Dear Matt: I've lived in Manhattan Beach and San Diego and noticed the same thing at sunset at both locations. The seagulls always flew south at sunset in M.B., and the seagulls and pelicans do …

Dear Mr. Alice: This conspiracy theory-addled, vegan-activist dork I work with tried to tell me the item called "natural flavorings" in ketchup/catsup is pig's blood. But "natural flavorings" are in so-called vegan ketchup too. Would …

Dear Matthew Alice: I've recently purchased a lovely new toaster from my neighborhood Target. My toaster has two-slice capability, but I noticed there is a designated slot for the toasting of only one slice, and …

Matmail: I'm afraid you'll have to fire the elf who told you that butterflies are called "Milchdieb" in Germany. I've lived there most of my life and never heard that expression. The German word for …

Matmail: If a female ballet dancer is called a ballerina, what's a male ballet dancer called? I've always wondered. -- J. Sorensen, the Net I hope you have a new wonderment waiting offstage, because you …

Dear Mr. Alice: Why is it that when a TV commercial comes on, the volume is automatically raised to a seemingly ridiculous level? What is the network's position on this? Are there stations that will …

Dear Matthew: All the TV commentators made it abundantly clear that Nagano is pronounced NAG-a-no. In my Random House Unabridged, 1971 edition, the verdict: Na-GAN-o. Merriam-Webster dictionary on the Internet, the verdict: Na-GA-no. I have …

Dear Matt: I got the enclosed editorial from the House of Onyx, which, incidentally, makes its profits from selling gems to well-heeled anti-government types. When I read it, I got a twinge of concern for …

Oh, Almighty Matt: I noticed a great dip in the fast lane about half a mile from the I-5/805 split. What's the reason for that? Did they run out of dirt to fill in the …

Dear Mr. Alice: My mom and I were watching a butterfly and I asked her why they're called butterflies. They fly, but we couldn't figure out where the butter comes in. Can you help us? …

Dear Matthew Alice: We all know that people like to toss coins into fountains and other artificial bodies of water, but why? To make a wish? How did this practice of throwing money away into …

Greets, Matt: We recently read about the fellow trying to circle the globe in a balloon. This raised a serious question for us. Uh...what does he do with his #1 and #2? Moreover, how do …

Dear Matthew Alice: Why do restaurants serve Diet Coke as their only diet soda? A lot of us prefer Pepsi (diet). Personally, I find Diet Coke rather gross tasting. Maybe it's easier to water down? …

Hi, Matt: Since you are the knower of all good and evil and everything in between, my daughter, age 11, and I thought we would ask you about a song. "Song #2" by Blur has …

Matthew: A fine pal o' mine spending time here from New Zealand gets a newsletter from his yacht club in N.Z., postmarked in England, forwarded to Seattle, then here to San Diego. Aside from getting …

Sir Matt: We were slaying some word processing dragons round the office the other day when we made the following observation: Most high-tech electronic gizmos-- stereos, CD players, camcorders, etc.-- are tinted a Darth Vader-ish …

Hey, Matt: What's the meaning behind your name "Straight from the Hip?" -- El Nio, Chula Vista Well, we'd considered calling it "Straight to the Dense" but eventually changed our minds.

Hi, Matthew When was the first time San Diego appeared on an official map? This summer in Europe I bought a late-1700s French print depicting the North American hemisphere. It is quite detailed, but sunny …

Matthew: What's going on with the prices shown on gas pumps? They're always in fractions-- $1.29 9/10. -- No Name, faxland For this we'll have to fuel up the time machine and motor back, back, …

Matthew Alice: Why don't the French-- or is it just their government-- like us Americans? Or is it just our government they don't like? Re: Several fugitive extraditions refused; murder, rape. Also prohibitions on use …

Dear M.A.: When my friends and I are running around having a good time, are we raising "cane" or raising "cain"? The first makes more sense, but my friend insists it's the latter. Explain, please. …

Dear Matthew Alice: I was examining my big fan recently and noticed a curious feature. The switches read "OFF-HI-MED-LOW." Why are the speeds in reverse order? Is this a trend that will extend to gas …

Mattmail: Where does Sea World get the water for their sea animals? -- Adrienne, the Net Personally, I was happier not knowing. Believe it or not, those sparkly pools are filled with water from-- yecch-- …

Yo, Matt: What do the Green Bay Packers pack? Cheese? -- No Cheesehead, Leucadia Meat. Good ol' American red meat. Earl Lambeau hustled $500 from fellow employees at the Indian Packing Company in Green Bay, …

