HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dannyb@panix.com (Daniel Burstein)
Subject: Re: Insane NYC Tolls
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix, NYC
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 18:38:55 GMT

the reason for the tolls being so high is quite simply that they, like all
the so-called "user fees," are simply a tax rate on the public.

do you -really- think your highway taxes are dedicatd to road work?  

ALL (except for a VERY few specifically mandated by law) fees and taxes in
the federal, and most other, levels of government go into a huge pot
called the "general revenue."

Expense items are calcualated INDEPENDANTLY from any revenue they bring in.

So, for example, NYC gets the bridge authority, or NY and NJ get the Port
AUthirty, to charge about 5 times the actual amounts needed for bridge
maintenance, simply to derive another source of governemental revenue.

btw, the NY AAA (american Automobile Association) had sued against this
policy, and lost.  Seems the city does have the right to charge whatever
it wants, and then use the funds wherever they so desire...

dannyb@panix.com
From: STAN@VM.TEMPLE.EDU (Stan Horwitz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Date: 22 Jan 93 23:42:49 GMT
Organization: Temple University

In article <7399.25.uupcb@uttsbbs.uucp>
neil.black@uttsbbs.uucp (Neil Black) writes:
 
>
>Earlier today I had the misfortune of tasting PepsiCo's new offering
>here on the West Coast (Bay Area to be exact), Pepsi Clear.  This stuff
>is AWFUL!
 
I  tried Pepsi  Clear recently.   My tastebuds  think it  tastes a  bit like
Sprite.  I don't like Sprite a lot so I probably won't drink the clear stuff
often.  The clear stuff definitely does  not taste like the dark stuff which
I do like.  At any rate, puking was definitely not my reaction to it.
From: ad376@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Patricia Dedula)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: woodburning stoves
Date: 26 Jan 1993 21:46:10 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


Are there woodburning stovesssss
Are there woodburning stoves on the market that can be placed in a
fireplace to heat a house.  Where can the be purchased?
-- 
Pat Dedula 
May you have Peace, Love, and Happiness forever ...
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: slightbo@wizard.Berkeley.EDU (Sam Lightbourne)
Subject: Pre-Approved card Mail in annual fee??
Reply-To: slightbo@encore.com
Organization: Encore Computer Corp., Fort Lauderdale FL
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 21:23:53 GMT

My wife received a pre-approved credit application for a Gold MC
they offer a $10,000 credit line.  All they ask is that she mail 
in the "annual fee" payment of $39. This is not covered in the FAQ,
but I smell a rat? What do you think? 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: staggers@cup.hp.com (Ken Staggers)
Subject: Re: Insurance question
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 01:30:37 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8.1]

Mike S. (mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu) wrote:
: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng) writes:


: >>Every life insurance policy I have had required a blood test.
: >>I also believe the insurance companies check medical databases
: >>to see what medical treatment you have had recently.

: >What do you mean?  I thought my medical record is private.  Or
: >did you mean they check with my doctor(s)?
:  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

: Yep

For my life insurance, there was no blood test required.  HP gives new
employees 30 days to sign up with a private (I dont think we own it)
insurance company.  If you choose a 1 times your salary policy, no additional
forms are needed.  I chose a 2xSalary.  I filled out a medical form and
sent it to their underwriter, CIGNA.  They may have checked, but I doubt it.
For most of my treatments over my life, as the son of a self employed person,
we didnt have health insurance so we paid cash.  Nowhere on my CIGNA form
did it ask for a list of doctors.  And my doctor doesnt have a computer
in his office (and I suspect doesnt report all the cash he receives :)  For
my treatments at college medical centers, its possibly, but *really* unlikely
that they would release any information without my signature on *their*
forms (my signature on the CIGNA form does give them the right to ask my
doctor, but that doesnt mean my doctor has to tell them anything).  Its very
possible that my treatments at the university hospitals were in some natl
database since I was under university health insurance.  

