{"id":6734,"date":"2022-05-02T05:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T13:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/?p=6734"},"modified":"2022-05-06T05:52:13","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T13:52:13","slug":"ear-plugs-theyre-not-just-for-heavy-metal-concerts-and-sirens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/2022\/05\/02\/ear-plugs-theyre-not-just-for-heavy-metal-concerts-and-sirens\/","title":{"rendered":"Ear Plugs: They\u2019re Not Just for Heavy Metal Concerts and Sirens"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;19px||23px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.4.7&#8243; global_module=&#8221;2637&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/GPB-Bank-Local-Banner.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;GPB-Bank-Local-Banner&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.goldenpacificbank.com\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; min_height=&#8221;114px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;17px||2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_post_title title=&#8221;off&#8221; author=&#8221;off&#8221; categories=&#8221;off&#8221; comments=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; meta_font=&#8221;|700|on||||||&#8221; meta_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; meta_text_color=&#8221;#ff0000&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_post_title meta=&#8221;off&#8221; featured_image=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; title_font=&#8221;Georgia|700||on|||||&#8221; title_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; title_font_size=&#8221;40px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px||false|false&#8221; title_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; title_font_size_phone=&#8221;31px&#8221; title_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; header_2_font=&#8221;Georgia|300|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;21px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-5px||0px||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h2>A look at how urban sounds can soothe rather than terrify<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Author&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; header_4_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; header_6_text_align=&#8221;center&#8221; header_6_font_size=&#8221;13px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||2px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h6>By Ed Goldman<\/h6>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;3px|||||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><span class='et-dropcap'>U<\/span>nlike some people who are older than I am, the same age or even decades my junior, I\u2019ve never worn earplugs to a heavy-metal or hip-hop concert.\u00a0The fact that I\u2019ve never attended a heavy-metal or hip-hop concert doesn\u2019t invalidate what follows.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But first: I also never wear earplugs when I swim, operate power tools or take up space for hours in a coffee shop.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@&#8221; alt=&#8221;Edgy Cartoon&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Kitchen Confidential&#8221; show_in_lightbox=&#8221;on&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _dynamic_attributes=&#8221;src&#8221; width=&#8221;80%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;93%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;95%&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; max_width=&#8221;95%&#8221; max_width_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; max_width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; max_width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; border_width_all=&#8221;1px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset3&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Caption&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Georgia||on||||||&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-16px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>The Goldman State: Unplugged<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Here, I need to issue a second disclaimer: I rarely swim or operate power tools and only linger in coffee shops when I\u2019m there with a friend, interviewee or my OSSO (oh-so-significant-other, if you\u2019re joining this column late). In the latter cases, in which conversation is pretty much required, stuffing a pair of plugs into my ears would probably send the wrong signal.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve noticed that a number of people (most of whom had yet to be born the year I began tossing AARP entreaties into the recycling bin) wear ear \u201cbuds\u201d as they work at their computers, monopolizing primo workspace for the price of a latte.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Adsense Horizontal&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.7&#8243; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; global_module=&#8221;1433&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- gs_horizontal_new --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     style=&#8221;display:block&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-client=&#8221;ca-pub-8489921453224987&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-slot=&#8221;5069548950&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-format=&#8221;auto&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-full-width-responsive=&#8221;true&#8221;><\/ins><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||0px|||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>As an aside\u2014but without the benefit of parentheses, which have doubled in price due to inflation and supply-chain issues\u2014I wrote here in 2020 about <a href=\"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/2020\/07\/03\/quibbles-bits-starbucks-and-hell\/\">how much more money Starbucks<\/a> could make if it charged its customers the going rate for office rentals.<\/p>\n<p>The way I calculated it was like this:<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;As of a few months ago, there were 15,149 Starbucks locations just in the United States alone. If you figure that the average office space in our country costs between $8-$23 per square foot, and that each worker needs an average of 150-175 square feet of space, that means each parasitic Starbucks customer could be charged a minimum of $1,200 per month ($8 x $150).<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Multiply that by the average of how many people you can safely jam into the average Starbucks (say, 25), and that comes to about $30,000 per month.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Now, multiply that by 15,149 shops in the country and you come up with $454.5 million per month.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Okay, we\u2019re back. Let\u2019s talk ear plugs.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Adsense Horizontal&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.7&#8243; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; global_module=&#8221;1433&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- gs_horizontal_new --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     style=&#8221;display:block&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-client=&#8221;ca-pub-8489921453224987&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-slot=&#8221;5069548950&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-format=&#8221;auto&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-full-width-responsive=&#8221;true&#8221;><\/ins><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>I wore Mack\u2019s silicon ear plugs to bed every night for more than 25 years. They rarely blocked the sounds I <em>needed <\/em>to hear\u2014such as my spouse, child, dog or cat crying out from nightmares or illness\u2014but they did muffle into submission the 3 a.m. sounds of car alarms going off, yapping little neighbor dogs commenting on leaves falling, low-riders gunning their engines to simulate idling SSTs, or Southern Pacific freight trains reminding us of their important contributions to noise pollution.