Long-time readers may be aware of my somewhat unhealthy obsession with Rick Astley’s music.  I mean, Rick Astley DID teach me everything I need to know about social media!

Make sure you click on the link, because it kick-started the “Awesome” phase of this blog, further developed here.  And of course, we are still very much awesome these days, with the “Your Daily Awesome” series in high gear.

So with that being said, this was an awesome morning.  I opened up my laptop and had a message from my friend Matt LaCasse (by the way, make sure you check out his fantastic blog, with great insights on sports, PR and #cookchat!).

Matt informed me that Rick Astley had just released new music!!

His VERY AWESOME single “Lights Out” was leaked in June, but now it’s officially released, so here it is!

And here’s a special “Bonus Awesome:” Rick Astley and Tony Hadley, singing “Don’t Cha,” by the Pussycat Dolls. This is just too much awesome!

You may not know this about me, but I love music.  And I was a DJ for a long, long time.  No joke.  In high school, I

Performing "Thriller" at a friend's wedding! Good times!

DJed 2-3 parties a weekend, proms, bar/bat mitzvahs, birthdays, etc.  And in college, I was a radio DJ, even managing the entire station for a full year.

And because I spent so many parties on the working side, I tended to go a little nuts when I could relax and enjoy an evening on the dance floor.

One song a group of high school buddies and I particularly enjoyed was the Sugarhill Gang classic, “Apache.”

The song is kind of ridiculous, as is the popular dance that goes along with it.  While copyright issues prevent me from sharing the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” version of the song, including Will and Carlton’s EPIC dance routine, I CAN let you enjoy the song itself.

So, here is one of my all-time favorite songs, APACHE!!!

I’ve got a late-summer cold.  It’s horrible.  It’s 95 degrees out and I’m taking NyQuill.

Which brings me to today’s Daily Awesome…Lewis Black’s NyQuill diatribe!

I saw “The Other Guys” this weekend.  Not a fan.  All the pieces were there, but something just didn’t click.

However, while the movie was decidedly unawesome, it did make me think of one of the most awesome things in recent memory: Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals!

It’s been a looooong time, and it’s a fun Friday, so let’s dip back into the ol’ Content Toolbox and dust off

everyone’s favorite game – The Lyrics Quiz!

For those new to the game, I’ll give you a song lyric.  You name the song.  Post your answers in the comments section.  No peeking, Googling, Yahooing, Binging, etc.  You may phone a friend, and saying each line loudly in a dull, emotionless tone can help you figure them out.  And make people give you the stinkeye.

Good luck and have fun!

Oh…a prize.  Ummm…the winner gets something good.  Like self-esteem.

Here we go!

1) Time’s standing still/Waitin’ for some small clue/I keep getting chills/When I think your love is true

2) Candyman teasing the thoughts of a sweet tooth tortured by the weight loss

3) Half my life is in books’ written pages/Lived and learned from fools and from sages

4) Someday love will find you/Break those chains that bind you

5) Tell me how to win your heart/For I haven’t got a clue

6) The more I know/The less I understand/All the things I thought I knew/I’m learning again

7) There’s only two types of people in the world/The ones that entertain and the ones that observe

8 ) Tin roof/Busted

9) And it feel’s/it feel’s like heaven is so far away

10) Take back your picture in the frame/Take back your singing in the rain

BONUS) Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me

Good luck!

Note – You may not be able to handle this post.  That’s OK.  It’s not for everyone.

I throw around the word “awesome” quite often.

However, I feel I have let you down by not defining it, in a pop culture context.

“Awesome” things in pop culture are things you see and your only thought is “DUDE, THAT WAS AWESOME!”

Whew.  Glad I got that off my chest.

So now, to further clarify, here are some videos that are AWESOME.

And let’s end this list right about where we started it:

Here are the slides from the presentation Kelly Stewart and I gave at the ASAE Annual Meeting on August 24, 2010 – focusing on how non-profits and associations can integrate social media into their overall communications plan.  Enjoy!

Golfers like to call “mulligans.”  Kids call them “do-overs.”

They come after only the worst moments – the embarrassments to end all embarrassments.  The stories you tell at parties for years to come.

The harsh reality is that, in real life, you don’t really get a chance to rewind the tape and do it all over again.

Thus, the most embarrassing moments of your life are born.

I had one of these recently, and I thought I’d share it with you.  However, there is one caveat: in order to read this story, you MUST share an embarrassing moment of your own in the comments section.  Deal?

OK, here we go.

Recently, I had a horrible travel experience with an airline I won’t mention in this blog, but you can read all about the ordeal here.

Short version: After a 7 hour delay, I made it from Baltimore to Detroit, where I then had a 3 hour layover.  My day started at 4am, so by 6pm, I was more than a little travel-weary.

