Some things never change!
Category: Uncategorized
-
On ‘Street Lamps’
By AKP Roney
Disclaimer: The following was written during the summer of 2023. It was penned casually, for a readership of close friends. Due to the nature of it’s inception, this article lacks citations.
We all remember the streetlights of our youth, an orange glow both hazy and robust. I’m sure many of you have memories of these lights turning on as evening fell, perhaps while still out on the forum with your summertime friends. For many, these lights acted as a curfew, for others, a snooze alarm. This artificial light could potentially be your municipality’s attempt to extend the sunset by allowing these lights to costume themselves in a one note expression of the setting sun’s signature orange color.Over the Years these street lamps have been phased out. The orangey street lamps of yesteryear are ‘High Intensity Discharge’ lights. LED lamps are more energy efficient, even if HID lamps are vibier. Unfortunately, these vibes come from sodium and mercury. These vibes are toxic!
While LED lights may be more efficient, they can potentially cause other issues. For instance, the signature cool white light of these lights more closely mimics daylight, which can affect the circadian rhythms of humans and wildlife. For wildlife, it has been known to upset or confuse the migratory patterns of birds, or aquatic animals that nest on shore.
For humans like us: it can suppress melatonin production, which in turn can affect our immune systems and hormone regulation. Studies have also shown that proper melatonin production can help those suffering from IBS or migraines, and potentially prevent the development of certain cancers!
That being said, the cool white lights of the LED era have proven to be better for those driving at night. LED lights supply the greatest level of color rendering and visibility, making them especially useful in areas that see consistent automobile commutership after dark.
Cities that had blue tinted lights saw crime and suicide rates fall in response to the change of color. This was pioneered by communities in Scotland, and Japan. However, Tokyo based professor Tsuneo Suzuki feels this may have less to do with the calming effect psychologists report blue light has on people, more to do with people just kinda feeling weird about it. Suzuki explained, “There are a number of pieces of data to prove blue has a calming effect upon people. However, it’s an unusual color for lighting, so people may just feel like avoiding standing out by committing crimes or suicide under such unusual illumination.”
In my opinion, the color and brightness of street lights should be considered more thoroughly throughout the process of urban planning and design. Perhaps cities would be better off with blue lights over train platforms, white lights along major roads, and warm light in parks. We’ll never know what mixing and matching could be best until we try it, so why don’t we?
Additionally, we should be conscious of the effects light pollution has not only in regards to accessing the natural beauty of the night sky, but also the way that humans and animals’ health can be affected by light pollution. I have also come to believe it’s important to be aware of our light intake in relation to our sleep schedules.
-
Kevin Donald – Thumb
This is the music video for my song ‘Thumb’ that came out on Halloween. Aedan Roney and Mike Bloom directed one late-morning and early afternoon a few weeks prior to that.
Water Walk 