But we're moving aside to make room for the print version of "Mommy Talk." It's one of our most popular blogs, and now writers Janine Anderson, Marci Laehr-Tenuta and Elizabeth Young will put in every Sunday's paper the growing wisdom gained from their experiences as mothers, starting tomorrow.

GYA will still appear in the paper on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

What is the local ordinance on burning in your backyard?

The ordinance is very clear and leaves nothing to question, and is found in Division 3 of the "City of Racine's Municipal Code." Division 3 deals with open flames and burning. Section 50-261 deals with backyard burning.

It reads:

"No person shall kindle, start or maintain any rubbish fire or open fire for the burning of combustible materials without a permit from the Fire Department. This section shall not apply to fires set for training or instruction in firefighting, for testing of fire equipment, for cooking, unless such cooking is done in a manner which imposes a risk of personal injury or property damage or for events of community interest where written permission has been granted by the fire chief."

Mount Pleasant and Caledonia residents, and those in other municipalities, should call their village halls for burning rules.

Why do you sometimes see tennis shoes or sneakers tied by the laces hanging over power lines?

This is one of our favorite question and answers. The straightforward, somewhat flippant answer to this question is because someone tied the laces together and pitched the shoes over the line.

Why that is remains unclear, and a number of theories exist. A number of online sources helped answer this question, including the Straight Dope Web site at

http://www.straightdope.com

A member of the GYA staff said this is common practice in the Army among soldiers leaving active duty. In the departing soldier's case, the boots are painted a garish color and thrown over a power line on the base as the soldier leaves the service for good.

Shoes over power lines in an urban area are said to signal gang activity or the availability of illegal drugs for purchase.

Some theories espouse that teenage boys toss their shoes over a power line to celebrate losing a certain "something," and in some cases, the shoes are said to be tied and thrown in celebration of the last day of school.

We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey said the company receives about 100 calls per year for shoes over power lines. Manthey said 80 percent of the calls are for shoes hanging on cable or phone lines, which are strung lower than power lines and present an easier target for your average shoe chucker.

Manthey said We Energies removes shoes hanging from their lines and, simply enough, throws them away.

Our answer about baseball in Vanuatu will have to wait until Tuesday.

What is Glad You Asked?

Christopher Bennett compiles Glad You Asked for The Journal Times, and finds answers to the questions that keep you up at night. Don't lose sleep. Call (262) 631-1758 or send your questions to

ask@journaltimes.com