HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kessner@rintintin.Colorado.EDU (KESSNER ERIC M)
Subject: Re: Lucky Supermarkets copies social security numbers on to checks.
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 19:39:16 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.122719.14861@crash> dbw@crash.cts.com (David B. Whiteman) writes:
>The California DMV has started to require a social security number when applying
>for an initial Calif. drivers license or identification card, or for renewing
>them.  This is suppose to be used as an aid for tracking down fathers who skip
>out on child support payments (but they require a social security number from
>males and females).  The signs all over the DMV clearly state that the social
>security number is used internally and will not be printed on the license or ID 
>card, which is true.  However all the new licenses and id cards have a magnetic
>strip.   Now if you wish to make a purchase at a Lucky's Supermarket and pay by
>check the license is passed thru a magnetic card reader -- and the social
>security number is read from the card and printed on the back of the check.
>Therefore the number which is not suppose to appear on the license is simply
>available to any merchant that has access to a card reader.



Wouln't it just be terrible if you accidently rubbed a magnet over the back of
your drivers licence? Then they'd just have to take the information down by
hand, never knowing your SS#.

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:19306 alt.drugs:18631
From: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.drugs
Subject: Re: Doctor ripoff, or just reality?
Date: 20 Nov 92 13:27:54 GMT
Reply-To: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Followup-To: misc.consumers,alt.drugs
Organization: GE Research



Here is something which I read in a flier from an insurance carrier
which may be of some use to people.  I don't know if this is applicable
to other insurance carriers as well.  Also, if you ask me, the
level of fees accepted as reasonable and customary itself is a ripoff
in most cases.

=== REASONABLE AND CUSTOMARY GUIDELINES PROVIDE PROTECTION ===

How can you get the best value for health care services ? One way
is by understanding the "reasonable, necessary and customary" provision
of your medical benefits plan.

These guidelines, commonly known as R&C, offer you unique protection from
excessive charges for health care services. Under many insurance plans,
benefits are payable for charges determined to be appropriate in your
geographic area for medically necessary procedures.  You are not responsible
for paying medical charges in excess of R&C limits - unless you have
agreed in advance to pay a certain amount.

HOW R&C WORKS:

To receive protection of R&C, it is important to understand how it works as
well as your role in the process.

o  "Reasonable" refers to the reasonableness of the charge for the procedure
   or service.

o  Your expenses are reviewed to make sure that you aren't charged more
   than what is "customary" for the services you receive

o  The "necessary" provision means the treatment or service must be
   considered medically necessary and appropriate for your condition. For
   example, experimental and cosmetic procedures are not covered.

The plan is designed so you will pay only your deductible and co-payments -
not amounts in excess of the reasonable, necessary and customary levels -
provided you follow several steps (see box).

If you have followed these steps and your doctor insists you pay an amount
above R&C, call your Medical Benefits Claim Center as soon as possible
so the center can work with the doctor on your behalf.  In the meantime,
make no futher payments to the doctor.

------The following is the boxed item referred to above:

      Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself

o  Be sure your doctor knows that your insurance company provides
   benefits for "reasonalbe, customary and necessary" fees; most
   doctors are familiar with the concept.

o  Don't agree in advance to pay your doctor a specific amount for any
   procedure.  If you are asked to sign a statement before service is
   rendered, read it carefully to make sure it does not obligate you to
   a certain level of payment.

o  Remember, you are responsible for the amount of your deductible and
   any co-payments.
From: grtorlba@sumax.seattleu.edu (George Torralba)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Whining about buying American cars
Date: 15 Nov 92 22:25:55 GMT
Article-I.D.: sumax.5774
Distribution: usa
Organization: Seattle University

In article <1992Nov14.163048.24419@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> kiel_jeff@macmail1.rtsg.mot.com writes:
>
>So stop your whining.  Buy a Japanese car like the rest of us and if anyone
>starts an argument with you, just pull out this list of justifications and you
>can beat them at their own argument!
>
>-Jeff
> 

What you forgot to mention Jeff is that there is no such thing as a Japanese
or an American car exclusively.  A lot of Japanese cars are made here and
vice versa.  Also, I don't think you can open a so-called "Amercian" car
and not find components which has a "Made In not-USA" stamp.