Matt: I heard that there used to be a racetrack (for cars) up in Torrey Pines somewhere and that Carroll Shelby raced there. I was born here in San Diego and thought I knew a …

Hi, Matthew: I have a question regarding bats. You see, my mom runs with her friends, and they have nothing better to do while they are running, so they come up with questions like this. …

Mattster: Jimmies-- those little chocolate sprinkles you put on ice cream-- how did they get that name? -- Jimmy, San Diego It's 1930, the Bronx, New York. James Bartholomew is lucky enough to have a …

Hi! Where/how did the "G" get to be the name for a thousand dollars? And how much is "a ton of money" worth at today's going rate? -- Frank P., Loma Portal Perfect question to …

Dear Matt: As I sit here in my car creeping out of Ocean Beach and making my way across the bridge, past Sea World, toward the I-5 on-ramp, I have 15 or 20 minutes to …

Dear Matthew Alice: On the back of the Rolling Rock beer bottle (brewed by Latrobe Brewing Co.) there is a "33." Me and my friends have been curious for many years about why it is …

’Tis the night before Christmas, and the elves are all hung by the chimney with care. Otherwise, they eat the tinsel. But at least they were easy to shop for—two dozen CDs, Hanson: The Early …

Dear Matthew Alice: As the season of “Eat, drink, and be merry!" begins, so; too does the appearance of eggnog at our local grocery stores. Why do the vendors not sell this delicious drink all …

Matthew Alice: ETA Hoffmann, from whose story of the Nutcracker the popular ballet story is taken, called his central character Marie, I believe, but the ballerina is called Clara. Why and when was the name …

Dear Matthew Alice: I notice that one sells anything but “fresh” Christmas trees. How fresh is “fresh”? Were these trees actually cut last weekend, or maybe last September? Does die FDA or FTC or anyone …

Dear Matthew Alice: How does the Mission Valley Hilton manage to spell out the word “JOY” every holiday season in 'what appear to be its lighted windows? Do they.perhaps have rock-bottom room rates for guests …

Dear Matt: I bought a comforter for my bed the other day and was reading the care instructions on the label. It says I'm supposed to dry the thing in a “larger-capacity dryer with a …

Matmail: (Here's a copy of a letter I thought you might be interested in.) “After many battles with the squirrels, it seems like I've finally won. I found a Web site selling animal urines, www.websiteserv.com/predator. …

Dear Matt: My aunt says she read in the paper that pilots who fly over penguins in the Arctic can make them all fall over by flying very low. She says they do it as …

Matt. As I ride my bike through the streets of San Diego, I see various symbols, usually with arrows or dotted lines, painted on the pavement. These letters include things like “MH, ” pointing to …

Q: Hi, Matt! Why is it that every time I open a brand new box of facial tissues, I pull out two or three tissues at once? I only want one at a time. Why …

Okay, Matt: Now that turkey day is past, I'll try again: Why do we call the gobblers turkeys? Why do the Turks call them indias? And I've since learned from an Indian friend that the …

Matt: Okay, okay, the Braille on the ATM keys question has been addressed. Now what I want to know is, if the card/machine knows who I am, and how much money! have, and what my …

Dear Matt: Some people leave their computers on all day; others who use their computers less intensively turn them on and off as they need them. Leaving them on full time consumes more electricity but …

Matmail: Just getting back from living in Maui for a couple of months. In Maui I was tiling pools. Not just the edges, but the entire pool. Coming back to San Diego, I noticed that …

Sir: Is it true that people who drive or live their life at a fast pace are basically unhappy with their present life situation and are hopeful of getting away from it? — Aram Kaprielian, …

Dear All-Knowing One: Often, candies such as chocolate-covered cherries are mostly rounded, with one flat side. That is due to the candy being laid down to dry after being dipped in the chocolate. But peanut …

Matt: Even here in America’s Finest (Weather) City, most every household undoubtedly contains at least one electric blanket. But why aren’t electric blankets to provide cooling available in stores, too? Since electricity is used in …

Matt: You know how ATM machines are... every bank is different. Some have buttons next to the screen, some have buttons on the counter below the screens. Some ask you if you want $20, $40, …

Matt: My girlfriend and I have seen these sun billboards around town lately that say, “Use your cabeza.” We both have our guesses about what they're advertising, so we ended up making a bet. If …

Mattster: Being the designated dad in my family of six, I am usually too busy to watch the passing scenery during our local travels via the family wagon (actually it’s only a hatchback...). But my …