Dear Matthew Alice: Help! The annual invasion of the bumblebees is in full swing here. I know they don't bother most people, but I'm the type who freaks out, swinging a trashy novel at them …
October 20, 1988
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Stories by Matthew Alice
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How to keep bumblebees at bay
No such thing as chance in Canadian contests
Dear Matthew Alice: I received some junk mail from a company that was giving away prizes in a contest. The official rules read, "Winners who are Canadian residents must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing questions." …
October 20, 1988
There's no such thing as 12 a.m. or 12 p.m.
A friend of mine from the East got a parking ticket back there for parking in a zone marked "No Parking 12 p.m. to 1 p.m." Thinking this meant noon to 1 p.m., she parked …
October 20, 1988
The only way of writing the Roman numeral four
Dear Matthew Alice: Have you ever noticed the Roman numeral four on watches and clocks? It's WRONG! Instead of the usual IV, like we all learned in grade school, it says IIII! What's the story? …
December 17, 1987
Dictionary Hill in Spring Valley got its name from encyclopedia salesman
Dear Matthew Alice: San Diego County has lots of odd names, but one of my favorites is Dictionary Hill in Spring Valley. Why is it called Dictionary Hill? Why can't I find it on any …
December 17, 1987
John Montgomery tried ornithopters on Otay Mesa
Dear Matthew Alice: Has anyone ever built a heavier-than-air device that flies by flapping its wings, either manned or remote control? If it hasn't been done, is it theoretically possible? Bruce M. Binder, Pacific Beach …
December 17, 1987
Coronado Bridge lit up in middle of day
Dear Matthew Alice, The Coronado Bridge is an imposing structure, admittedly, and is pretty hard to ignore. That’s why I was wondering why in the dickens the lights were blazing away on it the other …
July 10, 1985
The I-8 and I-5 Interchange
Dear Matthew Alice: When the state/Caltrans built the O.B. Freeway, why didn't they put a ramp from Ocean Beach I-8 east to I-5 north? Sea World Drive is a pain! Brad Cronk Ocean Beach You're …
January 17, 1985
Pickering’s Pleasure Pier – the forerunner of PB's Crystal Pier
Dear Matthew Alice: The recent storms have uncovered what appear to be nine pilings just south of the Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. Could they be the remains of another pier? Eddie ConnPacific Beach Lemons …
April 21, 1983
Turtles on the Cabrillo Monument bicycle path
Dear Matthew Alice: Please explain why there are large and small turtles painted on the bicycle path going out to the Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. Janet E. Hagen, San Diego The rare Southern …
October 7, 1982
A history of Jim Henson and the Muppets
Dear Matthew Alice: Being a left-handed guitar player, I couldn't help bur notice all the Muppets play their guitars left-handed. In fact, they seem to do everything left-handed. Why is this? Greg Spaniol, Clairemont The …
June 18, 1981
Matthew Alice's best questions of 1980
I toss out some of the letters I receive, the ones that pose questions I have answered before, or questions too trivial even for me. But I don't reject everything that finds no place in …
December 18, 1980
How Mark Twain got his start
Has one short story ever launched a writing career for anyone? — C. Selena Right away I think of Jack London and O. Henry, who determined rather late in life to become writers, and who …
November 6, 1980
Developing nude photos, the invention of coffee, and the necessity of toothpaste
Dear Matthew Alice: We were wondering if any photo developers in the San Diego area develop nude photos. We have tried most of the conventional sources (Dean's Save-On), but we've always had our negatives returned …
January 10, 1980
Matthew Alice looks back on 1979
To end this year, I would like to answer every question that I have found too interesting to purge from my folder of unfinished work, even if the questions seemed unanswerably broad or difficult or …
December 20, 1979
DMV lines – the great leveler
Dear Matthew Alice: While standing in the license renewal line for an hour and a half the other day at the Department of Motor Vehicles, I realized that this mundane chore is one of our …
October 11, 1979
Ferryless Coronado
Dear Matthew Alice, I’ve just moved here from San Francisco and have been told about the old Coronado ferries which ran from North Island to downtown. I always enjoyed riding them in the bay area …
March 10, 1977
The importance of fingernail shape
Dear Matthew Alice: My wife and I come from different social backgrounds. I know this explains part of our marital difficulties, but I'm not sure it accounts for this one — she insists on letting …
December 2, 1976