<\/p>\n<p>If you haven&#8217;t used them, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3y85znM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mack&#8217;s plugs<\/a> are wholly different from those rubbery ones they give you if, and I hope not, you ever need to undergo an MRI or CT-Scan. Those come with a built-in irony: If they successfully block the thunderous CLONK of the machines taking pictures of your fixtures, so to speak, then you might not hear the prerecorded baritone ordering you to BREATHE or HOLD YOUR BREATH. And if you don&#8217;t inhale and exhale on cue, you may be forced into a do-over because you&#8217;ll have messed up each photo of your toto, so to speak again.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Using the medical ones to block out noise when you&#8217;re staying in a hotel is an equally futile endeavor. Oh, they may slightly reduce the clamor from the elevator or ice machine five feet from your door, but don&#8217;t expect them to silence the maids who start knocking on said door at seven a.m. or yell down the hall at a similar time to ask each other if they&#8217;re out of toilet tissue.<\/p>\n<p>But something miraculous happened to me about 17 months ago when I fell in love with my aforementioned, still somewhat anonymous OSSO. I awoke from a 15-year haze of wanting to shut the world out to wanting to invite it back in, yappy dogs and all.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Adsense Horizontal&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.7&#8243; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; global_module=&#8221;1433&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- gs_horizontal_new --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     style=&#8221;display:block&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-client=&#8221;ca-pub-8489921453224987&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-slot=&#8221;5069548950&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-format=&#8221;auto&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-full-width-responsive=&#8221;true&#8221;><\/ins><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script>[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>The proof: The condo I own in Cramps &#8216;R&#8217; Common\u2014sorry: Campus Commons\u2014is about 20 yards from one of the noisiest intersections in the city and county (in fact, one of the two roads is a border between the two government entities).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>During the day, as I work in my office here, there&#8217;s a reassuring hum of cars, buses and motorcycles, though interrupted at least monthly by the startling screech and bam of an accident as well as the subsequent wail of ambulance, fire and police sirens. Nighttime noise isn&#8217;t much different and may actually be louder because of the atmospheric ceiling that tends to amplify the cacophony. Even so, when I crawl into bed, usually between one and two p.m., the sounds mix into some sort of urban symphony and I fall asleep quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=&#8221;endingG&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>There was an exception to this recently when moments after I conked out I heard a deafening rasp, as though burglars were trying to saw their way into my loft from the roof. I jumped out of bed, picked up my flashlight and cellphone (in case I needed to call for backup) and inspected every inch of my place, including the closets and attic. I even looked in the cupboards, hoping like hell I wouldn&#8217;t surprise a very large rice-field rat armed with a Black &amp; Decker drill and in quest of my box of instant pilaf.<\/p>\n<p>The search exhausted me and when I got back into bed, I reluctantly reached for my little box of Mack&#8217;s ear plugs and stuffed them in. Then I was reawakened by that deafening rasp and realized it was my own heavy breathing. So I removed the plugs, let the world back in and fell asleep.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Amazon Prime Bounty&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#eeeeee&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;15px|15px|15px|15px|false|true&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;https:\/\/amzn.to\/3dbvBw4&#8243; link_option_url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; global_module=&#8221;3198&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" class=\"wp-image-4509 size-medium alignnone lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4.jpg 728w, https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4-300x37.jpg 300w, https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4-610x75.jpg 610w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 728px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 728\/90;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" class=\"wp-image-4509 size-medium alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4.jpg 728w, https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4-300x37.jpg 300w, https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/prime4-610x75.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.3.2&#8243; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|auto||0px|false|false&#8221; module_alignment_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_phone=&#8221;&#8221; module_alignment_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#E02B20&#8243; global_module=&#8221;1122&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;About Ed&#8221; module_class=&#8221;AuthorBioBox&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; text_font=&#8221;Georgia||on||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#444&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#eeeeee&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px||10px||true|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/goldmanstate.com\/about-ed\/\">Ed Goldman&#8217;s<\/a> column appears almost every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A former daily columnist for the Sacramento Business Journal, as well as monthly columnist for Sacramento Magazine and Comstock\u2019s Business Magazine, he\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3jUELxM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">author<\/a> of five books, two plays and one musical (so far).<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_code disabled_on=&#8221;off|off|off&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Adsense Horizontal&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.7&#8243; width=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;90%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; max_width=&#8221;90%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;|0px||0px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; global_module=&#8221;1433&#8243; saved_tabs=&#8221;all&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><!-- gs_horizontal_new --><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     style=&#8221;display:block&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-client=&#8221;ca-pub-8489921453224987&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-slot=&#8221;5069548950&#8243;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-ad-format=&#8221;auto&#8221;<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     data-full-width-responsive=&#8221;true&#8221;><\/ins><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unlike some people who are older than I am, the same age or even decades my junior, I\u2019ve never worn earplugs to a heavy-metal or hip-hop concert. 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