# Factual Questions **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=994 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 995 --- ## [Help me math, please. (Not a homework question.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-math-please-not-a-homework-question/739458)
**Author:** [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-math-please-not-a-homework-question/739458 "2015-12-05T01:30:47Z")
Germall Plus is a preservative for lotion making. It’s used at 0.1-0.5% of total weight. I know that 1 gallon of Germall Plus weighs 9.6 pounds. How much lotion will 2 LIQUID ounces of Germall Plus preserve for me? (Bon… --- ## [Help wanted with payment calculation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wanted-with-payment-calculation/739377)
**Author:** [@Oddball\_92](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oddball_92)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 5, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-wanted-with-payment-calculation/739377 "2015-12-05T00:34:50Z")
This should be so simple but for some reason I cannot wrap my head around the formula to make this calculation: A person has two options: Begin collecting payments of $577 per month now or… Waiting 4 years from now an… --- ## [Ceiling fan energy consumption.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fan-energy-consumption/739238)
**Author:** [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ceiling-fan-energy-consumption/739238 "2015-12-04T20:58:59Z")
I have a ceiling fan in the sitting room and in the winter, I run it backwards at the slowest speed. This is to circulate the warm air from the single radiator. My question is - Does a ceiling fan use more electricity a… --- ## [How Exactly Are Drugs Made From Petroleum?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-are-drugs-made-from-petroleum/412808)
**Author:** [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [November 16, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-exactly-are-drugs-made-from-petroleum/412808 "2010-11-16T13:21:05Z")
Perhaps my Google skills are weak, and I did a search here on the SD, but I cannot find a simple explaination of how drugs are made from petroleum oil. I searched because I was reading a harangue on “synthetic oil-based … --- ## [Handy but pathological purchasing guideline in business](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-but-pathological-purchasing-guideline-in-business/739250)
**Author:** [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-but-pathological-purchasing-guideline-in-business/739250 "2015-12-04T19:06:43Z")
We sometimes consider business purchases in the following way: if we are currently x percent profitable, then for every dollar we spend in a purchase, then the additional sales the company has to achieve to fund the purc… --- ## [Sparrow relocation: do they "home"?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparrow-relocation-do-they-home/739403)
**Author:** [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sparrow-relocation-do-they-home/739403 "2015-12-04T18:28:45Z")
We have a sparrow problem in our barn. This non-native invasive nuisance bird is reproducing out of control due in part to easy access to chicken feed and nesting sites. Our bluebird nest boxes are mostly sparrow invaded… --- ## [Question on Lincoln-Douglas Debates](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-lincoln-douglas-debates/739385)
**Author:** [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-lincoln-douglas-debates/739385 "2015-12-04T18:27:51Z")
Were the Lincoln-Douglas debates written down and simply read by the participants, or were both Lincoln and Douglas speaking extemporaneously the entire time? --- ## [Does cold weather make starting a campfire harder?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-weather-make-starting-a-campfire-harder/713285)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-cold-weather-make-starting-a-campfire-harder/713285 "2015-12-04T18:24:00Z")
If it’s sunny and dry but cold, is it harder to start a fire than in equal but warmer conditions?. Empirically it seems so, but I couldn’t say why. Given that flames are in the range of 400-500 F, you wouldn’t think that… --- ## [How significant are the risks of running a GPU at maximum frequency for 3 days?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-significant-are-the-risks-of-running-a-gpu-at-maximum-frequency-for-3-days/739218)
**Author:** [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-significant-are-the-risks-of-running-a-gpu-at-maximum-frequency-for-3-days/739218 "2015-12-04T17:38:00Z")
I’m rendering a fractal flame video using Flam4CUDA and it’s going to take longer than I initially thought. I’m wondering if I’m damaging something and if I should stop the render. I’ll end up running my PC for 3.5 days… --- ## [Possible To Stop Some Email Spam?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-stop-some-email-spam/739364)
**Author:** [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-to-stop-some-email-spam/739364 "2015-12-04T17:24:18Z")
I’ve been getting a lot of spam email recently, and I take the time to not only report the stuff as Spam to my ISP (which seems to do no good), but I also add the domain to my ISP Block List. Unfortunately, my block list… --- ## [Is Luminosity Owned by the Scientology Church?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-luminosity-owned-by-the-scientology-church/739416)
