Glad You Asked for 10/26/04

By Chris Bennett

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 2:04 AM CDT

What happens if someone who casts an absentee ballot dies before the election? The ballot is not counted, according to Racine's City Clerk's office, Wisconsin State Statute states a voter must be alive on election day.

Subchapter 6.88 (I think it's a subchapter), entitled Voting and recording the absentee ballot; of Subchapter 4, entitled Voting absentee; in Chapter 6, entitled The Electors, contains the following: "� or if proof is submitted to the inspectors that an elector voting an absentee ballot has since died, the inspectors shall not count the ballot."

The clerk's office archives obituaries from newspapers and also relies on hearing from relatives if an absentee voter dies before Election Day.

Contact the City Clerk's office if you have questions about voting absentee.

What was the second music video played on MTV? Obscure facts are so much fun - why is that? This question reminds me of Wally Pipp, for some reason - quite a non-sequitur, I know.

The appropriately named "Video Killed The Radio Star" by British pop sensation the Buggles holds the honor of being the first music video played by MTV on August 1, 1981, the network's birthday.

We've all grown familiar with a slick, hip version of MTV. It hasn't played music videos in heavy rotation in years, but most anyone with more than a passing interest in cable television and pop culture is familiar with "Remote Control," "The Real World," "Liquid Television," "Yo MTV Raps!," "Headbanger's Ball," "Beavis and Butthead" and other MTV television shows.

MTV's first few minutes were anything but slick, though.

The channel aired five spots introducing its V.J.s after the Buggles, and did so in the wrong order.

And finally, after confusion and dead air, "You Better Run" by Pat Benatar became video No. 2 aired on MTV. "You Better Run" was Benatar's first video. The song was on her second album, "Crimes of Passion," released in 1980.

I don't know if video really killed the radio star - MTV is more known for its aforementioned programming, and its sister station, VH1, remade itself with shows like "Pop-Up Video" and "I Love the '80s."

Pipp, by the way, left the Yankees' lineup on June 2, 1925, and was never New York's regular first baseman again. Lou Gehrig, a rookie from Columbia University, took over the bag and the rest, as they say, is baseball history. Gehrig started and played the next 2,130 games, a span of 14 years.

How does a pedometer work? A pedometer counts steps as you walk - some even convert those steps into a distance.

A pedometer is basically a motion-sensitive electrical circuit that activates a digital counter when switched on and off.

Some pedometers have a tiny spring-set horizontal arm that moves up and down as you walk and measures the vertical movement of your hips. Electronic pedometers, though, detect the impact of your foot hitting the ground.

The little devices seem to be all the rage right now as America tries moving away from being a nation of obese individuals.

What is the origin of the custom of knocking on wood for luck? Well, those in ancient times believed spirits once dwelled in or guarded trees, and that knocking convinced the spirits to grant you luck and good fortune.

Understand that some ancient cultures also engaged in tree worship, truly a startling idea to grasp in our amazing modern world.

Different cultures adhere to different beliefs regarding knocking wood for luck.

Greeks worshipped oak trees, believing there were sacred to Zeus.

The Celts also believed in tree spirits, and both the Celts and Greeks believed touching sacred trees brought good fortune.

Chinese and Koreans believed the spirits of mothers who died in childbirth remained in nearby trees.

Another explanation points to the wooden Christian cross as the origin of good luck.

And a Jewish version traces its roots to the Spanish Inquisition of the 15th century. Persecuted Jews sought refuge in wooden synagogues, and needed to know the secret knock to gain admission.

This likely saved numerous lives, so knocking on wood for luck became common.

Glad You Asked finds answers to questions. Selected questions and the answers will be published in this column.

Call (262) 631-1758 to submit a question, or do so by e-mail: ask@journaltimes.com You may also submit questions online at www.journaltimes.com

The Journal Times and the Racine Public Library are partners on research. Call the Reference Desk at (262) 636-9217 or query their Web site at www.racinelib.lib.wi.us/emailr.htm for more information.

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