What's a vuvuzela anyway?!

The biggest international (read: what the US cares about, which if it has to do with soccer = not much) buzz surrounding the World Cup this year has little to do with what's happening on the field, and much more to do with the noise happening in the stands.

<--These are vuvuzelas. We've all seen them at parades and other sporting events, so we know they are really loud and totally obnoxious. Coincidentally also are the instrument of choice for South African fans at soccer matches, hence their sudden spike in popularity.

The debate surrounding these noisemakers is that they are SO loud that the droning cacophony actually drowns out the players' ability to communicate on the field (real soccer fans call it the "pitch"), and the commentators voices.

I could see how that could be a problem for the players if they're not used to it, but don't the commentators have soundproof rooms and microphones, or am I missing something here?

Tests have shown that the sound emitted by a (singular) vuvuzela is the equivalent to 127 decibels. When we're subjected to 100 decibels or more, hearing loss can occur after only 15 minutes. I strongly suggest they hand out earplugs wherever vuvuzelas are sold.

The Onion reports on the ongoing struggle between the International Vuvuzela Philharmonic and "the man":

"Do you know how difficult it is to get everyone situated, tuned, and focused for a vuvuzela concert?" said Juilliard-trained vuvuzelist Donald Frederick Gordon, a noted soloist and renowned performer whose boyhood dream of playing vuvuzela in every stadium in South Africa is now at risk.

"These brash, inconsiderate outbursts of impromptu athletics have made us a laughingstock of the international music community. We have already had cancellations from the Vienna Boy's Choir and guest director Seiji Ozawa, who no doubt fear for their reputation should the Philharmonic continue to be mocked by these incongruous sportsmen."