And a new SDMB meme is born.
Don’t forget to turn off the potato before unscrewing the circuit breaker and… uhm… I’m confused. 
Why did I start hearing “Rio” by Duran Duran as I read this thread?
Don’t forget to turn the power off. At the breaker. Before you use the potato.
This one’s my fault, isn’t it? Sorry.
I have it on good authority that Duran Duran turned off the power to their potato before recording Rio.
When you are done extracting the bulb with the potato, you could leave the metal piece on as hat and use a pair on silver thumbtacks as eyes and maybe make some paper clip tentacles and add a few more decorations and you would have Robo-Tater.
Jim
TURN THE POWER OFF!
SILICONE SPRAY applied to the lamp base frozen in socket. (WD-40 if you don’t have silicone.)
Wind strip counter clockwise as if unscrewing the base.
NEEDLE-NOSE PLIERS open jaws and try that first.
AS A LAST RESORT use a scriber to separate the base from socket at rim.
Use the pliers to twist/roll up the base material like you were opening a can of sardines!
OTOH it might be easier to just replace the socket if at all possible.
Worked fine to remove a screw in fuse adapter that had broken.
So what do I do with this potato?
I think you’re supposed to turn the power off with it.
What the heck, dare to be different - leave the power on.
Just be sure you’re using an early-harvest potato from eastern Idaho - certain strains grown along the Falls River near Ashton would be ideal. They’re known for their excellent dielectric properties and favorable coefficient of friction.
Would that be a 1920’s style potato?
But turn off the power. Once. For 20 minutes.
Someone please stop me.
That works well. I’ve also used a lump of plasticine.
Were you wearing a looking glass tie at the time?
When come back bring potato pie.
You’ll have to explain that one I’m afraid. I have no idea what a looking glass tie is.
[ol]
[li]Turn off power[/li][li]Insulate yourself[/li][li]Hi Potatopal![/li][/ol]
It’s from the Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds”:
“Picture yourself on a train in a station,
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties,”
The word plasticine isn’t used in the US, AFAIK, so whenever I see it, that line pops into my head.
We could drop a 20 ton potato on your head or maybe a 20 Mr Potato Head.
Jim
I burning your potato!
And if the same dim bulb labeled yon breaker box as what miswired the wee socket, one of these pocket sized proximity testers wouldn’t go amiss.
Unless you prefer your potato baked, of course. 