Shocking. Just Shocking.

Let's say you've got a microwave and you need to plug it in, but the cord won't reach the wall outlet. You might consider plugging it into a nice big power strip to give the cord a little extra length. It will probably work just fine.

Let's say you've got a microwave and a toaster you need to plug in, but the cords won't reach the wall outlet. You might consider plugging both of them into a nice big power strip to give the cords a little extra length. They'll probably work just fine - especially since the toaster doesn't pull too much power.

Let's say you've got a microwave and a toaster you need to plug in, but the cords won't reach the wall outlet, and then you get another microwave which you put in the same general area. You might consider plugging all three of them into a nice big power strip to give the cords a little extra length. They might be okay. Especially if you don't have both microwaves running at the same time... in a crowded office which has two microwaves because so many people eat lunch at the same time.

Let's say you've got two microwaves and a toaster that are plugged into a power strip because their cords won't reach the wall outlet, and then someone installs a brand new refrigerator and doesn't pay attention to the wall outlet and plugs it into the power strip. That might be okay. Or not.

In fact, it might - at some point when the microwaves suddenly both turn off at the same time - cause the toaster to throw sparks.

And, later that same day, when the toaster has been unplugged and the two microwaves are both being used and the refrigerator kicks in, the fuse in the not-actually-so-big power strip might make a rather loud popping noise and shut off everything.

And, if that happens, let's really hope that the next person who brings in a power strip simply sets it off to the side while, instead, plugging things into the wall outlet.