On the Bright Side I May Develop Super Powers

In the textbook Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology by Frederic H. Martini (now there's a man I'd like to drink) sixth edition, the first sentence on page 584 is, "An ordinary lightbulb or the sun emits photons of all wavelengths." This is not true. The sun is an enormous roiling fusion reaction in the sky and not even it emits photons of all wavelengths. An ordinary lightbulb certainly doesn't, or at least I hope it doesn't. The only light bulb that should be pumping out gamma rays is one on which Doctor Who has reversed the polarity of the neutron flow. Generally speaking, it is a bad idea to use things that emit high frequency photons as a light source without a decent plantary atmosphere between you and it on account of how ionizing radiation can kill you. And so ordinary light bulbs don't. That and the fact that a light bulb that puts out energy in wavelengths we can't see wouldn't be very efficient. That's why we got rid of ordinary incandescent bulbs in Australia. They put out too much energy in wavelengths we can't see, but that was short wave stuff, not cancer rays.

But at least this textbook isn't censored. One can freely look at people's guts without clothes getting in the way.

Economics without Illusions by Joseph Heath - A Canadian who loves light bulbs, but knows them not!

Joseph... can I call you Joseph? Of course I can. I mean, that's your name. It would be pretty silly if I called you Esmeralda. Anyway, Joseph, I have to tell you, you're a really wonderful guy and you've written a great book. I love you man... but not physically.

I just thought I should mention the not physically part because I know Canadians tend to be a very touchy feely people. When I was young I once sat next to a Canadian during dinner and she continuously bumped against me, poked my shoulder, grabbed my arm and so on. There was so much physical contact that by the time we finished dessert I decided that this must be what having sex is like. (Lots of nasal sounds with some cheesecake at the end.)

Anyway, I just want to say that you've written a great book, Joseph. But, and it pains me to have to say this... well, no, actually it doesn't pain me. Probably because I bear a marked resemblance unto a big prick who thrives on pedantry. But anyway, you say you are very fond of light bulbs, but while you may love light bulbs, do you truly know them? I think not, Joseph. I think not.

You say that in a cold clime such as Canada the inefficiency of incandescent light bulbs is of no import, as the waste heat merely goes towards heating the home during the 27 months of the year when it's fricking cold in Canada. But that's where you're wrong, my philosophical friend. You see, I did my research by asking a hallucination, and it said that many Canadian homes have some form of heat exchanger which performs a much more efficient job of warming Canadian domiciles than electrical resistance heating ever could! This means you are WRONG to say incandescent light bulbs don't waste energy! Or at least you are wrong provided my hallucination was telling the truth. And even if a Canadian home doesn't have a heat exchanger they often have fuel oil or natural gas central heating which is about three times more efficient at providing heat than an electric lightbulb powered by fossil fuel generated electricity!

But aside from that, great book. Very interesting. I liked it.