# Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 5, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657 "2024-01-05T16:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/261 "2024-02-09T00:19:31Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I think I count as people last I checked. Well, you did until you admitted to listening to AM radio, anyway ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/262 "2024-02-09T00:28:40Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > So yeah, people absolutely listen to AM, I think I count as people last I checked. I AM therefore I am. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/263 "2024-02-09T00:35:42Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I AM therefore I am. If that isn’t already a bumper sticker it really should be. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/264 "2024-02-09T03:03:15Z")
Nosed Attic Atoll ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/265 "2024-02-09T03:21:33Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > So yeah, people absolutely listen to AM, I think I count as people last I checked. > > I AM therefore I am. Okay, that has to count as your quota for the year. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/266 "2024-02-09T17:20:12Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > What surprises me is that they only found out after a landscaping crew found the tower missing. What surprises me is anyone touching an AM tower and not getting burnt to a crisp. For AM towers, the whole tower is the antenna, meaning the whole tower is “hot” when turned on. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/267 "2024-02-09T19:03:25Z")
They suspect it was an inside job, so the culprits presumably had some knowledge of how to steal the antenna without dying. Sounds like they cut the lines leading to the tower first, so there probably wasn’t much risk at that point. And they’re usually clad in some kind of insulating material so casual contact is generally not too risky. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/268 "2024-02-09T19:08:55Z")
On a semi-related note, here’s a few videos that do a really good job of showing how much power it takes to drive a (FM) Antenna. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6_u8x8V4YYs/maxresdefault.jpg "Exploring a 1 MILLION Watt FM Tower") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_u8x8V4YYs) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wJ-XqQchwEw/maxresdefault.jpg "1 MILLION watts—really? FM Supertower Part 2!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ-XqQchwEw) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/269 "2024-02-10T00:35:50Z")
These kinds of things almost always are, and the link I saw said the station was already off the air for routine maintenance, and then the maintenance workers showed up and found out there was nothing to work on. > **[Alabama Radio Station’s 200-Foot Tower Disappears Without a Trace: ‘You’ve...](https://people.com/alabama-radio-stations-200-ft-tower-disappears-got-to-be-kidding-8572521)** > > A 200-foot tall radio tower has gone missing — leaving an Alabama station, police and others shocked and confused. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/270 "2024-02-10T01:33:03Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Not all thieves are lazy; this is a theft which would take a little work: > > [Alabama station in disbelief after 200-foot radio tower stolen](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/alabama-station-disbelief-200-foot-radio-tower-stolen-rcna137877) The stock image in that link is a little misleading. Here is a picture of the antenna that was actually taken: [![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6763154.1707511477!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_1020/image.jpeg) ](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6763154.1707511477!/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/landscape_1020/image.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/271 "2024-02-10T02:15:47Z")
But what the hell did they _do_ with it? ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/272 "2024-02-10T02:17:32Z")
Scrap metal? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/273 "2024-02-10T03:37:48Z")
Trellis? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/274 "2024-02-10T03:40:29Z")
It’s obviously on the back of a pickup truck with a Trump flag on it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/275 "2024-02-10T03:58:47Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The stock image in that link is a little misleading. Here is a picture of the antenna that was actually taken: Either **your** photo is misleading, or the text of the article is misleading, because your photo makes it look a hell of a lot shorter than 200 feet. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/276 "2024-02-10T05:20:04Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Either **your** photo is misleading, or the text of the article is misleading, because your photo makes it look a hell of a lot shorter than 200 feet. This image provided by Brett Elmore shows WJLX radio’s tower in Jasper, Ala. Authorities say a thief or thieves made off with the 200-foot tower, which was discovered missing Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, and shut down WJLX Radio. (Brett Elmore vai AP) > **[200-foot radio station tower disappears without a trace in Alabama](https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/world/200-foot-radio-station-tower-disappears-without-a-trace-in-alabama-1.6763133)** > > The theft of a giant radio tower has silenced what used to be the voice of a small Alabama town and the surrounding county, the radio station's general manager said. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/277 "2024-02-10T05:23:02Z")
If we’re talking about a photo giving a false impression, showing a photo that barely shows the antenna isn’t any more helpful than a stock photo of a different antenna. They’re both bad. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/278 "2024-02-10T05:24:20Z")
Better photo here. Still doesn’t show the top, but the bracing cables make it look plausible that maybe it’s 200’, although I would have guessed less. Hard to judge the angle of the cables. > **[200-foot radio tower disappears from small town 'without a trace'](https://scrippsnews.com/stories/200-foot-radio-tower-disappears-from-small-town-without-a-trace/)** > > An Alabama radio station said their 200-foot tower has disappeared "without a trace." The station is now completely off the air, and without insurance, the tower could cost over $60,000 to replace. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/279 "2024-02-10T05:25:14Z")
Look at the size of the door in the building to get the scale of the diameter of the antenna. Each of the three sides look to be about the width of a standard ladder. The height is already established. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657/280 "2024-02-10T05:25:45Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Better photo here. Agreed, now we got something giving some perspective. 👍 Inside job or not, that still seems bonkers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-2/995657.md?page=15)