Today the column is “Where does belly button lint come from” but the picture is for “What is the God particle.” These never seem to synch up. Sometimes the result is pretty funny.
Maybe this is more of a “Ask the Dope” or “Ask CL” question. I’m just curious.
I believe they only run the illustration for the new columns. The belly button lint column is from 1973. The God Particle column was a new one. When the God Particle column ran, the illustration did match. As to the broader question, “Why not run an illustration for the SD Classics, so people don’t wonder what the illustration for the new column has to do with belly button lint?” I got nothin.
Some of the Classics have graphics, but not all.
You can see the corresponding graphic on those columns when you call it it up; it’ll display on the right hand side of the page for you.
Gfactor is correct when he says the graphic that runs on the Straight Dope front page is the featured new column of the week. That changes every Friday. Note that you can click on that graphic on the front page and it will take you directly to the column in question.
Remember, there’s a new column every Friday. Often there’s a new Staff Report on Tuesday. The rest of the work week and on those Tuesdays we didn’t get a Staff Report together it’s Classics. Oh, and a new Straight Dope Chicago column every Thursday as well, check the front page for that link too. On the weekends you’re on your own but there’s heaping stacks of columns in the Archives and you can go read whatever you like.
I have noticed that the picture for the new column is usually posted hours before the notice for the column shows up. I might be seeing that because I am 7 hours ahead of EST at the moment.
And if you click on that picture, you’ll see the new column.
Thanks for the info. It was odd to see the “why don’t porn actors get arrested for prostitution” cartoon next to some of the subsequent columns.