Bug List

1.     Uncomfortable airplane seats

Why it exists: Airlines have to fit as many passengers as possible in each flight to optimize earnings. This means they often have to compromise comfort and room.  

2.     Cat hair on furniture and clothes

Why it exists: Many people love to have their cats indoor. This means that have to deal with the shedding that frequently ends up on clothes and furniture.

3.     Having to deal with cat litter

Why it exists: Indoor cats that are not allowed to go outside are forced to go to the bathroom indoors. The only option available is to have them “go” in the litter box.  

4.     Soap scum in glass showers

Why it exists: Soap from showers tends to end up everywhere. It is especially visible in showers that are made out of glass.

5.     Weeds in the yard

Why it exists: Weeds always find a way of growing faster and thicker than grass and in unwanted spots. These plants are typically more resilient and grow in a variety of conditions   

6.     Finding spiders in the car

Why it exists: Bugs, pun intended, seem to find their way into weird places. This is probably why you’ll see spiders in your car sometimes. They’re probably just looking for bugs to eat.   

7.     Having to iron/steam clothes

Why it exists: Clothes easily wrinkle after being washed and dried.  

8.     Having to carry keys around everywhere

Why it exists: We use keys to open many things in our day to day lives. This means that we have to carry them around with us all day. They are usually all together to make it easier not to lose any of them.   

9.     Folding laundry

Why it exists: Clothes have to be folded after they are washed and before they can be stored.   

10.  Uncomfortable shoes

Why it exists: Shoes come in different shapes and are made out of various materials to suit different styles. Unfortunately, many times those two things will sacrifice comfort.  

11.  Over/under heating food in the microwave

Why it exists: We microwave all sorts of different foods that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This makes can often make it difficult to figure out how much time different items require.    

12.  Ice melting in drinks

Why it exists: Ice used to cool beverages will start to melt as soon as it’s immersed in the drink because of the ambient temperature.

13.  Dog toys that don’t last

Why it exists: Many dogs are persistent in destroying their toys. They enjoy playing with them in ways that end up tearing them apart.

14.  Cleaning/polishing wood floors

Why it exists: Messes and dirt easily accumulate and show up on wood floors. This means they have to be cleaned quite often.

15.  Dirty/dusty ceiling fans

Why it exists: Ceiling fans are constantly moving and pickup up dust in the air.

16.  Electronic devices running out of battery

Why it exists: The time we spend on or electronic devices each day drains their batteries.

17.  Pollen on cars

Why it exists: Most cars are outside in the open air for the majority of the time. This means they are always exposed to pollen and can have it build up very quickly.

18.  Oil changes for vehicles

Why it exists: Oil helps lubricate the engine and absorb heat. Over time, this oil breaks down and needs to be replaced.

19.  Cats scratching furniture

Why it exists: Cats usually scratch furniture because it helps them remove the outer layer of their claws and as a way to mark their territory.

20.  Changing air filters for A/C unit

Why it exists: AC units constantly have air running in and out of the unit. The air filter helps make sure the air is clean and free of debris.  

I thought this assignment was going to be fairly easy, but it ended up being a lot more challenging than I expected. I initially found myself thinking of “bugs” that I could solve or that have not been discovered yet. I didn’t feel like I should list things that we already have a “solution” until I started thinking about how effective that solution is, or if I felt that the solution is convenient. For example, I know I have to change the filter for my AC unit because it helps it run better, but it doesn’t make it less annoying to have to order it and change it every few weeks. I think a lot of times we tend to think of things that we do routinely as necessities because they are upkeep for other items that “solve” problems. What we don’t think about is that maybe these items, like an AC in this case, can be replaced by something else that would be easier to maintain and manage. I’m definitely not claiming to have a replacement for AC unit at this point, but I do think this exercise has helped me view “bugs” from a broader and less limited perspective.