Mosquito - Sonic Youth Weapon 'should be banned'

by tired martin Fri Sep 05, 2014 18:02

I am tired of reading and listening to do-gooders. Rehabilitation,alienation and all the other ............tions are all bullshit. I am tired of listening to kids roaring and shouting outside my backyard because their ignorant parents can't teach them to play properly. Everything within limits. I 'd tell my kids to play quietly if i thought they were disturbing anyone but not these parents. So in some instances i think the use of a mosquito is justifiable. I would like one that worked on decibel levels so that when the kids got too loud the mosquito kicked in. Just a little guidance for the little darlings. Must go, i think my little mosquito has just been delivered. Bye.

by John Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:50

Tony, try treating those teenagers with the same respect you'd want given to yourself. You might find they respond ok. Using things like mosquitos will only add to the already massive alienation felt by the youth of today and add to the problems you and others may be experiencing

by ShopNazi Sat Nov 21, 2009 21:26

Taze the little bastards in the balls! They won't hang about in the same way after that :-)

by Tony - none Sat Nov 21, 2009 20:57

Ok whilst I have read all the comments what is a shop owner to do when they have constant hassle and harrasment from teenagers who are hanging around their shop and wont move off.
The gardai are limited in what they can do unless there is really good proof and even if there is its often that the person comitting the crime is back on the street within a day or two.

We are getting far too focused on rights well what are the rights of the owner of the shops etc....
They have a business to protect and if people are trying to take that from them then they should have the right to put a stop to it somehow and at least this way nobody gets physically harmed.

by Wish I were Deaf. Tue Sep 29, 2009 22:40

A hand-held "sonic cannon" stopped a racehorse in its tracks at an English race meeting a few years back.
The horse halted suddenly in mid stride,as if it hit a wall, the jockey went flying and everyone was mystified.
It took a while before they figured it out,
(Racing fans would remember which race....I don't.)

And.....don't annoy the police in Pittsburgh USA:

http://mikephilbin.blogspot.com/2009/09/g20-pittsburg-l....html

.

by tinnitus Tue Sep 29, 2009 22:05

sources - Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2009/sep/25/sonic-...burgh
& this blog complete with vid http://arbroath.blogspot.com/2009/09/g20-protesters-bla....html

by BTM Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:57

Nazi Wunderwaffe (Wonder Weapon) – The Sound Canon

http://www.greyfalcon.us/restored/AN%20INVENTORY%20OF%2...S.htm

“Toward the end of World War II, the Germans were reported to have made a type of acoustic device. It looked like a large cannon and sent out a sonic boomlike shock wave that in theory could have felled a B-17 bomber.”

““An invisible and powerful air waves were used in the form of the so-called "sound cannon." Designed by Dr. Richard Wallauschek, the cannon consisted of large parabaloid reflectors, the final version of which had a diameter over 3m. The "dishes" were connected to a chamber composed of several sub-units firing tubes.

“Each explosion initiated the next by producing a reflected, high-intensity shockwave, and so creating a very high amplitude sound beam. This high and strong note of unbearable intensity was emitted at pressures in excess of 1,000 milibars about 50m away. This level of pressure is above the limits that man can endure. At such a range, half a minute of exposure would be enough to be lethal.”

“In the mid-1940s, the U.S. Navy created a program called Project Squid to study the German vortex technology. The results are unknown. But Guy Obolensky, an American inventor, says he replicated the Nazi device in his laboratory in 1949. Against hard objects the effect was astounding, he says: It could snap a board like a twig. Against soft targets like people, it had a different effect. "I felt like I had been hit by a thick rubber blanket," says Obolensky, who once stood in its path.”

Wunderwaffe (Wonder Weapon) – The Sound Canon

The American Portable Version, LRAD - Long Range Acoustic Device

by No 2 Lisbon % Sat Sep 26, 2009 21:49

One of her "lectures meets music" sessions with Herbie Hancock and others is here on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU3V6zNER4g&feature=related She talks about "listening to sound with your body" and says her life's mission is to teach people "how to listen". I suppose it's not just about hearing. Or you can watch a film about her "Touch the Sound" (part 1 on Youtube and pick it from there here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_l7kRDv9c8 ) which explores her career as classically trained percussionist (drums and xylophones and things you hit) to composer, improviser, multi-media artist and general all round inspirational woman. She's Scottish so it's even a pleasure to listen to her voice as she talks and it's a wonder to see her play her rig of instruments.

