# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=964 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 965 --- ## [Who invented the land service pattern musket?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-land-service-pattern-musket/744030)
**Author:** [@TheLadyMage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLadyMage)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2016, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-invented-the-land-service-pattern-musket/744030 "2016-01-24T11:50:31Z")
Who invented the long land and short land service pattern musket? --- ## [Why did it take single celled organisms so long to evolve to break down dead trees](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-single-celled-organisms-so-long-to-evolve-to-break-down-dead-trees/743329)
**Author:** [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-it-take-single-celled-organisms-so-long-to-evolve-to-break-down-dead-trees/743329 "2016-01-24T06:55:53Z")
When trees first appeared on earth, it took tens of millions of years for microbes to evolve the enzymes necessary to start breaking down the trees. This GQ is based on the assumption (If I’m wrong, correct me but this i… --- ## [How did people get to Montreal in the 18th century?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-people-get-to-montreal-in-the-18th-century/743864)
**Author:** [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-people-get-to-montreal-in-the-18th-century/743864 "2016-01-24T06:15:32Z")
I’m darned if I can find satisfactory answers about this. I want to know how people traveled from the nascent United States (preferably New York state) to Montreal in the 1790s. I know, not many people did it, but surely… --- ## [Public Smoking Policies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-smoking-policies/743987)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2016, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-smoking-policies/743987 "2016-01-24T03:18:25Z")
Many states have laws now that people have to smoke outside the building, either in designated places or just on the sidewalk. My question is, could a person create a business such as a cigar shop where the only things … --- ## [WWII US Army Helmets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-us-army-helmets/744033)
**Author:** [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-us-army-helmets/744033 "2016-01-24T02:42:09Z")
While watching a WWII war film today that takes place in France I noticed that the US soldiers had standard issue army helmets, and that all of the helmets had some kind of netting or cording over them. The German Army d… --- ## [Do anti-aging products - creams, etc. - work?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anti-aging-products-creams-etc-work/565090)
**Author:** [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Replies:** 27\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-anti-aging-products-creams-etc-work/565090 "2016-01-24T01:16:18Z")
This year my grandmother wanted a specific kind of age-related cosmetic for Christmas, which I, a good grandson, dutifully bought. In the process of doing so, though, I was staggered by the vast array of merchandise ava… --- ## [Garage door springs: Parallel or Torsion?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-door-springs-parallel-or-torsion/743919)
**Author:** [@Thinktank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinktank)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 24, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-door-springs-parallel-or-torsion/743919 "2016-01-24T00:42:02Z")
I purchased an electric garage door opener for my dad for Christmas not knowing there is 2 different kind of spring systems. He currently has the parallel style. But I’m going for " super quiet" in the FROG above the gar… --- ## [Can I turn off the "translucent" display feature on my Mac and iPhone?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-turn-off-the-translucent-display-feature-on-my-mac-and-iphone/743995)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-turn-off-the-translucent-display-feature-on-my-mac-and-iphone/743995 "2016-01-23T20:28:01Z")
On both Safari and my iPhone i get what seems be a “translucent” display: the sign-in page for my phone, and the top menu bars on Safari, change colour depending on what’s behind them. Right now, the menu for Safari is… --- ## [Why was Ethan Couch fighting deportation from Mexico?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-ethan-couch-fighting-deportation-from-mexico/743753)
**Author:** [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-ethan-couch-fighting-deportation-from-mexico/743753 "2016-01-23T19:50:31Z")
Latest news is that Ethan Couch (the “affluenza teen”) will stop fighting against deportation from the US. Why was he fighting in the first place? His likely punishment for violating parole is a max of four months in a… --- ## [Did the US really save Britain's arse in WWII?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-us-really-save-britains-arse-in-wwii/142444)