George

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Email  : grtorlba@sumax.seattleu.edu
  Phone  : (206) 781-7622 (with voice mail)
  USMail : George R. Torralba, 8728 Phinney Ave. N. #8,  Seattle, WA  98103
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.music.makers,rec.music.classical
From: rwberry@hubcap.clemson.edu (Robert W Berry)
Subject: Re: Yamaha Clavinova as a piano
Organization: Clemson University
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 03:34:10 GMT

dlhanson@nap.amoco.com (David L. Hanson ) writes:

>We bought a Yamaha Clavinova, CLP-560 (if my memory is right), last Christmas
>for our 11 year old and 9 year old sons to play. The fact that we didn't
>have to have it tuned and that it fit in our living room were major 
>criteria for the purchase. It is touch sensitive and is supposed to have
>the feel of a traditional piano.

These are all reasonable assumptions.  However, there are better
"feeling" controllers available.  I'm not familiar with your particular
model, but some of the "parlor" electronic pianos have a box separate from
the keyboard that has MIDI in/out/thru.  If this is the case you could
buy a professional keyboard controller and use it with your existing
sound module.  You would get a much more sophisticated feel this way
IMHO.

>Since then the boys, who practice 1-1/2 to 2 hours every day, occasionally
>complain that it doesn't feel the "same" as their piano instructor's Kawaii
>studio piano.

>Since my wife and I know almost nothing about pianos, let me ask a question
>here for some expert to hopefully answer.  Is the difference in feel going
>to hinder their piano advancement?  (I had an idea that there was probably
>as much difference in feel between different types of traditional pianos
>as their is between a traditional piano and the Clavinova.)

Possibly.  IMHO most of the consumer-type electronic pianos feel too
"clicky".  It's a distinctly different and somewhat distracting feel if
you're used to something better.

You are correct in assuming that different types of conventional pianos
have different feels.  I also think that pianos of the same model from
the same manufacturer often feel different.

My old piano teacher had a Wurlitzer upright that she started students
on.  After a couple of years you moved over to her Steinway and
immediately noticed a much softer feel.  She believed that the firmer
Wurlitzer developed stronger muscles in the arms.  Go figure.  The lady
got $15.00 for a half hour in 1972 and had more students that you could
shake a stick at so she must have been doing something right.

If your kids are that serious about playing, you might want to invest in
a piano the a more "legitimate" feel (such as a Yamaha or Kawaii IMHO).

Personally I think the most potential harm could come from the lack of
harmonics in an electronic piano.  You don't learn the proper damping
action when you don't get the chance to listen to the whole range of
the instrument.

I wish your kids the best of luck in their studies.

Later,
Bob

-- 
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
-=- Bob Berry -=- Net-Guru's Inc.        ! rwberry@hubcap.clemson.edu   -=-
-=- Teach them quick, before they think. ! 803-654-7623 || 803-656-1076 -=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rrw@sunset.cse.nau.edu (Bob Wier)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Replacement ATM cards
Date: 22 Nov 92 20:12:56 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ
Originator: rrw@sunset.cse.nau.edu

Recently my ATM card stopped working, and I went down to the
local branch of MULTI-MEGOLITHIC BANKING :-) and requested a
new card - they verified that the mag stripe was zapped (can't
figure how that happened - wasn't using an eelskin wallet (see
misc.urban.legends or whatever)).

Anyway, while I was there, I requested a SECOND atm card since
sometimes I manage to get away from the house without it - and
since I'm a heavy ATM user I'd like to keep one in my briefcase
(shouldn't be a problem since you have to know the PIN in order
to use it).

At any rate, they REFUSED to give me a second atm card - now why should
this bother them?  I told 'em that they could even put different PIN
numbers on 'em (although I'd prefer not to do this).  I suppose that
I could have insisted, since I have both a checking and MM account tied
to the same card (two accounts - two cards). However, to take the path
of least resistance, I ordered a replacement thru the branch office, and
then went home and called MULTI-MEGALITHIC's 800 number and ordered a
replacement that way, too.

