I bought some light bulbs today.
In place of the high-$, energy-saving, long-living neon light bulbs currently in vogue, I opted for the old-fashioned ones. I'm not exactly against the currently fashionable "green" revolution, it's just that I've already tried those new-fangled light bulbs. They certainly are high-$, costing many times what a regular light bulb costs, and it seems reasonable that they save energy, being that they are only a fraction as bright. But they do not last the promised five years. They don't even last as long as the dependable old low-tech standbys. So as my current supply of these modern marvels dwindles, thank goodness, I am replacing them with the old kind. At least that is my desire.
But I made a sad discovery this afternoon: It appears that while I was getting up to speed with the realm of techno-lighting, something disturbing was happening in the world of the humble incandescent light bulb. My first clue of incandescence's imminent ixtinction was in the "Lighting" department at MoreMart which is no longer overflowing with every variety of incandescent light bulb. Nope. It is now overloaded with over-priced high-tech light bulbs of every sort: sunlight ones, daylight ones, blue light ones, coil shapes, spirals, U-shapes, long ones, short ones. I have tried them all, and guess what none of them measures up to the good old plain vanilla light bulb.
After a thorough search, I was thrilled to stumble across a section of incandescent bulbs, but it was very small, and as I searched for the 60-watts I got my second shock: the 60-watt is no longer. In its place we now have the new, improved...52-watt light bulb. 52? And then I noticed the formerly-known-as-75-watt bulb is now...67 watts.
Lighting. The next economic battle the consumer is bound to lose. It's the 21st Century incarnation of the shell game that I remember from the 1970's. In that version, the standard 5-lb sack of sugar was quietly down-sized 20% while the price increased 20%. Gotta make up that 20% somewhere, you know.
So I wonder. What comes next? What will be the next battleground? It could be anything at all, but good, bad, or indifferent, you can be absolutely certain of one thing: whatever it may be, you will pay. So hang on to your wallet. If you can. It's a conspiracy.
The Time Of His Life
12 years ago
8 comments:
Mom.. don't you remember when we went to buy light bulbs for Micah, not too long ago, and he needed 60 watt, or something, and all they had was 52, and like 66??? We were perplexed about it then
ok.. and this is really funny.. the word verification down there is rolenjo, and there's that picture of the guy in the wheelchair.. that made me laugh
Rolenjo!!! GASP!! A PC gaffe if I ever saw one! Whew! Good thing it was *my* blog...
Now that you mention it,yes, I remember. And now it just makes me mad all over again. Sorta like when Jimmy Stewart died twice. :-/
took me awhile but i finally got it, lol...Seems like the conspiracy is all about making people go to bed when it gets dark - we need more sleep to cope with daylight savings time, and now the lightbulbs are too dim to read by!
I had one of those expensive light bulbs go out about 2 hours after I put it in. Ugh! There goes $7 I'll never see again.
I haven't seen the 52 Watt light bulb yet, but I'm sad to hear they will be discontinued in 2014. I guess I better stock up!
-FringeGirl
FringeGirl, they have them at Dollar Tree, for 4/$1.00. They may be the exploding kind from China or something, but I won't know for sure until I actually use one. So far I am only hoarding them.
Do you have Dollar Tree up there?
FringeGirl, they have them at Dollar Tree, for 4/$1.00. They may be the exploding kind from China or something, but I won't know for sure until I actually use one. So far I am only hoarding them.
Do you have Dollar Tree up there?
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