**Author:** [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-us-really-save-britains-arse-in-wwii/142444 "2016-01-23T18:14:52Z")
Note: My knowledge of WWII history is fuzzy, so please help to combat my ignorance. Poland: Overrun. France: Surrendered. Italy: Wimps. But Britain never surrendered. Is that really due so much to their alliance with t… --- ## [Families of Charged Persons and The Court](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-of-charged-persons-and-the-court/743942)
**Author:** [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-of-charged-persons-and-the-court/743942 "2016-01-23T17:55:53Z")
Are there statistics showing how often and/or how many family members of a person charged with a crime attend the various proceedings? Also what impact family attendance has on the court? I’m curious to know, but I’m ha… --- ## [Internet Explorer not launching properly - what to do](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-not-launching-properly-what-to-do/743984)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-not-launching-properly-what-to-do/743984 "2016-01-23T16:33:16Z")
(Okay, I know at least half of you want to sneer at me for still using IE. Can we take that as read?) Twice over the past, oh, four days I’ve had trouble with Internet Explorer launching. It sorta starts, puts up the … --- ## [What was this piece of heavy equipment i saw today](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-piece-of-heavy-equipment-i-saw-today/743767)
**Author:** [@TheSuffolkRam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSuffolkRam)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-piece-of-heavy-equipment-i-saw-today/743767 "2016-01-23T15:17:54Z")
Hi All Today me and my sister went for a trip out, we were stopped at a roundabout by a police car blocking our entrance, shortly afterwards this long tractor-trailer appeared towing some piece of heavy machinery. I got… --- ## [Mac- way to search for folders based on contents?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-way-to-search-for-folders-based-on-contents/743958)
**Author:** [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-way-to-search-for-folders-based-on-contents/743958 "2016-01-23T12:15:48Z")
For example: find all folders containing videos. This would really make my life SO much simpler. I don’t think it’s possible as a straight search in Spotlight, but perhaps a script, a different search tool? --- ## [For Physicists - Speed of heat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-physicists-speed-of-heat/743799)
**Author:** [@smsaks2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smsaks2000)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-physicists-speed-of-heat/743799 "2016-01-23T09:29:23Z")
All, For most of my life, I’ve been fascinated by physics and how the world around us is ‘configured’. Though I’m not very good at math (I’m currently looking for a good place online to learn…suggestions appreciated!!),… --- ## [Safari - Why Does the Menu Bar keep disappearing?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safari-why-does-the-menu-bar-keep-disappearing/743957)
**Author:** [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/safari-why-does-the-menu-bar-keep-disappearing/743957 "2016-01-23T09:24:39Z")
I’ve got Safari 9.01 on my Mac. The menu bar (the one with the Apple in the corner, then the menu topics like Safari - File - Edit and so on keeps disappearing, then coming back as I move the mouse around. Is there a s… --- ## [Which human killed the most people in hand-to-hand combat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-killed-the-most-people-in-hand-to-hand-combat/743841)
**Author:** [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-killed-the-most-people-in-hand-to-hand-combat/743841 "2016-01-23T08:17:57Z")
Random thought while reading a history of the 100 years war. When you had large contingents of knights (and mercenaries) who basically spent their whole life fighting for one faction or other (or just ravaging the local … --- ## [i. How Could Something 'Imaginary' Be So Important?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-how-could-something-imaginary-be-so-important/743654)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-how-could-something-imaginary-be-so-important/743654 "2016-01-23T03:39:53Z")
i. It is the square root of negative one. It also is called imaginary, because it basically doesn’t exist. You can’t take the square root of a negative. Yet it is apparently a very important concept in mathematics. In fa… --- ## [WW2 shipping: the trip back to the USA](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ww2-shipping-the-trip-back-to-the-usa/743837)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ww2-shipping-the-trip-back-to-the-usa/743837 "2016-01-23T01:49:01Z")
During World War Two millions of tons of material went east to Europe across the Atlantic; I presume that there was much less shipping the other way. So how were all those cargo ships utilized on the trip back to the US … --- ## [LEDs vs HPS efficiency](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leds-vs-hps-efficiency/658292)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leds-vs-hps-efficiency/658292 "2016-01-23T01:22:21Z")
My High Pressure Sodium security light needs a new bulb. I was researching LEDs, and they seem to be less efficient: a 70 watt HPS bulb produces around 6,000 lumens and the 70 watt LED fixtures produce around 4,000. So … --- ## [Do electric furnaces wear out?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-electric-furnaces-wear-out/743922)
