Business Proposal from Hiroshi Kobayashi

From Hiroshi Kobayashi

Name Japan Red Cross Medical Center (Sekijuji Iryo Center)

4-1-22 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku 150-0012.

Re: Business Proposal from Hiroshi Kobayashi

Sir,

Thank you for your time to read my mail. My name is Mr. Hiroshi Kobayashi a businessman in the real estate industry from Japan. I bring to you, an interesting and a lucrative risk-free business offer that will be un-regrettably rewarding, hoping that you will take your time to appreciate the content of this message without prejudice having received it online.

As you may know, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster accompanied by 9.0 magnitude Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 was rated the highest form of natural disaster in human history. This catastrophic environmental disaster has grossly affected the socio-economic lives of the residents in the area and of Japan in general, lowering investor confidence and grossly impairing economic activities in the region.

My businesses and estates were devastated during the crisis and the government of Japan in collaboration with the owners of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has finally agreed to redeem their promises of compensating all victims of the disaster.

My family of (7), My wife, my 5 children and me are one of the beneficiaries of the 124 Billion dollars nuclear disaster compensation funds and we will be entitled to the sum of 22-Million -$-(USD).

We are all currently hospitalized due to serious infections from radioactive materials in the disaster area. Our family has been approved for a payment of a total sum of 22-Million -$-(USD) in compensation for loses and collateral damages including health predicaments as a result of the nuclear crisis. Due to the situation in the country and the uncertainty that looms ahead, I have agreed with my family to secure the funds in an offshore account belonging to me (Details to be provided upon your response).

We need an individual who can receive the funds in home country; independently identify a profitable investment portfolio and subsequently invest and manage same funds in same portfolio in home country.

Please let me know if you have the capability of receiving and managing the sum of 22-Million -$-(USD) in your country. If you do, then request comprehensive details of the business proposal, official agreement, identity documents, photos and proof of funds. Decisions was reached for compensation and payment of compensation-funds is on the 22nd of June 2011 and we have received our payment on the 22nd of June as scheduled.

In response to this mail, please kindly provide me a brief profile of yourself including your CV and contact details. (Phone numbers and mobile) to enable me access your credibility to handle this transaction. We offer you 25% remuneration of the total funds for your assistance in receiving and facilitating investment and management of the funds in our family name.

Please kindly send your detailed response and profile to my financial consultant strictly at the email address: marystanford2001@bk.ru Attn: Mrs. Mary Stanford, Stanford Associates. Tel: +27-73-9668149 (You can also call the consultancy firm)

Upon your response, he shall provide you with a comprehensive information about this offer including all relevant details, identities, agreements, and photos, among others.

Please do not send response to me and do not reply this message to me but rather forward your response direct to him at: marystanford2001@bk.ru

In your response , please do kindly include your comprehensive contact details. Mobile phone number most importantly.

Thank you,

Hiroshi Kobayashia

For information regarding the situation please visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_nuclear_disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/14/japan-approves-fukushima-nuclear-compensation

http://www.theage.com.au/world/japan-names-first-two-nuclear-plant-victims-20110404-1cyln.html

Sears - the new overachievers?

Wow, was I wrong. The guy from Sears showed up at 10am, right in the middle of the scheduled window (tip: always get the first appointment in the morning, so there are "the technician is running behind because of problems at the appointment(s) before you" issues). He spent about 10 minutes diagnosing the problem (equal to the amount of time Google and I spent on it) and determined it was the compressor.

He then headed out to his truck, with me in tow to get the replacement part and the tools needed to replace it. Getting a peek inside the truck shed some light on things - like why it always took them 30 minutes to come back in and say "sorry, don't have it, need to order it" - the truck is a mess! Parts are all over the place. Two hours later, he was done, the refrigerator was fixed, and he was off to make someone else's weekend!

Awesome, thanks Sears. I can't say my faith has been completely renewed, but we're making progress.

It's all about expectations

Tomorrow's the big day. Our refrigerator/freezer died last week and Sears is "coming to fix it." I can't blame the refrigerator, it was already nearly 7 years old. For real - it's not even 7 years old. From the start we had issues. First it was the ice maker, then the door, then who knows what.

The other day it started making a strange noise - in hindsight, it sounded like an electric motor that was trying to start but binding somehow. That sound was followed by a clicking sound and then silence. I called Sears and the CSR said "maybe it's the ice maker, can you check that".. Sure bud, when I get home tonight I'll check the ice maker.

It wasn't the ice maker - that was turned off. Another call to Sears, some more "maybe it's this, maybe it's that." Please, just send someone out. I have a super duper Master Protection Plan (when you read that outloud, you're supposed to use a big, booming voice - like Obewan would have said - "trust the Master Protection Plan Luke") and all.

Which brings us to today. I'm not the world's biggest Sears fan. I'm sure I can blame this on my parents - when we were growing up, Sears was the place to be. They had everything you could ever want (still do), and it lasted forever. These days, their appliances suck, with the exception of the Kenmore vacuum I bought there, which didn't suck even though it was supposed to and has since been replaced by a Miele which sucks spectacularly. And their customer service totally sucks, which is somehow ironic, given the lack of quality in their merchandise.

Right.. Tomorrow morning the guy from Sears is supposed to come to look at the refrigerator. I've been having nightmares about how this is going to go, playing out roughly the same scenario over and over (I've possibly mistakenly assumed the guy will show up):

8:00AM Sears man shows up

8:05AM Sears man looks at the refrigerator and says "I don't see anything wrong,"

I'm prepared for this - I recorded it (with my new[for me] iPhone 3GS) making it's stupid noise and not starting the compressor. I learned when the asshole washer repairman left without doing anything useful. Jerk.

8:08AM Sears man says "oh, looks like the compressor's shot. Let me check my truck to see if I have one.

I've been this route too. He goes out to his truck, smokes a cigarette or two, updates his facebook status, etc. Comes back in 30 minutes later.

8:38AM Sears man comes back in and says "nope, don't have the part, I'll order it, it'll get here in a couple of weeks. When it does, call and we can make another appointment to come and install it."

At this point, I'm kind of screwed.. I can call Sears and complain, tell them I have a Master Protection Agreement, etc. But as far as I can remember, they don't give a crap what I have.