Mr. M.A.: Where the heck did the phrase "going to hell in a handbasket" come from? It's bad for business. -- Handbasket Makers of America The original place people were inclined to go in a …
August 28, 2003
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Handbasket destinations
Smell sells
To Whom It May Concern: Why can the smell of popped popcorn be smelled farther away than any other food? Is there a fact behind this question, or is it just a phenomenon? -- JS, …
August 28, 2003
The inquiring pooch
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 …
August 28, 2003
Sleeve buttons -- why?
Hey, Einstein: Why do I have three buttons on the sleeves of my sports jacket but don't have three buttonholes or any possible reason to want three buttons on my jacket sleeves? Let's see you …
August 21, 2003
The cool side of the pillow
Matthew: Why do we always turn the pillow to the cool side? -- Snoozer, the net Sorry, Snoozer. That's not the name you signed. We put your question under our pillow to see if the …
August 21, 2003
No checks, please
Matt: Can you tell me why people get into the 10-item-or-less line in the grocery store, right under the big sign, the one that says "No Checks," then put their 15 items on the counter …
August 21, 2003
Shall we paint the cave mauve?
Hey Matt: I remember reading somewhere that primitive people didn't have as many names for colors as we have today. Was everything I olden times less colorful than it is today? -- M. Cook, elsewhere …
August 21, 2003
The car-bug connection
Dear Matthew Alice: Say I trap a fly in my car when I go down the highway going 70 miles an hour. Why doesn't the fly get smashed against the back window, assuming flies can't …
August 14, 2003
The late, lamented Five Points
Hey Matt: The Mission Hills residential area south of Washington to about Chalmers or Vine is sometimes referred to as "Five Points." Is Five Points technically part of Mission Hills or just an informal name …
August 14, 2003
Send my absentee ballot to the county lock-up
Mighty Matt: We have an election coming up. Which gets me to wondering, can felons vote in California? — Good Citizen, Vista When was the last time you saw a candidate detour the campaign bus …
August 14, 2003
The No-Swimming Hole
Hey Matt: When I lived in Northern California there was never a problem with people swimming in the lakes and reservoirs, but down here I find that it's illegal to swim in our lakes and …
August 7, 2003