First World Problems...

Admit it..you have 73 of these things floating around the house. And they aren't all the same, because God forbid the electronics industry try to stick to some sort of standard! At least Apple has caved to pressure and gotten rid of their proprietary plugs, but not before I bought several dozen cables of every combination. And I use an Android phone!

Yes...yes...yes. Progress and all that. I have perfectly good buggy whips in a hall closet that I am confident once again will be useful!

Posted by: CBD at 02:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Tell me about it

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 02:00 PM (Ia/+0)

2 I think 1 of my adapters isn't working, so have 1 for 2 devices.

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 02:02 PM (Ia/+0)

3 Countertop looks like Avonite coppermine

Posted by: Dark Litigator at May 03, 2026 02:02 PM (W5mpo)

4 Another problem is the wildly varying quality of the plugs. Some just barely trickle power, and some are great.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 02:03 PM (iERP6)

5 Countertop looks like Avonite coppermine

Posted by: Dark Litigator at May 03, 2026 02:02 PM (W5mpo)

Granite!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 02:03 PM (iERP6)

6 So many different sizes of buttplugs, too!

Posted by: Mayor Pete at May 03, 2026 02:04 PM (oftw2)

7 I have 73 and then the one time I need one it’s the 74th kind.

Posted by: Heroq at May 03, 2026 02:05 PM (ewIRf)

8 Also am going to need a new GPS very soon. Guess will go by phone Google map tomorrow but its not quit as good

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 02:06 PM (Ia/+0)

9 Luckily we’re at Type C now and it’s great and will never change again….please.

I do like that I can charge a flashlight with the same cord I use for my cell phone.

Posted by: Meric at May 03, 2026 02:06 PM (cbKn6)

10 Don't ever throw out any plugs, adapters, cables, or cords, because that's the week you will need it.

Posted by: Semper Paratus at May 03, 2026 02:06 PM (oftw2)

11 Found longer cord less power gets through it

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 02:07 PM (Ia/+0)

12
Every now and then I need an adapter or cable, and I go through That Drawer and find it.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at May 03, 2026 02:07 PM (n7rxJ)

13 Was discussing this just yesterday with my BIL. Should've known the bastards would switch things up right after we installed combination 110 V / USB-A outlets in our kitchen.

I'll just be over here screaming at whippersnappers to get the hell off my lawn.

Posted by: Matthew Kant Cipher at May 03, 2026 02:08 PM (kOluj)

14
Then, when you finally match things up correctly and plug it into your device, it says, "Slow Charging!"

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 03, 2026 02:08 PM (HdYcL)

15 My Samsungs I think take mini B

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 02:08 PM (Ia/+0)

16 I have a box full of wall warts. Sundry voltages, currents, connectors...

I've been planning a visit to electrical Recycle Day at the local dump. Sadly, my hoarder instinct compels me to hold onto potentially useful 'stuff'.

During the month without power here, a snipped cable, a 5v regulator, and a 12V gel-cell became a charging station for my cell phone.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 02:11 PM (XeU6L)

17
Our phones take USB-C but the Dremel grinder takes a Mini-A.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 03, 2026 02:11 PM (HdYcL)

18 I will say, LTT started selling decent cables that had the audacious idea of putting the max power and data speed specs ON THE FREAKING CABLE ITSELF. Never throwing that one away.

Whoever designed 3.0 Micro-B can go sit on a pineapple.

Posted by: Meric at May 03, 2026 02:11 PM (noZg2)

19 Remember Fred Sanford pulling out a drawer full of reading glasses and trying on one after another until finding a pair that allows him to read whatever was handed to him? I'm like that with charging cables now..

Posted by: Joe Kidd at May 03, 2026 02:12 PM (nbLIj)

20 Heading to Lowes to look for a fix for one of my personal FWPs.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at May 03, 2026 02:13 PM (cWLG3)

21 I don't like it when the LATimes crossword uses slang, gay or moslem clues/answers

Posted by: Don Black at May 03, 2026 02:14 PM (ZxPkt)

22 "The nice thing about standards is that you have so many to choose from."

-- Andrew Tannenbaum

Posted by: Oddbob at May 03, 2026 02:15 PM (vTZFs)

23 The USB-x standard is all BS. Some downward compatible, most not.
Some of those wall wart chargers put out an amazing amount of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). So much for FCC type acceptance. Ugh.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at May 03, 2026 02:19 PM (abIsI)

24 USB-C is the holy grail, and all others should be phased out. Plugs in right the first time (instead of somehow taking three tries for two orientations), solid connection, doesn't develop a finicky wiggle dependence like the old micro and mini plugs do, and even delivers a decent amount of power.

