HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hugh@slee01.srl.ford.com (Hugh Fader)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials,misc.consumers
Subject: Spray-on hair
Date: 15 Dec 1992 17:20:36 GMT
Organization: Ford Motor Company Research Laboratory
Reply-To: hugh@slee01.srl.ford.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: slee06.srl.ford.com
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Due to one of my periodic bouts of insomnia I was up real late last
night. After David Letterman there was an absolutely hilarious
infomercial.  It starred two blonde women who looked vaguely familiar
and Ron Popeil from RONCO. The product being hawked was a
revolutionary new baldness treatment -- spray-on hair!

Ron and the blondes got men and women the audience to take the
treatment. The participants ranged from people with just thin hair to
almost total chrome-domes [By the way -- I'm somewhere in the middle.]
The treatment consisted of spraying the head with a colored spray that:
ACTUALLY THICKENS HAIR TO SEVERAL HUNDRED TIMES ITS NORMAL SIZE!
Several colors are offered ranging from jet black to silver.  If I
squinted from a distance it looked like real hair. I'm sure it looked
much better in person ;-).

The cost for this product [$120 value] was $49 if I recall correctly.
This is for the an estimated one month supply of color spray and
special shampoo to take the color out. They even threw in a RONCO hair
cutting device. For an extra $1 you can be enrolled in a special club
in which you will be sent a new supply every month for only $20.

For the grand finale, they gave the treatment to a guy who had gone
through a botched hair transplant and had nothing but little hair
plugs sparsely distributed in the top of his head. The audience was
amazed -- even the skeptics.

I think its time for me do resign from the Hair Club for Men and join
the RONCO spray-on hair club.

--
Hugh Fader
Ford Research Laboratory
hugh@slee01.srl.ford.com

Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
From: Michael.Bohl@launchpad.unc.edu (Michael Bohl)
Subject: Duralube
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 20:31:22 GMT

Does anyone know the phone number for a product called 'Duralube?'  It is
an engine lubricant similar to Slick 50.

thanks

Mike B.

Michael.Bohl@bbs.oit.unc.edu


--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
From: Eli.Mantel@launchpad.unc.edu (Eli Mantel)
Subject: Play the Piano Overnight
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 01:52:40 GMT

I would like to hear any comments about a product marketed some time
ago via infomercial for learning to play the piano quickly.

Has anybody seen an infomercial for this recently?
				Eli Mantel (eli.mantel@launchpad.unc.edu)
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
From: hibner@dolomite.cps.msu.edu (Richard L Hibner)
Subject: Re: SOCKS
Organization: Michigan State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 05:00:55 GMT

In article <15DEC199221085740@envmsa.eas.asu.edu>  
cs422coll@envmsa.eas.asu.edu (Ken Collins) writes:
> 
> Has anyone else heard the the radio infomercial where they sell a  
Spanish
> tape set?  It's on with Rush Limbaugh (not my listening pref.) and they
> tell you to just spell SOCKS to answer some question.  I don't know
> Spanish, so I can't translate, but I am told that it really doesn't mean
> much of anything.  I can't get it out of my head...
> 
> Ken Collins

Well, Ken, I finally get to use that high school Spanish I thought would  
go to rot.  (This is also my 2nd posting to a.t.infomercials, a scary  
thought to be sure).  If you say the letters S-O-C-K-S it transforms to  
"Eso si que es" which means, roughly, "This is it" or "That's the one".	

BUT WAIT!! Not only do you get the explanation, but if you act now I'll  
also throw in this handy joke illustrating the above!