**Author:** [@botsgotme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/botsgotme)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-luminosity-owned-by-the-scientology-church/739416 "2015-12-04T17:18:49Z")
I ask because their personality evaluation tests seem eerily similar to the (bogus) tests that $cientology uses to rope in new converts/victims. To those of you who have used Luminosity-have you been contacted by the C… --- ## [Plant question- Japanese Aralia](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plant-question-japanese-aralia/739376)
**Author:** [@ric62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ric62)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plant-question-japanese-aralia/739376 "2015-12-04T17:16:34Z")
I bought an Aralia this past fall for the breezeway at my apartment. It was doing very well until it got cold. I thought that the temp where the plant was at would stay warm enough for it. It didn’t. It’s leaves were dro… --- ## [Can you extract g. earth 3d meshes into other programs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-extract-g-earth-3d-meshes-into-other-programs/739421)
**Author:** [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-extract-g-earth-3d-meshes-into-other-programs/739421 "2015-12-04T16:14:41Z")
I use google sketchup and I remember that earlier (although I don’t remember how), you could have chosen a terrain from google earth and export it to google sketchup, I’ve done that myself, although I don’t remember if i… --- ## [Repairing old luggage](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-old-luggage/739280)
**Author:** [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repairing-old-luggage/739280 "2015-12-04T16:02:08Z")
I just bought this super cool, vintage travel bar for a future epic road trip. Unfortunately, the elastic that holds everything in place is old and stretched out, or even ripped. This will not do for my gin-swilling fr… --- ## [electrical question - blown kettle](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-question-blown-kettle/739404)
**Author:** [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrical-question-blown-kettle/739404 "2015-12-04T15:33:04Z")
Switched my kettle yesterday and nearly shat meself, it jumped off the base with a loud bang and a big red and blue flash. It’s fairly new - is this likely to be anything to do with the fuse in the plug, or something wr… --- ## [What is the IT department like at big software companies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-it-department-like-at-big-software-companies/739312)
**Author:** [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-it-department-like-at-big-software-companies/739312 "2015-12-04T15:26:18Z")
My wife works for a firm that got bought out by a multi-national company, with holdings on several continents. The parent company has been desperately trying to manage IT with increasingly strict policies of standardizat… --- ## [Can you help identify a print/painting by my description?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-a-print-painting-by-my-description/739319)
**Author:** [@kirkwb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirkwb)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-help-identify-a-print-painting-by-my-description/739319 "2015-12-04T14:12:02Z")
I’m looking to buy a print/painting for a friend who really loves a picture, which was spotted in the film ‘As good as it gets’. Its in Melvin Udall’s apartment (played by Jack Nicholson) The picture is of two black men… --- ## [Can I "cut" my laundry detergent](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-cut-my-laundry-detergent/739299)
**Author:** [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-cut-my-laundry-detergent/739299 "2015-12-04T14:00:38Z")
I own a discount grocery store, and a supplier gave me a new product, a super concentrated liquid laundry soap. I am going to use this at my home before I commit to buying a shipment. This comes in just a normal laundry… --- ## [Electricity and Electromagnetic Waves](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electricity-and-electromagnetic-waves/739141)
**Author:** [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electricity-and-electromagnetic-waves/739141 "2015-12-04T13:35:03Z")
Visible light is in the electromagnetic spectrum, with certain wave lengths and frequencies, carried by the photon vector. However, other than theoretically traveling at the speed of light (which, I know, it does not ac… --- ## [Paying a debt with coins.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-a-debt-with-coins/418784)
**Author:** [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paying-a-debt-with-coins/418784 "2015-12-04T12:56:41Z")
I just heard a news story about a guy with $700 in traffic tickets. He’s tried to pay them, with coins. The clerk’s office accepted a little over $100 in rolled coins and some unknown amount in loose coins. Now, they sa… --- ## [What's going yuan?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-going-yuan/739282)
