Comments | the_original1: Not with a bang . . .

the_original1

Not with a bang . . .

Jan 02, 2008 12:44

The world seems determined to do everthing exactly wrong.

Over the weekend, I learned Netscape is being discontinued. Realistically, this leaves Explorer, which is crap, and Firefox, which is nowhere near as reliable.

Now, I learn those twisty bulbs that already have many other drawbacks can cause migraines and aggravate other health problems.

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the_original1 January 2 2008, 21:03:52 UTC

The mercury is a big problem for me. We can't just toss them in the garbage when they burn out. The nearest HHW drop-off is something like thirty miles away, and their hours are exactly horrible for fitting a visit into our schedule.

I wonder if the flickering they mention is part of a problem I have with them. I'll be talking to someone and find myself losing track of the conversation and staring at the bulb. It's annoying. I'm not completely zoning out or anything, just getting distracted.

GE's Reveal bulbs are really nice for color. And I haven't noticed these things lasting any longer.

stacye13 January 2 2008, 22:25:29 UTC

We can't just toss them in the garbage when they burn out.
Why not?

the_original1 January 2 2008, 22:36:08 UTC

Because they're horrible, nasty poison bombs, and because it's illegal in some places.

stacye13 January 2 2008, 22:42:54 UTC

Well then, whouldn't a good many of our garbage men have fallen ill by now? I mean, I wouldn't have known that and just tossed mine in the garbage can. I would hazard a guess that a good majority of people don't know those things either. Plus, on the apathy side, I am fairly certain that garbage people don't look through the bags before tossing them in the truck, so what's to stop people from throwing them out anyway?

the_original1 January 2 2008, 23:53:03 UTC

Maybe they are getting sick. Mercury poisoning is one of those things that builds up over time, like lead poisoning.

And people not knowing is their own fault. If you have one of these bulbs in your house, go read the packaging. I bet there's a warning on there about the mercury content and about not tossing it in the garbage, as well as a web address and/or a toll-free 'phone number for further information.

The only thing I can think of to stop people from just throwing them away anyway is a desire not to be an asshole. But I bet most people figure they don't have to worry about it because that's why we've got politicians - to worry about it for us and see that the environment is protected.

I need a devil's advocate icon ;) stacye13 January 3 2008, 01:17:31 UTC

While I am often an asshole, I am also an annoyed consumer with a husband who has an unsightly stockpile of junk keyboards and monitors and cpu parts. These things are cluttering up his office because "we aren't allowed to throw them in the garbage". Why the foul ball do I pay for this service if I'm not allowed to throw garbage in the garbage?! If I wanted to drive to the dump or other disposal facility, I wouldn't pay the stupid city fees for the dudes who come fetch the garbage from my alleyway. That's what the stupid politicians need to get to work on.

Re: I need a devil's advocate icon ;) the_original1 January 3 2008, 01:51:47 UTC

So steal my default icon, slap "Devil's Advocate" across it, and see if anyone gets the joke.

I've got a bunch of those keyboards and things, too.

I think what we need to do is shoot all of the scientists, industrialists, and advertisers who come up with all of this crap and then push it on us. They make sure we have to have it - and if we say, "I can live without that," they make something else obsolete so we need to buy their new crap anyway - and then, a few years later, they say, "Oh, you can't have/do that, because it's not safe! Buy this new model instead!"

Do you remember when all of the restaurants and snack food manufacturers had to switch over to trans fats because they were the new miracle food that was going to save us from saturated fat?

Wonder if that olestra I ate will kill me one day... stacye13 January 3 2008, 01:56:24 UTC

Stupid miracle "foods". They don't compare to things like real butter - mmmmmmmm butter. Much healthier than yucky ole processed margarine!

Re: I need a devil's advocate icon ;) lorien_johnson January 3 2008, 23:04:45 UTC

This is going to have to become my permanent icon. The only positive thing I've seen in U.S. politics in years has been the massive fund raising and grassroots success of Ron Paul. We'll see how today goes ( ... )

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