Author:** [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/korean-star-wars-question/744909 "2016-02-02T16:55:57Z")
This is a question with a factual answer, so I’m putting it in GQ, not CS. So, I’m learning Korean, and have learned that they have a Subject-Object-Verb syntax, as opposed to English’s usual Subject-Verb-Object. i.e. … --- ## [What fabrics can be microwaved?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fabrics-can-be-microwaved/744850)
**Author:** [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-fabrics-can-be-microwaved/744850 "2016-02-02T12:14:47Z")
I want to make a couple of those rice-filled microwavable bed warmers. I’ll make the inner sack out of cotton, but I’d like the outer sack to be polar fleece. I can either hand sew one edge of the fleece to remove it t… --- ## [WIN 10 Upgrade Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-10-upgrade-questions/744794)
**Author:** [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win-10-upgrade-questions/744794 "2016-02-02T09:01:16Z")
Will the upgrade installation erase my other data? Other software? How do you shut off Microsoft from “sharing” which websites you visit? I won’t be upgrading until after Andy’s funeral. I’ll need something to do, then… --- ## [Suicide by cop](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cop/744727)
**Author:** [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suicide-by-cop/744727 "2016-02-02T04:24:15Z")
Is someone who commits so-called “suicide by cop” legally (for purposes of wills, insurance, coroner’s inquest, etc) considered to have actually committed suicide? --- ## [Losing weight overnight?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-overnight/744840)
**Author:** [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-weight-overnight/744840 "2016-02-02T03:38:34Z")
Woke up yesterday at 225 lbs. Went to bed at 227. Woke up at 225. Where did this weight go and how did I lose it? --- ## [Submariner Question: "One fired electrically"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submariner-question-one-fired-electrically/418439)
**Author:** [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/submariner-question-one-fired-electrically/418439 "2016-02-02T03:19:22Z")
Here’s a question I’ve wondered about since I was watching WWII movies as a young shaver. Very often in the movies, when the sub fires a torpedo at the enemy, the firing person (don’t know the proper title of him, sorry… --- ## [Ordering a list of variables making only direct comparisons - minimum needed?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-list-of-variables-making-only-direct-comparisons-minimum-needed/744839)
**Author:** [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ordering-a-list-of-variables-making-only-direct-comparisons-minimum-needed/744839 "2016-02-02T02:11:31Z")
The original context for this question is in making a survey, but I think it might be more helpful to think of it in purely math terms. Say you have a list of n variables, and can compare any two at a time to find out w… --- ## [Games in Win 10?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-in-win-10/744851)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-in-win-10/744851 "2016-02-02T00:55:42Z")
In my Win7 computer is a set of MS games including three I play regularly (Free Cell and the two Solitaires). I also have a Win-10 Surface that I use for travel, but it has no games preloaded. It does have some preload… --- ## [Yahoo mail not working all day( Feb 1)--anyone else having problems?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yahoo-mail-not-working-all-day-feb-1-anyone-else-having-problems/744833)
**Author:** [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [February 2, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yahoo-mail-not-working-all-day-feb-1-anyone-else-having-problems/744833 "2016-02-02T00:04:07Z")
My Yahoo mail is seriously damaged! A month’s worth of stuff has disappeared. Everything in both the inbox and outbox has simply disappeared --between the dates of Jan 4 and today, Feb 1. Anybody else have this probl… --- ## [DVD player question - shouldn't they save your place?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-player-question-shouldnt-they-save-your-place/744801)
**Author:** [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-player-question-shouldnt-they-save-your-place/744801 "2016-02-01T22:43:22Z")
Just got a new Blu-Ray player and it’s doing something strange. It doesn’t save my place. I got my first DVD player about 15 years ago. If I was watching a movie and stopped in the middle, turned it off completely (but … --- ## [Big Thud \[in south New Jersey. What was it?\]](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-thud-in-south-new-jersey-what-was-it/744866)
**Author:** [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-thud-in-south-new-jersey-what-was-it/744866 "2016-02-01T22:40:47Z")
Feb 1 1:38 pm South Jersey, 7 mi. SW of Atlantic City. A great BIG Thud just shook my house. Something similar happened a week ago and was felt in Ocean City, NJ. Seismic event?..Sonic Booms? --- ## [How strong is human stomach acid?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-is-human-stomach-acid/744554)
**Author:** [@cjackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjackson)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-is-human-stomach-acid/744554 "2016-02-01T22:39:00Z")
Compared to snakes and other carnivores that eat prey whole, how strong is human stomach acid? If a human were able to swallow a rodent whole would she be able to digest it bones and all? --- ## [How do Arctic Explorers go to the toilet.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-arctic-explorers-go-to-the-toilet/744332)
**Author:** [@Chickenwrangler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickenwrangler)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-arctic-explorers-go-to-the-toilet/744332 "2016-02-01T22:21:09Z")
The question of how astronauts go to the toilet has been covered extensively but I have never come across any reference of how Arctic explorers manage to go to the toilet without getting their asses frozen off. :eek: A… --- ## [Are there any major, current economists who support the gold standard?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-major-current-economists-who-support-the-gold-standard/744614)
