But sound is free to spread out and reverberate in any noncontrollable pattern, similar to a garden hose set at spray.

On a VCR, you can control the screen - but horror films are, or should be, inherently noncontrollable."

"We've been doing whatever we can to get control of the noncontrollable expenses," said Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler, referring to Medicaid, pension costs, debt service and fringe benefits that together consume more than half of the city's annual budget.

Mr. Bloomberg warned that the growth in "noncontrollable" expenses - for Medicaid benefits, pensions, health insurance and debt service - was quickly outpacing discretionary spending and posed a long-term threat to the city's fiscal stability, a theme he has echoed repeatedly.