Screwing the EU with a Condom... again

 
Continuing on the Condoms for Light Bulbs Theme
See the previous post.

In Europe, as in some other places, there has been a gradual "phase-out" (read ban)
of incandescent bulbs.
However, in addition, the EU Commission banned all non-transparent (frosted, opaque, white, opal) incandescent light bulbs, including those of Halogen type, with immediate effect in September 2009.
That is, after available stocks were gone, that was it.

Nobody who knows how the EU Commission works can be surprised at this:
The full story of how the EU banned the bulb can be read here.

Their justification in banning all frosted incandscents was not to save energy:
There is either minute or no difference in savings between using frosted and clear bulbs.
It was simply, as they have publicly stated, that they considered that those who wanted frosted (opaque) bulbs could simply choose the CFLs.

As it happens, the frosted bulbs are (were) the most popular bulbs in Europe.
In Northern Europe, overwhelmingly so, being 90% of bulb sales, one reason being the glare from exposed filaments.

Needless to say, the profit-seeking ban-lobbying CFL light bulb manufacturers and distributors had nothing at all  to do with this decision... :-)


An acquaintance had a witty short-lived blog on the EU ban.
I am reproducing one or two posts for the sake of posterity...
the blog may or may not still be here in future.




EURO-CONDOM: one size fits all stupid bulb bans
2009-October-28

Just two months into the EU’s incandescent bulb ban, and you are already out of frosted bulbs? Don’t fret; the EURO-CONDOM, Ingo Maurer’s statement against the EU’s bulb banning madness, may also be the answer for those who haven’t stocked up on non-glaring incandescent lamps.

This friendly chapeau above is EURO CONDOM by Ingo Maurer, a silicone light bulb cover currently produced by Colourcover in England. It will try its best to protect you and your incandescent light bulb from the EU’s recent bulb ban madness.

Any one of the differently colored packaging variants contains an identical, translucent white bulb cover. Note the user instructions on the packaging. Sorry, no scents, all very neutral.

The shocking image above shows how the agents of the perverted Empire of EUville  wish you’d use this product: All wrong!

Much better, this is one thinkable way how you could use the product to protect you and your family from ugly light. But then, do what? Better keep the EURO CONDOM, and send the CFL to your favorite pro-CFL parlamentarian or EU office as a gift!

Finally, this shows the correct application of a EURO CONDOM.

Details:
While carefully rolling down from the top to the bottom of the bulb, build up and keep some tension in the semi-elastic condom. Try to keep the center tip right on top, and try to keep layers of silicone rubber from folding up. Fits snugly on 60 mm bulbs, a bit loose at the base of recent 55 mm diameter bulbs. Currently, no (refractive-index matching?) gel is supplied with the EURO CONDOM, thus it’s a rather dry procedure as the silicone tends to stick to itself and the bulb’s glass. Luckily, most folds can be carefully picked and pulled to shape later because the silicone cover seems to be much more resistant to damage than customary condoms.


Credit:
Otitis Media di Monaco!