Joseph Patrick O'Malley

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Joseph Patrick O'Malley is the name usually given for the man of Urban Legend who allegedly urinated on the high voltage third rail of a train track (or electric fence) and was electrocuted. The scientific plausibility of this danger was also the subject of a 2003 MythBusters episode on the Discovery Channel.^{[1] [2] [3]}

According to Snopes, the legend began with a photograph of a penis treated with short-wave diathermy accompanied by an erroneous desciption.^[4]

[edit] References

1. ^ [1] Citizen Arcane, "Just Zip It "
2. ^ [2] The Straight Dope: "Has anybody gotten electrocuted peeing on the third rail?"
3. ^ MythBusters, Discovery Channel, "Barrel of Bricks, Urinating on the Third Rail, Eel Skin Wallet", Season One, Episode 3 (October 10, 2003)
4. ^ [3] Snopes, Don't Whizz on the Electric Fence