While walking the dog (wasteful luxury?), I was mulling over your 
message and particularly about the EU politicians. This comment implied 
that the EU was responsible for bad restrictive legislation, if I 
inferred correctly. This is not entirely true:

1. Sweden (much more radical than the EU) introduced legislation to ban 
deca-BDE. A 10-year risk assessment of the EU deemed the substance to be 
acceptable and forced Sweden to drop its ban.

2. Some large companies, such as Sony and Dell etc., tried to impose 
halogen-free laminates in their products and by their combined weight 
(possibly >50% of world electronics assemblies) to force the industry to 
go hal-free. As their proposed laminate was ~twice the price of FR-4 and 
was made only in Japan, this move was viewed badly by the EU and 
possibly by the WTO as breaching competitiveness rules. The EU did an 
"exhaustive" series of tests on TBBPA for environmental and human health 
risks and have stated that its use as a monomer for epoxy resins for 
laminate manufacture is safe. Ordinary FR-4 is thus potentially saved by 
the EU.

OTOH, don't get me started on RoHS or REACH!!!!

Brian

Joe Fjelstad wrote:
> Not on topic, but an example of what is arguably waste of a  different sort. 
> (IMHO) 
>  
> The link provides an example of what might be considered "conspicuous  
> consumption" as defined in "Theory of the  Leisure Class". 
>  
> People can spend their money as they please and no doubt some  jobs are 
> provided in the process but it seems a pity they can't find better  uses for it 
> (again IMO).
>  
> I wonder how many EU parliamentarians will attend... ;-)  
>  
> _http://www.luxist.com/2008/09/11/worlds-most-extravagant-party-in-dubai-will-
> be-visible-from-spa/?icid=200100397x1209104387x1200535689_ 
> (http://www.luxist.com/2008/09/11/worlds-most-extravagant-party-in-dubai-will-be-visible-from-spa
> /?icid=200100397x1209104387x1200535689) 
> 
> 
> 
> **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, 
> plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com.      
> (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)
>