>And yeah, the main reason I had to come up with this is because
>electronics don't work that way and I don't have Suspenders of
>Disbelief strong enough to take it at face value.

Like Gryphon says otherthread, even the biggest comms trunk in the world doesn't carry enough current to make smoke roll picturesquely out some poor lout's ears - and this is from a guy who has been neck deep in comms for over a decade. The thump is my Suspension of Disbelief bottoming out, so your theory comes as a blessing.