A Mexican woman is in the States and she needs a pair of socks, but she  
can't speak English.  She keeps telling the employee "calcetines" but he  
can't understand Spanish.  So he's bringing her shoes, purses, etc. and  
she's just shaking her head.  So finally he brings her a pair of socks and  
she blurts out "Eso si que es!" (see above).  So the guy says "Lady, if  
you knew how to spell it why didn't you just say so!" (Clap clap clap)

        	Rich Hibner
		hibner@atlantic.cps.msu.edu

Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials,misc.consumers
From: rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com (Ron Beck)
Subject: Re: Spray-on hair
Reply-To: rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com
Organization: is an esoteric concept.
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 14:49:52 GMT

In article <1gl454INN8gr@fmsrl5.srl.ford.com>, hugh@slee01.srl.ford.com (Hugh Fader) writes:
|> Due to one of my periodic bouts of insomnia I was up real late last
|> night. After David Letterman there was an absolutely hilarious
|> infomercial.  It starred two blonde women who looked vaguely familiar
|> and Ron Popeil from RONCO. The product being hawked was a
|> revolutionary new baldness treatment -- spray-on hair!
|> 
My wife and I saw this too.  Why we were up I have no idea...
Christmas stuff maybe?

|> Ron and the blondes got men and women the audience to take the
|> treatment. The participants ranged from people with just thin hair to
|> almost total chrome-domes [By the way -- I'm somewhere in the middle.]
|> The treatment consisted of spraying the head with a colored spray that:
|> ACTUALLY THICKENS HAIR TO SEVERAL HUNDRED TIMES ITS NORMAL SIZE!
|> Several colors are offered ranging from jet black to silver.  If I
|> squinted from a distance it looked like real hair. I'm sure it looked
|> much better in person ;-).
|> 
They started describing the product & I looked at my wife and said
"It's a spray-on mascara for the head!"  She was amazed when the
demonstrations proved me right.

|> The cost for this product [$120 value] was $49 if I recall correctly.
|> This is for the an estimated one month supply of color spray and
|> special shampoo to take the color out. They even threw in a RONCO hair
|> cutting device. For an extra $1 you can be enrolled in a special club
|> in which you will be sent a new supply every month for only $20.
|> 
|> For the grand finale, they gave the treatment to a guy who had gone
|> through a botched hair transplant and had nothing but little hair
|> plugs sparsely distributed in the top of his head. The audience was
|> amazed -- even the skeptics.
|> 
I thought it'd be pretty neat for halloween costumes.  Spray some on
your arms for that werewolf look.  Or, spray it on your chest for that
macho man look.
|> I think its time for me do resign from the Hair Club for Men and join
|> the RONCO spray-on hair club.
|> 
|> --
|> Hugh Fader
|> Ford Research Laboratory
|> hugh@slee01.srl.ford.com
|> 

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronald J. Beck           | IP rbeck@mordor.dseg.ti.com |Do now what others
Member, Group Tech Staff | MaBell (214) 952-4566       |won't so you can do
Texas Instruments        |                             |later what others
McKinney, Texas          |                             |can't
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
From: swiet@poincare.cs.jhu.edu (Alexander Swietlicki)
Subject: Re: Love Phone w/ Jessica Hahn
Organization: Johns Hopkins Computer Science Department, Baltimore, MD
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 18:30:06 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.212051.27046@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> hibner@cl-next4.msu.edu (Rich Hibner) writes:
>
>Absolutely!  It's the funniest thing to come to late night television.
>Big girls!  Blonde Girls!  And my favorite (and those of you who've seen  
>it knows this is no lie)  Housewives, Secretaries, and Co-eds!  Well, hey,  
>they're just looking for that special somebody with a good sense of humor  
>who can get off over the phone at $4.99 a minute.  It gets my vote for  
>"Infomercial of the Year".  Hey, if anyone wants a list of the numbers...
>JUST KIDDING.

	There was one such commercial with a memorable phone number:
1-900-999-DUCK.  That's 1-900-999-D-U-C-K.  Heheheh...  :)


Xref: sparky alt.tv.infomercials:129 misc.consumers:20833
From: burgoyne@access.digex.com (J. Robert Burgoyne)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials,misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Spray-on hair
Date: 17 Dec 1992 21:13:22 GMT
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

This product will be one of the hottest $$$ infomercials ever.

Great back end sales too. I predict we will see this infomercial over
and over again.

