# Close, but not toast(ed), or Zeus aim is no longer what it used to be. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 15, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775 "2007-10-15T11:58:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/21 "2007-10-16T06:39:12Z")
There’s is something about my dad’s side of the family and lightning. Grandpa: killed by lightning Uncle: hit by lightning. Was in a coma for a couple of days. Dad: hit by lightning, was unconscious for a few minutes. Other uncle: killed by a falling coconut. So, OK, the coconut had nothing to do with lightning, maybe Zeus hired some killer monkeys. Good to hear that you are OK. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/22 "2007-10-16T06:59:57Z")
Sorry, this had to be posted. It’s 2 short clips, I’m referring to the second one. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi0QfDDA1ZA) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/23 "2007-10-16T11:36:41Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] If you’ve got a girlfriend, tell her to watch out for swans. And bulls. And… actually just tell her to stay indoors. [/QUOTE] [That won’t help.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana%C3%AB) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/24 "2007-10-16T12:50:59Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] Dad, are you getting drunk _again_? [/QUOTE] Sorry. Actually I don’t usually do this, only Glundandra said he had something urgent to take care of and transformed himself into a shower of gold, leaving me holding the thunderbolt. I’m happier with just a spear. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/25 "2007-10-16T13:32:49Z")
I think I’ve told this story on the boards before. Once, when heading to work when I was in high school, during an electrical storm, I put the key in my truck to unlock it. The moment the key touched the door, I heard a tremendous bang, and felt the current go up into my arm. My entire right arm was numb for an hour! [QUOTE=Mangetout] If you can locate the exact spot where the strike hit the ground (wait until it stops first), you might be able to unearth a [fulgurite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgurite) (although it will take a bit of care to get it out of the ground without breaking. [/QUOTE] There’s research being done to determine the feasibility of using electrodes to create large artificial fulgurites to encapsulate nuclear waste. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/26 "2007-10-16T14:28:57Z")
[QUOTE=Tapiotar] Congrats, Lightnin’, on surviving it not just once, but twice. Alice Hoffman wrote Ice Queen, a novel in which the protag has been struck by lightning. She seems to have done a lot of research in the completely different ways lightning strikes can affect people. Have you read it, and did any of it ring true? [/QUOTE] I haven’t, but I’d like to see if I can find a copy. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/27 "2007-10-16T14:34:18Z")
[QUOTE=Lightnin’] I’ve been hit **twice** - … [/QUOTE] :eek: Will you touch my lottery ticket? ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775/28 "2007-10-16T15:36:16Z")
[QUOTE=Marlitharn] :eek: Will you touch my lottery ticket? [/QUOTE] Oh yes, \*\*Lighnin´s \*\* good luck will bless that ticket, it´s s sure winner, but while he´s holding it on his hand another lightning will strike him carbonizing the ticket. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/close-but-not-toast-ed-or-zeus-aim-is-no-longer-what-it-used-to-be/422775.md?page=1)