Speaking of power, there are devices that don't even have data to transfer and still use USB-C anyway. In fact, the cost for its hardware is so small that I've even seen a device -- some YouTuber reviewing a made-in-China guitar effects pedal clone -- that had a standard barrel jack for a regular AC adapter, and they still included a gratuitous USB-C power jack anyway. It's as close to a perfect standard as I can imagine.

Posted by: SciVo at May 03, 2026 02:22 PM (Sy6m/)

25 Big USB consortium grins at your puny frustrations.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 03, 2026 02:23 PM (jehhT)

26 So many different sizes of buttplugs, too!

Posted by: Mayor Pete

The only one you need is the extra Jumbo Colossal made of concrete.

Posted by: Barry O. at May 03, 2026 02:23 PM (Riz8t)

27 Today's FWP is removing the alien looking weeds that are popping up in the backyard. They look like green daisies and lay flat to the ground. They shoot up a 12in stalk overnight, like giving me the middle finger. I'll have to get one of those weed weasels to eradicate them before they take over. Every f*cking year there is some weed issue.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at May 03, 2026 02:24 PM (abIsI)

28 buggy whips in a hall closet that I am confident once again will be useful!

Posted by CBD

TNI CBD, TMI!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at May 03, 2026 02:25 PM (kGf4g)

29 21 I don't like it when the LATimes crossword uses slang, gay or moslem clues/answers
Posted by: Don Black at May 03, 2026 02:14 PM (ZxPkt)

--------

Agreed. I noticed all their little subversive clues back before I let my local Sunday subscription expire. Realized I was really only using it for the Sunday puzzle page, and they couldn't even keep from twatifying that page with wokeness.

Posted by: Matthew Kant Cipher at May 03, 2026 02:26 PM (kOluj)

30 Good thing you didn't mention the Thunderbung.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at May 03, 2026 02:27 PM (diia5)

31 Take heart!
There is some universal standardization coming about.
It is USB C. Androids and Apple products now ship with them. Good for higher power and faster data speeds, some even supporting Thunderbolt.
Just don’t ask me too much about that last part. It’s just fastish-er.

Posted by: Gunslinger at May 03, 2026 02:29 PM (HZfH/)

32 Plugs in right the first time"

Ok, that's funny right there...

Posted by: man at May 03, 2026 02:30 PM (XuXeR)

33 "Admit it..you have 73 of these things floating around the house. "

Only 73? Me opening the power transformer storage container:
https://youtu.be/Bprgl_4z6gY?t=24

ALSO:
https://xkcd.com/927/

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 02:31 PM (O7YUW)

34 The only one you need is the extra Jumbo Colossal made of concrete"

The anal intruder. 220V

Posted by: man at May 03, 2026 02:32 PM (XuXeR)

35 I have a mp3 player with a cord that looks like the 2.0 mini a except is wider or fatter if you prefer.

Posted by: Will Robinson at May 03, 2026 02:33 PM (zBgIx)

36 Most of our accumulation of adaptors and plugs happens when we're on a road trip and realize we forgot the one we really need.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 02:35 PM (0aYVJ)

37 If you have more adapters than AA batteries, then you have a problem.

Posted by: dantesed at May 03, 2026 02:36 PM (Oy/m2)

38 Yes...yes...yes. Progress and all that. I have perfectly good buggy whips in a hall closet that I am confident once again will be useful!

Into S&M, CBD?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 03, 2026 02:37 PM (ynpvh)

39 "If you have more adapters than AA batteries, then you have a problem."

What kind of problem? Asking for , ahh ummm, a friend. Yeah, a friend!

Posted by: Will Robinson at May 03, 2026 02:38 PM (zBgIx)

40 Add the various Samsung plugs...

Yikes.

Posted by: man at May 03, 2026 02:38 PM (XuXeR)

41 You know who's always there to sell you a new adapter?

A Jew, that's who. Think about it.

Posted by: F*cker Carlson at May 03, 2026 02:39 PM (nb/R5)

42 Into S&M, CBD?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 03, 2026 02:37 PM (ynpvh)

No...I use them on commenters who blow the margins with long URLs!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 02:39 PM (iERP6)

43 42 Into S&M, CBD?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 03, 2026 02:37 PM (ynpvh)

No...I use them on commenters who blow the margins with long URLs!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 02:39 PM (iERP6)

Oh, so just into the S, not the M...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at May 03, 2026 02:40 PM (ynpvh)

44 ALSO:

https://xkcd.com/1406/

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 02:40 PM (O7YUW)

45 Only 73? Me opening the power transformer storage container:
-------

Heh.
[contemplates the 2500V transformer salvaged from blown up microwave oven]

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 02:41 PM (XeU6L)

46 No...I use them on commenters who blow the margins with long URLs!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo
-----
Heh.
[contemplates the 2500V transformer salvaged from blown up microwave oven]
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc.
--------

I should ship this to CBD...

