HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: patter@dasher.uucp (24224-guthrie)
Subject: Re: Mysterious Hole
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 22:55:59 GMT

In article <1992Oct12.223555.27263@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> stacey@prefect.uucp (24462-lebitz) writes:
>I have recently discovered a large, 5'x5'x5' square hole that is lined with
>cinder blocks in my front lawn about 10' from my house 
>that apparantly has been covered by wood and grass.
>
>1.  A "catch basin" for the sewer system (may be the town's problem)
>    We do have other easements going through our property.

Probably not the town's problem. Most construction of this nature would
be done in poured concrete if the township was responsible. And believe
me, if this were part of an active sewer system and it's open, there'd be
no doubt in your mind (or your nose) what it was.

>2.  Something to do with French Drains (which I believe we have.)

Quite possible. 

There's another possibility. If your house was built before the city
sewerage was available, this may be the remains of an old "grease pit"
for a septic system. If so, it would at one time almost certainly have
had a concrete slab top with a hatch in it about two feet square. Most
of these would also be poured concrete boxes (normally you buy them
pre-cast), but I've seen a few "home-grown" ones.

If it has outlet pipes close to the top of the box (no lower than half
way done, it's a grease pit. If it has outlets close to the bottom, it's
probably an overflow catch basin for your drains.

If there are no outlets, it may have been a root cellar or other storage
at one time. There are other possibilities as well.

patter@dasher.cc.bellcore.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
                    | Alpha test version - Too buggy to be released.
                    | Beta test version - Still too buggy to be released.
George Patterson -  | Release 1.0 - Alternate pronunciation of beta
                    |   test version.
                    |                            The Dumpty Dictionary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: rs57+@andrew.cmu.edu (Ruthann Schmidt)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: hints for cleaning levelor blinds
Date: 7 Oct 92 04:56:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.ceohuEi00WBLI1SRFb
Organization: University Libraries - Technical Service, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

When I clean my blinds, I take them down & put them in a tub full of
soapy water (laundry or dish detergent, bathroom cleaner, maybe grease
remover, whatever). I let them soak a while, but I still wipe each
individual slat with a sponge. It's definitely a pain, but it's way
easier than trying to clean them while they are dry & still hanging up.
The dirt seems to come off easier from the metal slats than the plastic
ones. A few years ago at work, some company cleaned our very tall blinds
by removing them, taking them to their place, & hanging them in some
huge room where they are cleaned somehow. The guy didn't go into detail.
That might be expensive, & not what you're looking to do, but it could
be an option.

Ruth Ann
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: WATER IN BASEMENT ... HELP
From: <KJB6@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 09:31:09 EDT
Organization: Penn State University

I purchased a house with a finished basement...panelling half way up with
stucco walls the rest of the way up to the ceiling. The floor is carpeted.
It really looks nice.

The problem is, I have been noticing water on the floor (carpet) after it rains
outside. It seems to be coming from behind the panelling.

Is there anything I can do from the OUTSIDE to correct this problem? I really
do not want to have to remove the panelling/stucco walls from the inside to
get to the walls.

Any help would be appreciated.

Ken
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17612 misc.legal:18344
From: dab@ism.isc.com (Dave Butterfield)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal
Subject: Re: Does the 30 day/90 day rule apply?
Date: 8 Oct 1992 20:00:06 GMT
Organization: x
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: change

stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger) writes:
>   1.	The fee being charged exceeds what my insuror considers
>	"Reasonable and Customary" for the services rendered, and
>	I will not pay more than the R&C.

Yeah, there's a gas station down the street that does that kind
of thing.  I refuse to pay their out-of-line prices:  instead I
patronize one of their competitors.

Dave
-- 
          Magic is the art of assuming a role strongly enough
          that the Universe falls into the complementary role.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Perot's "Platform" Posted to the Usenet
Date: 15 Oct 92 00:27:27 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <1992Oct14.183247.23037@hubcap.clemson.edu> michaet@hubcap.clemson.edu (michael dale townsend) writes:
>No wonder we are sometimes accused of being arrogant and ignorant! We 
>either don't know how to limit distribution to U.S., or we think
>everyone in the world needs to hear what we say!
>[sarcasm off]
>Michael Townsend
>michaet@hubcap.clemson.edu
>Ok Ok Ok   here it is:         :-)


   And here is the newsgroup distribution from Mr. Townsend's
   posting....perhaps HE should learn how to limit distribution to
   the boards that really give a rat.

