Monday, January 25, 2016

Darwin awards


I would show this photo to James, a proper electrician, because I know it will crack him up, and say to him with a face that lets no trace of humor, "Lookit this guy claims he's Navy's finest electrician and calls a wall socket an adapter." Bringing attention to an insignificant detail as if that's the only thing interesting. 

Seeing the joke immediately, seeing he's being put on by misdirection, and seeing I'm actually right on the picayune detail on the outrageous photo he suppresses his laughter so completely it could blow out his ears and with an innocent unknowing face made for poker he says agreeably, "Yeah." 

And that's all that is seen of the riotously funny thing that just happened. 

18 comments:

AllenS said...

I see sparks.

Dad Bones said...

It would help kids in the house learn about the power of electricity in a hands-on sort of way. When I was a kid I pulled a plug out of the socket partway, then shorted the poles with my index finger. Shock is still the best word I know to describe it.

AllenS said...

I was pushing insulation around a live electrical box, when the screw driver slipped inside the box. The end touched the screw holding the wire and shorted out on the metal box. Thankfully, I hold holding the plastic end of the screw diver. BIG SPARKS!

AllenS said...

hold = was
diver = driver

Damn!

chickelit said...

I see little resistance.

AllenS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
AllenS said...

Think about pushing those nail clippers into the socket. You wouldn't use your bare hands, would you? Would you attempt inserting them one at a time? No. The only safe way would be to shut the power off at the fuse or breaker, insert the bad idea, then turning the electricity on. Don't pull on the cord, or there will be trouble.

Meade said...

Doesn't that red dot on the switch indicate that the outlet is off?

AllenS said...

Seems to me that a red dot showing would mean hot. I've never seen an outlet cover like that before.

Meade said...

It's Australian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets#/media/File:Australian_dual_switched_power_point.jpg

AllenS said...

Could you plug your electric barbie into it?

Meade said...

I think you're right about the red dot. Australian rocker switches are supposedly opposite of North American where up is on and down is off.

Steg said...

That scares me. Electricity is like fire, but more ninja.

When we were little, my dad HATED us watching tv when it was nice out. After school, weekends, whatever. This one time he was fed up, and could not take anymore, my sister and I just glued to cartoons all morning. So he comes in from whatever he's doing outside, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"AAAHHHH AAHHH AHHHHH!!!!"

Runs into the living room between us, and starts kicking the TV as hard as he can. We had an old 1970s tube that was fake wood paneled and heavy. His blow would lift the tv about three inches tilting it back on edge, and then it would slam back down. You could feel the whole house shake. He did this about three times, then relaxed, and went back outside doing whatever.

We exchanged looks, and then continued to watch cartoons.

Other times, he got more creative. He would pull the fuse out of the back so we'd get nothing. Of course we figured it out through trial and error.

Plugged in... still not working. Maybe he took the fuse out? Take pegboard back off tv.. aha! He left the fuse in, just not connected! Well let me... BZZZZZXT.

Didn't unplug the tv before resetting the fuse. My hand was numb for a minute, but I got my lesson well learned.

bagoh20 said...

I do shit like that all the time, although I would use some tape. Still here, never electrocuted into unconsciousness (that I can remember). Sometimes you have to break the rules.

Rabel said...

Boy am I off my game today. Thirty minutes of internetting trying to answer the question of the Australian red dot left me without a definitive answer. You would think that would be right at the top of any information set about switched power outlets, but no. You would think that an exposed red dot would be a warning sign indicating power on, but no, according to a website for blind Australians. Maybe this is why there aren't a lot of blind Australians.

I feel like Carson Palmer.

Methadras said...

I can't even...

AllenS said...

If you were to leave the US and go on a trip to Australia, just what electrical devices would you take with? Skil saw? Angle grinder? Toaster? Radio?

MamaM said...

"BZZZZZXT"

Quick as a wink, and always a surprise. Even for those who know it can happen and have felt it before.

The first time a very small SonM encountered electricity wanting to go somewhere, involved a string of Christmas lights he was helping his dad detangle. That grounding was one of his first experiences with betrayal, as he dropped the colored strand of lights he loved with an indignant burst of "It bit me!"

He's a licensed electrician now, and indignation is still the response whenever one of the crew is bit by the beast they are corralling, directing, opening the gate on or terminating.