HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: venable@faculty.coe.wvu.wvnet.edu (Wallace Venable)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Damark International
Summary: Experiences, good or bad
Date: 5 Oct 92 17:13:11 GMT
Organization: WVU College of Engineering

In article <1992Oct3.200153.11470@sequent.com> debk@sequent.com (Deborah Stewart) writes:

>Has anyone out there had any experience (good or bad) oredering
>products from a company called Damark International out of
>Minneapolis, MN? 
	Yes.  Fairly good.  
>any comments welcome.
	READ the catalog description carefully, and check prices against 
other sources.  Some stuff is used/reconditioned.  Some is closeout.  Some 
is just "on sale."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,aus.tv
From: daniel@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Daniel Bowen)
Subject: Re: Looking for Australian TV listing publication
Keywords: Australia
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 05:46:45 GMT

In <roger.717874530@nrc.com> roger@nrc.com (Roger Goeb) writes:
>Hello.  Can someone in Australia provide me with that name, address and
>telephone number of any weekly publication that lists television programming
>schedules in Australia?  It would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Well I guess the standard one is the TV Week, which accompanies its tv
listings with lots of articles, mostly about soapie stars.

Many of the newspapers have a weekly tv supplement, for instance the
Melbourne Age has the Green Guide, every Thursday. The Australian, which
you may be able to get in the US, might have something like that, but I
don't know, since I don't read it.


Daniel Bowen
-- 
Daniel Bowen, Monash University |        What I want to know is...
            Melbourne Australia |          did Elvis wear Levis?
   daniel@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au |
      TCWF: tcwf@gnu.ai.mit.edu |                                    [TCWF]
From: gemmellj@merrimack.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Damn those airlines!
Date: 30 Sep 92 12:51:27 GMT
Organization: Merrimack College, No. Andover, MA, USA

I flew from National Airport in Arlington, VA (DC is too small to put an
airport in) and flew to Logan airport in Boston on US Air.  US Air has
hourley flights between these locations.  I was ticked for the 8pm flight,
but I arrived early, so the agent at the check in area (where you drop
your bags off said I can take the 7pm flight.  She said she will try
her best to have my bags arrive w/me on the same flight.  My bags did
not arrive w/ me on the same flight, even though she reebooked me.  The
cpt. did not delay the plane at all.  So, on domestic flights the
airlines are not required to match every bag w/ a passenger on board????

Also, I am wondering what is the policy on the Delta and USAIR shuttled
between BOS-LGA  and LGA-DCA?? Since the airline does not have a
passenger list, a person can leave a bag unattended on a plane
and it will end up at the plane's destination...?

 
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17298 rec.auto:4 rec.autos:23061 mit.bboard:122
From: philg@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Philip Greenspun)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.auto,rec.autos,mit.bboard
Subject: Re: the meaningless warranty --> NISSAN
Date: 30 Sep 92 18:48:04 GMT
Article-I.D.: zug.PHILG.92Sep30144804
Reply-To: philg@martigny.ai.mit.edu
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab.
In-reply-to: mitchy@media.mit.edu's message of 30 Sep 92 03:00:08 GMT


It sounds as though Nissan has learned to be a normal citizen of
Corporate America.  I don't understand why your lawyer couldn't beat
more out of them since under the doctrine of strict liability they
should have been liable for the contents of the vehicle that burned at
a minimum (this is even if they had not been negligent in designing or
manufacturing the vehicle).

I think that we consumers are in fact to blame for the car companies'
collectively irresponsible behavior.  We just don't sue them enough.
I'm doing my part -- I just hit Ford with a massive request for
production of documents in our ongoing litigation.  I remain convinced
that someday a jury will force them to pay up and they'll be less
likely to cheat the next customer.

Philip Greenspun
MIT Department of EECS
From: ben@yenta.alb.nm.us (Ben Klausner)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Advice sought on Grolier's _The New Book of Knowledge_ Encyclopedia
Date: 2 Oct 92 16:47:47 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Department of Redundancy Department

In article <1992Sep29.231102.16688@dvorak.amd.com> msoques@mozart.amd.com (Martin Soques) writes:
>I'm thinking of getting Grolier's _The New Book of Knowledge_ Encyclopedia
>for my sons.  I was quoted $495 by somebody who sells Discovery Toys.  
>Can I get a better price somewhere else?  Suggestions, comments and
>recommendations are welcome.  Thanks in advance!

