Don't know if anyone's still reading this thread, but here's what The Straight Dope has to say about runcible spoons:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a961108a.html
and my all-time favorite Straight Dope column: So Why *Is* a Raven Like a Writing Desk?
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_266.html
Meredith
(whose current location should read: Hilo, HI (!))