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 02:42 PM (XeU6L)

47 Toss in the adapters required for international travel because God forbid the world standardizes on simple electric outlet.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2026 02:43 PM (viF8m)

48 >>>Countertop looks like Avonite coppermine
~~~~~

Ubatuba!

Posted by: IrishEi ?! at May 03, 2026 02:44 PM (3ImbR)

49 Toss in the adapters required for international travel because God forbid the world standardizes on simple electric outlet.
Posted by: JackStraw
-------

And... voltage differences.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 02:44 PM (XeU6L)

50 @46/Mike Hammer: "I should ship this to CBD..."

But which shipper would you use? There's so many to choose from...

*ducks*

Also: DO IT!

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 02:47 PM (O7YUW)

51 Toss in the adapters required for international travel because God forbid the world standardizes on simple electric outlet.
Posted by: JackStraw
-------

And... voltage differences.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 02:44 PM (XeU6L)

I remember living in Germany. When an incandescent lightbulb went out, it usually exploded. Fun.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 02:48 PM (0aYVJ)

52 Each plug has a different rating for output power. I think 40W is fast. I have two wall outlets with USB C’s that I scouted around Amazon to find the best output power. One device will get 40W but if two are charging, each gets 15-20.

Posted by: Accomack at May 03, 2026 02:48 PM (KQ27X)

53 what's worse is the damned wall wart power adapters. nearly all are too large to share a surge protector, so a single wall wart occupies two spaces. i got mad one day and ordered a dozen 8" long 3-prong cords to resolve that problem.once and for all. never looked back.

Posted by: BifBewalski at May 03, 2026 02:52 PM (QUxkM)

54 Toss in the adapters required for international travel because God forbid the world standardizes on simple electric outlet.
Posted by: JackStraw

Or voltage, or frequency.

Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 02:54 PM (VHUov)

55 you can also get usb 3.o C -to- just about all the other usb shape formats. just a little plug adapter to go with all the usb C cables.

Posted by: BifBewalski at May 03, 2026 02:54 PM (QUxkM)

56 CBD, just sent you a news article to look into.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 03, 2026 02:54 PM (DSLf3)

57 Toss in the adapters required for international travel because God forbid the world standardizes on simple electric outlet.
Posted by: JackStraw

Or voltage, or frequency.
Posted by: mikeski

I posted too fast. I forgot there's an XKCD for that, too.

https://xkcd.com/3186/

Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 02:55 PM (VHUov)

58 I remember when serial bus connectors were 9 pin d-subs.

Get off my fucking lawn!

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 02:56 PM (Fbc0I)

59 I remember when serial bus connectors were 9 pin d-subs.

Get off my fucking lawn!
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone
-------

RS232. I still make use of it with various devices.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 02:57 PM (XeU6L)

60 Apple didn't cave to pressure though. They caved to government mandate. The EU required all mobile phones to go to the USB-C connection. So if they wanted to keep selling in Europe they had to. I'm not really complaining that much, though I do wonder if a USB-D comes along are phones required to go to that, or have they just potentially stagnated that innovation?

Posted by: buzzion at May 03, 2026 02:59 PM (3tZV2)

61 FWP: Getting behind a twit driving a big truck with huge tires in the parking lot, and who slows down to 0.01 mph to go over the speed bumps.

Posted by: Diogenes at May 03, 2026 03:00 PM (2WIwB)

62 was that you tailgaiting me just now?

Posted by: BifBewalski at May 03, 2026 03:01 PM (QUxkM)

63 If you get out your handy dandy microscope you can read output volts and amps of the DC power supply to figure out which will charge the fastest. I noticed my Android phone has the courtesy to tell me something about that. My go-to charger is the one that makes the phone respond with "Turbo-charging."

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at May 03, 2026 03:02 PM (2Ez/1)

64 I have occasionally wondered if there are standards established for speed bump geometry.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:03 PM (XeU6L)

65 You can get adapters that toggle from one type to another.

I have a handful of A->C and C->A. The odd Bs can still elicit a sharp expletive, from time to time.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at May 03, 2026 03:03 PM (0sNs1)

66 Apple didn't cave to pressure though. They caved to government mandate. The EU required all mobile phones to go to the USB-C connection. So if they wanted to keep selling in Europe they had to. I'm not really complaining that much, though I do wonder if a USB-D comes along are phones required to go to that, or have they just potentially stagnated that innovation?
Posted by: buzzion

Also, locking connections are better than friction-only connections. So I was bummed when Apple caved to the EU and dropped their Lightning connector for USB-C.

Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 03:04 PM (VHUov)

67 I never use the higher current port on the adapter. I'm afraid the lithium-ion battery will overheat, explode and set the house on fire.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 03:05 PM (Fbc0I)

68 Wait until CBD goes off on European sous vide (100 degrees C) versus Imperial sous vide (212 degrees F).

Posted by: Duncanthrax at May 03, 2026 03:06 PM (0sNs1)

69 If you get out your handy dandy microscope you can read output volts and amps of the DC power supply to figure out which will charge the fastest. I noticed my Android phone has the courtesy to tell me something about that. My go-to charger is the one that makes the phone respond with "Turbo-charging."
Posted by: Quarter Twenty
----------

All well and good, but, there are different optimum charge profiles for each battery type/capacity.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:06 PM (XeU6L)

70 FWP: Getting behind a twit driving a big truck with huge tires in the parking lot, and who slows down to 0.01 mph to go over the speed bumps.
Posted by: Diogenes at May 03, 2026 03:00 PM (2WIwB)

I see that a lot. Dude. You're driving a truck. The tires and the suspension can tolerate a little bump like that. It makes me wonder if they are perhaps cradling a bowl of very hot soup in their lap or something.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 03:06 PM (0aYVJ)

71 In the future if you send your Terminator back in time, you'll need to equip it with 42 different plugs.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at May 03, 2026 03:08 PM (n5tGW)

72 54 Toss in the adapters required for international travel because God forbid the world standardizes on simple electric outlet.
Posted by: JackStraw

Or voltage, or frequency.
Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 02:54 PM (VHUov)

Fun fact: the "mains hum" in your speakers is at the pitch of the frequency of the cycles in the alternating current in your walls. Since European AC is 50 Hz instead of the 60 Hz, both are bass notes, but theirs is closer to a G instead of our B or B-flat.

There are also harmonics at multiples of the frequency, so theirs will be at 100 Hz and 150 Hz instead of at 120 Hz and 180 Hz. So what we really need to do is burn down all the buildings everywhere, and start over with an AC standard that produces the most pleasing notes!

Posted by: SciVo at May 03, 2026 03:08 PM (Sy6m/)

73 I posted too fast. I forgot there's an XKCD for that, too.

https://xkcd.com/3186/
Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 02:55 PM (VHUov)

It looks like a nascent Mandelbrot set

Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2026 03:08 PM (rbvCR)

74 Fun fact: the "mains hum" in your speakers is at the pitch of the frequency of the cycles in the alternating current in your walls.
---------

The reason that they hum?

They don't know the words.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:10 PM (XeU6L)

75 68 Wait until CBD goes off on European sous vide (100 degrees C) versus Imperial sous vide (212 degrees F).
Posted by: Duncanthrax at May 03, 2026 03:06 PM (0sNs1)

No love for 373.15 K?

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at May 03, 2026 03:11 PM (0256r)

76 No love for 373.15 K?
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at May 03, 2026 03:11 PM

Only advanced chefs are approved to use the Kelvinator Sous Vide machine.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at May 03, 2026 03:12 PM (0sNs1)

77 >>>So what we really need to do is burn down all the buildings everywhere, and start over with an AC standard that produces the most pleasing notes!

Posted by: SciVo

>You're not reverse thinking enough. Go back to the turbines and polyphase generators and start there.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 03:13 PM (Fbc0I)

78 No love for 373.15 K?
------

Elevation dependent

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:13 PM (XeU6L)

79 Nope. Just two types of USB cables for me. Thanks Apple!

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 03, 2026 03:14 PM (T6aVk)

80 Elevation dependent
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:13 PM

Don't forget atmospheric pressure, as well.

Posted by: Wesley Crusher at May 03, 2026 03:14 PM (0sNs1)

81 No love for 373.15 K?
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at May 03, 2026 03:11 PM (0256r)

671.67 R

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 03, 2026 03:15 PM (T6aVk)

82 >You're not reverse thinking enough. Go back to the turbines and polyphase generators and start there.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone
------

We never had this problem when distribution was DC.

Posted by: Thos. Edison at May 03, 2026 03:15 PM (XeU6L)

83 CBD, just sent you a news article to look into.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 03, 2026 02:54 PM (DSLf3)

Wow. Absolutely disgusting, and absolutely expected.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 03:16 PM (iERP6)

84 We keep a bunch of USB cable around. The grandkids have toys that use one kind or another, the smartphones use something else, etc. I have two external USB drives attached to my PC, and yeah, they're different.

