HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring)
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted on Home Workout Equipment
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:47:16 GMT

In article gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:

>Don't sign your real name, as it could endanger your loved ones, and
>stay away from Kryptonite.

Who told you about my weakness for Kryptonite?!

Jon

-- 
=============================================================================
| Jon Noring          | noring@netcom.com        | "The dogs bark, but the  |
| JKN International   | IP    : 192.100.81.100   |  caravan moves on."      |
| 1312 Carlton Place  | Phone : (510) 294-8153   | "Pack your lunch, sit in |
| Livermore, CA 94550 | V-Mail: (510) 862-1101   |  the bushes, and watch." |
=============================================================================
"If your annual income today is $50,000, you have the same buying power as
the average coal miner did in 1949, adjusted for taxes and inflation," John
Sestina, nationally recognized Certified Financial Planner;  quoted in 1987.

------->   I VOTED FOR PEROT IN '92
------->   support UNITED WE STAND!
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Encyclopedia Britannica - their obnoxious salesmen
Date: 6 Nov 92 01:17:26 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

>>Anyway, what is the price, and why are Encyclopedia Britannica salesman
>>so reluctant to tell you, even to the point of being obnoxious?
>
In article <1992Nov5.174157.14549@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger) writes:
>Maybe it's there so ashamed of the price that they have to "present" it
>to you, in the same way that Amway reps are so ashamed of their
>company that they won't tell you its name, except under controlled
>conditions.
>-- 

   There ARE some distintions in favor of the Encyclopedia salesmen,
   though. 

   o  The Britannica is a pretty good encyclopedia.

   o  Their salestypes have the decency to keep their propaganda and
      incessant dialogues OFF THE NET!   

      Too bad the AMWAY folks haven't the same decency.
From: lederman@taney.uscghq.uscg.mil
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: What kind of oil to use in fryers.
Date: 12 Nov 92 11:26:33 EST
Distribution: misc.consumers,iu.general
Organization: United States Coast Guard

In article <BxK6JL.DLK@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu>, bhostetl@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Brian Hostetler) writes:
> Anyway, I need to know what kind of oil I should use with it.  I want
> want to get something that is 'fryer-compatible'.  Does anyone have 
> some advice??

    Anything with a high 'smoke-point', which means no butter,
 margarine, or similar stuff.

    Most good chefs consider peanut oil to be the best, because it
 will take higher temperatures longer without breaking down.

    If you want to see something interesting, try to get a copy of
 "Restaurant Business", or one of the other similar magazines
 normally sold only to hotels and restaurants.  Lots of adds from
 companies on their oil, mostly talking about how long it lasts in
 the fryer, how it can be filtered, etc.  Not much about taste or
 saturates.

    Also, the government printing office sells a series of books
 at reasonable prices on the "Nutritional Content of Foods". 
 These books include analysis of saturates and unsaturates in
 oils.  Check your phone book for the local printing office: your
 maybe try your college library?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: chou@maui.cs.ucla.edu (Ching-Tsun Chou)
Subject: Lead test for ceramic wares
Organization: UCLA, Computer Science Department
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 00:57:45 GMT


I heard somewhere that there is some kind of product in market
using which one can test whether one's ceramic wares are putting
out lead.  Does anyone know exact what product is this and how 
to get it?  I'd appreciate any pointers.

Since I don't read this newsgroup, please send your response to
<chou@cs.ucla.edu>.

Thanks in advance,
Ching-Tsun Chou
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: federkin@rtsg.mot.com (John Federkins)
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones Questions
Keywords: questions to ask, phones to buy
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 18:39:14 GMT

kapa@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (k.a.perkins) writes:

>> (3) Any recommendation for the cellular phones? 
>In general, the Motorola phones are considered to be the sturdiest and
>the best. 

No to mention the fact that they're made in the good ole US of A.

