Video Shows Workings of the Rumbler Siren

"It's a public safety issue when our society is so loud that public safety officials need to up the ante in order to get someone's attention."

Those are among my comments the Boston Globe included in its Sunday edition. Read the entire story online.

Watch the online video here.

FOX 5 Video, Wash. Post Cover G-Town Amplifiers

Maybe Councilmember Jack Evans simply does not understand how D.C. residents--many in Wards 3 and 6--are negatively harmed by amplified noise in their homes every weekend. Evans' neighbors most likely got the point on Saturday and Sunday.


Saturday's FOX 5 News' 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts carried coverage from the day's amplified noise in one usually quiet Georgetown neighborhood. Click here to see the video.

The front page of the Washington Post's Metro section also carried a story. Click here to read it.

The ruckus started on both Saturday and Sunday shortly after 7 a.m. The noise pollution was spewed by D.C. mothers and fathers, grandmas and grandpas, workers and retirees. The group represented D.C. Wards 3 and 6.

The artificial grassroots power of an amplified simply allowed a handful of people to act as if they were hundreds. Six hardy--and very wet--souls carried out the deed on Saturday. Only three were necessary for Sunday's wake-up call.

Three Metropolitan Police Officers stood watch each morning--and a good thing, too. While many Georgetowners empathized with their fellow citizens' plight, other seething residents wanted blood. In fact, I've never heard the word "fuck" directed at people in so many unusual and creative ways.

Art Imitates Life: The Noise Movie Coming Soon

Poo Poo and Arthur Delaney both emailed me about an upcoming movie with Tim Robbins. He plays a guy named "David" who is driven crazy by unwanted noise in New York City--in this case, car alarms earn his ire.

This pushes him to becomes a one-man vigilante in his quest, even calling himself "The Rectifier." Check out this quote from director Henry Bean, which appeared in this Reuters story (I can totally relate):

Despite his own personal battle against car alarms, which according to Bean "should be totally illegal", the director said his film was, above all, about the disconnect that he feels exists between those in power and their citizens.

"For me, noise becomes a metaphor for power. The noise that I have to listen to, that I have no control over, that invades my house, my ears, my thoughts... in a way that's how our governments are," he said.

As far as noise driving someone crazy...you should hear what I just bought on eBay. (I hope my wife isn't reading this.) In the meantime, watch the trailer:

Another Advocacy Group's Noise Video

"Despite the world's highest living standard, the goal of a better way of life have not yet been fully realized," says the Citizens Coalition Against Noise Pollution in introducing its latest video on YouTube. It's their version of "keep your noise out of our bedroom."

Video Shows Amplified Free Speech Day

The camera and microphone were positioned about 50 feet from the poetry insurgent’s amplifier and about 60 feet from the H Street group’s. That’s where the decibels measured at about 86 dB. If you live anywhere in the District, this could happen in your neighborhood between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. (Video by Patrick Keefe. Copyright 2007)

A new 4 minute, 43 second video documents the second annual Amplified Free Speech Day in Adams Morgan on June 24. (As a viewer, you have the luxury of turning down your computer's volume--in D.C. the volume knob is controlled by those with the amplifiers.)

Three electric noise-making devices converged during the two hours at 18th Street and Belmont Rd NW: Two amplifiers and one bullhorn.

Decibel readings recorded from the point source on that day:

* 12.5 feet = 98 decibels (dB)
* 25 feet = 92 dB
* 50 feet = 86 dB
* 100 feet = 80 dB
* 200 feet = 74 dB*
* 400 feet = 68 dB*

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, distance attenuation estimates show when the distance is doubled from a point source, the sound level decreases six decibels.*

Permanent hearing loss can occur after three minutes exposure to 97 dB, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization.

The loudest noise in the documentary can be heard from the D.C. Guerrilla Poetry Insurgency, whose amplifier was slightly larger than the Quest for Quiet group’s device.

Which just goes to show, under the current District of Columbia noise statute, free speech rights belong to those with an amplifier—or at least the biggest.

Welcome Prophet Jimmy Cates

A noise disturbance is measured by two things: Decibels and duration.

The Prophet Jimmy Cates appeared on the southwest corner of H and 8th St NE at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 29. It was the first time I'd met Cates and several others who were distributing flyers which read, "True Gospel Church of GOD will be having services at Well Water Church at 342 8th St NE in Washington." Services happen every Sunday at 3 p.m., according to the flyer.

Cates said he was more than happy for me to videotape him.

Sunday was windy, as you'll note the swirling sidewalk papers and blowing sound against the microphone. I was outside working in my front yard when I heard the faint sound of Cate's singing, which was quite good. The very cordial gentleman's amplifier was not overly loud, but was more audible when the wind blew south toward my house.

Cates was on the corner for about an hour and I did not find the decibels or duration to be bothersome from my house.

Does Video Accurately Portray Noise Issue?

I don't own a video camera, so I borrowed a friend's Casio digital camera with a video feature. I've hesitated to post videos about the noise issue because I don't think it provides you, the reader, an accurate portrayal of how the amplified noise affects residents and businesses living at H and 8th Streets NE every Saturday. (However, I did link to a WTOP News Radio audio story once.)

My reasons for not embracing video until this point:

* Decibels: You control the sound volume--residents and businesses can not;

* Duration: A thirty second video clip might be tolerable at any volume--residents and businesses are forced to hear more than four hours every weekend. To simulate, please replay the video 480 times;

* Content: People fixate on the speech content, which is NOT the issue--residents and businesses believe noise negatively affects human health and well-being.

So with those disclaimers, I present you with some very amateur footage made on Saturday, March 24, 2007. The time was about 7:30 p.m. and I stood several steps away from my neighbor's yard, roughly 175 feet away from the noise source. My camera faces north along 8th Street NE, toward the southeast corner of the intersection.

In the video, you will hear the fellows preaching though the amplifier. You also will hear shouts from several girls waiting at the bus stop on the opposite corner. Please ignore the content.



The girls then crossed the street to debate the preachers. Notice they maintain distance from the blaring amplifier. I move closer (sorry for the herky-jerky movement)...



How do you think the videos portray the situation? Help or hinder?