Two years ago this December, Bruce Henderson, Richard Rider, and Steven Green went to court to answer a so-called “validation suit” filed by the city of San Diego. What the city council thought would be …
September 25, 1997
Thursday, September 25
Bruce Henderson— stadium prophet
The 24 hours I lost when crossing the international date line
Mr. Mat Man: As I prepared to cross the international date line, an interesting question presented itself. What happens to the 24 hours I lost when I crossed it? The easy answer is that I …
September 25, 1997
The Army Corps of Engineers is still part of the U.S. Army
Mr. Matt: Once and for all, what's up with the Army Corps of Engineers? Are they part of the U.S. Army? Do they fight in wars? — Roger, San Diego Hey, Rog, who do you …
September 25, 1997
The mice habit of filling their water bowls with shavings
God of Answers, Knower of All Things: I have owned several pet mice over the years, and year after year, mouse after mouse, they all engage in one behavior besides the usual poop-eat-sleep cycle. When …
September 25, 1997
The demise of privilege at La Jolla High
There's a lot riding on Dana Shelburne's shoulders. He's principal of La Jolla High School, the only public high school in one of San Diego's most prestigious communities. Nestled in the shadows of the La …
September 25, 1997
Does Coronado train killers?
The headline that brought me to a Navy seal reunion in Coronado is simple and startling. "seal training caused murder, lawsuit says." The story was published in the Virginian-Pilot, a daily paper out of Norfolk, …
September 25, 1997
Christine Kehoe & Brian Bilbray & Lynn Schenk & Paul Kennerson
San Diego's first openly gay city councilwoman, Democrat Christine Kehoe, is pondering whether to run for Congress next year against GOP incumbent Brian Bilbray, and she's already hired the polling firm of Evans-McDonough to test …
September 25, 1997
Matt Lickona: after job, wife, and family fall into place
"Your wife has left you and taken your first-born son." "Shut up." That conversation, held between Jon (my roommate from college) and me, made up what it lacked in length in frequency of occurrence. At …
September 25, 1997
Thursday, September 18
Young girls on the sand in Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach
July 2 and 3 — Mission Beach Three girls from Temecula Valley High School, Paige, Ramona, and Tarah, agree to talk with me. Tarah is 16 and will be a senior in the fall. She …
September 18, 1997
No uvula, no vibrato
Dear Mr. Know It All: What is that uvula hanging in the back of my throat for? What recourse do I have if I get tired of it? —Phil Harris, San Diego This one’s at …
September 18, 1997
Why pigeons perch on Clairemont Mesa exit sign
Matmail: Driving north on 805 one day, I noticed a whole mess of pigeons amping out on the Clairemont Mesa exit sign. There were none on the sign before it or after it Now this …
September 18, 1997
The glow-in-the-dark Band-Aid packaging
[Too frantic to write a salutation]: Don’t even ask how this came up. But it’s urgent! I MUST know the answer! When you open a Band-Aid in the dark, why does the glue on the …
September 18, 1997
How parrots stomach hot peppers
Mattster: My parrot loves hot peppers. He (she, maybe) can't get enough and doesn’t screech or sweat as he chows down on them or even when he poops. Why do parrots seem to be unaffected …
September 18, 1997
No one could say what Donald Bickerstaf did for a living
Donald Marquis Bickerstaff was a big wheel at the Del Mar track. The 38-year-old investment advisor from Poway and his 20-something bride were regulars around the Turf Club with its free-flowing booze, gourmet cuisine, and …
September 18, 1997
San Diego teens asked why they steal
According to the National Retail Federation, more the $25 million worth of goods is shoplifted each day. Teens between 13 and 17 account for 30 percent of shoplifters, even though they make up only 7 …
September 18, 1997
Dean Spanos, son of Chargers owner Alex, is throwing a political shindig for Marilyn Quayle
She's running against state treasurer Matt Fong for U.S. Senate, but Susan Golding has a more direct Asian connection. A reliable source says her honor is getting regular acupuncture treatments from the city's foremost specialist. …
September 18, 1997
Doctor Jim Eichel on a work vacation in Mali
Underneath my name on the shingle that hangs outside of my office's front door are the words "Berkeley International Health." Until we sold our practice nine months ago. That was what my partner and I …
September 18, 1997
Thursday, September 11
UCAN's CyberCop vs.Oceanside's TechnoSearch
The names and ages of your spouse and children. What kind of car you drive. The value of your house and how much you pay in taxes on it.