 
-- 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   "The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up!"
John Federkins				Cellular Infrastructure Division
Motorola, Inc.				Arlington Heights, IL
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: calvin@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (scott.a.kaye)
Subject: Is it a Scam????
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 20:03:18 GMT

	I've been reading this group for a while, and I am hoping someone out
there can help me.  Yesterday in the mail I received a postcard from 21st
Century Travel in Lakeland Fl stating that I have won a Carribean Cruise for
2.  It states that I have 72 hours to respond, or I will lose the prize.  The
card looks like it is hand written, but on closer examination, I have come
to the decision that it was done on a printer as the letters are exactly alike.
My question is, is this some kind of scam??  How would they know when I 
received the card to judge if I called within the time limit??  I figure I 
could call and find out, but have heard about some of these 800 numbers
mysteriously turning into toll calls, and don't want to be caught.  Has 
anyone out there actually called and gotten the prize??
				Thanks in advance,
					Scott
-- 
    Scott Kaye				  "Were going to need another Timmy."	
    AT&T			    		-Mr. Lizard               
    100 Southgate Pkwy			   I can't speak for myself, so how 
    Morristown, NJ  07960		   could I speak for AT&T?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tvervaek@col.hp.com (Tom Vervaeke)
Subject: Re: IKEA MAIL ORDER: YES!!!
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 22:24:28 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

I own two IKEA chairs that look like leather. They are black and have
wooden frames. You can almost get them to "rock" as the design allows
for them to "spring" a little.  Very comfortable chairs. Spent about $55
each for them 4 years ago. They have never had a problem.

Best part is how much folks who come over to the house rave about my
neat LEATHER chairs.  I could have sold the pair for $500 many times
(that would be unethical so I didn't do it - but I thought about it).

I think IKEA has some good stuff for a good price. Mine has had the heck
beat out of it by jumping kids, fat butts, etc.. and is still ticking.

For the person who complained about 75% of the stuff being bad, why did
you keep buying all the stuff? Or did you purchase it all at one (in
that case - sorry!)




( ___ )------------------------------------------------------------( ___ )
 | / | Tom Vervaeke          Email: tvervaek@itchub21.cs.itc.hp.com | \ |
 | / | Technology Specialist Snail: 1900 Garden of the Gods Rd.     | \ |
 | / | Hewlett Packard Co.          Colorado Springs, CO 80901      | \ |
 | / | Colorado Springs, CO  Voice    : 719-590-2133                | \ |
 | / | USA                   Fax      : 719-590-2117                | \ |
 | / |--------------------------------------------------------------| \ |
 | / | Quote of the week...                                         | \ |
 |___|           Quote deleted do to lack of creativity !!!         |___|
(_____)------------------------------------------------------------(_____)
   ^                                                                  ^

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ahill@boi.hp.com (Andy Hill)
Subject: Re: phone needles
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:39:36 GMT
Distribution: ne
Reply-To: ahill@boi.hp.com
Organization: LaserJets by Bill & Dave
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Try Radio Shack.  Last time I looked, you could still order stuff like
phonograph needles and vacuum tubes from them (and at pretty reasonable
prices).
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: swfc@cs.columbia.edu (Shu-Wie F Chen)
Subject: humidifiers
Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science
Distribution: nyc
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 21:43:55 GMT

I am looking to buy a humidifier for my apartment for both me and my
musical instruments.  I am specifically looking for Holmes humidifiers
since they were recommended by the current issue of Consumers Digest.
Unfortunately, I do not know where to go in NYC.  Any help would be
appreciated.

Thanks,
*swfc

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shu-Wie F Chen                               Department of Computer Science
swfc@cs.columbia.edu                         Columbia University
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Re: FORD visa vs. DISCOVER
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 13:41:05 GMT

nfs@elan (Norbert Schlenker) writes:

>In article <1992Nov3.173729.1@vaxb.acs.unt.edu> ff76@vaxb.acs.unt.edu writes:
>>
>>That's correct.  I should have pointed that out.  DISCOVER's cash back rates
>>are tiered.  The cash back rate for expenditures up to $1000is 0.25 percent. 
>>For the second $1000 it is 0.5 percent, for the third $1000 it is 0.75 percent. 
>>For expenditures over $3000, it is 1 percent...
>>
>>So for folks who pay off their monthly balances and charge over $3,000 a year,
>>*DISCOVER pays a higher amount of cash back*.  FORD visa pays 1.5 percent
>>*only* when you carry forward a monthly balance.  Then, it's not a cash back
>>anymore (even if they call it that).  It then becomes a minute rebate on the
>>enormous interest rate typical of charge cards.
>>
>>Any disgreements?