I'd be curious to hear from anyone who has encountered something similar.
Were you able to get multiple ATM cards?  Or did your bank
refuse also?

THANKS

- Bob Wier

  ---------- insert favorite standard disclaimers here ----------
                   College of Engineering
      Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona
  Internet: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu | WB5KXH | fax:602 523 2300
From: paul@hsh.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Storing alkaline batteries
Date: 23 Nov 92 22:19:43 GMT
Organization: HSH Associates

In article <BxtqJq.Bq1@acsu.buffalo.edu>, v120q4jf@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Rob B.) writes:
> 
> Hi. I was wondering if anyone knows the best way to store batteries (eg. AA,
> 9 volt, D) that I am not going to use immediately. I once heard that it is best
> to keep them in the refrigerator, but now I am hearing it's best to leave them
> at room temperature........ Anyone have any ideas?

Alkaline batteries are best stored in cold; you can refrigerate them, or freeze 
them.  Batteries work -- and lose their charge -- via chemical reactions, which
are slowed down by the cold.  Hey, it's always worked for me.  And no, they
don't burst when frozen -- not in the 10 years I've been doing it. 

------

Paul Havemann, VP        HSH Associates          (201) 838-3330 | 1-800-UPDATES
Internet: paul@hsh.com   Compuserve: 70410,3507  America On-Line: HSH Assoc
 "Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the company."
  
"He walks again by night!  Out of the fog, into the smog -- doggedly...
relentlessly... ruthlessly... toward his weekly meeting with The Unknown..."
From: nealg@cray.com (Neal Gaarder)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Storing alkaline batteries
Keywords: batteries, storage
Date: 17 Nov 92 17:10:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: hemlock.1992Nov17.111029.23032
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.

In article <BxtqJq.Bq1@acsu.buffalo.edu> v120q4jf@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Rob B.) writes:
>
>Hi. I was wondering if anyone knows the best way to store batteries (eg. AA,
>9 volt, D) that I am not going to use immediately. I once heard that it is best
>to keep them in the refrigerator, but now I am hearing it's best to leave them
>at room temperature........ Anyone have any ideas?
>

I have kept batteries in my freezer for years and it works great
for nonalkaline types.  From experience I have learned that it
can damage alkaline batteries and does no good.

Neal Gaarder
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: guppy@wixer.cactus.org (Jennifer Mery)
Subject: Re: Kerby Vacuum Cleaners Information
Organization: Real/Time Communications
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 92 04:04:10 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.163354.15769@opencon.com> giand@opencon.com (Deepak S. Gianchandani) writes:
>He also won a trip to the Bhamas, so I would agree with the markups
>listed here.
How come these salesmen are always "just one sale" away from winning a
free trip somewhere? I think it's some kinda scam to pull at people's
heartstrings and get them to buy.

jam

-- 
==============================================================================
Jennifer Mery | Please do not quote entire long articles or signatures.
Austin, Texas | guppy@wixer.cactus.org
==============================================================================
From: hm00@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (HOWARD JAY MILLER)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: BASS Shoes Address
Date: 15 Nov 92 19:42:31 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

Does anyone have an address for them.  I bought a pair of shoes there last
week and they are already falling apart.  I would return them to the place of
purchase but it is a two mile trip from my house.


Howard
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howard J. Miller            :Home: (215) 866-8762: Work: (215) 758-4740
hm00@ns1.cc.Lehigh.edu      :Graduate Assistant-Residential Services
DISCLAIMER:  All opinions expressed here are my own.  They do not reflect
the views of Lehigh University or the Residential Services Office.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Brian.E.Hannon@dartmouth.edu (Brian E. Hannon)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Do you think it was really Sears?
Date: 22 Nov 92 23:57:15 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
X-Posted-From: InterNews1.0b1@newshost.dartmouth.edu

In article <1992Nov20.115354.27404@wixer.cactus.org>
guppy@wixer.cactus.org (Jennifer Mery) writes:

