This question is ripe for a taunt, like "Because they're a bunch of sissies!" But that wouldn't be true. Or smart - they outweigh me.

According to Raiders General Manager Bob Marcado and Threat co-owner Erik Olson, the two minor league teams have tried to set up that intracity showdown. It just hasn't worked out.

"It's just basically a scheduling hang-up," Olson said.

Marcado tried several times to get the Threat to fill slots in their schedule but was turned down, he wrote in an e-mail. But he understood why, considering the teams play in different leagues.

"We pay a hefty fine if we cancel a league-scheduled game," Olson said.

If it happens, the game would only count toward national rankings, he said. Well, besides the city bragging rights.

Are creditors allowed to call me on the weekend for payment on an account? I thought no calls were allowed after 9 p.m. and none on Sunday.

Different rules exist for collection agents and the companies themselves, but no state or federal rules prohibit them from dialing you up on weekends. That's the word from Mike Lawton, compliance officer for the state Department of Financial Institutions, which monitors that.

Best he could suggest is writing a letter to the company. You're right, though, about the time of day. Calls can be considered harassment if they come before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

To file a complaint, call the department at (800) 452-3328 or go to http://www.wdfi.org.

What chemical are they putting in the fire-safe cigarettes to make them go out? Maybe it'll kill smokers faster than the tobacco does.

It would help if tobacco companies fully disclosed their ingredients, said Maureen Busalacchi, executive director of the nonprofit Smoke Free Wisconsin. Still, enough is known that thin bands of extra paper cause them to burn out, not a chemical.

Advocates for laws requiring businesses to sell only the fire-safe kind - Wisconsin's law took effect last month - point to a Harvard University study. Researchers found that five of 19 toxic compounds were found in higher levels in fire-safe cigarettes, but the report states nothing suggests "these increases affect the already highly toxic nature of cigarette smoke."

I don't speak Scientist, but I think the translation is "If you don't want to die, don't smoke."

Mike Moore compiles the Glad You Asked column, which answers selected questions of local interest. Call us at (262) 631-1758 or e-mail:

ask@journaltimes.com