Detroit’s airport is a behemoth – gates and gates and gates and gates and more gates.  Really an impressive building.

Two hours into my layover, I had walked around pretty much the entire B/C concourse, logging at least a few miles, with little food.  I had a $7 food voucher from the airline that I decided to use at Wendy’s for some chicken nuggety things.

As you would expect, they didn’t sit particularly well, so a short time after eating, I needed to find some relief.

I saw a vending machine in between the men’s and women’s restrooms.  I peeked in, seeing if they had some ginger ale or a cola to help calm my aching tummy.  I turned around and saw some sodas on sale at a news-stand across the concourse.

“Self,” I said to myself.  “Let’s hit the water closet, then grab a soda.”  “Great idea!” I responded to myself.  (I told you I was exhausted.)

With that decision settled (and my stomach not), I turned around and went into the bathroom and found an empty stall, where I proceeded to do what people do in such situations.

All of the sudden, I hear a woman’s voice: “Has anyone seen a passport in here??” she hollered.

My heart skipped a half-beat, but then I heard a kid running in and it seemed like a little boy who picked up his passport.

Over the next several seconds (which felt like minutes), I had a big discussion with myself on which restroom I was actually using.  I then heard two women walk in and it hit me hard:

I was in the women’s restroom!!!

I quickly finished my business, and began plotting my escape.  I had visions of being arrested for whatever they can charge you for using the women’s restroom.

My defense was taking shape in my mind: “I’m a very tired, very happily married man who ate some bad fast food chicken and was very confused.”  I wasn’t sure it would help me, but it was worth trying, since it was the truth and all.

When the two women who entered and almost gave me cardiac arrest finally finished, all was quiet on the western front, so I began my exit strategy.

Step 1 – Open stall door slowly, have an eyeball go side-to-side and make sure there was nobody watching.  Check.

Step 2 – Run like the dickens!

Ut, oh!!!  There was  a woman quietly reapplying make-up at the sink!!

I put my head down and plowed through the 20 feet separating me from the exit.

Step 3 – Crap, I didn’t think of Step 3!!!  What should I do when I’m leaving the restroom and an airport full of flyers see me?

Thinking on the fly, I made a sharp left and disappeared into the men’s room.  I did, of course, have to wash my hands.

Thankfully, nobody saw my escape and now it will live on as My Most Embarrassing Moment.

So…I told you mine…what’s yours??

Recently, I had a horrible experience flying Delta from Baltimore to Lansing (with a changeover in Detroit).  I

outlined my complaints in a letter to their customer service department.  What follows is my original letter, their response, and my reply to them.  As a PR pro, I consider this a FAIL.  I’ll let you see why below.

Look at the elements in my letter that are NOT addressed in their response.
————————

1) My Original Letter

COMMENT DETAILS:

Email about Past/Future travel: Past
Nature of Comment: Complaint Concern
Email Pertaining to: Flight_Delay_Cancellation
Email about Other topic:

Comments:

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Mike Schaffer and I was involved in the Baltimore-to-Detroit fiasco on Saturday.  The original flight was set to take off at 7:30am, but was  delayed due to a mechanical error.  Parts had to be flown in for the repairs. At that point, the completely full plane of passengers had to be rebooked on other flights.  Personally, I spent SEVEN hours at BWI, spoke to four counter agents (most of whom didn’t appear to care about the situation) and called the “helpful” customer service line countless times, with mixed results.

At one point, the customer service person on the phone, after spending 10 minutes with me about my dissatisfaction with the entire experience, actually tried to get me to sign up for the American Express card!  I couldn’t believe it.

I was also given a $7 meal voucher, that the main restaurant in the concourse would not accept, because they claim that “Delta doesn’t pay their bills.”

This was a frustrating, infuriating experience, which cost me nearly 1/3 of my hard-earned vacation time.  And the only compensation I received was a voucher I could not redeem.

To make matters worse, when I got to Detroit, I had to wait THREE hours for the next flight to Lansing, bringing my total travel time to 14 hours, when it should have been just 4.

I have no interest in SkyMiles or Delta credit.  Your airline cost me precious time with loved ones that I will not be able to get back.  My experience was horrid and I do not wish to fly with you again.

My only request is a full refund of my Baltimore-to-Lansing flights on 8/14, which I feel is fair compensation for a horrible day of travel because of your inability to provide alternative flight arrangements and lack of customer service.

Sincerely,
- Michael Schaffer
Would you like a reply to your e-mail?:yes  [NOTE FROM MIKE - I HAD TO CHECK A BOX TO ENSURE I GOT A RESPONSE!]

2) Delta’s Response:

Dear Mr. Schaffer:

RE: Case Number [REDACTED]

Thank you for writing about your flight experience on August 14.  On
behalf of Delta Air Lines, I would like to extend our sincere apology
for your delayed arrival into Lansing, as well as for the unsatisfactory
customer service you encountered from our team at Baltimore.

