Monthly Archives: June 2010

Why Didn’t They Tell Me – To Turn Down the Volume

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It is polite to turn down the volume on your personal audio/video devices when riding on public transit.  Just in case you are not aware of Metro’s rules, there are signs prominently posted throughout the bus and rail systems.  People break these rules on a regular basis.  Nevertheless, I want to clarify one of the rules – “Use headphones with all audio and video devices.”

It is rude to play your audio or video device loud enough for other people to hear it.  Just because you have in your possession, or even on your ears, headphones or earbuds does not mean you are in compliance with the rule.  You must actually control the volume of your device.  Everyone does not like the same music and some people may want to travel in relative quiet.  But you won’t know that your really loud music is clashing with the really loud tunes of the girl two rows away that is overwhelming Coldplay on the iPod of the guy standing by the door.  Please turn down the volume!  Don’t get pissed with the person who taps you on the shoulder and asks, “Could you please turn that down?”  That person is not trying to diss you.  Take a deep breath, say thank you and turn down the volume.  Hey click on “Keep Reading” – there’s some good stuff here.

Research is being done on the relationship of high volume music listening to premature deafness.  According to an article by Alice Park which appeared in Time magazine February 21, 2009, . . . “Cory Portnuff, an audiologist at Colorado [University] who began studying iPod-related hearing loss in 2006, the study found that teens not only tend to play music louder than adults, but they are often unaware of how loud they’re playing it. “  According to the article, Portnuff further stated, “The risk of permanent hearing loss can increase with just five minutes of exposure a day to music at full volume. Over time, the noise can damage the delicate hair cells in the inner ear that transform sound waves to the electrical signals that the brain understands as sound.”

Teens are not the only ones who should be aware of the potential hearing problems that could ensue when constantly exposed to loud noise. You may also want to read an article about noise and hearing loss on the website of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association which shows the following:

Warning Signs of Hazardous Noise

  1. You must raise your voice to be heard
  2. You can’t hear someone two feet away from you
  3. Speech around you sounds muffled or dull after leaving a noise area
  4. You have pain or ringing in your ears (tinnitus) after exposure to noise.

Since I know many of you won’t listen or actually can’t hear a word I’m saying.  I will follow my investment strategy of putting a few dollars into companies that make hearing aids.

Read more:

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1881130,00.html

Ten Ways to Recognize Hearing Loss

How Loud is Too Loud

Metro Raises Fares – I’m Ready to Drive

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I just learned that my DC Metro commute will now cost $9.20 roundtrip per day if I take the bus and rail (see the Metro fare increase info here).  I’ve finally reached the point where I will now get a driver’s license.  You read that correctly I don’t drive although I did take driver’s education in high school and had a learner’s permit.  I lived in Philadelphia for most of my life and never needed a driver’s license since my family didn’t have a car and public transit ran nearly 24/7 everywhere we wanted to go.

Sometimes you don't know when you will make it home.

The DC Metro area, with the exceptions of Arlington County and possibly some parts of Montgomery County, is very car-centric. The simplest errands can turn into a major expedition if one relies entirely upon Metro (consequently, I take taxis when necessary). The Metro system is not 24/7 so the increased fare does nothing to encourage my further use of the system on a regular basis.  So I will begin the cumbersome (that’s how it appears on paper) process of obtaining a Maryland license. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one ready to drive rather than wait for Metro. The costs for parking, gas, insurance, and maintenance will be worth the convenience.  I know there are terrible traffic problems in this area, but sitting in my own space, minding my business and not hearing someone else’s music, very graphic loud conversations, or screaming kids will be a pleasure.

Why Didn’t They Tell Me?

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Introduction. I think of my life as an adventure during the course of which I have had mundane and extraordinary experiences.  There have been times when I felt no progress was being made or that I reached a dead end.  Of course, there have been obstacles – people, situations and me.  I learned from all of it and, fortunately, I continue to learn.

As a child I had the advantage of exposure to a diverse group of people and experiences because my parents genuinely liked meeting people from different backgrounds.  When my mother moved us to Philadelphia we were surrounded by Elders who had no qualms about offering advice both good and bad because they didn’t want young people to make the same mistakes that they made.  In appreciation for the efforts made on my behalf, I present Why Didn’t They Tell Me? – my thoughts, observations, and advice that I think will be of use to younger people.  I will make every effort to be non-judgmental which, in and of itself, will be a challenging task. Most of the content will be written by me, but I will also present the observations of others.

Please join me in this part of my adventure.  Your thoughtful comments are welcome in a  lively engagement of diverse perspectives and personalities.