As many of us are deaf as are dsylexic. More of us are visually impaired. Some of us have brain trauma. Quite a load of us have physical disabilities of some kind. Pete has a real talent for soldering and circuits by the sound of it and hasn't lost all his higher frequency hearing. He might be exceptional. Most people lose the quality of the hearing as their sight and all sense through their lives. Old men are famed for being deaf when it suits them. Interestingly enough though, in the last decades the pattern of hearing damage has changed.

Thanks to the amplifier, bass woofer generation of clubbers, ravers, gig-goers and headbangers who got right up to the speakers - the last generation have lost much of their lower "Hz" range hearing. We've heard too much loud cinema, stuck too many ear plugs in our ears and for the most part live such noise. The average TV which brings families together is normally set at a volume higher than normal conversation. Go to a country where you don't speak the language and walk down a dense street when chat show hour hits. It sounds like people are arguing because their voices are so raised.

But we all still feel sound are sensitive to harmonic vibrations. Acoustics are not just a bunch of pop stars on MTV actually singing and playing their songs. Acoustics covers all waves on from the "infra" to "super" and how they react with gases, solids and liquids. They don't work in vacuums. In space no-one hears you scream. No-one sees explosions either or would see photo torpedos hit anything because there's nothing to combust and so no sparks - but movies without explosions in space would be lame so most of us have never worried about that too much but are nodding our heads right now. "sure I know - I have a thermos flask and have run experiments".

The mosquito device which this article is about is the soft commercial edge of a wedge whose thickest part is the full range of the military industrial complex research & development. The 2009-2010 US black budget estimates included several projects which are based on using sonic waves as weapons. They range from the insidious to the extremely dangerous. The walls of more than Jericho can be brought down, whales get beached sort of stuff, frogmen are kept away from naval vessels, serious resonation can mess up a human body with its delicate combination of matter, liquid and gas. - What do your lungs really sound like?

We should pay attention and highlight the acoustic pollution in our environments as much as examine all reports ranging from the silly to the credible of R&D and commercialisation of this type of weaponry.

The Mosquito ring tone has already become a popular mobile phone download amongst teenagers who can ironically check their own higher hearing limits and those of their mates.

An indy-reader/contributor/community head (at least) probably has one.

That head might consider amplifying the signal and follow Pete's example and tweak it a bit and thus use it to scare away Lisbon Yes campaigners. ;-)

by Pete. Sat Sep 26, 2009 18:40

Older people actually can hear those higher frequencies in music.

Just at a lower volume.

I develped a circuit to boost the higher frequencise in my headphones.

I hear like a teenager.

(Dolby does similar trickery to reduce noise.)

No sweat.

by 5% - ( iosaf ) Fri Sep 25, 2009 22:30

5% of the general population are deaf or hearing impaired as I commented up this page. They don't worry about the mosquito device anymore than they worry about fingernails being scratched on a blackboard. But they do react to infra-sonic or sub-sonic frequencies.

Shortly after his rumoured & legendary illumination, Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer of the EU anthem went deaf. In fact when the anthem of the European Union was first performed with the words of Frederic Schiller sung, Ludwig the illuminate could not hear his own music. He turned to the audience and saw their standing ovation and wept.

Beethoven never had a trade union, job security, housing, secure work, non-privileged voting rights - but more importantly for him he never got health care . The last thirty years of his life he suffered liver damage, typhus and complete deafness. All these are conditions which modern medicine can treat, cure, alleviate and relieve. The composer of the EU anthem continued to work as a musician even though he was deaf because his body could still register the sub-sonic or infra-sonic frequencies produced by his piano when a walking stick was placed between the frame and his head, or an orchestra when its acoustic spread was in front of him. The rest of his genuis and creativity was undoubtedly based on his memory of sound and music . Perhaps this is why his latest works toyed so much with dramatic contrasts between rhythm (perceptible to the deaf), discordance and that highest & most intellectually pure forms of musical counterpoint which is the fugue.

