So I'm home waiting for furniture to arrive from Levitz (aka Furniture.com).   They called yesterday with an automatic service to confirm delivery between 8AM and 12PM.

lalalalala...    waiting around...  *twiddles thumbs*

12:00 PM.

12:10 PM.

12:20 PM.

12:30 PM.

Time to call Customer Service.

They have no idea, but they e-mail the warehouse (why not just call?) to ask where the order is. 

The trucking company calls me back and says that the warehouse postponed the order.  Mind you, the furniture is in the warehouse, so I have no idea why they would do that.  Call Levitz back.

Levitz keeps me on hold for 25 minutes (I can't believe I held on that long, but I had nothing else to do).   Basically, for no apparent reason, someone along the chain--the warehouse, the trucking company, etc. decided I didn't really need my furniture today.  It just didn't go on the truck.  No rationale.   They offered me $100 gift certificate.  I just want my furniture.  I told them to just put the furniture on the truck.  No, trucks were out.  Well, when they come back, put my stuff on a truck.  Can't do that.  Yes you can.  You're just not willing to.  Customer lost.

With the company teetering on the edge of yet another bankruptcy, you'd think they would try and do a little better job on the customer service.   Screw the $100...  the right thing to do is to find the guy responsible, put him and his team on a truck, but my bedroom set on that truck, and get me my stuff.  Whoever eats the overtime, Levitz, the trucking company, whoever... I don't really care.  And, I shouldn't have to. 

Plus, everyone up and down that chain should be intent on fixing the problem.  Don't give me, "We'll reschedule."  It should be, "We'll get you that furniture today if the customer service guy on the other end of the phone has to march down to the warehouse himself and get it to you tied to his Jetta."

That's the kind of attitude that wins customers, creates word of mouth, buzz, etc.

You know what Jamba does when they screw up your order?  Even if they just give you the wrong size...  without hesitation, not only do they give you the thing you didn't order, they start all over again and get you your order.  Twice I've gone there and gotten my usual original AND a 16 b/c they accidently gave me the smaller size.  That creates such a positive experience for me.... makes me want to come back.

Bottom line, if they can't get me my furniture today, they're going to take off all the delivery charges and give me $100 off for my troubles.

Who to blame, though?

You know who the buck stops with?  Ward Dingmann, SVP of Logistics at Levitz.  If you leave your image to the guy at the warehouse, forget your company.  So, maybe Ward will Google himself or someone who know him.  He's on LinkedIn, but I'm not connected to him.  So, if anyone knows Ward, let him know there's a pissed off blogger who is without a bedroom set.

I couldn't think of a good title for this post, so I just wrote what I was thinking.

Last night, we probably peaked at about 60 or 70 people... (I counted 45 off the top of my head that I actually match a name to a face, and that's pretty good for me).  The bar was packed, people were mixing it up, and a bunch of people came back to me and said they're going to be following up and maybe collaborating with some of the people they met.  Faaantastic!

Darren beat me to the first post and I'm glad he had a good time.  He echoed something that I've been feeling, too... that there is a definite digital buzz in New York City.  I can't wait to see everyone again, and I'm sorry I didn't get to spend as much time with each person as I would have liked.  I felt like all I kept doing last night was walking away from people to meet more people. 

One thing that is different from some of the other digital parties I've seen.  Seems that New Yorkers are more interested in actually talking to each other than taking pictures of each other.  That's probably a good thing. 

I did manage to get a few pictures, though.  I don't know if anyone else did, but I'll be tagging mine nextNY, obviously.  Oh, and as per usual, if you want to chat with people about this blog post, you can click the "live chat" next to the screaming man icon at the end of this post.

Here's my fav:

If you're bald, and you work in tech or new media in NYC, nextNY is obviously the party for you.

Link: Kaz is well prepared for new challenge this spring -- Newsday.com.

Kaz Matsui is painfully aware of his tenuous situation on the Mets. As the Japanese infielder said yesterday, "I read the papers."

Hopefully, he reads blogs, too.  Kaz, you stink.  You're not worth the $7 million we're paying you.  I'd trade you for a bucket of baseballs and a foam hand if I could.

NYSC Swag, originally uploaded by ceonyc.

Blog for free stuff... Get free stuff.



Amazing.



Hmm... If only Jamba Juice read my blog.

I showed up at the gym yesterday morning and realized, in the locker room, that I didn't bring gym shorts. 

Working out in the morning really makes my whole day, because, for as much as I don't like to get up early, I like the way it makes me feel.

So I decided I'd bite the bullet and buy a pair of New York Sports Club shorts.  I figured I'd get ripped off, but I really wanted to work out and I'd probably need another pair of shorts eventually.

When I went up to the counter and asked how much the cheapest shorts were, the women at the desk made a face. 

"$22.50."

Even they knew it was a ripoff, but I was stuck.  Then, one of the women told her colleague that I could use her employee discount code, because I was so nice to them.  It rang up $16.50...   not so bad. 

There are two lessons here. 

One of them is just to be nice to all the people who work behind counters. 

The other is that, sometimes, gauging your customers when they're most desperate isn't a good strategy.

