for your consideration, I present to you: the light bulb

So I asked Jesse what I should write about in my update, and his response was "incandescent light bulbs." Rarely a dull moment with that guy. Here goes nothing!

Everyone knows what incandescent light bulb are: the little light bulbs that contain a little filament, first invented by Mr. Thomas Edison. Seeing as how these were the first light bulbs created and we're still using them today, they seem pretty reliable and like a good idea, right?

Wrong. According to our government, these little bulbs are a bad deal. Incandescent light bulbs, apparently, use too much power. Consider this: the power we enjoy in our homes to turn on the incandescent light is powered by the power plants which burns coal as the fuel. Burning coal releases Carbon Dioxide into the environment which is the big cause of the green house effect we experience in the world. Obviously. So, by banning the use of this type of light bulb, we are going to save the environment by going green. Splendid.

So let's now consider the alternative option: fluorescent light bulbs, also known as the little "spirly light bulbs" in my house. The claim is that these little guys save about 70-80 watts per bulb. Ok, I'm fine with this. Now, let's bring all the facts together. Incandescent bulbs, which apparently use too much power which apparently puts too much Carbon Dixoide into the environment which apparently is causing the global warming, are the bulbs being banned. Flourescent bulbs are going to be THE bulb to use in America because they last SO much longer. Oh, something to mention about the flourescent bulb, they contain mercury. Which is more dangerous and a much more real threat then global warming (in my opinion). And by the by, they don't work in the cold. Good luck lighting anything, New England and all you northern states. The only apparent plus to the flourescent bulb is the fact they look cooler. Alright, I'll give them a second: they do last awhile. However, it has been proven that the incandescent light bulb will last much, much longer if the bulb is placed on a dimmer switch (they burn out because the flip of the switch exerts so much power through the bulb that they burn out faster-- a dimmer switch allows for a slower exertion of power).

Why are we banning the incandescent light bulb? Because a couple other countries have done it and the tree huggers are concerned with too much power being used? I really wouldn't have a problem with these activist people, except I bet every single one of them use light bulbs too. Jesse told me that this particular gem of a bill was snuck through in the shadow of a bigger bill that our president passed. Bills that are covers for other little things that people want passed are a whole other rant though.

So by the year 2012, you won't be able to buy incandescent light bulbs. Because our government is controlling what kind of light bulbs we can buy. Light bulbs. Because they use up too much power. Something to think about..