Is Matt Lally a real person?

He is now. Much like Remington Steele, I saw a void, and I stepped in to fill it.

Have you ever been to Baltimore?

I've had layovers at BWI. Does that count?

Who designed this website?

Matt Lally. (It's kind of a theme.) Maybe some day I'll have a real designer take a crack at it. Until then ... I just hope it's navigable.

Who do you think delivers the funniest performance in Caddyshack?

Ted Knight, hands down.

Is Jim Rice in the Hall of Fame?

No, but he should be. Number 14 finished his career with Hall-of-Fame numbers: 382 homeruns, 1,451 RBI and a .298 batting average. In the 2007 Hall of Fame voting, the Baseball Writers' Association of America elected Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken to the Hall of Fame; each received 97% of the votes or better. A player needs 75% to be elected, and each voter can select up to ten players. Although it was a crowded class this year — Gwynn and Ripken were both shoo-ins — Rice still received almost 64% of the votes, leaving hope for next year.

When you order an IPA beer, what does IPA stand for?

India Pale Ale. IPAs are generally brewed with a lot of hops, which gives the ale a crisp, bitter flavor. The recipe was first used in the 1790s by a man named George Hodgson, who was looking to create a beer that could be shipped from England to India without getting skunked along the way.

If you enjoy history, take a look at Part I and Part II of Thom Tomlinson's 1994 article in Brewing Techniques when you have some time. Part II is fairly technical, in terms of ... well, brewing techniques, but Part I offers a comprehensive history of how the IPA came into being.

Who hosts this website?

A company called BizLand. They're based in Burlington, Massachusetts. If you're looking for a Web host, they're pretty solid.

How often do you get out to Chicago?

Four or five times a year, most years. I'll usually make two or three trips in the fall, one in March for St. Paddy's Day, and maybe one over the summer. If you're on the north side, I strongly recommend the Newport Bar and Grill.

Do you have a favorite radio station?

I don't know if it's my favorite, but I've been listening a lot lately to WXRV, The River (92.5 FM), based out of Haverhill, Massachusetts. They tend to play songs before you get sick of hearing them on other stations.

Should Jack Handey be considered a legitimate twentieth-century philosopher?

Maybe a minor one.

Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party?

I'm not enrolled in any political party (though I do vote).

Do you still have your wisdom teeth?

Yes.

Are you single?

OK, fine. No one really ever asks me that.

What ever happened to Sergeant Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes?

I like to think that he escaped to London. Colonel Hogan must have engineered it in a way that kept Klink's perfect record intact.

Are women good for Hazel or not?

Probably not.

How many times have you seen Pearl Jam?

Fifteen. In six different states. Eight times indoors, seven times outdoors. And if they came to my town once a week ... I'd go every week. Each show is different. Check out their cover of "I Believe in Miracles" (performed June 21, 2003 in East Troy, WI) or the acoustic "Drifting" (performed July 11, 2003 in Mansfield, MA).

Is their new album really as intense as Ten? Yes. It is. Pearl Jam's eighth album (called Pearl Jam) is outstanding. Hear it for yourself. You can listen to the opening track, "Life Wasted," on Amazon.com. (It's a little quiet; you might want to turn up the volume on your computer.) You've probably heard "World Wide Suicide" on the radio, but definitely give a listen to "Comatose," possibly my favorite song on the album.

Does Katie really rule?

Yes, Katie rules and is awesome. She has testimonials to prove it.

If you have a question, go ahead and ask it.