He used to write a Straight Dope-esque column called “Why Things Are,” but it disappeared from my sources a few years ago. I was wondering what happened to the writer and the column.
Are there any other Straight Dope-type columns / web sites that you have seen / like?
He still writes columns for the Washington Post’s web site (www.washingtonpost.com), but they’re more of a Barry-esque commentary upon politics than anything else.
I remember reading his column in the original WP, and IIRC, he said that he was giving up the “Why Things Are” column because it was just too damn much work. Apparently, he did not have the Herculean endurance of Cecil.
Joel is the one man in America who can measure up to Cecil Adams (I mean there was a time when he could have). I’ve never heard of them having a friendly rivalry going, but it would be natural – if you liked one, you would like the other one too. Why Things Are hasn’t appeared for years, though I saw a Why Things Are compilation book once.
Joel’s present gig is at the online washingtonpost.com – it’s called Rough Draft, three times a week. It’s not Cecilesque any more, just wisecracking commentary on current events. Never miss a single installment.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/columns/roughdraft/
He’s got three compilation-type books that are available at most large bookstores:
“Why Things Are: Answers To Every Essential Question In Life”
“Why Things Are: The Big Picture”
“Why Things Are And Why Things Aren’t”
They’re pretty good if you like his style. He’s also got a new book called “Captured By Aliens: The Search For Life And Truth In A Very Large Universe” which I have not read (actually I didn’t even know it existed until now).
I used to red “why things are” and I have the book why things are, volume II". IMHO he was trying to be entertaining rather than rigorous and strictly factual so his new tack is more appropriate.
FWIW. The Washington CityPaper called him a “Cecil wanna-be” and he responded