   Newsgroups: comp.misc,misc.consumers,misc.education,misc.entrepreneurs,misc.inve st,misc.jobs.misc,misc.legal,misc.misc,misc.taxes 

   Subject: Re: Perot's "Platform" Posted to the Usenet 
   Message-ID: <1992Oct14.183247.23037@hubcap.clemson.edu>


   Ever notice that articles posted to this many newsgroups are
   NEVER worth reading....?
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17613 misc.legal:18345
From: dab@ism.isc.com (Dave Butterfield)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal
Subject: Re: Does the 30 day/90 day rule apply?
Date: 8 Oct 1992 20:02:23 GMT
Organization: x
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: change

stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger) writes:
>   2.	The medical services rendered were either not necessary, could
>	not survive a cost/benefit tradeoff analysis, or would have
>	been declined if the cost/benefit/necessity//risk tradeoffs
>	had been explained prior to treatment.

Yes, it's important to become an informed consumer so that you
can avoid these sorts of unnecessary expenditures.

-- 
          Magic is the art of assuming a role strongly enough
          that the Universe falls into the complementary role.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Futons-do they last?
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 15:58:08 GMT


In article <PHR.92Oct14200719@napa.telebit.com>, phr@telebit.com (Paul Rubin) writes:
>2. They get matted after a few months or so.  When this happens to yours,
>take it outside and beat it up with a stick to fluff it out.

How heavy is a futon?  Do you need two persons to carry it (full?  queen?)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu (Mike S.)
Subject: Re: Factory Buyback Car Sales
Organization: BITS, St. Louis, MO
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 17:41:10 GMT


>Specifically, what are the pros and cons of this sort of sale, and generally
>of buying former rental cars?

Don't know about this particular setup, but when buying rental
cars in general:

Pros:
	- Late model, and well equipped
	- You get maintenance records
	- Usually comes with a warranty
	- A good deal is usually possible

Cons:
	- High mileage
	- Car was not 'cared for' as an owner might, ex:
		- Break-in period was probably not observed
		- Although maintained as per factory recommendations, this
		    usually means the original oil wasn't changed until
		    7,500 miles or so--Not good!
		- Hard driving in cold weather before car heats up
	- With the many different drivers, odds are fair that someone
	    has smoked in the car (which causes interior problems)


Of course, some or all of this may not be true for any given car.
Just be careful, and see what sort of warranty is offered!

Mike
-- 
mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu
From: soberg@think.com (Stephanie Oberg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: buying diamond?
Date: 9 Oct 1992 16:51:10 GMT
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: quicksilver.think.com

>>|> In general, when is the biggest diamond sale in the year?
>>|> Thanksgiving? Christmas? Valentine's day? or others? 
>>|> 
>>|> Also, any recommendations on good jewelers in the Bay Area?
>>|> and can a regular consumer buy diamond from the wholesale
>>|> stores? Any advice will be appreciated!!

     We had very good luck buying an engagement ring at a jewelry store in
     the upper floor of a building near Union Square in San Francisco.
     The store was called Azevedo Jewelers, but I am sure it is not unique.
     You have to find these stores in the Yellow Pages, since there is no
     street-level indication of their presence.  These stores typically
     have upper end jewelry (very few pieces marked under $1000), more
     interesting designs than the "Service Merchandise" dime-a-dozen 
     styles.  The clerks are knowledgeable jewelry specialists (not that
     they aren't first and foremost salespeople).  And remember, everything
     in life is negotiable.  

     My personal ranking of where to buy (best quality and style and value
     are at the top;  low prices and very poor quality appear towards the
     bottom):

     Jewelry specialists in low-rent offices (e.g. Azevedo)
     Neighborhood jewelers in SOME neighborhoods
     Street-level jewelers in busy, moderately stylish business districts
     Jewelry mass marketers (e.g. Shane's in the Bay Area)
     The Mall

     By all means, shop at stores in each of the above categories.  Look at
     a lot of stones and settings.  Ask detailed questions and request
     answers that are based on facts and not unsupported opinions.  Put it
     all together and go back to a few stores.

     Some of the early rings we liked a lot I would never have bought after
     three days of shopping.  I particularly remember how dark and dull
     mall sapphires were compared to sapphires just about everywhere else.
     Oh, by the way, when mall stores or department stores have a "50% off"
     sale, then their prices begin to approach competitiveness.  Ignore 
     any promotion or sales pitch that is based on "XX% off".  You don't
     care how overpriced the thing was to begin with.  Ditto for trying to
     time your purchase.

     
  
-- 

sojourner
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: colette@bnr.ca (Colette George)
Subject: Re: Cheap glasses
Organization: Bell-Northern Research 
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 13:42:52 GMT

In article <BvvIHx.Az7@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>, kelley@vet.vet.purdue.edu (Stephen Kelley) writes:
|> In article <9210092029.AA20279@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> asa@STL-09SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin on 9000) writes:
|> - I have some questions about getting cheap glasses from opticians and
|> - optical companies that advertise a lot and are usually found in mall
|> - 
|> - 
|> - that they actually might harm my eyes? Are these so flimsy that they'll
|> - fall apart in a couple weeks and thus, even though only costing $25 or
|> - so, be a waste of that amount? 
|> - 
|> - Anyone have any comments on this? 
|> - 
|> 
|> My guess is you'll find that the low prices for glasses are available 
|> only with an exam by the optometrist on staff or in the office next
|> door.  
|> 
|> I doubt you'd find major problems with the glasses you buy at that
|> price assuming you find acceptable styles.
|> 

Don't be fooled.  With a heavy  prescription like yours, you have to be
careful.  The TV show Marketplace (a Canadian consumer show) once did a 
segment on those 1-hour opticals, in which they took a couple of different 
(but "common") prescriptions and had them made up at several one-hour places 
in different provinces across the country. They then took the finished pair 
of glasses to an opthamologist who examined them.  

Most of the glasses were poorly constructed, the lenses were not focussed
correctly, in some cases the lenses were ground unevenly, etc.  So at *some* 
places you definately get what you pay for.  I am also very nearsighted and 
would never get my glasses done at one of those discount places after seeing 
that show on TV.  As usual, your milage may vary.  It might be reasonable
to have a cheap pair made up as a "spare", but I would check with a real   
opthamologist first.  Some of those opticians don't know their butts from 
their elbows.

-- 
===================================================================
Colette George 			
Bell-Northern Research Ltd. 	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Internet:  colette@bnr.ca 
===================================================================
From: exustp@exu.ericsson.se (Stephen Pittner,xt-dt,x0672)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Twins!!
Date: 13 Oct 92 13:44:32 GMT
Reply-To: exustp@exu.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Network Systems, Inc.
X-Disclaimer: This article was posted by a user at Ericsson.
              The opinions expressed are strictly those of the
              user and not necessarily those of Ericsson.

Hello all,
   My wife and I just found out yesterday that we are going to have twins. This will
be our first and second child. If any of you have any recommendations on books,
products,do's and don'ts, etc. please let us know. Any comments will be appreciated.
 
                                   Thanks,
                                   Steve 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: khartman@fnalc.fnal.gov
Subject: Electronic air cleaners: How effective are they?
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 16:55:32 GMT
X-Posted-From: fnalc.fnal.gov
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

Hi,

	I need some input about the effectiveness of electrostatic (electronic)
air cleaners.  Does anyone have any information about their ability to remove
smoke from the air?  I am interested in the table top models, as well as the
furnace mounted units.  Not just a filter/fan combination, I need something
that uses an electric charge to precipitate the smoke.

	Thanks in advance for the information! 

