So much for thinking outside the utility box

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Got it, Ed?

February 19th, 2014 · 40 comments

Our submitter spotted this behind a building on a college campus in Maine — a college that apparently does not tolerate outside-the-utility-box thinking among its employees.

Poor Ed. If only he worked in a jurisdiction where his style of painting could truly be appreciated, like, say, San Francisco…

Or Boston…

Or Salem, Massachusetts…

…or dozens of other cities around the world. Don’t give in to the man, Ed!

related: The Gateway to Contractor Hell

FILED UNDER: Maine · public shaming

40 responses so far ↓

#1 weed store

lol classic ed

Feb 20, 2014 at 12:23 am rating: 16

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#2 JK

I’m moving to Salem, Massachusetts right now. Just for that box. They don’t burn witches anymore, right? I’m asking for a friend.

Feb 20, 2014 at 2:00 am rating: 43

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- #2.1 WildaBeast
  
  They don’t burn witches *anymore*, but if you get inside that blue box you might find yourself in a time when they did.
  
  …Or you might just end up the victim of an electrical fire.
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 2:30 pm rating: 27
- #2.2 uncreative
  
  You’re in luck! The idea that Salem burned witches is actually wrong. Now, if you object to the hanging of witches, there might be a slight problem… because that totally did happen.
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 5:10 pm rating: 8
- #2.3 Jami
  
  I know of a pub in Fullerton, CA that has a TARDIS painted on their back door. It’s called The Olde Ship. You’re safer going in that one than an electrical box.
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 10:07 pm rating: 3
- #2.4 Belaani
  
  It’s a pretty cool city in some respects, with a good museum (and a Tardis! ), and Halloween is all October long, but the school system pretty much blows chunks. If your friend has school age kids she should keep looking.
  
  Feb 23, 2014 at 7:03 am rating: 2
- #2.5 Zorin
  
  Not only do they not burn witches but their entire tourism industry is based around witchcraft lore.
  
  It’s actually kind of funny and sad at the same time.
  
  Feb 25, 2014 at 9:02 am rating: 2
- #2.6 Lab dude
  
  Used to live in ‘Witch City’…
  But that was before the real Halloween craziness started. Back then the ‘Town Witch’ was just getting started. I heard a rumor that she was a former working girl who needed a new line of work and was good at self-promoting. I went back a few years ago (during October – big mistake) and I barely recognized the place.
  I will say this, the single BEST place in Salem is the Peabody Essex Museum. Great museum for both art & history, they get wonderful exhibits in with ties to the local seafaring culture.
  
  Feb 25, 2014 at 10:10 am rating: 2
- #2.7 Lab dude
  
  Apparently, this is eaier than editing my comment…
  I just wanted to add that, in addition to hanging the witches, they also *pressed* a guy to death. Put him under wooden pallet and piled stones on top of it. Not sure what killed him first, asphyxiation or internal trauma, but I’m sure it wasn’t real pretty. According to one account, during the process, his mouth opened and his tongue was hanging out – and an apparently offended bystander poked it back in with the tip of his cane…
  
  Feb 25, 2014 at 10:17 am rating: 3
- #2.8 Pixy
  
  The only Salem witch trials related thing that actually happened in the current city boundaries of Salem was the stoning to death of Giles Corey (and his gravesite). The rest of it happened in what is now the city of Danvers MA. Danvers also has the Danvers State Asylum, which was the inspiration for H.P. Lovecraft’s Arkham, which in turn inspired Arkham Asylum from Batman. Moral of the story – Danvers is badass, Salem is a tourist hell hole. From someone who’s lived in both cities.
  
  Feb 25, 2014 at 6:05 pm rating: 4
- #2.9 Lab dude
  
  True dat, Pixy. The way I understand it, back in the day, what is now the city of Salem, was the local government seat for the surrounding area, including Salem Village (now Danvers), Ipswich, and Salem Town, and is now the only remaining municipality that still bears the name ‘Salem’.
  While I haven’t lived in Danvers, I have worked there, and know people in the area. They seem to be quite happy to no longer be associated with that little piece of history.
  
  Feb 26, 2014 at 9:54 am rating: 1
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#3 buni

I love the San Francisco box. From the angle the photo was taken, the box nearly becomes invisible.

There’s a few communities in my area where the fire hydrants are creatively painted, but most transformer boxes I’ve seen are boring pale gray.

Feb 20, 2014 at 8:00 am rating: 7

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- #3.1 Tesselara
  
  I wonder how many people walk into it. Seriously, I would. ::slinks off in mortification::
  
  Instant ego deflater.
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 9:32 am rating: 21
- #3.2 Lab dude
  
  Well, the illusion only works from the angle shown – meaning that it would probably be pretty obvious if you were walking down the sidewalk.
  Although these days, with everyone staring myopically at their smart phone as they walk, I’m not sure that is a safe bet anymore…
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 11:05 am rating: 16
- #3.3 Tesselara
  
  I AM pretty myopic.
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 11:15 am rating: 2
- #3.4 buni
  
  I found more photos of that box and the other sides are painted differently so yes, you have to be standing in just the right spot to catch the disappearing act.
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 11:49 am rating: 2
- #3.5 jerquee
  
  That box is steps from my house and the illusion only worked at a very specific angle — I would bet that most people didn’t even notice the illusion. But unfortunately it is no more; the utility box was replaced as part of an upgrade.
  
  haighteration.com/2013/09/mona-carons-utility-box-replaced.html
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 12:25 pm rating: 2
- #3.6 The Beast Among Us
  
  I’m not sure I’d want fire hydrants painted this way. We don’t want fireman having trouble finding them.
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 4:29 pm rating: 13
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#4 Lil'

My hometown is very small and they used to have an annual hydrant decorating contest open to local schools. The kids’ designs were very impressive for their ages. I was always a sucker for the dalmatian wearing the fireman hat (Original? No. Adorable? Yes.) I wonder why they stopped doing that.