**Author:** [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-electric-furnaces-wear-out/743922 "2016-01-23T00:44:53Z")
I understand, I think, that there’s really no way to increase the efficiency of an electric furnace, inasmuch as there’s really no energy lost when it’s on. All the energy goes to the heating element. But I’m wondering… --- ## [Anyone have a positive experience with an inexpensive DVR for Basic Cable?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-positive-experience-with-an-inexpensive-dvr-for-basic-cable/743630)
**Author:** [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 23, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-positive-experience-with-an-inexpensive-dvr-for-basic-cable/743630 "2016-01-23T00:31:35Z")
I will be on FIOS triple play but Basic only TV. I like a lot of the older sitcoms the local stations show and would like to record them. Most of my TVs can read the FIOS basic signal. I am looking at the iView 3500STBI… --- ## [Bars not serving unescorted ladies](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bars-not-serving-unescorted-ladies/743817)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 57\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bars-not-serving-unescorted-ladies/743817 "2016-01-22T23:26:14Z")
I was watching an old Alfred Hitchcock Presents and a woman walked into a bar and hailed the bartender. He immediately said “I’m sorry, we don’t serve unescorted ladies”. Was this ever a thing? If so, what was the reaso… --- ## [Are there scientific studies linking Splenda to IBS ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-scientific-studies-linking-splenda-to-ibs/743838)
**Author:** [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-scientific-studies-linking-splenda-to-ibs/743838 "2016-01-22T22:45:01Z")
Thank you --- ## [Structurally Sound Giant Erector Set](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structurally-sound-giant-erector-set/743853)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/structurally-sound-giant-erector-set/743853 "2016-01-22T22:19:08Z")
I want to be able to erect arbitrarily shaped structures that, for example, could support the weight of a person doing pull-ups or support several adults sitting on it if formed into a box shape or whatever. But I also w… --- ## [Smelting blood into iron?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelting-blood-into-iron/743693)
**Author:** [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Replies:** 55\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smelting-blood-into-iron/743693 "2016-01-22T22:05:15Z")
Is it possible to smelt blood into usable iron? How many gallons of blood would it take to make a broadsword? --- ## [What is a costume, and how long do you have to be on stage to be considered a performer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-costume-and-how-long-do-you-have-to-be-on-stage-to-be-considered-a-performer/743777)
**Author:** [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-costume-and-how-long-do-you-have-to-be-on-stage-to-be-considered-a-performer/743777 "2016-01-22T20:32:40Z")
Last night at the end of blackish, Lawrence Fishburne’s character is talking to James Brown, a sleazy accountant. Brown tells him if he sews the pockets of his trousers shut, it becomes a costume. If he wears a costume f… --- ## [Basic question about dividing fractions of functions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-question-about-dividing-fractions-of-functions/743689)
**Author:** [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-question-about-dividing-fractions-of-functions/743689 "2016-01-22T19:41:22Z")
I know I should know this, but I can’t get my head around it. Let’s start with: 1/1/2. Simple - one takes the reciprocal of 1/2, so it is 1\*2/1=2. Okay, but the worksheet I’m going over for calculating derivatives as… --- ## [Can someone please debunk this video suggesting that SpaceX is using fx?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-please-debunk-this-video-suggesting-that-spacex-is-using-fx/743751)
**Author:** [@carboncopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carboncopy)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-please-debunk-this-video-suggesting-that-spacex-is-using-fx/743751 "2016-01-22T18:37:47Z")
The video is called “Space X (a closer look)”, it features three videos of booster rockets exploding as they hit the ground. The creator of the video shows the video of these explosions and points out visual anomalies w… --- ## [Can a legal case be too complex for the judge?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-legal-case-be-too-complex-for-the-judge/743451)
**Author:** [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 22, 2016, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-legal-case-be-too-complex-for-the-judge/743451 "2016-01-22T18:35:13Z")
Is it possible for a legal case to be so complex that the judge decides to just give up? That is, if the case involves so much legal minutiae and highly complex, contradictory expert testimony that the judge simply cann… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=963) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=965)