Robert
From: burgoyne@access.digex.com (J. Robert Burgoyne)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
Subject: Re: SOCKS
Date: 18 Dec 1992 15:28:52 GMT
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, MD USA
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

cs422coll@envmsa.eas.asu.edu (Ken Collins) writes:
 
: Has anyone else heard the the radio infomercial where they sell a Spanish
: tape set?  

At this point, a more relevant question may be: "Has anyone not heard it?"

: I can't get it out of my head...

Well then Ken, it would seem that the commercial accomplished its purpose
as far as you're concerned!

If you knew someone who wanted to learn Spanish, you would know exactly where
to send them!


J. Robert Burgoyne		  Maryland FYI		  Laurel, Maryland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Giving You Maximum Performance for your Advertising Budgets -- Guaranteed!
	
  301-317-0726 24 Hours	   burgoyne@access.digex.com	301-317-0587 FAX
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
               	     Have a Happy, Happy Holiday this year!
From: ck599@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (John J. Zmaczynski)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
Subject: Two words
Date: 17 Dec 1992 08:31:24 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


Oxygen Cocktail.
-- 
John J. Zmaczynski              "She's gorgeous"
johnz@saintjoe.edu                  -- Max, from Hart to Hart
ck599@cleveland.freenet.edu (I think)
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
From: cs422coll@envmsa.eas.asu.edu (Ken Collins)
Subject: SOCKS
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 04:08:00 GMT


Has anyone else heard the the radio infomercial where they sell a Spanish
tape set?  It's on with Rush Limbaugh (not my listening pref.) and they
tell you to just spell SOCKS to answer some question.  I don't know
Spanish, so I can't translate, but I am told that it really doesn't mean
much of anything.  I can't get it out of my head...

Ken Collins

Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials,misc.consumers
From: haupt@cs.columbia.edu (Marcus E. Haupt)
Subject: Re: Spray-on hair
Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 00:03:54 GMT


Lets not forget the "bonus item", that has become a staple of the T.V. infomercial
ever since vinyl repair kits came out, THE HANDY POCKET HAIR CUTTER, a natural
for people who you assume have precious little hair to start....

BTW: I place those the pictures for the pocket hair clipper circa 1965. Any other
     guesses?


AND (yes, theres still more :-) - besides covering Black people's hair did you
notice the "Color Matcher" strip that they have at the end. Look closely, my 
wife pointed out that some of the colors look more like Rust-o-Leom (tm) colors
than actual hair tints (steel blue, burnt orange, ....)





-- 
Marcus Haupt           "Two Turntables and an X-Server"
Dept. of Comp. Sci.				
Columbia University
haupt@cs.columbia.edu
Newsgroups: alt.tv.infomercials
From: rdippold@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Subject: Re: SOCKS
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 19:10:53 GMT

hibner@dolomite.cps.msu.edu (Richard L Hibner) writes:
>Well, Ken, I finally get to use that high school Spanish I thought would  
>go to rot.  (This is also my 2nd posting to a.t.infomercials, a scary  
>thought to be sure).  If you say the letters S-O-C-K-S it transforms to  
>"Eso si que es" which means, roughly, "This is it" or "That's the one".

Interestingly enough, the commercial playing is a new version.  In the
original version, they claim that Eso si que es means "that's what I
want."  Which it can, in a specific context, but not generally.  It's
as if they took it directly from the joke.  They've modified it with
a more accurate meaning now.

Oh well, the only people who would have noticed were those who already
knew Spanish...
-- 
Today is the last day of your life so far.
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: jkellett@iat.holonet.net (Joe Kellett)
Subject: Re: Question
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access BBS: 510-704-1058/modem
Distribution: alt.meditation.transcendental
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 03:33:12 GMT

huntley@gable.cs.indiana.edu ("Haydn Huntley") writes:
: In article <1992Dec15.085828.24177@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> radinsky@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Radinsky) writes:
: >I have a question: what's the difference between "Meditation" and
: >"Transcendental Meditation"?
: 
: Its pluses are that it is easy to do, effortless, and its
: effectiveness has been well documented scientifically.  Also, it
: doesn't require any change in diet, behavior, or religion.
: 
: Its minuses are that it isn't a religion (some folks like having one),
: and it costs about $400 for a working adult to learn it from a
: certified TM teacher.  Prices for students and families are lower.
:
As a former TM teacher, I consider the statement that TM is "not a
religion" (which I used to make also) to be a bit evasive.  (I knew it was
evasive when I used to say it myself, but considered it best for the
prospective instructees not to be sidetracked by such issues.)  