	   
-Ken 
	
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rlw@elan (Robert Wald)
Subject: Re: Extended Warranties. My .02!
Organization: Princeton University, Dept. of Computer Science
Date: 12 Oct 92 05:20:04 GMT

djm48887@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Daniel J. Moisson) writes:

>Just wanted to say that from what I have read and hear from
>others who are in the $ field, buying an extended warranty is not
>your best investment.  Most of the time, if it is defective in any
>way, it will show up before the regular warranty expires.  That is
>why every almost everything sold today has the option of getting
>an extended warranty.  It means big bucks to the manufactures.  I
>am not saying you will always loose this gamble, just saying be very
>selectfull in choosing your extended warranties.  My .02.
>    


  The thing is that a good extended warranttee, like one from Sears
(which is a llot more expensive than others, since you're paying a huge markup
anyway), will cover not just defects, but anything except gross
negligence. So if you drop the unit, probably not, but if you just
handle it roughly and something eventually breaks, its covered. 
I'll probably get one for a camcorder I'm about to buy, since if something
goes wrong, its very expensive to fix.






Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17519 alt.politics.elections:15440
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.politics.elections
Subject: Re: Cable Bill Rip-off
From: adams@spss.com (Steve Adams)
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 17:31:19 GMT
Organization: SPSS Inc.

byrd@lucerne.rice.edu (Marc J Byrd) writes:

>I think if I ran a cable company, I would stop carrying the networks, and
>let people put in antennea to pick them up.  A little extra hassle, but could
>provide the service less expensively than the competitors.

My idea, exactly.  Only you can't do this under this new law.  The cable
companies are covered by a 'must carry' regulation.  Turner has already
filed suit.

That's the problem with this bill:

1) Cable companies are REQUIRED to carry the network stations

2) Cable companies are REQUIRED to pay the networks

3) No controls on network charges appear to have been set

In other words, the networks have the cable company and the consumer over a
barrel.  They can charge whatever they want, and the cable company will
have to pass on the costs to the public, who will be forking over money for
something they can otherwise GET FOR FREE.

The House and Senate are out of their minds.

 -Steve
--
  The opinions expressed above are those of the author and not SPSS, Inc.
                         -------------------
   adams@spss.com                                  Phone: (312) 329-3522
   Steve Adams        "Space-age cybernomad"       Fax:   (312) 329-3558
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pjh@mccc.edu (Pete Holsberg)
Subject: Re: Cheap glasses
Organization: The College On The Other Side Of Route One
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1992 18:40:05 GMT

In article <2+kpt-+@dixie.com> jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
=At least in Georgia it is illegal to link requiring an exam with any 
=promotion.  What I found with Pearl was these 'economy' frames, 
=frequently also specified for vision insurance plans, are such that 
=I'd not inflict them on my dog.  These are the classic bait-n-switch
=scam.  After they get you in the store they show you the basic $200
=glasses and then try to scare you into another $100 worth of useless lens
=treatments such as UV coatings and tints.

Not to mention pushing plastic over glass.

A dentist friend told me that the ophthalmologist across the street and
his in-house optician recently came to a parting of the ways. Seems that
some years ago, when they first established their relationship, the
ophth promised eventual partnership to the opt, and now the opt was
claiming his due. The bottom line was that the ophth was will to split
everything 50/50 except the net from the optician's part of the business
-- he wanted it all! It seems that the profits are enormous! Bigger than
ophthalmic surgery, no less!
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mccurdy@bestsd.sdsu.edu (McCurdy M.)
Subject: Dixon 400 series blue ink pens don't work.
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: San Diego State University - Dept. of Redundancy Dept.
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 18:43:00 GMT

My world has just come crumbling down as I am faced with the harsh reality 
that NONE of our blue ink Dixon 400 series pens work for longer than about 
12" of writing. We tried pens from several different boxes and ALL of them 
write just a little and then STOP DEAD. Imagine my horror. Made in America 
too. And, with my favorite fine point tip. Now, I have to settle for those 
leaking/blotting BIC things. Maybe I should buy my own pen. Yea, that's an 
idea.

