At least the startle reaction is universal...



People reacting to the photographer's van backfiring...

from the excitement machine

This reminded me for some strange reason of Riverbend's post in the past (I can't find it) where she said she could tell which weapon was fired by the sound.

I wonder if we can get used to loud noises after awhile?

By the way, Riverbend's blog is incredibly good. Also heartbreaking. I can't stop reading it. It makes me cry. Practically every post. But that's not saying much these days.

Sorry about the strange conceptual connection between backfiring vans and all the rest.

This one is especially painful to read--about what is happening to women with the rise of fundamentalism in Iraq.