When I worked ATC for many years, for some reason the control towers were
very prone to extremely dry air, especially in winter. We had a habit of
carrying a key around in our hand and when we would walk across the room,
before touching anything else, we would touch some metal with the key to
release our static charge. Often there would be fairly large arc with a
loud pop from the key to the metal. By using the key (or any other piece of
metal), there was no discomfort. A good way to get someone riled up was to
discharge it on someone's ear.
Deke
do not archive
> Regarding the braid in the shoe thing....I just took my sock off and
> stuck the braid into the sock, re"installed" the sock and let the braid
> lay alongside my ankle, up over the top of the sock, and out onto the
> floor. So in effect, I was standing on the braid with somewhat humid bare
> feet, so I was in pretty good contact with it.
>
> I don't know about Newfoundland, but here in Michigan, it gets to a point
> that if you don't have some humidity going, in the house for example, and
> I've got the wood-burner going, when I get out of my chair to feed the
> fire, I'd better slap the steel door with my hand before I touch it, or
> I'll get a surprise shock. If I slap it first, the pain of the slap masks
> the shock. : )
>
> Lynn Matteson
