Slog - Comments on Safety First!

Comment by A Non Imus

A Non Imus — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:22:12 -0800

That's not an electrical wire (it doesn't even look like a wire, really). Electricity is carried in the three wires at the top of the pole. The cables further down are for telephone, internet, cable TV, etc.

Comment by Mikki

Mikki — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:23:06 -0800

I passed that on Friday and wondered what the hell was going on.

Comment by muggims

muggims — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:24:26 -0800

How cool would it be to have plug-ins for your electric car just waiting for you to recharge while you go shopping for grocries?

Comment by Jubilation T. Cornball

Jubilation T. Cornball — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:28:19 -0800

Just lick it and satisfy your curiosity once and for all.

Comment by whatevernevermind

whatevernevermind — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:28:20 -0800

That is alarming, but even more alarming for me is that, as I scrolled that first picture into view, I wondered why the pic was in black and white. It wasn't until I saw the parts of it that aren't the Seattle sky that I realized it was in color.

Suddenly I remember why I had to move away.

Comment by Alex S

Alex S — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:32:43 -0800

My girlfriend and I passed this "situation" on the way back from grocery shopping last night. This is doubtless an attempt by QFC to scare shoppers away from Madison Market and Trader Joes.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:37:29 -0800

@1 is correct. While you might get a shock, it won't be heart stopping.

@5 - nice thing is I can see the bright openings in the clouds from up here on the 15th floor at UW Tower, so it feels more sunny than it actually is ...

Comment by Greg

Greg — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:45:48 -0800

I don't know, but that freaks me out. Even if it's not attached to the power lines, it significantly shortens the distance those lines need to ground.

Catalina?

Comment by kinaidos

kinaidos — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:20:37 -0800

I believe the cone is fake. Somebody is trying to make that casing, which has been there for months, suddenly appear dangerous. My guess is that it was perpetrated by the same individual responsible for the cone and *Don't walk - danger* chalk on the Denny bridge over I5.

Comment by six shooter

six shooter — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:24:06 -0800

Electricity is like ghosts. It can only hurt you if you believe in it.

Comment by Chris

Chris — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:39:32 -0800

@1 & @7: Actually, if it's fiber optic cable, there's NO electricity running through it at all, so LICK AWAY!! But it might cut your tongue...

Comment by apttitle

apttitle — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:49:15 -0800

About three months ago I alerted the police dept across the street to this as I passed it by. For three months its been in the exact same position. My guess at this point there's no harm, but to be honest the police just told me, "oh yeah that's the cable companies responsibility.

WTF!

Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay

Catalina Vel-DuRay — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:11:52 -0800

Yes indeed, that is fiber optic. Harmless, but weird it is still not fixed. But the telephone and cable companies move in mysterious ways.

But just so you-all know: The most dangerous stuff (Generally speaking, 26kv primary) is always at the top of the pole. It can be three wires or just one wire. Then come the transformers (the big ugly gray things) then the secondary services (which are the things that hook up to your house) then telephone, then cable. Sometimes there's other stuff, like an eruv, which has something to do with observant Jewish people, and where they can and can't go on the Sabbath.

Phone, cable, fiberoptic, and eruvs can't hurt you. But you should always be careful around downed lines, and assume they are electric, because they all look alike.

Comment by drew

drew — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:41:52 -0800

Catalina thanks for bringing eruvs to my attention. I never knew they existed and never fully understood why I saw so many orthodox jews around seward park: http://www.seattlevaad.org/Seward_Park_Eruv.html

Learn something new everyday.

Comment by ghopper

ghopper — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:58:43 -0800

That (my friends) is your MA Bell infrastucture. Falling apart I should add.

It is not (I repeat, is not...)a shock harard. I work for the Cable Guys and our shit is underground in and around most of Downtown, including Belltown (which this looks like).

We can always count on the SLOG to sensationalize. But that's why I love the SLOG! BTW - Whatever you do, don't stare into the end that cable, it could put an eye out.

Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay

Catalina Vel-DuRay — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:36:56 -0800

That's Capitol Hill, isn't it? Just north of Basic Plumbing? (Not that I would know where that is)