Posted on 07/15/2008 1:50:31 PM PDT by MissouriConservative
This is right up there with the House discussing monkey bites two weeks ago. Nancy Pelosi wasn’t there. Much too beneath her, but....well, what can we say, it’s California. Who do the California Senators have as role models? I rest my case.
Apparently that is NOT true.
John and Ken of KFI640 had been talking about this awhile age. Read though a list of things that cause power outages. No balloons. Now, weather can and does cause power outages, but there were NO BALLOONS!!!
Makes me wonder who has it in for the balloon industry in California?
Well, CA could force manufacturers to put RFID tags on each balloon, so if it causes a power outage they can track down the manufacturer and /or the retailer AND the customer who bought the balloon, and all would be heavily fined...just kidding (or not???!!! Yikes, these morons would actually try something like that).
People are going to eat the chocolate and throw away the wrapper or until the cup and drink coffee from it.
They should be required to sell a square brick with it. And encourage people to huff the helium so that the balloon never flies away.
There is a home-videot out there of a kid releasing a mylar balloon very close to some power lines.
Believe it or not, the balloon hit the power lines and caused an arc that sent people screaming.
It’s true, it’s possible and it does happen with some frequency.
“and you damn kids keep offa my lawn!”
None necessary.
Common sense and a little education is all you need.
Power lines come in two types. Those that carry one side of a circuit and those that carry the other.
These lines are nowhere near each other for obvious reasons.
Should a balloon with a string get entangled one a power line, in order for it to cause a problem, it would need to contact the line AND a ground source. The only one I could think of near a power line would be a tree. If that is the case, then people are releasing these balloons very near the base of the tree. This seems even less likely than the string conducting electricity. Even if all components of this scenario came together, the result would very, very likely be only a burnt balloon. Not a power outage. Think of birds and squirrels on the lines. Only when they contact ground (such as a tree) do they get fried and even then there is rarely a loss of power.
“How about a ban on helium-filled politicians?”
They float into oil drilling plans, causing power outages.
If 800 baloons caused power outages in California, how many were caused by squirrels, how many by fried birds, and how many by other circumstances?
Or are they saying 800 power outages and implying they were all caused by balloons?
Using a hammer to kill a mosquito on your hand. Maybe they should try a public education or warning labels.
Fifteen years ago the People’s Republic of CA banned smoking at Candlestick Park, home of the SF Giants. For those who don’t know, Candlestick was an open ball park in an area of CA where the wind never fell below 20 mph.
By comparison, a ban of tin balloons, which actually cause ocassional damage is positively brilliant, for CA that is.
That gas don’t float it just STINKS !
I know the feeling. Sitting quietly and BAM...darkness. I have a bumper sticker that I have yet to apply...”Squirrels, Nature’s Little Speed Bumps”...
***My wife had some from a party but she has tossed them. I wanted to check their conductibility myself.***
By making them float into power lines?
:)
Ban all helium, use methane for the balloons instead. No one will huff those.
Actually, pure methane is odourless and lighter than air.
It’s true, it’s possible and it does happen with some frequency.
This may just as easily have been induction causing the spark and not an actual contact. I which case there is no threat.
More info from http://www.oru.com/energyandsafety/safety/metalfoilballoons.html
Metal foil balloons and metallic ribbon conduct electricity, and when they become entangled in power lines or electrical equipment they can cause power outages for large numbers of customers. Some simple safety precautions can minimize the serious danger these decorations pose.
Never Use Metallic Ribbons
Foil/metallic string or ribbon, or other attachments that conduct electricity, should never be used with helium-filled latex or foil balloons, regardless of whether the balloons are for indoor or outdoor use.
Use Balloon Weights
Foil or mylar balloons should be attached to an anchor that is heavy enough to keep them from floating away. Never release helium-filled metal foil balloons into the air intentionally.
Never Group Foil Balloons
All foil balloons should be individually anchored. Clusters of balloons tied together stand a much greater chance of becoming entangled in power lines.
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