You Light Up My Life (or not)

Image via WikipediaMany folks are unaware that the federal government's Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 phases out Thomas Edison's incandescent bulbs in favor of the newer CFLs beginning in 2012 and culminates in a total ban on the older technology by 2014.


California is leading the way by banning the sale of 100 watt incandescent bulbs in 2011, a year ahead of the rest of the country. The remaining 75, 60 and 40 watt bulbs will be phased into the ban in subsequent years.


To environmentalists this is currently a victory but could become a nightmare in future years. Advocates of the replacement CFL bulbs laud their energy saving feature while opponents decry their inferior lighting qualities.


There are other, much more subtle consequences, of this switch.


You see, each of the CFL replacement bulbs contain mercury. This makes them almost impossible to produce in the US due to the burden of government regulations. So one consequence will be to drive the jobs that were used to manufacture traditional bulbs overseas.


Another consequence is the potential to impact the environment when disposing of used CFLs. Most people don't realize that they are to be treated as hazardous waste.  I wonder how many of these little poison mercury bombs will wind up in traditional landfills?


The EPA has issued a set of guidelines dealing with how the average consumer should handle the cleanup of a broken CFL. These guidelines include: 

• open a window and leave the room for 5-10 minutes
• shut off the central air/heating system
• don't vacuum the area unless you have too and if you do, immediately remove the vacuum bag and seal it in a plastic bag

You can read the complete EPA guidelines for disposal of CFLs at:


Detailed Recommendations

The Vanishing Playground

Remember recess, a brief respite where you and your friends could play outside? When I was a kid we had swings, monkey bars, slides and see-saws that we used on the playground. Occasionally I would fall and get a scrape or bruise and I learned pretty quickly what temperatures a steel slide can reach in the South Carolina sun - hot enough to raise blisters on the back of your legs before your brain realized what an idiot you were. I never suffered any serious injuries but some of my friends experienced broken bones or cuts that required stitches.

The common thread is that none of us - or our parents - ever had a thought that these injuries were anyone's fault but our own. In those days it was inconceivable to think that someone else was responsible for our own safety.

That is not the case today. As good example is in West Virginia where the Cabell County school system has decided to remove all swing sets from schools in order to avoid lawsuits. This decision came after one parent filed two separate lawsuits over minor injuries his two children suffered on the playground (that's right - the same parent in both lawsuits).

See the story here:

Meat Labels

For those too dumb to know what is in meat - have no fear - the government has solved that little problem for you. Starting January 1st, the US Department of Agriculture will require nutritional labels for 40 of the most common cuts of beef, pork, poultry and lamb.

Read the rest of this insanity here:

Meat Labels

When Society Collapses

New York City just experienced one of the worst snowstorms in its history. The snow reportedly fell at a rate of  2 to 3 inches per hour while the wind gusted to speeds of 80 mph. In the aftermath, people are blaming the Mayor, the city government, emergency response personnel and everyone else for the problems they experienced.

Yes, there were deaths due to lack of or delayed response but it is not like this storm managed to sneak up on the city. No matter how well the city had prepared for this storm they still have limited resources. Emergency calls have to be prioritized. Even the order streets are plowed has to be prioritized. On the other hand, this is a prime example of problems that occur when people do not plan ahead and become too dependent on government to take care of them.

Imagine what will happen should we experience a nationwide collapse of services such as an electrical grid failure or communications systems shutdown.

(Photo taken by Charlotte Johnson)

You can read more about the events of the storm here:

NY Blizzard

The top 10 violations of the Constitution by Obama and the 111th Congress by Paul B. Skousen

At the close of the 111th Congress, America is deeply in the bog of Thomas Jefferson’s prophetic warning: “The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.” Unfortunately, the broken chains of the Constitution have failed to contain the federal government.

By way of review, let’s take a stroll through the junkyard of constitutional violations that have been painted fresh by President Obama and the 111th Congress. Here’s my top-ten list, highly abbreviated for length."

Voros: Edison's light bulb becomes contraband - San Jose Mercury News

Freedom of choice is the foundation of American lifestyles.

You have the freedom to choose a gas-guzzling Hummer as your vehicle. Heck, you can drive around your neighborhood in an 18-wheel truck if you choose.

You can live in a 10,000-square-foot home and fill it with millions of dollars of high-tech gadgets, hot tubs, even Hummers, and be the proudest energy hog in your neck of the woods.

You can also choose a life of gluttony, eating anything and everything you like, health be damned.

Public opinion, of course, varies wildly on how reasonable, selfish or outlandish those choices might be, but Americans understand the value of protecting the freedom of choice.

As we dive into 2011, a small, simple choice for Californians will begin to disappear. In terms of big-picture freedoms, it may not even register on your radar, until you need a light bulb.

Read the full story here:

Voros: Edison's light bulb becomes contraband - San Jose Mercury News