It's almost as bad as my tractor which is all metric. I think I have nearly every metric size open wrench and socket known to man. It uses all of them.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 03, 2026 03:17 PM (jehhT)

85 We never had this problem when distribution was DC.
Posted by: Thos. Edison at May 03, 2026 03:15 PM (XeU6L)

Oh, get over it.

Posted by: Nikola T. at May 03, 2026 03:18 PM (0256r)

86 >>>We never had this problem when distribution was DC.

Posted by: Thos. Edison

>Except that you needed a tree trunk of copper transmit the power distribution across the state.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 03:18 PM (Fbc0I)

87 I think I have nearly every metric size open wrench and socket known to man. It uses all of them.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 03, 2026 03:17 PM

* giggles *

Posted by: 10mm socket at May 03, 2026 03:18 PM (0sNs1)

88 Oh, get over it.
Posted by: Nikola T.
-------

Easy for you to say.

Posted by: Topsy the elephant at May 03, 2026 03:19 PM (XeU6L)

89 Degrees F? You mean freedom units?

Posted by: Weasel at May 03, 2026 03:20 PM (PVV5z)

90 70 FWP: Getting behind a twit driving a big truck with huge tires in the parking lot, and who slows down to 0.01 mph to go over the speed bumps.
Posted by: Diogenes at May 03, 2026 03:00 PM (2WIwB)

I see that a lot. Dude. You're driving a truck. The tires and the suspension can tolerate a little bump like that. It makes me wonder if they are perhaps cradling a bowl of very hot soup in their lap or something.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 03:06 PM (0aYVJ)

How about people slowing down to 0.01 mph to go over individual rail tracks?

Or, on the Interstate, it is undergoing maintenance so one of two lanes were closed for sections of about five miles or so. Every time, I get behind some asshole going 45 in a 75. There is no work zone sped limit either.

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 03, 2026 03:20 PM (T6aVk)

91 Why do metric sockets have 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" connections?

Posted by: Philosomoron at May 03, 2026 03:20 PM (0sNs1)

92
Every time, I get behind some asshole going 45 in a 75. There is no work zone sped limit either.
Posted by: Cow Demon
Those assholes are lucky Bif doesn't have telekinesis powers or their next breath would be on the surface of the sun.

Posted by: BifBewalski at May 03, 2026 03:22 PM (QUxkM)

93
>Except that you needed a tree trunk of copper transmit the power distribution across the state.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone
-----

They are in use today:

DC electrical transmission lines, specifically high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, are commonly used for long-distance power transmission due to their efficiency in reducing power loss compared to alternating current (AC) systems. They allow for the interconnection of different AC networks and can stabilize power flow, making them essential for modern electrical grids.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:23 PM (XeU6L)

94 Why do metric sockets have 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" connections?
Posted by: Philosomoron
-------

Inbreeding

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:23 PM (XeU6L)

95 Just because they have to fit stupid French sizes it still needs to be connected to a right proper socket wrench

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 03:24 PM (Ia/+0)

96 >>>Every time, I get behind some asshole going 45 in a 75. There is no work zone sped limit either.

Posted by: Cow Demon

>I go 45 in a 75 when there's black ice on the road and I see 5 cars in the ditch with tow trucks.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 03:25 PM (Fbc0I)

97 If DC was the standard for household wiring we could solve the over population problem in a heartbeat.

Or no heartbeat.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 03, 2026 03:25 PM (viF8m)

98 There was some guy who passed us today when we were going 45 in 45 zone . . He passed us on a double yellow line. I think he must have been going 75 miles an hour. Scared me. I hope there was a cop ahead.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2026 03:26 PM (vt7xw)

99 Speed Bumps versus Snowplows, soon coming to an arena near you!

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at May 03, 2026 03:26 PM (QLZE2)

100 Why do metric sockets have 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" connections?

Huh. Never thought about that. Do they in Europe?

Posted by: Oddbob at May 03, 2026 03:26 PM (vTZFs)

101 How about people slowing down to 0.01 mph to go over individual rail tracks?...

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 03, 2026 03:20 PM (T6aVk)

To be fair, I have seen a lot of really rough RR crossings, especially on secondary highways. We crossed one in our Elantra, and despite going slow, it scraped the plastic guards under the engine compartment. We looked to the right , and saw a parked truck with a trailer, and it had unhooked, and the cargo was spilled everywhere.

I cross RR tracks carefully.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 03:27 PM (0aYVJ)

102 I go 45 in a 75 when there's black ice on the road and I see 5 cars in the ditch with tow trucks.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 03:25 PM (Fbc0I)