**Author:** [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Replies:** 53\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-major-current-economists-who-support-the-gold-standard/744614 "2016-02-01T20:55:48Z")
I’ve been meaning to task this for a while and was finally spurred by today’s SD article. Do any current economists support going back on the gold standard? It seems like in a modern economy (and with a largely trustwo… --- ## [vista to Windows 7, but not working for games](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vista-to-windows-7-but-not-working-for-games/744864)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vista-to-windows-7-but-not-working-for-games/744864 "2016-02-01T20:13:44Z")
My wife finally got rid of VISTA and did a full new installation of Windows 7. She likes to play simple hidden objects detective type games; but now can’t get any of the downloaded ones to work. I suspect there are dri… --- ## [Faimly lawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faimly-lawyer/744829)
**Author:** [@slc\_lawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slc_lawyer)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/faimly-lawyer/744829 "2016-02-01T19:45:02Z")
I live in Mississauga kindly tell me the the procedure of divorce in islam? --- ## [I need some advice on how to increase the volume of my music](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-advice-on-how-to-increase-the-volume-of-my-music/744837)
**Author:** [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-advice-on-how-to-increase-the-volume-of-my-music/744837 "2016-02-01T19:17:20Z")
I hope it is acceptable for me to post this kind of question in this forum. I don’t see any other forum that would deal with technology - specifically smart phones. My problem is that I love to listen to music using Blu… --- ## [Cell phone plans that dont require data](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-plans-that-dont-require-data/744773)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-plans-that-dont-require-data/744773 "2016-02-01T19:05:08Z")
I already have a Galaxy S5, that is fully paid off. I would like to keep it. I want a voice only plan for it. There is WiFi everywhere I go, so a data plan is just throwing money away. --- ## [Questions about Dengue fever strains](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-dengue-fever-strains/744637)
**Author:** [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-dengue-fever-strains/744637 "2016-02-01T18:38:14Z")
I’m in Bangkok and theres a nasty Dengue outbreak spreading at the moment. I’ve been unable to get clear information on if the current outbreak is one particular strain of the four DENV-1,DENV-2,DENV-3,DENV 4 or a mixtu… --- ## [Etymology of "Short-fingered vulgarian"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-short-fingered-vulgarian/742770)
**Author:** [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-short-fingered-vulgarian/742770 "2016-02-01T17:42:03Z")
“The short-fingered vulgarian” was the epithet hung around the neck of Trump back in the 1980s by SPY magazine, and it remains one of the most euphonious. I never understood what “short-fingered” means. Thieving? Clum… --- ## [ballpoint ink stains on shirt--How to remove](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpoint-ink-stains-on-shirt-how-to-remove/744690)
**Author:** [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballpoint-ink-stains-on-shirt-how-to-remove/744690 "2016-02-01T17:39:44Z")
I have a few dress shirts which have been spoiled by spots from ink that has leaked from ballpoint pens I kept in the pocket. One shirt is white; others are not. What’s the best way to get the stains out? --- ## [Why are houses build in wood in North America?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-houses-build-in-wood-in-north-america/744160)
**Author:** [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Replies:** 68\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-houses-build-in-wood-in-north-america/744160 "2016-02-01T16:39:01Z")
It seems to me that the wide majority of houses in the USA and Canada are build in wood. That’s a building material rarely used over here (and I would guess in most of Europe). People have their houses build in bricks, c… --- ## [SOR in the Delta Gamma email](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sor-in-the-delta-gamma-email/656363)
**Author:** [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sor-in-the-delta-gamma-email/656363 "2016-02-01T16:38:43Z")
In the viral sorority email that we’re talking abouthere, the following line is puzzling me: What’s “SOR” in this context? Some type of intra-college or intra-greek disciplinary procedure, I’m guessing? --- ## [Why are US Navy SEALs overwhelmingly white?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-us-navy-seals-overwhelmingly-white/744534)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 77\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-us-navy-seals-overwhelmingly-white/744534 "2016-02-01T14:25:57Z")
See THIS picture. It seems that if there was discrimination going on, you’d have more racially mixed group going in, with minorities being washed out at a higher rate. What’s going on here? --- ## [Gravity in the solar system](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravity-in-the-solar-system/744208)
**Author:** [@Henga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henga)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [February 1, 2016, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gravity-in-the-solar-system/744208 "2016-02-01T07:06:52Z")
How much of the solar system had to be formed in order for a planet like the earth to establish a stable orbit around the sun? Could something like the earth have an orbit around the sun if the solar system had no other… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=958) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=960)