Have you ever looked at a telephone pole and noticed those glass or porcelain pieces on top? They might look like just decorations, but they actually have an important job in communication. These helpful items are called insulators, and they help keep our electrical wires safe and our phone calls clear.
Safeguarding the Flow of Electricity
Insulators have a key job: they stop electrical wires from touching the pole or the ground. Imagine trying to make a long-distance call, and your voice suddenly cuts out after a little while. That wouldn’t be fun, right? Insulators make sure all the electricity stays in the wires so our important phone calls can keep going without any problems.
The Variety of Insulators
These simple objects come in many different styles and colors. While a lot of the older insulators were made from glass or porcelain, some were made from wood and glass, and even animal parts! You’d be surprised at some of the unusual materials used. The size of the insulator is important too. Smaller ones are used for telephone and telegraph wires, while larger ones are made for high-voltage electrical wires. It’s like having a special section for insulators based on how much voltage they can handle!
Keeping Voltage in Check
When it comes to power lines, the voltage affects how big the insulator needs to be. Electricity can be a bit tricky and might try to jump across a distance. That’s where the design of insulators helps out. Insulators with wide “umbrella” shapes and large lower parts act like careful bouncers at a nightclub, keeping the wires away from the pole and stopping any accidents from happening.
A Surprising Hobby
Believe it or not, collecting insulators is a popular hobby! This started becoming popular in the 1960s when utility companies began burying their wires, leaving a lot of old insulators behind. As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. People who collect insulators come from all different backgrounds. Some like these glass pieces for how they look and use them to decorate windowsills and gardens, adding a bit of shine to their space. Others look for specific types of insulators. Prices can vary a lot; you might find one for less than a dollar or even get one for free at flea markets!
A Historical Touch
Most insulators that collectors have are between 70 and 145 years old, and some types haven’t been made since the early 1900s. Anything that’s old and no longer being produced often becomes collectible, and insulators are no different. They hold a piece of history and connect us to a time when communication was just starting to grow.
Appreciating the Role of Insulators
The next time you see one of those interesting glass or porcelain insulators on a telephone pole, take a moment to appreciate how important they’ve been in the history of communication. They might seem like old items, but they’ve made a lasting impact on how we connect with each other, whether through a phone call or a quick text message. Who knows? You might even feel inspired to start your own collection and join the many people who find beauty and history in these simple artifacts!
Simone Biles responded to critics about her hair just hours before winning her 8th Olympic medal.
Even though Simone Biles is the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast with over 35 medals and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, some people still criticize her.
One person complained, “Simone Biles’ hair never looks right. Everyone else on the team looks put together, but she looks like she just rolled out of bed.”
Before the women’s gymnastics team finals, Simone Biles, 27, shared a message for her critics on her Instagram Story.
“Don’t comment on my hair,” Simone Biles wrote in a video she posted. “It was done, but the bus had no AC and it was super hot. Plus, the ride was 45 minutes.”
In another Instagram Story, she shared a selfie and said, “Gonna hold your hand when I say this
Next time you want to comment on a Black girl’s hair, JUST DON’T.”\PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 30: Simone Biles of Team United States reacts after finishing her routine on the uneven bars during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Many women usually wear their hair in a slicked-back ponytail or bun, but Simone Biles has been wearing a looser style.
The rules say USA gymnasts must be “well groomed” and keep their hair “secured away from the face” so it doesn’t block their view of the equipment.
Despite the rules, many people on social media have criticized Simone Biles’ hairstyle.
Comments include:
“Simone Biles’s hair stylist should be fired.”
“Did Simone Biles purposely not do her hair? Every other gymnast’s hair is neatly done, but hers is messy. It almost seems on purpose… wtf?”
“I know Simone Biles talked about hair comments in her documentary, but she needs someone else to do her hair, not just her mom.”
“Simone Biles is flawless, but her hair isn’t.”
I don’t see anything wrong with Simone’s hair. She’s following the rules, so she should be able to wear it however she wants. People need to leave her alone!
Share if you agree!
Leave a Reply