>Sure, I'll disagree.  Am I the only one who has one of these cards?
>Are you getting a commission on the issuance of Discover cards?

>I quote from the Ford cardholder agreement:

>  "The annual rebate is earned by using the Card for purchases; it is not
>   earned for cash advances. ... In each anniversary year, the amount of
>   your annual rebate is: 

>     - 1/2% of the first $1,000 of net purchases
>     - 3/4% of the second $1,000 of net purchases
>     - 1% of the third $1,000 of net purchases
>     - 1 1/2% of the amount of net purchases in excess of $3,000"

>The rebate is uniformly better than Discover, for a card that is
>useful at many more places.  I confirmed these terms with customer
>service at 800-638-FORD ten minutes ago.

>Followups to misc.consumers only - this has nothing to do with investing.

>Norbert
>nfs@cs.princeton.edu
From: dp@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (David Pinedo)
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 22:48:29 GMT
Subject: Re: Yup, Amway's a scam
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

In misc.consumers, lou@hpkslx.mayfield.HP.COM (Lou Kvitek) writes:

> It is strictly their fault - and they would conduct
> business the same way no matter which MLM they were associated with (ie,
> NuSkin, Shaklee, ALWilliams, Espial, Avon, etc).

I minor correction -- Avon is not an MLM.  I know, my wife sells Avon
and nobody gets a cut of what she sells.  Avon reps are encouraged to
recruit new reps -- but the reward for doing that is usually a fixed,
one time award.

Also, the cost to become an Avon rep is virtually $0 -- you can get
started by buying a few brochures and hanging them on doorknobs.

David Pinedo
From: rboudrie@chpc.org (Rob Boudrie)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Make money off of credit card?
Date: 9 Nov 92 15:52:34 GMT
Organization: Center For High Perf. Computing of WPI; Marlboro Ma

>One would assume that when you get a CREDIT, the amount of your
>potential GM Auto rebate would be reduced.

I believe the credit card contract also requires that you reimburse them for
any rebate certificate issued which is reduced due to subsequent credits.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rosch@cpdw.enet.dec.com (Ray Rosch)
Subject: Re: Bally's Health Club SUCKS Read this...
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 14:55:59 GMT


In article <69388@cup.portal.com>, Ripped-Off@cup.portal.com (Eric J Rainbolt) writes...
>To whom it may concern,
> 
>I told him exactly what my situation was.  I said I was only going to be in
>town for the next two months, and I didn't want to be liable for a full
>year's membership.  ( $600.00 odd dollars ).  He said that was "no problem",
>because if I showed proof that I moved more than 30 miles from the
>Center, I wouldn't be held liable for any additional payments.  Now
>I realize that he just told me a lie.  Or he was displaying his lack of
>knowledge of the contract.  The trouble all started because I didn't
>read all the 'fine print'.  One of the "un-cirlcled" portions of the contract
>refered to a $50.00 cancellation fee.
> 
>Being a typical college student, and with little experience in dealing
>big corporations, and contracts in general, I neglected to send the
>required documentation to Bally's Headquarters in Dearborn Michigan.
>The paperwork requires at least 2 utility bills with my
>distant address on them, proof of changing the address on my driver's
>licence and/or a copy of my current lease, and a letter from my landlord
>stating that I do indeed live in a trailer park in Southern Illinois.

So what you are saying is that you should be excused from a contractural
obligation because 1) You did not carefully read the contract, 2) You did
not comply with the cancellation terms or procedures, 3) You are a typical
college student so you shouldn't be expected to fullfill the terms of the
contract.

You evidently have learned how to victimize yourself.

