Whee! Thunderstorm!

[rjlona]

We're having a thunderstorm! I love thunderstorms! Of course, I was just about to get in the bathtub. Now, I've been told that it's dangerous to be in a bathtub or shower during a thunderstorm, but I've also been told that it's perfectly safe. So which is it? Any help from all you scientist friends of mine? I know you're mostly biologists, but surely someone must have a good answer for this.

Comments

[magda-vogelsang.livejournal.com]

My house was struck by lightning once, but I wasn't in the bathtub. I was sitting on the couch, watching "Trial of a TimeLord" on the VCR. The TV screen flashed white, and then went black as the surge protector kicked in (it saved the TV but not the VCR).

Casualties? The VCR I was using (but the eject button still worked so I could get my tape out), mom's clock radio, the answering machine, the printer interface card on our Appple //e (the power line had a good surge protector, but the phone line to the modem didn't). Oh, and on the other TV in the living room (off at the time, but not surge protected) all the green pixels were stuck on. You could still watch it, but everything had a green cast, like you had the tint set wrong.

Did I mention that it was nice and sunny when this happened? There was a thunderstorm to the west of us, but it didn't arrive until 30-60 minutes later.