Instead of getting a hard copy encyclopedia that will soon be out of date,
spend the same money for a CD-ROM drive for your PC, and get the
encyclopedia on disk. The ability to cross reference topics makes the CD-ROM
versions incredibly superior to doing things the old fashioned way. And, you
won't need to get a new bookcase too <g>.

-- 
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  inet: ben@yenta.alb.nm.us                    | My opinions are my own.
  CI$:  76337,1730                             | Who else would want them?
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: debk@sequent.com (Deborah Stewart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: SEAR'S WARNING!
Date: 29 Sep 92 23:00:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1992Sep29.230056.7443
Distribution: usa
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.

Two comments:
We have had a Sears VCR ( actually it was manufactured by Hitachi) for
nearly seven years that we have had no problems with at all.
Second:  I will not shop at Norstrom's because of a negative
experience with sales staff on more than one occasion, over the same
issue.  This despite a nearly universal belief (in the Northwest at
least) that Nordstrom is the greatest store on earth when it comes to
customer service.
Conslusion:  everyone's experience is different and everyone is
entitled to their opinion.  No one should be condemned just because
they happen to disagree.
Debbie
oh yeah: :-)
From: johne@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE (John Eaton)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: help! my landlord wants to sell my townhouse and I would rather not move.
Date: 3 Oct 92 20:32:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: vcd.BvKBq7.JwH
Organization: Hewlett-Packard VCD
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Peter Chrzanowski (chrz@tellabs.com) wrote:
: 
: You're first step would be to read the lease.  Unless the lease states
: that you can be evicted upon sale, you probably have the right to
: remain for the duration of the lease EVEN IF THE PLACE IS SOLD. 
: 
---------------------------------
Yes you do but only if you have had the lease recorded against the property
at your county courthouse. That informs anyone with a potential interest
in the property that the owner is bound by your lease contract. 

Otherwise you could rent your house to your brother for $1 a year 50 year
lease and then sell it to some poor unsuspecting soul for cash.

John Eaton
!hp-vcd!johne
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: electric heaters
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 21:57:01 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.121638.28646@cs.yale.edu> loosemore-sandra@CS.YALE.EDU (Sandra Loosemore) writes:
>So, how big of a heater is necessary to heat an average-sized room?
>I've seen various types in the stores -- some that work by heating an
>oil-filled radiator, for example.  Are there significant differences
>in efficiency between them?  How about safety?  I have two cats and
>don't want something they could tip over or burn themselves on.

I have used those oil-filled type (about $50 each) and would highly
recommend them.  They work quietly and efficiently.  A 6 leaves type
can keep an average size room (up to 150 Sq. ft) comfortably warm.  The
drawbacks are heavier weight and it takes a bit longer than those
fan-heaters to warm up the whole room.  Just keep your sweaters on for
15 more minutes.

I would not worry about cats.  They are real smart and quick.  I have
worries of using them if small kids are around.  The relatively sharp
edges can be a hazard for them.  But I consider those fan-heaters a
bigger fire/burn hazard.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.video,sci.electronics,sci.misc
From: chrisp@theory.TC.Cornell.EDU (Chris Pelkie)
Subject: Re: VCR Maintenance Advice Wanted. Head Cleaners Any Good?
Organization: Cornell Theory Center
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 16:59:31 GMT

In article <BvD6JK.1Ky@suite.com>, Mark-Tarbell@suite.com writes:
|> > >chrisp@theory.TC.Cornell.EDU (Chris Pelkie) writes:
|> > >: 
|> > >: As everyone else points out, don't use anything with fibers in it,  
|> like cotton Q-tips or rags.
|> > >: In fact, watch the edges of your chamois for any small fibers (we  
|> just had that happen!).
|> > >
|> > >A standard method is to use a piece of card (the back of a new business  
|> card
|> > >is ideal)
|> > >
|> > >Take off the top of the machine (and any protective shielding over the
|> > >head assembly)
|> > >Hold the card flat against the video head and turn the head.
|> 
|> NO! This will scratch the video heads and drum, which will cause
|> a LOT of friction & wear on your precious tapes. It can also loosen
|> your video heads. Treat your video drum/heads like you would a
|> fine camera lens!  Those popular head cleaning tapes are murder
|> on video heads!

