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“Michael Tchong’s Latest Book, “Ubertrends — How Trends And Innovation Are Transforming Our Future Released”

Ubertrends - How Trends And Innovation Are Transforming our Future by Michael Tchong - March 25, 2019

“Michael Tchong’s Latest Book, “Ubertrends — How Trends And Innovation Are Transforming Our Future Released” 

Las Vegas, March 22, 2019 — Michael Tchong, a renowned speaker, trend forecaster, and startup entrepreneur launches his third book, entitled “Ubertrends — How Trends and Innovation Are Transforming Our Future.” “Ubertrends” tracks civilization’s leading edges that are vaulting us into a radically transformed future.

As author Michael Tchong explains in his book, “Ubertrends form in the eye of the storm. As the forces collide with the future, they shapeshift society. When channeled with innovations, Ubertrends unleash a torrent of tsunamis.”

Aimed at business executives, startup entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, financial analysts, as well as anyone who needs a stronger grasp on a developing future. Published by Ubercool Innovation, “Ubertrends” succinctly analyzes and illustrates some of the biggest waves cascading through society today.

It traces these Ubertrends back to seemingly inauspicious historical incidents that play a much better-understood role in the formation of today’s culture.

These waves are responsible for a host of effects rippling through society. Ubertrends is a well-illustrated compendium, featuring some 273 images, that will help readers connect the dots, providing more context to how the future is unfolding.

For example, did you know that our busy lifestyles are the result of an Ubertrend that has roots in developments that took place in Massachusetts in 1946?

This Ubertrend, Time Compression — The Acceleration of Life, is the hurricane force behind the success of both FedEx and Starbucks, while propelling a whole host of other trends, from energy drinks to yoga.

Unlike most trends, Ubertrends change population values, which contributes to permanently altered consumer behavior.

The eight Ubertrend and innovation forces are:
Casual Living — The Evaporation of Decorum 
Digital Lifestyle — Marriage of Man and Machine
Generation X-tasy — Been There, Done That
Fountain of Youth — Rejuvenating Body, Spirit and Environment
Time Compression — The Acceleration of Life
Unwired — Untethered and Unfettered
Voyeurgasm — I Like to Watch
WAF — Ascent of Woman
Innovation — Reinventing Business and Life
Ubertrends - How Trends And Innovation Are Transforming our Future by Michael Tchong - March 25, 2019
Ubertrends – How Trends And Innovation Are Transforming our Future by Michael Tchong now available.

“We live in an age that requires constant innovation,” says Michael Tchong. So gaining tactical market insights is more critical than ever. To shed light on the forces driving disruption, readers are taken on a spellbinding, roller-coaster ride through the “landscape of now.” “Ubertrends” shows how a multiplicity of phenomena, primarily technology trends, is reshaping society in often remarkable ways.

Visit Ubertrends.com and download a free 20-page Ubertrends preview. Michael’s speaking site, MichaelTchong.com as well as his blog, Ubercool.com, are other resources for those interested in staying on top of current consumer and innovation trends.

About Ubercool Innovation
Ubercool Innovation LLC is a thought leader innovation incubator founded by author, entrepreneur, adjunct professor, motivational speaker and trend forecaster Michael Tchong. Ubercool Innovation is a “do tank” — it doesn’t merely talk innovation, it practices what it preaches. Michael addresses audiences globally with insights on emerging trends and innovations. He is a four-time entrepreneur and the founder of ICONOCAST, CyberAtlas, Atelier Systems and MacWEEK. For more information, call 800-WAY-COOL (international: 415-335-7615) or visit https://ubercool.com.

Rolando Morales February 2019 Public Performances Calendar

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Friday Feb 8, Havana Cuban Cuisine, 1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek, approx 8:30-11pm. Rolando returns for this special series of duet engagements at this fine Cuban restaurant and live music venue.  Tonight will feature the rock guitarist from Carlos Santana, the exciting Carlos Hernandez; and on guitar, vocals and his pedal board of magic, Rolando Morales.  Together they’ll rock Havana all night long.  Don’t miss it!   www.havanarestaurant.net,   (925) 939-4555.

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Saturday Feb 9, Walnut Creek Marriott, Lobby Lounge & Bar, 2355 North Main Street, Walnut Creek, 6-9pm.  Rolando returns to this redesigned East Bay hotel and gathering spot in the newly renovated lounge in the shadow of Mount Diablo, where you can enjoy your favorite cocktail, fine wines and a lovely full menu.  Enjoy a sophisticated environment with an international clientele and great acoustics, perfect for Rolando’s vast repertoire on solo guitar and voice and your wonderful night out.  Reservations: (925) 934-2000, https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/oakwc-walnut-creek-marriott/.

