Heymatt: A friend of mine is currently on vacation, all expenses paid by you and I (the State of California). During his sojourn in San Diego County's facility, Donovan, a fellow vacationer who has a …
June 27, 2002
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
If there's life after death, can that get me out of jail?
Where did they film the big wave at the beginning of "Hawaii Five-0"?
Dear Matthew Alice: I'm dying to know where the huge wave at the beginning of Hawaii Five-0 was filmed. -- Mark Plazak, La Jolla; and Paul Hunter, Clairemont; Jay Smith, North Park All you nonsurfers …
June 20, 2002
Did Einstein ever kiss Olivia Newton-John?
Dear Matt: Was Olivia Newton-John ever kissed by Albert Einstein? -- Milton F, Normal Heights Usually I don't much care which way the facts fall. True, false; you're right, you're wrong-- as long as my …
June 20, 2002
Super Glue -- a medical miracle?
Hey, Matt: During my many years as a mechanic, I learned many handy tricks. One thing I always have in stock is Super Glue, which I've found a thousand and one uses for. I regularly …
June 13, 2002
Please tell me it's not legal for motorcycles to split lanes on the freeway.
Heymatt: So I've been waiting in traffic or maybe driving along at 40 mph, and a motorcycle blows by playing Inagaddadavida on the dummy bumps. And then I see the CHP doing the same thing. …
June 13, 2002
Asparagus pee redux.
Hey, Matt: Why does asparagus make my pee stink? -- Anonymous, somewhere In this land of climatic sameness, how does Matthew Alice know that spring has arrived? (1) Grandma Alice packs away her winter aprons …
June 13, 2002
Metalheads on the moon?
Hey, Matt: On a recent "where are they now" TV show, Ronny James Dio said that he wanted to be the first person to play on the moon. If we got tickets, would we be …
June 6, 2002
Cheese, cheese, glorious cheese.
Hey, Matt: Yellow cheese. I have recently been informed that cheese is naturally white. That it never was yellow until someone went out of their way to color it. What's worse, I'm told they use …
June 2, 2002
A peek behind bathroom doors (assuming they haven't been stolen).
Dear Matthew Alice: Why do restrooms in public buildings have those special screws that can't be removed? All the stalls seem to be put together with them, and I can't figure out what they are …
May 30, 2002
Where did the term hat trick come from?
Hello Matthew: I'm a hockey fan, and I've always wondered why when a player scores three goals in one game they say he scored a hat trick. What do hats have to do with it? …
May 30, 2002
How do race horses get those goofy names?
Hey Matt: Why all the goofy names for race horses? They've got names like Harlan's Holiday, Essence of Dubai, Itsallinthechase, etc. Why not Blacky or Mr. Ed or Wildfire? --Pete Collins, San Diego Rich people …
May 30, 2002