Just to keep the record straight, I did not suggest using a business card.
As you can see, this thread is long and tangled.
If you plan to quote, please grab all the relevant taglines or none.
I clean my heads with chamois (in the studio) and foam (at home).
-- 
Chris Pelkie
Scientific Visualization Producer
Cornell Theory Center
Ithaca, NY 14853-3801
chrisp@tc.cornell.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: patt@squid.tram.com (Patt Bromberger)
Subject: Cost of Storage Units (was: Re: Storage Unit Burglarized)
Organization: Tramway Unix Systems
Distribution: na 
Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1992 01:25:27 GMT
Followup-To: misc.consumers 

In article <Sep.26.08.35.17.1992.15145@cadenza.rutgers.edu> masticol@cadenza.rutgers.edu (Steve Masticola) writes:
>How about suing the owners of the storage facility for failure to
>perform? Seems to me they failed to keep your stored items safe, so
>they failed to perform the service for which you paid them.
>
>> Since I didn't buy the insurance, offered for the storage units, it
>> seems I can't complain and, even less, ask for some kind of
>> reimbursement.
>
>I don't see that that's true. From what you say, either the guards
>were negligent or the theft has the strong smell of Inside Job.
>
We'll soon have to be storing our furniture and possessions - say, we
need space to store the contents of a 24 ft. truck (Budget
Rent-A-Truck) and we're wondering about the costs involved with
respect to:
	1.  Do you have to pay two months' rent in advance?
	2.  Insurance - is it worth it?
	3.  Access to hand trucks, elevators, etc.
	4.  Varying costs by size of room
	 	             location of room
	5.  Price difference between states i.e., New York,
		New Jersey, Connecticut, etc.
	6.  Reputable and responsible storage facilities
		recommended.

Thanks!


		


-- 
Patricia Ann Bromberger                     -       patt@squid.tram.com
Tramway Unix Systems 
"Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." (Anne Herbert)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jim@mwhhlaw (James P. Cavanaugh III)
Subject: Re: Wind-Up Baby Swings
Organization: Martin Wade Hartley & Hollingsworth
Distribution: misc
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 10:55:48 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.142605.8689@infonode.ingr.com>  
margaret@infonode.ingr.com (Margaret Wiginton) writes:
> I'm attending a baby shower this weekend and plan to
> buy one of those wind-up baby swings as a gift. 
> I know nothing about these (or any other baby
> stuff).  Could someone please give me a few words
> of advice?  (A brand name to look for, how much it
> will cost, etc.)  Also is there an FAQ about baby
> stuff?  (cribs, carseats, etc.)
> 
> Thanks from a baby-illiterate.
> -- 
> ___________________
> Margaret Wiginton
> margaret@msw104i.b24b.ingr.com
> 
	I have learned that there is something even better than a wind  
up swing: a battery powered swing.  We have a Graco battery model and  
it is great.  2 "D" cells will last for 2 to 3 months.  Your baby can  
swing to his (or your) heart's content without Mom and Dad getting up  
every 10 minutes to crank the thing up again.  
	It has been awhile, but I think that we got ours on sale for  
$50 or $60.  

Jim Cavanaugh
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,aus.general,alt.activism
From: axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au (Iain Sinclair)
Subject: Re: Why you shouldn't post Nestle stuff to aus.general
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Reply-To: axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au
Organization: University of Technology, Sydney
Date: 28 Sep 92 08:33:18 GMT


>daniel@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Daniel Bowen) writes:

Daniel Bowen has an unfortunate habit of crossposting inflammatory
material to high-volume, defacto US-only newsgroups.  Specific topics
like this do not belong in aus.general.  Please edit the Newsgroups: line
before you submit a followup.

Thanks.


--
 Iain Sinclair    axolotl@socs.uts.edu.au
From: larryf@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Larry Ferreira)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Mattel & Girls & Mat
Date: 5 Oct 92 17:46:28 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA

Every pull off her head?  Everyone knows, Barbie is an air head.
From: neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Rechargeable batteries??
Date: 2 Oct 92 03:44:40 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <1992Sep24.194341.11537@fid.morgan.com> joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins) writes:
>In article <83405@bcsaic.boeing.com> vanover@bcsaic.boeing.com (Jann VanOver) writes:
>>jtc@gain.com (J.T. Conklin) writes:
>>>>>>>> "Jann" == Jann VanOver <vanover@bcsaic.boeing.com> writes:
>>>Jann> DO NOT use them in camera flash attachments!  All the photos I
>>>Jann> took of my child as a baby came out very "washy" and no-one
>>>Jann> could figure it out.  Maybe one in 10 would be any good.
>>>Jann> Finally, someone said - Oh, don't use rechargeables, they don't
>>>Jann> hold their full power!
>>>
>>>Don't most camera flashes charge a capacitor which is then discharged
>>>across the flash tube?  As long as the capacitor is fully charged ---
>>>the flash should be of consistant intensity.  A low battery will just
>>>take longer to charge the capacitor.
>>
>>I don't COMPLETELY understand it either, but I couldn't argue with the
>>evidence.  The indicator on the flash said it was charged.  The flash
>>went off.  The pictures were grey.  The only picture that came
>>out good was the FIRST one taken after the flash had sat for a LONG
>>time.  Replacing the rechargables with "normal" batteries fixed the
>>problems.

I might as well add my $.02 and say that rechargeables work fine in
my Cannon 430EZ flash.  All of my friends with external flash units
use rechargeable AA's and have no problems.  I know my rechargeables
worked fine one night for 6 rolls of film, all with flash, with no
significant lessening of recharge speed.

Perhaps the quality of the capacitor in the flash makes the difference
in handling the voltage difference?  In any case, I believe that most
quality external flash units (as opposed to built-in flashes) for
SLR's and the like will work fine with rechargeables, but it's always
safest to check first before laying out money and trusting unproved
equipment to priceless shots.

--Neil

-- 
Neil Williams: neilw@informix.com

Seen on my last trip on United: "If you are seated in an exit row 
and can not (sic) read this card... please notify a crew member."
From: gramsey@atlas.nafb.trw.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: hame-based computer biz?
Date: 27 Sep 92 19:20:59 PST

hi net people

i'm posting this for a friend without net access please e-mail to my 
account and i will forward to him 

					thanx   greg


i'm interested in starting a home-based computer business, just heard about
Gerhard Reeg company.  They are offering a license that allows me to hook into 
their network of buyers and sellers and i have to culivate my own client base.
Has anyone heard of this company?  Any information and/or additional avenues 
of investigation would be appreciated.

					Thanks Kevin


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: swfc@cs.columbia.edu (Shu-Wie F Chen)
Subject: mixing and pouring cement driveways
Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 16:32:46 GMT

I don't know if this is the correct newsgroup to post this to, but any
suggestions would be appreciated.

I will be building a short extension to my parents' driveway so that
they can turn the car around when exiting the driveway.  Since I will
be doing the job, I plan to use to cement instead of asphalt (which is
what the rest of the driveway is).

Since I have never worked with cement before, I need instructions,
pointers, references, etc.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
*swfc

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shu-Wie F Chen                               Department of Computer Science
swfc@cs.columbia.edu                         Columbia University
From: staggers@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Ken Staggers)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Credit card car rental coverage where CDW prohibited?
Date: 3 Oct 92 18:23:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.1992Oct3.182348.826
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.

In article <1992Oct2.225247.20970@lucpum.it.luc.edu> laufer@math.luc.edu writes:
>In some states, including IL and NY, car rental companies may no
>longer sell Collision Damage Waver (CDW/LDW), and the renter's
>liability for damages to the car is limited (NY: $100, IL: $200).
>
>Does anybody have experience as to whether a typical credit card with
>collision loss/damage insurance covers this deductible?  My Citibank
>
>Any opinions or experience reports would be appreciated.

I dont have car insurance, so AMEX was my primary insurer.  They basically
said that they pay anything my insurance wouldnt pay. Since I didnt have
insurance, they paid the $200 (I'm in IL) to Enterprise...and yes, I
still got FF pts for it.