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Friday Feb 15, Barone’s Restaurant, 475 St. John St., Pleasanton CA, approx 7:30-10:30pm.  After  almost 5 months away, Rolando finally returns to one of Pleasanton’s premiere dining establishments.  Just in time to extend your Valentine’s Day weekend!  Enjoy exquisite meals and service, libations and Rolando’s vast repertoire in the lively Cocktail Lounge.   See www.baronespleasanton.com, (925) 426-0987.

Saturday Feb 16, Barone’s Restaurant, 475 St. John St., Pleasanton CA, approx 7:30-10:30pm.  Two days in a row!  Continue your Valentine’s Day Weekend at one of Pleasanton’s premiere dining establishments.  Enjoy exquisite meals and service, libations and Rolando’s vast repertoire in the Cocktail Lounge.   See www.baronespleasanton.com, (925) 426-0987.

Friday Feb 22, Havana Cuban Cuisine, 1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek, approx 8:30-11pm. Rolando returns to this fine Cuban restaurant and live music venue.  Tonight, for only the 2nd time at this venue will be the remarkable Grammy-winning Latin percussionist-vocalist from Venezuela, Omar Ledezma, from the Pacific Mambo Orchestra; and on guitar, voice and his pedal board of magic, Rolando Morales.  Together they create fire.  Don’t miss it!  www.havanarestaurant.net,   (925) 939-4555.

Saturday Feb 23, Walnut Creek Marriott, Lobby Lounge & Bar, 2355 North Main Street, Walnut Creek, 6-9pm.  Rolando returns to this redesigned East Bay hotel and gathering spot in the newly renovated lounge in the shadow of Mount Diablo.  Enjoy your favorite cocktail, fine wines and full, delicious menu in a sophisticated environment with an international clientele and great acoustics, perfect for Rolando’s vast repertoire on solo guitar and voice and your wonderful night out.  Reservations: (925) 934-2000, https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/oakwc-walnut-creek-marriott/.

CD SALES

If you would like to order a CD, read on.  If you’d like to order our CD “Rolando Y Qué?!”, you can pick it up at my website, the gigs or by mail.  They’re $15.00 at the gigs, or $17.00 by mail to cover postage and handling. TO ORDER THE NEWEST CD “ROLANDO, Y QUÉ?!” by mail: Send a check or money order payable to Rolando Morales for $17.00 for the CD and postage to Rolando Morales, 9028 Burr Street, Oakland, CA 94605. and I’ll send it to you.  Let me know if you’d like .it signed.

TO ORDER THE ORIGINAL “PASSPORT: 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION” CD by mail, send $17.00 to the same address as above. Be sure to include your return address.

BOTH CDs ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT WWW.ROLANDOMORALES.COM

All other shows are private. Why not hire Rolando for your own private event? He’s available for corporate shows, weddings, parties, concerts and festivals. The Rolando Morales Group is available as sextet, quintet, quartet, trio and duo depending on your entertainment needs and budget.

Rolando Morales is accompanied by Danilo Paiz at The Lot Restaurant in the new City Center Bishop Ranch complex.

Rolando Morales and Danilo Paiz
Rolando Morales and Danilo Paiz

The Lot Restaurant, located just steps from its luxury movie theater in the brand new City Center Bishop Ranch complex, the high end shopping and meeting place in the Tri-Valley San Ramon Hills.

Rolando Morales at Bishop Ranch January 2019
Rolando Morales with Danilo Paiz at Bishop Ranch January 29, 2019

Tuesday Jan 29, The Lot Restaurant, City Center Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, Suite 2300, San Ramon, 6-9pm.  Rolando returns for only the 2nd time to this sprawling center offering a very stylish dining, socializing and cinema experience.  THE LOT features a ten-auditorium cinema as well as a dynamic upscale restaurant, café and cocktail bar, all conveniently situated under the same roof.  Classy.  Elegant.  Premium craft beers, wines and cocktails. Delectable menu.  And a special Taco Tuesday event with the Rolando Morales Duet, featuring the Latin percussionist-vocalist-guitarist from Ruben Blades, the powerful Danilo Paíz; and on guitar and voice, Rolando Morales.  Together they’ll sound like a band!  Bring your friends and let’s make this a semi-regular happening!  TheLotEnt.com/city-centerwww.citycenterbishopranch.com, (925) 664-0069.

