HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: tzs@stein.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Need help in resolving lawyer's bill dispute!
Date: 23 Jan 1993 03:04:10 GMT
Organization: University of Washington School of Law, Class of '95
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu

georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
>>I called him and discussed the bill.  He got very upset.  Gave me all kind 
>>of BS about how reasonable his rates were and how much other lawyers would 
>>have charged.
>
>What did you do to make the lawyer upset? His rates are reasonable. He
>wasn't giving you BS.

Now wait a minute.  The lawyer estimated it would cost ~$60.  His bill is
for *FIVE* times that.  This sounds like BS to me, unless the lawyer is
willing to explain *WHY* his estimate was so far off.

The lawyer told the guy it would take about 1/2 hr to review the
contract.  This indicates that the lawyer thinks he knows the law
in this area.  Yet his bill includes research time -- probably quite a bit
(that looked like the only thing that could have really inflated the bill).
Why did he need to do a lot of research to review a routine contract in an
area he implies that he is familiar with?

--Tim Smith
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: lchoqu@asylum.cs.utah.edu (Lee Choquette)
Subject: Re: Discover Card - Pffffft!
Organization: University of Utah Computer Science
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 22:59:35 GMT

Discover is good for one thing -- for the stores that don't accept any cards
other than Discover.  I also hang on to my Discover card to make my total
credit limit greater.  I needed as much credit as I could get at a computer
trade show a couple of weeks ago.  On the other hand, not being able to spend
as much money at one time can be viewed as an advantage as well as a
disadvantage.  :-)
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   . . . . Lee Choquette . . . . . . . . . .Eat dessert first. . . . . . . .
  . . . .lchoqu@cs.utah.edu . . . . . . . . Life is so uncertain. . . . . .
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
From: gggj@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Sneaky Cop Caught Me (was Re:Radar Detectors)
Date: 26 Jan 93 20:54:21 EST
Distribution: usa,misc
Organization: Cornell University

In article <1993Jan25.222236.7589@cbnewsl.cb.att.com>,
prm@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (paul.r.mount) writes: 
>> 
>> Do radar detectors really work?  What are some of your experiences?
>> Any recommendation regarding model of detector?
> 
> 
> Yes, they really work, though they are not 100% guarantee youwont
> get a ticket for speeding.

I have gotten 2 tickets while using highly rated radar detectors.  The first
one was understandable...the guy used instant-on detection...IE: he was hidden
and turned on his radar gun as I passed, so when I heard my detector go off, it
was too late.

The second time was sick. Sick, sick sick.  I was drivingup I-81 in PA,
cruising at about 65 along with the other traffic (55 zone).   A dark blue
sporty shiny mustang passed me.  It had stuffed animals in the rear window,
radio station and AAA bumper stickers on it's rear bumper, and was all
chromed-out and muscly-looking.   I pulled behind the car which was going about
70 mph or so and followed him...figgered I'd get a good cruise here.  After a
while he pulled to the right lane, and I passed him and led for about 4 miles
he followed me just as I was following him, all the while cruising at 70.  A
car started passing him (we were both in the right lane on an open stretch) and
all of a suden this mustang had lights flashing through its grill and he pulled
me and the guy who was passing him over.  He never used his radar (my detector
was silent), but clocked me at 72mph using his own speedometer.  Cost me $133
there.  Now I know I was speeding, but he was speeding in the first place.  It
just sucked.  I think it should be illegal in that situation ofr an unmarked,
non-flashing police car to go 70mph passing people.

Scott
(PS - I just sold my radar detectors, and am now just setting my cruise control
around 65mph and staying there)

ghim
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: beng@dorsai.com (ben ng)
Subject: improving vision surgically
Organization: The Dorsai Embassy, New York's Computer Consulate. +1.718.729.5018
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 15:46:56 GMT

Recently I heard of a method to improve ones vision surgically. Is there
such a thing? Whats it called? Has anyone any info on this?
 
