“Lasts 11 years!” saving “$202 in energy costs” because its 23 watts deliver the same brightness as a 100 watt incandescent bulb. (The kind to be outlawed Jan. 1 for manufacture by our political overseers, the very best ones that money can buy, you can be sure.)
So says the box of two Sylvania Super Saver, CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp), micro-mini, Soft White, Mrs. Charm bought the other day. The promise is classic sleight-of-hand. Quick, look over here!
Ah, but the fine print on the side of the box says the 11 years is based on just three hours use a day for seven days a week. I can triple that usage even in the daytime in a room with only one (north-facing) window and no skylight.
Howsomeever. The brightness is, indeed, comparable to a 100 watt incandescent. And the light is no harsher than an incandescent. (Soft was in the eye of the copy writer, apparently.)
But it does take a while to get that bright. “Instant On” the box says in big green letters. Most of the box is green. Of course. But “instant on”? That’s no truer than “If you like your health insurance, you can keep it.”
The light comes on surprisingly dim. Takes about 30 seconds to get bright. Not a big problem unless you need the bright light for something important in a hurry. Then you’d be SOL. Maybe you could carry a flashlight, eh?
Don’t bother calling the politicians. They’re busy cashing their checks from Sylvania.
UPDATE: Shoot. I was wrong. It’s not just manufacture of 100-watt bulbs that ends on Wednesday (Jan. 1, 2014) but 60- and 40-watt bulbs, too. There are still some around, of course. And if manufacturers in Mexico are smart (and I’m sure they are) they’ll keep making them for sale here.
THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER 
Well, it is not all that bad. About a year and a half ago we have replaced all the old style CFs by the new ones, about 90 all in all throughout the house. Only three burned out so far. Two of them, of course, at places where I don’t have a slightest hope to reach. And yes, it takes time before they “warm up”.
By the way, by asking around I got pointed to Philips as the most reliable brand, here at least. A tad more expensive than Sylvania…
Eighteen months of life is a lot shorter than 11 years. It is longer than any incandescent of my acquaintance ever lasted. Fortunately I can think of only about 35 CF bulbs that will be needed when the incandescents burn out.