HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kherron@ms.uky.edu (Kenneth Herron)
Subject: Re: How to get UPS to pay up AND what's a good al
    <Bu2Kx4.IKA@news.cso.uiuc.edu> <1992Sep11.234027.3249@memstvx1.memst.edu>
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 01:11:30 GMT
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences

rlw@issm1.memst.edu (Rodney L. Weaver) writes:

>So it appears that the contract you have with FedEx limits their
>liability to $100 unless you declare a larger value (and pay
>more).

>I assume UPS does something similar.

This is correct.  The extra charge to declare a larger value is pretty
trivial, too.  I can't quote exact figures but when I used to ship
things occasionally I never hesitated to declare a higher value.
-- 
Kenneth Herron                                           kherron@ms.uky.edu
University of Kentucky                                      +1 606 257 2975
Department of Mathematics           "Thanks to the magic of the slow-motion 
camera, we can now show you how ugly the inside of someone's mouth can be."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rah@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (robin.howells)
Subject: New 123 Freon
Keywords: air conditioning
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 20:11:39 GMT

Does anyone out there know anything about this new freon called
R123 that is supposed to be replacing I think R113?  I was
wondering if anyone new about the testing that was done on
it and how harmful it is to humans.  It's supposed to be
save for the atmosphere, but not safe for us.

I have a friend who works for an air conditioning company
who wants to know more about this product.  It's been
tested to cause tumors in mice testicles.

Need more info!!!

Thanks to whomever responds.

Robin

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:16579 sci.med:17438
From: jil@uts.uucp (Jamie Lubin)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.med
Subject: Re: water purification/is drinking pure water bad for you?
Date: 15 Sep 92 15:03:15 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Bellcore, Piscataway, NJ

In article <1992Sep11.180034.27639@decuac.dec.com> jcp@islay.dco.dec.com (Jolly C. Pancakes) writes:
>In article <1992Sep11.142249.8153@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> jil@uts.uucp (Jamie Lubin) writes:
>>From "Nutrition Almanac" Nutrition Search, Inc., John Kirschmann, Director:
>>
>>Water should not be relied upon as a healthy source of minerals because it may
>>contain inorganic minerals, including calcium, copper, magnesium, mercury,
>>iron, & silicon, some of which cannot be assimilated by the body.  Instead
>
>
>	What in the heck is an *organic* mineral ?

From the above book, which lists ~ 200 references, including ~ 150 books:

"... organic minerals, those of or derived from living organisms, are more
readily utilized by the body than are inorganic minerals.  Plants "distill"
the water they consume and convert the inorganic minerals into organic
minerals, which can then be assimilated by the body... If a vitamin supplement
is labeled "organic," it is composed of, or contains, matter of plant or
animal origin.  "Inorganic" means that the vitamin supplement is composed of
something other than organic materials such as those found in water and soil.
Foods and supplements derived from organic sources are probably better
assimilated by the body than are inorganic supplements."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.books.technical,alt.discrimination
From: kadie@herodotus.cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 03:02:57 GMT

dowdy@tochtli.biochem.nwu.edu (Dowdy Jackson) writes:

[...]
>While I see why these arguments have been made I still don't see why
>so many people take offense to the idea of a boycott.
[...]

Because the purpose of the boycott is to get the bookstore to suppress
material.

As the Freedom to Read Statement says: 'We trust Americans to
recognize propaganda, and to reject it.  We do not believe they need
the help of censors to assist them in this task.  We do not believe
they are prepared to sacrifice their heritage of a free press in order
to be "protected" against what others think may be bad for them.  We
believe they still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression.'

- Carl

ANNOTATED REFERENCES

(All these documents are available on-line. Access information follows.)

=================
library/freedom-to-read.ala
=================
The "Freedom to Read Statement" of the American Library Association
and Association of American Publishers.

