3/20/2011 - Muffler

A muffler is a device for reducing the amount of noise emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The muffler reduces exhaust noise by absorption – the exhaust is routed through a series of passages and chambers lined with roving fiberglass wool – and/or resonating chambers tuned to cause destructive interference wherein opposite sound waves cancel each other out. Changing the muffler can change the sound of a car's exhaust system considerably. Removing a vehicle's muffler or installing a less effective muffler than the original can cause the vehicle to violate noise regulations. Nevertheless some vehicle owners remove their car muffler in the belief it will improve performance, or just to make them louder.

Indeed, we never appreciate what we have. For all the years I lived in NYC and Saint-Petersburg I constantly complained about the traffic noise. Little did I know! The traffic noise of NYC is nothing compared to the unmuffled (or maybe demuffled) horror of this little Mexican paradise. None of the islanders seems to have heard about the muffler. I can kind of understand (though not condone) how some macho men would want to have no muffler on their motorcycles, but family men! girls! respectable looking ladies! Honestly!!!

I've been trying to figure out how I can make a difference here, for my own sake and for all of us who appreciate silence. If you have any ideas on how to launch an effective muffler campaign on this island, DO share!