There are the slosh-sloshes of the waves, the boisterous barks of sea lions, the singular call of the gulls, and the songs of whales, just to name a few among the millions. But what of the sounds that ...

"Swimmers, take your mark!" A buzzer sounds. Another row of capped little swim team members dove in a nearby neighborhood pool, splashing my legs with pool water. One night last week, I spent five-and ...