If Beethoven was alive today in Europe awaiting the results of the Lisbon 2 referendum, he would quite probably be worrying about his right to health care and the future open to his nephew Karl during and after his custody battles to raise that kid. Beethoven would probably be opposed to the Mosquito ultra-sound device and wonder at the use of sound to scare teenagers away from the 21st century equivalent of a coffee shop to go no doubt somewhere worse - the 21st century equivalent of a gin den.

If Beethoven was alive today and not in Europe but inside or a near neighbour of the Brazilian embassy to Honduras - he would not hear the ultrasound frequencies being used by the Honduran military. But he would hear and quite probably understand in the darkest aesthetic sense the subsonic or infrasonic frequencies being broadcast in the Honduran capital now.

I very much doubt Beethoven would have turned to any of us if we caught up with him on twitter or facebook & said something akin to :-

"the best embasy seige in your modern history was the US assault on the Vatican's nunciature to Panama in 1989 when the US played rock music non-stop to drive the people inside so mad general Noriega had to walk out the gate and go into prison" (c/f http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Nifty_Package )


We can't bring Beethoven back from the deaf dead.


We can't say how he would reacted to his 9th symphony being written into the Lisbon Treaty as its official anthem and not one paragraph on the rights to housing, work, healthcare, self-determination or any other concern which he so bitterly left written for us in his diaries.

We don't have to bring him back from the deaf dead - because Beethoven the illuminate .:. achieved immortality through his music. He lives on all pover this planet and has never stopped living.

so -

chose your local priorities - think local & act global or act global whilst thinking locally.
(whichever you're best at)



* protest against and highlight the use of Mosquito devices and thus sonic warfare.

* vote NO! to Lisbon 2.

* ensure the world understands what is and has happened in Honduras beyond the mere story of the farcical Zelaya and the ever so sophisticated gorillas of our times.

Because then as now despite all our supposed healthcare - 5% of the world are deaf & all the wealth of the world belongs to only 5% of its spawn.

He was deaf when he composed the EU anthem. He didn't hear it outside of his head. He would vote NO! to Lisbon. if only for health care reasons.

by Moostafa Wed Sep 23, 2009 22:53

I dont know why no one noticed that - in case of high frequency sound wave - in order to hear it sound have to be much lauder than standard sounds present in environment:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Acoustics/Fundamentals_of_...stics
Because in high-frequency range listening threshold is not far away from pain threshold - I'm not very surprised that people able to hear this consider it "unpleasant" (strong understatement in my opinion).
Also there is a part that most of articles i have read forget to mention. A new "great" application of this technology - to scare away pickpockets from public transportation (since most of them are young peoples). But those idiots (meant as a mental capabilities estimation not an insult...) forgot that young people* ALSO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - and there you cant just buy your stuff and leave... you are forced to endure this sh.. - and there is NOTHING one can do with this since it is not considered ILLEGAL!

*or just someone with better hearing - small percent of population but still they are there - and I'm one of them

by BTM Thu Mar 26, 2009 09:55

http://www.siamsagallery.ie/in_pursuit/treasa_o_brien.html

“this film explores the politics of public and private space, consumerism and community, through interviews focusing on the ultrasonic device known as the 'mosquito". The arguments and opinions eventually become overwhelmed by the growing pitch of the frequency, altered for the film so that all can hear it.”

