On the face of it, not a whole hell of a lot.

However, as you are undoubtedly aware, the folks here at timinganddelivery appreciate music (and breaking new and interesting artists).

Well, let’s throw some hard-hitting gangsta rap into the mix and introduce a throwdown. A throw-down so dope that even Maestro might let his backbone slide to this one:

Sesame Street (they got game, kid)

Wall Street (damn it feels good to be a…)

Much love.

Peace out.

dj darren

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Why?

Well, a big part of it is that tomorrow marks the Canadian kick-off of Oasis’ 2008 tour here in Vancouver. Back in April, I told you a little bit about that.

What does Oasis have to do with AT&T (seeing as though there’s a very large, very blue, and very corporate-ish logo on this post) and customer service? Aside from AT&T having used ‘All Around the World‘ on one of its commercial campaigns (don’t even want to think what that cost), not a whole hell of a lot.

By transitive property, though, AT&T has recently blasted out a new campaign called ConnecTech (thanks to one of my readers for bringing it to my attention).

Here’s the deal about AT&T’s new ConnecTech service, which I found pretty cool (even though I sit just hours outside of the US):

AT&T is diversifying its services by attempting to take customer service to the next level by providing in-home services across the 50 states for just about any technical support needs you could have.

A normal human might expect phone services from a phone company…but wait…that’s not all (and you knew it wasn’t)…ConnecTech also does custom installation of home theatre and TV equipment, Flat-panel TV wall mounting and home video installation, and Wall-mount speaker installation.

And here’s where I thought AT&T will really get some traction:

• New PC or Mac computer installation and the startup of a home desktop or notebook, including e-mail, security configuration and device networking
• PC repair service, including parts and hardware replacement
• Home network installation of multiple broadband-enabled devices
• Computer and network diagnosis covering software and router configuration, settings, virus, spyware or operating system errors
• Remote PC and phone support for digital products, such as digital camera, MP3 players and more.

What’s more is that you don’t have to be an AT&T customer to use ConnecTech- and in-home or over-the-phone support services are available 7 days a week. There’s also next-day service installation.

Don’t get me wrong, I think convergence is great (i.e., one-stop shopping). But to me, it usually comes with a hefty, hidden/baked-in price tag. I did some digging…not the case. Apparently, AT&T ConnecTech services start at less than $100. With the C$ trading at ‘around’ par, that’s not too bad, I think. Too bad I/we Canadians can’t use it!

If you’re South of the 49th, enjoy!

darren

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However, thanks to the magic of PVR (Tivo for those in the States), I’ve recently been watching a fair deal of The Colbert Report. Why? He’s hilarious and his writers are probably the sharpest in the biz.

Mixing the US-centric witty banter that Stephen Colbert interlaces throughout his 30 minute show (minus the political slant) and a recent episode where he lambasted Jeopardy for Alex Trebek’s mispronunciation of the word “ReporT” (Colbert uses the infamous ’silent T’; Trebek, being a Canadian (according to Colbert) pronounces the ‘T’ and thus, is incorrect), I found the following kind of interesting (emphasis on ‘kind of’; bordering on ’scared of’).

Given the sensitivity around pronunciation that is making it’s way into the mainstream media, someone decided to go to extreme lengths to pull together an intensely detailed map of the USA (thanks to pk for the reference) in order to arm readers with appropriate  soft drink/pop/Coke lingo, depending on where you’re traveling to/located.

Useful?  Not really.

Resemblence to a Lite Brite board and/or game of Risk?  High.

darren

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BBC radio previewed it this morning, so here it is - Oasis’ brand new single from their seventh studio album (to be released in late September).

The track is called ‘The Shock of the Lightning‘, as it was written dead fast, and in my mind, they couldn’t have selected a stronger track to kick this one off. On August 27th here in Vancouver, GM Place is going to go insane for this one.

Just click on the image.

UPDATED (late in the day August 15):

Also listen to ‘Falling Down (album version)’ (now available for download from itunes)!

darren

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Remember that ad for Libby’s Zoodles ‘back in the day’?  I do.  But who cares.

Here’s something kinda cool:

• Replace hunting with hiking/boating/moving around in high/low places

• Replace bowl and spoon with topographical maps

…and you get to the same place (minus the Zoodles, cutlery, and rhyming pattern).

Thanks to kk for the link and instructions, now you can do some serious pre-hike/travel into the great unknown planning before you decide to.

And I thought navigating my way through NYC with my Blackberry’s GPS was cool…

darren

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Sitting on a beach in the Hamptons playing horseshoes and drinking beers with a bunch of friends, I was introduced to Brett Kohart, the front man of a four man band that is today, the subject of timinganddelivery soundcheck #10.

Acquiesce (Shattered) – taking its title from an album of one of my favourite bands, Kohart went on to explain how he (and his band) have been influenced to the guitar-heavy and power anthems that have defined bands, like Oasis, Stereophonics, Jet, etc. That is where this foursome from New York comes into focus.

As soon as I got back to my Mac, I downloaded Acquiesce’s Shattered from itunes and I have to say…it’s LOUD. Better yet, it’s intelligent and fits together well.

Try tracks like ‘Shattered’, ‘When it Changed’, and from their new album, ‘Starting Today’ (shot live on location in Brooklyn) to get a sense as to what I mean.

I think Adam Williams’ review of the band’s first album was quite fitting and hit the strings right on the pickup:

Having found the ideal balance between melodic power pop and metal crunch, Acquiesce is a throwback to the heavy, guitar driven, in-your-face rock and roll that used to rule the world, but without the clichéd bombast. Couple the band’s aggressive signature sound with a growing reputation on the East and West coast gig circuit, and Acquiesce has crafted the perfect recipe for breakthrough success

Thanks, Brett.

darren

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Having just come back from New York, an article in the New York Times rcently caught my eye that rang some alarm bells as it relates to ’my’ local Whole Foods (in my particular case in Kistilano, the store formerly known as Capers here in Vancouver).