The technique itself (repeating a meaningless word over and over again
according to specific instructions) does not carry any religious content.
But the more one is exposed to the TM organization, the more "advanced
instructions" one takes, the more in-residence courses one attends, the
more one is inculcated in Hindu philosophical and metaphsyical doctrines.

The purpose of this posting is not to debate whether this indoctrination
is "good" or "bad", just to state that TM teachers are deliberately
evasive about this fact, which may be important to many.

Get a translation of the "puja" (the incense and candles ceremony, sung in
Sansrit before a picture of MMY's master, and ending with the instructor
kneeling before the picture) and decide for yourself whether there are any
religious overtones to TM.

At the course where I learned to become a teacher, MMY told us that
individual religions are not important, that they are just cultural
offshoots of the central tree of spirituality which is represented by TM.

Again, all I ask is that they be honest about it.  This "scientific"
veneer was a rather late invention in TM history.  The organization used
to be called the "Spiritual Regeneration Movement" and was quite open
about its Hindu origins and beliefs.   They were more honest then.
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: "Haydn Huntley" <huntley@gable.cs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Question
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Distribution: alt.meditation.transcendental
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 22:19:37 -0500

In article <1992Dec15.085828.24177@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> radinsky@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Radinsky) writes:
>I have a question: what's the difference between "Meditation" and
>"Transcendental Meditation"?

There are many different kinds of meditations or ways to meditate and
Transcendental Meditation is one of them.

Its pluses are that it is easy to do, effortless, and its
effectiveness has been well documented scientifically.  Also, it
doesn't require any change in diet, behavior, or religion.

Its minuses are that it isn't a religion (some folks like having one),
and it costs about $400 for a working adult to learn it from a
certified TM teacher.  Prices for students and families are lower.

--Haydn



-- 
*****************************************************
*  Haydn Huntley    huntley@silver.ucs.indiana.edu  *
*****************************************************
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: rvenu@phoenix.sni-usa.com (Ramakrishnan Venugopal)
Subject: Re: Question
Reply-To: rvenu@phoenix.sni-usa.com (Ramakrishnan Venugopal)
Organization: Siemens-Nixdorf Information Systems, Inc. Cambridge, MA
Distribution: alt.meditation.transcendental
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:03:59 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.184134.24588@b8.b8.ingr.com>,
anthony@panzer.b17b.ingr.com (Anthony Shipman) writes:
> In article <1992Dec15.085828.24177@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>,
radinsky@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Radinsky) writes:
> |> I have a question: what's the difference between "Meditation" and
> |> "Transcendental Meditation"?
> |> 
> |> --Wayne, the anxious puppy
> 
> Meditation is free, and Transcendental Meditation costs 500+ bucks for
the first
> lesson. 

Knowledge is free, but some times the teachers have to eat so they
have to be paid.
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: anthony@panzer.b17b.ingr.com (Anthony Shipman)
Subject: Re: Question
Organization: Intergraph
Distribution: alt.meditation.transcendental
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 18:41:34 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.085828.24177@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>, radinsky@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Radinsky) writes:
|> I have a question: what's the difference between "Meditation" and
|> "Transcendental Meditation"?
|> 
|> --Wayne, the anxious puppy

Meditation is free, and Transcendental Meditation costs 500+ bucks for the first
lesson. 
From: tonyz@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Tony Zugates)
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 00:37:41 GMT
Subject: Re: TM
Organization: the HP Mtn.View Resp. Cntr.
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental

Yeah, it costs lots of money... more than I wanted to spend...on top 
of that, don't expect anyone to demonstrate anything like levitation..

