Posted on 11/10/2002 4:07:40 PM PST by quietAmerican
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Even the low-level but chronic noise of everyday local traffic can cause stress in children and raise blood pressure, heart rates and levels of stress hormones, reports a new study by a Cornell University environmental psychologist and his European co-authors.
"We also found that girls exposed to the traffic noise become less motivated, presumably from the sense of helplessness that can develop from noise they couldn't control," says Gary Evans, an international expert on environmental stress, such as noise, crowding and air pollution.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.cornell.edu ...
However, having said that, this is total crap: "...girls exposed to the traffic noise become less motivated, presumably from the sense of helplessness that can develop from noise they couldn't control."
All the study indicates (based on the cornell report) is a weak correlation between higher stress, poorer health and elevated levels of noise. It does not lend itself to psychobabble like that quote above.
Folks, this is more liberal foolishness. Trying to find a crisis where none exists and playing the blame game.
Rest assured we won't confront some of the real problems in society. Traffic is very safe.
Pookie & ME
I do have high blood pressure, though. Can I sue the railroad?
As I sit here in the suburbs, listening to the Boom Cars go by, as "The Children" bombard themselves with far worse than traffic noise, my gorge rises as I gag at the idiotic quackery from an "Environmental Psychologist and Doctor of Basket Weaving" and his Euroweenie Bum Boys.
Saddest of all is the mortgages the miscreant's parents took out to send it to Cornell.
Since every human activity in the world offends someone at some time, I suppose cry babys like you will not be happy until all human activity ceases and you can sit in your closet, wrapped in cotton, safe an unoffended.
Guess what buddy. It ain't never going to happen. Whine all you want. Life liberty and the persuit of happiness, doesn't imply the right to not be offended. If that offends you, tough.
Our city crucifies smokers, of which I am not one, but refuses to enforce it's own perfectly wonderful noise ordinance. Our City Council passed a great Noise Ordinance but our City Manager and Chief of Police don't like it and have effectively nullified it by refusing to enforce it.
Here is a letter to the Editor I just wrote about this exasperating situation.
IF I had been sitting at a table in a local Restaurant drinking coffee and someone blew cigarette smoke in my face I could have called 911 and probably gotten an immediate response from the heavily armed XXPD Smoking Police. Unfortunately I was inside my home in my own bed. And it was the noise of a “High Performance” automobile engine in a “Hot Rod” racing vehicle rather than tobacco smoke that awakened my entire family at 5:00 AM. For that sort of thing the XXPD does not take any action.
The emission systems of these “Hot Rod” racers are designed and sold to intentionally increase rather than muffle engine noise. They violate federal law concerning air pollution emission standards for street use. And they flagrantly violate our very clearly worded City Noise Ordinance. I am also quite confident that a routine stop of one of these noise makers for a Noise Ordinance citation would uncover a multitude of additional violations. Such as lack of insurance, open container, DWI or possession of a controlled substance among others.
Unhappily City Manager Jim XXXXXXX and Police Chief Bill XXXXXXX adamantly refuse to allow the XXPD Officers to enforce the XXXXXXXXXX City Noise Ordinance thereby nullifying it. Mr. XXXXXXXXX and Chief XXXXXXX have endless excuses for this refusal to enforce the law. They have lectured me and other citizens who complain about Noise Ordinance violations that we must respect the “rights” of the offenders to pursue happiness by making this noise.
Baloney! Their right to make unnecessary and harmful noise ends at my property line.
Smokers ask only to be allowed to smoke on private business property where invited to do so by the owners of the business. At a place no one else is forced to go. I do not hear any smokers demanding to smoke inside my home. Or on public (taxpayer owned) property.
I strongly dislike tobacco smoke. I believe it is deadly. To the smoker. I seldom go where there is indoor smoking. Many of my friends and neighbors smoke. But none of them have ever attempted to force me to accept their smoke into my bedroom or dining room. Smokers generally allow me a choice as to whether I must suffer from their habit along with them.
On the other hand I have ABSOLUTELY NO CHOICE about the intentionally created noise of illegally altered vehicle emission systems. Or illegally operated Boom Box vehicles. These maddening nuisances are forced on me INSIDE MY OWN HOME!. At the leisure of the thuggish Bullies whose “rights” so concern City Manager XXXXXXXXXXX and Chief XXXXXXXXX. This is a far greater and more immediate threat to health and property rights than the act of someone smoking on private business property by invitation of the business owner.
With this in mind I ask the XXXXXXXCity Council to ponder the wisdom and legality of continuing to allow Mr. XXXXXXXXX and Chief XXXXXXXXX to nullify those City Ordinances with which they do not personally agree.
XXXXXXXXXX aka Carpio
Signed
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