Feb 20, 2014 at 8:28 am rating: 9

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- #4.1 The Elf
  
  Is the lettering standard too? I’m pretty sure utility boxes are not supposed to be painted message-board style. If I were Ed, I’d paint the next one in that same drab green, then paint bright yellow message that says “Thanks for your advice! I got it now.”
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 8:59 am rating: 14
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#5 Kasaba

I bet Ed says he’s a painter, when he’s chatting up girls. And when they ask what he paints, he says: “abstracts mostly”.

I prefer the first box to the other three to be honest. Mostly because of the note.

Feb 20, 2014 at 9:11 am rating: 6

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#6 assiveProgressive

Ed’s boss is just inviting graffiti ‘artists.’

Feb 20, 2014 at 11:32 am rating: 3

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#7 Poltergeist

I love (legal) street art. Not only does it add interest to an otherwise bland cityscape, but I’m sure it brightens the day of most people lucky enough to pass by.

On another note, how much do you guys wanna bet that there has been at least one person who saw the “police call box” and tried to enter it?

Feb 20, 2014 at 11:53 am rating: 14

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- #7.1 Havingfitz
  
  Or start beating frantically on the door, yelling “PICK ME, DOCTOR! PICK ME!” just in the one in a million chance Nine happens to be brooding inside. Not that I’d ever do something like that, of course…*cough*
  
  Feb 20, 2014 at 12:27 pm rating: 18
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#8 AKirkland

I’d kinda like to know what the box looked like beforehand…

was it like one of the ones that followed it, or had Ed simply painted a few lines and announced it “done” Or had his paint started running out, or had he just given some kids a paintbrush and said “have at it”?

Inquiring minds would love to know.

Feb 20, 2014 at 1:57 pm rating: 7

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#9 m9

i so want to see an ed painted utility box. just to compare.

Feb 20, 2014 at 2:38 pm rating: 10

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#10 andyc

For those asking about The Tardis in Salem, this is the book for you:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Witch_Hunters.jpg

Feb 20, 2014 at 2:51 pm rating: 0

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#11 Lita

I now have the urge to paint the cable splitter box just outside the house.

Unfortunately, that would be rather frowned upon, and besides I’ve got no paint.

Feb 20, 2014 at 4:23 pm rating: 3

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#12 Johnna Zwernemann

Ooh,ooh paint mine.

Feb 20, 2014 at 4:42 pm rating: 2

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#13 Wench

If I was Ed, I’d paint all the other boxes the exact same shade of ?green – with the exact same yellow striped message on the side…..

But then I always was a stickler for doing EXACTLY what I was told……:-)

Feb 20, 2014 at 5:27 pm rating: 18

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#14 EdBarnes

Wow., this is really cool!!. I’m loving Ed’s art,. its kinda., this is really amazing.. HAHA!!

if you time., try to check Bolem. They have a lot of ideas about computers and technology

Feb 20, 2014 at 7:49 pm rating: 0

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#15 TRT

Don’t listen to them! It’s a con, Ed.

Feb 21, 2014 at 3:31 am rating: 7

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- #15.1 kermit
  
  We see what you did there, bub and we’re onto you.
  
  Feb 21, 2014 at 5:41 am rating: 3
- #15.2 FeRD
  
  Uh-oh, TRT, now you’ve attracted Wolverine’s attention! Big Mistakey. I would recommend getting your affairs in order and making sure your will is up-to-date. Like, soonest.
  
  My condolences to your loved ones on their imminent loss.
  
  Feb 24, 2014 at 8:41 am rating: 0
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#16 sansible

Funny thing about Salem’s TARDIS. Apparently, a bunch of people wrote to the town in protest. They were concerned that someone would mistake it for an actual Police Box and it could be a serious safety issue if someone ran to it thinking they could call the police from it [On a perhaps related note, it's located near an assisted living facility]. I’m surprised that there’s a demographic that lives in the U.S., knows what a Police Box is, and has never heard of Doctor Who.

Happily, the Salem TARDIS is still there AFAIK.

Feb 23, 2014 at 7:38 am rating: 4

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- #16.1 buni
  
  I’ve heard of Dr. Who, but the only reason I even know what the TARDIS is, is from reading this blog and I did not make the connection when I first saw the photo.
  I remember my grandmother watching the show when I was a kid in the 80s. I saw a couple of episodes that freaked my 8-year-old self out, so I never got into it when I got older.
  
  Feb 24, 2014 at 10:26 am rating: 0
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#17 The Elf

The Salem TARDIS turned me into a newt.

I got better.

Feb 25, 2014 at 10:45 am rating: 3

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#18 Jamie

I’m from Maine….someone please tell me that first box was from Unity?

Mar 5, 2014 at 8:40 am rating: 0

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#19 Lara

We have a bunch of really cool ones here in Ithaca, NY, too. I think Ed’s just a little too creative for the plodding people of wherever he’s from!

Jun 19, 2014 at 12:10 pm rating: 0

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