Surge protectors are not appropriate Easter gifts
Or any electronics, for that matter.
Yesterday afternoon we experienced an electric surge nearby. And by that, I mean a muffled Bang, the lights flickered, and a few seconds later BANG BANG BANG no power oh no it must have been an accident but there was no breaking glass sound run upstairs change into jeans walk outside neighbors are leaving what the hell?
Power out for 2 hours, cable out for 24.
The bangs were the breakers for the neighborhood transformers flipping.
So after the electricity returned, the surge protector for our "entertainment center" (TV, DVD, VCR, VCR tape rewinder) began beeping. I hit the test button, the only user interface on the device. Didn't stop beeping, just sped up the quietly annoying beeps.
Turned the breaker back on for the computer room (containing far too many devices to list here), and watched that room's surge protector SPARK and CRACKLE.
Two, count them, TWO surge protectors taken out. Yup, folks, if they beep, that either means there's no power (if it's also a UPS) or it is dead.
And thus began my long and very un-Christian-like search for a simple surge protector. A six-outlet wall socket replacement with protection for the coax cables. On April 11, 2004, Easter Sunday.
Staples? Closed.
Bellevue Square Mall? Closed. The entire fricking mall. At this point, my wife began asking if there had been a terror alert.
CompUSA? Closed.
Office Depot. Closed. Closed. (two locations)
Schuck's auto supply store? Open.
Hey, wait a minute! Schuck's is open? On Easter?
I guess God likes automobiles more than computers.
Finally, Fred Meyer. Open. Retrieved two surge protectors. Got home, realized the wall outlet replacement one was not what I wanted. It protects the coax connections only. No electrical surge protection. What the !%!#$)( ever.
Cable restored. Going to shoot some people now.