Not being able to see things is becoming a theme. First the fancy-pants spiral-shaped compact flourescent "bulb" in the kitchen, the one that's supposed to be "just as bright" and "just as good" only cheaper, has begun dimming, and way too soon! I had so much trouble getting the glass shade fitted back over it and attached securely. Now we might as well be lighting by kerosene. Then the halogen bulb blew out in the fixture that permits reading in the middle of the night. We can't complain about this, since I think that it's getting close on to a decade that we've had it. Luckily we had a proper replacement, but all the literature is truly frightening. Under no circumstances is the bulb to be touched by the human hand or skin oils can cause it to explode into a trillion pieces or something. The old bulb was sold under the General Electric name and manufactured in Hungary. The replacement (from Office Depot and sitting around for a half-dozen years or so in the drawer) bears a Dana label and was made in China. Then the globe shaped bulb in the downstairs bathroom went. There can be no complaint about this, either, since it has lasted over twenty years despite daily use! Despite appearances, any old light bulb will fit the fixture and do the job, though in a Booth-cartoon way, until we get out to buy a prettier specimen.