There are a few, TUV/ETL/UL. Any of those and/or good user reviews are what I look for. I’ve had too many cheap ones spark or just have very loose ports to trust them anymore.
If it’s not specifically called a surge protector, it’s probably not worth it. It’s difficult to even find a good surge protector online without getting flooded with cheap power strips because SEO makes them all show up in the same searches. But they are not the same. Power strips are little more than splitters with a switch. A surge protector will actually offer your devices some protection.
My entire region doesn’t even have Microcenter, and the local equivalent died out a couple years ago. I have to either go online or drive through a state and a half to get just a SATA cable or an internal SSD unless I want to risk Best Buy.
I’ve had migraines so yes. But also I had the ‘brain zap’ side-effects from antipsychotics too and that is very unnerving as it feels like an electric zap in your brain. It makes you wince and twitch.
Ahh Paxil withdrawals. Made me ruin a date with a girl I had a crush on for 5 years and finally got the balls to ask her out only to have brain zaps so bad I had to go home in complete embarrassment.
Most of that has got to be miscellaneous stuff though, like maintenance testing. How would that work out for business if more than half of us were bots?
I will say though, it brings some assurance to be able to say “I’m also ____ on another website” as bots cannot operate universally with uniformity. For example, if I were to mention here how I’m DollarGeneralKenobi on PsychCentral and vice versa, it would pose a challenge to the bot thing based on the stereotype that a bot is only made to be interested in one meeting place.
I can’t speak for others, but as I see it, the Israeli government is committing atrocities on a daily basis. So is Hamas. I’m against senseless violence in general, but since the IDF has the upper hand and has killed the most civilians in the current conflict, I’m more likely to complain about them.
Unfortunately, anything non-perishable. I go into local shops and can search an item I want on the internet and it will always be way, way cheaper. Cheap enough to where I can’t justify “supporting local business.” I’d love to, but I’m just as broke as everyone else right now.
Boot and shoe care products. If you’re lucky, Target or whatever might carry one or two tins of medicre Kiwi shoe polish and maybe one type of leather conditioner. I remember having better selection at just the grocery store and being spoiled for options at any of the 4 or 5 proper shoe stores that used to be in every neighborhood.
The closest shoe repair place to me is 60 miles away these days 😔 It’s not like I live in a small town, either! I remember when there was one in every second or third strip mall. It’s not like it’s tricky to order a bottle of Obenauf’s online, but I miss being able to just be like, “I better swing off at this random place to pick some up while I’m thinking about it.”
If it’s like a pleasant tingling through your head, it might be ASMR. It can be triggered by sounds (hence the bajillion YouTube channels), but for me it’s more often when I’m really enjoying thinking about something. It’s a weird sensation for sure.
Electronic parts. There used to be several local shops and a Radio Shack where you could go in and just buy basic electronic components (capacitors, resistors, photocells, transistors, breadboards, potentiometers, you name it). They phased all of that out in favour of toys and trinkets before just folding.
Now I have to order on Mouser or Digikey and wait. Sure there’s WAY more variety, but I miss being able to just run & grab something I might have forgotten (or, let’s be honest, fried somehow).
I’d say 400% + is a more realistic cost of buying components local vs. online. Regardless, I miss having the local option even tho I can actually get most parts delivered faster than it used to take me to drive to Fry’s & back.
The only hope I’ve had near me is Microcenter. Only place I’ve seen in ages where I can walk out with at least some resistors and sensors but the selection can be…eh on some items.
I miss Fry’s too. Got so much cool stuff there before online shopping was safe and convenient.
But they totally dropped the ball. The weird disconnect between their brick and mortar store and their online store, the constant out of stocks that was the norm, even over a decade ago. Not to mention the “sticker of death” on all the returned product they put back on the shelf.
I used to live in Toronto, and I’d hit up Active Surplus regularly. An iconic place for any hobbyist in the area. I don’t think the guy in the gorilla suit works there anymore though :(
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