August, 2008 - FirstView Comments

**huwevans** · 01-08-2008 04:22

This thread is for comments arising from the August 2008 picture thread.

**huwevans** · 01-08-2008 08:46

... looks like the same make and model as mine. I'll be interested to find out if you discover the same 'undocumented feature' that I did, or if it's only my machine that has it. If you can't get it to work, pm me and I'll tell you about it. :-)

**Mojo_66** · 01-08-2008 16:58

Them energy saving ones are pretty dire, I never find them as bright as the old kind, and they take ages to warm up. Apparently they have mercury in them too. So it's ok to stick heavy metals in light bulbs but it has to be withdrawn from batteries rendering lots of nice old photo gear more or less useless.

**Garry McNamara** · 01-08-2008 17:57

Candles are best - instant light and very reliable. If we can only harness body fat harvested from liposuction clinics instead of petroleum it will even be green.

Like the drama of the kitchen sink shot - ha! Just goes to show a nice birra light and anything looks good.

**jchrisc** · 01-08-2008 18:24

Energy saving bulbs have their problems, but we have never had any fail yet. What are you doing to them Huw?

On the subject of pondweed, a lady was describing on the radio how she fell into her pond wearing a towelling dressing gown. She said the pond weed clung to it when she climbed out and it was the most effective clearer of the weed that she had ever come across. No guarantee from me - try it at your own risk . . .

**huwevans** · 02-08-2008 03:43

Energy saving bulbs have their problems, but we have never had any fail yet. What are you doing to them Huw?

Well, nothing! I mean, they just sit on the shelf until they're needed, then I get them out of the box, insert into lamp-holder as with any tungsten bulb (except I grip them by the solid base structure, rather than by the tubes), then switch on, and they're already dead. I reckon I've had something like 10-20% fail like that - dead on first use. The ones that don't fail are great - except for the one which failed after a normal long life, but in such a way as to fuse the lighting circuits for the entire house. That was annoying, but an isolated incident.

Re. the mercury thing someone mentioned, yes - there is mercury vapour (or some mercury compound maybe) in the tubes. This does mean you have to dispose of them carefully, and if a tube breaks I think you're supposed to air the room for about 15 minutes before going back in. I've never actually had one break though, so I guess it's not that difficult to avoid.

As to whether the net impact on the environment is better or worse than with tungsten bulbs I really couldn't say - I'd find it hard to believe that the manufacturing process isn't a great deal worse with the energy saving ones, but mostly we just have to take these things on trust. I'm not at all sure I do trust those who dictate these things in the corridors of Brussels or Strasbourg, or wherever it is, but at least the energy-saving bulbs cut my electricity bills somewhat.

**swanseadave** · 02-08-2008 09:00

I`ve had dead lamps too Huw.I emailed Philips and they sent a parcel of new ones FOC.If you don`t ask you don`t get.Cheers Dave

**zx9** · 02-08-2008 10:36

Wow colourful, what is it 'Hoobs' flavour

**TheFatControlleR** · 02-08-2008 11:11

It is a bit colourful, isn't it.

Her indoors does them for the nipper (at least that's the excuse for the Dulux explosion effect). There's only one problem with her cakes; they taste too good...

**Garry McNamara** · 02-08-2008 11:47

My local station - Honor Oak Park.

That's one of those stations where you find yourself seriously considering the possibility that the train you mistakenly got off might have been the last one ever to run on that line.

Hanwell I think used be the least painted station I'd ever seen. I think they did it up recently - prior to that it looked like something out of the Wild West with peeling paint and tumble weeds rolling down the platform.

**Mojo_66** · 02-08-2008 19:08

Apparently barley straw is good for de-greening a pond.

Incidently I once had an energy saving lightbulb break on me, I screwed it in, switched it on and it shattered, leaving the holder still in the socket. Didn't know you were suppsoed to air the room though.

**OneTen** · 02-08-2008 20:16

Apparently barley straw is good for de-greening a pond.

Yep, works a treat, did mine this year.

**Scphoto** · 02-08-2008 21:11

It is a bit colourful, isn't it.

Our little one is helps to make the cakes now, but she loves to add the green or black food colour.

Then she only eats the icing!

**ermintrude** · 03-08-2008 14:15

Ooo. Im amazed at the number of fruit and plants this month! And cats...

**mjc7uk** · 03-08-2008 17:57

Well at least it's either the Picture or Harvey my cat, so decide it's my picture instead..