=================
=================

These document(s) are available by anonymous ftp (the preferred
method) and by email. To get the file(s) via ftp, do an anonymous ftp
to ftp.eff.org (192.88.144.4), and get file(s):

  pub/academic/library/freedom-to-read.ala

To get the file(s) by email, send email to archive-server@eff.org.
Include the line(s) (be sure to include the space before the file
name):

send acad-freedom/library freedom-to-read.ala
--
Carl Kadie -- kadie@cs.uiuc.edu -- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jongsma@esseye.si.com (Ken Jongsma)
Subject: Re: auto-start AUDIO cassette recorder ??
Reply-To: jongsma@benzie.si.com
Organization: Smiths Industries
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 12:46:02 GMT

In <6089@transfer.stratus.com> amy@vineland.pubs.stratus.com (Amy McNulty) writes:

>With all of the recent advances in VCR technology, I'm surprised that  
>I've never seen an AUDIO cassette recorder that can be pre-set to start  
>taping at a specific time. Has anyone ever seen or heard of one of  
>these? Although I haven't tried it, I assume that connecting my stereo  
>system to an automatic timer wouldn't work (even if I could get it to  
>come on at a reasonably close approximation to the correct time)....

When I bought my cassette deck some 10 years ago, it had a switch/jack
for a remote clock unit that would allow preset recording. It was an expensive
option, so I never bought the remote clock.

Poor person's alternative: Assuming you have a VCR, run the audio out from
your stereo to the VCR audio in. Set the VCR to record from the line inputs
instead of the tuner and you're all set.

Ken
-- 
Ken Jongsma                                          ken@wybbs.mi.org
Smiths Industries                               jongsma@benzie.si.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan                      73115.1041@compuserve.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dm@cs.brown.edu
Subject: Independent Order of Foresters (info needed)
Organization: Brown Computer Science Dept.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 23:45:01 GMT

I am looking for information about the Independent Order of Foresters (a
fraternity of some kind). A friend of mine was recently contacted by them with
some intersting offers (investment related) and he wants to know if they are to 
be trusted. Has anybody had any experience with them? Thanks for any info.

--
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tslee@oracle.uucp (Terry Lee)
Subject: Re: Health vitamin scam?
Reply-To: tslee@oracle.UUCP (Terry Lee)
Organization: Oracle Corporation, Belmont, CA
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 18:17:42 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

In article <1992Aug19.014359.24050@sco.COM> rogerv@sco.COM (Roger Vortman) writes:
>
>pjs@euclid.JPL.NASA.GOV (Peter J. Scott) writes:
>
>>In article <9710042@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM>, lief@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Lief Sorensen) writes:
>>> My wife received in the mail today one of those "You have been selected to
>>> definitely receive one of these gifts"!
>>> 
>>>      (1) Cadillac Coupe Deville (not to exceed $20,000)
>>>      (2) $7500 in cash
>>>      (3) Big Screen Stereo Tv ($2500 market value)
>>>      (4) Diamond Sapphire Tennis Bracelet ($1200 market value)
>>>      (5) $1000 in cash
>>>      (6) Hawaiian vacation (average room cost more than $500)
>
>>Prediction: you will win #6; it will cost you $$$ to find this
>>out.  Then your prize will consist of a bunch of merchant

>Also, you are supposed to be able to get the odds on "winning" each
>of the "gifts" on the list.  Look for the one that is .999998 or

On these ploys, the odds favor the jewelry trinkets.  Its the one item in
the world with ridiculous "market values" that have little or nothing to do
with Real Life.  E.g. but a diamond engagement ring or whatever.  If you paid
$1k, they always "value" it at about $3k.  Go figure.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.books.technical,alt.discrimination
From: cab@col.hp.com (Chris Best)
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 21:22:27 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: your service

> There is no Waldenbooks store in my area, or I would have dropped in and told
> the local staff that I'm boycotting them, but you can drop by your local mall
> and let the local manager know how you feel.

----------

As misdirected as it is, boycott all you want.  More room for me to shop.  
Less whining for the staff to put up with, hence better service.  And if 
you succeed (yuk yuk) in getting enough people to do the same, they'll 
drop their prices in an attempt to attract 'em back.  Great!

Let the manager know how I feel?  My presence there as a customer will
do just that.  But, since you insist, I guess I'll make a point to tell 
him/her how much I respect the policy.  