The Lot Restaurant, located just steps from its luxury movie theater in the brand new City Center Bishop Ranch complex, the high end shopping and meeting place in the Tri-Valley San Ramon Hills.  Enjoy it while it is brand new!

Rolando Morales, Vocalist and Guitarist, year end performances with Carlos Reyes!

Rolando Morales Newsletter

 

Rolando Morales Newsletter

After-gig hike last week before the sun fell

December 18, 2018

¡Hola, Mi Gente!

I finished that challenging 3-week run of 1 to 2 gigs per day.  And lived to tell.  I even threw in that public gig last Saturday with my rock guitarist buddy from Santana, Carlos Hernandez.  We hit it hard at Havana and threw in a bunch of rocking tunes we’d never done before for a packed house.  What a blast.

In the midst of playing and commuting day and night in the urban jungle, I had one rare late afternoon off.  A brief reprieve.  I unloaded my gear, got into my house, changed into some sweats and drove to Chabot about 4:30 and forced my tired body to hit a trail.  It was hard to get going, but after coming into my first view of the water and hills, I felt so much better!  It was like another world.  Peaceful and grounding.  And cold and dark!  I did the last half of my hike in the night under the slivered moon and beneath the sound of owls hooting in the trees.  Magic.

Now my schedule slows to a manageable level.  The only public show I’m doing this week happens this Friday December 21 when I return to Maria, Maria in Danville for the last time this year, indoors from 6-9pm.

And remember I’m also at Havana after Christmas on Saturday December 29 with the Paraguayan violinist Carlos Reyes, who has played with Arturo Sandoval and Steve Miller.  This is your last chance this year to catch us in public (though we’ve been everywhere in private).  Details for both shows below.  Hard to believe that these are the last public shows of the year!  See you there!

Ciao,

Rolando

 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES FOR DECEMBER 2018  

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Rolando plays at Maria, Maria in Danville this Friday Dec 21

Friday Dec 21, Maria, Maria Cantina, 710 Camino Ramon Road, Danville CA, approx 6-9pm.  Rolando returns to Carlos Santana’s Danville restaurant.  Enjoy Rolando on solo guitar and voice with his diverse repertoire performing either in the restaurant or out on the patio by the fire pits, depending on the weather.   www.mariamariarestaurants.com, (925) 820-2366.

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Saturday Dec 29, Havana Cuban Cuisine, 1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek, approx 8:30-11pm. Rolando returns for his last public appearance of the year at this fine Cuban restaurant and live music venue.  Tonight Rolando welcomes for a rare Havana appearance, the thrilling violinist-bassist from Paraguay, the great Carlos Reyes.  Hehas played with Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, Steve Miller and the Doobie Brothers, among others.And on guitar, voice and his pedal board of magic, Rolando Morales.  Together, they create fire, a huge sound and unique energy you do not want to miss!  www.havanarestaurant.net,   (925) 939-4555.

CD SALES

If you would like to order a CD, read on.  If you’d like to order our CD “Rolando Y Qué?!”, you can pick it up at my website, the gigs or by mail.  They’re $15.00 at the gigs, or $17.00 by mail to cover postage and handling. TO ORDER THE NEWEST CD “ROLANDO, Y QUÉ?!” by mail: Send a check or money order payable to Rolando Morales for $17.00 for the CD and postage to Rolando Morales, 9028 Burr Street, Oakland, CA 94605. and I’ll send it to you.  Let me know if you’d like .it signed.

TO ORDER THE ORIGINAL “PASSPORT: 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION” CD by mail, send $17.00 to the same address as above. Be sure to include your return address.

BOTH CDs ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT WWW.ROLANDOMORALES.COM

All other shows are private. Why not hire Rolando for your own private event? He’s available for corporate shows, weddings, parties, concerts and festivals. The Rolando Morales group is available as sextet, quintet, quartet, trio and duo depending on your entertainment needs and budget.

This email was sent to you for Rolando Morales: RMG, 9028 Burr Street, Oakland, CA 94605

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Voted? Here are November 2018 upcoming Rolando Morales Performances

Rolando Morales Newsletter

 

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Estaire Godinez joins Rolando this Saturday Nov 10 at Havana in Walnut Creek. Here they are before a private event in Hawaii.

November 6, 2018

¡Happy Voting Day, Mi Gente!

