We all seem to live and die by our electronic devices these days. We need to make sure we charge our cell phones, our tablets and any other device that allows us to never talk to anyone because we really need to see that funny photo of a cat.
When you have multiple people with multiple devices, you need to find ways to guarantee that no one ever runs out of juice. That led me to recently purchase a plug for the power strip by our bed so I could charge my tablet right there instead of hunting down an open USB port.
This is where I started to discover a terrible problem plaguing our society.
When I bought the plug, I didn’t really take a close look at the packaging. It fit two USB cords and didn’t cost a lot. That’s all I needed. I don’t know if it included a warning that might have convinced me to look at another brand.
We didn’t realize any of this until after I had plugged it in and settled in for the night. When I woke up, I noticed a strange glow in our room. My wife also noticed when she woke up. I think the guys at the International Space Station noticed.
The plug had a blue light that lit up whenever it was plugged in. A really bright, annoying blue light.
I have no idea why the manufacturer did this. Maybe they thought people could not find the outlet with the plug and needed some help. Or maybe they want to blind all of their customers.
My wife solved the problem with a small piece of electrical tape. Some might say we have nothing to worry about, right?
Wrong. The blue light has invaded our lives now. I have a few chargers that plug into car cigarette lighters. They came free from a conference I attended. They also have the blue light of death. I fear I could get pulled over for using my bright lights incorrectly because of this life.
The problem goes far beyond chargers too. I bought the charger for the bedroom because I have a small humidifier that works on USB power. The thing sits on top of a water bottle – it’s pretty convenient for my nightstand.
In fact, I bought it at the same time I bought this plug. I did not notice that the contraption emits a “soft, relaxing blue mood light.”
I’m not sure what dictionary they are using if they think this light is soft and relaxing. When I plugged it in with the lights out, I worried that an airplane would change its course and try to land in my bedroom.
We have one soft and relaxing blue light already in the world. We call it television, and it solves all our problems and teaches us the lessons we need to learn. Why do some companies try to compete with this? Why can’t they just give me products that will make my life easier without turning my bedroom into a rave?