September 11, 1997
WWI was the Great War until the end of World War II
Matthew Alice: When did we start calling World War I "World War I”? Not during World War I, I assume. —A. Brooking, just passing through Well, maybe Nostradamus had a clue, but the rest of …
September 11, 1997
Why you don't hear about cancer of the butt or heart
Dear Answer Boy: What makes cancer invade certain parts of the body and not others? Is there something unique about the tissue of the breast, prostate, stomach, rectum, or liver? I guess what I need …
September 11, 1997
The only way Mountain Dew will affect your penis
Dear Almighty Matt: I’ve heard a rumor that Yellow Dye #5, which is an ingredient in Mountain Dew, causes your penis to shrink. Is this true? And I've heard that the clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger …
September 11, 1997
Quake players at FragFest 97
At noon on Labor Day it was 97 degrees in Santee. On the radio they were talking of thunderstorms in that part of the county, and in a dusty industrial parking lot off Cuyamaca Road, …
September 11, 1997
Coronado feral cats
'Pst psst. Kitty kitty. Tsk tsk tsk." "Not so loud! They'll hear...." It's 2:00 a.m. The only time we can feed our illicit colony without alerting the neighbors. "Dzit dzit dzit." At the bottom of …
September 11, 1997
Why Caltrans loves ice plant, oleander, and Calif. pepper trees
“Ice plant doesn’t use too much water if you maintain it right. If you want to pump water to it, you can, but it will build up so thick that the roots aren’t even in the ground.”
September 11, 1997
Thursday, September 4
Acacia Imperial Mobile Park – it used to be worse.
There is something about poverty and the color brown. Go into any Goodwill, Salvation Army, or St. Vincent’s thrift store to purchase a chair or couch and you’ll find 80 percent of the offered items are brown.
September 4, 1997
Why there are no stars in moon landing photos
Dear Matthew: ln July 1969, some dudes walked on the moon. My mom told me that there were indeed stars in 1969. But in each of the pictures that I've seen of the moon landing, …
September 4, 1997
Corporate America moves in on San Diego's African-American funeral businesses
'Racism is alive and well in the funeral industry," says the Reverend George Walker Smith. "You can quote me on that." Reverend Smith, pastor of Christ United Presbyterian Church of San Diego, is speaking out …
September 4, 1997
Local man argues for the Port Chicago 50
When 50 African-American U.S. sailors were arrested for mutiny 53 years ago, assistant U.S. Attorney Randy K. Jones wasn't even born. Yet Jones, 39, a San Diego federal prosecutor since 1987, wants President Clinton to …
September 4, 1997
Patrick J. Kennedy looks for money in San Diego
Liberal Rhode Island Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy made an unheralded swing through San Diego County last month in search of political mother's milk, otherwise known as campaign cash. Kennedy, son of Senator Ted, was joined …
September 4, 1997
Community Cousins tries to build bridges
I’m white. I admit that because it’s not something white people have had to think about. (Okay, it’s a stereotype, but one I can get away with, being white.) We haven’t had to think about …
September 4, 1997
Sunfresh Floral in a small valley in northern San Marcos
“And it’s important that the roses be picked at just the right point. It’s different for each variety, but if you pick them too early, when they’re not opened up enough, they’ll never open.”
September 4, 1997
How Gabriel Fahrenheit used his wife's mouth to set his thermometer
Time to grapple with the mail that drops into our “Say What?” bin. The “Matthew, You Fraud” stuff. The most immediately eye grabbing is an extended e from one Alex Censor, edited here because, well, …
September 4, 1997
How to make the most of your next break-in
Hey, Matt: If I was planning the heist of the century, what is the most expensive thing I could fit in my trunk? —Joe, via electromail Well, if you have no imagination, I guess you …
September 4, 1997