I’m on my way out to do the deed.  And if you haven’t already, you should be out there at the polls, too.  The soul of the country will be revealed.  It’s going to be an interesting night…

On the music front there’s only one public show happening this week, but it’s a good one.  This Saturday November 10 at Havana in Walnut Creek, about 8:30-11pm, I’m back with my dear friend Estaire Godinez on Latin percussion and voice.  She’s played with George Benson and Prince.  The last time out, we really stretched into new places.  It was a blast testing out new muscles and surprising the crowd.  We’ll see where we go this time.  We even surprise ourselves!  Details below.

Then in addition to my return next week to Pairings Cellars in Pleasanton on Friday November 16, I’ll also return to Havana on Saturday November 24 when I pair up with the Paraguayan violinist Carlos Reyes, who has played with Arturo Sandoval and Steve Miller.  Anyone who’s seen him knows he’s a force to be reckoned with.  Details for all shows below.

See you on the other side!

Ciao,

Rolando

 PUBLIC PERFORMANCES FOR NOVEMBER 2018  

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Saturday Nov 10, Havana Cuban Cuisine, 1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek, approx 8:30-11pm. Rolando returns for this special series of duet engagements at this fine Cuban restaurant and live music venue.  Tonight Rolando welcomes the charismatic Latin percussionist-vocalist Estaire Godinez, who has played with George Benson and Prince; and on guitar, voice and his pedal board of magic, Rolando Morales.  This is a rare opportunity to catch this inspiring duet laying down their unique blend of Latin-jazz fusion.  Don’t miss it!  www.havanarestaurant.net,   (925) 939-4555.

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Friday Nov 16, Pairings Wine Bar and Restaurant, 310 Main Street, Pleasanton CA 94566, 7:45-10:45pm.  After 2 months away, Rolando finally returns to this exciting social hotspot in downtown Pleasanton.  This young, expanding wine bar features fine wines, tapas and now dinners.  Rolando will perform his broad repertoire on solo guitar and voice.  Free!  www.pairingscellars.com, (925) 398-8846.

Rolando Morales Newsletter

Saturday Nov 24, Havana Cuban Cuisine, 1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek, approx 8:30-11pm. Rolando returns for this special series of duet engagements at this fine Cuban restaurant and live music venue.  Tonight Rolando welcomes for a rare Havana appearance, the thrilling violinist-bassist from Paraguay, the great Carlos Reyes.  He has played with Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval, Steve Miller and the Doobie Brothers, among others.   And on guitar, voice and his pedal board of magic, Rolando Morales.  Together, they create fire, a huge sound and energy you do not want to miss!  www.havanarestaurant.net,   (925) 939-4555.

Friday Nov 30, Maria, Maria Cantina, 710 Camino Ramon Road, Danville CA, approx 6-9pm.  Rolando returns to Carlos Santana’s Danville restaurant.  Enjoy Rolando on solo guitar and voice with his diverse repertoire performing either in the restaurant or out on the patio by the fire pits, depending on the weather.  www.mariamariarestaurants.com, (925) 820-2366.

CD SALES

If you would like to order a CD, read on.  If you’d like to order our CD “Rolando Y Qué?!”, you can pick it up at my website, the gigs or by mail.  They’re $15.00 at the gigs, or $17.00 by mail to cover postage and handling. TO ORDER THE NEWEST CD “ROLANDO, Y QUÉ?!” by mail: Send a check or money order payable to Rolando Morales for $17.00 for the CD and postage to Rolando Morales, 9028 Burr Street, Oakland, CA 94605. and I’ll send it to you.  Let me know if you’d like .it signed.

TO ORDER THE ORIGINAL “PASSPORT: 10th ANNIVERSARY EDITION” CD by mail, send $17.00 to the same address as above. Be sure to include your return address.

BOTH CDs ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT WWW.ROLANDOMORALES.COM

All other shows are private. Why not hire Rolando for your own private event? He’s available for corporate shows, weddings, parties, concerts and festivals. The Rolando Morales group is available as sextet, quintet, quartet, trio and duo depending on your entertainment needs and budget.

This email was sent to you for Rolando Morales: RMG, 9028 Burr Street, Oakland, CA 94605

Subscribe to newsletter
RioVida Networks Public Relations

Rolando Morales will perform at Pairings Wine Bay and Restaurant in Pleasanton, Friday November 16, 2018

Rolando Morales performs on Friday, November 16, 2018 at Pairings Wine Bar & Restaurant in Danville

Friday Nov 16, Pairings Wine Bar and Restaurant, 310 Main Street, Pleasanton CA 94566, 7:45-10:45pm.  After 2 months away, Rolando finally returns to this exciting social hotspot in downtown Pleasanton.  This young, expanding wine bar features fine wines, tapas and now dinners.  Rolando will perform his broad repertoire on solo guitar and voice.  Free!  www.pairingscellars.com, (925) 398-8846.