ACM also provides life insurance which I think doesnt require blood tests
if your paper work looks OK.
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Auto insurance laws in different states --
Date: 26 Jan 93 22:15:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.C1HF69.LAG
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana


In article <mjc.727728428@NL.CS.CMU.EDU> mjc+@cs.cmu.edu (Monica Cellio) writes:
>
>In September of 1990 I hit a pedestrian at an intersection.  I had a green
		      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>light; she had a red light and a "don't walk" sign.  She did not look for
>traffic before running into the street; she admitted this to the police.
>I swerved (nearly colliding with another car) but hit her anyway; she only
>gave me about 10 feet in which to react (at 20mph).

[Remainder of story omitted.]

You neglect to mention one important fact: were you at fault for the
accident in the eyes of the law in your state? Check your copy of the
police report to be certain. If you were declared at fault (and in some
states, striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk (and every intersection has
a crosswalk, whether express or implied) is automatically ruled to be
the driver's fault no matter what the colors of the traffic control
signals), the insurance company would jack up your rates as a matter of
course.

My counter story: I am also insured by State Farm. I struck a pedestrian
who was crossing the street in the middle of the block, at least 500'
from the closest crosswalk. It was night time, the pedestrian was an old
man who could neither see nor hear well, and he walked right out in
front of my car before I even saw him. I knocked him down, but he was
otherwise uninjured. The fault was entirely his, I was not cited, and State
Farm did not raise my rates. Fortunately, my car was undamaged as well.

The officer who took the report did mention, however, that had I struck
him in a crosswalk/intersection, it would have been a much different
story. Apparently, even if you have a green, a driver must always yield
to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. If you have a citation for a moving
violation, OR you have an accident which costs the insurance company
money, they will raise our rates. Neither occurred in my case, and my
rates were unmolested.

Of course, YMMV...
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house,misc.kids
From: EMN002@email.mot.com (Mary Beth Northrup)
Subject: Re: Emptying Water System in Unused House
Organization: Motorola, Inc. Plantation, FL
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 15:04:28 GMT

In article <C19nM2.Fp5@panix.com>, dannyb@panix.com (Daniel Burstein) writes:
> 
> >> 
> 
> >Antifreeze (a glycol ether) is biodegradable and can be broken down by the
> >local municipal water treatment plant (when reasonably well diluted). 
> >If you pour it down a storm sewer, it's going straight into the 
> >environment in a concentrated form which won't easily degrade. So,
>              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >it's much better to get rid of it by pouring into the sanitary sewer than
> >into a storm drain or septic tank.
> 
> >Mary Beth Northrup
> >EMN002@email.mot.com
> 
> umm, well, let's see now.  you pour one gallon of antifreeze (we'll forget
> the percentage figures here) into the sewer.  A small amount (say, 1/2/
> inch) of rain occurs.  that single sewer inlet drains an area of 100*20
> feet, or 2,000 sq ft.  
> 
> volume of rain water draining into that single point is 2,000 ft *0.5
> inch, or roughly (don't have slide rule handy) 80 cubic feet.  
> 
> one gallon is about 0.13 cubic feet, so you have a 1/750 dilution, just
> based on that one single spot.  by the time it actually gets anywhere near
> the final dumsite, of course, dilution is far greater....  (unless of
> course it was something thick that didn't come apart)
> 
> dannyb@panix.com
> 
> 

Let me explain myself a little better -
The city treatment plant has activated sludge with bacteria that's there
just to break down sanitary effluent. Most glycol ethers like antifreeze
are also broken down well by this bacteria (as long as the loading isn't
too high). The storm sewer, although loaded I'm sure with all types of
critters, isn't designed for this process like a treatment plant. Also,
it isn't good practice to pour ANYTHING down the storm sewer. That antifreeze
no doubt contains other contaminants like lead that should not be introduced
directly into the environment. (When diluted with all of the other water
going into the treatment plant, the lead would probably be undetectable
at that point).

Hope that clears it up a little. An even better alternative would be to
collect the antifreeze and take it to a local collection center (if one
exists) to dispose of it other ways. But, if you have no other alternative,
the sanitary sewer is a more environmentally-friendly disposal option than
the storm sewer.

