That’s right. Congress is getting into the act.

Last January, Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., sent a letter to the National Institutes Of Health inquiring about possible problems resulting from earbud usage and asked that the NIH conduct research into portable music players and what permanent hearing damage the devices might cause.

The NIH said more research is needed, but did point out that closeness of sound to the ear could result in hearing loss, according to Reuters.

Markey said he and Rep. Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., would work together to encourage more study on the matter.

“Sales of the devices have shattered all expectations,” Markey said. “There is a very real need for research.”

Of course, common sense indicates that exposing the ear to any loud noise for a certain length of time will probably damage one’s hearing. Independent studies indicate that earbud sound has been measured in the 100 to 120 decibel range, which is about as loud as sandblasting, but much more enjoyable. In short, you don’t need a rocket scientist to warn you that you might damage your hearing if you listen to your portable music player at full volume.

Apparently, however, you might need a politician.

Silent Movies?

Along the same lines, the National Association of Theater Owners is considering asking the FCC to bend the rules and give theaters permission to jam cell phones.

Last month NaturalNano Inc. announced it had licensed technology for selectively cutting off or allowing access to radio signals such as those used by cell phones and wireless computer technology. By embedding the technology in a spray-on substance such as paint, the company says it will be able to control wireless usage in public venues, such as movie theaters and concert halls.

Now theater owners are looking into NaturalNano and other solutions such as ad campaigns and in-theater announcements asking audiences to refrain from phone usage. The idea is to stop cell phone idiots from acting like, well, idiots with cell phones.

But do we really need some kind of magic paint or snappy advertisements to tell us the obvious, that people should not gab on their phones during a movie?

Apparently so.

“We will actually petition the Federal Communications (Commission) to remove the block,” said National Association of Theater Owners president John Fithian in regards to blocking cell phone transmissions inside movie houses.

Of course, there’s a much easier and cheaper, albeit low-tech way to stop people from using cell phones inside movie theaters. Theater personnel could simply eject those who are annoying other customers.

Or, they could just shoot them. We suspect movie fans wouldn’t have a problem with either solution.