You know, I understand that they can't just pull the part out of their ass, but it seems to me that they should either GIVE you a used car of equal value or give that amount of money toward a new one. Hopefully, this only happens once ina blue moon, so it wouldn't really hurt their bottom line. If this is happening a lot, then there is a problem they need to resolve with that make and model.

but it seems to me that they should either GIVE you a used car of equal value

Don't you remember Paul Dooley's character (a used car dealer) in Breaking Away having a heart attack when his son gives the money back on a used car?

Ah, so that's what the . does!

It's the shorthand. And I didn't understand it for ages so dull explanation follows for anyone who cares:

If you start a message with @Name, it will only appear in the timelines of people who are following both you and @Name. This is only when you start with the @. So if you're replying to someone and want everyone following you to see it, put something before @Name. People use a period since it's easy to ignore when you're reading, but you could say "Dear @Name" and it'd work the same way.

I stomped over to the JPL store and bought a 16g Nano. THE UNIVERSE CANNOT TAKE MY MUSIC AWAY TOO.

I would have gotten something nicer, but it was all they had in stock. And it's pink. So whatever.

Ohhh, thanks Strega. I'm a twitter newbie, so that's really helpful. Anyway, I tweeted with the @JoelEwanick tag Maria suggested, so hopefully you'll start getting some traction.

People at my university are reporting that they felt the quake, but I felt nothing. I was teaching at the time, and when I turned my phone back on, I had five missed calls from my mother trying to find out if I was OK. I vaguely recall hearing a bit of a rumbling around that time, but the room I was teaching in is right down the block from a construction site, so I didn't really pay any attention to a little rumbling.

My dad's office building in NYC was evacuated and everybody sent home, though nobody seems to know why.

Used part found in Philadelphia

Woot! good news, Allyson.

So i was all set to call the National Marine Fisheries Service about a project I have, but I can't because their website is down: [link]

I'm like, seriously? You're a federal agency and you can't do it more professionally than that?

Allyson, I've been away from the computer for most of the day. Remind me of your Twitter name so I can go find your posts and retweet them.

I hope all of our east coasters are okay.

Don't you remember Paul Dooley's character (a used car dealer) in Breaking Away having a heart attack when his son gives the money back on a used car?

I have worked in various permutations of customer service since I was15. If it was piece of meat at the grocery store, a peice of clothing or furniture at JC Penney, or a ticket to the theare, or a class for you or your child at my university.-- that is what I would do. Probably without calling my manager (except for that it is a car). It is like the root of all customer service-- there is a point where keeping the customer happy is worth more than the money you use to do so. If they did that, they would not only most likely gain Allyson as a customer for life, but she would also talk to many of her friends,perhaps not to the extent she is now that she is mad, but "Chevy gave me a car because they couldn't find a $50 part would warrant some talking about. And a bad situation would actually turn out for the benefit of everyone.

I missed the earthquake! I was in the car and didn't feel a thing. Now I'm kind of disappointed.