"I'm nobody. Are you nobody, too?" asked Emily Dickinson rhetorically. Had we been SOMEBODY, we might have said yes to the Manhattan Institute's totally awesome invitation to their seventh annual "Alexander Hamilton Award Dinner" -- Benefactor Table of 10 at $50,000, Single Ticket(s) at $1,000. Invitation lower left. Tiny -- not amused -- upper right.
"I was not surprised but disgusted to hear one of your 'anchors' -- probably an anchorette, but who's counting? -- just say how horrified she was that anyone out here amongst us great unwashed would question Al Gore's Church of Climate Change pronouncements regarding light bulbs, dim or lite," we just commented at one of our fave cable news networks' websites. That would be New England Cable News. How disappointing to see our very best, most professional local media outlet apparently bowing down in dhimmitude without debate before everyday global-warming hysteria. This comes on the tail of the horror we woke up to this morning, with our own Pajamas Media pronouncing -- that's a couple of decibels above announcing -- that they had bought the farm. We were never consulted, but hey. Since we weren't, now we can have our say. Here's what they pronounced:
We are pleased to announce that we have acquired a program and website called One Billion Bulbs. Created by Brian Huyser of Symmetric Technologies in 2006, OBB is focused on educating people [Uh, oh. Educating is uncomfortably close to reeducating, which isn't far removed from propagandizing. Oh, never mind.] on the benefits of changing our old light bulbs to newer more energy efficient ones. In addition, OBB can allow you or your group to register your actions on line. As of April 21, 2007, OBB members have recorded over 45,000 bulbs that have been changed.
Skin crawling happens. When we think of our honorable co-PJM bloggers at Iraq the Model just trying to stay alive day to day, continuing their dentistry practice and dreaming of freedom for themselves and their countrymen, the spectacle of our fellow Americans congratulating themselves for replacing light bulbs is breathtakingly banal. What mortals these fools be. Glenn Reynolds already had the last word on the virtues of compact fluorescent light bulbs months ago when he noted that low-energy bulbs were already making inroads driven by market forces. Whether or not you do this or that to cut down on your energy use, how can an honorable human person wallow in the cheap thrill of bragging about one's CO2 purity? Pride goeth before a fall. Are we ALL politicians now? In our view, it's all too human, a 21st-century, secular version of the venerable human sacrificing of virgins or offering of food you'd rather eat yourself to appease the gods. Akin to the religious indulgences of yore referenced by critics of Sir Albert's own holier-than-thou offering of money for forgiveness a couple of weeks back when it came out that the Gores expended four times more energy than the average citizen per year just to maintain their one-of-many Tennessee homestead.
Beyond feeling good about oneself, has anyone looked into the unintended consequences of the lemming-like rush over the cliff to CFLBs? A few questions come to mind. Has anyone toted up the amount of carbon credits that will cover for all the energy expenditure involved in getting rid of/recycling the old light bulbs and getting the new ones manufactured and delivered to the market and into our politically correct homes? Just asking. PLUS. 99 percent of the light fixtures in our own house -- all custom-specified by Tuck through the years as he lovingly and expertly restored and refashioned the rooms of this 1840s Greek Revival we call home -- aren't adaptable to the lovely new energy-efficient bulbs. Just sayin'.
Update from our latest imail correspondence:
As you allude . . . the "global warming" hysteria is like some weird denial of the real threats going on in the world. Had Cho had a better light bulb, might he have been less troubled? Band-aids on hemorrhages happen. Snowden's secret.
Joseph Heller knew everything, but who's listening?
Update II: Pajamas Media links.
Yes, those folks can feel sanctified as they screw in their fluorescent lightbulb, sanctified and purified! Hallelujah Lord! Can I get an Amen?!
I just read an excellent article this morning about environmentalism being the new religion:
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/environment/en0012.htm
Posted by: miss kelly | April 22, 2007 at 03:57 PM
It comes down to religion. Most humans need the security of a belief that is certain and that makes their life meaningful. Those who do not inherit a belief with which they are comfortable must search until they find one. Hence those who cast off the traditional religions must make new ones such as environmental worship.
Posted by: goomp | April 23, 2007 at 07:07 AM
Miss Kelly: Michael Crichton's ""Environmentalism as Religion," cited in your link, was the subject of "Repent, o ye energy sinners!" my second-ever blogpost way back in December of 2003:
http://sisu.typepad.com/sisu/2003/12/the_most_import.html
Posted by: Sissy Willis | April 23, 2007 at 09:46 AM
I am 64 years old and while I am fairly well preserved, I have to tell you, I use those "soft pink" lightbulbs in any place where there is a mirror. I don't need the harsh light of a compact fluorescent delineating anything I'm not interested in viewing! And since the whole global warming thing is so much crud in my view - I'm going to stock up on my beloved soft pink babies so I am not forced into something I know I won't like!
I do use the compact bulbs in areas where it is difficult or inconvenient or just plain annoying to replace bulbs - like the outside lights! Don't really care how the skeeters feel about how they look!
Posted by: Gayle Miller | April 23, 2007 at 09:50 AM
We use about half CFLB's in our house. This is because these are high use lights. Not only does it make my electric bill smaller but they burn out less often so I don't have to replace them as much. Gotta say, I don't need high powered lighting in my office - it makes the computer screen hard to see. Plus I don't really care about my looks while sitting at my desk.
OTOH - I see no reason to go to a web site and tot up my use of various light bulbs. Good grief! I don't go to a web site and list the various recyclables I put out every week. I don't list any other type of activity I do for daily living. Why should I list my lighting? Apparently for the glory of it. Sheesh!
Posted by: Teresa | April 23, 2007 at 11:27 AM
Actually when you get right down to hard cases, our whole society is breathtakingly banal. And as the saying goes -- Not that there is anything wrong with that. May you live in interesting times is hardly meant as a 'good' thing.
But what is truly annoying is exactly what you have highlighted. The sanctimony and the mindless ego-gratification that appears to come from the new 'belief system'. Not belonging to a 'religion' now and not being much of a 'joiner', I am hardly interested in now joining the cult of the self-obsessed.
"Whether or not you do this or that to cut down on your energy use, how can an honorable human person wallow in the cheap thrill of bragging about one's CO2 purity?"
I think you have not only asked but answered this question. Most people don't even know how to spell 'honorable'. It represents a quaint vestige of a long-forgotten past. That makes it perfectly OK to wallow to your heart's content. Of course it makes it easier to wallow away when you try to force everyone else to convert to your 'beliefs' as well.
All we are missing is the mandatory gaia induced 'auto-de-fey', and everyone can feel perfectly content.
If the State wants me to use different bulbs then it can pay me to so do. Otherwise -- Butt Out. I use dimmers everywhere and they don't work with CFL technology. I calculate that with a little planning and stockpiling of the 'bad' bulbs, I can live out my days without ever having to publicly renounce my heretic ways.
Posted by: dougf | April 23, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Despite the emotive language 'climate hysteria' and 'lemming like rush', and despite the cynical way the governments have latched on to it as a way of making megabucks from a situation they themselves created by their policies, the actual fact of the warming remains unaltered. No amount of rhetoric can alter what's happening.
Over here, there is no compulsion to buy these bulbs but people do becasue they really are cheaper on the monthly electricity bill.
By the way, Sissy, what do you think of the NAU? I've just run a post on it and would like to know your thoughts.
Posted by: jameshigham | April 23, 2007 at 01:45 PM
James: You nicely illustrate my point about market forces vs. compulsion. As for man's alleged responsibility for which way the wind blows, my understanding is that while warming is a measurable fact, the jury is still very much out regarding cause/causes.
Re NAU: Hadn't heard much about it -- other than noting that former Massachusetts Governor William Weld is a co-chair -- Good coverage at your blog. Thanks!
Posted by: Sissy Willis | April 23, 2007 at 02:25 PM
My immediate knee-jerk reaction is that anything that Albert Gore, Jr. claims to be true is probably hogwash but with the equivocation that even a broken clock is right twice a day.
I think it is far more likely that we are experiencing a rather routine fluctuation that happens from time to time; the fact that it is happening now is causing the baby-boom entitlement generation to think it's all about THEM when, in fact, it's perfectly normal.
I well remember 30 or so years ago when dire predictions abounded that the earth was getting COLDER and that we'd all be freezing to death at some unspecified point in time.
I find doomsday predictions extremely difficult to take seriously. I've heard way too many in my lifetime already and will doubtless hear way too many in whatever time is left to me.
Posted by: Gayle Miller | April 23, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Actually, I did sign up for the bulb registry thingy, but more to proving Glenn's point on market forces. I like the idea that people prove they are doing things by personal motivation (be it environmental feelings or trying to lower the electric bill). However, I'll admit that I'm probably naive about how my stats will be manipulated for somebody's agenda.
And Ms. Willis, it's not just NECN. Channel 4 (WBZ) has jumped the shark on global warming as well.
I used to respect their weather staff...
Posted by: Jerub-Baal | April 23, 2007 at 04:29 PM
We live in a plutocracy, for pluto is acceptable that the philosofical elite lies to the citizens of the republic.
That is just what happens, the world is run by fear, and by what Plato called the noble lies.
The formula used to rule the world is called the hegelian dialect and it is the update done by
Georg Hegel to the work of Plato.
Human rights, the united nations, the world bank, the central banks are the temples of society.
Since they control everything they can lie and make the lie the truth.
Politicians are just avarage idiots bribed and threated. They just say what they are told to.
People are led to belive that they are responsables.
people are led to go to war and kill people that otherwise they would love.
worse they torture people like they kill flies.
people need to open their eyes, or the cycle will repeat itself for ever.
Humanity is hanging in a cross
Posted by: LuisPereira | May 17, 2007 at 10:33 AM
LuisPereira: Hegel was a totalitarian at heart. Check out Dr. Sanity for details:
The evolution of education into indoctrination:
http://drsanity.blogspot.com/2007/05/evolution-of-education-into.html
Posted by: Sissy Willis | May 17, 2007 at 10:48 AM