Straight Dope Archive

Who were the Goops?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Songbird
January 21, 2000
Do bears really sleep all winter? Plus: who was the first person to use a parachute?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
January 21, 2000
Why do dogs get vaccinated against rabies but not people?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill
January 19, 2000
Why is prostitution illegal?
By Cecil Adams
January 14, 2000
Why do NFL referees wear a band around their wrists?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
January 13, 2000
Who invented "white-out"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Veg
January 10, 2000
Did the U.S. government fund psychic research?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
January 7, 2000
Does the Bible tell people to handle snakes? Plus: are there five kinds of twins?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
January 7, 2000
Does the theory of evolution fly in the face of the facts?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
January 5, 2000
Is "niggardly" a racist word?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by "Hispanic-and-span" Ian
January 3, 2000
Can animals smell fear? Plus: where have all the Levis' rivets gone?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 31, 1999
What's the difference between an osteopath and an MD?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by SDSTAFF WB
December 31, 1999
Besides sweet, sour, etc., is there a fifth taste sensation, "umami"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Veg
December 31, 1999
Is zero odd or even?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dex
December 29, 1999
Who is the General Tso of "General Tso's chicken" fame?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Veg
December 27, 1999
Did Disney's The Lion King rip off an old Japanese TV series?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 24, 1999
What's the origin of the British holiday custom Boxing Day?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dex
December 24, 1999
What's the origin of "the life of Riley"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dex
December 22, 1999
What is the strongest human muscle?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill and Doug
December 20, 1999
Can salt substitute kill you?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 17, 1999
What's the story on secret Mormon weddings?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Ian and Chip
December 17, 1999
Is the ingredient erythorbate in hot dogs really earthworms?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill
December 15, 1999
What's the origin of "egg nog"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dogster
December 13, 1999
Why did William Sidis, the world's (2nd) smartest human, achieve so little in life?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 10, 1999
Who wrote "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Songbird
December 10, 1999
How come some people are more vulnerable to poison ivy than others?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill
December 8, 1999
How come the Chandler wobble hasn't dampened out?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
December 3, 1999
Why do singers use vibrato?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by "On Shaky Ground" Ian
December 3, 1999
Why is won't the contraction of will not?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by "Shan't be answering any more grammar questions" Ian
December 1, 1999
Is the U.S. a democracy or a republic? What's the difference?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by "The Donald in 2000" Ian
November 29, 1999
Why does the alarm clock snooze button give you nine extra minutes, not ten?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 26, 1999
Is there a guy in the orchestra whose only job is playing the triangle, wood block, and wind chimes?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by "LoboCop" Ian
November 26, 1999
Why do we say "fast asleep"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Ian
November 24, 1999
Why didn't Frank Sinatra serve in the military during World War II?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill
November 22, 1999
Rezedents Rights & Rispansabilities: The rest of the story
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 19, 1999
What's the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dex
November 19, 1999
How did WWII propaganda broadcaster Tokyo Rose get info on Allied ship movements?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Bruce
November 16, 1999
Why does my recorded voice sound different from my "live" voice?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Veg
November 12, 1999
Was Cleopatra black?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
November 10, 1999
Is it illegal to kill praying mantises?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill and Ed
November 8, 1999
Is the south side always the baddest part of town?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
November 5, 1999
What is antimatter? How was it discovered?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Karen
November 5, 1999
Who was Major Deegan of N.Y. expressway fame?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dogster
November 3, 1999
Was Hitler a Christian?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
October 30, 1999
What is the historical basis of the Wicca religion (modern witchcraft)?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 29, 1999
Did HUD publish a brochure in "Creole" containing a parody of black speech?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 29, 1999
What's the origin of "one fell swoop"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Ken
October 27, 1999
Was Leonardo da Vinci religious?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
October 25, 1999
Did the Russians ever play Russian roulette?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 22, 1999
Will my computer crash on Y2K if I don't perform the procedure someone E-mailed to me?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Ed and Karl
October 22, 1999
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