# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=975 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 976 --- ## [EMP vs. Nuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emp-vs-nuke/742299)
**Author:** [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emp-vs-nuke/742299 "2016-01-06T19:48:28Z")
Nuclear warheads require some wiring in order to properly detonate. There isn’t just a lit fuse burning inside. A traditional problem with missile defense is that hitting a small, moving target is hard. If you could se… --- ## [Trying to identify an Israeli weed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-an-israeli-weed/742328)
**Author:** [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-identify-an-israeli-weed/742328 "2016-01-06T17:44:09Z")
The plant. Things I found out about it in Israel: It’s pretty common. It grows, at the very least, around Jerusalem. Don’t remember if I saw it in the north or not. It’s edible if you rip off the spines along the edge… --- ## [POTUS and Life Insurance](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-and-life-insurance/742317)
**Author:** [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-and-life-insurance/742317 "2016-01-06T17:23:46Z")
Does the United States own a life insurance policy on the president? --- ## [Will pool water hurt a key?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pool-water-hurt-a-key/742266)
**Author:** [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-pool-water-hurt-a-key/742266 "2016-01-06T16:54:14Z")
Silly question but I feel like I should be sure… I have a gym locker that is a keyed lock, not a combination. I usually just take my lanyard and key out to the pool deck and leave it on my towel. But now that I’ve got a… --- ## [Explain Dinardi's flower magic trick](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-dinardis-flower-magic-trick/742309)
**Author:** [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-dinardis-flower-magic-trick/742309 "2016-01-06T16:37:04Z")
I was recently browsing through old magic shows on YouTube and came across this mesmerizing performance on The Paul Daniels Magic Show in 1981. Over the course of six minutes, a magician named Dinardi produces a seeming… --- ## [iTunes on an older Windows XP computer to new iPad?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-on-an-older-windows-xp-computer-to-new-ipad/742314)
**Author:** [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/itunes-on-an-older-windows-xp-computer-to-new-ipad/742314 "2016-01-06T15:42:23Z")
Good morning. My brother is trying to add CDs to the iTunes on his new iPad. His desktop is an older Windows XP. He downloaded the XP version of iTunes last night, and was able to sync the iPad once, and then iTunes w… --- ## [Cost Effectiveness of Solar Water Heaters](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-effectiveness-of-solar-water-heaters/742000)
**Author:** [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-effectiveness-of-solar-water-heaters/742000 "2016-01-06T15:36:26Z")
My friend, a very smart geologist was showing me his Active Solar Water Heater system. He’d run calculations figuring how much money he was saving with it. (We’re in New England if it matters) I then asked if he had acc… --- ## [Is it correct usage it speak of "expectations "for one's children" or "of one's children"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-usage-it-speak-of-expectations-for-ones-children-or-of-ones-children/741980)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-correct-usage-it-speak-of-expectations-for-ones-children-or-of-ones-children/741980 "2016-01-06T13:56:51Z")
Hi Parents want their children to succeed in life. So do they have 1. great expectations “for their children” or 2. “of their children”? I would use 2. “have expectations of”(desired result).1. (have expectations for(… --- ## [Why didn't the phone companies sue Steve Jobs for hacking their system with his Blue Box?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-phone-companies-sue-steve-jobs-for-hacking-their-system-with-his-blue-box/741861)
**Author:** [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-didnt-the-phone-companies-sue-steve-jobs-for-hacking-their-system-with-his-blue-box/741861 "2016-01-06T13:54:36Z")
Hi, Why didn’t the phone companies (AT&T , Bell Labs etc) sue Steve Jobs and Wozniak for financial damages caused b their Blue Box? What he and Wozniak did was illegal. I’d be interested to know how much money his Blue … --- ## [Why are Google Videos duration filters restricted to short, medium, long](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-google-videos-duration-filters-restricted-to-short-medium-long/742310)
**Author:** [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-google-videos-duration-filters-restricted-to-short-medium-long/742310 "2016-01-06T10:54:32Z")
On Google video you can only restrict the length of your video to Short(\<4 mins), medium (4-20) or long(\>20 mins). If searching for a relatively popular tem, this completetly fails to help. It seems it would be absurdly … --- ## [Elvis - the given name](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-the-given-name/742076)
