Heymatt: I seem to remember that when Elvis died, he was buried somewhere other than on the grounds of Graceland, but something happened and they moved his body. Did somebody try to steal his body? …
January 30, 2008
Straight from the Hip
Archived articles
Elvis, Where Are You Now?
Nothing in your body runs on propane
Heymatt: I was wondering if propane is harmful to inhale. I’ve used spray-on contact cement for my work, and the propellant is propane. If I am working in an enclosed area, the propane gets so …
January 23, 2008
Why we use B.C. and A.D.
Dear Matthew Alice: Why do we measure dates from B.C. to A.D.? Where did this system come from? I know it’s measured from the time of Jesus’s birth, but who decided that? And what did …
January 23, 2008
Yes, sour cream can expire
Heymatt: Why is there an expiration date on a container of sour cream? It’s already sour. How much more sour can it get? More sour sour cream doesn’t seem like a big problem. So, why …
January 23, 2008
How the pigskin got its name
Matt: Since everybody’s all hopped up on football these days, here’s a question for you. Why is a football called a pigskin? Is it/was it ever made of pigskin? What’s the story? — Wes, San …
January 23, 2008
Chia Pets, Channel 1, Whitened hair, Wet Fabric Color
Heymatt: What’s up with the Chia Pet? Why every Christmas are we bombarded with ads for these weird things? Where did they come from? Who buys them? Some things in the world need an explanation. …
January 16, 2008
Swiss Army, Tans, Baby Corn, Six Feet Under
Dear Matthew: I got a Swiss Army Knife for Christmas. The person who gave it to me keeps trying to tell me that the Swiss Army actually uses these knives. I think that’s baloney. It’s …
January 9, 2008
Twins, Corned Beef, and Jehovah's Witnesses
Hey, M.A.! Given the following hypothetical -- two identical twin brothers, Joe and Moe, marry two identical twin sisters, Jean and Jane, at double wedding ceremony. They both consummate their respective marriages on the same …
November 15, 2007
Southpaw Cats, Pakistan, and Farts
Matt: Is my cat left-handed? Whenever she plays with her toys or her food, I've noticed that she uses her left paw more than her right. Do animals have a dominant side like people do? …
November 8, 2007
Heave-Ho Heifer
Hey, Matt: Three people from back East told me they had participated in cow-tipping episodes. When I said that I didn't believe them, they said that since I am not from back East, I wouldn't …
October 25, 2007
Tattooed Tears, Box Office Baloney
Dear Matthew Alice: What is the symbolism of a teardrop tattoo at the outside corner of an eye? -- Anonymous, somewhere Bigger subject than it might seem. What the teardrop means depends on who's wearing …
October 18, 2007