250,000 Points of Light (aka “Starting To Look Too Much Like Christmas”) — by Steve Nadis
Over the next couple of weeks, a man living in Jamaica Plain (as reported in yesterday’s Boston Globe) is planning to string 250,000 Christmas lights around his giant, castle-like abode. He keeps the lights–some of which were installed in October–turned on until 1:30 a.m., and they will stay on even later as Christmas nears. Some neighbors are less than thrilled about the luminous overkill, complaining that it’s like living in Las Vegas. “Well, too bad. It’s Christmas,” says the man, Dominic Luberto, who’s already planning an even bigger display for next year’s holiday season.
Posted by
at
14:25:46
1:30 AM? Doesn’t the town have some kind of ordinance about light pollution? Most towns regulate how much light you can have and how long you can have lights on. Helped me get rid of my neighbor’s flood lights that they kept lit until late for their own convenience.
Besides being annoying to neighbors, bright lights at night disrupt typical animal behaviors. I guess owls and other nocturnal animals are supposed to adapt to humans’ needs for bright and shiny unnatural outdoor lights.
Interesting point, Daphne. I wonder if the neighbors can get some sort of EPA ruling on this (e.g. the lights are harming local endangered species or whatever).
The ridiculous part is, this could be solved in five seconds by reasonable adults. The neighbors stop complaining about his mega-light display if he agrees to shut them off at a reasonable hour. End of fight. But I guess there is at least one side that’s not feeling in a “giving” mood. Go figure.
Midnight. Shut ‘em down at 12 PM. 2nd shifters are home, all the (good) kids are asleep & we don’t need sleep- deprived furry Skippies falling outa trees.
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And the neighbors? Well.. they won’t need to keep their outdoor lights on as much, & when supper’s over, the dishes are done & the fire’s crackling, they just yank open their shades & bask in the glow of the setting… Xmas lites.
Good points, one and all. I have just one point to add: Not In My Back Yard…