Also;

(25/03/09) ROTUNDA: Controversial device to stop mothers lighting up at door
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/mums-hospi....html

Video - Mosquito Bites

by Pluto Thu Mar 26, 2009 09:46

I would buy a device which targets politicians only and which stops politicians from knocking at my door at election time. An Anti Jehova Witness device would be useful as well.

by Updater Thu Mar 26, 2009 09:10

As was predicted in the original posting last year, the Mosquito technology is advancing. The new MOSQUITO MK4 model has two functions

1) "set the device to 17KHz to disperse groups of troublesome teenagers"
or
2) "set it to 8 KHz to disperse people of ANY AGE from areas"

Re: http://www.devlinretailsystems.ie/mosquito.html

Something tells me that 6 months from now I'll be posting another new update on the latest technical advancement and model. And the beat goes on....................

by Michael Mc Loughlin - Youth Work Ireland Wed Mar 25, 2009 17:44

FYI a Facebook page promoting opposition to the Mosquito Device across Europe to co-incide with Council of Europe Discussion

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=623348...ef=mf

by L. JAMES - Private person Sun Jul 06, 2008 19:33

The debate on the pro's and contr'as on the use of the 'mosquito'-device, should be placed in a larger context by also bringing into the 'equation' other sides of the issue.
For instance, while the 'mosquito' might have a negative impact on many young people, at the same time, many elderly are suffering tremendously and mostly silently out of fear for reprisal, from the loud noises coming from the 'boom-boxes'.
The sound of the base produced by these powerful 'boxes' is incredibly annoying, intimidating and makes many elderly restless to say the least.
Many can not get a proper sleep, and suffer from heart-palpitations, strokes, nervous break-downs and other health related health effects, that drastically take away their joy in life.
This is a situation that youngsters should also realize and take into serious consideration, when blasting their music, anywhere, at any time of the day or night, which is a real, and recurring nightmare for many elderly and sick people.
It also causes a violent mindset in our young people.
Noise effects everybody one way or the other, and it is time that all people in the entire world, start showing respect for each other by being cognisant of their use of noise on the wellbeing of others.
In particular, the entire music industry has a real responsibility in EDUCATING young people to become more social and caring in every way possible, as opposed to simply for commercial reasons stimluting and promoting asocial behaviour within our youth.
To me, this is a discussion that really is needed between the youth and elderly and which in the long run can create a better and more harmonious world for all.
After all, the amount of 'free' space in our world is becoming more and more limited and such naturally requires an even greater mutual respect for each other, if we are to live in peace as a community and not self-destruct.
In other words, it is time for us to live peacefully together, instead of pesting each other to the limits
of what is humanly- and socailly tolerable.
Let the discussion, begin....worldwide.

by not 1 of Tue Jul 01, 2008 15:10

. . record these devices and use the noise as a nice loud showstopping ringtone on their phones. Effective form of distributed protest methinks.

by Stuart Tue Jul 01, 2008 13:18

Emily Logan, the Ombudsman for Children, has just released a report or speech about children's rights. She said that anyone disturbed by a Mosquito device should complain directly to the Gardai as it is an abuse of their rights and freedoms (interviewed on NewsTalk FM at lunchtime today).

also State 'failing vulnerable children' - ombudsman (Irish Times): http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0701/...0.htm

by Stuart Tue Jul 01, 2008 13:10

Emily O'Reilly, the Ombudsman for Ireland, has just released a report or speech about children's rights. She said that anyone disturbed by a Mosquito device should complain directly to the Gardai as it is an abuse of their rights and freedoms (interviewed on NewsTalk FM at lunchtime today).

by CrystalBalls Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:04

http://kostuff.blogspot.com/2006/07/microwave-weapon-bu....html

Maybe that microwave skin burning tech will get here soon too. That'll fry their little hoodies for sure!!

(imagines vengeful hordes of hoodies wrapped in tinfoil and waving machetes making a path for the perps door!)

There are mosquito counter measures. Hasn't anyone heard of ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones? Well they would protect you long enough to steal the mosquito certainly. Problem solved and a tidy profit too!!.

Personally I Suggest low tech solutions. Like moving somewhere else.
Why should you pay personally for the results of years of ills inflicted on the poor by our greedy society, by having to face their devil spawn daily.

