Editing 227: Color Codes

{{w|Resistor|Resistors}} are electronic components carrying color-coded bands indicating their value (measured in {{w|Ohm|ohms}}) and tolerance (e.g. 5%). [[Cueball]] has been hunched over his work for so long that, when asked for his phone number (by his Cueball-like friend), he absentmindedly reads out his phone's area code as a sequence of colors found on the aforementioned resistors (each color corresponding to one of the ten decimal digits, in this case 718 – see {{w|Electronic_color_code#Resistor_color-coding|Resistor color-coding}}). He realizes his mistake after these first three digits and begins again using numbers to state the entire phone number. His friend points out that such a mistake means it's a good time to take a break, and Cueball concurs.

 

TMBG is ''{{w|They Might Be Giants}}'', an alternative rock band responsible for toe-tapping chart-topping "Birdhouse In Your Soul." At one point, they recorded individual songs on an answering machine and advertised the phone number so people could call and listen to the song on the machine. Hence, {{w|They_Might_Be_Giants#Dial-A-Song|Dial-A-Song}}. However, the number was changed to (844)-387-6962 in 2015. TMBG has also created a website with the same function: https://dialasong.com.

 

Resistor color codes were mentioned again in [[992: Mnemonics]] and [[1604: Snakes]].

:[Cueball sits hunched over his desk, which is littered with objects. His Cueball-like friend holding his cell phone talks to him.]

:Friend: Hey, what's your cell number?

:Cueball: (Violet Brown Gray)— Uh, I mean, (718)-387-6962.

:Friend: Okay, you are putting down those resistors and going outside for a while.

:Cueball: That's probably a good idea.