Skip to main content
Tag

stupid

Battery Pack In The Freezer: Not A “Cool” Idea

By funny, sarcasm, technology 13 Comments

Oh the perils of technology. Ever think something’s a great idea at the time, and then later on you’re kicking yourself? Yeah, story of my life. I think I killed my digital camera battery. This is a strange story, indeed, but worth a read.

I have a Sony Cyber-shot N1 digital camera. I’ve always had, and probably always will have, Sony digital cameras. They make superb products. Anyway, my last camera had the same proprietary dock port as my current one, meaning the same USB cable should naturally work with both cameras, right? Yeah, you’d think so at least. I misplaced my memory card reader the other day, and so I pulled out the USB cable I still have from my old camera.

As soon as I plugged it in, it killed the battery completely. So, I plugged it into the battery charger, and literally after two minutes the battery was fully charged and operational (which tells me the battery wasn’t drained in all actuality). So anyway, smart one here used the cable again today, thinking it was just an isolated incident, and sure enough it killed the battery again. The only problem this time was that the battery wouldn’t recharge. Why? The battery was already fully charged this time. The charger wouldn’t charge it any further (it’s an aftermarket charger I bought after I lost my factory one), and I therefore couldn’t get the battery working again.

The whole thing about the USB cable killing the battery instantly is strange, I know. But strange or not strange, I needed to take some pictures today for my Downtown Short Pump website. I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I have always heard that lithium ion batteries drain faster in cold environments. This is why many cell phones and iPods, as well as other devices with rechargeable batteries, work for shorter periods of time in the Winter months when used outside. So genius here got what he thought was a bright idea. If the battery won’t charge because it’s already full, why not drain it? And if lithium ion batteries drain quickly in cold conditions, why not stick the battery in the freezer for a bit?

I stuck the thing in the freezer for about an hour. I took it out afterwards and it was cold and covered with condensation. I think it’s shot. Who knows, though, it could have already been done for after using that cable a few times. Why a simple USB cable with no power running through it could affect a battery, or anything else for that matter, is a mystery to me.

Guess I’ll be ordering a generic battery to go with my generic battery charger. Pretty soon I suppose my camera will be generic, as well. It’s about the only Sony brand component left. As much as I like technology, I sure screw a lot of my own electronics up.

Store Brand FAIL

By FAIL, funny, sarcasm 17 Comments

This has to be the worst store brand name idea I’ve ever seen. Came across this in the cereal aisle at Food Lion. Isn’t there anything better they could have come up with than “Crispy Hexagons?” Seriously, that’s pretty weak. They’re already knockoff Crispix, so you’d think at least they’d have a clever name. Not so much.

Happy Singles Awareness Day! (And An Exploration Of Little-Known February Holidays)

By Uncategorized One Comment

It’s Valentine’s Day. I’ve never liked it, and I don’t know that I ever will. It’s just another one of those “Hallmark Holidays” if you ask me (I know, there are far worse holidays that I think actually were invented by the card company, including such ridiculous things as Boss’s Day, Sister Day, Brother Day, etc.), where Hallmark banks on selling a lot of cards (I think FTD, the floral people, are in on the scheme, too), making single people feel inadequate, and complicating relationships because it brings a certain level of expectation that  a guy or girl should do something for the big day. For example, whether to go out for a nice dinner or get flowers, etc. This is even more sticky of a situation for people in those situations where you’re sort of dating, sort of not, and you have no idea what is expected. I’ve been there and done that, believe me. It sucks. Let’s move on to February 15th, please.

Singles Awareness Day ((SAD)… how do you like that acronym, huh?) is what I like to call today, and why not let it be a real holiday? There are plenty of other really stupid holidays floating around aimlessly on our national calendar. (In case you were wondering, it’s National Pet Dental Health Month, for example… come on, seriously?) Here are just a few more holidays I looked up that fall in the month of February, just for laughs:

  • Dump Your Significant Jerk Day
  • Laugh And Get Rich Day (huh? If this were true, I’d be a multi-billionaire as much as I laugh)
  • Pro Sports Wives Day (oh come on)
  • Get A Different Name Day (how about “Find Something Else To Give Its Own Day T0” Day)
  • Ferris Wheel Day (why?)
  • Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day (so random)
  • National Tooth Fairy Day (seriously?)
  • International Pancake Day (I actually participated in this at IHOP on Tuesday… free pancakes!)
  • Clam Chowder Day (hmm ok)

Get real, people. (Oh, and Happy Singles Awareness Day!)