Retirement Of 100-Watt Light Bulbs Causing Consternation

Diagram showing the major parts of a modern incandescent light bulb. Glass bulb Inert gas Tungsten filament Contact wire (goes to foot) Contact wire (goes to base) Support wires Glass mount/support Base contact wire Screw threads Insulation Electrical foot contact (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sight and sound play a major role in the human experience, to be sure, so it’s always difficult when somebody suggests we’re getting too much of either.

The brightness of light bulbs and the loudness of internal combustion toys are under scrutiny, and it appears certain that changes are in the works.

I have deep passions when it comes to motorcycles and I understand why others may feel that way about other often noisy recreational motor vehicles. I have especially fond memories of things that go vroom in the dirt, which interest me more than light bulbs, but I’ll try to contain myself until we get the latter out of the way.

On Wednesday, The Morning Call’s front page divulged that Lehigh Valley light bulb lovers are hoarding 100-watters as the federal government pushes a scheme to force everybody to buy light-emitting diodes or compact fluorescent lights.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/local/carpenter/mc-pc-light-bulb-100-watts-20121227,0,2323522.column

No COLA For Social Security Recipients In 2011

For the second consecutive year, the Social Security trustees have determined that a cost-of-living adjustment for social security recipients is not necessary as the cost of living has not increase enough to warrant a raise.  An official announcement is expected on Friday when the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics announces their inflation estimates.

Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Fund Is Belly-Up!

I am just a harbinger of good cheer today, aren’t I!  People need to know what the Sam Hill is going on with our state government.

Although Pennsylvania actually has an employer contribution for unemployment benefits, which should have been enough for a rainy day, we have still borrowed $3 billion dollars from the Federal government to pay unemployment benefits to out-of-work Pennsylvania residents.  The states pay the first 26 weeks of unemployment and the federal government picks up from week 27 forward. Oh and that $3 billion dollars was borrowed in the last two years!

Two problems with what should have been a great idea (employer unemployment contributions): 

1.  The amount employers pay into the unemployment fund hasn’t changed since dirt was discovered.

2.  Unemployment benefits have been increasing to make up for inflation.

When our new governator is elected and takes office in January, he or she will have this $3 BILLION dollar bill that will be due to the federal government.  Of course, we have no money to pay this bill….I’ll gladly pay you next Tuesday for a hamburger today… And this is rich… these billions of dollars borrowed from Uncle Sam aren’t built into the state budget either…much like the Medicaid money we are spending but don’t have yet.  STOP THE MADNESS!

The federal government will start to charge a penalty fee to businesses in Pennsylvania since we have no money.

A solution was proposed to help make this fund solvent again by 2017 but it was ignored.  Instead, our elected officials stick their heads in the proverbial sand (like an ostrich) and do nothing.

Food for thought!