The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

If you happened to be in Midtown Atlanta last night and noticed an interruption in your power service for about 5 seconds around 10:30...sorry...note to all, don't let Mylar Balloons go around power lines. If they happen to get caught in the lines, it could result in a minor explosion and loss of power for an entire neighborhood. Thankfully the power came back on, but the explosion was seen from as far away as The Plaza Midtown about a 1/2 mile away. Good times.

More information:

Foil balloons, also referred to as metallic or mylar and are actually two sheets of plastic (polyethylene) and nylon that are sandwiched together, then coated with a thin layer of aluminum. Mylar balloons first appeared in New York City in the late 70's and quickly became popular worldwide. A mylar balloon can float 30 times longer than a standard latex balloon. Foil (metallic) balloons are not biodegradable and they can (and will) conduct electricity, they should never be released outdoors because they could become entangled with power lines and lead to power outages.

Who knew?