Hey, Matt: My son and I were in the park the other day, and we heard this very, very loud peeping noise. We finally decided the peeping was coming from a squirrel. It just kept …
April 28, 2010
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Peeping Noises, Flies, Shuddering Tongues
Animal Fat & Plant Oil, the Tooth Fairy
Dear Matthew Alice: I cook a lot, and when I do I always wonder why fat from animals, like butter or lard, are solid, but fat from plants is liquid, like olive oil or canola …
April 21, 2010
Treed Cats, "Good" Money, Quicksand
Heymatt: If cats are smart enough to get up a tree, why aren’t they smart enough to get down again? — Cat Fancier, via email Well, actually they can get back down again. They just …
April 14, 2010
Who Is Matthew Alice, Gringo?
Heymatt: We all know the story of how many Lassies there were covering the collie’s illustrious career in show biz. How many Matthew Alices have there been? I have noticed a dramatic change in the …
March 31, 2010
Establishing a Bank, License Plate Symbols
Matt: I’ve been laid off from two jobs, and I’m pretty tired of it all. Since I have so much time on my hands, I was sitting around thinking about where I could work that …
March 24, 2010
Faucet-Pee Correlation, Ducks in a Row
Hey, Matt: When I turn on the faucet, the rush of water makes me have a painful urge to urinate, and I mean physically. It feels as if I’m going to wet my pants if …
March 10, 2010
HDTV, Whitemail, Ice Production
Hey, Matt: I’m disappointed in current HDTV and 4:3-aspect television. I cannot see any difference between the old and the new, quality wise, except people now appear even fatter. Can I blame AT&T U-Verse, or …
March 3, 2010
Moths to Light
Dear Matt: How good are the elves at figuring out questions that BUG people? Good, I hope, because there are lots of bugs in my brain lately. And around the porch light at my house. …
February 24, 2010
Do sea animals drink seawater?
Matt: How come if a human being drinks seawater he’ll probably get sick and die, but whales, dolphins, and walruses, and penguins can drink ocean water and thrive on it? — Curious Bob, University City …
February 17, 2010
Do waterfalls freeze?
Heymatt: With all the snow back East, I was wondering if any of the waterfalls freeze when the rivers freeze. Or is moving water not likely to freeze. — No name please, via email Oh, …
February 17, 2010
Tickle Studies, Ice Cream Truck Tunes, Avocado Seeds
Matt: Why can’t I tickle myself? Anybody else can tickle me, but when I try it, nothing happens. — Anonymous, via email Somehow this was also a burning question in Swedish academic circles. Maybe something …
February 3, 2010