Mary Beth Northrup
EMN002@email.mot.com
> 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: geiser@pictel.com ( Drivel King )
Subject: Re: Snow blower recommendations?
Reply-To: geiser@pictel.com
Organization: PictureTel Corporation
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 21:37:55 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.132435.24997@Lehigh.EDU>, lusol@Lehigh.EDU (Stephen O. Lidie) writes:
|> ...
|> Tracks still provide better traction on slopes...
|> 
|> SOL

Maybe so.  My driveway has a pretty good slope to it and have never needed more
traction.  At least for my situation, there are LOTS more important things to
consider (like price, ease and cost of maintenance, etc.) than tires vs. tracks. 
I suspect it is the same for many others as well.
-- 
**********************************************************************
* Wayne Geiser ("Drivel King")           Voice:    (508) 977-8253    *
* PictureTel Corporation                 FAX:      (508) 532-6893    *
* One Corporation Way                    Internet: geiser@pictel.com *
* Peabody, MA      01960                 CIS:      70313,3615        *
*                                        GEnie:    W.GEISER          *
**********************************************************************
"I've been talking the same way for years, so it can't be that
 serious."

        - George Bush.
From: jxs18@po.CWRU.Edu (Jerry Sy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Date: 28 Jan 1993 17:33:52 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: jxs18@po.CWRU.Edu (Jerry Sy)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


>In article <1k10npINN399@dayub.dayton.saic.com> Tom Haberlandt <haberlat@ccmail.dayton.saic.com> writes:
>>
>>The articles in the newspaper seemed to indicate that Pepsi
>>Clear (or whatever its called) is a new recipe.  It does not
>>have caffeine, coloring, or the carbonation that Pepsi has.
>>
>
and after taking all those wonderful ingredients out, then they charge you
more.  You pay more for less ??



Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: prm@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (paul.r.mount)
Subject: Consumers Digest 'you renewed now pay' trick?
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 21:34:53 GMT

	In 1992 I paid for a year's subscription to Consumers Digest
and the magazine has been arriving as scheduled.  (Expiration
June 93).
	Recently they have been sending notices saying "you've been
getting the magazine but why haven't you paid?"  I notice on
the card with the address and codes it says June94.  So I send them
cards back saying that I don't recall renewing for another year.
	It seems like renewal by intimidation.  Anyone else having
this problem w/CD or other magazines.

	PS isn't it interesting how you do nothing at all and 
become a Finalist in the AFP and PCH contests...
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: bsardis@netcom.com (Barry Sardis)
Subject: Dispute with Home Owners Assn - Advice Sought
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 19:27:52 GMT

I own a condo. I engaged a mangement company to locate a tenant. 
This is the same company that manages the complex for the HOA. The 
tenants have a dog and they keep it chained on the patio.

Some residents complained about the dog. The HOA CC&Rs do not allow 
pets in the complex. There are lots of cats in the complex, roaming
free.

I have had conversations with the management company on the situation. 
There have been some discussions and compromises. The management 
company sends threatening letters and fines my account. I wrote a 
letter asking for a dialog, but the next letter was more of the same
without even an acknowledgement of my letter.

I intend to speak directly to the board. There are numerous other 
violations of the CC&Rs evident in the complex. I am not normally 
one who makes waves.

What I am wondering is if I have any legal recourse to get them to 
stop the harassment? Can I take them to small claims court?


-- 
Barry Sardis		| Home:   (408) 448-1589
1241 Laurie Avenue	| Office: (408) 448-7404
San Jose, CA 95125	| Fax:    (408) 448-7404
Email: bsardis@netcom.COM or 70105.1210@compuserve.COM
From: mohr@rtsg.mot.com (Wilson Mohr)
Subject: Re: Speeding ticket in OKlahoma --- what's SP8?
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 17:39:48 GMT

robart@agora.rain.com (Joe Bob) writes:

>  Actually, I-80 across Pennsylvania rivals many western highways
>for wide-openness and lack of major towns along the way.  Of course,
>this makes the 300 miles or so of constant 55 MPH speed limits
>all the more ridiculous.

FYI,

I've done this trip too often. Sharon to Del. Water Gap. 353 miles, usu.
about 5-7 cops, a gas stop, and one helluva hard time staying awake . . .


-- 
Wilson Mohr         "Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the
mohr@rtsg.mot.com    time, he will pick himself up and continue on" - W. Churchill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: staggers@cup.hp.com (Ken Staggers)
Subject: Re: Lightweight bullet-proof vests illegal?
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 18:03:16 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8.1]

an8130@anon.penet.fi (an8130@anon.penet.fi) wrote:

: I'm in the market to purchase a lightweight bulletproof vest (downtown
: in the U.S. city I live in can get pretty rough, but I don't want to
: be burdened down by a heavy bullet-proof vest).

: The guy in the next office tells me that the lightweight bullet-proof
: vests are illegal except for police, secret service, etc (cuz they
: don't want criminals to be immune to police bullets, etc).

: Can anyone verify this?  Is it illegal:

There was a company in New York City about a year ago (made all the wire
services) that were selling designer bullet proof vests for CHILDREN!
I dont know what the classification is for lightweight or heavyweight is,
but they couldnt have been that heavy on the 6 year old kid I saw modelling
one of them.

--Ken
From: mikeb@macbeth.ocpt.ccur.com (Mike Bixenman)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Dr. Martens
Summary: help finding the same kind of laces
Date: 22 Jan 93 20:54:36 GMT
Organization: Concurrent Computer Corporation, Oceanport NJ
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

Does anyone out in the net know if the laces that come with the Doc
Martens "greasy" shoes are available anywhere? The shoe stores that sell
them, say they don't offer laces for sale. The laces are round with a semi-
waxy woven exterior with 3 cotton cords running through the middle, just
a little bit thicker than the "classic" waxed round laces. Every shoe repair
shop has had the old style laces, which are not quite thick enough, and
they tend to loosen up too easy.
Maybe someone has the address of Dr. Martens distributor in the US?
Thank you all.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mike Bixenman           mikeb@ocpt.ccur.com     CIS=73220,3644
 Concurrent Computer Corp.      	"The statements that I make
 2 Crescent Place		        are from MY brain. I will   
 Oceanport, NJ 07757  U.S.A.            not speak for anyone else."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mallidi@a.cs.okstate.edu (MALLIDI SATYANARAY)
Subject: Camcorder - Mail Order Companies Addresses/Phone#s - Request
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Computer Science, Stillwater
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 93 00:30:46 GMT


    I would appreciate if netters who bought camcorders through mail,
    e-mail me the address/phone #s of reliable mail order companies.
    Also suggestions regararding avoiding any particular company due to
    bad experience are highly appreciated.
-- 
*************************************************************************
     Reddy Mallidi.
     (all openions are mine)
*************************************************************************
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mmeyer@m2.dseg.ti.com (Mark Meyer)
Subject: Re: Consumers Digest 'you renewed now pay' trick?
Organization: TI DSEG, Spring Creek, Plano, Tx.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 19:16:43 GMT

In article <1993Jan25.213453.4846@cbnewsl.cb.att.com>, prm@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (paul.r.mount) writes:
|> 	PS isn't it interesting how you do nothing at all and 
|> become a Finalist in the AFP and PCH contests...

In article <C1Fsqy.540@news2.cis.umn.edu> konstan@saturn.cs.umn.edu (Joe Konstan) writes:
> Except maybe return the form.  Has anyone ever been "dropped" from AFP or
> PCH?

	No, Paul's right!  At least in my case.  I got a letter from
PCH, saying how I've achieved Finalist status by being a good little
boy and sending in my forms.  The thing is, though, that due to an
unfavorable comparison between my expected winnings and the value of
my time spent plastering the entry stub with foul-tasting sticky bits,
I stopped sending my blank no-magazines-thank-you entries at least
three years ago.  If anyone's ever been dropped from a PCH propaganda
blitz, it hasn't been me.

	(This posting was filmed in SarcasmoVision.)

-- 
Mark Meyer                                               | mmeyer@dseg.ti.com |
Texas Instruments, Inc.,  Plano TX                       +--------------------+
Every day, Jerry Junkins is grateful that I don't speak for TI.
                                          Who says I should question authority?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch)
Subject: Re: How to improve credit ratings ?
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems; a div of Booz, Allen & Hamilton
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 05:36:40 GMT

<juyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu> wrote: 
->One question.  Sometimes I want to save the $0.29 stamps, so I pay a little 
->bit more and have a credit balance. 

seems like you're thinking too much about saving $0.29 ...

--
# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
# "fight the real enemy."  -- sinead o'connor, and many others.
From: john.ewin@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (John Ewin)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Credit Card Directory?
Date: 26 Jan 93 04:29:00 GMT
 <1993Jan19.204623.12424@athena.mit.edu> <727497524snx@tixel.mv.com> <1993Jan20.152819.24459@walter.bellcore.com>
Reply-To: john.ewin@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (John Ewin)
Organization: The Batchelor Pad PCBoard ~ Long Beach, CA ~ +1 310 494 8084


MS>>                              Credit Card Survey
MS>> 	           Edited by Jason Chen (jchen@ctt.bellcore.com)

Anyone know where I can get a copy of the above???

MS>Is the above correct?  The Divident (Dividend?) Citibank card
MS>gives 1.5% cash back on all purchases, PLUS price insurance,
MS>PLUS unlimited buyer insurance, PLUS CDW?

Yea...  I've got to find out about this card/option, too!

BTW, CB has an option (not self-enrollable) where if they find you in
good standing for <whatever> time, they will grant you a lower "Premier"
rate, instead of the Classic card rate.  It's currently 15.4%, and
applies to NEW PURCHACES ONLY after they convert you.  I just got a
postcard congrat'ing me for becomming a "Premier" member w/the above
info.  -Supposedly, according to a rep., they review all accounts every
3 mos.  I was elligible (with no real change in account status over the
last 2 years!) as of 1/1/93, and supposedly you need a year in good
standing, but either that is a crock, or the plan was JUST implimented.
---
 . SM 1.06 *0020 . Nothing wrong here that a bit of plutonium can't fix!
                                                                                     
----
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/////// This article originated at The Batchelor Pad PCBoard BBS ///////
// Long Beach, CA ///// 1200-14,400 V.32bis+HST ///// +1 310 494 8084 //
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking
From: lzsndt@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (Lynn Z. Schaeffer)
Subject: Re: Kitchen Aid mixers
Reply-To: lzsndt@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 19:08:38 GMT


>>I am looking for a mail order (read inexpensive/discount) source for a Kitchen
>>Aid food mixer. I am looking for the larger size where you move the bowl
>>up to the beaters rather than having the head tilt.
>
>This may seem a bit strange, but I have yet to find a mail-order source for
>KitchenAid mixers that can compete with the prices at a local department
>store....  

>>Bob Dewey                       
>Ed

Ed's right.  I just received the catalogue for "A Cook's Wares" mentioned some
time ago on the net (in Pennsylvania - (412) 846-9490) and found their sale
prices were significantly more than local stores, especially after shipping
charges.  But, not everyone lives in an area where there is a variety of
well-stocked discount stores, and many people don't have the time or
inclination to shop around.  So, for what it's worth... "A Cook's Wares"
carries KA mixers and parts.  The 325 watt K5SS with 5 qt. bowl (this is the
lift up bowl) with a pouring shield is on sale for $327.90 with $12.50 shipping
charge.  The 300 watt KSM90 with 4.5 qt bowl with tilting head is $244.80.  (I
am not affilliated with this company in any way--just happened to have the info
handy.)   

Lynn Z. Schaeffer
From: neil.black@uttsbbs.uucp (Neil Black)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: RE: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLE
Date: 26 Jan 93 20:37:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: uttsbbs.7840.25.uupcb
Reply-To: neil.black@uttsbbs.uucp (Neil Black)
Distribution: world
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591

-> From: nassio@head-cfa.harvard.edu (George Nassiopoulos)
-> Newsgroups: misc.consumers
-> Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
-> Message-ID: <1993Jan26.211935.15271@cfa203.harvard.edu>
-> Date: 26 Jan 93 21:19:35 GMT

-> BTW, how do you know what urine tastes like? :-)

Check out alt.tasteless.  Heh heh.
                                                                           
----
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