Ben Ng
beng@dorsaid.com
uupsi!dorsaidm!beng
1:278/706
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: simnet@plato.ds.boeing.com (Mark R Poulson)
Subject: Re: Lightweight bullet-proof vests illegal?
Organization: Boeing Defense & Space Group
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 19:04:17 GMT

In article <1993Jan25.172539.19384@fuug.fi> an8130@anon.penet.fi writes:
> 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:
> 
> a) for a person to sell me a lightweight bullet-proof vest,
> b) for me to purchase a lightweight bullet-proof vest,
> c) for me to be in possession of a lightweight bullet-proof vest.
> 
> How many of the above are true?

As far as I know, there are no federal laws restricting ownership of body
armor. State laws will vary, but I believe only a few states or counties ban
body armor (and they are most likely in the NewEngland states). Check your
local library or criminal attorney.

Many companies DO have a policy of selling to law enforcement personnel only,
but that is their stupid marketing strategy (or being very conservative from
a law suit point of view).

However, pick up any gun magazine on the newstand and look at the advertising
section in the back. You will find at least 2 or 3 companies that sell body
armor to anyone. What you need to know is what "threat level" you are
interested in buying. You should get at least level IIa to be safe from
anything more than a 22. But, the higher threat levels (II, IIIa) are also
heavier, hotter, and more expensive. Do you want front and back protection
only or side panels too? Do you want it to resist a knife attack? All are
available, but cost more money.

If it turns out that your area does have local restrictions against posessing
body armor, I'd make the trade off of being alive and prosecuted than dead 
(I'd think harder about it if it was a felony). Finally, don't be stupid and
think you're invincible when wearing armor -- there is (illegal) armor
peircing ammo, there's normal ammo that the vest won't stop (30 carbine, hot
44 Mag, 50AE, most rifles), crooks can make head or pelvic shots, and it hurts
(enough to crack ribs) even when the armor does its intended job.

			Mark

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: niebuhr@bnlux1.bnl.gov (david niebuhr)
Subject: Re: Stores can't "detain" shoplifters
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 20:05:38 GMT

In article <1993Jan22.193035.11391@craycos.com> ewv@craycos.com (Eric Varsanyi) writes:
>In article <1_k3+rp@rpi.edu> wrf@ecse.rpi.edu (Wm Randolph Franklin) writes:
>>restitution.  In fact, they might detain me in the office and not allow
>>me to leave.  They then might make me sign an admission that I was a
>>thief, on the threat of laying a criminal charge.
>
 
On another thread, how about those "supposedly" accurate scanners used
by stores to prevent shoplifting when a person leaves them.

Last October, I took my wife on a shopping spree for her birthday.  We
went to several malls and in one of them the Disney Store (looking for
a gift for our newborn granddaughter) had a scanner go off as we
entered.

We were confronted by the store personnel and had to take out all of the
merchandise in the bags we were carrying from the other stores in the
mall and produce receipts.  After a few minutes, we convinced them we
were'nt thieves since several people came into the store and without 
shopping bags and the beeper went off.

As far as I'm concerned, I'll never step foot in another Disney Store
again.

If we were detained and the mall's security section and the local 
police were called, I'd be filing a humoungous lawsuit against the 
Disney Store and the mall itself.

Dave
-- 
Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
From: tjones@access.digex.com (Tom Jones)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Truck Bedliner
Date: 26 Jan 1993 12:24:32 -0500
Organization: Desktop Assistance Group, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com

In article <20000009@hp-ptp.ptp.hp.com> tristan@hp-ptp.ptp.hp.com (Tristan Colson) writes:
>
>Does anyone have any recommendations for good brands of bedliners, or any 
>advice about which ones to stay away from?
>
>Tom  (using Tristan's account) 
>
I had a 1984 Mazda B2000 with a Duraliner bedliner, and it outlasted the
truck with no difficulty.  The liner was badly installed (by the original
owner), so all the screws eventually came out and I had a removable
bedliner.  The space between liner and bed accumulated debris over time,
and abraded away much of the concealed paint, but it was still very far from
rust-through.

The removable bedliner had some advantages; it made a great 4-person
toboganan in the snow, and made it a lot easier to seal the bed when I
turned the bed into a swimming pool for a few hours.  Cleaning was
also easier when a friend's quart of oil spilled; I could tip the
liner on end.  (To my pleasant surprise, the liner was impervious to
both oil and PVC solvent.)