No sympathetic ear here.  If boycotting is what you think you have to do,
then by all means do it.  What you do is your own business, just as what
they sell is theirs. 
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:16316 alt.discrimination:4214
From: russ@bbxrbk (Russ Kepler)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.discrimination
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Date: 8 Sep 92 20:09:13 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: /etc/organization

In article <18ia69INNh9c@bach.crhc.uiuc.edu> guillory@crhc.uiuc.edu (Stanford Guillory) writes:
>jsp@uts.amdahl.com (James Preston) writes:
>
>>jsdph@acad3.alaska.edu (Dennis P. Harris) writes:
>
>>}I have already informed WB that I intend to boycott them until they stop
>>}selling the book and reinstate the fired employees . . .
>
>>to get your posting privileges revoked.  Neither do you nor the employees
>>of that bookstore have the right to censor book publishers.  Freedom of the
>
>What is wrong with everyone? The guy has decided he wants to
>boycott Waldenbooks. This is America isn't it? He can boycott
>anyone or thing he wants no matter how stupid it is, can't he?
>
>Look at how backward the logic of all these replies has been.
>They all mention freedom of the press, and then attempt to
>stomp all over this guy's freedom to do as he pleases.
>
>>--James Preston

I included the entire article above, to show just how selective editing 
can make a reasonable article look like a flame.  Here's Mr. Preston's
text, including the one carefully edited by Stanford Guillory:

>jsdph@acad3.alaska.edu (Dennis P. Harris) writes:
>
>}I have already informed WB that I intend to boycott them until they stop
>}selling the book and reinstate the fired employees . . .
>
>I find your posting offensive.  I think everyone who agrees with me should
>write to your system administrator and demand that your posting privileges
>be revoked.
>
>Just trying to make a point.  No one has the right to "censor" you by trying
>to get your posting privileges revoked.  Neither do you nor the employees
>of that bookstore have the right to censor book publishers.  Freedom of the
>press is one of the most fundamental and cherished freedoms that we still
>have left in this country.  Your kind sickens me.

Mr. Guillory: Try quoting all of the text next time.  No one was
trying to "stomp all over this guy's freedom to do as he pleases", but
instead to point out the hypocrisy in his position.  Mr. Preston made
a *point* that Mr. Harris had a right to publish his opinion just as a
book publisher has the right to publish a book, and that it was
unreasonable for a bunch of bookstore employees to attempt to censor a
book - just as unreasonable as a demand that Mr. Harris stop posting.

I'd fire an employee doing what I understand the employees at the
Waldenbooks were doing - but I also support the right of an employee
to resign rather than sell a product with which they disagree.  I
think of this as a forced resignation - they didn't want to work under
the terms of the corporation and are no longer required to do so, at
least for Waldenbooks.

-- 
Russ Kepler, posting from home
Will hack unix for food 		(.sig stolen from dt - sorry, dt)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.books.technical,alt.discrimination
From: case@ucs.sdsu.edu (Steve Case)
Subject: The new GM Credit card
Summary: Do you think it's a good deal?
Organization: San Diego State University, Data Communications Group
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 16:31:40 GMT

Just received an application (unsolicited by me) for the new GM Credit Card. 
This is the new credit card ("the card that changes plastic into steel") 
that credits 5% of each charge towards the purchase or lease of any GM 
vehicle. Maybe this is a good deal, if you want to buy a car. Here's some 
of the credit facts:

1. The 5% credit is limited to a $3,500 maximum credit over 7 years with a 
maximum $500.00 per year credit. Here's how I read this (and I admit, my 
interpretation may be wrong): I would have charge AT LEAST $10,000 a year in 
charges over a period of 7 years in order to receive the maximum credit. I 
can't use a $15K charge year to make-up for a $5K charge year. And, I have 
to do this all within 7 years. 
What happens after 7 years, I wonder? Do I lose my credit (use it or lose 
it) or do I simply no longer accrue the new car credit until I buy the car? 
Hmmm...

2. There is no annual fee, but there is also no promise that there WON'T be 
a fee sometime in the future. Some of my friends obtained advertised "no 
fee" cards and then got socked for a fee in the second year. After 
complaining, they were told, "Business conditions now require that we charge 
a fee to cover our losses". The only promise I have ever seen for a "free of 
annual fee forever card" was during the first year promotion of AT&T's 
Universal card.

3. The GM card uses the "two cycle average daily balance, including new 
purchases" method for computing finance charges. For the consumer, this the 
the worst way of computing finance charges.