*
*	Opinions do not represent my employer
*
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal
From: rao@tree.egr.uh.edu (Jagannatha  Rao)
Subject: Need info. about Fair Housing act...
Keywords: limit of number of residents in an apt.
Organization: University of Houston
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 18:17:34 GMT



I have just run into the following problem with my apartment complex:

We have a decent size (1200 sq. ft) two bedroom apartment.  The apt. is  
normally occupied by my wife, myself and our 1.5 yr. old daughter.  Now, we  
have our parents visiting from abroad for a few months, and that will make a  
total of 5 residents in the apartment. Our property manager says that this is  
against Federal Fair Housing Law - which, they claim, limits the total number  
of residents to 4 in a 2 bedroom apartment. 

Questions:

(1) I can understand that a Federal law places a limit on number of residents  
in a given place of residence. But does this limit include infants and toddlers  
also? is there an age limit in the law? Can the local property manager have  
stricter policy than required under the law?

(2) Where can I  find more info. about this law? 


(3) Any similar experiences? Other than moving out, do I have any options?

Thanks. 

--
Jagannatha Rao				E-mail:rao@tree.egr.uh.edu
Department of Mechanical Engineering    Tel   :(713) 743-4535
University of Houston                   Fax   :(713) 743-4503
Houston, TX 77204-4792
From: wardrb@cs.utexas.edu (Richard Byron Ward)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Pigment dyed clothes
Date: 11 Nov 1992 14:09:28 -0600
Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: boogie.cs.utexas.edu

In article <1d13i0INNs6e@skat.usc.edu> jslee@skat.usc.edu (John S. Lee) writes:
|What is the proper way to stop pigment-dyed clothes from bleeding
|color?
|
|I have a pair of green cargo shorts which still rub green after the
|initial washing, the one they claim will halt the color rub.
|
|My hands get green just from reaching into the pockets on a typical
|use.

Whenever I get a new piece of clothing that is colorful, I wash it the first
time with a fair amount of white vinegar.  I don't remember where I picked 
up this habit, but someone told me that it "sets the colors".  I do know that
the clothes do not fade as quickly as non-treated clothes, and they don't
seem to leak dye either.

Rick

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mmeyer@m2.dseg.ti.com (Mark Meyer)
Subject: Re: Heard of Success Motivation Institute?
Organization: TI DSEG, Spring Creek, Plano, Tx.
	<1992Nov5.222302.752@netcom.com>
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 18:22:51 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.222302.752@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
> Andrew Mossberg says "This is no longer the self-help decade."
> Details, please. Judging from the size of the self-help book sections
> at Crown and Bookstar, it still is.

	Yeah, look at the LA riots.  A lot of the rioters "helped
themselves." :-)

-- 
Mark Meyer                                               | mmeyer@dseg.ti.com |
Texas Instruments, Inc.                                  +--------------------+
Every day, Jerry Junkins is grateful that I don't speak for TI.
                                            "A verb, Senator!  We need a verb!"
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: cliff@buster.stafford.tx.us (Cliff Tomplait)
Subject: Re: Collegetown Magazine Subscriptions scam
Organization: Buster irby
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1992 21:08:10 GMT

boubez@tastesgreat.rutgers.edu (Toufic Boubez) writes:
>Hi there. Late last year, somebody posted some info about a subscription
>service called Collegetown Magazine Subscription Services....
>they turned out to be a fraud. I'd like to somehow get the
>police on their trail.

What you need to do is give them a call and give them the opportunity
to make things right.  I've been doing business with them for a couple
of years now.  In the early days, I had problems (same as you did) with
the "free" (bonus) subscription.  I spoke with Kevin and he fixed it
all to my satisfaction.

I respect your opinion and feelings.  However, my opinion is that they
aren't defrauding until they refuse to fix things (and I don't know the
complete details of your complaint).

The call is via 1-800.

