A few months back, we bought a set of HomePlug AVs, things that let you go on the Internet through a power line. As my dad and I eventually proved, it was extremely picky. We had to unplug my mom’s touch bedside light to make it work. Somehow it was interfering with the signals.

We kept it unplugged and the Internet worked. One afternoon, as my dad went into the dressing room to change out of his gym clothes, my mom complained to him, “My Internet isn’t working anymore.”

My dad was half-way through changing. He turned the light off (we’re all into saving energy now that we got a $250 bill) and checked my Mom’s computer. Just as he stepped over, the computer flashed a message: System now connected to Internet.

He shrugged. It worked. Then he went back into the dressing room. My mom complained again, “It’s not working!” My dad stepped out and checked it again. It worked again.

“Wait a minute,” he said, turning on the dresser light. The “Computer is not connected to the Internet.” He turned the light off. “Connected to Internet.”

He grinned. “Okay, from now on this light’s gotta be off to go on the Internet.” My mom shook her head but nodded.

That night, while they were folding the clothes from the dryer, my dad turned on our master bedroom light to the brightest setting. The Internet abruptly stopped, and the video they were streaming stopped.

He turned the light to the darker setting. The Internet worked.

“This is one picky Internet connection,” he sighed.

So to go on our home’s HomePlug Internet connection, 1) the master bedroom light must be off or on the low setting, 2) the dressing room light must be off, and 3) the dimmable touch-light must be off. Whew!