Speaking of consumer electrics: around here universities have obsolete views of how students work, limited budget, and old buildings. This results in a shortage of wall plugs, and the smartest folks bring powerstrips, plug them into wall sockets, then into other power strips, and recursively until there's enough plugs for everyone's laptop. Cables turn seriously damn hot, and a burnt plastic smell crosses the room. Authority reaction: ban powerstrips because someone might trip on them.

Luckily energy management outpaced student equipment rate, and laptops now last a good part of the day without needing a plug.