Had I actually been charged the $22.50, I would have felt totally ripped off.  Not only that, but I've been a NYSC member for almost 5 years now, and I've never gotten a free anything.  Not even a damn t-shirt.

Those NYSC shorts are an advertisement for them... they should be paying me to run around in them.  (Or at least subsidizing them...)

Creating this kind of anamosity in your customer base--a customer base that pays you about $80 a month--just doesn't seem like good business.

Instead, by giving me her employee discount, that woman at the front desk totally made my day and made me feel good about NYSC.  Wasn't that worth the $6 for the company?

In fact, if they really wanted to create a more customer centric strategy with their swag, they should have t-shirt giveaway days with the location of your NYSC club printed on the back.  New York City is full of attractive people... we're in pretty good shape, because we're out there walking, biking, hurrying around.  Put some free t-shirts on these people and let everyone know where to find them. 

I'd be happy to wear a NYSC t-shirt that said 23rd and Park on the back...   not that I'd drum up any new business, but I'm pretty sure there are a couple of people who work out at that club that could. 

I've mentioned this in parts in other posts, but I want to make a point of saying it here on its own:

There isn't a place on the face of the earth that is more well positioned to be a center of innovation over the next twenty years than New York. 

That's because the most interesting things we're going to see going forward aren't about tech.  Its not about faster chips or bigger pipes.  Its about content and communication, and providing an enabling service layer to finally put to use all the tech we've put in the ground, on our desks, and in the sky over the last few years.

And, to a large extent, that's just as much about creating new business models than it is building anything.  Its getting NBC comfortable with distributing ad supported SNL clips, and targeting those ads so well that I actually want to get them.  Its about being always on only with the people I want to be always on with--and helping me discover those people as well.

It used to be that if you wanted to discover the latest technology, you'd go to a cutting edge university research lab and see something being sodered together on a bench.  Now, you've got just as much of a chance of finding the latest tech in the university dorm room...  and once you enable that kind of entrepreneurial freedom, you start to shake up the way things were done before.

A lot of companies I see now seems to have a need for a business development person in New York City... or one that's willing to spend at least half their time here.  Even Amazon is getting into the media business apparently.  I think the people holding the keys to the kingdom are here in the Big Apple.

Of course, we don't have a perfect storm yet.  There's a bit of a "funding gap"...  we could use some more individual angels interested in doing pre-revenue, pre-business model deals in the new media space.  And, its hard to get cheap space to start a company.  But what we do have, besides a critical mass of media, are some of the most creative university students, more lawyers than you can shake a stick it, and a growing base of repeat entreprenuers and a venture community who has been around the block once or twice now.  I think of this town like a venture powderkeg just waiting to go off.

Or, am I wrong, and is it the case that always is and always was?

Got something to say?  Chat about it!

Right now, you can click the "live chat" link at the bottom of this post (next to the screaming Wall guy) and go into a chatroom specifically designed for this post.  So quit lurking and see who else is reading this post, because I don't have all the answers for sure.

And when you're done chatting, drop me a line and tell me what you think of the whole concept.

I'll probably jump in around 8:30AM/9ish.

Messing with Parsons grad exhibits, originally uploaded by ceonyc.

Interactive art+text messages+Charlie= bubble #5

Whole Foods is a goldmine, originally uploaded by ceonyc.

And all I have is one stinkin foccaccia...

Dear TV,

     I'm afraid this isn't really going to work out.  There's someone else.  Actually, there's a couple of others... there's the web, and, well, its not even just the web... there's my whole life, with the softball and the kayaking, and you just don't fit into it with your rigid scheduling and DRM lifestyle.

     You always want to do things on your terms...  showing shows only at certain times, only at home on my couch.  God forbid you let me copy a show and watch it on my computer or a video iPod.  Its all about you... you don't want to share and I'm just a free spirit.  You can't keep me caged in anymore.

     I want a relationship that lets me watch Jeopardy on the subway the morning after it airs... or even in a podcast on my bike.  I'm willing to go halfway--I'll even take the commercials with me if it makes you feel better, but no, you're not happy about that.  And, even when you do let me take a show with me, you want me to pay for each one individually.

     Why do you have to be so controlling?  You could be so much more.  You could just publish all the content freely and attach ads to it and let people take them wherever they want.  You could break free from the box... why do you keep holding back?

     You know, I thought things were getting better.  I was watching those funny SNL clips on YouTube and it made me feel like I wanted to get close to you again... maybe work things out.  But then you went and spoiled everything.

     I'm tired of feeling so confined.  There's a whole big world out there, and if you don't want to come with me, on my phone, on my Ipod, on the computer, then I think we need to end this.  You're so stuck in your ways and if you don't change, you're going to die alone. 

     I don't regret any of our time together...  our afternoons when I was 9, watching Airwolf, two episodes of Knight Rider, and two episodes of the A-Team...  but I'm 26 now and I need something more.  I'm sorry.

Charlie

PS...  There wasn't enough sex either.

Swing Juice, originally uploaded by ceonyc.

