Is this Holland or Christmas?

This is the time of massive light pollution in every city and town in North America. Millions of watts burn in the front yards and the roofs of holiday-spirited people. I admit it all looks kind of nice in a campy sort of way. We must ask, however, that if this is a good thing in this time of “energy crisis.” It is not bad to run a couple dozen of 15W for a couple hours a day. But when the total consumption and light output of a single “display” outstrip those of the entire neighbourhood, it is a little too much. I think we should have some kind of limit on power consumption this time of the year. And while we are at it, a limit on luminous would be good too. I am not against Christmas; I just want to help to lessen our dependence on oil. And, I want to lessen the redness of the entire front part of my house, resulting from the display across the street. My neighbour’s house looks colourful, but sitting in my living room looking at the blinking redness, I feel like there must be a couple of young women in underwear sitting next to my windows. And that is more Amsterdam than North Pole, all distinctively not Christmas.