Al's Blog-o-Sphere

We’ve heard a lot of buzz about Spotify, the Swedish music-subscription service that’s just become available here in the US. They are rolling it out gradually, in a Google-like way. You can short-cut the process if you want to jump right up to any of the pay versions, they’ll take your money right away.

I requested an invitation only a few days ago and received it last night. I’ve been playing with it today. I’m sure there is a lot I haven’t discovered about it yet, but I thought I might mention what I have learned so far. Continue Reading…

Is it just me, or do other people find it irritating to be approached by those people pushing scripture at outdoor concerts? We’ve all seen them, standing on the street corners with their signs, trying to yell over the music.

[dewplayer:http://gritzmacher.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Five-Man-Electrical-Band-Signs.mp3]

I usually ignore them, but last week here in Lockport, I ran into an especially pushy woman who just wouldn’t take no for an answer when I wouldn’t accept one of her tracts.

Why must they mar an enjoyable time with their preaching? Who are they trying to reach? Do I look like I need their religious assistance? How do you tell by how someone looks?

I mean, this isn’t some pagan third-world country. 90% of the people here were raised in some sort of Christian religion and have, by the time they reach adulthood, found their way to whatever beliefs suit them. These people have nothing new to tell anyone, in fact, they’re pretty much literal Bible-believers, so they have nothing we haven’t all heard before. Continue Reading…

What if everything ran on gas? I’ve got news for you, everything DOES!

Maybe you saw the Nissan commercial with the appliances powered by dirty, smoky gasoline engines. If not, here it is:

The presumption is that if those are so nasty, and are better because they run off of electricity in reality, then a car that runs off electricity should be nicer too. They are pushing hybrid and full electric cars, with the governments support, on the public, leading them to believe they are cleaner, better and cheaper. But it’s not that simple.

Here’s some facts. Continue Reading…

Why is it that businesses in the service industry get so focused on their little piece of the world that they think they are the most important thing there is?

The emails I get from Financial and Insurance companies are, well not hilarious, but in need of a sense of humor to accept them. I get a typical email from my health insurance provider every month to advise me to log in to their web site to get an explanation of my benefits.

Why? Have they changed? Wouldn’t they tell me if they did? Continue Reading…