Dixon/Wearever Div.
Sandusky, Ohio
44870

Mike McCurdy			Disclaimer:
VAX Systems Management		     
San Diego State University		"Everything I say may be wrong."
mccurdy@bestsd.sdsu.edu
From: marks@ssdevo.enet.dec.com (Randy Marks)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: 1993 car prices
Date: 16 Oct 92 19:52:35 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp. - Colorado Springs

Anybody know when '93 car prices will be published by Edmunds and the like?
I was at the bookstore last night looking for a book of '93 prices, but
to no avail.  I suppose I could get it from the dealers, but then
I'd have to endure sales pitches.

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."
..........................................................................
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pearson_steven@tandem.com (Steven R. Pearson)
Subject: Check Reorders (was Re: Don't use CHECKS IN THE MAIL)
Organization: Tandem Computers Inc.,  Cupertino, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 17:14:46 GMT

>   I have used CHECKS IN THE MAIL once before.  Although the service
> was good, I am not sure I will use them again.  The reason being that
> the difference in price between the bank's check printer and CHECKS IN
> THE MAIL is not much.  For re-orders, CITM charges $6.00 + handling and
> extras which is about $8.00, for an order of 200 checks.  The bank's
> printer charges $11.00.  So I save a whopping $3.00.  The 200 checks
> lasts me for about a year, so I can't make up it up in volume either.

Well, I personally wouldn't sneeze at $3.00, but that aside, here's another 
trick that might make it more worth your while.  There are at least 5 or 6
different "discount" check printing companies out there.  Each of them has
nearly identical pricing.  The best deal is always on that first order of checks,
where the difference between their price and the bank's price is larger than for
any reorders through them.  Usually, for 200 non-duplicating checks, they all
charge $4.95.  So, if you order 200 at a time, you can save more like $6.00 a
year for 5 or 6 years running (by that time, there may be a different set of
companies...you might even be able to go back to one you hit previously, depending
on how long they are keeping their records).  If $6.00 is still too little for you
to care about, then why the heck did you ever use CITM in the first place?

-steve p.       The facts are facts, the opinions are mine.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.kids,rec.autos
From: smithd@software.org (Doug Smith)
Subject: Re: Child Safety Seats
Organization: Software Productivity Consortium, Herndon, Virginia
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 15:07:16 GMT

In article <1b860uINN58t@iris.usc.edu> gazit@iris.usc.edu (Salit) writes:
> In article <Bvwv7K.71z@acsu.buffalo.edu> oispeggy@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Peggy Brown) writes:
> >Any advice about buying used carseats?  
> 
> Personally I would not buy used carseats, unless you know the people enough
> to take their word on whether the carseat was ever involved in an accident.
> A carseat that had been in an accident could still look brand new yet be
> unsafe in the next accident: the retraction mechanism may have been
> damaged, there may be tiny cracks in the plastic shell, etc. I think the
> risk is not worth the $50 or so saved. Buy anything else used, but not
> carseats!
> 
As I recall, Consumer Reports mentioned that seat belts (both adult and
child restraints) have a certain amount of stretch built in.  This helps
reduce the chance of injury by the belt itself.  If a belt has been
stretched in a previous accident, it could give more serious injuries than
just a few bruises.  Even if it doesn't break in a subsequent accident, the
cushioning effect may have been lost.

When I was rear-ended (totaled the other car) in my Volvo, I insisted that
my seatbelt be replaced at the insurance companies expense.  There were
no complaints.

By the way, if your seatbelt is looking `frazzled', it may be time to
replace it.  Again, if my memory serves, that was mentioned by Consumer
Reports, also.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,ba.general
From: chucko@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Chuck Fry)
Subject: URGENT -- Info needed on Lifespring
Organization: Recom Technologies, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 17:35:55 GMT


I attended Lifespring Basic Training last weekend, and am now finding
myself aggressively pursued to continue to their 5-day, $900 advanced
course.  I urgently need feedback from others who have been involved
in Lifespring and/or those with knowledge of the way they operate.

Please respond via email.  Time is of the essence!

 -- Chuck Fry  Chucko@charon.arc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: misc.consumers