Albracht has new job
- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
By David Heitz | Wednesday, June 18, 2008 |
Q: What has Jim Albracht been up to since WOC-AM 1420 let him go last December? Does he have any job prospects?
— Loretta, Davenport
A: Ask the Times has received almost as many questions about Albracht as we did when Terry Swails left KWQC-TV. We can report that Albracht is employed at a new Davenport business called Energy Efficient Products Inc.
Albracht, 57, had hosted WOC’s morning show for the past eight years. He had been in broadcasting 25 years, beginning with former Quad-City stations KFMH and WQUA, as well as a previous two-year career at WOC. He also spent more than a decade in television at WQAD-TV8 in Moline.
Albracht said he went into a period of mourning after leaving WOC. “The radio show was something I had dreamed about doing since I was a kid and when I was told I wasn’t going to be part of it anymore, I felt a bit like the middle-aged widower who just lost the love of his life.” He said he decided then that his new endeavor wouldn’t be “old school.”
He found the right fit with his new company, he said, where he works as development director. “I did not want to attach my name to something I didn’t believe in, and with today’s energy prices intent on holding more and more of our economy hostage, I was intrigued with the idea of looking beyond the status quo to see what we can do as individuals to start solving some of these problems.”
He said he joined the company to promote things people can do to start repossessing some of their energy dollars. “I’ve had an energy blanket and a solar energy fan installed in my attic, saving me up to 35 percent of my energy usage every year. I know it sounds like a commercial, but it works!”
Q: Why does the gas pump shut off at $75 when the tank is not even full yet? I can’t even fill my gas-guzzling SUV in one stop at today’s gas prices! It used to shut off at $50.
— Quad-Citian
A: We called the Shell U.S. Media Center for a response to this, and although spokeswoman Robin Lebovitz can only speak for Shell, she said the shut-off coincides with credit card transaction limits that vary from card to card and state to state, and always are subject to change. “Shell monitors all purchase activity on a daily basis and we proactively work with our branded operators to maximize customer convenience. Any customer impact is a priority for Shell, but at this time, a very small percentage of the total card transactions at Shell-branded stations in the U.S. actually reach transaction limits.”
Q: Is one allowed to be a vegetarian in the Army, or do you have to eat whatever they give you?
— Tory, Bettendorf
A: Yes, you can join the Army as a vegetarian and not go hungry, said James Burdick, a customer support representative at Goarmy.com. “We even have MREs (meals ready to eat) that are vegetarian.”
Follow-up files
A couple of readers contacted me with some more remedies for keeping gnats out of your face. Larry from Davenport suggests vanilla candle fragrance, which can be purchased at arts and craft stores. However, it does irritate the skin, he said.
Another reader suggested spraying Sparkle window cleaner on your hat to keep the pests away.
del.icio.us
Digg
NewsVine
Fark
reddit» More Ask The Times Stories
Highest Rated Articles from the last 7 Days
- Technology News Articles
- Computers, MP3, Phones & More. See Product Pics, Specs & Reviews.
- www.NexTag.com
- 2008 Diet Of The Year:
- Finally, A Diet That Really Works! Seen On CNN, NBC, CBS & Fox News.
- www.Wu-YiSource.com
- Cheap Airfare
- Compare multiple travel sites. Discount web fares made easy.
- www.LowFares.com
- Ads by Yahoo!