The founder of Swing Juice swung by the new boathouse today with a free sample. It was pretty good... Its targeted to golfers, but I'm sure works for any sports enthusiasts. Check it out. Www.swingjuice.com

Sitting in Union Square Starbucks now, originally uploaded by ceonyc.

Its 3:23...planning on being here until 6. Come say hello if you want...but just hello. I'm working. :)

Yesterday, we celebrated both my dad's 66th birthday and my grandmother's (mom's mom) 88th birthday at, where else, Gino's. 

Watching how they treat my dad is like watching people visit the Godfather.  (And my dad isn't even Italian.)

The beginning of this video features Sayo the waiter trying to gather his troops for a little waitstaff in the round birthday song.   My maternal nana is sitting to my left, and my other nana is on my right.  My brother Steve is at the end of the table.

Don't my parents look pretty good for their age?

So, about a month ago, I took a personal dispute public.  Adrianna wanted to infultrate and conquer my pleated wardrobe and I was quite resistant.  In retaliation, instead of just opening up to her influence, I decided to create the first open source fashion recommendation system:  Coat Idol.

I needed a winter coat.

People nominated coats in del.icio.us.

And now, you can vote on which one I'll buy:  (Note, some of the coats didn't make it, b/c their permalinks weren't so permanent and I couldn't find them again.  Silly retailers.)

Voting ends Tuesday at 5PM.  At that point, I'll blindly place a rush order (its getting pretty cold here) for whatever coat has the most votes.  Please vote only once.

Here are the choices... vote at the bottom.

1) New University Coat (with Thinsolate)  - $198

2)  Columbia Men's Leather Bib Hipster Jacket - $180

3)   Kenneth Cole Reaction Wool Peacoat - $175

4)  Kenneth Cole REACTION  "Boxcar" Coat - $99

5)  Andrew Marc's Marc New York - $195

6) Leather Car Coat - $119

So, after a haircut yesterday, I came to terms a very difficult problem.  Its a problem that many people take a long time to confront.  No one wants it to happen to them, but when it does, I think the best thing to do is to be open and honest about it.

I'm losing my hair.

There.  I said it.  To be honest, I knew it was coming eventually.  It was only a matter of time.  It was thin to begin with, particularly upfront.  Now its creeping way up there in the corners and trying to circle back around, cutting off the supply lines to the beleaguered troops on the front lines.  By combing it back in my normal style, I only made it more difficult to hide.  People noticed and had been noticing the thinness for some time.  It would show up in a dimly restaurant if I was sitting directly under a light, which would throw back a bit too much shine for someone without a sparsity issue.  Hairspray and gel became a non-starter.  Can't have these guys clumping up on me...  Not enough to go around.  Spread out guys...  Make the place look crowded.  Can't tell people its a slow night.  Once you lose your customers, there's no bringing them back.
     Well, now that I've come to terms with it, pretty early, to my credit, if I might add, what do I do about it?  Without question, there will be no hats, comb arounds, unders, overs or throughs.  There will be no creams, shampoos, pills, or rinses.  No hair will be brought in from the outside, be it from other places on my body, other heads, animals, or from a lab or factory.  No, we built this franchise from inside and we're not going to get into the business of signing high priced free agents that might not pan out.  I will not have my head become the '93 Mets. 
     No, we're going with what we have, and actually even less than that.  Sometime before dodgeball on Sunday, I'm getting a buzzcut.  This way, I won't have to worry about it.  It will be my way of saying, "Hey, we weren't up to this full head of hair business.  We tried... gave it our best shot, but it just wasn't in the cards.  You know, maternal grandfather and all...  There was nothing to be done about it."
     I'm confident about this decision, too.  You never really see anyone with a buzz that anyone says looks bad.  Thinning hair and attempts to hide it, no matter how valiant, however, always look bad.  So that's it.  This is the way its going to be around here from now on, and there are a lot worse things I could be dealing with.  I'm happy, I'm healthy, and come sometime this week, I'm not going to have very much hair.  Problem?  Not at all.  I'm over it.

Starbucks and What the Doormouse Said, originally uploaded by ceonyc.

Cheese foccaccia bread thing was ok... Not great. I don't drink coffee so I had a chai. What is chai anyway?

From MTV...

The Recording Industry Association of America — the lobbying group behind the thousands of lawsuits over unauthorized sharing and downloading of songs — says the answer is definitely no. "Selling an iPod preloaded with music is no different than selling a DVD onto which you have burned your entire music collection," the RIAA said in a statement. "Either act is a clear violation of U.S. copyright law. The RIAA is monitoring this means of infringement. In short: seller beware.

So here's a question...

Love the beam, originally uploaded by ceonyc.

I had an infrared port on my laptop all throughout college...never knew what it was for.



Recently, I've been stuck in some situations where our internet was down and had no USB cord, but I had to get a file onto our server from my phone.



The beam!



Now I'm beam obsessed. Its one of the most underutilized parts of the laptop.



Brad is getting rid of an old compuer and needs to get some files onto our fileserver.



So I'm beaming them over.

This is ridiculous...

How about we just go out and get this guy instead?

Jae Seo, we'll miss you.