Estaire Godinez and Rolando Morales to appear at the Havana on Saturday, November 10, 2018

Rolando Morales will perform with Estaire Godinez at Havana on Saturday November 10, 2018

Saturday Nov 10, Havana Cuban Cuisine, 1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek, approx 8:30-11pm. Rolando returns for this special series of duet engagements at this fine Cuban restaurant and live music venue.  Tonight Rolando welcomes the charismatic Latin percussionist-vocalist Estaire Godinez, who has played with George Benson and Prince; and on guitar, voice and his pedal board of magic, Rolando Morales.  This is a rare opportunity to catch this inspiring duet laying down their unique blend of Latin-jazz fusion.  Don’t miss it!  www.havanarestaurant.net,   (925) 939-4555.

Big Business and Customer Experience Attitudes – Google

Google is one of top three companies in the world and the customer experience is unreliable.

Sundar Pichai CEO, Google Inc
Sundar Pichai CEO, Google Inc.

Today’s news clip from 360 Law:

“The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical of whether Google Inc.’s so-called cy pres settlement of a privacy class action was fair, under which $2 million went to class counsel, $5 million went to third parties chosen by class counsel and the company, and zilch went to the 129 million Google users who made up the class.

Google’s earnings more than doubled over the last 5 years, their  share Price went from $513.52 to  $1,090 this morning.

I use google as a customer.  I like their email program services for business and at home, not for mass mailings mind you.  That services is very overpriced and doesn’t come with core features.  I have a separate service provider for that.  I also use google analytics, its pretty ok. It should be considering they make their money by tracking web traffic. It could be quite better from my point of view. Google’s big issue is that their instructions are horrible.

I like to be treated well, by knowledgeable, well-trained people who have a humane attitude.  I am not alone.  Customer Service  or more precisely our Customer Experience is now so bad that it is quickly becoming the  New Frontier in generating or negatively affecting ROI.

Google at its absolute worst. 

I rent cloud space.  I guess because  one of my drives  is linked to a free Gmail account the young man displayed an attitude problem.  He assumed it was free even thought it was not. Maybe he didn’t have access to my account details? Or was too lazy to look?  He claimed that when Google Drive lost much of my data, that was:

a) because I only use the  consumer version.  Never mind that I pay twice than what I pay for the business version that I also use.
b) I could not have lost data from before 2012 because they didn’t even offer google drive before then.

Customer service should not drive up your blood pressure, nor should it make you angry.

The young man’s attitude was horrible. He was rude, arrogant and clearly not very bright. The idea that you may back up other storage that included data from prior years entirely escaped his universe of thoughts.

For the business drive I got a young man on the phone – after looking forever to find a phone number – who was clearly able to read his script and while he was not the brightest person I have ever encountered, he was diligent,  thorough and polite.  He got the job done, eventually, after studying the manual and talking to his boss a few times. Due to his positive attitude I was able to remain patient and polite more easily.  Attitude matters!

Google has its shares of problems.  Every large international company has problems.  Google apparently has hired horrible Ku Klux Klan loving men who created havoc for the company.  More here.

The above mentioned lawsuit very much reflects the conversation I had with the Google Drive young customer experience man – he was rude, intellectually challenged, and despite the fact that I am a paying customer, his attitude was inhumane.  The young man for the business account which costs less was diligent and polite.  On the big business side people are down right courteous.

What I glean from this is that Google does not believe that we are all created equal.

I am the same person with three different level of services and I am treated entirely different in each scenario.  This should not be!  Does it really  matter whether I call as an individual or as a business client?  Please, Google hire better people and  train them better.  By having more than one type experience with a large company I can’t trust you in any area of your business.

Google  has  a hierarchy of value systems  or let it fester and they don’t promote women through the glass ceiling.  You  should, you would do better.

Mr. Pichai, trust is build on a relationship that allows each person to count on the other person to do the right thing.  The Supreme Court of this land ruled that “Corporations are People.”  So Google, why can I only rely on you if your employees consider me worthy, and why does it change from scenario to scenario?

How about just one link with help to get to the right person? I want a better customer experience.

VigilintsHeart™ Launches “Shop, Save, Donate” helping parents save money while donating to schools and non-profits.

Vigilints Newsletter
Vigilints Newsletter
Working together to create a better world for our kids.
VigilintsHeart™ Launches “Shop, Save, Donate” helping parents save money while donating to schools and non-profits.