As I said before, I love beef. However, the story got me thinking that I should be a little careful how much I love the beef at Whole Foods going forward.

Essentially, the article talks about a humongous recall of beef across the US by Whole Foods that is centred upon poor quality controls at the store level.  In short, they accepted beef from packing plants that hadn’t been approved.

I think that this quote from the article sums up what a lot of people think (or maybe ‘thought’):

The assumption is that for the extra money that you pay for most Whole Foods products, in return you’re getting something that’s safer, fresher and more nutritious, said Gene Grabowski, head of the crisis and litigation practice at Levick Strategic Communications, who has handled several food-recall cases. And this damages that perception a great deal…

The beef in question, which has been linked to illnesses in several states, came from an Omaha company called Nebraska Beef. The same company had, earlier this summer, processed the 5.3 million pounds of beef linked to nearly 50 cases of infection with a disease-causing strain of the organism E. coli.

Although the recall is US-based…it got me a little worried being situated on this side of the border. Thankfully, I don’t often buy beef from Whole Foods all that often…and will likely be doing even less going forward, regardless of geography!

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Stop and think about how ridiculous it is, to be more specific!

I’ve heard of ‘No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service’, I’ve also heard some other unique ways that restaurants/coffee shops select who they will serve and who they will kaibosh.

But c’mon…no ‘live’ animals allowed?  I noticed a marmot (as made famous in The Big Lebowski) on the sign…so I imagine if I happened to be carrying a dead marmot around (whilst calling myself the ‘Dude’ and wearing a robe from dramatic effect), I’d be given the nod?  Bizarre.

ps - if you can tell me where this sign is located in Vancouver (comment to this post with the answer), we’ll send you a $10 gift certificate to the coffee vendor of your choice!

darren

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I don’t rightly know, nor did I even stop to think about it after I saw Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Andrew Klavan over at The Wall Street Journal seems to think so, however.

Taking ’service’ to another level (see the title of this post), Klavan argues that Bruce Wayne is a reflection (read: I think it’s faint) of “W” (read: drunk party boy, son of privilege, and out-to-lunch executive falling asleep during important meetings). 

I enjoy reading interesting perspective and if you stop and think about the film’s release (read: the timing of its delivery) just a few months before one of the more historically significant elections of our time, he may be on to something.  Aside from both of them starting with the letter ‘B’, some may argue that it’s a fair stretch.  Others…not.

On the flip side of the I-am-not-here-to-get-into-a-political-debate-coin (no two-face reference intended…I’m not that corny), maybe we should stop searching for controversy where it really doesn’t belong and enjoy the film for what it is and just accept that the “war on terror” overtones are simply intended to give the film some contemporary resonance and take Batman into the 21st century.

Two quotes from the movie for you to think about, though which strangely enough (to Klavan’s point) painted a ’scapegoat/martyr’ picture in my head:

You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain

He has to run away - because we have to chase him

Special thanks to the IBA for the photo

darren

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YEW restaurant + bar is giving away a free Start Smart dinner for two!

That’s it! No hook attached, no purchase required, no reasonable hand drawn facsimile accepted, and best of all (virtually) no effort required on your part!

TWO things before I let you know how to win a Start Smart dinner experience at YEW restaurant + bar at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver:

1. If you want some background, I’ve already gone on about YEW restaurant + bar (see image to the right - love the fireplace) and how I’ve enjoyed the service I’ve received; and

2. YEW restaurant + bar is giving away a free Start Smart dinner for two!

To enter the contest all you need to do is POST a comment below involving the experience you’ve had with YEW restaurant + bar.

And…

At the end of the 2008 September long weekend, the Management at YEW restaurant + bar will read each review, pick a winner, and we’ll post the result here at timinganddelivery.com!

What is a Start Smart Dinner, you ask? And rightfully so (how on Earth would you know?). Here’s the deal: on Sunday and Monday evenings, YEW restaurant + bar has put together a three-course dinner (with wine pairing options) for only $35. What kind of three-course dinner? Good question.

Ascribing fully to the Field of Dreams school of thought, they built it…so I came. Here’s how it went:

• we were 45 minutes late to start off with (my fault), but I called ahead to give fair warning (not a problem)

• we were greeted (by name, I might add - very important from the customer’s point-of-view, I think) promptly by two smiling hostesses/front desk staff and were seated at a great table near the wine vault (don’t know if that’s what it’s called, but that’s what I’m going with)

• our server, David, was not only attentive, he was everything a server should be, I think (I’m not a restaurant critic, by any stretch, but when a server goes out of his/her way to tell answer your questions and then some (thanks for the wine shop recommendation, David!), remember your names, substitute dishes on the set menu to accommodate guests’ preferences, and do it all with a smile….that’s over the top)

• the manager, Kevin, checked in from time-to-time (read: and not hassled) to see how we were enjoying things (always a good sign, I think)

• the wine pairings were bang on (again, thanks David for showing us some options!)

• when we had to leave, and we did have to leave quite quickly as we stayed for a good deal of time, Snap, Crackle and Pop/The Keebler Elves/or any other random cartoon reference from the 80’s couldn’t have gotten us on our way with a smile any faster

• one of my favourite touches - David brought us our coffees in YEW restaurant + bar ‘to-go’ cups so we could have it on the way - now THAT is a class act of service!

Coles notes = my Start Smart experience matched my previous expectations of YEW restaurant + bar (and then some)

I look forward to reading everyone’s comment reviews…and good luck!

darren

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