--Ken
From: czo84228@dcsc.dla.mil (Kevin L. Wright)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re:  How to get daughter more career-minded
Date: 1 Oct 92 20:16:33 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Defense Construction Supply Center, Columbus

Sorry, I posted to the wrong newsgroup.  Please disregard.
From: oneill@mailhost.aa.cad.slb.com (Patrick G. O'Neill)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Diamond Advice Wanted
Keywords: diamond
Date: 29 Sep 92 16:46:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: aa.1992Sep29.164609.25525
Organization: Schlumberger CAD/CAM at Ann Arbor, MI

>In article <1992Sep24.200341.26594@tss.com> burke@tss.com (Jim Burke) writes:
>>SI stones have
>>imperfections that are not readily visible to the naked eye.
>
>Interestingly enough, this is not totally true.  They're not readily visible
>to the naked eye _when_viewed_from_the_top_.  My fiance and I were looking
>at an SI stone a week or so ago and sure enough, you could only barely see
>the imperfection using the loupe.  Stood out nicely under the microscope but
>with the naked eye, nada.  From the top.  I happened to look at the side and
>it was _very_ obvious with the naked eye.  I asked the jeweler and he said
>the ratings apply to top view only.  Kind of bugged me.  It wasn't a cheap
>ring.
>

  Be careful when someone tells you a stone is SI or VSI etc.. A stone 
rated as VSI at one place may be rated lower in quality at a different
place.  A lot of it depends on who looks at the stone and how honest
they are.

  I would recommend gettig a GIA certified stone if you are worried
about really getting what the rattings designate.  IMHO I would also
*not* buy a diamond from the Mall, but would buy from a reputable local 
store that has been around for a while.  Also don't buy a stone already
in a setting - to really see what quality diamond you are getting you
really need to see it by itself (the better jewelers will have diamonds
w/o settings for you to examine).  And lastly, as with any large investment
like this you should get a second opinion.  Take your diamond (before it
is set) and get it appraised by someone else.

 


  I made the mistake (IMHO) of going to a mall for my ring.  I brought
it home and a friend of mine said I ought to have it appraised by
another jeweler.  What I found was I could get the same rated stone
but *much* better quality from the second place.  I quickly returned
the ring bought at the mall because I was confused at what I was really
getting for my money.

  After about another *month* of looking around and much conversation
with others "in the know" I decided to get a GIA certified stone from
a jeweler I felt most comforable with.  I was interested in getting as
good a quality a stone as I could afford
From: debk@sequent.com (Deborah Stewart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How long for refund from HUD (lump sum MIP)
Date: 30 Sep 92 23:27:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1992Sep30.232727.22040
Distribution: usa
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.

In article <5255@sumax.seattleu.edu> smorris@sumax.seattleu.edu (Steven A. Morris) writes:
>I have just refinanced my house, and therefore paid off an FHA
>mortgage that was originated in 1986.  At that time, I paid a lump sum
>(up front) Mortgage Insurance Premium of over $3,000.  I have been
>informed that a portion of this will be refunded by H.U.D.
>
>My former mortgage company reported the payoff to H.U.D. and notified
>me by letter that it takes about 60 days to be contacted by H.U.D. to
>process the refund.  So far, I have not heard from them and it has
>been over 60 days.
>
>I am willing to contact them, but if this delay is routine, I am
>willing to be patient as well... with all the refinances in the recent
>months there must be a number of people in similar circumstances, HOW
>LONG HAS IT TAKEN FOR OTHERS TO RECEIVE THIS REFUND?
>
>Furthermore, does anyone know what percentage of the original MIP I
>can expect?
>
>(I also know that there were a number of different Mortgage Insurance
>Programs with FHA, and that the refund terms are different for each --
>mine was the LUMP SUM form of payment rather than the monthly, so I am
>especially interested in others with the same program.)
>
>Thanks.

We refinanced last fall( actually closed just before the end of the
year).  About 2 months later, got a letter from HUD regarding this.
How nice to get a letter from the government wanting to give you back
some of your own money!  :-) there was a form to fill out (it is govt.
after all) and we needed to send a copy of the deed on file with the
county recorder, which the county charges $15/first page and $5/ each
add.  page, (ours was only one page).  We sent all this in to HUD.
the form said something about it taking up to 120 days to process.  I
figured this was work days (remember it's govt.) which would have been
about the third week in Sept., having mailed it in early April.  It
arrived in August.
Bottom line:  be patient.  BTW ours was a "lump-sum payment", i.e.  we
got back the same amount we had paid at closing when the mortgage
originated.  the nice thing is our house had gone up enough in value
that when we refinanced the difference of what we borrowed vs.  what
the appraised value of the house was kept the lender from requiring
mortgage insurance on the new mortgage so the refund amount did not
have to be applied to the new mortgage.
Hope this helps.
Debbie Stewart
Newsgroups: misc.consumers