Crazy Guide to the Internet

Time and again we’ve seen that personal connections are the key to growing this movement, and today has been no different. Motivated by the chance to connect with another supporter and double the impact of their donation, thousands of people have made contributions today, many of them for the first time.

Here are just a few:

Katrina:

I was waiting for the right time to donate because I didn’t have much to give at this place in our lives. Because of you our donation will have more impact. Thank you for the audacity to believe in real change and a real hope for our country!

Kathryn:

Thank you so much for making my contribution count for a little more. I am not generally a campaign contributor … I just want to be able to make a difference in getting this country back on the right path to what it has been and can be for all of us.

And Kyle:

Together we are going to make history! Thank you for matching the money I am donating to the cause! It means a lot to me that people from all over the country are coming together to say YES WE CAN!!!!

If you make a donation now, your contribution will be matched by a fellow supporter, doubling its impact. You’ll see the name and hometown of the person who matched your donation, and you’ll be able to share your own story of why you were moved to donate.

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Reader Christina has a (broken) water heater from Sears. It’s covered under a warranty, but Sears isn’t willing to replace it. She’s been without hot water for 3 weeks and Sears just doesn’t care.

Name: Christina | Address: [redacted] | City: Tulsa > >| State: OK | Zip: [redacted] | Country: USA | Day Phone: [redacted] | > >Evening Phone: [redacted] | Email: [redacted]

I am disgusted about the service that I have received from your workers. I know that sears doesn’t care about its customers nor does it stand behind its worthless products that it sells. I will not waste more of my time explaining this to you for the 100th time, you should be able to look at my account and clearly see that your stupidity and lack of customer service is my problem.

I have been waiting two weeks to get a water heater replaced. I was supposed to get a call yesterday and didn’t. I was supposed to get it installed today and didn’t. Big surprise, you don’t care! I want you to reimburse for the water heater, the permit, the warranty, and to be compensated for the stress of not having hot water for three weeks while you did nothing. While no one called me, no one did anything. I will contact my lawyer, I will report you to the BBB.

You don’t deserve to be in business and hopefully someone will put an end to sears soon. DO NOT CALL ME!!! I refuse to get stressed out listening to your scripted, we’re sorry, we’re going to do everything we can to help you out because your important. If I was, I would have hot water by now. You may email your response, if you can not honor my request you can send this to the corporate office and have the president of sears look at it. if he wont, then we will settle this in court. I fully expect for you to do the right thing for a change and get my water heater out hear within 24 hours and mail my check for my trouble of buying from sears to begin with which I WILL NEVER DO AGAIN!

Sears replied:

Where was this water heater purchased? Was this through your local Sears or over the water heater sales line? If this was purchased through the store, we at Sears.com would not have access to your order and would need to direct you to the store.

If this was purchased through the sales line, what phone number was used and what name would it be under? Did you get a reference number? We would need some kind of information from the order to get the order to pull up. I have even tried calling the installation department as well as the service line and your name or phone numbers did not bring up any results.

I personally have not seen this order and would like the opportunity to try and get this resolved for you. I also understand that you have probably heard that before and do not feel like hearing it again, but I would like to try to help you with this. Even if the order was placed through the store, if you call us, we could even help by doing a conference call to the store and to the installation department and try to figure out what went so horribly wrong and see what can be done to get your water heater installed.

Our number here at the water heater sales line is 800-877-6420. My name is Grant and I am here most evenings, minus Sunday and Wednesday. If you would like to give me a call, my extension is 10093. If I am on a call, you can leave your name and number with whoever you talk to and I can call you back.

At this point and after reading your e-mail, I do not blame you for being angry. If you feel like you need to pursue this further legally, I would need to refer you to the legal department at 847-286-8371.

I know you do not want more apologies, but I do feel sorry that this has happened and do regret the inconvenience that this particular situation

has caused you.

If you feel so inclined to ask for my assistance, please give me a call, or e-mail me back, I have marked your e-mail so I can take ownership of

any further correspondence and will do what I can for you.

