Hey, Matt: When we watch scary movies, my mom screams a lot but my dad doesn’t. When we go out to a movie, ladies scream but the men don’t. I think scary movies are pretty …
June 1, 2011
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Why Women Scream
Why are underwear and pants always referred to as a pair? How many e-mails are sent every day? Do goldfish blink?
Hey: Why are underwear and pants always referred to as a pair? Yes, there are two pant legs, but a shirt has two sleeves and nobody calls it a pair of shirts. — Apparelly Challenged, …
May 11, 2011
The Really Real Reason We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Please: Please, please. Why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo? And don’t give me that same-old same-old description of what it is. I know it’s not Mexican Independence Day. It happened so long ago, and …
May 4, 2011
Is Microwave Popcorn Bad for You?
So, Matt: I love popcorn, so, of course, I’m lazy enough to prefer microwave popcorn, since all you have to do is close the door and punch the “Popcorn” button. I have friends who flip …
April 20, 2011
Cattle Herds, Tinnitus
Matthew Alice: Every day on my way to work I pass a dairy farm. All the cows in the herd are always facing the same direction. Is there a reason for this? — Anonymous, via …
April 13, 2011
Want a Government-Issue Laser Gun? Want to Make Moonshine?
Heymatt: Is the military working on a laser gun — a weapon that uses a laser to kill people? Maybe a laser tank or laser cannon? I was just wondering how much science fiction has …
April 6, 2011
The Taste Gene, Birds Aren't Mammals
Heymatt: Everybody in my family hates cabbage. And my dad and sister won’t eat broccoli. That got us wondering if taste is genetic. Did I inherit my cabbage hate from my parents? Broccoli’s not my …
March 30, 2011
Hair/Nail Growth After Death, "Toots" Nickname, Bird Smarts
Dear Matthew Alice: I’ve heard that after you die your hair and fingernails keep growing. How is that possible? Or maybe it’s not true. Straighten me out. — Daniel S., San Diego I couldn’t find …
March 16, 2011
Dear Friends: You’re Really Not Dear
Matt: Can a person who reads lips, like a deaf person, tell if you have an accent, like Southern or French or something? — Windsor Lakes, via email This should round out our lip-reading essays. …
March 9, 2011
Fingerprints/Footprints, Déjà Vu
Matt: I have this friend who decided that burglars should learn to use their feet instead of their hands when they steal things so they won’t leave any fingerprints behind. I think he was kidding …
March 2, 2011
Burnt Toast Odor, Colt 45
Hey Matt: I burned toast. Pretty soon the whole house smelled like burned toast. Stronger than anything I can remember. Tell me why. — Great Gregg Cook, via email Hey, Grandma. Hey. Yo, Grandma. Here’s …
February 23, 2011