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Quiet, please.
Those of us who dwell in the big, bad city already know this, but
Noise brings out the worst in human beings—noisy people have been injured and even killed by their neighbours—but neighbours are just one source of noise in a world that’s increasingly cacophonous.
Actually, I can think of at least three other things that bring out the worst in humans here before they even pay attention to the noise.
1) The cattle-corral on the subway, 2) the 90 degree soup we walk through everywhere we go, and 3) the traffic on the sidewalks. (Even LA freeways are less stressful than NY sidewalk traffic.)
As for noise, my neighbors have nothing to worry about, but maybe the construction site downstairs should look out for me.
Noise isn’t just a nuisance; it’s positively bad for us. We’ve known for decades that super-loud noise can deafen us. But damaged hearing is just the beginning. A jet flying overhead or a snoring bedmate can increase blood pressure and heart rate even when we don’t stir from our slumber. Stress hormones surge into the bloodstream. Doctors worry that this chain of events creates health problems when it happens all night long, every night of the week.
Forget murdering others, apparently noise is murdering you. But what about conditioning? I’ve been subjected to similar noise levels most of my life. Am I immune? Probably not, perhaps just comfortable in my discomfort.
Researchers [...] conducted blood pressure measurements at 15-minute intervals, or about 30 measurements each night, in 140 people sleeping near major airports. Noise levels were measured at the same time. Even when the overhead airplane noise didn’t wake the study participants, systolic blood pressure (the top number on a blood pressure reading) increased by 6.2 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by 7.4 mm Hg. Heart rate went up by an average of 5.4 beats per minute.
The study is ultimately unclear about long-term results (i.e., will a healthy person’s blood pressure permanently increase as a result of consistent exposure to noise and stress?) Not sure.
Still, as I write this, I’m becoming more aware of the booming and screeching outside, and with my neck increasingly tense, I have to capitulate. I have donned earplugs (which don’t even block all the noise).
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“To Which the Wise and the Honest Can Repair.”*
The arch was finished for, what, a total of three days before they broke ground on the construction monstrosity at Washington Square?
Here’s some literally broken ground.
I’m late to the party, but Washington Square Blog gave a tour of the park today at 12:00. (I’ll let you know sooner if it’s offered again.)
*Washington’s words, the inscription on the arch:
Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.
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Ground Traffic Control
I went to the window tonight, looking for the culprit behind the whooping noise on the street (yes, I’m 73) and instead of paying attention to the revelers below, I noticed a street light down inside the construction site at Union Square park. (The construction boundaries were erected around the traffic light.)
I’m sure the ants were happy when their new stoplight arrived; maybe tiny traffic cameras are coming soon.
Seriously, I wonder how this happened.
Drunk driving on the CAT?
If the whole ant-traffic thing doesn’t work out, they could move this show downtown. A new red light, special for the girls.
UPDATE 4:29PM: The light has been repaired to serve humankind, and the ant community is wild again, unchecked.
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Still Drying Out
No need to water the dirt today. Still plenty of lakes around the construction site after Saturday’s monsoon.
And while we’re here, the woodpecker has a new hole to dig. Again, they’re hinting at pipe installation, with the pipeline standing at the ready. Let’s see if it happens.
