The ground is getting more and more level every day. Consumers have voice. Sometimes the voice is a complaining in tone. We call these people "complaintant."

Many companies hate that this is going on. Ignore it even. Of course, there is a name for people/companies who ignore things. We call these people "ignore-ant."

For nine months, Dave Carroll followed the path (and jumped through the hoops) that United Airlines has customers go through when United errs. (Shame on us customers when we err -- but those are different hoops)

United Airlines broke Dave's guitar (which is a tool of his trade!). Admitted their gaffe. But refused to make up for it. So David used other tools at his disposal -- including YouTube.

Here's the thing: Many companies are going to look at this and point ugly fingernails at consumers who complain. But they were warned. Nine months. Now they'll probably try to make good. How come they didn't make good first?

United Breaks Guitars. The song has become a mantra. It'll last for awhile.

Update: Apparently United caught the turbulence the song has created and is back in conversation with Dave.

Today, I gave hugs to everyone with a colored t-shirt. I had converted. One person told me my conversion actually happened 2,000 years ago -- I just found out about it today.

Angela and I had both talked about new computers. Should we get mini-netbooks with long life. Maybe one of us should get a MAC. Undecided, I called on the aide of two friends: Becky and Russ (I already knew what Drew would say).

Guess what -- we both got MacBookPro machines.

The fact that I am hesitant to open the box tells me how "special" this is. Yes, special. I've owned dozens of Windows machines and never hesitated opening the box. This is different. This      this     this is special.

Drew is helping me celebrate my new-found wisdom later.

I've seen the light.  I am MAC

On this Sunday morning, I am really diggin' this video/sound from Perpetuum Jazzile:

Perpetuum Jazzile is a jazz choir from Slovenia. From their website:

The stage is our canvas, our voices are our colours. We blend and unite them to create masterpieces. Happy faces give us energy and confirm that we are devoted to what we do with our hearts and souls. Their site also has a audio player in the top right corner so you can listen to more.

You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook.

Thanks to Gavin Heaton for sharing it this morning.

Brunch n Brains is the new upscale version of our Lunch n Learn series, a chance to snack on some brilliance while grabbing a coffee or croissant.

Today, we take a shortcut on the path of innovation (if there is a such a thing...gotta view the show) and ponder these slides of wise all the way through Lunch:-)  Lots of Habitudes in this one:

More Denise Caron:
 - Denise on Twitter

Their client has a "page" called Lunch 'N Learn, and I guess the series we have here promoting others and their brilliance was drinking some of their Google Juice?  Never mind that I don't capitalize the "N" or put an apostrophe in the mix; never mind that almost every Chamber of Commerce has some variation of lunches and learning (Did the "EDS" they refer to invest so much postage?  And does the real EDS know that LaffLaw refers to their client as EDS in their mailings?)

Lafflaw asked me to trash any catalogs, brochures and print advertising I might have with Lunch n Learn on it (did they even look at some of these posts?) Seriously?  I may have to kill the 30-second spot I was about to air during Cronkite hour.

I'll probably be changing the name of the series to Brunch n Learn as to play nice ... so if anyone has that registered and wants to send someone out to do their talking - let me know.

Why be so serious?

Aside: The attorney of record is a Mr. Tucker. No offense meant towards the late Mr. Laff. And they did say I could use the name by sending them some money for a limited license to use the term.

Nice metaphor and story by Brandon Chestnutt in this How to Think Like a Social Media Cowboy presentation. I'm undecided whether slide # 9 or # 13 is my fave:

More Brandon:

- on Twitter
- on FriendFeed
- IdentityPR

• My Manifesto: Great Customer Experience Is Free « Customer Experience Matters
  If Classrooms are Conversation Stations (and they are) and our Students are our customers (and they are), then we would do wise to digest Bruce's Manifesto
  (tags: customer strategy experience usability education)
• TeachersFirst Resources by Subject & Grade
  Classroom Resources split into Elem, MS, HS for each subjects - Alpha List spread over 4 pages
  (tags: education resource LessonPlans maierswiki)

This Friday is the First Friday of the month, therefore it's that great day on the calendar when the conversphere comes to Panera U (map to 6740 University Ave, WDM) in the form of our Central Iowa Bloggers gathering around 8 AM.

This is an informal gathering that pretty much takes over the restaraunt for the morning. And the talk isn't always around and about tech (though that's part of it). These are face-to-face conversations about business, relationships, design, user experience, education, and just about everything under the sun -- sort of like the online conversations we see on blogs and around Twitter.

Once they become engaged in conversations, they will understand. They will see that the conversations  are important -- maybe even to them. They will connect to people and discussions they want to follow up on. They will begin to see how  it's Noise Prior to Entry, Signal Upon Engagement

I haven't used Google Wave yet, but here's the movie (it's a long one):

I watched this shorter, but a bit techie, Live Collaborative editing video first. Here's my quick take (though I've only had a sniff of Wave, not even yet a taste):

• Transformative, real-time collaboration. That's what Google is teaching the computers to do (note to my educamatorpologist pals: if Google is banking on and teaching "transformative" "collaboration" with it's valuable assets, shouldn't we do likewise?
• Channels for the noise. So many channels of communication. We need a Tivo-type social media channel guide to surf with. Could it be the Wave?
• Power in Collective Smarts: Google Wave provides a framework for collaboration, and the collective and collaborative genius called the community (that's us) can build and improve upon that.

I'm looking forward to more.

• Why Our Current Education System Is Failing
  A student view on the state of education. Are we to believe that this student (who misses classes) teaching themselves what's important and relevant (reading whatever they like?) to learn? What's the world coming to? ANd how do we get more of these students? Please!
  (tags: reading success 21stcenturyskills Learning literacy education)

Angela and the team are gearing up for our 21st Century Literacies and Habitudes Workshop (see more details of June 22nd event) with team meetings, catering arrangements, and material gathering.  And we're getting pretty excited.

Today is the last day for Early-Bird registrations (a $30 savings off $169). In addition, we have only 30 seats left -- and three weeks before the event.  We may have to remove a few walls and boundaries.

Early this week, we'll be introducing our breakout team and the flow of the day (and remember, it's not a Technology Day).

Hope to see you there!
Register Today!
Download Flyer (PDF)

(this post also published at Angela Maiers' site)