For Matthew Alice: I seldom see daddy longlegs, but when I do, they are in the bathtub. Is there an explanation? — Lynne, San Diego As if it were any of our business, Lynne, you …
March 21, 1996
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Daddy longlegs are sign of a clean bathroom
When you answer the phone and can't figure out who called whom
Dear Matthew Alice: A while ago I was at home when, as I strolled by the phone, it rang. I picked it up and said, “Hello?” Almost instantaneously, a female voice at the other end …
March 21, 1996
Dog hair sweaters are warmer and lighter than lamb's wool ones
Hey, Matt: I own four Bichon Frise dogs, and we get tons of hair when we comb them. It’s real soft and luxurious, and the wife and I have often remarked on how it would …
March 21, 1996
San Diego's Woodmen of the World
Matmail: At the old Pioneer Cemetery, or what's left of it, in Mission Hills there are several headstones with “Woodmen of the World” engraved on them. The Woodmen emblem sports crossed axes on a tree …
March 14, 1996
Those babies listed in credits for Toy Story
Dear M. A.: My friend Ernie says the list of “Production Babies” in the credits for Toy Story refers to all the kids born during the production of the film. I think it lists the …
March 14, 1996
Virgin wool — straight from the animal
To Matmail: The boys and I in the sheet metal shop were trying to determine the difference between virgin and regular wool. What gives? — Mike Malone, [email protected] The royal family had Princess Di inspected …
March 14, 1996
The ethylene glycol in snow globes
I Dear Matthew Alice: I’ve always wondered, how do they make those snowball things, where you have a scene in a bubble and it snows when you tip it over? And what do they use …
March 7, 1996
Robert White owns Rose Kennedy bathing suit but not JFK assassination suit
Matthew Alice: Who, specifically, was driving the car when JFK was assassinated? What was his name? What happened to the car? How about the items that were in JFK's pockets? And his suit? Just need …
February 29, 1996
How we infantilize our pets
Dear Matthew: Why do dogs cock their heads to the side when they are confused or intrigued? This is a serious question. A puppy did this to my wife recently when she spoke to him …
February 29, 1996
The anatomically grotesque 38-18-33 Barbie
Matt: If Barbie was a real person, what would her measurements be? — DJ, Del Mar Thirty-seven-year-old Barbie is still 5'6" tall, nearly 50 percent leg, and measures an anatomically grotesque 38-18-33, same as she …
February 29, 1996
Railroad tracks sticking up next to I-5 and Mission Bay
Dear Mr. Alice: When I was but a tyke, an observant friend pointed out a strange sight, one I always look for even to this day. We were heading south on 5, between 52 and …
February 22, 1996