**Author:** [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elvis-the-given-name/742076 "2016-01-06T08:11:40Z")
How popular was the name Elvis before Mr. Presley? Wiki isn’t really clear about it and most of the notable Elvi listed were born after the singer. --- ## [Are Louisiana swamps really owned by private land owners?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-louisiana-swamps-really-owned-by-private-land-owners/681731)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-louisiana-swamps-really-owned-by-private-land-owners/681731 "2016-01-06T01:18:58Z")
I watch Swamp People regularly. The gator fisherman have mentioned many times they have agreements with the land owners to fish that area. The fish and game tags are issued to the land owners. They give the tags to the g… --- ## [How common was cancer in the past?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-cancer-in-the-past/741860)
**Author:** [@The\_Big\_Poo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Poo)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-was-cancer-in-the-past/741860 "2016-01-06T00:33:55Z")
Not the recent past but beyond two or three hundred years. Happy new year too. --- ## [Is there anyway to get excel to recognize December dates as 2015?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-excel-to-recognize-december-dates-as-2015/742251)
**Author:** [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 6, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-anyway-to-get-excel-to-recognize-december-dates-as-2015/742251 "2016-01-06T00:31:46Z")
I’ve got a daily task where I need to update a spreadsheet with dates. Normally, I just put in the month/date, and it puts in the year. So last year, if I typed 12/14, it recognizes it as 12/14/15. Now, if it type in 12/… --- ## [2 car questions: about traction control and about fuel capacity](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-car-questions-about-traction-control-and-about-fuel-capacity/741850)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-car-questions-about-traction-control-and-about-fuel-capacity/741850 "2016-01-05T23:59:57Z")
Is there any reason to turn traction control off in good weather? For instance, does the car run a bit more efficiently without it, or is there some kind of wear and tear happening when it’s on? The owners manual is … --- ## [What is this thing on my front bumper (and my sister's Prius)?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010)
**Author:** [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Replies:** 44\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-on-my-front-bumper-and-my-sisters-prius/742010 "2016-01-05T23:18:56Z")
Here is a pic. It’s a 2016 Mazda 3. It looks like a tiny door, except as far as I can tell it doesn’t open. Or maybe it’s something to be punched out and replaced with … what? Here’s another pic of a different model … --- ## [Death by "toaster in the bath" - how much water before you survive?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-by-toaster-in-the-bath-how-much-water-before-you-survive/742004)
**Author:** [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/death-by-toaster-in-the-bath-how-much-water-before-you-survive/742004 "2016-01-05T22:38:43Z")
This will seem like a really, really bizarre question, but I reckon there is a factual answer, so here goes. This started, unsurprisingly, as a pub debate. The premise is this: if we take as fact that you can murder som… --- ## [Expiration Date on ice tea gallon](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-date-on-ice-tea-gallon/742088)
**Author:** [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/expiration-date-on-ice-tea-gallon/742088 "2016-01-05T19:53:17Z")
I often take advantage of the BOGO sales of Publix’ ice tea. I just started one today and noticed the “use by” date is December 30, 2015. How can ice tea spoil? --- ## [Soyuz Spacecraft: From The Time The Astronaut Hits The Ejection Button Until Landing](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soyuz-spacecraft-from-the-time-the-astronaut-hits-the-ejection-button-until-landing/742040)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soyuz-spacecraft-from-the-time-the-astronaut-hits-the-ejection-button-until-landing/742040 "2016-01-05T19:08:16Z")
A plot point in a TV show I watch involves an astronaut abandoning the ISS in the Soyuz. How long will it take him, from the time he hits the “Eject” button (or whatever) until he lands? --- ## [Transferring (old) purchased apps from one iPhone to another](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transferring-old-purchased-apps-from-one-iphone-to-another/742169)
**Author:** [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transferring-old-purchased-apps-from-one-iphone-to-another/742169 "2016-01-05T18:45:19Z")
I have an old iPhone that I am replacing with a new iPhone. I used iTunes to back up the old iPhone, then restored that backup to get the new iPhone set up, moved the SIM card over, everything is mostly working. EXCEPT … --- ## [Prison Sentence Extended](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prison-sentence-extended/742092)
