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Tuesday, February 26, 2002 Walking through la Plaza de Chueca yesterday, the focal point for a lot of activity and energy in the barrio, I noticed the banners hanging from many balcones (since last spring) had changed. [See journal entry of September 16, 2001.] The old ones read VIVIMOS AQUI -- CONTROLA EL RUIDO (WE LIVE HERE –- CONTROL THE NOISE), their number dwindling since the original burst of anger re: nighttime noise that resulted from intense all-night partying in last year's Orgullo Gay (Gay Pride) weekend. The new banners say: PELIGRO: ZONA CONTAMINADO POR RUIDOS (DANGER: ZONE CONTAMINATED/POLLUTED BY NOISE), they hang from balcones all around the plaza, including an enormous one that spans three or four balcones. The slow settling in of spring has increased the nocturnal revelry during this last month, with a corresponding rise in noise, but I guess I hadn't realized the extent of it. I'm down the street from the plaza and up five flights. Must be a whole different experience for people in the buildings that ring the plaza. A number of "Se Vende" ("For Sale") banners have also appeared. Clearly, a bunch of someones recently decided they'd had enough. Life. So much drama. ************* I've been neglecting my Simpsons calendar, but happened to glance at it today and noticed that a horde of heavy-hitters were born this month, among them: Johnny "Guitar" Watson, b. 3 Feb., 1935 Rosa Lee Parks, b. 4 Feb., 1913 Betty Frieden, b. 4 Feb., 1921 Hank Aaron, b. 5 Feb., 1934 Rip Torn, b. 6 Feb., 1931 Francois Truffaut, b. 6 Feb. 1932 Bob Marley, b. 6 Feb., 1945 Charles Dickens, b. 7 Feb., 1812 James Dean, b. 8 Feb., 1931 Lon Chaney, b. 10 Feb., 1905 Abraham Lincoln, b. 12 Feb., 1809 Christina Ricci, b. 12 Feb., 1980 Art Spiegelman, b. 15 Feb., 1948 Matt Groening, b. 15 Feb., 1954 Michael Jordan, b. 17 Feb., 1963 Toni Morrison, b. 18 Feb., 1931 Amy Tan, b. 19 Feb., 1952 Nina Simone, b. 21 Feb., 1933 W.E.B. DuBois, b. 23 Feb., 1925 Johnny Winter, b. 23 Feb., 1944 Winslow Homer, b. 24 Feb., 1836 There are lots more listed, of course, but it's a funny thing about this calendar -– the featured birthday folks are overwhelmingly male. What's up with that? rws 1:51 PM [+] |