The day I became a NIMBY
|
|
Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Photo Theme: LINES . . .. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.  Click on the photo to view a larger version. |
This Saturday’s theme is LINES . . .. This past fall, a pair of sneakers were flung over the hydro wires at the intersection where I live. Illuminated by the street lamp, the dangling sneakers gave off a strange blue glow.
I’ve noticed sneakers tossed up on power lines before. I never gave them a second thought until our street was “sneakered.”
Someone said the sneakers were a sign of gangs marking territory. Someone else said it was a ritual of adolescent passage. Some young fella had just made his first “score.”
I shook my head. NO! Not in my neighbourhood, I said to myself loudly — no gangs, no scores, no sneakers flung over my hydro lines on the corner where I live!
I collected myself. I had become one of the dreaded NIMBY people!
I Googled “sneakers over hydro wires.” Here’s what I found.
Sneakers over hydro lines are a well documented urban myth! Just a folk belief about gang activity! A well worn myth of lost virginity! My 6th Avenue and Vine sneakers lost their luster.
Straight Dope gives about a dozen possible theories for the pair of sneakers dangling from city power lines all over North America — all urban legends again.
Snopes.com has even more info on sneakers over power lines urban legends.
Walking the dog last night, I looked up at the soft street lamp glow illuminating my corner’s blue sneakers. One shoe sat on top of the other like a young boy with his legs crossed.
The sneakers are annoying me now. What to do now with that urban legend dangling on the hydro wire? I guess I’ll just have to wait until pruning season when the city workers come and ritually chop the limbs off the trees to keep them clear of the hydro wires.
Last 5 posts in JOURNAL
- 102 Canadian women will die this week - October 3rd, 2008
- Room with a view - September 27th, 2008
- On the road again, but not lost this time - September 20th, 2008
- Because I'm a wild and crazy guy... - September 13th, 2008
- But will there be cobs? - September 6th, 2008
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:11:36 PM
Interesting photos! Reminds me of one time when we hung a scarecrow over a caution light/line in the middle of my little community LOL
Merry Christmas to you & yours!
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:54:27 PM
Wow, pretty cool. I always wondered what that meant
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:06:56 AM
That is an interesting photo. Around here some of the military guys will throw their boots on the lines when they exit the service. Never heard of the gang marking thing before.
Mine is up too.
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:38:12 AM
Neat photos!
Snopes is a great website for checking out urban myths and legends.
Happy Holidays!
December 23rd, 2006 at 4:38:22 AM
What a great and informative take on the theme! Merry Christmas!
December 23rd, 2006 at 6:01:09 AM
On Behalf of Peety Passion and Live Desktops links, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family Seasons Greetings and all the best in 2007!
Sincerly,
Peety
*hugs*
Don’t drink too much over the holidays!
December 23rd, 2006 at 6:15:55 PM
I’ve often wondered how those things get up there. I’ve assumed bullying pranks or drunken frat parties myself.
Happy holidays!
December 24th, 2006 at 5:32:58 PM
There’s my sneakers! I wondered where they were!!
Mine’s up too
December 26th, 2006 at 6:04:45 AM
My older daughter and her boyfriend got into an argument with their neighbor, and somehow or other they ended up with his shoes. They said they were going to hang them over the line outside. I said “What? Why? Huh? I don’t get it.”
December 26th, 2006 at 4:15:48 PM
Larry…just stopping by to say a qick Hi..hope you had a special Christmas with you framily and friends..m
December 28th, 2006 at 7:41:42 PM
I had been told it was to mark the drug dealers house- so people could find it easily.
There was a black sock hanging from my street sign for a week or two- I have no idea what that was about.