4. The interest rate is variable and is based on the WSJ Prime + 10%. I feel 
this spread is pretty high. My AT&T card is WSJ Prime + 8.9%

5. "The APR is currently 16.5%. The rate may vary after that, but will NEVER 
be less than 14.9%" This is a direct quote off the Finance box (emphasis 
mine). This is the first credit card I have ever seen with a "floor" 
interest rate.

This all seems like a pretty good deal for GM. Considering that the card 
has variable rate with a large spread, an interest rate floor and fairly 
rigid credit rebate rules, it looks like a money maker to me. 

Don't know if GM gets a newsfeed, but I have a radical idea. Instead of 
venturing in to the credit arena, how selling reliable, well designed cars 
for a great price?
--
Steve Case (case@ucs.sdsu.edu) | "Cover for me!"
Data Communications Group      | "Oh, good idea, boss!"
University Computing Services  | "It was like that when I got here."
San Diego State University     | - Homer's standard disclaimers.
San Diego, California 92182    | "My opinions only" - my standard disclaimer
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.books.technical,alt.discrimination
From: kd1hz@anomaly.sbs.risc.net (Michael P. Deignan)
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Organization: The Rhode Island Internet Systems Cooperative Network
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 02:35:18 GMT

dowdy@tochtli.biochem.nwu.edu (Dowdy Jackson) writes:

>While I see why these
>arguments have been made I still don't see why so many people take offense to
>the idea of a boycott. If a business does something that you find objectionable
>isn't it OK to voice your objections ? One way is via a boycott. When blacks
>weren't treated with the respect they deserved, they boycotted the busses.

There is nothing wrong with boycotting. The problem arises when you attempt
to use the boycott as an economic influence over the business in an attempt
to get them to change their policies with regards to selling the item you
find objectionable.

Maybe you find X objectionable. I don't. Don't buy it.

MD
-- 
--  Michael P. Deignan                      / Sex is hereditary. If your 
--  Domain: mpd@anomaly.sbs.com            /  parents never had it, chances 
--    UUCP: ...!uunet!rayssd!anomaly!mpd  /   are you won't either...
-- Telebit: +1 401 455 0347              /
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ghosh@sp1.csrd.uiuc.edu (Sanjoy Ghosh)
Subject: Late Model Used Car Dealers in Santa Clara
Organization: Univ of Illinois, Center for Supercomputing R&D, Urbana, IL
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 21:43:50 GMT

Hi!

I was wondering if someone could please tell me good late-model
used car dealers within reasonable distance of Silicon Valley.  
I am looking for 89-92 model year cars.  Brand new is ridiculously
expensive.

Thanks a lot,
Sanjoy Ghosh
ghosh@csrd.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: sasjhc@maxwell.unx.sas.com (Joe Croos)
Subject: Re: Britannica $$??
Originator: sasjhc@maxwell.unx.sas.com
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 18:49:07 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.


In article <1992Sep14.201318.4245@tss.com>, burke@tss.com (Jim Burke) writes:
|> In article <1992Sep11.235539.23022@microsoft.com>, gideony@microsoft.com (Gideon Yuval) writes:
|> |> What price is the current Encyclopedia Britannica? the Britannica
|> |> people won't quote me a number -- they insist on sending a
|> |> salesman (prsumably for the usual song&dance act).
|>
|> Although I would love to buy a set of Encyclopedia Britanicas, I have
|> always been irritated at their refusal to name a price without an in-home
|> salesman.  So, I'll never buy one.  I do know that the price used to be
|> around $1500 and is probably closer to $2500 by now.
|>
|> --
|>
|>      Jim Burke       "Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!"
|>      Teknekron Software Systems              ... burke@tss.com
|>      phone:(415) 617-2432                    ... uunet!tekbspa!burke

My wife and I tried to find the price from the Waldenbooks(they had a brittanica  display there)
but they insisted on sending a rep home. We decided to try. The salesman
gave a wonderful lecture on the 224 years of Brittanica's history etc.,
After 30 minutes, I was tired, I asked him about the price. He lectured
about the "great books", a collection of 60 books: Shakespeare, Homer,...etc.,
Very interesting collections in very attractive leather bindings(list price $1999). 
Now comes the important part, the price of the brittanica:
        There are two limited edition collectors editions, priced in tens of thousands
of dollars. He said, "these are for collectors & investors."  There are three editions of
the brittanica, he sold to "normal" people like us. All three editions have same materials,
same paper quality except for the bindings. Fine quality leather(list price $2999), medium 
quality leather($1999) and plastic hardcover($1499). He said there is a special going on right
now and the prices are Fine( $60 per month for 36 months), medium( $50) and plastic($40). 
As a bonus for buying the Fine quality, he was going to throw in the 'great books' free.
If you decide to buy, the fine quality plus free 'great books' is the best buy.
        By the way, does anyone know whether brittanica is on CD-ROM?
--Joe Croos( sasjhc@unx.sas.com)

