HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: schwartz@nynexst.com (S. H. Schwartz)
Subject: Re: Endorsing checks for deposit via ink s
Reply-To: schwartz@nynexst.com
Organization: Expert Systems Lab., NYNEX Sci. and Tech., White Plains NY
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 92 12:49:15 GMT

In article 26491@lmt.mn.org, ChazL@county.lmt.mn.org (Chaz Larson) writes:
>On the subject of unendorsed checks:
>
>One month, while writing all my bill checks, I accidentally made my car 
>insurance check out to my local electric company, then mailed it off.  I 
>noticed it when reconciling that statement, when I found two checks made out 
>to East Central Electric; one was endorsed by American Family Insurance, and 
>my bank paid it without any problem.  Somewhat disturbing.

It's probably less expensive for the banks to routinely pay out all checks,
and manually process only those checks about which a complaint is received.
In this case, you could certainly call your bank about a check paid to
a party other than the payee.  Then again, they'll want to know how
your insurer received a check from you made payable to another party.
Technically, you could probably reverse payment on that check, but you'd
end up annoying your insurer, who might charge you a fee for sending them
an unpayable check.
---
Steven H. Schwartz		Expert Systems Laboratory
schwartz@nynexst.com		NYNEX Science and Technology Center
PROFS: SCHWARTZ@UNIX		500 Westchester Avenue
914-644-2960			White Plains NY 10604

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos
From: SZENES@pucc.Princeton.EDU (H. M. Szenes)
Subject: Re: car lease vs car loan vs outright purchase
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 00:28:45 GMT

In article <1992Aug11.173601.3896@tellab5.tellabs.com>
chrz@tellabs.com (Peter Chrzanowski) writes:
 
>In article <1992Aug10.005541.14118@isc-br.isc-br.com>, carlp@frigg.isc-br.com (Carl Paukstis) writes:
>>
>> Beware of either kind, in case you want to change cars BEFORE the
>> lease term expires!  One friend of mine here had a 5-year lease
>> on a Saab 9000 turbo.  After 2 years, he was tired of it and
>> wanted to get a new car (the ashtrays were full...:-).  The way
>> his lease was written, he was responsible for the difference
>> between the discounted value of his future lease payments less
>> the current market value of the car.  Saabs apparently lost
>> popularity real fast those 2 years; if he wanted to get out it
>> would cost him about $5,000.  He had the option of keeping the
>> car (and making the payments) until the end of the lease period,
>> at which point he could walk away for $0.
>
>Sounds fair to me.  Lease payments are a constant amount per month,
>but depreciation NOT constant: it is much higher when the car is
>new.  To put this another way, you'd expect to pay more per month
>for, say, a two-year lease than for a five-year lease.  The
>"early return" penalty just means you can't get a two year lease
>at five year lease prices merely by returning the car early.
>
>The REAL gotcha here is what happens if the car is "totaled".
>What happens is the insurance will only pay what the car is
>worth: therefore the leasor still owes the "early return" penalty ...
>From the dealer/leasor's viewpoint, there's no difference between
>returning after two years, and getting paid the cash value of the
>car after two years.
>>
Most leases include or offer "gap" insurance for that purpose.  It "covers
the gap" between the wholesale price of a car, when totaled, and the re-
placement value.  In many cases you can negotiate gap insurance into the
lease.
 
regards,
 
 
 
========================================================================
H. M. SZENES                  HOUSING DEPARTMENT         SZENES@PUCC
                             PRINCETON UNIVERSITY        609.258.5641
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: df2tg2n@ties.bell-atl.com (Steve Rosen)
Subject: Need computer desk maker's address
Reply-To: df2tg2n@shoes.bell-atl.com
Organization: Bell Atlantic - Phila, PA
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 19:38:51 GMT

Could somebody kindly send me the phone # and/or address of a manufacture
of computer desks called either "D'Agio" or just "Agio Design"?  The city
and state will do if that's all you have.  E-mail please, thanks!!!
	
-- 
 --=========================================================================--
   Steven M. Rosen / Consultant @ Bell Atlantic - SW Engr. Tech. & Standards
                                  1717 Arch Street (6S2), Phila., PA 19103
   Phone Numbers: W (215)466-2061, FAX (215)563-0517, H (215)465-5334
               +++ Internet/E-Mail: df2tg2n@shoes.bell-atl.com +++
 --=========================================================================--
Organization: Doctoral student, Urban and Public Affairs, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.med,sci.environment
Date: Tue,  1 Sep 1992 17:08:01 -0400 
From: Lawrence Curcio <lc2b+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Avoiding radioactive household products
Distribution: na

This thread brings to mind the late Adelle (sp?) Davis, a famous popular
nutritionist. According to her books, she would take about 50 dolomite
tablets every day as a source of calcium and magnesium. Dolomite, as I
understand it, is a mineral - mined from the ground. Dr. Davis died of
bone cancer, and I can't help but suspect that her problems had
something to do with the ingestion of radioactive trace elements in the
dolomite. Amounts that would be harmless externally might concievably
cause problems when taken internally, no? 

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pngai@adobe.com (Phil Ngai)
Subject: Re: Camp stoves
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 06:05:25 GMT

In article <92242.203626U4400@wvnvm.wvnet.edu> U4400@wvnvm.wvnet.edu writes:
>on either Coleman cooking gas or unleaded automobile fuel, thus saving
>megabucks over propane.  Is this dangerous?  Doesn't car fuel have stuff

Propane is not too expensive if you use refillable tanks. You have
to know what you're doing if you refill the small 1 pound tanks
and it is illegal to transport refilled NRC types.

-- 
My opinions are my own.
A right delayed is a right denied.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.video,sci.electronics,sci.misc
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan)
Subject: Re: VCR Maintenance Advice Wanted. Head Cleaners Any Good?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 14:19:17 GMT


In article <2AA6BA13.14151@news.service.uci.edu> gkwan@balboa.eng.uci.edu (Greg Kwan) writes:
>
>When cleaning audio or video heads, only go in the direction of the
>tape travel; perpendicular cleaning can ruin the head. I also agree
>with only using foam covered Q-tips on VCR's.

A video repair tech I know and respect uses a small square cut from a deerskin
chamois on the end of a wooden tongue depressor to clean video heads. He
wets it down with the usual (freon-based?) video head cleaning fluid.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.video,sci.electronics,sci.misc
From: michaet@hubcap.clemson.edu (michael dale townsend)
Subject: Re: VCR Maintenance Advice Wanted. Head Cleaners Any Good?
Organization: Clemson University
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 12:17:28 GMT

noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring) writes:
>We have our VCR in the repair shop for the second time in two years, and
>again it is a very dirty head.

>Anyway, what I'd like to know is the current state-of-the-art of VCR head
>(and capstan, etc.) cleaners, as well as other maintenance systems.  The
>repair person stated that there is no good system to clean the heads, rollers,
>etc., other than getting in there with a soaked q-tip.  However, I really
>don't yet believe him since such advice is self-serving - I'd like to get
>VCR maintenance advice from knowledgeable yet impartial people.
>Much thanks.
>Jon Noring

I worked in a T.V./VCR repair shop while I was in High School.  My boss
said the very same thing and I believe him.  Just last week I rented a
movie that must have been partially melted or put into a VCR that ate
oatmeal.  It instantly corrupted my VCR's heads, so I cleaned it with an
alcohol soaked Q-tip.  That worked great.  I seem to also remember him
saying that you should only brush perpendicular to the circumference of
the head (up and down) in case you scratch the head.  One vertical
scratch is better than a long scratch all the way around.  I usually
clean the capstans and audio head while I am in there.  I wouldn't pay
someone $50 to do what you can do yourself with a screwdriver, a couple
of Q-tips, and $.02 worth of rubbing alcohol.  That is also cheaper to
me than buying an automatic head cleaner of questionable quality for
$19.95.  
 
Michael Townsend        michaet@hubcap.clemson.edu
From: russ@bbxrbk (Russ Kepler)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: "Things of Science"
Date: 2 Sep 92 03:42:54 GMT
Article-I.D.: bbxrbk.1992Sep2.034254.8415
Organization: russ at home

When I was a kid (many moons ago) my father had delivered to the house
some science exploration kits from an outfit called "Things of
Science".  They would explore some topic such as bouyancy or
electromagnetism with some small gadgets and geegaws, and I really had
some fun with them.

Anyone out there know of a source for this sort of thing?  The last
advert for ToS I saw was some years ago in Nature magazine, and
nothing since.

Suggestions gleefully accepted.

-- 
.signature: not found.  Create?
From: dww@hpcndm.CND.HP.COM (Dave Wright)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 18:35:18 GMT
Subject: Re: -- Yakima vs. Thule --
Organization: HP Network and System Management Division
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

mail order (where they're somewhat cheaper than Thule), and (2) the
round bars are stronger (I saw many bent Thules when I lived in
campground country).  

David Ross, Dept. of Math., Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu HI  96822
Internet: ross@kahuna.math.hawaii.edu  -or- ross@tarski.math.hawaii.edu
Phone: 808-956-9949
----------


David -- Can you give us a reference for cheaper mail order places offering
Yakima's?  (eg., 800 number for catalog, address, etc.).

Tired of paying list,

Dave
From: marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com (Randy Marks)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Need source for Loft bed
Date: 1 Sep 92 16:16:37 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp. - Colorado Springs


In article <1992Sep1.004431.22814@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, jwaugh@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Jonathan B Waugh) writes...
>I am looking for a "junior" loft bed (height is somewhere between a regular
>twin and a full size loft bed), for my brother in Florida.
>He will be using it at college so durability is important, not looks.  Does
>anyone know of a company that will ship individual purchases or a central
>Florida retailer?  We have had little luck so far.
Why not just build one out of 2x4 and 2x6 lumber?  Stain the wood to
suit your taste.  You can then make it whatever height you want.

	Randy Marks
(UUCP)	                {decvax,ucbvax,allegra}!decwrl!ssdevo.enet!marks
(INTERNET)              marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com
(domain-based INTERNET) marks%ssdevo.enet@decwrl.dec.com
..........................................................................
	"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe
	while the legislature is in session."
..........................................................................
From: rrw@elden (Robert Wier)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: CITIBANK CREDIT CARDS
Date: 30 Aug 92 04:18:43 GMT
Originator: rrw@elden.cse.nau.edu

From article <170m0tINN51d@sixgun.East.Sun.COM>, by egreen@East.Sun.COM (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher):
> 
> ANY major credit card outfit will waive the fees if asked.  My card
> waives fees automatically if over $3K was charged on the card the
> previous year.  Every year I don't put $3K on the card, I send them a
> letter that if they waive the fee, I will continue to enjoy and
> recommend the card.  However, there are too many "no annual fee" cards
> available for me to justify paying the fee.
> 
  Last year when I got the usual $20 yearly fee, I called 'em up and
 asked about it. They absolutely refused to waive it, so I cancelled it.
 Probably just as well since I use the ATT card with no yearly fee and
 which seems to be pretty responsive about lowering interest rates
 (at least in comparison to Citi)...



 - Bob Wier

  ---------- insert favorite standard disclaimers here ----------
                   College of Engineering
      Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona
  Internet: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu | BITNET: WIER@NAUVAX | WB5KXH
From: egreen@east.sun.com (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Credit report
Date: 2 Sep 92 16:34:12 GMT
Reply-To: egreen@east.sun.com
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

In article 9181@ms.uky.edu, kherron@ms.uky.edu (Kenneth Herron) writes:
>msingh@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (The Supreme Commander) writes:
>
>>I would be very hesitant to provide all of this information. 
>
>You're forgetting one thing:  TRW is doing this out of the goodness of
>their hearts.  

HA!  That'll be the day!

>There is (unfortunately) no law forcing them to give out
>free credit reports except after a credit denial so unless you've just
>been denied credit they can attach whatever conditions they like to the
>free report.

The free report is part of a deal TRW cut with the Attorneys General of
several states that got together and charged them with [something
having to do with running a sloppy operation and screwing up people's
lives with inaccurate credit reports].  TRW pleaded "no contest," and
promised to shape up.  Part of the deal was allowing free access to
reports for consumers, so they can verify that their report is
accurate.

>Credit agencies are part and parcel of obtaining credit.  Either get
>used to it or stop using credit, but let's please be a little less
>knee-jerk, huh?

I agree that the requested information is no big deal.  If you make
money or have credit, they're going to open a file on you ANYWAY, and
there is NOTHING you can do about it.  Might as well help 'em keep it
accurate.

---
Ed Green, former Ninjaite |I was drinking last night with a biker,
  Ed.Green@East.Sun.COM   |and I showed him a picture of you.  I said,
DoD #0111  (919)460-8302  |"Go on, get to know her, you'll like her!"
 (The Grateful Dead) -->  |It seemed like the least I could do...
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rboudrie@chpc.org (Rob Boudrie)
Subject: Re: PARALYZER CS tear gas
Organization: Center For High Perf. Computing of WPI; Marlboro Ma
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 14:13:59 GMT

>|    And as far as your "shot" statement,,,in case you've never
>|    personally observed same, human beings are incredibly tough
>|    and difficult to kill.  A small caliber bullet wound on an
>|    annoyed individual is NOT a suitable defense.  
>
>Yeah, what are you anyway? The Night Killer? Have got much experience in
>wounding humans with guns, have you? 

There is plenty of published information on the subject.  Col. Martin
Fackler of the would ballistics laboratory, Evan Marshal of the Detroit
PD, and the FBI statistics all confirm the lack of reliability of small
calibre weapons for reliable defense.  One does not need to kill in the
night to have some familiarity with the subject.

>to tear gas him, but since he is _very_ annoyed, he chooses not to
>bother with it. The police then tries to shoot him, since they get
>rather annoyed with him too. But since James is both _very_ annoyed and
>_very_ motivated (god knows where he gets his motivation) he chooses to
>evade the bullets for some time, then gets bored, then does not bother,
>stands still and lets the bullets thump into his body. So what if he

There are numerous instances of agressors taking multiple hits without being
instantly incapacitated.  Refer to "FBI v. Platt & Mattix" for details (this
was a famous Miami gunfight, not a court case).

>gets more fragmented than a disk running System 7? So what if his heart
>lies in the gutter twenty feet away? Since he has chosen to ignore the
>bullets, they won't hurt him!

Only central nervous system hits result in instantaneous incapacitation.
Depressurization of the circulatory system can take from seconds to 
minutes to work.

>end of story :-) 

I hope what you claim to know never gets you killed...

>Really, I do not think it is possible to _learn_ to ignore tear gas.
>Some people may possibly have a better or worse defense against it, but,
>I doubt it can be avoided.

Individual differences in response are (a) magnitude & type of effect,
and (b) time.  The difficulty is stopping agression INSTANTLY, since it
takes a mere fraction of a second to complete a violent act of agression.

>
>As for guns and small calibres, of course, if you shoot somebody you had
>better point your weapon well if you are using a gun with small bullets
>(I am no gun phreak, so I do not know what is the notation of calibres
>in US measurements). When using a larger calibre, you can allow yourself
>to shake more when pointing. 

Shot placement is the most important factor, large gun or small.  "Allowing
yourself to shake" can result in stray bullets and unintented collateral
damage.

>
> 
>--
>Hans Granqvist, Volvo, Gothenburg, Sweden.
From: jpt@telecaster.think.com (James P. Taylor)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Mail order PC motherboards -- any experiences?
Date: 4 Sep 92 19:11:04 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: telecaster.think.com


I need a 386 [33 or 40 Mhz] motherboard for a PC clone.  

Has anyone bought one via mail??  Any advice?  Anyone to avoid?

Any recommendations [or warnings] about mail order firms that sell PC
equipment?

I will summarize e-mail to the newgroup.

jim taylor  Thinking Machines Corp Cambridge MA  jpt@Think.com
From: lbr@holos0.uucp (Len Reed)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How to get UPS to pay up AND what's a good alternative
Date: 31 Aug 92 16:01:32 GMT
Organization: Holos Software, Inc.

In article <1992Aug29.024259.8680@zip.eecs.umich.edu> monkey@quip.eecs.umich.edu (Xinbing Liu) writes:

>Now wait a minute.  A few days a ago someone in California sent a package
>to our lab via FEDEX overnight.  It's some delicate optics costing over
>$30,000.

>The sadder thing is, the package was not insured,  FEDEX said they would give
>us $100 if we want.

Gee, I don't really see how you can blame this on FEDEX.  Sure, they messed
up, but how can anyone not know that you have to insure valuable equipment
when shipping it by *any* carrier.  What kind of moron puts $30,000 worth
of sensitive equipment in a box and ships it uninsured?
From: henryc@panix.com (Henry Chan)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: PARALYZER CS tear gas (long followup)
Date: 26 Aug 92 14:37:30 GMT
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix & Internet, NYC

A question about mace, teargas and the peppergaurd sprays.  Do these 
products have a limited lifespan?


-- 
My friends, we can and we will, never, never, surrender to what is right.
--Dan Qualye speaking to Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition.
From: sorbrrse@rtsg.mot.com (Russell E. Sorber)
Subject: Re: Carburetors, gasoline, and why I don't recycle
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 23:17:37 GMT

In article <sbarnhar-020992082535@morril6t-21.micro.umn.edu> sbarnhar@mailbox.mail.umn.edu (Dr. Barnhart) writes:
>
<stuff deleted>
>
>This is where I have to agree with the poster.  Recycling, for all of its
>benefits, still enables consumers to continue to continue wanton
>consumption of overpackaged goods.  "Why should I worry about all that
>metal used in a case of canned soda?  All I need to do is recycle it."  And
>suddenly not only is the consumerism OK, but by simply recycling you're an
>environmentalist as well.

The environmentalist position has been  oversimplified here!  
All national and many local environmental groups  advocate what 
they call the "3R's" , Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, to be 
implemented in that order.  Thus reduction, rather than recycling
 of  unnecessary  packaging  is advocated by any true
environmentalist.    One group that I know of has even come to agreement
with a  smaller grocery chain to add "model grocery store"
shelf labeling to encourage purchase of minimally packaged and
minimally harmful  products. 

>
>All the recycling in the world is not going to make a sigificant impact on
>the environment. 

In many areas of the country which are going through a  "garbage crisis" 
recycling does help the environment as well as your pocketbook. 
In suburban Chicago, for instance, the closing of  several
landfills has necessitated  a  crisis with the following  choices:

  1) Reduce, reuse, or recycle by  about 40%.

  2) Because of much longer distances to the next landfill, pay 400% 
more money to dispose of municipal solid waste.   This is considered
by many to be an economic hardship as well as a temporary solution
(since it will last only until the citizens of FarAwaySmallTown,IL organize
against "foreign" garbage shipped in from the Chicago area.) 

  3) Build a garbage burning incinerator in an area which  already has
an air pollution problem.  Emissions from incinerators have been
correlated  to asthma, lung cancer and any  number of other problems.
In addition, a guaranteed tonnage of waste must be promised
to an incinerator operator, thus encouraging more (or at least the same)
production of waste.

The  current plan is to reduce, reuse,  recycle and hope to meet the 
40% goal by 1994.  If not, an incinerator gets built with all of its 
unwanted side effects.

In this area less garbage clearly ensures a better environment.
.


-- 
--------------------------------------
Russ Sorber
Software Contractor
Motorola, Cellular Division
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: stever@meaddata.com (Steve Rothenberg)
Subject: WANTED: ADDRESSES FOR POOL CUE COMPANIES
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 20:12:37 GMT
Distribution: usa

Subject line says it all. I need addresses and phone numbers
(if possible) to companies that make or distribute pool cues
and billiard accessories. If you know the 800 number, that would be
a plus. Thanks in advance. e-mail to stever@meaddata.com


-- 
Steve Rothenberg           \   GO BROWNS     
Mead Data Central           \   GO CAVS            _____     __o  
stever@meaddata.com          \   GO INDIANS      -----      -\<, 
stevermeaddata@uunet.uu.net  \   GO CRUNCH       -----   ( )/ ( ) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.energy