Do not simply crush old working incandescents. Instead, use them in places CFLs just won't work, or where their added efficiency isn't going to pay off.

For example, you have a hall closet with a light inside that goes on when the door is open. Typical operation is that you open the door, get what you want, and close the door, total elapsed time maybe 45 seconds. Bulb is lit a couple of hours a year, tops. The electricity saved by going to a CFL is minimal, while the on-off cycling will wear out a CFL very quickly compared to the same CFL in a long-duty-cycle application. Plus there's the turn-on wait.

OTOH, CFLs are great for bathrooms because when you stumble in during the wee small hours and fumble for the light switch, you're not blinded by the sudden glare.

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The really BIG problem with CFLs is the lack of good info on which ones to buy. The info we really want isn't on the package:

1) How much light, and what color, does the CFL really give?

2) How long will it really last?

3) How reliable are they?

4) Does it make electronic noise that will mess up radios, TVs, etc.?

5) How do they perform in cold weather?

6) What is the turn-on delay?

Right now CFL quality varies all over the place, which is why you see such varying reports of success or failure. There are many types made by lots of manufacturers so it's a shot-in-the-dark to find a good one.

The prices aren't all that high. The problem is that too many Americans expect abnormally low gasoline prices, and forget all about inflation.

Back in the 1960s when the USA imported much less, the crude quality was better, the gasoline requirements were easier (no antismog rules, lotsa lead) and there was no OPEC, gasoline was typically $0.25-$0.30 per gallon for the cheap stuff. That was when a really nice new car cost well under $3000 (economy cars cost half that).

We in the USA got a big wakeup call in the 1970s when the prices doubled and then doubled again. But then all through the '80s and '90s the prices did not keep up with inflation, for a whole bunch of reasons. Now the slack is running in and it's panic time.

Of course there's a solution: Adjust your lifestyle and your expectations.

They've been doing this in Western Europe for generations. (One reason their gasoline prices are so high is that they tax the stuff like mad and spend the money on public transportation. Meanwhile we can't even keep bridges on the Interstates from collapsing.)

But heaven forbid we Americans admit we could learn something from other folks...

The odd part of all this is that unless you live in a low-insurance-cost place, drive really old cars and work on them yourself, the cost of gasoline is often only a fraction of the cost of a car when you consider the vehicle price, loan interest, maintenance, fees, insurance, etc.

1) "What if everybody did it?" is a valid question.

- If everybody had more than 2 kids, the population will continue to grow and grow.

- If everybody had exactly 2 kids, the population would grow for a time but would *eventually* stabilize.

- If everybody had less than 2 kids, the population would decline gradually but would also get a lot older unless life expectancy also drops.

2) It's not just about global warming. It's also about resources, pollution, etc., how we use them, and what we do when they're used up. If the oceans do rise we can all move inland (at great cost and upheaval) but whatcha gonna do when the oil wells run dry?

3) Adoption is a great idea. I'm all for it.

Now, go and try to actually *do* it without Brangelina's resources. It's not easy, particularly if you want a reasonably healthy young child. And remember that the rules are constantly changing, so that what friends of yours did pretty easily just a few years ago may be nearly impossible to do today.

4) "Be fruitful and multiply" doesn't absolve anyone of the responsibility to take care of the Earth and all that is in it. And if you're going to take Genesis literally, please explain how both creation stories can be literally true when their sequences of events contradict each other. Or explain how all the species of animals we know all fit in the Ark - two of some kinds, seven of other kinds. (Yes, I actually read it, and I recommend others do too.)

It's our world, and we can choose whatever future we want. But let's do it based on facts.

"We need to drill in ANWR and in deep water."

The most optimistic estimates say there's 16 billion barrels of oil in and around the ANWR.

The USA uses about 20 million barrels per day. If Alaska supplied 100% of the USA's consumption, that works out to 800 days - a little more than 2 years. At 10% of US consumption, with no increase, it would all be gone in 20 years.

That doesn't mean there shouldn't be more drilling, and in deep water, but be advised of how much is needed to make a dent. And how much it costs to extract and transport.

"We need to mandate flex fuel capability on all new cars sold in the US."

Why? And for which fuels? Diesel? Vegetable oil? Methane? Ethanol?

In 1980, VW was selling diesel cars that got over 50 mpg and met all the pollution requirements. The technology has improved since then, but the carmakers are convinced Americans won't buy diesels, so we don't see many. In Europe they sell about as many diesel cars and gasoline ones.