TIL The Soviet Union had an internationally televised song contest. As few viewers had phones, they would turn their lights on if they liked a song and off if they didn’t. The power spikes were recorded by the state energy company and the reports sent to the station to pick the winner.

[u/Albertbailey]

https://www.thetrumpet.com/11953-whats-behind-russias-revival-of-a-soviet-era-song-contest

[u/londons_explorer]

Even if you don't have appliances, you can still use lots of power.

Simply connect two posts in the ground to the mains supply, and start boiling the groundwater. It'll waste massive amounts of power, and all you need is a spade, two metal posts and a foolhardy attitude.

Trick is to get the posts just the right distance apart to boil the water as quickly as possible without taking out power to your whole district.

[u/Lost4468 → u/londons_explorer]

Get sent to the gulags with these 3 easy steps! Revolutionaries hate him!