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To: Colin Henshaw

Well, I’m not sure how glorified Bangladesh is, but I would imagine that it’s pretty buggy!

As for lighting design, how am I going to provide lighting that won’t attract bugs? They’re literally everywhere. They are going to be drawn to lights, that’s just how they function. And motion sensors are fine for some applications, but not for others. You can’t wire the whole lighting scheme to motion sensors, that’s a ridiculous assumption based on ignorance of people’s needs and wants.

As for your contention that we are the intruders into nature, I totally reject that notion. Why are we not considered a part of nature? We are natural beings, we are not artificial or alien to Earth. It’s natural for man to alter his surroundings, just as it is for any other species that does so.

As for being responsible, do you think people are generally stupid? I’m not trying to be rude, but really- do you feel it’s your duty to inform everyone else of what they may or may not do with their own money on their own property? It’s obvious common sense to avoid shining lights into your neighbor’s window, but if someone wants to do that, that’s their personal neighborhood drama to deal with, not mine.

Now you’re also making assumptions about my business practices and the intentions of my clients that are completely unrelated to reality. I’m not going to give someone a bad design, or recommend something that’s harmful or illegal. I would shut down my income stream very quickly, no thanks.

The free market, as always, is the determining factor as it should be- not some control freak legislation.

Anyway, if you feel so strongly about this, I invite you to start your own lighting business and compete against me.


50 posted on 07/02/2008 7:13:09 AM PDT by ovrtaxt (This election is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if McCain wins, we're still retarded.)
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To: ovrtaxt

“As for your contention that we are the intruders into nature, I totally reject that notion.”

If you are in a natural setting, such as the Everglades, then, yes, we are the intruders, definitely. If you visit an African game reserve, fail to follow the guidelines issued by park officials, and then get eaten by a lion, do you blame the lion? As far as she’s concerned you’re just another morsel for her cubs. The same would apply in the Everglades if you get covered by swarms of insects. It’s not their fault. Moreover, the decision to go there was yours. If you don’t like insects, don’t go to such places and stay at home. As for the insects, in such places, they come with the territory. For my part I’ve lived in places frequented by snakes, scorpions, centipedes, the lot, and didn’t find them a problem.

“As for lighting design, how am I going to provide lighting that won’t attract bugs? They’re literally everywhere. They are going to be drawn to lights, that’s just how they function. And motion sensors are fine for some applications, but not for others. You can’t wire the whole lighting scheme to motion sensors, that’s a ridiculous assumption based on ignorance of people’s needs and wants.”

You’re right, you can’t. But you can design lights that minimise the problem by aiming light downwards so that it doesn’t leak out to where it is not wanted. Most lighting now available does nothing of the sort. That’s why we have light pollution.

Motion sensors are for domestic security lights, which is what most householders want. If all security lights were motion operated we would have less of a problem and I wouldn’t be complaining. Granted there will be the need for non-motion operated lighting in work-stations, etc where people are going to be working all night. Motion operated lighting in these situations would not be appropriate. Nevertheless, the lighting can be designed in such a way that it only goes where it is needed, and no-where else. That should be part of your job-description as a lighting designer.

“As for being responsible, do you think people are generally stupid? I’m not trying to be rude, but really- do you feel it’s your duty to inform everyone else of what they may or may not do with their own money on their own property?”

There was a time when I respected elected officials in local government, and that they commanded a certain degree of authority. Unfortunately, due to my encounters with such people I found the level of ignorance and arrogance absolutely appalling. We get situations where a street lighting department can hang a street light outside your home without some much as a by-your-leave, and all under the pretext of safety and security. I resent that. They adopt the attitude that we all need street lights. Sorry. We don’t. Street lighting however can be construed as useful in urban, and some suburban situations, but what are worse are the crass public art projects that deliberately inject light into the night sky. I’ve been personally involved in killing off a number of these civic vanity projects, with considerable public support, and all of these were sanctioned by ignorant, arrogant morons in local government intent on an ego trip. In each case the savings to the public exchequer amounted to hundreds of thousands.

I think I credit householders with a certain amount of intelligence, and if all lighting intended for exterior use was motion operated then you reduce the risks of neighbour disputes, which from personal experience, can be quite ugly. If you really have any concern for your fellow man, you wouldn’t want to peddle merchandise that can precipitate these problems. For most domestic purposes, motion operated lighting is all that is needed, and where it isn’t, sky-friendly screened lighting is available. You should be promoting that, and phasing out lighting that is inappropriate. Once all lighting is sky-friendly, the customer is still free to choose what suits his needs. And he/she will do so knowing its environmental impact will be minimal.

I’m honoured by your invitation to compete against you, but no thanks. I’m an academic, without any business acumen, and the business world is not for me. So long as I make enough money to support my family I’m happy.


51 posted on 07/05/2008 7:24:28 AM PDT by Colin Henshaw
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To: ovrtaxt

“As for your contention that we are the intruders into nature, I totally reject that notion.”

If you are in a natural setting, such as the Everglades, then, yes, we are the intruders, definitely. If you visit an African game reserve, fail to follow the guidelines issued by park officials, and then get eaten by a lion, do you blame the lion? As far as she’s concerned you’re just another morsel for her cubs. The same would apply in the Everglades if you get covered by swarms of insects. It’s not their fault. Moreover, the decision to go there was yours. If you don’t like insects, don’t go to such places and stay at home. As for the insects, in such places, they come with the territory. For my part I’ve lived in places frequented by snakes, scorpions, centipedes, the lot, and didn’t find them a problem.

“As for lighting design, how am I going to provide lighting that won’t attract bugs? They’re literally everywhere. They are going to be drawn to lights, that’s just how they function. And motion sensors are fine for some applications, but not for others. You can’t wire the whole lighting scheme to motion sensors, that’s a ridiculous assumption based on ignorance of people’s needs and wants.”

You’re right, you can’t. But you can design lights that minimise the problem by aiming light downwards so that it doesn’t leak out to where it is not wanted. Most lighting now available does nothing of the sort. That’s why we have light pollution.
Motion sensors are for domestic security lights, which is what most householders want. If all security lights were motion operated we would have less of a problem and I wouldn’t be complaining. Granted there will be the need for non-motion operated lighting in work-stations, etc where people are going to be working all night. Motion operated lighting in these situations would not be appropriate. Nevertheless, the lighting can be designed in such a way that it only goes where it is needed, and no-where else. That should be part of your job-description as a lighting designer.

“As for being responsible, do you think people are generally stupid? I’m not trying to be rude, but really- do you feel it’s your duty to inform everyone else of what they may or may not do with their own money on their own property?”

There was a time when I respected elected officials in local government, and that they commanded a certain degree of authority. Unfortunately, due to my encounters with such people I found the level of ignorance and arrogance absolutely appalling. We get situations where a street lighting department can hang a street light outside your home without some much as a by-your-leave, and all under the pretext of safety and security. I resent that. They adopt the attitude that we all need street lights. Sorry. We don’t. Street lighting however can be construed as useful in urban, and some suburban situations, but what are worse are the crass public art projects that deliberately inject light into the night sky. I’ve been personally involved in killing off a number of these civic vanity projects, with considerable public support, and all of these were sanctioned by ignorant, arrogant morons in local government intent on an ego trip. In each case the savings to the public exchequer amounted to hundreds of thousands.
I think I credit householders with a certain amount of intelligence, and if all lighting intended for exterior use was motion operated then you reduce the risks of neighbour disputes, which from personal experience, can be quite ugly. If you really have any concern for your fellow man, you wouldn’t want to peddle merchandise that can precipitate these problems. For most domestic purposes, motion operated lighting is all that is needed, and where it isn’t, sky-friendly screened lighting is available. You should be promoting that, and phasing out lighting that is inappropriate. Once all lighting is sky-friendly, the customer is still free to choose what suits his needs. And he/she will do so knowing its environmental impact will be minimal.

I’m honoured by your invitation to compete against you, but no thanks. I’m an academic, without any business acumen, and the business world is not for me. So long as I make enough money to support my family I’m happy.


64 posted on 07/09/2008 4:36:50 AM PDT by Colin Henshaw
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