Ah, winter driving; when anyone going slower than you is an idiot and any going faster is a maniac.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at May 03, 2026 03:27 PM (QLZE2)

103 Its a feature not a bug. Look at it at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. BOHICA and SNAFU wings.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at May 03, 2026 03:28 PM (YlWIZ)

104 I dont like the EU dictating to the world what types of connections our devices should have, but making USB-C a standard of sorts I think has been helpful.

of course I still have a lot of devices with Apple Lightning and USB micro, but hopefully in a few years they'll just sit in a closet forever.

Posted by: Sharpie at May 03, 2026 03:29 PM (CneLt)

105 Ah, winter driving; when anyone going slower than you is an idiot and any going faster is a maniac.
Posted by: Idaho Spudboy

That's only in winter?

Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 03:29 PM (VHUov)

106 Traveling out of Philadelphia week ago speed limit was like 35mph but there were speed bumps every block, no one went over 15mph. Should just make speed limit 15mph

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 03:31 PM (Ia/+0)

107 74 Fun fact: the "mains hum" in your speakers is at the pitch of the frequency of the cycles in the alternating current in your walls.
---------

The reason that they hum?

They don't know the words.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2026 03:10 PM (XeU6L)

I laughed harder at that than it possibly deserved.

(I'm going to have to find someone to use it on.)

Posted by: SciVo at May 03, 2026 03:31 PM (Sy6m/)

108 My phone is getting to the point (iphone 11) that it won't recognize a plug. Wireless Charging Dock is the thing that works consistently. For Now.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:35 PM (HBgiC)

109 > How about people slowing down to 0.01 mph to go over individual rail tracks?...
---------
There's a crossing around here where it's possible to get completely airborne, crash and burn if you're going the posted speed limit (55). Untold deaths there. Mostly people unfamiliar with the road, at night, speeding or high on whatever. Kids. Lots of kids get killed there.

It's physically impossible to "fix." And, yeah, there's plenty of signage. Ignored.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 03, 2026 03:37 PM (jehhT)

110 >>>Traveling out of Philadelphia week ago speed limit was like 35mph but there were speed bumps every block, no one went over 15mph. Should just make speed limit 15mph

Posted by: Skip

>On these mountain two-lane highways they bumped the speed limit from 55 to 75, but the roads were constructed when the speed limit was 55. You will see large sections of the guard rail torn out where somebody blasted thru most likely going too fast.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 03:40 PM (Fbc0I)

111 94 Why do metric sockets have 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" connections?
Posted by: Philosomoron
---

That would have been a bridge too far wouldn't it?

Buy a set of Snap-On ratchets.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:40 PM (HBgiC)

112 >I go 45 in a 75 when there's black ice on the road and I see 5 cars in the ditch with tow trucks.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at May 03, 2026 03:25 PM (Fbc0I)

Yeah, but I go 75 in a 75 when conditions allow.

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 03, 2026 03:41 PM (T6aVk)

113 108 My phone is getting to the point (iphone 11) that it won't recognize a plug. Wireless Charging Dock is the thing that works consistently. For Now.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:35 PM (HBgiC)

Just curious but have you used any canned air to blow out the charging port? Or taken like a paperclip through it to make sure there isn't any lint and dust build up that would prevent a good connection?

Posted by: buzzion at May 03, 2026 03:42 PM (3tZV2)

114 Yeah, but I go 75 in a 75 when conditions allow.

Posted by: Cow Demon at May 03, 2026 03:41 PM (T6aVk)

In the left lane?

That is about as anti-social a behavior as exists in America.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 03:43 PM (iERP6)

115 It can be scotch time now

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 03:44 PM (Ia/+0)

116 >>>There's a crossing around here where it's possible to get completely airborne,
---

There was a hilly side road, up at school, it was necessary to be traveling 90mpg, where the vehicle would become airborne (or the road would drop faster than the car) for about 5 seconds before they met again. smooth

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:45 PM (HBgiC)

117 That is about as anti-social a behavior as exists in America.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 03:43 PM (iERP6)

*shifty eyes*

Posted by: Woman pulling up to the "10 items or less" register with a full cart at May 03, 2026 03:45 PM (0256r)

118 > That is about as anti-social a behavior as exists in America.
---------
The left lane is for anyone willing to do 15 - 25 over the limit. Or whatever they're comfortable with over that.

