Meryl Yourish gives a picture of an interesting riverbank sign:
WARNING
Hydraulics form at the base of dams. They can trap boats or tubers. Do not walk on dam when water is above ankles. 15 people have drowned here!
Perhaps I should have been more alert, but when I first read this I wondered why anyone would care if a bunch of potatoes were caught in the undertow and drowned.
Posted by Dr. Weevil at February 24, 2003 11:30 PMInadvertent my spud. You knew exactly what you were doing. You knew it was oh so wrong, that all eyes would be looking at you, and did it anyway. And coming from a groan man like yourself. Have you no shame?
Posted by: Biased Observer on February 25, 2003 10:37 AMHuh. I should have been more observant. I guess with all the waves and water from the river at crest, I mist that one.
Posted by: Meryl Yourish on February 25, 2003 11:22 PMInstead of hydraulics they could have simply noted that you could be toad under.
Posted by: David Perron on February 26, 2003 10:51 AM[Arnold accent] Its not a tuber!
Posted by: Robin Roberts on February 26, 2003 01:06 PMI don't get it...
Posted by: Captain Stinky on March 5, 2003 12:38 AMThe danger is not so obvious. A deadly undertow can form at the bottom of the dam that can drag a canoe or small boat under. At the top, even though the water behind the dam is still, as it flows over the top, very high velocities may develop.
The sign also covers the dam operator's ass in cas lawyers get ivolved.
Posted by: Harry Gross on March 8, 2003 06:50 PM