You know the drill -- #2 Ticonderoga, no cheat sheets, no whining, no prizes, so don't even bother to ask. Wisdom is its own reward. This is all stuff you didn't know a year ago. …
December 23, 1999
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
End of the Year Quiz from MA questions, 1999.
In a nuclear accident, is it safer to say in your house or skip town?
Dear Matthew: During a nearby nuclear accident (like the ones recently in Japan and Korea), is it safer to stay in your house until the authorities say it's okay to leave, or should one skip …
December 16, 1999
In the event of a disaster like an earthquake, what would happen to legal records, financial records, etc.?
Matt: In the event of a disaster like an earthquake, what would happen to legal records, financial records, etc.? If a bank were destroyed, would records of my balance be destroyed along with it? What …
December 16, 1999
Is there really such a thing as spontaneous human combustion?
Hola: This subject came up in casual conversation. Is there really such a thing as spontaneous human combustion? -- A.V., Golden Hill Like, if we survive Y2K maybe there's still a chance we'll be sitting …
December 16, 1999
Are there dual citizenships for US citizens?
HA, WET CLIMATE (a Matthew Alice anagram): To settle a bet, I called the INS to see if there is such a thing as dual citizenship for a U.S. citizen. Ha ha ha. Hope the …
December 9, 1999
What's new in the art of using critters to fix up injuries?
Yo, Matt! When I was a kid, for $2 we could rent a leech from Gregory Peck's dad, the pharmacist at Ferris & Ferris, Fifth and Market, stick it on your black eye, and voilá, …
December 9, 1999
What happens to dead ants?
Oh, Matthew Alice: My gears turn in wonder when I see ants and one of them has a dead fellow ant in its jaws. Why do they carry away these dead ants? Where do they …
December 2, 1999
What if I am deaf, blind, and in a wheelchair and for some reason I end up getting 10 to 20 at Sing Sing?
Dear Matthew Alice: Please activate your criminal mind to answer this: What if I am deaf, blind, and in a wheelchair and for some reason I end up getting 10 to 20 at Sing Sing. …
December 2, 1999
Why do pawn shops have a three cherry logo?
Yo, Matt: Why do pawn shops have a logo like three cherries? What's the story behind them? And what ailment is Walt Disney waiting for a cure for while frozen? Do you age during your …
November 24, 1999
Why do cats like fish and why hasn't a cat food manufacturer tried rodent based food?
Dear Matthew Alice: I've seen house cats kill and eat birds, so it makes sense that they like cat food made from poultry. I also know cats hunt and consume lots of rodents, but I've …
November 24, 1999
What illiterate computer bozo suddenly decided the @ symbol means "at," when it really means "each?"
Matt: This may come as a surprise to many of you Internet chuckleheads out there, but the symbol @ does not mean "at." It means "each." So what I wanna know is, what illiterate computer …
November 11, 1999