> I got a phone call Wednesday (during Seinfeld, grr!). The woman on the
> other end asked for me and said that she was from Sears, and that they
> wanted me to apply for their credit card. Okay, I think, I wouldn't mind
> having a Sears card. 
> 
> First she asks if [my address] is my correct address. It is. Next she
> asks how old I am. I tell her. Then she asks if I'm a US citizen! I say
> yes, but I'm starting to wonder what's going on. She asks how many
> dependents I claim on my tax return. I say it's none of her business how
> many people I claim on my tax return. She says that I don't have to
> answer any questions I don't want to answer. She then asks if I'm
> employed. I said "I don't want to talk to you anymore" being fed up with
> these ridiculous off base questions. She says "This is the Sears credit
> card [blah blah blah]." I told her "I already have a Dicover card and
> Visa card and I don't need your card." the end.
> 
> Is this for real? I couldn't believe the tax return question. If it is
> for real, I'm not even sure if I want to shop at their store. what
> weirdos!

Sears frequently pays people (college students, etc.) on a comission
basis for all cardmembers that they can get to sign up. (usually $1-$2
per member)  One method that these people can use to get customers is
by phone solicitation.  Although I'd never give this kind of
information over the phone, I'd imagine that the caller was for real.

Bri
From: fritz@fc.sde.hp.com (Gary Fritz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Aluminum cookware:  Recipe for disaster?
Date: 20 Nov 92 16:22:20 GMT
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

As the previous posters have alluded, there's no hard and fast proof
that Al exposure causes Alzheimer's.  There is evidence of high corellation,
i.e. Al deposits found in autopsies of Alzheimer's patients.  There's
lots of controversy whether Al cookware contributes to those Al deposits,
whether it's swamped out by Al from other sources, or whatever.

Me, I go with the safe approach.  Not only do I minimize my use of
Al cookware, I take an "environmental detox" vitamin supplement that
pulls heavy metals out of the body.  That way I *know* I'm minimizing
the Al in my body from ALL sources.

As an example:  a friend of mine was diagnosed with mercury poisoning,
and also had Al levels that were twice the "safe" levels.  He went on
this program for 5 months (long enough to grow out "fresh" hair for the
metals test).  His mercury dropped 75%, and his Al dropped in half.
Both were then in safe levels.  (While I don't know of any tested cases,
the program is also supposed to do the same for lead.)  My friend also
noted a 20% drop in his cholesterol levels and increased sharpness of
memory, mental processes, etc.  Good stuff.  Worth considering.

Gary
From: egreen@east.sun.com (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Government Auctions
Date: 23 Nov 1992 14:41:11 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
Distribution: world
Reply-To: egreen@east.sun.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

Government auctions are free and open to any US citizen (you paid for
the stuff they are auctioning off, you know).  The companies that
charge for information about the auctions monitor all (?) federal
agencies and simply compile the auction info.

Walk into your local office of any federal agency and look around.
That 20 year old junk that is being used as office equipment will be
used for another 10 years, and will then be auctioned off.  The
one-time fluke of somebody getting a jeep for $55 ain't going to happen
to you, you probably have better odds playing the lottery.

If you are the flea market and yard sale type, you will find the
auctions entertaining.  If you are looking for exceptional value,
forget it.  The federal government is broke, people.  Companies use
equipment then sell it, federal agencies *use up* equipment, then
auction it off.

---
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...

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:19204 rec.arts.books:20278
From: guido@blink.att.com (Guido Bertocci)
Subject: Re: A problem on 1990 Dodge CaraVan
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 14:35:27 GMT
Keywords: Dodge, CaraVan

florence@infonode.ingr.com (John Florence) writes:

>In article <402@yak.COM>, clg2521@yak.COM (Cindy Guo) writes:
>> 
>> I have problems with my 1990 Dodge Caravan (around 30,000 miles), 
>> and I wonder if anyone there similiar problem ? The car died once 
>> when I drove it, but the dealer and a local shop could not find any 
>> problem.  
>> 
>  I could not restart the car, but I can restart it after 40 mins. 
>> 
>   you probably have a marginal heat sensitive computer chip that 
>   controls the flow of fuel........
>	
>	I am working on my third Caravan/Voyager....so far have only
>	experienced what you describe once and that was the prob.
>	
>	replaced chip and no more problem.............good luck !!

