# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=969 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 970 --- ## [Do Ethernet to WiFi Adapters exist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-ethernet-to-wifi-adapters-exist/743248)
**Author:** [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-ethernet-to-wifi-adapters-exist/743248 "2016-01-16T07:58:08Z")
I just changed my Internet provider and logistically I cannot connect my desktop to the new Router via a wire because it is in another room. I thought I could buy an adapter that plugs into the Ethernet port that would … --- ## [Date format I've not run across before](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/date-format-ive-not-run-across-before/743105)
**Author:** [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/date-format-ive-not-run-across-before/743105 "2016-01-16T05:53:11Z")
In doing some genealogical research, I’ve found dates recorded in a way I’ve not seen before, and I wanted to get some input about it, hopefully from someone who is familiar with it. The format is as follows: 15 : 3 m … --- ## [Is there a family of mathematical curves that looks like this?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-family-of-mathematical-curves-that-looks-like-this/743225)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-family-of-mathematical-curves-that-looks-like-this/743225 "2016-01-16T04:52:22Z")
Is there a family of mathematical curves that looks like the following? Y1 = f1(X), Y2 = f2(X), … Y(infinity) = 0, Y(-infinity)=0 -1 \<= Y \<= 1, or -1 \< Y \< 1, or combinations thereof Most importantly, The first memb… --- ## [Was Taiwan/Formosa Important To the Chinese Empire?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-taiwan-formosa-important-to-the-chinese-empire/743070)
**Author:** [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-taiwan-formosa-important-to-the-chinese-empire/743070 "2016-01-16T04:31:06Z")
The island was pretty far away, and the later phases of the empire were not conducive to seafaring. As far as controlling it, the Chinese lost it fairly easily to a Portuguese fleet…later, the JJapanese took it. Taiwan h… --- ## [UK Bureaucracy Abbreviation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-bureaucracy-abbreviation/743233)
**Author:** [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 16, 2016, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-bureaucracy-abbreviation/743233 "2016-01-16T00:53:09Z")
I’m looking at the passenger manifest of a ship that sailed from the Caribbean to London\* in 1948. One page contains a slew of passengers — all women or children — who were Polish citizens, had been residents of Mexico, … --- ## [Solenoid valves](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solenoid-valves/742885)
**Author:** [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solenoid-valves/742885 "2016-01-15T23:37:44Z")
I acquired four solenoid valves for use in aquarium plumbing. 12v DC, NC. The darn things won’t open when voltage is applied with no fluid present. What gives? --- ## [Skype on an MS-Surface](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skype-on-an-ms-surface/743168)
**Author:** [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skype-on-an-ms-surface/743168 "2016-01-15T23:06:49Z")
Has any Doper successfully installed Skype on an Surface (Win-10). Vacationing in Barbados with my nearly new MS-Surface, I tried to install Skype a couple days ago. Everything went well until I gave it my UID and Pass… --- ## [Question about New York State Parking Permit for People with Disabilities](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-new-york-state-parking-permit-for-people-with-disabilities/743275)
**Author:** [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-new-york-state-parking-permit-for-people-with-disabilities/743275 "2016-01-15T22:18:19Z")
Long shot, but I’m wondering if there’s anyone here who knows anything about New York City disabled parking permits. Here’s my situation. My father is somewhat disabled. He cannot walk very well at all, and in any cas… --- ## [The technology of remote car starter apps](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277 "2016-01-15T21:48:12Z")
I got the impression that the hardware installed in your car for this includes what amounts to a cell phone receiver that receives a command from your phone via cell towers. My co-workers insist there is satellite commu… --- ## [Has Anyone Ever Recorded a Poltergeist?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-recorded-a-poltergeist/743122)
**Author:** [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-ever-recorded-a-poltergeist/743122 "2016-01-15T21:23:04Z")
The poltergeist (German “noisy ghost”) phenomenon seems to be a common one. Most cultures have a tradition of them. Since tape recorders have been around for 70 years, has anyone actually recorded the noises made by one? … --- ## [Seeing online passwords](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-online-passwords/743151)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-online-passwords/743151 "2016-01-15T21:23:03Z")
My computer remembers my passwords for some sites. That’s good, because I don’t have to type them in. On the other hand, sometimes I forget them. (I tend to use different passwords instead of the same one over and ove… --- ## [Can an enucleated eyeball defeat a security retina scanner?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-enucleated-eyeball-defeat-a-security-retina-scanner/743202)
**Author:** [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-enucleated-eyeball-defeat-a-security-retina-scanner/743202 "2016-01-15T18:43:33Z")
Everyone knows fingerprint-based security access systems are weak, because you can just cut off somebody’s fingers and use them to access the Top Secret Stuff. So what about a system that uses eye/retina scanning techno… --- ## [Pregnancy and claustrophobia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnancy-and-claustrophobia/743244)
**Author:** [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnancy-and-claustrophobia/743244 "2016-01-15T18:07:54Z")
Many years ago when I was pregnant, about halfway through–when I was getting big–I started to feel mildly claustrophobic. We lived in a small apartment near NAS Miramar AND a police shooting/practice range. At the same t… --- ## [How many languages can the average human speak?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-languages-can-the-average-human-speak/136993)
**Author:** [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Replies:** 52\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-languages-can-the-average-human-speak/136993 "2016-01-15T16:44:18Z")
I guess the title says it all. --- ## [Another "Right-Of-Way" Question.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-right-of-way-question/743230)
**Author:** [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-right-of-way-question/743230 "2016-01-15T16:06:13Z")
This is for car and pedestrian. And we’re in Massachusetts. I’m in my car at an intersection and have a green light. There’s a cross walk and the signage is “Red” for “Don’t Cross.” But the pedestrian steps out in fro… --- ## [Italian Dopers: Compensation $$ For Fake/Adulterated Olive Oil?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-dopers-compensation-for-fake-adulterated-olive-oil/743232)
**Author:** [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/italian-dopers-compensation-for-fake-adulterated-olive-oil/743232 "2016-01-15T15:47:02Z")
I was reading somthing about a scandal in Italy. It seems that high-end olive oil suppliers have been selling inferior oil (bout from Turkey, Greece, Tunisia), and labeling it as 100% Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil. Supp… --- ## [What's the Japanese national narrative about WW2?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-japanese-national-narrative-about-ww2/742660)
**Author:** [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Replies:** 40\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-japanese-national-narrative-about-ww2/742660 "2016-01-15T15:05:53Z")
Here in the USA, World War 2 seems like a point of great pride for us. Our history textbooks depict us as saviors, we have a bunch of random naval and air museums dedicated to WW2 feats and vessels, and it’s generally ce… --- ## [oil tank containment (pools)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-tank-containment-pools/743069)
**Author:** [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-tank-containment-pools/743069 "2016-01-15T14:46:19Z")
I regularly walk by a 500(?) gallon kerosene tank that is surrounded by a concrete secondary containment tank. This, I’m sure, is to hold the kerosene should the metal tank spring a leak. What I don’t understand is how… --- ## [Sepoy Mutiny question: Were the cartridges really greased with animal fat?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sepoy-mutiny-question-were-the-cartridges-really-greased-with-animal-fat/148502)
**Author:** [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sepoy-mutiny-question-were-the-cartridges-really-greased-with-animal-fat/148502 "2016-01-15T13:51:26Z")
Inspired by this thread. The immediate cause of the Sepoy Mutiny in India was the belief that the Lee-Enfield rifle’s cartridges were greased with cow and/or pig fat. I’m finding conflicting information about whether t… --- ## [what is "frogs porn" (UK slang, probably NSFW)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-frogs-porn-uk-slang-probably-nsfw/742905)
**Author:** [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-frogs-porn-uk-slang-probably-nsfw/742905 "2016-01-15T11:59:11Z")
Heard the phrase “frogs porn” in a joke on QI the other night, and google is no help in finding a definition. Based on the search results, I’ve found, it refers to embarassing sexual videos, probably involving animals, … --- ## [Is there a guide to ammo calibers that lay people can read and understand?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-guide-to-ammo-calibers-that-lay-people-can-read-and-understand/743107)
