atomic_fungus (atomic_fungus) wrote,
atomic_fungus
atomic_fungus

#4103: And my week is half over. *sigh*

Scheduled two days this week (originally it was supposed to be three, only my Friday was canceled after the holiday sales report came out) so I'm now half done with my workweek.

Well, things will pick up.

* * *

It's 4° outside, and I had to go change the CFL in the post light because it's too cold for it to start.

CFLs rely on mercury vapor remaining vaporous. There is perhaps 5mg of mercury in a CFL; the rest of the bulb is full of vacuum. Vacuum is an insulator; the mercury vapor in the tubing makes it just conductive enough for current to flow, thus continuously ionizing the mercury atoms. In this kind of cold, I have this mental image of the mercury vapor pooling at the bottom of the double helix of glass tubing--not actually condensing to liquid, but having an insufficient number of atoms elsewhere in the tubing to strike an arc.

This is one of the major problems with CFL bulbs: temperature sensitivity. They're fine when it's relatively warm outside, but if they get too cold they won't turn on.

* * *

Wonderduck is falling on another grenade for us. Unlike Rio: Rainbow Gate, however, I'm not planning to watch the one he's reviewing this time. Reason: I've had more than enough of the Evangelion franchise to last me for the rest of my life.

* * *

Mrs. Fungus and I were plenty tired yesterday, so we ended up watching Despicable Me and then going to bed around midnight. DM is hilarious, though we've both seen it enough that we know the movie fairly well.

* * *

I actually had several links to discuss, but I find that I don't have the energy to discuss them, particularly since it's just more of the same commentary on the same old subjects. I need to find something new to write about.

Unfortunately, that's not going to happen today, either. Sorry.
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