**Author:** [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prison-sentence-extended/742092 "2016-01-05T17:21:48Z")
With the recent news event of the takeover of the federal wildlife refuge building, I was curious about something the news reports said of a sentence being extended. Here’s the article on the case: http://www.justice.g… --- ## [Army defense tactics question](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-defense-tactics-question/742086)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-defense-tactics-question/742086 "2016-01-05T15:26:31Z")
From what I understood about defense, which is very little, usually you have for example 2 brigades on the front and 1 brigade in the back (in the 2 echelon defense) and that ,2 in the front, one in the back" pattern is… --- ## [Could you chill cocktail glasses in liquid nitrogen for extra chill?!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-chill-cocktail-glasses-in-liquid-nitrogen-for-extra-chill/742038)
**Author:** [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Replies:** 41\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-chill-cocktail-glasses-in-liquid-nitrogen-for-extra-chill/742038 "2016-01-05T15:14:26Z")
I like martinis and manhattans, but the glass seems to come up to room temperature after only a few sips. You can do rocks, but that dilutes the drink. So I was wondering if it would be possible to dip cocktail glasses … --- ## [Freezer Thermostat](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freezer-thermostat/742190)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freezer-thermostat/742190 "2016-01-05T14:42:30Z")
I have a commercial freezer, the thermostat shorted out two days ago. Repairman comes and puts in a new thermostat. Now the freezer does not get below 10 degree Fahrenheit even when the new thermostat is set to be -30F… --- ## [Anthrax Vial Collectors?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthrax-vial-collectors/742193)
**Author:** [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anthrax-vial-collectors/742193 "2016-01-05T14:17:55Z")
About 20 years ago, 60 Minutes ran a story about a subculture of people–mostly non-scientists or -doctors–who collected vials of dangerous disease cultures. They even interviewed one of them at some length. Is there a na… --- ## [Is there a way to shop for airfares and exclude codeshare flights](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-shop-for-airfares-and-exclude-codeshare-flights/742016)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-shop-for-airfares-and-exclude-codeshare-flights/742016 "2016-01-05T06:45:46Z")
When using Travelocity or Expedia to shop for flights to various UK airports from O’Hare airport, I get numerous results, but almost all the results are various codeshare flights. I’d like to find someway to filter out a… --- ## [Why is my truck moving(rolls back apparently)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-truck-moving-rolls-back-apparently/742125)
**Author:** [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-truck-moving-rolls-back-apparently/742125 "2016-01-05T06:13:29Z")
I have a 2007 Ranger I use as a personal vehicle. It is a 4.0L 4x4 sport. It is an automatic with push button 4 wheel drive. 170kmiles My drive way is about 30 feet long and slopes slightly towards the street. It is may… --- ## [Best free/cheap small business software?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-cheap-small-business-software/613086)
**Author:** [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-cheap-small-business-software/613086 "2016-01-05T05:24:21Z")
This has to be the best place to ask this question? I mean, look at all the remarkably smart people everywhere… (laying on flattery with a shovel. ) :wink: We’re starting up our small business again for the year, and it… --- ## [Centurylink PRISM / Internet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/centurylink-prism-internet/742191)
**Author:** [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/centurylink-prism-internet/742191 "2016-01-05T04:48:53Z")
Centurylink was by my house again touting their fiber to the premises and trying to get me to sign up on the spot with an offer that I could only get through there I assume their line about it being a one time offer w… --- ## [Shakespearean "Go To" -- what does it mean?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespearean-go-to-what-does-it-mean/742122)
**Author:** [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [January 5, 2016, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shakespearean-go-to-what-does-it-mean/742122 "2016-01-05T03:42:43Z")
The phrase “Go to!” is used here and there in Shakespeare. It’s kind of hard to search for, as the phrase is usually embedded in ordinary grammar, but here’s an example from The Winter’s Tale: What does “Go to” mean? … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=974) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=976)