RioVida Networks is happy to announce the creation of the new VigilintsHeart program that will allow parents to shop online in over 1200 stores that offer special savings.  The portal which can be reached via a link on the VigilintsHeart tab or direct by visiting the store directly.

The customer signs up and receives the sales prizing from the overall stores directly, but because the shopping is done through the portal the customer an additional small savings.  And, more importantly this customer “VigilintsHeart” savings is matched and collected from the purchase of all the participants.   This collective affiliate fee is then donated to various school programs through Micro Donations addressing teachers concerns.

The VigilintsHeart™ “Shop, Save, Donate” community outreach program will provide micro donations to individual school teachers. Often these dedicated professionals reach into their own pocket to purchase school supplies for our kids.  The average teacher spends over $400 out of pocket each year and they really need pencils, paper, books, computer programs, chalk, rulers, glue, and many other items that they use during their instructions.  Many parents are either unable to financially assist the teacher or they “assume” that these supplies are provided by the schools. Unfortunately, school administrators often are burdened with safety needs, building maintenance, and salaries.

There are many wonderful people at the PTA that diligently raise money to help with the bigger issues, school trip, music lessons, art classes and new recess areas.  Often the “little things” – what the teacher actually needs to liven up their class room for the kids on a daily basis rescinds to the background.

Together we can help!   Just move your online shopping to the portal, get your friends and family to do it, and Vigilints will donate their portion of the  affiliate fee to teachers and non-profits.

The VigilintsHeart™ “Shop, Save, Donate” program is simple. Parents join the program FREE by signing up to shop online through the VigilintsHeart™ portal, they receive the discounts offered by the affiliates. The participating list of major stores includes nearly everyone’s favorite store, including Macy’s, Kohl’s, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Best Buy, Old Navy, Disney’ and many other popular stores. Participants shop and save. The Loyalty Superstore receives 25% for licensing of the software platform, program managers, customer experience center, and maintenance team, and the rest of the affiliate commission will be donated to the VigilintsHeart™ program who will provide funds to the organizations.

Shop Save Donate

Click on picture to sign up for the shop, save and donate program

This program does not alter the other VigilintsHeart™ Educational Programs which provide product and donations to teacher’s class rooms and programs. We invite classrooms and teachers to submit their donation requests.

“We are excited to help schools, children and non-profits through VigilintsHeart™,” said Martin Berns, CEO of Loyalty Superstore. Mr. Berns continued, “Loyalty Superstore is dedicated to serving the needs of its affiliates, customers, and the community, and are proud to be a part of the VigilintsHeart.”

The VigilintsHeart™ “Shop, Save, Donate” program is reaching out to other companies who wish to participate or add funds through sponsorship. To sponsor or learn more about the American classroom’ needs and the donations VigilintsHeart™ make  by contacting Edie Okamoto to discuss how you may wish to participate as a co-sponsor.

About VigilintsHeart™

Vigilint Biosensors strives to provide fun and safe solutions to families with children: communications and learning for children and peace of mind for parents. The combination of the best location technologies (GPS, GNSS, A-GPS and sensors) will easily locate your child, anytime and anywhere. Vigilint Biosensors is dedicated to improving the quality of care that parents and senior caregivers provide through a complete 360º intelligent family care assistant, that connects family members together via smartwatches. Vigilint Biosensors provides the family/caregivers with a cloud infrastructure bringing devices and software services together, which strives to improve time management and reduce stress by improved non-intrusive care for kids, seniors, and other loved ones in need. This is achieved through the most modern application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies to life data that provide alerts, if and when needed. “When those we care about are well, we can relax and focus on our day.” www.vigilint.store

Vigilint Biosensors

For introductions and appointments with the appropriate contact persons or to receive further Viglint Biosensors press materials, whitepaper links, or investor packages please contact Edie Okamoto at +1 510 693 0166 or edie.okamoto@riovida.net

Loyalty Superstore

The Loyalty Superstore Officers and Board have 50 years of successfully experience in the Loyalty and Rewards space. We have extensive experience in launching and operating public companies. Loyalty Superstore, Inc. (“LSS” or “the company”) began developing proprietary loyalty and rewards solutions in early 2013. The company has been servicing a niche market for mid-large brands that wanted a private branded, Value Add customizable online loyalty rewards platform, both nationally and locally. To learn more about the www.loyaltysuperstore.com

We love to learn more about your ideas on how we can grow this program. You may reach Edie Okamoto with your request or to learn how we could set up a school specific program for you.

And don’t forget to join our growing community of professionals and parents atTwitter & Facebook.

