The incandescent light bulb, one of the most venerable inventions of its era but deemed too inefficient for our own, will be phased off the U.S. market beginning in 2012 under the new energy law just approved by Congress.

Consumers are rightly concerned about the toxic substance mercury that helps the compact fluorescent produce light. Even though the amount sealed in each bulb is small--one old-fashioned thermometer had about 100 times as much mercury--contact local trash collection for disposal instructions. Environmentalists agree that more work must be done on bulb recycling programs. Right now, you can return any CFL to any Ikea store for recycling.

These bulbs must be handled with caution. Using a drop cloth might be a good new routine to develop when screwing in a light bulb, to make the clean-up of any breaks easier.

Yeah, okay, I'll just get out my handy drop cloth, lift the lamp, throw it over my end table, put down the lamp, and proceed. I'm certainly not against the new bulb plan but come on. If I have to put down a drop cloth to change a light bulb, perhaps we haven't developed the right new bulb yet???