**Author:** [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-going-yuan/739282 "2015-12-04T04:45:32Z")
In the past weeks I saw some headlines to the effect that the Chinese renminbi has become a world reserve currency. Then I started seeing yuan to become reserve currency headlines. The two words seem to be used interchan… --- ## [Were visible facial/body tumors common in medieval times?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-visible-facial-body-tumors-common-in-medieval-times/739294)
**Author:** [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Replies:** 20\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-visible-facial-body-tumors-common-in-medieval-times/739294 "2015-12-04T04:35:09Z")
At least twice, in pop culture, I’ve seen an immortal character at a renaissance fair or some similar event comment that it lacked verisimilitude, one point of which is huge tumors on people. Is this just a convenient ga… --- ## [Is this a "kissing bug" ??](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-kissing-bug/739316)
**Author:** [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-kissing-bug/739316 "2015-12-04T04:23:58Z")
pic here Found in Georgetown, SC this morning (it’s dead) Body is appx 1.5 in. long Looks like one, but the huge back legs don’t seem to be in any photos I looked at online I still have the insect --- ## [Removing Grout from Tile?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grout-from-tile/739344)
**Author:** [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-grout-from-tile/739344 "2015-12-04T04:17:09Z")
An incompetent repairperson (me) recently retiled my bathroom floor. After everything dried and set, I noticed that in some spots, there was a bit of grout on the tile, which I can’t get off. Any suggestions? --- ## [Saw a list of th world's most traded commodities, how can it be right?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-list-of-th-worlds-most-traded-commodities-how-can-it-be-right/739059)
**Author:** [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-list-of-th-worlds-most-traded-commodities-how-can-it-be-right/739059 "2015-12-04T03:48:13Z")
http://www.rogersfamilyco.com/index.php/know-top-ten-traded-commodities/ Really, gold is number four but basic building materials like lumber, steel/iron, and aluminum don’t even make the list? That doesn’t sound right… --- ## [Cost of Presidential Elections.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-presidential-elections/739367)
**Author:** [@Memnon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Memnon)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [December 4, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-presidential-elections/739367 "2015-12-04T01:03:04Z")
I’m just curious. Does anyone know how expensive the 2012 Presidential election was? I’m talking Primaries, debates, advertising, the whole thing from start to finish? Google is giving me contradictory figures. Cheer… --- ## [Any practical reason terrorists use "long guns" instead of handguns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-practical-reason-terrorists-use-long-guns-instead-of-handguns/739333)
**Author:** [@WF\_Tomba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WF_Tomba)\ **Replies:** 30\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-practical-reason-terrorists-use-long-guns-instead-of-handguns/739333 "2015-12-03T23:11:16Z")
Inspired by this post from Kevbo: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18907538&postcount=201 I am hoping to keep this discussion as factual as possible. If it’s true that “military-style” rifles are not … --- ## [Is there currently a Firefox attack that claims it's fixing a network security issue?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-currently-a-firefox-attack-that-claims-its-fixing-a-network-security-issue/739283)
**Author:** [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-currently-a-firefox-attack-that-claims-its-fixing-a-network-security-issue/739283 "2015-12-03T22:48:40Z")
It’s happened twice in the past week. I suddenly get redirected to a almost blank screen claiming a possible security intrusion was detected. Then this dramatic bar graph showing scanning progress. Then finally it offer… --- ## [Excel: Column widths](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-column-widths/739221)
**Author:** [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/excel-column-widths/739221 "2015-12-03T20:40:04Z")
I have some data in Excel. The font is Courier New, 9 pt. because if I define a column width, that font fits the width. For example, if I define a column width as ‘20’, and I enter ABCDEFGHIJ1234567890, the text fits i… --- ## [Electromagnetic pulse and technology](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetic-pulse-and-technology/739257)
**Author:** [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [December 3, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electromagnetic-pulse-and-technology/739257 "2015-12-03T20:32:04Z")
I just picked up a book (which I haven’t started reading yet) about a world where an Electromagnetic Pulse wipes out all technology which is dependent on electronics, and, according to the book cover “plunges civilizatio… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=993) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/factual-questions/9.md?page=995)