-- 
--------------------------------------------------------
Joe Croos               | Ph:    919-677-8000           | 
SAS Institute Inc.      | Fax:   919-677-8123           |
SAS Campus Drive        | Email: sasjhc@unx.sas.com     |        
Cary, NC 27513          |                               |
--------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: Cordless phones
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 01:05:23 GMT

I bought a Motorola cordless.  Works great, good range. Convenient flip-out design.
But then again, I might be prejudice!  I think you can get them at Sears.

The new 900 MHz units are supposed to be an improvement, but I'd have not sent one yet.

Mark  (mark@wdc.sps.mot.com) Chandler, AZ
From: neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: New Mortgage Scam
Date: 14 Sep 92 21:58:45 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <1992Sep11.185218.16917@chpc.org> rboudrie@chpc.org (Rob Boudrie) writes:
>My mortgage holder (Huntington Mortgage) just wrote to inform me that 
>I qualify to save $48K in interest over the lifetime of the loan.  All
>I have to do is pay them 1/2 mtg payment per month (and sign an 
>agreement allowing them to collect this directly from my checking account).
>They will keep this money in a separate account, and apply it to the 
>mortgage at the regular due dates (though with a slightly larger amount
>since there will be 13 instead of 12 payments per year).
>
>The catch?  I only have to pay a "one time processing fee" of $495.00
>for them to set this up, and a $1.00 fee on each bi weekly payment
>processed!
>
>The "questions and answers" in the accompaning literature answered the
>question "Is there any other way to reduce the interest?" with mention that
>payment of additional interest as per contract terms is permitted, but that
>this is the only systematic way of arranging for Huntington to collect
>bi weekly payments on a regular basis.
>
>I guess I don't understand why they gave me a mortgage in the first place
>if they think I'm stupid enough to pay them $495 for this non-service.
>(I'll just keep sending in extra principal with each month's payment and
>do it myself).

Well, actually I recall reading in a home-buyer's guidebook that
bi-monthly payments are an easy way to reduce interest paid.  By
paying in the middle of the month rather than the end, you save
interest on that portion that you pay early.

If you're still early in your loan, the $500 fee may be offset
by the savings you make.  Work out the math yourself, but I wouldn't
dismiss the offer out of hand.

In addition to going to a bi-monthly schedule, you can keep
pre-paying principle, and you should save both ways.

--Neil

-- 
Neil Williams: neilw@informix.com

Seen on my last trip on United: "If you are seated in an exit row 
and can not (sic) read this card... please notify a crew member."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.books.technical,alt.discrimination
From: johnf@apollo.hp.com (John Francis)
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 17:15:19 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Chelmsford, MA
Followup-To: misc.consumers,alt.discrimination

In article <1992Sep15.072427.4516@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> mycroft@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Charles Hannum) writes:
>
>In article <1992Sep11.195625.10024@tss.com> burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
>writes:
>>
>> While we both agree that the manager was wrong to try to control what
>> his employer sold,
>
>You're confused.  It's not the manager who was trying to censor the
>book; it was some peon clerks who found it "offensive".  The clerks
>absolutely *do not* have a "right" to decide what the store will sell.

You're also confused.  The issue was not whether the shop would sell
the book (which is what most people are defending) - it was whether
the book (or calendar) in question should be put in a highly-visible
display alongside other, more popular, calendars.
I see nothing wrong with refusing to actively promote sales of a book,
provided no attempt is made to refuse to sell (or order) copies.

Note that I have redirected followups to remove misc.books.technical
from the list of newsgroups.
-- 
John Francis                                johnf@apollo.hp.com
Seen passing on the net:  Spotted Owl - the *other* white meat!
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics