Lummor JR writes today about flourescent light bulbs and apparently one state's attempt to mandate their use everywhere. I happen to live in that state, and reading his post reminded me of other well-intentioned and horribly misguided attempts by California to help save the environment.

This is the same state that mandates that gas cans must adhere to a terrible "spill-proof" design (I use quotes with a mocking, yet painfully all too real sigh). If you look at the image, you'll see the notch which is used to slide a portion of the nozzle back, opening it up. You're supposed to rest the notch against the opening of the fuel tank you're filling and push the entire gas can to slide the nozzle open. For lawnmowers, the gas can ends up almost fully upside-down in this position. The idea is that when the tank is full, the gasoline stops flowing, and the nozzle automatically snaps closed as you lift the can back up and out of the tank. No spill, right? Wrong!

Here's what really happens:

• First, the nozzle does not slide open easily. At all. To get it open, you turn the gas can over, fit the notch on the edge of the fuel tank opening, and push. Hard.
• Now that the nozzle is open, the gas comes gushing out, splashing all around because there's no air inlet hole to equalize pressure inside the can. You also have very little control over the flow rate because the can must be held nearly upside-down. Make sure the children and pets aren't too close!
• Because the nozzle didn't slide open easily, you guessed it — it stays open when you're done pouring. Now remember that the whole gas can is almost fully upside-down. You try your best to flip it back upright, watching as gasoline spills all over the place because the stupid nozzle did not work as advertised.
• 
  Yeah, I hope the bureaucrats are proud of themselves for that one. I'm quite certain that they dramatically increased the amount of spillage and pollution from gas cans by doing it, and some manufacturer probably got rich off the state mandating their crappy design. I'll bet some executives made a slick presentation along with lots of nice bribes without actually demonstrating their horrible, horrible product. And the bureaucrats felt good about themselves for saving the environment. Well done!
  
  I keep forgetting to buy a "regular" gas can sometime when I'm out of state. At least with those, I can control the pour myself and eliminate spillage. When I finally get one, I expect Arnold Schwarzenegger to personally thank me for being proactive and taking extra steps to help save Colly-forneeah's environment.