Customer service not up to par? Better watch out.

(via Brian Cormier's blog )

Band, “Sons of Maxwell” shed light on bad service through YouTube.

You’d think that companies, especially in tough economic times would be a little more responsive to the needs of their clientele. It’s not like people have no place to turn to express their frustrations. Can United be that stupid? It would seem so..

So, all you companies out there in the “service" industry that believe treating your customers with anything less than respect for the hard earned money they just paid you – well, smile you’ve just become a media star – and not in the good way.

From their web site:

“In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged.

They didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss.

So I promised the last person to finally say “no” to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world. United: Song 1 is the first of those songs. United: Song 2 has been written and video production is underway. United: Song 3 is coming. I promise.”

Greg Grunberg talks social media and "Yowza"

How Heroes Star Greg Grunberg Dominates Social Media [Video]
(from Mashable)

Greg Grunberg is one of social media’s most active celebrities. While you’ve probably seen him on shows like Heroes, Alias, and Felicity, you may not know about his social media and entrepreneurial exploits, with projects including Band From TV and most recently Yowza, an iPhone app for coupons and in-store deals.

"How could we not pick the mind of one of Twitter (Twitter)’s most popular users? That’s what we thought too, so we pulled out our webcams, our iPhones, and for about 30 minutes discussed how the Heroes star utilizes Twitter (@greggrunberg), mobile phones, and social media for himself and his projects."



In his interview with Ben Parr, he discussed his use of Twitter, his social media projects, and of course, he talked about Heroes. Some of the highlights:

- How he came up with Yowzaa and where it’s headed in the next few months
- His very “eye-popping” website (the eyes follow your mouse, it’s creepy I tell you!)
- Why he uses Twitter, but doesn’t use Facebook (Facebook) at all (i.e. how social media, Perez Hilton, and Twitter might have helped get another season of Heroes)
- What is going to happen to his Heroes character Matt Parkman next season (hint: Sylar)
- His family, and dealing with Epilepsy
- What he believes is in social media’s future
- His biggest piece of advice for using social media: “Open Yourself Up” and “Don’t be afraid of social media, because it works.”

I especially like the way he uses his celebrity to publicize to his thousands of Twitter followers Band from TV

The band features various famous artists and athletes who donate all of their revenue form performances etc to their favourite charities. Here is their mission statement form their website. Check it out.

"Band From TV consists of actors, musicians, and athletes who have come together for a common goal; to raise money through music to help those in need. Finding a cure, helping children around the world, protecting our environment, providing educational materials or musical instruments, aiding in natural disasters, or standing up against domestic violence, we will do everything in our power to not only get the message out, but raise much needed funds. Our goal is to make it possible for the charities to have the resources they need do the work they set out to do. The list of organizations we support may change, but one thing remains constant, Band From TV is here to help."

Roméo Leblanc's state funeral draws thousands

Former governor general Roméo LeBlanc was remembered during his state funeral Friday in Memramcook, N.B., as a devoted journalist and politician who worked to improve the lot of the less fortunate.

Phil Fontaine, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, offered a prayer at the start around 10 a.m. AT of the traditional Catholic funeral service at Saint-Thomas of Memramcook Church. Thousands of dignitaries and members of the public gathered at the tiny farming village's church where LeBlanc was baptized.

'My father firmly believed that Canada's greatest and most abundant resource lay not under the sole of our feet nor in or under the sea, but in the hearts and the minds of Canadians.'—MP Dominic LeBlanc

LeBlanc was governor general from 1995 to 1999. Before that, he was a journalist with Radio-Canada, press secretary to former prime ministers Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, a Liberal cabinet minister and a senator.

Canada's first Acadian governor general was also remembered by his longtime friend and Acadian historian, Naomi Griffiths.

LeBlanc and Griffiths were introduced in 1954, and they often met while they were students in Paris.

Griffiths said that when LeBlanc entered public life, he never gave up the belief that politics matter in the lives of Canadians.

"As an Acadian, he was convinced that Canadian institutions and values allowed individuals to preserve differing and distinctive cultural heritages as part of a vibrant and united nation," Griffiths said.

"He was someone willing to accept that differences of culture, of religious belief can be accommodated within one society that justice and equality are goals worth striving for."

LeBlanc, the first Acadian appointed as governor general, died at his home in Grande Digue, N.B., on June 23 after a lengthy illness. He was 81.
(from CBC)

Mounties mount PR campaign!

In an attempt to soften its public image after the disastrous Public relations fiasco's of the past year, The Royal Canadian Mounties mount a recruitment campaign aimed at young musical artists whom they hope, think that "tasers" are something you use in a power point presentation.




Hats off to Gunarrolla for some Canada Day fun and to Daniel for pointing me to this through Twitter.

Web Site Story

The coming together of Broadway and broadband. This is brilliant.

Don't be expecting Jerome Robbin's choreography or the original show's vocals, but do expect to smile. Even if you think musicals are "gay".

I'm envious of these young performer's talent and imagination. Where was Social Media when I was hoofing away in "The Boy Friend"?

Web Site Story from CollegeHumor

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.