HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: deer@ninevah.ecn.purdue.edu (Lois Ann Deer Ascough)
Subject: Re: Legal Tender?? A different Twist
Reply-To: deer@ninevah.ecn.purdue.edu (Lois Ann Deer Ascough)
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 21:43:01 GMT

In article <43987@fibercom.COM>, rrg@rtp.fibercom.com (Rhonda Gaines) writes:
|> 
|> How much of a dollar bill ($20 bill to be exact) do you have to have
|> before it's spendable?  My husband found 3/4 of a $20 bill and
|> figured that it's probably unspendable but I thought I'd pose the
|> question anyway.  Replies to rrg@fibercom.com
|> 
|>  -thanks
|>   rhonda
|> 
|> -- 
|> Rhonda Gaines              INTERNET: gaines@fibercom.com
|> FiberCom, Inc.             UUCP: ...!uunet!fibercom!gaines   
|> P.O. Box 11966             PHONE: 703-342-6700 or 800-423-1183 x291
|> Roanoke, VA  24022-1966    FAX:   703-342-5961

Just last weekend my husband read an article to me (from
the Indianapolis Star) about torn dollar bills.  The 
article reported that a ( > 1/2 intact) bill could be exchanged
at a bank for a whole one.  If you have proof that the
bill was destroyed (such as in a fire) and that < 1/2
remains, you may also redeem the bill.  Hope that helps.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Lois Ann Deer-Ascough                 Internet: deer@ecn.purdue.edu    
USDA-ARS  NSERL                       
Purdue University                     Voice:    317-494-8691
West Lafayette, IN  47907             FAX:      317-494-5948
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: pankaj@synopsys.com (Pankaj Mayor)
Subject: Re: long distance calling
Keywords: n
Organization: Synopsys, Inc.
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 18:03:18 GMT

>For me the automatic 20% international discount to one number from MCI
		      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Since December 15th you can have 2 international numbers on MCI F&F

>is good.  PLUS, the ability to get FF pts on American.



Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch)
Subject: Re: Low Fee Credit cards with Freq Flier Mileage
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems; a div of Booz, Allen & Hamilton
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 23:51:19 GMT

john.ewin@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (John Ewin)  wrote: 
->In conjunction with "Air Miles", the card is basically the same as their
->Classic cards, is only $5 more ($25/year), and offers mileage credits
->for several airlines.

this is not at all the same thing; "Air Miles" is only vaguely similar
to frequent flyer programs.  the "Air Miles" you accumulate are good
for trips on quite a few airlines, but one "Air Mile" is one
travelling mile ... the "Air Miles" you get don't always have a direct
relation to how many dollars you spend.

--
# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
# "fight the real enemy."  -- sinead o'connor, and many others.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mcgrant@alfalfa.stanford.edu (Michael C. Grant)
Subject: Re: Interplak vs. Braun
Organization: Information Systems Laboratory, Stanford University
Distribution: usa
Date: 26 Dec 92 22:11:08

In article <1992Dec23.213037.11781@netcom.com>
strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:

   In article <1992Dec23.150625.15413@asl.dl.nec.com> alie@csl.dl.nec.com (Andrew Lie) writes:
   >I would like to know more about Braun, too.
   >My Interplak just broke down two weeks ago (it no longer recharges).

   There have been a lot of complaints about the Interplak, which has a
   number of major design failings. Some have been corrected in the newest
   model.
   I have had two fail on me. I switched to the Braun about six months ago,
   have been very satisfied, and since then have had a very good dental
   checkup.
   Braun's design is like a fortress. The entire unit is sealed against
   water, and the switch is a sliding magnet on the outside of the case,
   with the electrical goodies sealed inside. Charging is by magnetic
   induction from the base, not electrical contact. There is no way the Braun
   or its base can rust out, as the Interplak often did, and I'd guess you
   could take a bath with the base and not get a shock.

By the way, Consumer Reports rated the Braun the highest of any electric
toothbrush, certainly higher than any Interplak model. Their tests did
include the typical bathroom electrical safety tests (i.e. immersing
the thing in water, etc).