The taoiseach should have to live in moyross. And he should have to drink only water sent down from galway taps. Only then will something be done about stuff like this.

by Ms Corr Tue Apr 15, 2008 09:25

It is all very well to leap to the defense of these poor young people but what about the people in houses and work places that they torcher on a daily basis. A gang of about 30 teenagers play football outside my house every evening, bounce the ball off my car and sittingn room window constantly, have broken all my flowers, regulary climb over my gate and trample my garden to get their ball, throw their litter into my garden and all over the road outside my house, keep me awake until 12 or one most mornings screaming their heads off (I have to get up at 6 for work) and abuse me if I ask them to please move further away. It has gotten to the stage that I hate going home in the evening and am suffering depression from lack of sleep. So there is another side and after reading this site I am going to buy a device and see if I can get my life back!

by alex Mon Feb 25, 2008 08:51

Ban smoking for the good of all the poor people who have to breathe in other peoples smoke and then blast discriminately at the population with ultrasonic weapons...

This needs to go NOW

by BTM Thu Feb 21, 2008 15:18

Information here

http://www.damienblake.com/category/mosquito/

by Ban the Mosquito Thu Feb 21, 2008 15:00

Independent Joe Bonner, calls for a ban on the Mosquito

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/story.asp?stID=2181

Front Page of Meath Chronicle this coming Saturday (23/02/08)

by 5% Sat Feb 16, 2008 21:37

check out the RTE page for "hands on" http://www.rte.ie/tv/handson/ The IDS started a campaign in 2005 as reported here http://www.indymedia.ie/article/69288 to include Irish sign language as a linguitic minority in Europe. Yet despite cosmetic inclusion of sign language intepreters on most European parliamentary cable tv channels offered, the inclusion & recognition of Europe's more than one hundred sign language as first language communities has gone no farther. Our neighbours the UK see two systems predominantly used just for "english language" communication. Other states in Europe have seen dominant language versions usurp minority versions such as the favouritism afforded castilian over catalan sign language, which owed its cuases to the political agenda of Irish Progressive Democrat's Pat Cox in his stint as EU parliament president.

There are people with community agenda who aren't annoyed by a Mc Donald's mosquito acoustic weapon. Yet we don't hear them either...

by 5% Fri Feb 15, 2008 00:49

It's been a long time since we've seen or read of activism on behalf of the deaf and hearing impaired community in Ireland generally or the rural towns where most of these devices seem to be. IT could be a "killing two birds with one stone" exercise. Certainly I imagine it would attract attention to both causes -

but i have that thing with imagination problem. I don't have to bussing or driving the hearing impaired to congregate under aucustic weaponry to highlight discrimination of any of the minorities -

those who can or could, can't & never were able to hear in & around 16 Kzh

great story!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Spinning Quickly Thu Feb 14, 2008 18:04

There was a sound sample of the device played recently on Channel 4 news - I could heard it clearly and I'm in my late 30s!

by Ban the Mosquito Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:56

Buzz Off Campaign Web Site
http://www.pageflakes.com/buzzoffcampaign

Liberty Human Rights UK
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news-and-events/...shtml

by Ban the Mosquito Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:13

Campaigners from the UK Buzz Off campaign explain why they want to get rid of Mosquito devices.

Report a moquito device in Ireland!

Remember - If you know where a mosquito sonic device is located please post info here. We need to get a clear national picture of this.

BUZZ OFF - STOP DISCRIMINATION - GET INFORMATION

by Peter Wed Feb 13, 2008 23:25

The first one of these devices in Ireland was used by Centra in Bettystown Co. Meath, owned by Councillor Pat Boshell of Fianna Fail. He was in one of the papers bragging about it. It has also been somewhat successful in its intended purpose.

by Cork boy Wed Feb 13, 2008 22:59

There is one of these antisocial devices beside the video cameras outside Tesco in Paul Street in Cork - not only does it prevent "loitering" youths at the shopping centre entrance, it makes the whole square and public seating (including three cafes with outdoor tables) unpleasant for those who can hear it. The bastard device should be taken down.

by Ban the Mosquito Wed Feb 13, 2008 09:48

Couple of interesting points raised above

1) There use at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology: Used for creating smoke-free zones rather than teenage group dispersal. A shift in their designed intended use. What’s next?

2) The girl who suffers from headaches while working at Tesco: This could be contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act 2005.

Section 8.—(1) Every employer shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees. Additionaly, the employer has to carry out a separate risk assessment in relation to an employee under 18 years of age. “If certain risks are present, including risks that cannot be recognised or avoided by the young person due to factors like lack of experience, the young person should not be employed.”

