3 Best/Worst Things About Houston?

[cjester]

Originally Posted by jd2008

BTW...looks like the website ranks states by the amount CFL bulbs purchased. Certainly a good thing. I think we should do what Australia has done and mandate that all new bulbs be CFL. But hardly the be-all, end-all of environmentalism.
But it is good to see nonetheless.

CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury!! Mercury is a potent neurotoxin., The problem with the bulbs is that they'll break before they get to the landfill. They'll break in containers, or they'll break in a dumpster. A woman went out and bought some CFL bulbs and when installing them, one broke. A month later, one bedroom remains sealed off with plastic. Looks similar to the site of a hazardous materials accident. she has been presented with a $2,000 estimate by a company specializing in environmentally sound cleanups of the mercury inside the bulb.

[jd2008]

Originally Posted by cjester

CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch: Toxic Mercury!! Mercury is a potent neurotoxin., The problem with the bulbs is that they'll break before they get to the landfill. They'll break in containers, or they'll break in a dumpster. A woman went out and bought some CFL bulbs and when installing them, one broke. A month later, one bedroom remains sealed off with plastic. Looks similar to the site of a hazardous materials accident. she has been presented with a $2,000 estimate by a company specializing in environmentally sound cleanups of the mercury inside the bulb.

Not to totally get off topic but I agree that is a problem but a problem that can be mitigated nonetheless. Most major cities have special disposal centers to deal with them (Does Houston?). Ample warning should be placed on the packaging. They are constructed with this very problem in mind.

I use them in my unit and they work fine. I actually like them better because they produce a softer light than regular bulbs and they last longer.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by cjester

...Looks similar to the site of a hazardous materials accident. she has been presented with a $2,000 estimate by a company specializing in environmentally sound cleanups of the mercury inside the bulb.

Off topic yes, but someone got badly ripped off:

Pharyngula: Compact Fluorescent Lights are gonna kill you … NOT.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: CFL Mercury Light Bulbs

[Seaglass]

"As long as they don't drive like jerks..."

While we're on this, this is for all you giant SUV mommies in Katy, especially the CR area...and you know who you are. Hang up your cellphone, get your eyes out of your back seat (hello?), lay off your horn, and take your foot off the accelerator. Please.

[Bike4Life]

Oh Lord, please help me get out of this country but not Houston! At least, not yet, sir!

Originally Posted by jd2008

I've spent a lot of time in Europe and have several friends from there and the oft heard complaint is that Americans are self centered and ignorant of the outside world. Generally I think that is spot on. Sadly, I think Texas in many respects exemplifies the extreme example of this national tendency.

[basketcase33]

Originally Posted by davidt1

Didn't say more expensive. CA is expensive. So as expensive is expensive. I find grocery more expensive here. Ethnic restaurant foods I eat are more expensive here.

OMG, come to BOSTON! I feel like my wallet is being RAPED!

[Wysiwyg]

I agree restaurant dining is expensive in houston. sprawl is probably to blame. since theyre all spread out they don't really have to compete and lower their prices. authenticity isn't even a factor here
that 'japanese' restaurant in 290/cypress-rosehill is really crappy but i guess it doesn't matter for folks who live up there

[Texas Mack]

I have to agree that Houston has very good restaurants but they don't follow a designated location chart. They pop up pretty much wherever they feel like and in places that many would consider to be "out there", and because of that they can kind of do what they want in terms of pricing and that sort of thing.