I would strongly suggest having the contacts to the computer cleaned.
Our 88 Voyager died while driving in sleeting rain on the highway.
We ended up having it flatbedded to the dealer.  They replaced the
computer which solved the problem.  They then replaced the old computer
and it still worked fine and has ever since.  I think that just the
process of removing and replacing it cleaned the contacts enough to
solve the problem.  

Another known possible problem if the car is failing when hot is the
MAP sensor.  Being about a $60 item it is a fairly easy thing to replace.
From: bdm@druwa.ATT.COM (Brian Millham)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Whining about buying American cars
Date: 17 Nov 92 16:08:59 GMT
Distribution: usa

> In article <1992Nov14.163048.24419@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> kiel_jeff@macmail1.rtsg.mot.com writes:
>>two examples which prove my case.  My first car was a '69 Buick with 80,000
>>miles which I inherited from my parents.  I had nothing but problems with this
>>car:  the brakes needed to be replaced, the muffler went out, it needed
>>tune-ups all the time.  It was a nightmare to own a car like this.  However, I
>>have not a single problem with my Japanese car which has nearly 10,000 miles on

And you don't think that after 80,000 miles you Japanese car is going to
need new brakes, and maybe a muffler?  And after 10,000 miles, that
wonderfull Japanese car "only" needed 2 cruise controls, a power
window motor, and runs rough occasionally when starting.  If it was
an American car, you'd be calling it a piece of junk!

It would be interesting to take what I pay a month for gas, maintenence,
and insurance and compare it to what you pay a month for gas,
maint. (probably warrenty), insurance, and car payment, and see who
pays more a month. (I have a '76 Caddy and a '70 Chevy pickup, they
both get 10MPG.  They both start right up, but they do run a little
rough for a minute or so.  They both have around 160,000 on them.)
--
Brian Millham     |Kitty      |Fletch |Dragon's Lair |Kick Man |New World
AT&T Bell Labs    |Ferrah     |Buddy  |Space Ace     |Sinistar |High Speed
Denver, Co.       |Dr. Pepper |       |              |         |
bdm@druwa.att.com |(ferrets)  |(cats) |(laser disc)  |(video)  |(pinball)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: Jeffrey C Honig <jch@nr-tech.cit.cornell.edu>
Subject: Re: Do you think it was really Sears?
Nntp-Posting-User: @cornell.edu
Organization: Information Technologies/Network Resources; Cornell University;
	Ithaca, NY USA
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 17:25:48 GMT

I also received a call last night asking if I would like to apply for
a Sears Credit card.  I already had one and told her so.  But since
they asked for me by name they should already know this, shouldn't
they?  Hmm.

Jeff
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dmlkm@cbnewse.cb.att.com (david.e.montalbano)
Subject: Re: GOD PREVAILS - Electronics Wholesalers a Rip-Off
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 23:40:59 GMT

George Torralba writes:
>I don't want to burst your bubble here, but 99.9% of all mail-order houses
>won't allow you to return a merchandise unless it's defective or if it's
>the wrong item.  One reason they have better prices over your local dealers
>is because they don't have the overhead of a showroom, which in your case,
>you may have been able to listen to the system before buying it.  What you 
>could do next time is go to your local showroom, find out which system you 
>want and then go through mail-order catalogs and see if you can get the 
>same system at a cheaper price.
>
>George
>
>PS.  Welcome to the mail order world.

You really bursted my bubble.  I'm shattered for life.  See, I have one
thing on my side that is a big advantage.  God.  I am a Christian, George.
After praying about the situation I put it in God's hands.  I felt since
I put it in God's hands that I would un-dispute the credit card charge 
even before talking to someone again.  (I did this on Sunday.  They
are not open on Sunday.  This came about after hearing my Pastor preach.)
God doesn't need that to win.  When the credit card person asked why I
was taking the dispute off, I told them the reason.  They lauged and said
"You really should not un-dispute it to proctect yourself."  I did it anyway.
Well Mr. Bubble Burster, I just got back from sending off a package 
for a refund.  I think you can guess what the package was.

David

P.S. Welcome to God's world.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers