More Barfulariosity

Did I tell this story?

Monica needs a new keyboard for her computer and asked if we had any old USB ones laying about. I dug one out and began to chuckle.

During the summers the computer labs on campus are pretty empty. There is only a small hand full of classes running and a few students trickle in to use the machines. Frequently the air conditioning goes down. In an effort to keep the labs cool I run around and turn off computers that are not in use.

Two summers ago I was in the process of doing this in a mac lab at the end of the hall. My supervisor was chatting with me as I did so. I began to complain about a monitor that was covered in a filmy coating. I wiped my hand across the cloudy screen in an effort to determine what had happened.

"What the fuck? Is this coffee all over the monitor?"


I bent down to pull the CPU out and turn on the machine. The CPU had a chunky coating upon it. I rolled my eyes, I bothers me the students eat food in the labs. But something was odd. Why my brain didn't put the pieces together faster I don't know. Maybe the heat was slowing my processes down. As I reached to press the power button I became clear what the substance was layering the monitor and the machine. I still couldn't stop myself in time. As the computer chimed on I howled in disgust.

"I KNOW WHAT IT IS!"

My supervisor jumped back. I ran out of the room to the bathroom to wash my hands. As I darted passed a student proctor they yelled after me.


"NICE!"

Our department fought for four weeks over who was going to clean up the machine. Eventually to director of facilities came in with rubber cloves and took care of the mess. The monitor was not only fried but pools of fluid had settled into the acrylic feet. The only real salvageable part of the machine was the keyboard which was safely tucked away.

I took the keyboard and modified it as a warning to future students.

Enjoy it Monica.