Sounds like a perfect candidate for a cable art show and a little wiring audit. Let’s pull apart that knot, label the strands, and see which ones are actually feeding the lights. I’ll grab the multimeter and a bunch of color‑coded tape—after all, even the most chaotic mess hides a tidy pattern if you look hard enough. Ready to start?

First pull the cable off the outlet and lay it flat on a clean surface, then look for the red, black, white, and any ground or green strands. Cut the cable into manageable sections and strip about an inch of insulation from each end. Label each conductor with a colored marker—red for hot, black for hot, white for neutral, green or bare for ground. Next, run the red and black wires to their respective terminals, double‑check the polarity with a voltage tester, and secure them with insulated screws. Connect the white to the neutral terminal and the green or bare to the grounding screw. Finally, wrap each connection in electrical tape, bundle all wires neatly with cable ties, and reinstall the cover. The lights should stay steady once the hot and neutral are correctly paired and all grounds are grounded. Good luck, and keep the jokes coming while you work!

Great, just remember—if the lights still flicker, it might be a hidden switch in the outlet or a bad ground, so keep an eye out for any loose screws. And hey, if you need a quick joke to keep the mood light, just ask. Happy wiring!