Comments on: CFLs and a call for civil disobedience

By: Stirring the Pot: Ideas and Reality « Chemistry of Joy

Stirring the Pot: Ideas and Reality « Chemistry of Joy — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:50:50 +0000

[...] WordPress home page to write this entry I found a new blog that I am thoroughly entertained with, For What It’s Worth, in particular his entry titled CFLs and a call for civil [...]

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:03:53 +0000

this used to be the greatest country in the world – ever since the “great depression” back in the 30′s the country has gone to hell –
is there a manual on how I’m supposed to wipe my butt ?? I’d hate to violate another idiot law

By: Guns, Murder, and Other News You Probably Can’t Use | One from the Peanut Gallery

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:16:55 +0000

[...] If you live in America, you’re apparently being forced by Congressional fiat to buy CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) to replace your former light bulbs. But have you seen what you should do if one breaks? [...]

By: ZZMike

ZZMike — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:31:46 +0000

There are the things they tell you to do (call the HAZMAT team and take a two-week vacation in the Azores), or there are the things you really do (sweep it up, throw it in [somebody else's] trash).

If it breaks while cold, no problem. Get a high-powered magnifying glass, try to find the mercury pinpoint, add it to your jar, install replacement incandescent bulb.

If it breaks while hot (less likely), open all the doors and windows, fire up the barbie in the back yard, wait an hour, install replacement incandescent bulb.

They don’t tell you outright that CFLs work best when left on. Turning them on and off – like a room light – is really bad for them.

The CFL thing is eerily reminiscent of the time they made us replace all that nasty Freon (non-toxic) and replace it with something that is really toxic – it takes a special mechanic’s certificate to work with it. Not to worry, though – that’ll be banned soon enough.

By: HermanTurnip

HermanTurnip — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:58:24 +0000

Thomas Edison must be rolling in his grave…

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:05:48 +0000

Apparently a congressman already had the idea of dropping a lightbulb in the capitol….

By: adamtree

adamtree — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:04:46 +0000

These guidlines require such careful care during clean-up, but advise that the materials be tossed in the trash when done. Did they not see a problem with that?

If I put the broken glass, powder, etc. in a plastic bag or jar and throw it in the trash where it was headed anyway, haven’t I produced more waste by using the bag or jar?

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:39:08 +0000

I use the daylight CFLs in many rooms where reading is done as the bluish light is quite pleasure and actually makes text clearer and easier to read. There is a difference between those and the standard CFLs which are too reddish. BUT, I am stocking up on GE Reveal incandescent bulbs, because they are dimmable and offer the same benefits of the CFL daylight bulbs, they are terrific in the bedroom and bathroom.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:28:21 +0000

I really do like the suggestion of sending the CFL bulbs to your congressional representative. Now I just need to find a stamp and an envelope

By: scotthhendricks

scotthhendricks — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:01:39 +0000

Let’s see a Federal Bureaucracy = epitome of ineptitude! When getting rid of old asbestos they tape off an entire area of a building with heavy gauge plastic (hmmm a half life of forever) and send in workers in space suits to get rid of it. I suppose that’s what’s next for CFA’s – we will all be required to use them and then have to hire a government certified contractor to remove them from our lamps. This sounds a lot like federal government FUBAR as usual.