Cliff the Paramedic
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.drugs
From: rcain@netcom.com (Robert Cain)
Subject: Re: Doctor ripoff, or just reality?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 23:22:24 GMT

strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
: 
: My complaint is the physician billing $300 for his service. I was separately
: billed another $300 by Huntington for the facilities, so that's not included.
: I was separately billed another couple of hundred bucks by the radiologist,
: so that's not included either.
: 
: My orthopedist charges $300 total for his service, X-ray, and his facilities
: all included, and he is considerably more experienced and renowned than
: the e.r. physician.
: 

David, do you honestly believe that your physician's overhead approaches
that of a properly equipped ER on a per visit basis?

Bob

-- 
Bob Cain    rcain@netcom.com   408-358-2007

"There are some strings.  They're just not attached."
                                                    Victoria Roberts


               PGP 1.0 or 2.0 public key available on request.
From: aem@symbiosis.ahp.com (a.e.mossberg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Heard of Success Motivation Institute?
Date: 5 Nov 1992 08:20:37 -0500
Organization: Symbiosis Corporation, Miami, Florida  (305) 597-4000
Distribution: na
Reply-To: aem@symbiosis.ahp.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: symbi1.symbiosis.ahp.com

ahill@boi.hp.com (Andy Hill) writes:
>Has anyone heard of or dealt with Success Motivation Institute?  My wife
>recently spoke to a "distributor" of that company about a job.  I've never
>heard of it, but it's evidently some sort of franchise, and the name
>automatically makes me want to hold onto my wallet.  Any pointers welcome.

Yes, they have several different names, including Leadership Management
Institute, Success Management Institute, Success Motivation Institute,
etc etc (about 8 the last time I heard of them, 1985 or thereabouts). At
the time I knew of them, there were about a dozen lawsuits pending
against them for misrepresenting SUCCESS of their franchisees. They, as
you probably know but others reading this message don't, sell motivation
courses, tapes, videos, books, etc.  They are (or were) based in the
lovely town of Waco, Texas. :-)

The product isn't bad, for what it is. The way they do business is
questionable. As to you and your wife's success selling the tapes: 

	a) you'll have to put out large amounts of money to get your 
	initial "kit" plus training at the facility in Waco.
	b) you'll have to find stores willing to let you set up racks,
	and/or convince companies to pay you to "train" their employees.
	c) this is no longer the self-help decade. 

If you're still interested, call the BBB in Waco and ask for the current
report; and make an offer for the lovely $300 sample kit I bought when 
subjected to the full-blown pitch in Waco.

Oh, if it was a distributor of the products that talked to your wife,
then it may just be a legit job, if she will get paid salary+commission.
If commission-only, forget it. She will make pennies for the dollars she
makes for the distributor.

aem
-- 
andrew mossberg           systems specialist           symbiosis corporation
(305) 597-4110            fax (305) 597-4002           miami, florida 33166-6202
aem@symbiosis.ahp.com     uunet!symbi1!aem             SPAN: UMIGW::AEM
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: aa@iti.org (Aayush Asthana)
Subject: Any experience with `Heartland' the mail-order house?
Summary: Comment on Heartland mail-order house?
Keywords: Heartland, query, experience
Organization: Industrial Technology Institute
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:04:31 GMT

Do any of you have any experience/dealings with Heartland the
mail-order house?  In particular they have a `Traders' membership
for $25 per year; with that one can get discounts on products in
their catalogue which are already marked down.  Their ad shows a
markdown of $20 on a $75 product (the marked down price from the
manufacturer's list price).  Thus apparently this membership fee
could pay for itself, only if the ad was not atypical.  Any comments
will be appreciated, since I have little knowledge of their
operation.

[] Regards,   | Industrial    :      _________ ___________ ___________
Aayush Asthana| Technology    :    /___   ___//___    ___//___    ___/
aa@iti.org    | Institute     :   ____/  /___    /  /    ____/  /____ 
(313) 769-4652| Ann Arbor, MI :  /__________/   /__/    /___________/
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:18878 sci.med:20689
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.med
Subject: Re: dangerous pet birds?
Date: 9 Nov 92 15:42:11 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: usa
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

This is off the subject, but it is funny.  After the paleontologist
Robert Bakker gave a lecture on how birds are the descendents of
dinosaurs, a little old lady raised her hand and asked if that
meant her parakeet was dangerous.


-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers