Two recent stories have revolved around ears. One is the use by students in the US of a ringtone which many adults cannot hear. This allows the students to use their cellphones during classtime, a practice not encouraged. Apparently as people age, their ears "harden" and they cannot hear as great a range of frequencies - so by designing a ringtone outside the normal "adult range", you get a ringtone perfect for teenagers. You can also devise a perfect sound repellent for teenagers that doesn't bother adults - which has apparently already been done ... a good way to stop unwanted youth hanging around outside your store - although playing Glenn Miller recordings might have a similar effect.
Another earily concerning story about students hails from Beijing. With fierce competition - 9.5 million candidates, 2.6 million university places available - some have turned to cheating, and being fairly hi-tech about it to beat the surveillance measures in place to prevent it. One lad used earphones so small they slipped further into his ear than intended and perforated his eardrum. Another had to be operated on to have his earphones removed "when an electronic device connected to headphones and strapped to a third student's body exploded, injuring his abdomen" (Daily Telegraph). I am not sure whether the ear phones were removed from the abdomen (ouch) or whether I am just not reading the sentence correctly.
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