On the I-5 in CA, out in the middle of nowhere, the left lane routinely sees triple digits. (Not that I'd know anything about that.)

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 03, 2026 03:48 PM (jehhT)

119 113 108 My phone is getting to the point (iphone 11) that it won't recognize a plug. Wireless Charging Dock is the thing that works consistently. For Now.
Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:35 PM (HBgiC)

I still have an iphone 8. It was doing the same thing. And then, it stopped charging using a wireless dock.

I got some contact cleaner and made a tiny cotton swab with a toothpick and a smidgen of cotton ball, and that cleaned it up. I did pull a nice little chunk of pocket lint out of the lightning port. Been going good for a few months now, and I blast it out frequently with canned air. Oddly, still won't charge anymore on a wireless.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at May 03, 2026 03:49 PM (h7ZuX)

120
That is about as anti-social a behavior as exists in America.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2026 03:43 PM (iERP6)

*shifty eyes*

Posted by: Woman pulling up to the "10 items or less" register with a full cart at May 03, 2026 03:45 PM (0256r)

___________

Naah.

Posted by: 20-something dude parking in a handicapped spot at May 03, 2026 03:49 PM (HdYcL)

121 One thing doubt I will ever get is wireless charging

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 03:50 PM (Ia/+0)

122 @118/Martini Farmer: "On the I-5 in CA, out in the middle of nowhere, the left lane routinely sees triple digits. (Not that I'd know anything about that.)"

https://youtu.be/RvV3nn_de2k

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 03:51 PM (O7YUW)

123
Wireless charging >>>> Chargeless wiring

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at May 03, 2026 03:51 PM (HdYcL)

124 And the REASON we need 32 flavors of USB IS … ? I can't easily keep track of which device needs which flavor of USB. I hate that. I'd be perfectly happy with ONE flavor of USB if it worked for ALL my devices. Is that really asking more than the industry is capable of? Evidently. 'New' USB = NEW MONEY for them. See? I din't just fall off the turnip truck …

Posted by: Dr_No at May 03, 2026 03:52 PM (ayRl+)

125
I got some contact cleaner and made a tiny cotton swab with a toothpick and a smidgen of cotton ball, and that cleaned it up. I did pull a nice little chunk of pocket lint out of the lightning port. Been going good for a few months now, and I blast it out frequently with canned air. Oddly, still won't charge anymore on a wireless.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at May 03, 2026 03:49 PM (h7ZuX)

I gave up on the wireless charging because I always have my phone in a case and they never seem to like that extra bit of plastic between the charger and the phone

Posted by: buzzion at May 03, 2026 03:52 PM (3tZV2)

126 *shifty eyes*
Posted by: Woman pulling up to the "10 items or less" register with a full cart at May 03, 2026 03:45 PM (0256r)

(Jump to top of page)

After the Obama miracle, after the mass layoffs, I worked at Walmart. One day I was on the express checkout. This was way before self-checkout. Woman* rolled up with a huge cartload of stuff. I turned her away. and man, did she give me an earful of expletives. Funny thing, I would allow for a few over the limit, but not a whole fucking cart load.

*and she was not one of the wimmens of Walmart types. She was a well-dressed, affluent karen.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 03:52 PM (0aYVJ)

127 My library had a reading program and one of the freebies was a multi adapter. Works for every gadget but my current phone. Someone took it, so I'm back to dogging through Ye Olde Box of Wires & Curiosities.

My FWP is I have more stuff than storage space. I got rid of two bags of clothes, three boxes of books, and sundry items. That's a good start, but my father has more to give me. My mother kept everything neat and organized, but every time he opens a cupboard he finds something to give away.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at May 03, 2026 03:52 PM (s1Eor)

128 Posted by: Woman pulling up to the "10 items or less" register with a full cart

What kind of ritzy neighborhood do you live in where they still have express checkout lanes, with a clerk? It's all self-check here.

Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 03:53 PM (VHUov)

129 One thing doubt I will ever get is wireless charging
Posted by: Skip

That's for electric toothbrushes.

Posted by: mikeski at May 03, 2026 03:54 PM (VHUov)

130 I gave up on the wireless charging because I always have my phone in a case and they never seem to like that extra bit of plastic between the charger and the phone
Posted by: buzzion at May 03, 2026 03:52 PM (3tZV2)

I do, too, but it won't work even if I take the case off.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at May 03, 2026 03:54 PM (h7ZuX)

131 @114/CBD: "That is about as anti-social a behavior as exists in America."

Heh heh heh

Posted by: 200 cyclists with a police escort on your road during the morning rush hour at May 03, 2026 03:54 PM (O7YUW)

132 was that you tailgaiting me just now?
Posted by: BifBewalski at May 03, 2026 03:01 PM

Probably. Did you see me wave?

Posted by: Diogenes at May 03, 2026 03:54 PM (2WIwB)