Look for Great Ideas throughout the store and find Sears exclusive innovations from great brands like Sony, Kenmore, NordicTrack, Craftsman and Reebok.

Grant B. Sears.com Customer Care

Christina replied:

You can not find my information because I have called you all a million times and told you my new number but nobody seems to want to write it down.

The old number is [redacted] The new number is [redacted] The cell number is [redacted]

This is suppose to be a replacement because the other piece of crap water heater I got from you guys broke AGAIN! For God’s sake just look at your own website, nobody has anything good to say about your water heaters. Its all people who are mad because their water heater is doing the same thing mine has. They should last more than a year.

I don’t know why you cant look me up by anything but my number, you had my name and address what kind of shitty customer service is this?

If you can give what I have asked for by all means, otherwise, you will need to forward this on to your corporate office because I will not be swept under the carpet. I will not be ignored, every day I go without hot water is one more day that I take the time to spread the word about how sears has treated me.

Sears replied:

Dear Ms. [redacted]:

Thank you for visiting Sears.com, we appreciate hearing from you.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the information you requested via e-mail. We encourage you to contact our Installation department by telephone, at (800)859-6000.

Thank you for choosing Sears for your home service needs.

Sincerely,

Larry D Sears Holdings Corporation

Christina replied:

Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:28:21 -0500

I got a call saying that you can not find anyone to install my water heater which is suppose to be covered under my warranty that I paid for. This is unacceptable! I will not pay someone to install your piece of shit water heater and only be reimbursed $219. I have called 5 companies in the Tulsa area and the quotes they have given me have ranged from $500-$700 depending on what all they have to do. You are not going to get away with this.

I want to be refunded to total price of the water heater plus tax, I want to be refunded for all of my warranties, and I want the cost of installation. I will go to another company. I refuse to have anything to do with you ever again.

You can not do this to me, I have the warranty which guarantees you to replace my water heater and installation, not a portion of the installation.

And I don’t want any stupid vouchers for sears!

Christina

You could keep arguing with Sears, or you could just sue them for breach of warranty in small claims court. The limit in Oklahoma is $6,000, which should cover your complaint. You may think suing a huge corporation like Sears is futile, but it’s not. Here’s a story from one reader who sued Best Buy over a defective washing machine and won. We’d also report Sears to your attorney general.

Before you put on your lawyer pants, you might want to try Sears’ public relations number: 847-286-8371.

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While Jeff Cannizzaro was off fighting in Iraq, he was also fighting Sprint. Jeff suspended his phone while overseas, but left some money in the account. While he was away, Sprint kept deducting small amounts from his balance. His wife kept calling and writing emails, trying everything they could think of to get Sprint to stop deducting the money. Nothing worked.

When Jeff got back in September, he tried writing the CEO. That didn’t work either. It took help from the local media to encourage Sprint to give Jeff his money back.

From King 5:

Sprint wouldn’t talk to KING 5 specifically about his case, but they did act fast.

“I got a call from someone from Sprint apologizing, saying it must have gotten lost in the shuffle and we’re really sorry about the inconvenience and there will be a check in the mail overnight to you,” Cannizzaro said.

Cannizzaro said Sprint owed him $48. In the end, Sprint sent him a check for $100.

“I’m very glad KING 5 is willing to help me out in this situation,” he said.

Hey, Sprint. This type of customer service isn’t really scalable. It’s not cool to outsource your simple billing problems to the local TV station. Ya know?

Fort Lewis soldier battles cell phone company over bill [King5] (Thanks, Landon!)

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The Charlotte Observerreports…

Reps. Watt, Price are endorsing Obama

Two N.C. superdelegates will endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president Wednesday.

Reps. Mel Watt and David Price planned a conference call to announce their decision to endorse Obama over Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.

The entire N.C .delegation had endorsed former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, and until now only one had announced an endorsement of either of the two remaining candidates. Rep. G.K. Butterfield also endorsed Obama.

Price and Watt are two of the state’s most influential representatives in Washington. Price, a former Duke political scientist, is a Democrat from Chapel Hill first elected to Congress in 1986. He is the most senior Democratic congressman from North Carolina and he chairs an appropriations subcommittee.

