Good Questions: Smart Gloves, Voting On The Clock, & A Fresh Tree
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Starting tomorrow, an 88-foot white spruce from the Chippewa National Forest will make stops in 30 cities over 19 days on its way to Washington, D.C. It's going to spend part of November and all of December as the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree. So, that had Lorna from Cambridge wondering: How does the tree stay fresh?
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the bottom of the tree will be soaked in a 50-gallon bladder bag so it will provide enough water for the 45 gallons a day the tree is expected to drink. Colder temperatures will also help to keep the tree fresher for longer.
With Election Day just four days away: What are the rules when it comes to voting during the workday?
"As long as the employer doesn't interfere with or abridge or refuse employees in their exercise of this right, the employer should be ok," said Mark Mathison, a labor and employment law attorney with Gray Plant Moody.
According to the Minnesota Secretary of State's Office, Minnesota Statute 204C.04 allows employees to take time off for the time necessary to vote in a state election without a reduction in pay. Minnesota Statute 204C.08 Subd. 1d also states that employees cannot be required to use personal leave or vacation time for the time off necessary to vote.
In a blog post, Mathison laid out a legal clarification of the law for employers and employees. He says, though it's not required, employees should consider giving advance notice. He also suggests employees be "reasonable" in the amount of time they take to vote.
Tammy from Litchfield wanted to know: How do smart gloves work?
Basically, these touchscreens hold an electrical charge and our bodies conduct electricity too. So, when we touch the screen, our finger distorts the screen's electromagnetic field. Regular gloves would block the finger's conductivity, so conductive thread or buttons are generally sewn into the glove to carry the current.