Attention writers and parents:  Please feel free to share your accomplishments, advice for other parents on the Vigilint Biosensor   blog

Feel free to reach out for an interview and for consideration of recommended products or services for review. We will be glad to consider featuring highly recommended products or services in our advice columns, as long as, we deem them to match well with our desire to support only high quality products that represent our core values and that we may consider reselling through our app(s) or store(s).

 

Rolando Morales with Grammy Award Winning, Omar Ledezma at Havana on October 27, 2018

Grammy-award winning Omar Ledezma joins Rolando Morales on Oct 27, 2018 at the Havana in Walnut Creek
Grammy-award winning Omar Ledezma joins Rolando Morales on Oct 27, 2018 at the Havana in Walnut Creek

Rolando Morales will be accompanied by Grammy Award winning, Omar Ledezma at Havana on October 27, 2018.

Rolando Morales will also entertain guests at Maria Maria onFriday Oct 26, Maria, Maria Cantina,  1470 North Broadway, Walnut Creek, approx 6-9pm.

Tuesday Oct 30, Maria, Maria Cantina, 710 Camino Ramon Road, Danville CA, approx 6-9pm.

Rolando finally does a Taco Tuesday at Carlos Santana’s Danville restaurant.  Enjoy Rolando on solo guitar and voice with his diverse repertoire performing on the patio by the fire pits.  (925) 820-2366, www.mariamariarestaurants.com.

Customer Support Woes – Microsoft’s CX is terrible due to lack of training.

On hold with Microsoft.  What a waste of time.  What a way to irk customers.  Steal their time with faulty products, lack of service and put them on the phone with an untrained macho Philippine young man with a fake name.  “Jared” he called himself.  His lack of English belies that fact.  I am glad that most Indians are now allowed to use Indian names. Anyway what I learned is this:

Microsoft = Hypocrisy.

The 22 minutes I wasted today are better than the 6 1/4 hours it took last time. Today  I got nothing resolved, but gave up quicker.  Yet, I am so upset.  My cortisol levels have sky rocketed, my adrenaline level is in need of rigorous exercise to get them back down. CX is the future.  Everyone including Microsoft agrees.

I ask Jared:  “How long have you worked at Microsoft.  2 Years. Are you an expert on Excel.”

Jared claims that he was trained for more than 1 year.  However, he cautioned me right away, that he is not trained on using the product.  He is merely able to provide help with the installation of Microsoft 365’s  program.  Not with solving anything that may go wrong with it.  When I described the problem he first explained that it is Facebook’s fault.  While there are many things Facebook could improve about themselves, I don’t agree with him that being able to save Facebook Analytics xls documents sometimes, but not always is a Facebook issue. The conversation immediately went beyond the young man’s scope of understanding. I asked for a supervisor.  He never came.  Maybe he was never notified.  Who knows?  Well, we only know that Microsoft doesn’t care about my Customer Experience.  I am having a terrible one.

If the program is already installed,  he explains, then Microsoft can’t help.  He told me that I am welcome to ask other Microsoft users in the “community.”  I asked  him, if there is a glitch with the product, such as many times I can save a document but sometimes I can’t – I am on my own?  He assured me:  “No, no, you are not on your own, I am suggesting that you speak with others in  the community.  Often other users who have similar problem can talk to you and listen to you.  I can’t. ”   When I told him that this is preposterous, he said you can also try to find solutions by watching YouTube or by going to a support site, like ansheishlscam.  I said I beg your pardon.  he repeated ansheishlscam or something like that.  I suggested the he spell it for me since I could not make out the answer.  He seemed entirely stumped at that point.  Apparently they didn’t teach him how to spell word aside of not reaching him how to pronounce them.

I asked him where he is from.  He answered that he is in  the Philippines.  I have had wonderful experiences and philosophical discussions with a Philippine Art professor and his mom in the past.  I know that Jared is not the only person representing the Philippines, but he is certainly representing the CX experience of Microsoft.

I can’t understand his accent.    I had asked to speak to his supervisor.  He had kept me on hold for 16 minutes and then told me that his supervisor was busy with another disgruntled customer.  No, he didn’t really say “disgruntled” he said “valued.”

The problem with Customer Service contracts is that people get paid by the minute.  The companies, Microsoft in this instance,  don’t seem to care if the customer gets help or if you are merely put on hold. I imagine that “big data” shows that calls in the Philippines are shorter than those in India.  I know because last time when I didn’t have to luxury of hanging up because I needed the software installed – I was on hold for over well over 5 hours – only to be told that they wanted to call me back in an extra 22 hours.