Watt, a lawyer, is a Charlotte Democrat first elected in 1992. He is chair of a financial services subcommittee — a key post for his hometown — and is a past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Please consider making a match today to help carry this movement ot victory in North Carolina… 

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Canada is about to become the first country =1365998400&en=4000c2c9f48ae647&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink”>”Canada Likely to Label Plastic Ingredient ‘Toxic’” [The New York Times]
(Photo: ToastyKen)

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SIOUX FALLS, SD – Today, twenty-five of the thirty-five South Dakota Democratic State Legislators endorsed Barack Obama, citing him as the only candidate who can unite Americans for change that matters in the lives of working families in South Dakota. 

South Dakota Senate Democratic Leader Scott Heidepriem said, “Senator Obama inspires all Americans, regardless of party, race or economic circumstance.  He is the best chance we have had in years to lift the spirit and lead the way.”

South Dakota House Democratic Leader Dale Hargens said, “Senator Obama has given us a reason to believe that we can change the way things are done in Washington.  He will be able to bring an end to the bitter divisions in our nation’s capital that hinder good decision making and prevent implementation of sound solutions.”

Senator Obama said, “I’m proud to receive the backing of these legislators today.  We are working hard to strengthen our growing grassroots movement for change in South Dakota before the primary on June 3, and we’re grateful that these leaders will help build our support throughout the state.”

Obama has the support of Former Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and has been endorsed by Senator Tim Johnson and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. Last week, six Tribal Leaders from South Dakota endorsed Barack Obama. 

Below is the list of South Dakota State Legislators Endorsing Barack Obama today:

Senator Julie Bartling
Senator Gary Hanson
Senator Scott Heidepriem
Senator Alan Hoerth
Senator Jim Hundstad
Senator Sandy Jerstad
Senator Tom Katus
Senator Frank Kloucek
Senator Ryan Maher
Senator Ben Nesselhuf
Senator Jim Peterson
Senator Nancy Turbak Berry
Senator Theresa Two Bulls
Representative Jim Bradford
Representative Quinten Burg
Representative H. Paul Dennert
Representative Richard Engels
Representative David Gassman
Representative Clayton Halverson
Representative Dale Hargens
Representative Larry Lucus
Representative Garry Moore
Representative Eldon Nygaard
Representative Bill Thompson
Representative Tom Van Norman

Help us grow the movement in South Dakota and beyond. Your voice and your contributions matter more than ever — it’s what keeps this thing going. Make a match today. 

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In case you missed it, Michelle was on Colbert last night and the other Obama was on HBO Real Sports shooting hoops . Check it out…

We really do need a leader who can deliver in those critical moments. Obama’s the one…

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The personal finance blogger at Can I Get Rich on a Salary has detailed nine ways he believes people can become rich. His list includes the following:

1. Visionary
2. Ridiculous Talent
3. Blind Luck
4. Opportunistic Luck
5. Small Business Empire
6. Small Business Investment
7. Highly Aggressive Investment
8. Skilled Investor
9. Slow and Steady

These can be divided into three basic groups:

1. Extraordinary skill/ability that only a handful of people possess.
2. Luck that rivals (or is worse than) the odds of getting struck by lightning.
3. A series of tasks almost anyone can do if they are disciplined enough.

Obviously, option #3, which relates to the “slow and steady” approach, is the most viable choice for the vast majority of people. And yet there’s that issue of discipline that almost makes this solution as likely as golfing better than Tiger Woods or finding oil in your back yard. Why is that?

The 9 Or So Paths To Getting Rich—And My Purported Analysis Of Them [Can I Get Rich on a Salary]

— FREE MONEY FINANCE

(Photo: Getty)

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Voter registration for Indiana’s May 6th primary closes this coming Monday, April 7th. With the help of local organizers and grassroots supporters, we have already inspired thousands of voters across the state to get involved and register to vote.

