A Case For McGruff

I first noticed it one mid-December night, sitting at a red light, in the middle of town.  Muffled sounds.  I look at one of my kids and say, "What IS that?"  Christmas music?  I was wondering if one of those over zealous 'decorate my car to look like Rudolph' people was blaring Christmas music loud enough that I could hear it through closed car windows?
 
I open my window, only to discover the music is coming from the empty town square.  And it was LOUD!  Was I the only one to find this bizarre?  It's not like anyone is strolling around the gazebo in the dead of winter.  We're all in our cars, folks!  With the windows rolled up!
 
Apparently I'm not the only one who found this a tad annoying.  Here's the short article from the police beat (my favorite column in the local rag): 
 
Service Department workers reported that a pair of speakers on Public Square had been damaged.  A report said the employees noticed about 10:30 a.m. that holiday music was no longer playing in the square.  Police found both speakers had been tilted off their brackets, and wires were pulled out.  Whoever did it left behind a note taped to a speaker: "The music is far too loud for the neighboring businesses and churches."  The culprit got only a few hours of quiet, though. The service department soon had the speakers repaired.

I guess the service department can't take a hint!  I love that a note was left, explaining that it really wasn't an act of vandalism.
 

Comments

  1. CraigJanuary 11, 2013 at 2:44 PM

    I love that, not only did the 'vandal' leave a note of explanation, but he only rendered the system temporarily inoperable, allowing it to be quickly repaired, rather than, say, beating the hell out of the speakers with a tire iron.

    Very polite town you live in, there. . .

    ;)

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    1. BijouxJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:42 PM

      I also love that the note mentioned the churches on the square as being annoyed by Christmas music! LOL,

      Delete
  2. barbJanuary 11, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    Hi Bijoux,
    What a thoughtful vandal :).
    It sounds perhaps like an elder who had enough of the nuisance and took things into his hands...

    Have a nice day, my friend!

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    1. BijouxJanuary 11, 2013 at 4:43 PM

      Yes, I can see an older person doing this more than anyone else! Funny!

      Delete
  3. Secret Agent WomanJanuary 11, 2013 at 6:15 PM

    Kind of a shame they didn't more permanently disable the speakers. What is it with loud music in public places?

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    1. BijouxJanuary 11, 2013 at 9:42 PM

      I agree. I prefer silence to the muzak played in stores.

      Delete
  4. RonJanuary 11, 2013 at 7:07 PM

    " I love that a note was left, explaining that it really wasn't an act of vandalism."

    Ha! Love that too!

    And I applaud the vandal who did it because that would have drove me crazy!

    One of the noises I can't stand about city life are the people in the passing cars that play their music SO LOUD, that the earth actually vibrates. I can hear it on the 21st floor of my apartment building.

    Oh...for a SLING SHOT!



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    1. BijouxJanuary 11, 2013 at 9:46 PM

      We have always had one or two idiots like that wherever we've lived. When I'm outdoors and I hear a car like that coming, I refuse to look at them, like I don't even hear them. People like that want attention but won't be getting it from me.

      Delete
  5. SailorJanuary 11, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    Good for your "vandal". Of course, it's allowed for a town/city/municipality/whatever to generate all the noise pollution they want; those same folks would be the first ones bi*&^ing about a business that did this, out to the public area- and probably give a fine, as well.

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    1. BijouxJanuary 11, 2013 at 9:49 PM

      That is SO true! Can you imagine a church broadcasting its service like that? The city wouldn't put up with that!

      Delete
  6. limeJanuary 11, 2013 at 8:11 PM

    sounds like the speakers were an act of auditory vandalism that some resident "cleaned up." pity it was restored.

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  7. BijouxJanuary 11, 2013 at 9:52 PM

    It it is a pity, especially since it happened a few days after Christmas.

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  8. KatJanuary 11, 2013 at 10:27 PM

    Hahaha!!! That is too funny. And amazing that the city's service department was so quick to fix it. How many other repairs around town sit and wait and wait and wait...

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    1. BijouxJanuary 12, 2013 at 6:56 AM

      This town is militant over its horticulture, so Im sure one of those people noticed it while trimming a tree or something.

      Delete
  9. bettyJanuary 12, 2013 at 12:04 AM

    I can see this if it was at night in a neighborhood; I actually like the thought of a square broadcasting Christmas music like this, but if it was too loud and thereby annoying, I think I'd think of a solution too. I do like the "vandal" confessing to what happened.

    betty

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    1. BijouxJanuary 12, 2013 at 6:58 AM

      I thought it was loud, since I could hear it with my car windows shut and my own music playing.

      Delete
  10. nickJanuary 12, 2013 at 2:16 PM

    Good for whoever immobilised the speakers and left the note. A shame they didn't permanently destroy the speakers, if you ask me. I also get pissed off with endless background musak in shops. If it's really awful I simply walk out so they've lost my custom for a start. Surveys have shown that customers actually prefer silence but the shops are oblivious.

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    1. BijouxJanuary 13, 2013 at 10:47 AM

      I did not know that most customers prefer silence like me. I can't imagine that they play the endless loop of music for the employees of the store? Weird.

      Delete
  11. JimmyJanuary 12, 2013 at 9:05 PM

    You would think that after the repairs were made they would at least adjust the volume.

    I love the fact they left a note behind also :)

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2013 at 5:15 PM

    All that fuss when the easy fix would have been to staple a baffle on the front of the speakers .....

    It's possible it wouldn't be found until it was shut down for the year.

    Seriously Bijoux, next time you need sound abatement gimme a call rather than taking it on yourself. Hire a professional!! ;)

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  13. Sabi SunshineJanuary 14, 2013 at 3:35 PM

    I am glad that the note was left behind. Great post

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  14. DaveJanuary 15, 2013 at 2:43 AM

    Bijoux, yes, I liked that note too. I wonder why they can't take the hint? - Dave

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  15. flutterbyJanuary 15, 2013 at 10:59 PM

    Gotta love a thoughtful vandal!

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