I asked whether he could help with a Skype glitch while I was waiting.  Realizing that I was being silly as soon as the sentence came out of my mouth.  Since I joined this 365 subscription, my Skype credits disappeared because my email is in use for this account  already.  Completely irrational frankly, since I have been a customer with Microsoft since 1980 and used Skype since 2004.

Microsoft  touts their AI capabilities and how it  provides “finished services to customers” – but clearly Microsoft is not using their own AI platform or it doesn’t work at all.  My service was neither “finished” nor did it exist. Clearly Microsoft can’t keep track of customers, like me.  Sad.  Or, probably, Microsoft just doesn’t care. I has the credit card booking the money out of the bank account each month.  So there is no more need to actually give a functioning product.  They refer me to the “community” whatever the heck that is?    I googled Community & Microsoft and got this:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum  – a place where frustrated people who don’t have a clue can vote up and down of how frustrated they are with the non-existing answers.  Swell.

I actually think it is not a technology problem, but an attitude problem.  The new Indian born CEO Nadella doesn’t give a hoot about his customers. If he did they would not have all these issues.  They want those issues to complete the retreat from consumer based business.  HP tried that and shot themselves in the foot, big time.  They did the opposite.  They focused on the printers and stopped supporting their techies sub contractors who built their company in the first place.  Not realizing that most people are both – consumers and business people.  Love that Epson Printer after years of using and recommending  HP for everything and my clients.   I use a MACs now. Love Apple’s customer service,  I really do.  They genuinely care,  they speak English and are culturally “with it”  and highly trained.  Love them.

Microsoft, certainly is not the only US bred tech company, that seems to suffer from hypocrisy.  They are just one of the largest offenders.   And it is not that the company as a whole doesn’t know that customer service is important.  In their blog they sing the praises about importance of a positive Customer Experience. In reality however they clearly don’t care at all.

What they say:

Microsoft Logo

Social media can have a positive influence on your brand and your product. It can also drive a stronger bottom line. Case in point: loyal customers spend 67% more than new ones.1 Customer relationships that lead to loyalty and trust are the foundation of a brand’s success. At Microsoft, the Customer Experience Center (CXC) is dedicated to building deeper customer relationships. etc.

My Microsoft customer experience was horrible and the company clearly has no interest in walking their talk.  What goes on my nerves is when people talk one way out of this side of their mouth and the other way out of the other side.  I can’t stand hypocrisy.

I prefer people who are consistent. Microsoft is in decline – angry and upset customer are not a good sign for their future health.  As an angry and upset customers I probably will share my story with more than the average 15 people for negative, and 5 people for positive experiences.

Well, the health advice is working.  I feel much calmer now.  I wasted an awful lot of time.  Maybe I should start working with better customer experience experts and show Microsoft and those other phony companies, how it’s done.   Maybe in the end this  frequent and horrid customer experience is just the inspiration I needed.

PS:  Special thanks, to Yussuf.  You were great last time we spoke and you solve my install problem in 33 minutes flat.  Microsoft should promote you over these uncultured, untrained stone-age macho men who wasted 6 hours and 15 minutes of my time, before I played CX roulette and found you.  If people like you, Yussuf, were in charge of Microsoft, the company would have a chance to thrive again.   The way it is run right now, it will go down as a mere footnote in history.

Buddy Craig Leaving in the Morning -2004 and this new gem by Martin Holland.


Friday Night Live (Roseville Cable access TV) October 15th, 2004 featuring Buddy Craig, Sean Barfly, Bruce Spencer, and Marty Holland. Original music and words by Buddy Craig.

This band is so “California” yu can go out into a little town and suddenly hear the most amazing music. These guys know their instruments. For instance, Martin Holland who is the bassist in this video.  He played with the industry-greats and he plays no matter what, since he is a true musician.   Check out this gem.

It is from Martin Holldand with this quote to y’all:

“The test subject for the next test subject. The wheels go round and round, as always! With LOVE and hamburgers to all my friends!”

Learn more about Martin Holland by visiting:  www.martinholland.com

Dance is an amazing expression of current culture. US Dance Then and Now.

Jive Dancing originated in the 1930s USA

2018 The Paul Mitchell robotic dance

Dance is a reflection of culture.  In the 1930s American were wild and free, the brought this dance to the Europe at the end of World War II.

In 2018 dance moves have a lot of corners, stiffness and are very prescribed.  Here is a dance lesson of the contra dance that will come up in Pasadena this month.

We seem to be moving forward and back ward in time,  both.   Interesting.