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Bug #256 
Description of light bulb in electrocution story raises questions
This bug appeared in a news report published by San Francisco Chronicle | SFGate on Apr 20, 2010 by Henry K. Lee.
View the original news report.
Bug Type: Simple Factual Error
As suggested in a number of the comments on SFGate, the journalist's description of the light fixture involved in the electricution doesn't pass the smell test. According to the story "Mustafa Algazawy of San Francisco was changing a 16-foot-long, 120-volt bulb" when he was killed. As someone who works with buildings, I am pretty sure that there is no such thing as a 16ft flourescent light bulb. What's more, I have never heard of a flourescent fixture referred to by its voltage. Voltage refers to the current and is found in the ballast of a flourescent fixture - not the bulb.
Response
Louise Frock has not contacted San Francisco Chronicle | SFGate
Discussion Leave a comment
There are 8ft fluorescent lamps, and one can imagine a fixture holding, say, 4 of them in a 2x2 configuration for a total of 16ft or so.
In ads for such lamps, voltage is a common specification (120 volts versus 220 volts) for the fixture / ballast at least. Voltage refers to voltage, and amperage refers to current.
We got a response from Vlae Kershner, news director at SFGate:
"The reporter believes the story to be a correct transcription of what the police stated."
"The reporter believes the story to be a correct transcription of what the police stated."
Interesting response. Does this mean the SF Chronicle is content simply with transcribing the statement of a public official and not vetting or verifying its contents? Even after questions are raised by the public about its contents? In this case we're talking about the circumstances of an accidental death. Seems like that could be considered important. How does a guy get electrocuted by a kind of light fixture that may not actually exist?