I clearly understand the frustration you experienced and acknowledge
your shortened vacation time when Flight 2137 was cancelled for
mechanical reasons.  Feedback like you have provided will help us to
improve our overall customer experience.  Be assured your comments will
be shared with our Airport Customer Service leadership team at Baltimore
for internal follow up.

Since your airfare was used, albeit with a delayed arrival on August 14,
a refund of your airfare would not be due.  However, as a gesture of
goodwill, I have reserved an Electronic Transportation Credit Voucher
(eTCV) in the amount of $100.00 for you.  Please note the voucher number
and associated Terms and Conditions are shown below.  Please keep the
voucher number since it is required for redemption.  I understand you
may not be traveling with us in the upcoming year.  As such, it is
important to mention that the voucher is fully transferable to a friend
or family member.

I want to thank you, again, for taking the time to write.  Your future
business is important to us, and I hope you will reconsider your views
of Delta Air Lines and choose us for your future air travel needs.

Sincerely,

Kathy Johnston
Coordinator, Customer Care
Delta Air Lines/KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

3) My Reply:

Dear Ms. Johnston,

Thank you for your response.

While I do appreciate the “gesture” of a $100 travel voucher, I do not find that to be a suitable remedy for the situation.

To say that a refund is not due because I actually got form “Point A” to “Point B” certainly protects your company from going bankrupt, I would assume, but is horrible customer relations.  The experience I had, from losing a full day of vacation to a food voucher I couldn’t use in your own terminal at BWI (the Wendy’s in Detroit’s airport was kind enough to accept it…8 hours after it was first handed to me), is certainly worth a refund of my Saturday flights.

If you disagree, then it is apparent that you do not, as you said, “clearly understand the frustration.”

Another frustration is that when I originally submitted my letter, I was told a response may take up to 30 days.  I am a businessman, and when a customer is dissatisfied, I prefer to handle the matter that day, or as soon as humanly possible.  For your benefit, I sincerely hope that most instances are reviewed more promptly than that.

I will commend your @DeltaAssist Twitter community manager who was most helpful in many ways, including moving my message from the bottom of the 30-day list.

I do hope you or your supervisors will reconsider my reasonable request for the full refund for Saturday’s flight and I may reconsider flying Delta again in the future.

Best,
Mike Schaffer

Not from blogging!  Yeesh, that would be a really short career!

No, I’m retiring from Fantasy Sports.

Here is the letter I just submitted:

Dear Fantasy Sports,

It has been no secret that our relationship has been somewhat rocky of the past few years.

Do you remember those years, where I played football, baseball, basketball (college and pro), hockey, golf and even NASCAR??  We had some great times, didn’t we?

You gave me the greatest hobby a high school/college/young professional kid could ever have: you allowed me to follow sports closer than I already did!  I don’t think I can ever thank you enough for the enjoyment you brought me.

I look back fondly on late nights of live-drafts with friends, debating over two players who would be PERFECT for my bench, comparing their previous season, but ultimately deciding on who had the better bye week.

I look back fondly on the days where I would follow 14 MLB games every night, just to make sure my 4th relief pitcher had a low WHIP.

I look back fondly over the hockey drafts where I literally knew 10 players in the entire league.  Now, because of you, I think I know 25.  Because of you, I enjoy hockey THAT much more.

My fondest memory, of course, was when a young Daunte Culpepper (right) led my team to the Columbia Fantasy Football League points championship.  Everyone laughed at me when I took Culpepper in the first round, and he was the best performer in the league that year.  Suck it, fellas.

Oh, we had some battles over the years.

Yao Ming and Richie Sexon never repaid my loyalty.  And I will NEVER forget that.  Ever.

There were so many weeks where I scored the 2nd-most points in the league…and lost to the highest scorer.

So many gambles never paid off.  And bad drafting position rendered the season moot.

Over the years, I pared down the schedule, focusing on a few sports and a few leagues.  As I got older, setting a fantasy sports lineup moved lower and lower down my list of priorities, until this year, the desire has just vanished.

I never thought I would say this, but, Fantasy Sports, I don’t love you anymore.  And if I don’t love you, I can’t put the time in to follow every team in every league, dissect box scores and statpacks, and actually root for players opposing my favorite (real life) teams.

So, it is with nearly 15 years of happy memories, a few electronic trophies in my Yahoo! Sports case and a tinge of sadness, that I submit my retirement from Fantasy Sports.

I’m moving on to other challenges and amusements in my life.

Will I ever return?  Never say never, but you won’t be seeing me anytime soon.

I wish you all the best in your future endeavors,

Mike

P.S.  NCAA Basketball Tournament Pools are NOT considered Fantasy Sports.  For the record.