133 Gentlemen, you may be relaxed again

@Breaking91 49m
DoorDash driver Olivia Henderson indicted by grand jury and faces felony charges of unlawful surveillance and distribution after allegedly recording a man passed out with his pants down inside his home and posting the video on TikTok

Posted by: weft cut-loop at May 03, 2026 03:54 PM (diia5)

134 I always use self-check, unless I have a lot of stuff.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 03:55 PM (0aYVJ)

135 FWP: When someone pays no attention to decisions getting made and then tries to change those decisions at the last minute, after the decisions (in this case, a price for a ticket) have been advertised. Sigh. Even when those facts were mentioned, the person STILL wants to change the decision last minute.

Good thing is it's not technically my problem.

Posted by: Nova Local at May 03, 2026 03:55 PM (tOcjL)

136 Had to buy an adapter for my Gateway monitor to the Beelink.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:55 PM (HBgiC)

137 I thought about using the "reslacked" but it was a stretch. You're welcome.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at May 03, 2026 03:55 PM (diia5)

138 Of course there's the Silverado HD with a 30' trailer parked perpendicularly across 15 spots at Walmart.

Up front.

Hero.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at May 03, 2026 03:56 PM (jehhT)

139 @126/Pug Mahon: "... and she was not one of the wimmens of Walmart types. She was a well-dressed, affluent karen."

Please tell me she demanded to see the manager. (Lie to me if you need to.)

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 03:57 PM (O7YUW)

140 >>> 18 I will say, LTT started selling decent cables that had the audacious idea of putting the max power and data speed specs ON THE FREAKING CABLE ITSELF. Never throwing that one away.

Whoever designed 3.0 Micro-B can go sit on a pineapple.
Posted by: Meric at May 03, 2026 02:11 PM (noZg2)

Wrapped in barbed wire and flaming, right?

Posted by: AoS Style Guide at May 03, 2026 03:58 PM (WMyc4)

141 Co-worker uses some king of wireless charge for his ear bud

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 03:58 PM (Ia/+0)

142 So many different sizes of buttplugs, too!
Posted by: Mayor Pete

We concur.

Posted by: Pineapple, Napalm and Barbed Wire Consortium of Hawaii at May 03, 2026 03:58 PM (DsA2n)

143 Also, locking connections are better than friction-only connections. So I was bummed when Apple caved to the EU and dropped their Lightning connector for USB-C.
Posted by: mikeski
--

Lightening connectors fall out of my phone.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:58 PM (HBgiC)

144 Lightening connectors fall out of my phone.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at May 03, 2026 03:58 PM (HBgiC)

That sounds like lint buildup in the connection port. Blow it out with canned air or use something like a paperclip to carefully clean it out.

Posted by: buzzion at May 03, 2026 04:00 PM (3tZV2)

145 .
NOOD FOOD

NOOD!

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 04:00 PM (O7YUW)

146 @126/Pug Mahon: "... and she was not one of the wimmens of Walmart types. She was a well-dressed, affluent karen."

Please tell me she demanded to see the manager. (Lie to me if you need to.)
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 03:57 PM (O7YUW)

HA! She did! and the front-end manager at the time was a no-nonsense middle-aged white dude. Sweet justice.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at May 03, 2026 04:00 PM (0aYVJ)

147 FOODIE NOODIE TIME

Posted by: Skip at May 03, 2026 04:00 PM (Ia/+0)

148 Those buggy whips are for politicians.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at May 03, 2026 04:03 PM (w6EFb)

149 Walmart and Kroger here each say they're going to be 'doing away with self check-out' 'cos of theft and lootery, but it's still in place. Then y' look around to see 10 UNSTAFFED cash registers with only 1 or 2 with a cashier. I don't wanna hear about their 'theft and lootery' problem while they continue to let people scan their own stuff. That's on them, not the shoppers …

Posted by: Dr_No at May 03, 2026 04:04 PM (ayRl+)

150 @146/Pug Mahon: "Sweet justice."

Indeed. Thanks for the smile.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at May 03, 2026 04:08 PM (O7YUW)

151 in the closet, with a buggy whip........I need to know more......

Posted by: Ray's Cyst at May 03, 2026 04:57 PM (jrgJz)

152 Oddly, still won't charge anymore on a wireless.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs!

Lint build-up isn’t the problem with wireless charging.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at May 03, 2026 05:03 PM (ZVgZ4)

153 in the closet, with a buggy whip........I need to know more......
Posted by: Ray's Cyst

The latest edition of Clue sounds kind of spicy.

Posted by: it was probably Corporal Punishment at May 03, 2026 05:13 PM (VHUov)

154 Why do metric sockets have 1/4", 3/8", or 1/2" connections?
Posted by: Philosomoron at May 03, 2026 03:20 PM (0sNs1)

Late to the party, but fun fact: Snap-On used to make 5/16" drive socket sets.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at May 03, 2026 05:22 PM (utfVc)

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