Downtown Podcast Episode 51 featuring Scott Cohen Want to know what’s happening with The Life Cube in Downtown Las Vegas? Scott will be interviewed on this week’s Downtown Podcast. Joining other guests – Scott Hugelmeyer, Christina Aldan, Richard Work and Derrick Harris, the show looks to be a fun community event and a great opportunity to learn more about what’s taking place in Downtown Las Vegas and #VegasTech. There are two ways to watch: Come see the Downtown Podcast team tape the weekly podcast LIVE! Place: The Ogden #1805 Time: 9:00pm RSVP to have your name left at the front desk of The Ogden. ticketcake.com/podcast (An RSVP is required for the live audience) If you are unable to make it in person, tune into the livestream here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/downtown-podcast #vegastech #art #podcast #LasVegas #ticket #lifecubeproject #cake #tech #lifecube #vegas #downtown #free

Trying hard to get the word out about the Tapestry Wall on The Life Cube.  Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!  skeeter Want to be a part of the art community at Burning Man?  This is your chance to create your flag, your art, your message, and your vision of the future, in your own space.  It will become part of a giant community tapestry wall on The Life Cube, sharing what’s in your head and your heart with the citizens of Black Rock City and the world. We’ve made it easy to order a blank canvas for $15 (that includes shipping)! Come on folks; help make this an amazing success.  It will be fun, it will be exciting!  And tell your friends, your kids, your camp-mates. Interested? Click here to find out more, order a canvas, and reserve your space on the wall:  http://thelifecube.wordpress.com/2013/06/08/lifecubetapestrywall/.  There’s also a Facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/TheLifeCube #TheLifeCube #thelifecubeprojectlifecubeproject #brc2013 #BM2013 #Burningman #brc #skeeter #TapestryWall #artatburningman #TheLifeCube #communityart #BurningMan

Home run on Asian. Sorry did not go with larger crowd or bigger appetite.  intriguingly titled dishes like "la quack". The service was personal. A relatively inexpensive cold sake was really good. Lot of asian diners. Extensive sushi and sashimi with original selection. Specifically liked the hamachi marinated, and the sweet potato pomes frites where a real enjoyment dashed with a 7 spice.

Anyone that knows me understands I have little interest in the "big game" but am really fascinated with the commercials.  I love the 1984 Apple, and yes, I think the Joe Green was great — I never did like the frogs, and I think the Godaddy commercials are in poor taste, but with one commerciasl a year, they do get there brand out there.  Other favorites of mine include the cat herding, bud clydesdale donkey, So let’s talk 2007 — the year of broadband Internet — the year that the ads are not only on AOL and IFILM, but on CBS, and other places.  Why oh why did CBS not buy key words for search?  And when you do go to CBS Sportline – the link is so small I almost missed it.  http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/postseason/superads and at the end of Q2  – the ads are still not there! The IFILM site is clean and up to date, as was the AOL site.  And the winner is in the first half — Blockbuster — who would have thought the gerbal would live again (remeber that computer internet site with them firing the gerbals or rats from a cannon?).  Well, the Blockbuster rabbit and gerbil are hilarious.

Poor Customer Service Award!  VONS & Safeway.  So I am not one that has ever ordered online, but currently in Las Vegas working on a project and will be for a few months, and with no grocery store nearby, I ordered from VONS (Safeway).  What a disaster.  First there was a scheduling problem, then they finally show up, and the first thing the driver says is “I got all you ordered except the chicken!  Now it was hard enough ordering from a supermarket without looking at the fruits and vegetables, but WOW, how does a grocery store run out of chicken?  And why wouldn’t they call or email to tell me so maybe i could have selected something they did have?  Then they send an email:  “How did we do?”.  So I responded with this was a terrible customer experience.  Standard auto response, then a “we’ll check it out’.  Then I get a customer survey asking “how did we do” –I responded indicating “your service was awful”.   Then they send an email which basically said “we have a sophisticated computer system to fill orders — and we sometimes do not have things in stock.  I write back asking for this to be escalated — still no response, but they did offer 8 bananas for free with my next order.  What is wrong with this company????  Whoever is in charge of customer service might want to look for another job. So VONS/ Safeway – you are the recipient on this months POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD. Wishing you the ability to get your act together before more people give up on this online grocery order thing.  You have made it possible for many of my friends and contacts to be warned not to bother. After a week of emails & #customerservice surveys, #VONS / #Safeway still have not called or tried to fix their poor customer experience. #poorcustomerservice #vons   #poorcustomerservice   #vons   #safeway   #customerservice   #onlinegrocery   #onlinegroceryshopping #vonspoorcustomerservicevonssafewaycustomerserviceonlinegroceryonlinegroceryshopping

