The curmudgeon has been quiet lately – nothing to complain about. Then, the fire marshal visited my office. He claims I am a hazard and need to mend my ways. It is my aquarium. Evidently, plugging a 50 watt thermostatically controlled heater and a power head (to pull water through the under gravel filter) into a power strip attached to an extension cord is a violation that endangers my colleagues and the building in which I work. Thirty plus years I have worked here keeping company with various fish along the way and all at once WE are a fire hazard.
Here is the dilemma – unplug or fight the power. I am arguing that logic should play a role – this is not situational ethics. My computer, monitor, two backup external hard drives, powered speakers, printer, etc. are plugged into a couple of power strips. I think the max is 5 cords leading to one power strip. Evidently, work related power consumption is not a hazard, but simple pleasures like keeping fish must be denied. This is all I have left from my undergraduate biology major. The fish keep me company on weekends and evenings when no one else will. Curmudgeons need love too.
I can’t help it if Psychologists get the leftovers when it comes to campus buildings and the power grid from 40 years ago is assumed good enough. I think I will run two extension cords – one to each device my fish need and in good conscience sign the form indicating I have fixed the problem by removing the power strip. The curmudgeon always finds a way as long as he can carefully chose his words.