It's like a secret society that also tends to engage in talking about
bizzare concepts that I dont even want to get into...

The bottom line is, they want the whole world to get into TM for its
beneficial aspects...but first fork over the money, man.

I can understand making a living from teaching, but I am confused
by the fact that they would rather drive a Mercedes than a Mustang..
(we all would, but it makes me suspicious of their real intention..
spreading harmony or being greedy)

Take a look at what happened with the last Great Guru in Oregon (?)
that got chased out of town....   

Maybe some sincere TM folks somewhere have affordable training, but
I havent found any.

Good luck.

Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: Tarzan
Subject: Your choice
Organization: Bell-Northern Research
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 18:34:28 GMT

TM   So I didn't spend 400+ on TM training.....but I did spend 200 on a sound
light machine, 80 on monroe tapes, 30+ on other tapes for similar uses.  So who
am I to say that TM is too expensive.
	Personally I think all you really need is to practice focused relaxed
concentration (plus a bunch of other words I can't think of right now.) 
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: m23364@mwunix (James Meritt)
Subject: FAQ?
Organization: MITRE Corporation, McLean VA
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 14:51:25 GMT


Is there a FAQ for TM, and if so, how can I get one?


--
James W. Meritt:  m23364@mwunix.mitre.org - or - jmeritt@mitre.org
The opinions above are mine.  If anyone else wants to share them, fine.
They may say so if they wish. The facts "belong" to noone and simply are.
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: uemura@isl.melco.co.jp (Joe Uemura)
Subject: Re: Question
Organization: Mitsubishi Electric, Ofuna, Kanagawa, Japan
	<1992Dec15.221946.4501@news.cs.indiana.edu>
Distribution: alt.meditation.transcendental
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 00:08:46 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.221946.4501@news.cs.indiana.edu> huntley@gable.cs.indiana.edu (Haydn Huntley) writes:

 |In article <1992Dec15.085828.24177@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> radinsky@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Radinsky) writes:
 |>I have a question: what's the difference between "Meditation" and
 |>"Transcendental Meditation"?
 |
...
 |Its minuses are that it isn't a religion (some folks like having one),
 |and it costs about $400 for a working adult to learn it from a
 |certified TM teacher.  Prices for students and families are lower.
 |

Are there any good books which one could use as a tutorial to learn TM?

Joe
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: schlick+@cs.cmu.edu (Steven Schlick)
Subject: Re: Question
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 01:49:59 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.085828.24177@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> radinsky@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Radinsky) writes:
>I have a question: what's the difference between "Meditation" and
>"Transcendental Meditation"?

About $1000, minimum.
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: radinsky@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wayne Radinsky)
Subject: Question
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: alt.meditation.transcendental
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 08:58:28 GMT

I have a question: what's the difference between "Meditation" and
"Transcendental Meditation"?

--Wayne, the anxious puppy
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: mikkovv@mits.mdata.fi (Mikko V. Valjento)
Subject: TM
Organization: Microdata Oy, Helsinki, Finland
Distribution: alt.meditation.transcendental
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 17:20:05 GMT

Hi!
I'm very interested in meditation, oobe etc. So, can anyone tell me more about
this transcendental meditation? I know very little about it.

Peace to all living things!

 - mikkovv@mits.mdata.fi
     

Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental
From: m23364@mwunix (James Meritt)
Subject: Information, please
Organization: MITRE Corporation, McLean VA
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:25:21 GMT


The FAQ mailed to me has "holes" concerning the following topics.  Information
would be appreciated:
Jyotish
The Science of Creative Intelligence
Invincible Athletics (Maharishi Ayur-Veda)

(faq from the one from Chris Westin, last updated 9/20/92.  More recent welcomed)


--
James W. Meritt:  m23364@mwunix.mitre.org - or - jmeritt@mitre.org
The opinions above are mine.  If anyone else wants to share them, fine.
They may say so if they wish. The facts "belong" to noone and simply are.
Newsgroups: alt.meditation.transcendental