Pat Summitt is one of those people, that even though I am not into sports, I’, facinated by some of the stories about her coaching.  This article from NYT written by Karen Crouse ——————- January 24, 2009, 2:49 pm Pat Summitt Uses Psychology, but With Some Fizz By Karen Crouse KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — To players who express an interest in becoming a basketball coach, Tennessee’s Pat Summitt offers a simple piece of advice: major in psychology. “I wish I had,” she said last week. “Because you’re always trying to figure out the best way to motivate each individual.” Despite having no formal training in the science of human behavior, Summitt has become a master motivator through 35 years of practical experience. The way she recruited Candace Parker provided a window into her genius. Summitt said that Parker, a schoolgirl legend in Chicago, was initially interested in attending Tennessee, but that as the official signing period approached, her enthusiasm waned. “Candace seems confused,” Summitt recalled thinking. “Something has colored her thinking.” The day before Summitt was to fly to Chicago for her formal home visit, an idea popped into her head. She dropped two packets of cherry-flavored Alka-Seltzer tablets into her purse. When she met the family, Summitt asked Parker what had happened to cloud her thinking on Tennessee. Parker hemmed and hawed and finally shrugged. She said she did not know. Summitt excused herself, disappeared into the Parkers’ kitchen and returned with a clear glass filled with water. She dropped the Alka-Seltzer into the glass, turning the water red and fizzy. “What are you doing, Coach?” a wide-eyed Parker asked. “Just look at that,” Summitt said. “The water was clear. Now something has colored it. Candace, Tennessee has always been very clear to you. Now something or someone has colored your thinking.” Parker said, “Coach, that’s pretty awesome.” The rest, as they say, is history. In the three seasons Parker played before the Los Angeles Sparks drafted her No. 1 in the 2008 W.N.B.A. draft, the Lady Volunteers compiled a record of 101-10 and won their seventh and eighth N.C.A.A. championships.

June 07 Rome restaurant Osteria/Trattoria dal Cav. Gino Vicolo Rosini, 4 (off Via de Campo Marzio) Rome 6873434 So, here are the facts from my visit. I was in Rome for only a day. This special restaurant was recommended by a wine merchant after I did some business with him. I ate lunch and went back for dinner. If you go, I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Restaurant has been around since 1900, owned by 2 families. Gino took over in 1963. His son, Fabritzo, took over in 1984. They are closed sun and festivalles. The owner of the wine store recommended it to me. There are 15 tables, seats about 45. Fabrazio’s sister works there too. Gino is from Abruzzo and mama is from Lazio. Believe in history and good food – not atmosphere. —————————— Gino in vicolo Rosini Vicolo Rosini 4 Tucked away in a hard to find lane off piazza del Parlamento, this neighborhood osteria champions much of the lighter side of the local tradition in dishes like tonnarelli alla ciociara (pasta with mushrooms and tomatoes), and pasta and chickpeas in ray sauce; desserts include a classic and excellent tiramisù. (Source: Time Out Rome Shortlist Guide 2007)

A lot to catch up on.  Since joining Facebook, it becomes harder to allocate additional time to blogging. It’s kind of like the "I don’t understand how you can play golf and run a company thing" (smile). A lot of things going on.  A few things to note follow this post.

