My letter to Nissan

Nissan,
I hope this letter makes it’s way into the right hands. If you’re not the person to address my problem, will you please do your best to direct me or this letter to the that person?
My Name is Enoch Porch. I’m the owner of a 1993 Nissan Quest GXE. I need a replacement part for the driver’s seat. There is a panel on the outside (left) of the seat which houses the electronics to move it. The electronics are working fine and the buttons are in tact, but the plastic piece that surrounds the buttons has broken off it’s anchor and now hangs off the side of the seat.
I went to my local Nissan dealership where I purchased the vehicle to ask about getting a new piece. Fortunately it’s still available, and they said they could order it for me. I was about to place the order when I was told that the part costs $160. I figured that due to the high price that they must have been speaking of the electronics as well, at which point I let them know that all I needed was the piece of gray plastic which houses the electronics. I was shocked when in response I was told that this IS the piece that costs $160.
Now, I don’t know if you’re looking at the piece on a computer screen right now, but if not, I ask that you would please do so, as to envision the part I’m referring to. It’s a very simple piece of gray plastic which screws onto the side of the driver’s seat. A piece of plastic which in all reality is made up of about 78 cents of raw material, and including labor, electricity, and shipping probably costs all of about $8.39. Whether I’m qualified to make such assessments can be debated. That aside, as a consumer you know as well as I that the part is in no way close to being worth $160, and that even if I had that kind of money to spend on small pieces of plastic, that I would be insane to do so. Knowing that humans are error prone, perhaps it was suppose to have been input into the computer at $16 instead of the $160 quoted to me.
The problem is that I’d like to fix my van. It’s a simple problem with a cheap simple answer. But I need your help to do it. What can I do to come across a replacement part at a reasonable price? You may ask yourself what a reasonable price might be. Let me direct your attention to the same part on your 1993 Nissan Quest XE (as opposed to my model, the GXE). It’s a plastic part of the same size, and nearly the same shape. The only difference in this part is that the hole in it is shaped to accommodate a lever which tilts the seat instead of two sets of buttons. This part costs $40, which I would be willing to pay for the GXE part. Why the part for the GXE costs so much more than the part for the XE is far beyond me, and I would guess beyond you. Forced to speculate, I’d have to say that you’ve resolved that people who buy the GXE (the model with power seats) are probably wealthier than those who buy the XE (the model with manual seats) and less likely to care about spending large sums of cash on small repairs. The fact is, I care because with an annual income of just $16,000, this small plastic part consumes a full one percent of my take-home! OUCH!!!
I’d like to keep my vehicle, which in every other aspect has remained sturdy and useful, and I try to keep it in good repair. Hopefully you can help me do so. I can be contacted by phone, e-mail, or mail. Please respond.

Respectfully,
Enoch Porch 615-569-5404
1536 12th Ave N.
Nashville, TN 37208

musics

I've been saying for the last few weeks that I never want to sell another peice of music again. I don't know if I mean it or not. I still wanna make music and I want people to hear it. Hmm...I dunno exactly how that'll happen.
-Enoch

Green Beans and Tuna

Well, I'm in my new house. I'm minus a special girl, kinda minus a band or at least inactive at the moment...I'm thinking maybe I should find a new job that's not third shift and start a new life all together. Who knows?
I'm taking lessons. Piano and such. Learning to read a write. It's fun and interesting work. I'm not sure what end I'm headed towards, but something with happen, I'm sure. That seems to be the way things work.
Tonight I'm playing saw with my good friend CJ at Cafe Coco. Playing the saw given to me by my recently deceased grandfather. It's a fun instrument with a fun history.
I've been listening to classical music exclusively. Debussy and Ravel currently. It does a different thing to my brain.

-Enoch

My face is full of snot. Gas sure costs a lot.

Well, we had to cut our tour short by three shows. Two reasons really. I'm sick and have lost my voice, and gasoline is aproaching $4.00 a gallon, which would make a trek back from NYC about $200. Can't really afford it right now, and being stuck somewhere in New York, although interesting, might be a bit hard.

I guess the being sick part can only be expected, after being on tour for a month, not getting much sleep and eating far less than normal. I guess maybe next tour should be shorter? I dunno, we'll get this down sooner or later. I'll be posting the rest of the pictures that we shot shortly, that should be fun times. In the meantime, keep telling your friends about thornton and if you're in Nashville get ready for an awesome show at the basement on Sept. 22nd.

Oh also, we were featured tonight on XM Satellite Radio Channel 52. The unsigned station played My Teacher and mentioned us as one of the "12 most notable artists in the United States, we call them The Futures, artists to look for in your future as they're gaining momentum every day..." Pretty neat stuff, eh?

-Enoch

Tour Update! August 26th....

Well first of all, lemme say that we're having a blast out here. I've been shooting lots of pictures with a digital camera. I won't rant about digital 'cause it's saving me a coulpe hundred dollars in film.
I haven't shot pictures in all the cities we've been in. The first 5 or so I was without a camera for the most part. Some days I have my camera with me the whole time. Others I don't. Although this is an incomplete log of our travels and adventures, I hope you find it interesting, as it will take you a good 20 minutes to browse.


Belleville IL was one of the earlier dates we played. After loading in the venue we mad our way to a cool cafe called the ground floor.


...and luke became a man of many mochas.


Bonnie, a cool bartender chick a 313 where we played chats it up.


This is us driving at some point durring the day.


Probably earlier. Sorry for the non-linear presentation.


Cool band we played with in Belleville. The singer looks like christopher reeves (RIP).


Stone Cold.


After spending three hours at the worst open mic I've ever seen, I walked back to the place we were staying. Here is what I saw. I said, "I would like to shoot a picture of that alley." and I did.


Kevin, Luke and our host Holly hangin one afternoon. No doubt talking about something very crude.


Lukes girl lauren came up and hung for a day in chicago, saw our set and flew out the next day.


I'm in chicago!


So, on the side walk at this intersection, at 3:00 am I plopped down on my little indie-kid ass and pulled out my laptop. I hopped on a wireless network in the area and began my daily "work" I do to keep this band on the road. It was a slightly surreal hour I spent there sending out e-mails and looking up venue information. Surprisingly silent evening save the middle aged fella who passed by and said, "there's no place like now, eh brother?".


Martyrs, Steve Albini's favorite venue in Chicago was the setting for our show. Here's the opener Unfortunaut putting some great music into the room.


Didn't get any pics in Knoxville but this one of us on stage. That was a really fun show. Some cool folks came out and saw us and we have a great response.


Drive Bitch!


This is how it is. Three fellas, a van, a bunch of gear. Smoke pouring over Kevins lush youthful lips.


And traffic. Oh Atlanta traffic. You wouldn't beleve it. Or maybe you would.


Now, at the Earl where we played there are these bathrooms and we felt really cool in them.


No, REALLY cool.


Unspeakably...


Slutty. ...And any class we had went out the door.


Now, this picture looks like a commercial for bass beer. My friend ben said it should be spliced with a picture of some slut with her tit's hanging out...instead you get a blurry Kevin.


Well, what can I say? That's me.


I put two good quarters in that damn thing and it never played my tunes!


He looks edible.


MMMMmmm....


A lot of times while driving luke like to do some extreme stretching to get ready for the show.


Oh yes...It's like master yoga.


Cassavettes put on a great show. So did hotel, but I didn't get to snap any pictures of them.






Atlanta Fans!

Athens, GA

STONE COLD.



They look so concerned. Is it about the pizza which is about to destroy their bowels?


Janky-Ass vibrator. See, Luke would hit the rail and it would vibrate my crotch. Neat huh?


Andrew Nelson played a great show with us at Tasty World...in case you were wondering the name of the venue...



Chattanooga



I'm not too sure about this.




Jackson, MS. At a venue which used to be a brothel. How strange it was. Lotsa kids there though. Nice to see some people supporting the music!



Jonezetta put on a great show after us.


Some friends we made in Jackson, Shannon, and Odeary. I have no idea if that's how you spell his name. I'm sorry.


Hmm...


We slept in the brothel/venue. I slept on this couch. I probably got aids from it.


Waffle house was a small step above the hot dogs the venue was offering us for breakfast. very nice of them, but probably not the healthiest thing to eat.


Grits seemed like a better option, but once they cane out it was clear they were simply a butter float and none of us consumed them.


But lemme tell ya, I ate the shit out of this flesh!


And what the hell is that thing? We passed it twice between Memphis and Jackson, and I have no idea what it is.


Beauty.

The Stage at Juanita's in Little rock. Super Cool Venue. Chase Pagan set this show up for us. We'll be going back on October 21st.

This Picture looks like a My Bloody Valentine picture. I Like.


I'll Post more soon! Make sure you keep checking back at ThorntonMusic.com 'cause we're on tour all the time!

Houston, TX Saturday, August 27th Helios
Jacksonville, FL Tuesday, August 30th Eclipse
Savanah, GA Wednesday, August 31st Coastal Coffee
Stanley, NC Friday, September 2nd SK Netcafe
Washington, DC Monday, September 5th Galaxy Hut
New York, NY Tuesday, September 6th The Delancey
New York, NY Thursday, September 8th Parkside Lounge
Louisville, KY Thursday, September 29th Uncle Pleasants
Bowling Green, KY Friday, September 30th Spencers Coffee House
Fort Wayne, IN Saturday, October 1st Columbia Street West
Indianapolis, IN Sunday, October 2nd Birdy's
St. Louis, IL Monday, October 3rd Off Broadway
Rockford, IL Tuesday, October 4th Minglewood
Milwaukee, WI Thursday, October 6th Conways
Columbus, OH Saturday, October 8th Larry's
Knoxville, TN Wednesday, October 12th Corner Lounge
Asheville, NC Thursday October 13th
Jackson, MS Tuesday, October 18th WC Dons

ThorntonMusic.com