Noise Pollution Acts: This device could also be contravening (Section 108) of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the Environmental Protection Agency Act (Noise) Regulations 1994 (SI No. 179 of 1994).

Section 8: Noise as a nuisance.
108.—(1) Where any noise which is so loud, so continuous, so repeated, of such duration or pitch or occurring at such times as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to a person in any premises in the neighbourhood or to a person lawfully using any public place, a local authority, the Agency or any such person may complain to the District Court and the Court may order the person or body making, causing or responsible for the noise to take the measures necessary to reduce the noise to a specified level or to take specified measures for the prevention or limitation of the noise and the person or body concerned shall comply with such order.

After the UK governments’ statement yesterday in which they said they will not ban the device, a test case is now likely to follow. Aynsley-Green, Children’s commissioner said that he will bring a test case in the near future. The outcome of such a case will be very important. A similar test case is now required in Ireland.

by BadSamaritan Wed Feb 13, 2008 00:46

These devices are shameful and effect young people indiscriminately whether they are behaving in an anti-social manner or not. I have heard many stories from parents whose children have been effected by the device when shopping with them, in the above mentioned Tesco store and at a few smaller retailers who have deployed the device in urban areas.

It is paramount to ageism against young people and as a young person I am delighted to know that the device is technically illegal and has no legal basis. A case should be taken against retailers who are using the device, and if it fails here it should be brought to the European Court of Human Rights.

by lulu Tue Feb 12, 2008 21:17

surely playing classical music would have the desired effect?

by Mike - Judean Popular Peoples Front Tue Feb 12, 2008 21:00

I was wondering myself what (if any) negative health effects these devices might have.

Even if there are none there is a case for If not an outright ban at the very least to introduce a licencing system controlled by a local authority with restrictions on hours of use.

Although shopping centres and railway stations in some countries have found Classical music to be just as effective

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7240306.stm Manufacturer defends device (well they would....... ?)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7241527.stm No plans to ban it

by annoyed - in cork Tue Feb 12, 2008 18:55

I agree with the postings above,in cork city they have these devices outside the tesco shopping centre.The teens all hear it,but when i asked them about it,they said the're so used to it that they use it as a ringtone so teachers cant hear them gettin txts in class!!
i wonder what effects it will have on them in the future,also a worker in one of the shops complained to me that she was getting headaches.
surely this is discrimination of age and noise pollution?what can we do to stop it?

by Mike - Judean Popular Peoples Front Tue Feb 12, 2008 18:03

"Depite the myth that older people cant hear it. Everybody hears it."

The GMIT device is possibly set for a lower frequency so that more people can hear it.

Although its nonsense to speak of an ultrasonic device that can accurately target people by age.

Yes everyones ability to hear high frequencies deteriorates with age but not at the same rate If a person frequents loud venues, Has a noisy workplace or listens to loud music it deteriorates faster. There will be 15 year olds who cant hear it and 30 year olds who can.

Apparently the device operates in the rande 17 to 19.5 KHz. Im 35 and I can still hear the transformer noise (15.6 KHz) off some TV sets.

by Mike - Judean Popular Peoples Front Tue Feb 12, 2008 17:53

one eight-year-old boy says he has heard the mosquito in operation.

Not only that, he says that it keeps him awake at night and that because his parents cannot hear it, he is afraid to tell them because he thinks they will not believe him.

"Oh that buzzing noise, yes, I've heard it," he says.

When?

"Oh a couple of nights ago - at about one o'clock."

What were you doing up at that time? I ask.

"Oh I was in bed - I live over the shops. It's always waking me up."

by E.Fox GMIT - LY Tue Feb 12, 2008 17:32

They use this device in GMIT to stop smokers standing outside the doors of the college. Depite the myth that older people cant hear it. Everybody hears it. Its a blatant intrussion of ones rights and I would be interested i seeing the legal mechanisms to have them removed. There are better ways of ensuring "young delinquents" dont hang around shops. Hows about having adaquit facilities to entertain bored youth