**Author:** [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-guide-to-ammo-calibers-that-lay-people-can-read-and-understand/743107 "2016-01-15T09:17:10Z")
I was shown a pretty sweet .380 pistol (Kahr) and wanted more info on the caliber since the bullets looked really small. I Googled " Is .380 the same as 38 special" or something similar, and got the following: This is … --- ## [Eliminating audio in an MP4](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-audio-in-an-mp4/743154)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eliminating-audio-in-an-mp4/743154 "2016-01-15T08:28:22Z")
I have a bunch of MP4s that I want to eliminate the audio on. Is there a utility I can run that strips out the audio component? Also, if I take out the audio, how much will that reduce the size of the MP4? --- ## [What's the straight dope on heated towel rails?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-heated-towel-rails/602047)
**Author:** [@Hairy\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hairy_Bob)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-straight-dope-on-heated-towel-rails/602047 "2016-01-15T07:11:21Z")
I ask since I’ve just bought my first house with my wife, and the bathroom just had a small radiator and a towel rail on the adjacent wall. We’re having a new boiler fitted, so I decided while the system was drained, I’d… --- ## [How to destroy a modern tank?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-destroy-a-modern-tank/743075)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 35\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-destroy-a-modern-tank/743075 "2016-01-15T05:15:40Z")
Destroying old cold war tanks like T-55 or T-72 isn’t that hard, mostly since even the more basic RPG 7 versions can destroy them by penetration, even if they hit them in the front. However, what happens with M1A2 Abrams… --- ## [Relative cost of putting in transit infrastructure before you build vs after?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-cost-of-putting-in-transit-infrastructure-before-you-build-vs-after/743136)
**Author:** [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/relative-cost-of-putting-in-transit-infrastructure-before-you-build-vs-after/743136 "2016-01-15T04:50:51Z")
I’ve been reading about some of the major urban transit initiatives and how mind bogglingly expensive they are and it seems like a huge bulk of the cost comes down to essentially performing surgery on a city while it’s s… --- ## [Interpolation, extrapolation, or other? Multivariate data...](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpolation-extrapolation-or-other-multivariate-data/743156)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interpolation-extrapolation-or-other-multivariate-data/743156 "2016-01-15T04:20:38Z")
Suppose you have a function of two independent variables, Z = f(X,Y), and a graph comparing the two independent variables shows your (X,Y) point cloud is somewhat long and slender and somewhat crescent shaped, like a bit… --- ## [Interesction right of way question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesction-right-of-way-question/743034)
**Author:** [@rainy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rainy)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesction-right-of-way-question/743034 "2016-01-15T03:41:25Z")
Two cars approach an intersection. Car A, approaching from the west, is making a left hand turn (not a protected left, just a left hand turn on a green light, sign says “Left turn yield on green” ). Car B, approaching … --- ## [Why wasn't the Hitler style moustache more popular?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-hitler-style-moustache-more-popular/742470)
**Author:** [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-hitler-style-moustache-more-popular/742470 "2016-01-15T01:40:47Z")
Apparently he trimmed it to help seal his gas mask. Presumably there would be thousands of others presented with the same situation; on top of that, everyone wants to look like the boss. The Saddam Husein 'stache was pre… --- ## [Hierarchy to the British throne: a hypothetical.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hierarchy-to-the-british-throne-a-hypothetical/742398)
**Author:** [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [January 15, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hierarchy-to-the-british-throne-a-hypothetical/742398 "2016-01-15T01:13:42Z")
So my son and I were having a bit of fun this morning, talking about the British ascension to the throne. And we came up with a bit of a teaser. Just say that King William is already crowned (and Charles is sewing patc… --- ## [Need help with HP network printer install in Windows environment](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-hp-network-printer-install-in-windows-environment/743042)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [January 14, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-hp-network-printer-install-in-windows-environment/743042 "2016-01-14T21:42:20Z")
Long story short I am trying to connect this HP P3005dn mid sized office networked printer, which appears to work fine in stand alone test mode to our network. Our environment is mainly a Windows house running mix of Wi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=968) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=970)