Straight Dope Archive

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
Is "The Blair Witch Project" a true story?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Euty
October 20, 1999
What does it mean when a patient is in "critical" or "serious" condition?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
October 18, 1999
In the record business, what do "b/w" and "c/w" mean?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 15, 1999
What's the big deal about the Fifth Amendment?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
October 15, 1999
What does "instant death" really mean?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
October 13, 1999
If man is descended from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
October 11, 1999
Did the Allman Brothers change "Ramblin' Man" to make it more PC?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill
October 9, 1999
Can turkeys reproduce without benefit of sex?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 8, 1999
Do people really eat chocolate-covered ants?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 8, 1999
If a goldfish is swimming on its side, is this a bad sign?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill
October 6, 1999
Do the French really love Jerry Lewis?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
October 1, 1999
How do computers work?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Karl
September 27, 1999
What's the link between the moon and menstruation?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
September 24, 1999
On tape measures, why is there a special symbol every 19-3/16 inches?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Veg
September 24, 1999
What's the difference between an earthquake and an aftershock?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Jill
September 22, 1999
What was that old guy Roy doing on the "Mickey Mouse Club" TV show?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Euty
September 20, 1999
Why can't Cecil get his facts straight about the origin of "Big Apple" and mention John J. Fitz Gerald? And what about "Windy City"?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
September 17, 1999
Are the different colors of Froot Loops different flavors?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Veg
September 17, 1999
Is "The Celestine Prophecy" fact or fiction?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
September 15, 1999
What's the origin of the word "kudos"?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by Dex
September 13, 1999
Do "corona discharge" devices alleviate asthma?
A Straight Dope Classic by Cecil Adams
September 10, 1999
What's up with silicon and silicone?
A Straight Dope Staff Report by David
September 9, 1999
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