Magic Smoke - Its Not Just for Electronics Any More
For those that don’t know, there is a running gag among computer engineers that when a chip goes bad and lets out smoke, the reason the chip no longer works is because “you let the magic blue smoke out.”
In a related note, earlier today I was moving some boxes out of storage with my friends, when we noticed a burning smell, like burning plastic. We tried to find the cause, but did not. Moments later while they were getting some more boxes, and I was working to finish up a book shelf to put some books we brought up into, one of the air conditioning vents in my apartment suddenly started billowing smoke.
I immediately hurried out of the building to warn my friends not to come back in. We then called 911, gave them directions, and they told me to get everyone out of the building. I set off the fire alarm, and banged on everyone’s doors to get them out of the building. Only one person responded. Unfortunately, the other 12 apartments in the building are accessible only through 2 other sets of doors to which I do not have keys, so I couldn’t warn anyone else. Once the door was open, we warned them all of course.
The assistant fire chief and some fire engines showed up, some firemen with breathing gear on. They even got out the hook and ladder just in case they had to enter through the roof.
It turned out that one of the blowing motors for my air conditioning unit burned out and chucked smoke into my apartment. They cleared everything, and I am now sitting in my apartment as I type this. However, I will not have air conditioning tonight. Because of this I will be staying at a hotel. I’m going to try to get a relatively box free path to the thermostat and the offending vent by putting boxes of books, videos, and video games away in my new cases. Hopefully this will free up at least a little bit of floor space.
So as I said… Magic Smoke: It’s Not Just for Electronics Any More.
July 15th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Yowch. A bit of XTRA drama for the moving in process.
July 15th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Yeah, a bunch more drama. Due to the heat I’m currently dealing with, and the drama of the move, the still lingering smell and feel of smoke (which I very much dislike), and moving things around, I feel incredibly wiped out.
However, my land lady rented me a room at a nearby inn, and the room has a Camalot theme. It’s even a “Tower” room. She also gave me $60 for food, and the air conditioning should be done by tomorrow. I was also praised (and teased) for calling the fire department.
I have 2 cases of shelves up (one designed for cassette tapes, dvds, and cds, one designed for books), and am unloading boxes into them.
July 16th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Heh, least your AC didn’t wait until just before moveout to start pissin’ all over the pressboard wood floor. That’s what ours did here not but three weeks ago, right after we decided to move out. ^^ Those twenty pound cat litter buckets are very useful, they are.
July 16th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Well, glad to hear you managed to get the leak contained. And yes, it could easily have been worse, and I was seriously afraid that it would be for a bit… but thus far it’s turned out well.
The Camalot room was luxurious, it turned out to be a room that extended into one of the two towers on the inn. It even had a hot tub and a large couch in the room. It was also painted with themes of knights, dragons, and castles.