Heymatt: My job takes me down by the courthouse occasionally. The curb facing the courthouse is restricted to three-minute passenger loading and unloading. As often as not, this entire curb will be taken up by …
May 23, 2002
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Can news vans park anywhere they like?
Coming attractions are called trailers because...?
Movieman Matt: Why are coming attractions called "trailers"? If they come before, how can they be trailing? -- Meetoo, the net Once upon a time, looooong ago in Hollywoodland, movie theaters showed two (yes, two!) …
May 23, 2002
Do airlines not serve chili so passengers don't stink up the place?
Heymatt: Airline passengers are packed together in tight quarters breathing recycled air. Do the airlines make sure to serve food that is less likely to cause gas so passengers aren't fumigating each other during the …
May 23, 2002
How to improve your radio reception.
Hey, Matt: Why do radios get better reception when you hold or touch the antenna? -- Breaking Up, San Diego All the world's a big radio wave receiver. Figure a way to hook an amplifier …
May 23, 2002
Can I really make thousands of dollars a week stuffing envelopes like the telephone poles say?
Heymatt: Are the "Work at Home" ads legit or are they a scam? Does one who registers actually stuff envelopes at home and receive cash for every envelope that they mail out? I see them …
May 16, 2002
Does my dog have a belly button?
Your Mattness: I've always wondered, does my dog have a belly button? -- BJ, El Cajon Yeah, unless Phydo magically appeared full grown in his dog house one day, he had a mom, which means …
May 9, 2002
When did network TV first show people in a double bed?
Hey, Matt: When did a TV network show people in a double bed for the first time? -- The Gang, downtown After a year or so of tracking a definitive answer to this one, we've …
May 9, 2002
Do flies get sick?
Matt: Do flies get sick? Considering the environment they live in, you'd think they'd be fighting off bugs all the time. -- Bugged, La Mesa Heck yes, flies get sicker than dogs. But not very …
May 9, 2002
I blew off that traffic ticket. Am I headed for jail?
Dearest Matt: I received a "red light" citation many months ago in the mail and never took care of it. A friend of mine also received a citation (hers was on a traffic stop) over …
May 2, 2002
Peanut shells -- a new snack-time treat! (With a brief treatise on spit.)
Hey matt: I just love peanuts. I know they are good for you -- great protein, good type of fat -- just a great snack. My question is, can I eat the shell too? My …
May 2, 2002
Where are my lips going?
Dear Matt: I'm hoping you can settle a bet between my boyfriend and I. I say my lips have gotten pale from the use of lipstick over the years. He says my lips are pale …
April 25, 2002