The deafening sound of silence

Amidst the crashing sound of the US sub-prime mortgage crisis (nicely packaged as financial products sold by European banks), with the dollar at an all time low, huge US consumer debts, rising prices and a western stagnation/inflation that is shaking the understructure of our economic foundations, I can’t help but wonder if the golden years are really over. The dwindling world’s oil and commodity supplies will obviously become a reason why future wars will be waged, but in the mean time, reality is already biting: 1.50 euro for 1L of gas (equivalent to $9 a gallon if our American friends were to pay current European prices), a +3 to 4% inflation rate, crashing economic consumer confidence: we’re not on a fun ride during 2008. While all this doom-and-gloom is affecting almost everyone, my mind is focused on a personal issue, an issue much more invasive than the crashing economy: my new refrigerator.

I know, while wars are fought and children are dying all over the world, I shouldn’t be bothering you with “tales of never ending noise”, but here I am, whining. Just in case this is your first visit, here’s a quick recap: my old fridge died, I bought a new one (obviously, one of those “no frost” miracles of technology) and the damn thing had to be lifted inside with a crane. The moment I switched it on in my open kitchen I knew I had made a choice that would haunt me for many years to come: this all new, singing and dancing ‘cooler’ is making the noise of an entire zoo in heat. I’m trying to type this post while this f*cking machine (as you can notice, I’m beyond “annoyed”) is wailing, sighing, gargling and basically making every sound from the Kamasutra, 7/7, at over 42 dB(A), courtesy of a new EU law banning the use of more regular, much more silent coolants in present day household cooling/freezing appliances.

Apparently, along with the no-frost came the no-silence part. After three visits of several technicians, including one from the manufacturer (”it’s functioning according to its specifications, there’s nothing we can do. But this machine should never have been installed in an open kitchen”), I’m lost: the hourly high-pitched cooling sounds are ruining my quiet living and working environment. What would you do: rent a crane or just push it out of the window yourself? [Note to one self: must tone this post down, I'm sounding way too desperate]