Posted by Thor on January 7th, 2009
While it may seem that New York would make inquiring minds more intelligent, according to some scientists the overload of the senses in big cities actually makes you stupider.
A scientist by the name of Marc Berman evaluated students as they walked through urban and natural environments. He found that urban environments are full of stimulation and require you to direct attention to various distractions and threats (like dangerous intersections). After spending just a few minutes in urban environments, the brain is less able to remember things and suffers from reduced self-control. Apparently, the brain has a limited amount of energy and focus. When you focus on things like “oh that homeless looking dude might try to rob me” you have less brain power to remember things like the names of Obama’s cabinet. Maybe that explains why everyone I know in NYC drinks 5+ times a week (because they are stressed as hell).
What’s also interesting is that natural environments capture our attention without producing negative emotional responses. Scientists find less domestic violence in apartments with nature views and hospital patients heal faster when exposed to nature. Time to get outdoors and make fun of my friends in NYC.
The scientific study is after the break if anyone is interested…
»Read More
Posted by Scowly on December 29th, 2008
From the City… In a survey just released by Farmers Insurance, Charlottesville ranked as the 18th (out of 127) safest mid-sized cities in the Country for metropolitan areas with populations over 150,000 and less than 500,000. This Farmers Most Secure Places to Live survey analyzed crime statistics, housing depreciation, air quality, weather, risk of natural disasters, life expectancy as well as job loss numbers. Olympia, Washington took first place, with two other Virginia cities making the top 20, Lynchburg coming in at 9th and Roanoke at number 15.
Full list after the break… »Read More
Posted by Scowly on April 29th, 2008
A little birdie explains:
There’s a huge busted water main over by Quarry Park. Lots of city guys standing around.
So, can someone get pictures of the action and send them in?!
UPDATE: Now with pictures from Tom Daly!
More pictures after the break! »Read More
Posted by Thor on March 26th, 2008
The Department of Parks and Recreation today installed several dozen dark green recycling containers on each side of the Downtown Mall and around the Downtown Transit Center and City Hall.
The containers accept glass bottles, aluminum cans, and plastic containers. It is a commingled process with sorting to occur at the recycling center after Parks and Recreation employees collect materials each week.
As of now, cardboard and paper products will not be accepted. Those items may be recycled using the City’s business and residential service or by using the paper receptacles in the Transit Center. This enhanced service follows recent service increases downtown such as Sunday CTS service and additional trash service added in 2007.
Thanks Charlottesville!
Posted by Thor on March 5th, 2008
OH Snap. No more late night headbanger parties. WCAV Reports:
All city restaurants will have a new limit of 75 decibels after 11p.m. The reading is for outside the establishment. Restaurants are advised to keep the door closed to keep the sound inside.
The council says that if a police officer takes a reading with the door open then that will be the official reading. Noise on the downtown mall is limited to 75 decibels all day. That includes street performers and restaurants.
Examples of decibel levels from wikipedia:
| Source of sound |
Sound pressure |
Sound pressure level |
|
pascal |
dB re 20 μPa |
Theoretical limit for undistorted sound at
1 atmosphere environmental pressure |
101,325 Pa |
191.085 dB |
| Krakatoa explosion at 100 miles (160 km) in air |
20,000 Pa |
180 dB |
| Simple open-ended thermoacoustic device [6] |
12,000 Pa |
176 dB |
| M1 Garand being fired at 1 m |
5,000 Pa |
168 dB |
| Jet engine at 30 m |
630 Pa |
150 dB |
| Rifle being fired at 1 m |
200 Pa |
140 dB |
| Threshold of pain |
100 Pa |
130 dB |
| Hearing damage (due to short-term exposure) |
20 Pa |
approx. 120 dB |
| Jet at 100 m |
6 – 200 Pa |
110 – 140 dB |
| Jack hammer at 1 m |
2 Pa |
approx. 100 dB |
| Hearing damage (due to long-term exposure) |
6×10−1 Pa |
approx. 85 dB |
| Major road at 10 m |
2×10−1 – 6×10−1 Pa |
80 – 90 dB |
| Passenger car at 10 m |
2×10−2 – 2×10−1 Pa |
60 – 80 dB |
| TV (set at home level) at 1 m |
2×10−2 Pa |
approx. 60 dB |
| Normal talking at 1 m |
2×10−3 – 2×10−2 Pa |
40 – 60 dB |
| Very calm room |
2×10−4 – 6×10−4 Pa |
20 – 30 dB |
| Leaves rustling, calm breathing |
6×10−5 Pa |
10 dB |
So, you can’t be louder than a passenger car in a restaurant? This is retarded. Bars have got to be louder than this at night. If you live downtown, you should deal with above average noise levels. I’m pissed. Say goodbye to outdoor shows, late night music, etc.
What do you think?
Posted by Thor on February 21st, 2008
Be careful tonight. The city is already freakin’ about the upcoming storm.
If the weather produces ice as currently predicted, we would like citizens to limit travel if at all possible and clean ice and snow off their cars before traveling
Weather advisory from the government:
A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.
LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO WILL SPREAD SNOW ACROSS
THE MID ATLANTIC REGION TONIGHT. WARMER AIR ALOFT WILL MOVE FROM
SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS THE REGION LATE TONIGHT. THIS WILL CAUSE
PRECIPITATION TO MIX WITH SLEET AND EVENTUALLY FREEZING RAIN
FRIDAY MORNING. FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. THE
WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION RETURNS FRIDAY NIGHT PRIOR TO ALL
PRECIPITATION ENDING.
THIS STORM COULD BE A HIGH IMPACT EVENT…WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS. LATER
FORECASTS WILL MORE SPECIFICALLY PIN DOWN PRECIPITATION TYPES…
TIMING… AND AMOUNTS.
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
Charlottesville press release after the break…
»Read More