From the Palladium-Item, Richmond, IN:

“This is one of the most important elections in a long time … This year, our voices need to be heard,” said Marissa Stevens, 20, of Richmond, a Ball State University student who registered from Muncie.

… Cherlyn Lambert, 29, of Centerville, has voted in the past, but not recently. She also registered Wednesday.

“I think it’s really important, especially with the state of the economy right now,” she said. “I’m voting because Indiana counts. This year, Indiana can make a difference. It’s a good thing.”

 From the Journal and Courier, Lafayette, IN:

“[Barack is] reminding people that this is a great country. Many of us in this age group have grown up only seeing divisive politics. … He’s offering a vision of unity,” [said Laurent Wrzesinski, Purdue student and Obama supporter]. 

However, we can’t stop now.

If you live in Indiana, there are several ways that you personally can help to build our movement and participate in the registration drive this weekend. These next few days are our best opportunity to build our base of support before the primary — and bring more voices into the political process.

If you have not yet registered to vote, you can fill out and download registration forms online.

You can also help by volunteering to make calls or canvass. We will be going door-to-door this weekend, spreading the message of change and personally helping people register to vote. Canvassing shifts start at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Saturday and at noon and 2 p.m on Sunday. There are two dozen staging locations across the state, and you can find a location near your and sign up now.

For college and high school students, Saturday and Sunday are the final days to register fellow students as part of the “3-on-3 Challenge for Change.” By registering at least 20 students to vote, high school students will be eligible for a chance to play 3-on-3 basketball along with two friends against Barack Obama and former Indiana Hoosier star Calbert Cheaney.

College students who register 30 of their peers can also enter and earn the chance to play on Barack’s team. The deadline for entry is Sunday April 6th, and registration forms can be turned in at any local Obama campaign office. You can find more details on the “3-on-3 Challenge for Change”here.

Our efforts to motivate and register young voters have already had a significant impact on this election cycle. Again, from the Journal and Courier:

“We are doubling, even tripling” the number of young voters, said Chrissy Faessen, communications director for Rock the Vote. “There’s absolutely been a surge in young people.”

  
The weekend caps off at Indiana University’s Assembly Hall in Bloomington with “Change Rocks”, a concert and voter registration drive featuring Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. Tickets for the event are sold out, but you can check back here on the HQ blog for coverage of the event.

Dave Matthews first endorsed Barack Obama back in February, saying:  

“I believe that corporate greed and its involvement in policy making, along with political cronyism have made it nearly impossible for the people to govern. So we fight amongst ourselves over the spin of political slogans and half truths… It is time for a change and that is why I support Barack Obama for President.”

The time to act is now. Please get involved this weekend so we can ensure that every voice is heard on May 6th.

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Defunct budget airline Skybus plans to issue full refunds to all ticket holders. The airline announced last night that they were done flying less than two weeks after former CEO Bill Diffenderffer quit to pursue a book-writing career. While everyone who hasn’t yet traveled will soon be reunited with their cash, what about passengers who are in the middle of a trip? Let’s ask Air Force Sergeant Gary Patterson.

Gary L. Patterson, who flew Skybus from Richmond yesterday to visit his girlfriend, said he felt “empty” when he learned he wouldn’t be going back the same way. He’d gotten word when a friend called his girlfriend.

Patterson, 42, an Air Force tech sergeant temporarily stationed at Langley Air Force Base, said he’s frustrated. He thought “common courtesy” called for at least a week’s notice.

But “getting mad is not going to change anything,” he said. “It’s not going to get me back on Monday morning.”

Skybus is not providing alternate transportation.

Patterson planned on getting something to eat and trying to find a way back tomorrow.

Skybus is instructing slighted passengers to contact their credit card companies for a full refund.

Airport: Skybus Airlines Shutting Down [AP]
Skybus shuts down, cancels all flights [The Columbus Dispatch]
PREVIOUSLY: Skybus Airlines Ceases Operations
Skybus Will Try To Mimic Some Other Ultra-Low-Cost Carriers, Just Without The Whole Imploding Aspect
(Photo: marada)

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