Ads Are Coming in Audible

     Audible is causing some big-time controversy by launching a new system to play audio advertisements within audiobooks, Audible Originals, and Podcasts. The advertisements will not be shown to subscribers who have access to one credit per month, which can be used to purchase audiobooks. However, non-paying members will have "ad-supported access to a limited set" of titles, with a maximum of eight ads playing within 24 hours. Audible did confirm that they are conducting the test in several countries but has not specified which ones.

     Although the providers were informed of the change and allowed to opt out of ads, the introduction of advertisements within audiobooks or podcasts will set a dangerous precedent, if they get their way, we'll be getting ads everywhere. If Audible does not receive backlash from the media and the public, then you can bet for sure that other companies to follow suit. For instance, Spotify, which owns Findaway, powers its audiobook catalog and could play audio ads within them to encourage paid adoption.

     Audible has stated that it is testing the new system to gain knowledge about the evolving needs of its customers and partners. Which of course is confusing English for what is really bullshit. The company's help page about the test reads, "Audible is dedicated to continuously optimizing how we deliver audio programming to listeners everywhere." The test is currently limited to non-paying members, and Audible has not specified which countries are part of the trial. However, the United States is the largest market where Audible operates.

     Everyone needs to really complain about this or we'll all be doomed to ads popping up everywhere interrupting our entertainment.

     If people don't take issue with this, every other entertainment platform will do the same.

Bram's Stoker's Dracula Reviewed

Bram Stoker's "Dracula" is an enduring classic that continues to captivate readers to this very day. It is a story of a once noble Count Dracula, who has become a centuries-old vampire who looks to leave his home and Castle of loneliness and desolation to find more life in London. The author's writing seems to really capture the landscapes he writes about whether it be in London town or in Romania's Transylvanian Carpathian Mountains.

Below are some of my favorite lines taken from the novel…

“Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”

“There is a reason why all things are as they are.”

“We learn from failure, not from success!”

“The blood is the life!”

“I am all in a sea of wonders. I doubt; I fear; I think strange things, which I dare not

confess to my own soul.”

“Despair has its own calms.”

“No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.”

“Do you not think that there are things which you cannot understand, and yet which are; that some people see things that others cannot? But there are things old and new which must not be contemplate by men´s eyes, because they know or think they know - some things which other men have told them. Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all; and if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain.”

“The sense of sleep was upon me, and with it the obstinacy which sleep brings as outrider.”

The story’s many characters all have great lines and the fantastic tale follows a steady path building to its ultimate climax. It is a great story that beautifully blends fact and fiction.

Overal this is a must-read for anyone who enjoys the way the English language was written long ago or just a well-crafted story. To this day it remains a timeless classic, and the book includes so much more than was ever depicted in the film version.

If you haven’t read this already I really recommend this for your book list and if you have it’s sooo good it’s worth a re-read as well.

The Best Rock Albums You Never Heard

Here’s a short list of some of the best albums ever recorded during the early part of the 70s and another from 1969. These are mostly under-the-radar types of albums that were very influential on young up and coming musicians of this period. Give these a try and I think you’ll find yourself some new rockin’ favorites.

Spooky Tooth - Spooky Two

Spooky Tooth - The Last Puff

Spooky Tooth - Witness

Badfinger - No Dice

Badfinger - Straight Up

Badfinger - Ass

Badfinger - Wish You Were Here

Humble Pie - Rock On

Humble Pie - Rockin' The Fillmore

Humble Pie - Smokin'

Humble Pie  - Eat It

Let me know what you think after trying these out. If you can think of something to add to this short list please add it in the comments section below.

Rock On!

Chinese Spying on US

The Chinese military has been spying and hacking US entities for many years. This is NOTHING new at all. They even brag about it on their CCTV newscasts. I just happened to be there when this story made the news. The Balloons are all that's new nowadays.

I'm certain that the US does the same things however, they just don't get on the news and brag about it like the Chinese do. I've included an article I saved from Chinese news years ago from a time that I spent there. It's a good read, and I recommend you copy and download this article.

There is an updated version of the article below at

https://www.theepochtimes.com/slip-up-in-chinese-military-tv-show-reveals-more-than-intended_1494740.html?ea_src=ai&ea_med=search&

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame News

           The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee offers up the following for induction into the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023 nominees, and I really don’t know what to say about this list because I’m wondering just why these artists are nominated at all when there are many others more deserving still getting snubbed by the lame committees nominating and voting for these artists. It's an ordeal to endure year after year seeing more contemporary artists getting in while so many of the older ones are not getting the respect they deserve.

The Spinners

Iron Maiden

 Kate Bush

 Missy Elliott

 Cyndi Lauper

 The White Stripes

Willie Nelson

 A Tribe Called Quest

George Michael

Sheryl Crow

Rage Against the Machine

Soundgarden

Joy Division/New Order

Warren Zevon

Really? I would not vote for any of the above artists until respect is given to the more deserving artists that helped shape the music of our lives. The 15 I listed below are more worthy than the 14 the nominating committee put forth.

It looks as though it’s more politically selected with regards to whom they could get to perform so they could raise the advertising ceiling for licensing and broadcast rights.

We live not far from the great  Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but we’ve still never visited this museum. It’s too pricey and so many artists there really don’t belong there and so many others are disrespected and missing.

For more information on who exactly is voting our rock stars into immortality please visit this website - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominating Committee | Future Rock Legends

Harry Chapin

Jim Croce

Gordon Lightfoot

Blue Öyster Cult

Bad Company

Cher

The Guess Who

Steppenwolf

Three Dog Night

Tommy James & the Shondells

"Weird Al" Yankovic

Uriah Heep

Suzanne Vega

Tori Amos

Peter Frampton

Maybe someday these committee members will get it right, until then I probably won't get too excited about any news from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Even Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist isn't in the Rock Hall, how lame is that?

United way FREE Tax Preparation 2023

    Get your Taxes done right, and get them done for FREE. The United Way has volunteers with more experience, training, and expertise than you’ll find trying to charge you a couple hundred dollars or more for the same service. You can call 211 and get answers to tax questions or you can go to their website at The United Way Tax Prep and enter your local zip code and find their tax prep locations nearest you.

    There’s the option of doing them yourself like Turbo Tax where you just enter all of your information and follow the easy steps, or you can choose to have your taxes prepared for you. Entering your zip code will give you options of where to go and take your W2s etc. This is a drop-off option, and as there are many people taking advantage of this FREE service you’ll probably have to drop off your files and wait a week or more for them to be completed and they’ll call you to pick up your paper versions. They’ll file electronically and give you a paper version, just remember to bring along a voided check with your banking information, routing number account number, and address.

    Filing electronically should get you your refund in about two weeks. Bonus perk, they will also do your city taxes for you as well.

    All in all, getting your taxes done right and also for FREE is more than a good deal even if it takes a couple weeks longer it’s worth it.

    If your family earns too much this FREE service will not be available so call the 211 number and see if you qualify.

What you need to remember to bring

1. Photo ID

2. Social Security Card

3. W2s

4. Voided Check with Banking info.

* If filing jointly and with dependants, you need their Cards and info as well.

Good Luck!