Jay Nordlinger on the overamplification of American life:

You'll be in a little restaurant with a flat roof. Say it's by the sea. A small musical ensemble will be setting up. You are probably looking forward to it. And then they use enough amplification to fill Yankee Stadium, and maybe the entire Bronx.

Why? Don't they realize they're in a little seaside restaurant with a flat roof? Why do they need any amplification at all? And why don't patrons rise up and say, "No!"?

Part 1 and Part 2