Fickle technology

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Remember that one time I couldn’t use my computer because the AC adapter broke?

Yeah, it happened again.

It was a slightly different scenario this time, to be fair. Last time, it simply broke. This time, it lit on fire.

Yes. Fire.

I had noticed for some time that it was acting funny. It would sometimes quit working, even when it was plugged in to my computer and the wall just fine. The other night, after contacting Asus about getting a new adapter, I was browsing an open document Changeling, appropriately enough, because fire, when I smelled something off. When I looked down, black smoke was twisting up from my adapter port. I quickly unplugged it from my computer and base, and as I was walking back and forth, cord in hand —

It caught fire.

I panicked, as I rightly should, and started for the sink, chanting “Oh my God”, and then realized that I don’t know what to do for electrical fires. My initial reaction was water, obviously, then I thought to smother it, but before I could do anything, it sputtered out and died. I waited a minute, to be sure it wouldn’t catch fire again, then put it on the linoleum floor to check my computer. The port was melted to slag, but the computer itself was running fine. I backed up my most important files as I phoned Asus back and told them my priorities had changed.

So my computer is currently packed up and waiting for me to fill out the RMA form and ship it back to Asus for repairs. They were quite quick last time, but the scenario has changed some, so I don’t know how long I’m going to be without a computer.

In the meantime, I do have my phone, and I’ll be doing edits by hand on Changeling. I’ve also just started Wizard’s First Rule, by Terry Goodkind, so there’s reading to do, as well.

I’m still on Facebook and Twitter if anyone needs me.

Go hug your computers for me.