Dear Matt: Maybe you can help me ease my curiosity and assuage the paranoia that accompanied my thoughts after reading a job vacancy requirement. Recently Alaska Airlines advertised vacancies for the position of flight attendant. …
November 12, 1998
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Why are flight attendants required to be able to swim 90 feet?
Who named the Emmy, Grammy, Tony, etc.? Who was Hendrix Pond named after?
Dear Matthew Alice: Who is the Emmy named after? And the Tony? The Grammy? Who decreed that all these major awards have to end in y? What about the Pulitzer Prize? When will you be …
November 10, 1998
Are dogs able to see or recognize themselves in photos?
Dear Matt: The other night when my family and I pondered this question I had a "Eureka." I realized only one guy (and a few elves) would be able to sort this one out. Our …
November 5, 1998
Does the President receive a Presidential retirement if impeached?
Question: If Clinton is driven from office by impeachment, does he get a former president's retirement anyway? -- Arlene Burch, the Net Answer: Hell no. No golden parachute if they toss him out of Air …
October 22, 1998
Which movies will end up on HBO, Showtime, etc.
Matman: Is there a way to tell which movies will end up on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, etc.? Do certain studios like Columbia or Paramount always release their movies to the same cable stations? — Robert, …
October 22, 1998
How did the bare busted statues get in Balboa Park?
Dear Matthew Alice: Am I the only person in Balboa Park who ever looks up? Otherwise, how is it that we have dozens of statues of bare-breasted, buxom ladies overhead and no one ever mentions …
October 22, 1998
Why were Greek urns rounded at the bottom?
Matt: In short: Why are Greek urns rounded at the bottom? It's puzzled me for years. Even a tour guide at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art couldn't answer this. Greek urns were built …
October 8, 1998
Questions that have haunted me through my adolescence...
Matmail: These questions have haunted me through my adolescence: Where does all the white come from in breaking waves? If hot air rises and cold air sinks, why is it colder at higher altitudes, where …
October 8, 1998
What are the differences between indoor and outdoor spiders?
Matmail: When I see spiders outdoors, they are usually in the middle of a web. Inside my apartment, however, they just stand on my ceiling. Why don't my spiders spin webs indoors? Do they know …
October 1, 1998
How does the government recruit for jury duty?
Dear Matthew Alice: How does the government choose who to recruit for jury duty? These people will not leave me alone! Before they disrupt my life yet again, please tell me (1) how they make …
October 1, 1998
Are there any side effects to burning incense? What is Nag Champa?
Hey, Matt: I burn quite a bit of incense in my apartment, and I'm wondering just what sort of toxic chemicals I am inhaling. Has incense ever been linked to lung cancer or other serious …
September 24, 1998