We got led lights for the Christmas tree, and they are SO blue. You don't notice it much when the tree is the only thing lit in the house, but when any other light is on - we are mostly CFL but have a few incandescent lights left - SO blue.

Can the CFL lightbulbs not be hidden by pretty light fixtures?

I meant the light, really. It's pukey.

Can the CFL lightbulbs not be hidden by pretty light fixtures?

They are a bit bigger than regular light bulbs, but the newest ones manage to coil them pretty tight. Most of ours are behind fixtures now.

I have CFL in the bathroom and livingroom. I like them in the bathroom because it makes a noticeable temp difference in the summer.

I begrudge the one in the livingroom. Really, I want my halogen back!

I think tact and forgiveness need to be avoided when it comes to the VA. Or at least, the VA where they are. They've screwed up so much with her, with potentially really bad consequences, it really isn't funny.

I meant the light, really. It's pukey.

The light seems pretty decent to me though it depends on how new the bulbs are. The new ones are a lot better, then problem is that they last so long that we still have 4-5 year old ones that do have the sucky light.

I thought halogen were less wasteful than regular incandescent.

I have CFL in all but 4 light fixtures. I don't mind them at all. I think having their light diffused by shades helps a bit. The only place they feel particularly fluorescent-y is in the basement, where there seem to clash with the 1970's wood panelling aesthetic.

I begrudge the one in the livingroom. Really, I want my halogen back!

I wonder if more power might help. 60 watts of CFL bulbs will be pretty damn bright and make it seem better. We had a light fixture with that much in a bedroom and had to remove a bulb because it was insanely bright in the room.

I thought halogen were less wasteful than regular incandescent.

The bulbs last longer, but they suck up the juice. They put out a lot of energy as heat. Nice light though.

I just liked the light of the halogen better. And the dimmability. But then the halogen's rheostat died and I discovered that they no longer sell those inexpensive halogen torchiers everywhere. And then I discovered that I can't get to the old rheostat to replace it. And I was sad.

I've heard that's less true these days. It used to be they'd use about an hours worth of juice to start; I think now it's a minute or less....

This was on Mythbusters. I think with the tubes they used it came out to a minute or something just like you're thinking.

they no longer sell those inexpensive halogen torchiers everywhere.

Yeah, they put out so much heat they were a fire hazard.