More Heat than Light: Why the Light Bulb Doesn't Need Saving

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Thursday January 06, 2011 · 7:55 AM PST

2011/01/06 · 07:55

Recently on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, there was a small story about IKEA ending sales of incandescent light bulbs Tuesday. Mr. Williams went on to say that IKEA is dong this because of a federal law that will ban incandescent light bulbs in 2012. The LA Times had a similar story.

Is the federal government banning the light bulb? Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck think so, and the GOP has picked up their talking points that an overreaching federal government is trying to control what kind of light bulbs we use. Apparently the gravest threat to our freedoms is the inability to purchase inefficient light bulbs. Republican lawmakers have even introduced legislation to save the light bulb, citing new-found concern for lost jobs and environmental dangers of Chinese made CFL's.

Reports of the death of the incandescent light bulb are greatly exaggerated. This diary attempts to shine some light on the illuminating subject of light bulbs.

Poll

57 votes Show Results

What kind of light bulbs do you use?

57 votes Vote Now!

What kind of light bulbs do you use?

CFL

41 votes

Regular incandescent

11 votes

Incandescent, but newer more energy efficient types

3 votes

Kerosene lamps don't require light bulbs

2 votes

Desks for Schools in Malawi

loblolly

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Friday December 17, 2010 · 7:30 AM PST

2010/12/17 · 07:30

As a retired teacher, this really got my attention. On his trip there last summer, Lawrence O'Donnell learned that what the teachers said the schools need the most is chairs. The country is so poor that kids must sit on a dirt floor all day, and teachers have to stand up to teach. Now to help improve conditions in classrooms there, Lawrence O'Donnell and MSNBC are partnering with UNICEF to provide desks for schools in Malawi.

loblolly

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Thursday October 21, 2010 · 11:11 AM PDT

2010/10/21 · 11:11

The mainstream media is mostly ignoring Texas elections, except for an occasional reference to our governor's race. State legislative races are getting almost no attention at all, but they are a crucial part of the larger battle for control of the state legislature , which is where the real fireworks will be come January, when the state legislature convenes, and redistricting will be the main item on the agenda. At stake are U.S. Congressional districts, which could change dramatically if Republicans gain control of the Texas House. This diary focuses on one of the most competitive Texas House races, District 17, where a feisty Democratic challenger, Pati Jacobs, is turning up the heat on her freshman incumbent Republican opponent over the issue of water.

loblolly

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Friday April 23, 2010 · 7:30 AM PDT

2010/04/23 · 07:30

Thanks mostly to small contributions from her supporters to her "leadership" PAC, Sarah Palin travels in style, as we learned recently from SarahPAC's filing with the FEC. The PAC raised over 2.1 million dollars in 2009, and Palin spent over $400,000 in the first three months of this year alone, much of it on consultants, first class travel, and luxury hotels. How does SarahPAC get small contributions?

Thumbing through the May issue of Texas Monthly Magazine, a little ad for "Paw of Alaska" caught my attention.

Hello and welcome to the forefront of the American political battle. Welcome to the fight on a whole new level, the level where we the people, the people of the United States of America, begin to stop complaining and stop wishing things were different and actually start making things different!

The ad directed me to a website which promised to tell me what I could do today to start making things different.

loblolly

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Monday March 29, 2010 · 7:46 AM PDT

2010/03/29 · 07:46

Yesterday, Travis County supporters of Congressman Lloyd Doggett held a celebration to thank Congressman Doggett for the passage of the health care reform bill. Predictably, protesters showed up, as they did last summer when a mob of Teabaggers disrupted Congressman Doggett's appearance at a local grocery store. What caught my attention was the reporting the local NBC affiliate, KXAN did on an incident that occurred before the event, and the different take reported in the Austin Statesman. I was not there, so I'm hoping some of you Travis County Kossacks can shed more light on what happened.

Poll

93 votes Show Results

Which is the worst Teabagger sign?

93 votes Vote Now!

Which is the worst Teabagger sign?

Congresman Doggett with Devil Horns

0 votes

Congressman Doggett's name on a tombstone

0 votes

Speaker Pelosi with a crosshair on her face like the ones on Palin's map

17 votes

Version of the Texas Revolution's " Come and Take It" flag with an AK 47 instead of the cannon

3 votes

Pray for Obama: Psalms 109:8

7 votes

Equally despicable - these people are sick.

66 votes

Teabaggers and the State of the Union Speech?

loblolly

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Monday January 25, 2010 · 11:23 AM PST

2010/01/25 · 11:23

Following an OFA e-mail link to find State of the Union Watch parties in my area of Central Texas, as expected, I found a couple of watch parties supporting the President. This is Austin, after all. There were also some anti-Obama watch parties, hosted by disaffected progressives. However, one watch party that promised to focus on a grassroots movement for national independence sounded a lot like the Teabaggers are getting in on the action.

Poll

112 votes Show Results

How will you follow the State of the Union speech?

112 votes Vote Now!

How will you follow the State of the Union speech?

Watching at home, but this year without playing a drinking game or throwing shoes at the TV

49 votes

Going to a watch party to join supporters, get on the same page, and continue the fight.

9 votes

Live blogging on DKos & supporting the President

12 votes

Live blogging on DKos & complaining about the President

7 votes

State of the Union? Has it been a year already?

9 votes

Pie

26 votes

H1N1 Update: Get your shot now!

loblolly

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 09, 2010 · 7:44 AM PST

2010/01/09 · 07:44

Now that the Swine Flu pandemic seems to have peaked in mid-October can we all relax? Vaccine is plentiful now, but if you haven't already gotten a shot, do you still need one? Back in October, I wrote about the difficulty of high-risk groups getting the scarce vaccine. Vaccine is now plentiful, and lessons from the 1957 pandemic suggest it's too soon to declare victory, and with readily available vaccine, now is the time to get vaccinated if you haven't already done so.

Poll

117 votes Show Results

Have you gotten your H1N1 vaccine?

117 votes Vote Now!

Have you gotten your H1N1 vaccine?

Yes, I got one as soon as I could

57 votes

No, but I promise I'll do it right away, honest.

32 votes

No, I'd rather spend a few days shivering, barfing, and running to the John

28 votes

Are High-Risk Groups Getting H1N1 Vaccine First?

loblolly

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Friday October 30, 2009 · 9:21 AM PDT

2009/10/30 · 09:21

According to the CDC website, pregnant women and other high-risk groups should get the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available in their communities. However, with shortages of the vaccine, and the reluctance of vaccine providers to act as "vaccine police", people who aren't in any high risk group are cutting in line ahead of those most at risk.

Poll

59 votes Show Results

If you or a family member are high risk, have you been able to get the H1N1 vaccine?

59 votes Vote Now!

If you or a family member are high risk, have you been able to get the H1N1 vaccine?

Yes

20 votes

27 votes

Haven't tried yet

12 votes

Austin Screamers, Punked?

loblolly

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Sunday August 09, 2009 · 11:05 AM PDT

2009/08/09 · 11:05

The screamers seem to have been planning to have a counter-rally on the steps of the Texas capital today against what they think was an Obama for America rally to support health care reform. Only problem is, there doesn't seem to be any rally planned today by Obama for America. I hope they showed up to stand around in the heat for hours, only to have no one to scream at. If anyone in the Austin area has more on this, please add your comments.

loblolly

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Wednesday August 05, 2009 · 8:12 PM PDT

2009/08/05 · 20:12

Representative Lloyd Doggett was the target of disruptions by screamers organized by Republicans, Teabaggers. and Americans for Prosperity, both at his office Friday, and at his appearance Saturday at a grocery store in South Austin. A Town Hall was scheduled for later Saturday afternoon in nearby Bastrop, and his staff was worried that there would be a repeat of the angry mob scene. Shouting, sign-carrying protesters did show up in Bastrop, and one later boasted that "Doggett did not get the reception he expected", which ironically is true since instead of an angry mob scene, Reresentative Doggett got two standing ovations. Bastrop's Town Hall demonstrates why it is so important for us to show up at these events, and how the screamers were prevented from hijacking the event, while freedom of speech was preserved.

loblolly

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Wednesday July 01, 2009 · 2:56 PM PDT

2009/07/01 · 14:56

They're back. This time around they are being billed as July 4th Tea Parties. Although they aren't using "teabagging" any more, not much seems to have changed. Here's what I have learned so far, including how to find a Tea Party near you.

loblolly

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Monday May 18, 2009 · 12:15 PM PDT

2009/05/18 · 12:15

A retired science teacher looks at subtle and not so subtle efforts by the oil and coal industry and global warming deniers to subvert environmental education in the public schools, by spreading doubt and making teaching about global warming a controversial topic in public school classrooms.

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More Heat than Light: Why the Light Bulb Doesn't Need Saving

Desks for Schools in Malawi

Republican in Hot Water in Texas House Race (Tx House 17)

Paw of Alaska: A New Sarah Palin Fundraiser Involving Cheesy Jewelry

Teabaggers Claim They Were Attacked at Yesterday's Celebration for Congressman Lloyd Doggett

Teabaggers and the State of the Union Speech?

H1N1 Update: Get your shot now!

Are High-Risk Groups Getting H1N1 Vaccine First?

Austin Screamers, Punked?

Teabaggers and Repbulicans Prevented from Hijacking Lloyd Doggett's Town Hall in Bastrop, Texas

Teabagging on July 4th

Making Global Warming Controversial in Public School Classrooms