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05/05/2008: "Listening To The City"
It always gets to me when people living in urban neighborhoods want things to be quiet enough to hear a pin drop. I recently responded to a message board complaint about a loud radio with this response:
In Park Slope, Brooklyn there are signs that warn of a $300 fine for honking. I think for the most part cities are full of noise and if they meet the needs of the typical suburban resident, they cease to be cities. I wouldn't enjoy my transome rattling particularly, but I do enjoy hearing "12A Downtown," the AGH Lifeflight Helicopter and when I hear the Norfolk Southern trains lay on the horn. A few years back when the Stones played at PNC Park I could hear it in the back yard--that was awesome. I am enjoying the subway gently vibrating the floor beneath me right now. When I lived in the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco-- where everyone came to party-- some idiots tried to keep things quiet. McCandless is the home of quiet, so is the grave. Sure, some noise is just purposefully obnoxious, but generally in the city noise is a sign of life and life is good. Enjoy it.
Eric Miller, on 05.05.08 @ 16:28PST