It is amazing how many companies spend millions building a brand on advertising and hiring great employees, but fail miserably in customer care. United is my poster child of the week for bad customer service. I have been flying several times a month. Used to use Continental Air almost exclusively, but since the merger with United, I have not been so loyal. In fact, every time there is a problem, I have to go through hell to get something fixed or fees waived. Earlier this week, I was flying to Reno for an art installation we are working on. I received an email at 8:45 saying flight onetime so I left for SFO for an important meeting with a supporter of the Life Cube. As we get close the the airport less than 15 minuted later, I receive an email your flight is cancelled. This was not weather related, it was because of a problem with the crew. Costs? Let’s see – 1 – Aggravation and Panic; 2 – Car to SFO; 3 – Missed meeting; 4 – Waking wife in NY to try and help (I do not have a smart phone and so at midnight had to get her online to help); 5 – Car to San Jose to get a different flight; 6 – sleepless night getting in to Reno late; 7 – long next day when I was booked back to back speaking with kids. But I digress. The fact is companies spend so much building brands and fail to realize how quick customer loyalty impacts that brand. How many people do I share that story with – The next time I am given a choice, what do I think about United? If you are going to outsource – have a way to escalate a problem. Do not let your customers feel like you do not care — and get t=rid of the script that says — I can only charge you — but you can email customer care. #unitedair #callcenters #customerservice #badcustomerservice #outsourcing #continentalair #customerexperience #callcenters #continentalair #customerservice #ManillaCallCenters #PhilippinesCallcenter #outsourcing #customerservice #unitedairlines #airlinemergers #badcustomerservice #badcustomerexperience #callcenters #unitedair

You know those things were you have to  type in the letters to register for a site.  It is a requirement to prevent automated registrations.  Well, this weekend I came across one that simply asked 2 + 3 = blank.  I loved it.  Did not have to try and figure out was the an I or and L, or was that an E or and A.  Duh!  Congrats on whoever launched that tech wizardry.

Attention Cube-ists! The Life Cube Project comes to Reno! So happy to announce that the Life Cube Project is coming to the Reno Sculpture Fest on May 8, 9, and 10, 2015!!  The first photo of part of the metal wall people will tie their wish-tags. The Cube we’re designing for Reno will have a metal frame and feature write-boards, plexi-glass panels etched with geometric designs, collaborative tapestry walls, and murals. I will be speaking to kids at local schools, and gifting 1×1 foot canvas panels for the tapestry walls to local artists. Can you help? We need carpenters, painters, photographers, muralists, videographers, lighting assistants, musicians and DJs. We would love to have people to teach yoga, help with distribution of canvas to artists, and bake muffins for the volunteers! We need someone to take charge of assembling the tapestry wall during the festival. And we need lots of Cube-ists to hand out wish-sticks and share the great energy and the welcoming spirit that is our hallmark and the foundation of everything we do.  Check out the video rendering on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_6FxS0XIOU&feature=youtu.be http://www.renosculpturefest.org/ ‪#‎lifecube‬ ‪#‎renosculpturefest‬ ‪#‎lifecubeproject‬ #art #thelifecubeproject #renoart #renosculpturefest #artburningman #lifecube

On the fit2climb site — John Colver mentions the Fire & Police World Games.  I posted the following comment. So, if the Fire & Police World Games is "called The Toughest Competitor Alive and designed to test endurance, strength, speed, agility, and above all, mental toughness" – then why is it limited to only "full-time publicly employed Law Enforcement Officer or Firefighter"? I’m sure I would not be in the shape and condition to win, but I would be willing to have given it a try. When i was a kid – many years ago, Xerox hosted a fitness challenge, open to all. It included obstacle course, rope climbs, and other tests of strength, endurance, and speed. If you or anyone knows of a similar program – please let me know. See you in Seattle for climb to Mt Rainer in August. Scott Cohen redtiemedia@gmail.com