Monday, October 7, 2002|
I was in Border's this evening, doing my usual browse. I stopped in the restroom and noticed that they have both paper towels and an electric hand dryer (have you noticed that they replaced the old, usually scratched-out instructions with pictures? No more "push butt(on) Rub hands under (w)arm air). Is there really anyone who would choose the electric dryer? I've never used one of them voluntarily. I've never used one without having to finish drying with toilet paper or my pants. The dryers take forever and they don't do the job as well as plain old paper towels.
The electric dryers were touted as being more energy-friendly. That never made sense to me. Paper comes from trees and that's a renewable resource. Electricity is usually made in coal-fired plants and that's not a renewable resource. I think the real reason is that somebody got sold on the idea that the one-time cost was cheaper than buying paper towels and maintaining the dispensers. As usual, it gets back to money. |
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Internet radio, I am finding out, has a lot more to offer than another passive listening experience. I've written before about Radio Paradise, but I've since poked around their web site and realized some important differences between this and commerical radio. Using their web site - after free registration - you get the opportunity to comment on the songs played and rate them. Where is there a commercial radio station that lets you weigh in on as many songs as you wish? Where is there a commercial station that even cares what you think? Their extensive playlist is published and runs from the Beatles to 21st century-barely-knowns. And not once have I seen or heard Stairway to Heaven! Radio Paradise is also set up to allow listeners to upload songs to them! there's no guarantee that what you send them will get played, nor should there be. But they will, at least consider it. How cool is it that a station is programmed by people who love music rather than people who love advertisers or music industry greed-heads. The problem , obviously, is that if you don't have a dedicated line or highspeed access, it's inconvenient. Since I am fortunate enough to have cable modem, though, the station runs through my stereo and sounds fine. They are also trying to petion the satellite XM Radio to include them as one of their options. The cost of all this is free. They are a listener supported station and welcome, but do not require, contributions (and no public radio-style fundraisers so far). They even make it easy to contribute with a direct PayPal link. (by the way, I have no financial interest in this, nor do I know anyone who does)
The music isn't everyone's style, but it is eclectic, tasteful and the opposite of commercial radio in nearly every way. Oh - no screaming disc jockeys, either. |
Last update: 7/12/04; 13:14:41 .