It also made sleeping in the bed a lot warmer when I went on cold trips--
the layer of insulation keeping the sleeping bag and air matress from the
conductive metal body probably made a huge difference.

There was one reeking disadvantage from the bed not being anchored--
I often drove with the bed empty, and had no problems, until one
fateful ultra-windy day on the Interstate when the bedliner flew out
the back, bounced *really* high off the road, and soared over a barbed
wire fence.  Fortunately, it was rural New Mexico, and the nearest car
was so far behind it didn't pass until I had fully stopped the truck.

After that I kept the liner bunjied down.  I was quite pleased with the
liner, although in my less adventurous years, I'd probably get it securely
anchored now.

-tom jones
 Greenbelt, MD
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ran@cbnews.cb.att.com (Robert A. Neinast)
Subject: Re: Stores can't "detain" shoplifters
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 13:43:58 GMT

In article <1993Jan28.125248.23581@cbnews.cb.att.com>, lbd@cbnews.cb.att.com (linda.b.dunlap) writes:
> We have a sorry case going in Columbus right now.

> A man was detained by a security man at a large local combination grocery/
> department store.  In the process of being detained he was thrown to the
> ground and suffered a broken neck.  He is now paralyzed.

> What is sad is that he sort of admits to taking something out of the store
> without paying for it.  Something about needing to check if the batteries
> he is supposed to have stolen were the right size before he paid for them.

> Total stupidity no matter who's side you take.

I think you mis-remember the details.  The Meijer store here had a policy
that they called something like "Forced Compliance", which meant that
the security guards wrestled to the ground anybody who gave them the
least guff about being accused of shoplifting.

In the case in question, the man in question wanted to make sure that
he got batteries of the right size, so he brought the OLD, DEAD batteries
into the store with him.  These batteries were of a brand NOT EVEN
CARRIED by Meijer.  The guards saw him pocket his own batteries; he
paid for the new ones (either that, or he could not find the size he
needed--anyways there is absolutely no doubt that he stole nothing).
When they stopped him, they did not even let him explain, but threw
him to the ground and broke his neck.

He won $5.4 million in a jury award.  Meijer then settled for a somewhat
lesser amount (they won't say how much) so that neither side would have
to go through appeals.

With the money, his sons no longer have to spend their days taking care
of their father, but are finally getting to go to college as they
would have done earlier if it had not been for Meijer's policy.

Bob
-- 
                                                                  _
". . . and shun the frumious Bandersnatch."                 Nipetlahuini.
Robert Neinast (ran@cblpo.att.com)
AT&T-Bell Labs
From: rrg@rtp.fibercom.com (Rhonda Gaines)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Date: 25 Jan 93 22:29:09 GMT
Organization: FiberCom, Inc., Roanoke, Virginia

In article <1993Jan20.172554.24415@almserv.uucp> gaubfb@sun330 (Brian Bishop) writes:
#
#  Has anyone tried a blind taste-test to see how it compared to the original?
#
Yep, I did last night and I *could* definitely tell the difference.
I compared the original Pepsi w/ Pepsi Clear.  For my next
experiment I'd like to try Pepsi Clear and Pepsi Free, I expect the
outcome to be the same.

 -rhonda

-- 
Rhonda Gaines, Systems/Network Administrator | INTERNET: gaines@fibercom.com
FiberCom, Inc., P.O. Box 11966,              | UUCP: ...!uunet!fibercom!gaines
Roanoke, VA 24022-1966                       | FAX:   703-342-5961
PHONE: 703-342-6700 or 800-423-1183 x291     |
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Coffee in gen'l, Gevalia, Thanks
From: kroin@mcvax4.d48.lilly.com
Date: 22 Jan 93 16:32:01 EST
Distribution: na,local

Thanks to all who responded. Most were favorable but find as I, the coffee a
bit pricey. I will try it for awhile. Is it common for sent e-mail replies to
 bounce back, or is it a problem on my end? I have successfully received e-mail
responses though.

 Thanks for the response Dana, but now you've got my interest
  in your own coffee deal. I've been buying colombian beans from  Sam's club
  of late at about $7.50 for a 2lb. bag in a semi airtight wrapper with a
  freshness button. It's not bad. The problem with buying beans is that in many
  cases they  are not as fresh as the ground coffee in the vacuum sealed cans.
  I'm looking for a reliable source for fresh beans. The flavor of really fresh
  good quality coffee beans is remarkable-akin to the first time you eat a vine
  ripened tomato- hard to believe it's even related to the things you buy in the
  supermarket! Anyway would you be so kind as to share your source with
me-Phone no. etc.  Thanks, Stan  " I can't believe it's fri already."
                       -- 
      +--------------------------------------------------------------+
      J.S.K@Lilly.Com is really Julian Kroin,late of Indpls. IN.
      +--------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger)
Subject: Re: How to fight telemarketers
Organization: Summit NJ
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 17:55:43 GMT

>Last night I got a call soliciting money from an organization called the
>Police Officers Research Association (I think it was... definately had
>the word Research... so I was guessing they were doing a survey).

There are a number of these scams going on.  One call I got was from
the "New Jersey Police Athletic League".  Being a supporter of our local
PAL, I asked some questions, then I asked point-blank, "Are you a
volunteer worker for the NJ PAL or are you employed by a telemarketer?"
On the second try, she admitted she was being employed by a telemarketer.

In another case of soliciting under the "police" name, one town put out
a warning that they receive no funding from some statewide police charity
(I think the "charity" misrepresented that they were supported by "your"
police chief.)
-- 
Stan Krieger                 All opinions, advice, or suggestions, even
UNIX System Laboratories     if related to my employment, are my own.
Summit, NJ
smk@usl.com
From: ad376@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Patricia Dedula)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: humming noise in furnace pump
Date: 23 Jan 1993 10:00:24 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc4.ins.cwru.edu


I just had a new furnace installed and whenever the furnace is on 
I get a loud humming noise from the pump.  Can anyone tell me if 
this is normal?  Since my furnace is still under warrenty, I would
like to know.  I have a baseboard hot water heating system.

-- 
Pat Dedula 
May you have Peace, Love, and Happiness forever ...
From: tommy@boi.hp.com (Tom Peterson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Stores can't "detain" shoplifters
Date: 27 Jan 93 01:34:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: boi.C1HoCw.FLp
Organization: Hewlett-Packard / Boise, Idaho
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.3 PL7]

Eric Jung (jung@base.bellcore.com) wrote:
: Ah, one of my favorite subjects:  shoplifting!
: 
: I was a store detective for 5 years in 3 different stores in New Jersey.
: I'm not a cop wannabe; I was simply a student trying to earn a living.
: (A programmer wannabe looking for a fun job, perhaps.)
: 
: In NJ, we most certainly had the right to use reasonable force to detain
: a suspected shoplifter.  I was charged with assault 3 times, but never
: successfully.  On the other hand, each time physical force escalated to
: a scuffle, I successfully pressed charges for assault in addition to
: shoplifting.  Bear in mind that these were mostly professional shop-
: lifters stealing as much as $8000 at a clip.
: 
: Prosecuting shoplifters is also not a money-making venture.  A $500 case
: may cost $5000 to prosecute.  However, if no prosecutions ever occurred,
: shoplifting would be a much bigger problem.
: Eric
: -- 

It sounds like a definition of excessive physical force is required for 
such circumstances.  If I were hassled by a store employee to the point
where I felt I needed to press assualt charges, I would make certain
a bunch of people found out just how upset of a customer I am (whether
I was guilty or not).

This brings up an interesting example which was covered in the local
news (Boise, Idaho) this summer, and has since been very quiet.
It was reported that an older gentleman (50's maybe) was stopped 
in the parking lot of our HOMEBASE store by 2 store employees.
He was accused of shoplifting (and apparently was quilty), it is
unclear whether he was beaten or ?, but he died of a coronary in
the HOMEBASE parking lot.

It seems to me that whether this man was quilty or not, excessive
force was used and contributed to his death.  The strange part
is that the media has been quiet since the week of the incedent.
No word as to whether HOMEBASE paid off the family, admitted quilt
or ???

Just thought this might add a little fuel to the fire.  So how far
can a store goon go, before there are legal ramifications?

Tom Peterson
tommy@boi.hp.com



: Eric C. Jung                    Bellcore Advanced Software Environment
: (908) 699-4684                  444 Hoes Lane  RRC 1S-222
: jung@base.bellcore.com          Piscataway, NJ  08854
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.misc,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
From: sherwood@adobe.com (Geoffrey Sherwood)
Subject: Re: PRODIGY New and improved STILL SUCKS, HORRIBLE as before
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 21:05:36 GMT

In article <1993Jan28.044358.18142@news.acns.nwu.edu> alasnik@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Adam Lasnik) writes:
>My biggest disagreement with your assertions, however, is with your
>implication that the internet is totally better and more exciting than the
>Prodigy bulletin boards.  Frankly, I think the internet can't compete with the
>diversity of members found on Prodigy's boards.  While the male-to-female
>ratio as well as the computer geek-to-nongeek ratio may be skewed on the
>Internet, it is NOT so on Prodigy.

While I do enjoy the boards on Prodigy, they have one major failing that makes
them incredibly frustrating to use.  To wit, the only thing they remember as
a criteria for reading news is your last logon time.  Pop on for a minute to
check a sports score or bank balance, and the next time you go to a board that
is the time and date they remember.  If the line drops while reading a board,
when you log on all it wants to show you are posts that have come in since
you last logged on -- maybe ten minutes ago.  It's bad enough trying to deal
with one board (I am in the market for a new 486, so I have been frequenting
the Computer Board) but I can't imagine dealing with multiple ones.  Unless
you are going to sit down and read all posts in all groups everytime you
log on.   Something like a .newsrc would be a major boon.  I know there are
interface packages sold for Prodigy -- do any of them at least ameliorate
this problem (I think any real solution would have to come from P itself)?

Am I the only one frustrated by this?  Or is there some solution I am missing?

thanks,
	geoff sherwood
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: esther@verdix.com (Esther Lumsdon)
Subject: Re: WARNING: CHAPEL SALES, Inc (magazines)
Organization: Verdix Corp
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 17:24:19 GMT

jrwaters@eos.ncsu.edu (JACK ROGERS WATERS) writes:

>In article <9JAN199307525916@utkvx3.utk.edu> drevik@utkvx3.utk.edu (Drevik, Steve) writes:
>>Spread the word about another band of criminals running
>>door to door.  This one is called Chapel Sales, Inc.
>>(nice name, eh?  inspires trust) and is out of New Jersey.
>>
>I agree that these guys are crooks.  The minute the salesman left the
>apartment I knew something was wrong.  At that point I took the gamble
>and sent my slips in for cancellation (they had to be there within
>72 hours).  This meant that, even if I found the jerks (which I did 
>the next day), I couldn't get my money from them.  I did let them
>know that I had their license plate number.  I got my refund in the mail.

>Something that bothered me about these guys also.  I am white.  No big deal,
>but it was to these guys.  All of these guys and girls were black.
>My salesman, more than once, alluded to the possability that I
>might not buy from him because he was black.  Later, when I was upset,
>he said something like "I thought you said you weren't racist . . ." 
>These guys were like car salesmen.  They were out to play on every 
>emotion you could have.  

This company went through my apartment complex in Annapolis, MD about
3 years ago.  The black salesgirl (no older than 17) told me that
this was some sort of scholarship contest for public speaking ability,
then gave me the pitch about magazines.  I talked to her about a couple
of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU is an acronym
used by some of the HBCU schools).  I knew more about this category
of schools than she did.  Much more.  She was very surprised, because
I am white.  I signed up for a couple of magazines, then thought about
it and sent in the forms to cancel.  It seemed very wierd, because
of the "scholarship" angle, and the fact that this girl claimed to be
from Atlanta and didn't know the names of any colleges there.  I
decided that Chapel Sales, Inc. sounded like they were running some
wierd sort of scam on their sales force.

I had no problem cancelling my order.
-- 
-- Esther Lumsdon, not speaking for Verdix.   esther@verdix.com
Q: How many user support people does it take to change a light bulb?
A: We have an exact copy of the light bulb here and it seems to be
   working fine.  Can you tell me what kind of system you have?  
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.culture.usa,misc.misc