Michael C. Grant

--
"Long hair, short hair--what's the difference once the head's blowed off?" (?)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Dedicated ATM card?
From: john.ewin@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (John Ewin) 
Date: 28 Dec 92 23:56:00 GMT
Reply-To: john.ewin@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (John Ewin) 
Distribution: world
Organization: The Batchelor Pad PCBoard ~ Long Beach, CA ~ +1 310 494 8084


TH>red CIRRUS dedicated ATM card. Is this just fiction or does such
   exist and how can I find out more?

Well, Troy, Cirrus is a International (some countries besides the US)
ATM network, and once upon a time their logo was red...  Now, it's blue,
but it's still Cirrus.

Plus is the other big International network in the US, and at one time
Cirrus was larger, but now I believe that Plus is.

BTW, my MC (CitiBank) is on Cirrus (as well as the MasterTeller
network)...

Cirrus has an ATM locater service...  Call 1-800-4-CIRRUS using a
touch-tone phone, and it'll tell you some ATMs on the system in whatever
area you ask for.

FYI, Plus also has one:  1-800-THE-PLUS
---
 . SM 1.06 *0020 . Your never too old to learn something stupid.
                                                                   
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kherron@ms.uky.edu (Kenneth Herron)
Subject: Re: Prodigy
    <1992Dec22.092012.27221@news.acns.nwu.edu>
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 14:18:40 GMT
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences

alasnik@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Adam Lasnik) writes:

>I am really getting annoyed with all the "I've-never-tried-it-but-I
>know-it's-BAAAAD" crap.  

>You can get free trial kits from ANY current Prodigy member, including
>myself, with no obligation.  It's a month free (almost*) unlimited usage.

Okay, tell me where I can get one for my Commodore Amiga.
-- 
Kenneth Herron                                              kherron@ms.uky.edu
University of Kentucky                                         +1 606 257 2975
Dept. of Mathematics     "Your ball goes over them, it sails off the edge into
a huge cauldren of fire-breathing dragons."  "And they call this a par three?"
From: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM (Dave Bernard)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Low Fee Credit cards with Freq Flier Mileage
Date: 24 Dec 1992 13:18:07 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: world
Reply-To: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: clesun.central.sun.com

ehill@rose.hp.com (Eric Hill) wrote: 
->>>First card gives United miles...1 mile for every dollar. $60.00 per year

->the subject does say "low fee credit cards."  


Hint:  When your "annual fee" (read, padded income) comes due each year, phone
the card issuer and ask for a one-time waiver of the fee.  So competitive is
the credit card market, that I've been doing this one-time thing year after
year, with some of the same card issuers.  Consequently, I haven't paid an
annual fee in years.  Note that with some (not all) of the "affinity" card
issuers- like the airline cards- this may take a little more convincing.  But
if you regularly charge a lot (even if you pay off immediately, income still
comes from the merchant fee), or if you pay a lot of finance charges, you'd
be surprised what a quick phone call can do.  If they balk, tell 'em you're
cancelling the card.  And some airline/affinity card issuers DO waive the fee.

	Dave
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: wc4209@writer.yorku.ca (Irene Berkovich)
Subject: Re: TOPS expertise/Future Shop
Keywords: how much off can you *really* get?
Organization: Computer Assisted Writing Centre, York University, Toronto, Canada
Distribution: north america
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 18:43:39 GMT

In article <1993Jan3.140218.6575@cbnewsh.cb.att.com> bgt@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (barbara.tongue) writes:
>folks,
>
>pardon me if this has already been discussed - i just discovered
>this newsgroup.
>
>recently i've had the joyous experience of purchasing a vacuum cleaner
>and VCR from TOPS appliance center in East Hanover, NJ.  now, ignoring
>their absolutely obnoxious commericals which would border on tastelessness
>if they were closer than the 13,000 miles in depth of nauseating-ness
>they currently are, and the fact that *some* (not all) of the salefolks
>are polyester-plaited shark wannabes, they did have some rather good 
>prices.
>
>i was able to knock off $50 on both items which i purchased.  it makes
>me wonder, though, how could i find the *real* price they cost?  why
>would they price something and then take off half a hundred dollars?
>what is the best overall strategy for dealing with these peoples?
>i'd be interested in hearing all war stories....
>
>btw, when buying the VCR my salesperson was quite polite.  the vacuum
>cleaner sale, though, was an amazing experience - the salesperson was
>working part time in college, very informative, really pleasant personality;
>apparently not too experienced because his "manager" (a subspecies of
>paramecium which couldn't pass a bio slide test) decided to step in
>and convince me to purchase much warranties.  it was actually a lot of
>fun to put him through all his sales paces....
>-- 
>%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
>%%   The Speaking Tongue, AT&T   %%  C Code.  C Code Run.  Run, Code, RUN! %%
>%%       bgt@hogpf.att.com       %%           PLEASE!!!!                   %%
>%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

In Canada we have an exact copy of what you're describing .. Future
Shop.  I remember buying a computer monitor and having to endure a
twentyy minute argument about why I had to buy their extended
warrantee.  That was two years ago, without any such warantee and my
monitor is just fine thank-you.

Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: mrl@nerus.pfc.mit.edu
Subject: RE: Depression
Organization: MIT PLASMA FUSION CENTER
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 04:42:21 GMT

In a previous article, dips@cad.gatech.edu (Deeptendu Majumder) wrote:
>Does anybody have any opinion about dealing with depression
>in ways other than Prozac.
> 

I don't know anyone who has tried this personally, but my doctor who treats
patients mainly with vitamins has mentioned that certain certain B vitamins and
minerals can be helpful by increasing serotonin levels.  However, this should
be done only with the help of an experienced orthomolecular practioner, as
I've read in some case it may worsen the symptoms.  Depression has many
different causes, which is probably why different anti-depressents help
different people.  Aerobic exercise is often recommended, as it also increases
serotonin levels, and of course self-esteem.  If done in the afternoon or
evening, it may aid with sleep problems, which is often a problem with
depression (if not the cause, which was so with my wife.)

P.s. A recent article in the NY Times stated that depression has definetly
increased in "modern" countries, and although many reasons were cited, no one
real reason has been found.  The breakdown of the family is often cited as
one reason.  In our country where women have to strive to be like the women
shown on TV, there are more depressed women than men, but this is not the case
in countries where they don't have an overblown ideal woman notion. In those
cases, depression is equal between the sexes.  However, I believe it mentioned
that even in our country, the difference is starting to lessen.

Mark London
MRL@NERUS.PFC.MIT.EDU
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: sdb@ssr.com (Scott Ballantyne)
Subject: Re: homeopathy
Organization: ScotSoft Research
	<BSIMON.92Dec22154843@elvis.stsci.edu>
	<schumach.725074603@convex.convex.com>
	<BSIMON.92Dec23071932@elvis.stsci.edu>
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 02:13:33 GMT

In article <BSIMON.92Dec23071932@elvis.stsci.edu> bsimon@elvis.stsci.edu (Bernie Simon) writes:

   >If you read my first post, you would have seen that I listed several
   >double blind studies which show the effectiveness of homeopathic
   >medicines. Can you cite some studies which show that homeopathic
   >medicines do not work any better than placebos?

Well, I read your first post, and as I pointed out, found it a tad
misleading. One of your allegedly supporting articles is actually a
criticism of homeopathic studies!  But since you ask, here are a few:

    Labrecque M.,  Audet D.,  Latulippe LG.,  Drouin J., "Homeopathic
    treatment of plantar warts" Can Med Assoc J 1992 May 15;146(10):1749-53

    Shipley M.,  Berry H.,  Broster G.,  Jenkins M.,  Clover A.,  Williams
    I., "Controlled trial of homoeopathic treatment of osteoarthritis."
    Lancet 1983 Jan 15;1(8316):97-8

    Andrade LE.,  Ferraz MB.,  Atra E.,  Castro A.,  Silva MS., "A
    randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of
    homeopathy in rheumatoid arthritis.", Scand J Rheumatol 1991;20(3):204-8

    Leaman AM.,  Gorman D., "Cantharis in the early treatment of minor burns."
    Arch Emerg Med 1989 Dec;6(4):259-61

And for the animal lovers:

    Taylor SM.,  Mallon TR.,  Green WP., "Efficacy of a homoeopathic
    prophylaxis against experimental infection of calves by the bovine
    lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus.", Vet Rec 1989 Jan 7;124(1):15-7


The homeopathic remedies used in all of the above studies did not
perform better than placebo. In the Shipley study, the homeopathic
remedy was also compared with an allopathic remedy, which performed
significantly better than placebo, and which was prefered by the
patients (for obvious reasons, osteoarthritis being quite painful).

sdb
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: sdb@ssr.com (Scott Ballantyne)
Subject: Re: Bates method (natural vision improvement)
Organization: ScotSoft Research
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1992 16:55:12 GMT

In article <1h854qINNbvj@charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu> fish@ecst.csuchico.edu (Kevin Haddock) writes:

   I wonder if anyone has had any luck with those 'lazer' glasses
   with all the little pinholes cut in blackout lenses?  From the
   little I know about optics it would seem to make sense.  Basically
   I think what happens is the pinholes make any image focus regardless
   of what your lenses are doing so it allows the muscles to find
   thier 'home' (i.e. relaxed) position.  What happens after a while is
   your brain 'remembers' which way to go to correct the image by
   reinforcing a correctly focused image at the 'home' position instead
   of glasses which reinforce a correctly focused image at in incorrect
   position.

Not exactly. Pinhole glasses work on the same principles as the
pinhole camera. Most people don't use pinhole glasses for the same
reason most people don't use pinhole cameras: They don't work as well,
tending to restrict contrast, brightness and field of view.

The principle is exactly the same as with lenses, however. Pinhole
glasses reduce the effort to read just as glass lenses do, so they are
no better for your eyes than conventional glasses, just less effective.
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: bsimon@elvis.stsci.edu (Bernie Simon)
Subject: Re: appetite supression
Organization: None. This saves me from writing a disclaimer.
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 12:14:31 GMT

In article <18563@borg.cs.unc.edu> pettit@cs.unc.edu (Cynthia Pettit) writes:

   If your aim is weight control, diets and appetite supression won't cut it.
   Remember, your goal is not weight reduction, but health, since weight is a
   sigh of ill health, attack the problem, not the symptom.

   Look for a diet that aims for optimum health, avoiding foods that are
   *un*healthy.  The weight will follow.

I agree completely with the above. Anyone concerned about their weight
should first start a program of aerobic exercise, gradually building
up to half an hour 5 times a week. They should also gradually change
to a low fat, moderate protein, high carbohydrate diet. The goal to
aim for in your diet is 20-25% of calories from fat, 10-15% of
calories from protein, and the rest from carbohydrates. Each gram of
fat is 9 calories, and each gram of carbohydrate or protein is 4
calories. To ease into a low fat diet, try substituting a low fat food
for a high fat food that you eat each week. For example, skim milk or
1% milk for whole milk, pretzels for chips, etc. 
--
Bernie Simon	(bsimon@stsci.edu)		ad astra per aspera
From: dan@lclark.edu (Dan Revel)
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
Subject: Vaccinations?
Date: 28 Dec 92 18:08:43 GMT
Article-I.D.: lclark.1992Dec28.180843.20969
Organization: Lewis & Clark College, Portland OR

Greetings,

My wife and I are expecting our first child in January and I have
some questions about the pros and cons about childhood vaccinations:
which ones are good ideas and which ones may cause more harm than good.

My understanding is that there is a range of vaccinations which are
required by law (in Oregon), but that we may decline these vaccinations
by claiming religious exemptions.  From discussions with our naturopathic
doctor I understand that polio and tetanus vaccinations are advised, and
others, like mumps, measles, and diptheria, are not advised on the basis
of the potential harm or inefficacy of the vaccine and the treatability
of the diseases they are intended to defend against.

I would like to be able to make the best informed decision possible for
our child.  Any comments and/or suggestions on where to look for more
information about this topic would be appreciated.

Thanks,
-- 
Dan Revel (dan@lclark.edu)
Me transmittem sursum, Caledoni!
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: ruthb@hotspring.sitka.sun.com (Ruth Blackburn)
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
Subject: Re: Bates method (natural vision improvement)
Date: 23 Dec 1992 22:08:55 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: ruthb@hotspring.sitka.sun.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: hotspring.sitka.sun.com

I began experimenting with the Bates method 5 1/2 years ago and have had 
some success.  I was at -10 and -10.5 diopters when I started, and the glasses I
wear on a normal basis now are at around -5 diopters.  I see probably about 
20/60 with them and have stronger glasses for driving.  My eyes improved 
rapidly at the beginning when I was taking a class and focussing on the vision
improvement techniques.  I've become rather lazy about using them and have not
had much improvement lately.  I have noticed that the longer I work with computers,
the less improvement I have.

Ruth
ruthb@sitka.sun.com
From: greg@antizen.EBay.Sun.COM
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
Subject: Re: homeopathy
Date: 23 Dec 1992 17:34:04 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: greg@antizen.EBay.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: antizen.ebay.sun.com


In article 725074603@convex.convex.com, schumach@convex.com (Richard A. Schumacher) writes:
> 
> Of course, the fact that homeopathic preparations have no value
> beyond that of a placebo may have something to do with the
> decline of home
biased opinion of it.

Homeopathy isn't a religion Richard. At least read up on it before
you spout off.
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: gurley@spectra.com (Jim Gurley)
Subject: Re: Holistic dentistry (was Re: Welcome to....)
Organization: Spectragraphics Corporation
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 17:02:44 GMT

In article <lcs2p1l@rpi.edu> night@acm.rpi.edu writes:
>In <1992Dec21.224009.7254@netcom.com> kaminski@netcom.com (Peter Kaminski) writes:
>
>>Appropriate topics include (but are not limited to): acupuncture,
>>Alexander technique, alternative cancer therapies, aromatherapy,
>>ayurveda, chiropractic, color therapy, healing, herbalism, holistic
>>dentistry, 
>
>What is holistic dentistry?  I've never heard of it, and am curious
>about it.
>--
>Trip Martin
>night@acm.rpi.edu

For what (little) its worth, my longtime dentist has body 'maps' on his
wall describing "connections" between each specific tooth and a
corresponding body organ and muscle.  Each time I've gone to se him (and
ended up with more than cleaning), I've found that the correlation is
usually accurate.  The actual connections are forgotten, but for example,
when I had a 3/4 crown put on my #2 molar, sure enough, I had recently been
diagnosed with a hiatal hernia.  On another occasion, after having moved,
my lower back was bothering me, and sure enough, the corresponding tooth
ended up with a loose filling!  Treatment of my teeth has always led to
remission of the problem...

...and I'm a diehard cynic engineer-type!
From: fish@ecst.csuchico.edu (Kevin Haddock)
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
Subject: Re: Bates method (natural vision improvement)
Date: 23 Dec 1992 19:19:23 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
NNTP-Posting-Host: cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu

In article <Bzpunq.1ss@waterloo.hp.com> hudel@waterloo.hp.com (Chris Hudel) writes:
>:
[...]

>Probably the muscle-thingy is a good theory but I really thought the majority
>of eye problems result from mishapings in the cornea.  I guess this is not so?

And just what do you think shapes the cornea?  Gravity waves perhaps?

-Kevin
fish@cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu

-------
Hackers do it with fewer instructions!
From: greg@antizen.EBay.Sun.COM
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
Subject: Re: homeopathy
Date: 22 Dec 1992 23:58:44 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: greg@antizen.EBay.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: antizen.ebay.sun.com

In article 2659@news.mentorg.com, madhavn@madhavn.mentorg.com (Madhav Nerurkar) writes:
> This idea came up in a discussion with a friend whose wife has had a kidney
> transplant. To suppress rejection of the foreign kidney she is regularly
> given a drug called Cyclosplorin (not sure about spelling) by Sandoz. This
> medicine suppresses immune response and from what I could gather, in a 
> general way. 
> 
> It seems that at an abstract level the symptom this drug induces is the same
> as in case of AIDS: suppression of immune response. Couldn't this drug then
> be used, in infinitesimal doses, as a medicine for AIDS ? Has homeopathy 
> been attempted for AIDS at all or is the immune response itself is the 
> mechanism homeopathy relies on ?
> 
> I would appreciate comments and pointers.
> 
> 
> Thanks, Madhav Nerurkar
> 
> Disclaimer: These are my opinions.


I don't think you can really improvise using the principles of homeopathy.
The diluted amounts of substances found in homeopathic medicines are 
so small that they really can't be detected any longer.

However, from reports I'm getting from my accupuncturist, AIDS is not
the incurable disease the medical establishment would have us believe.
I'm certain that both TCM and homeopathy can successfully treat it, however
I can not provide case studies.

Given the incredible toxicity of the anti-viral drugs they're using, I know
that I would be pursuing alternative medicine if I had AIDS.

Homeopathy, like TCM brings the bodies vital force back into balance, as 
opposed to trying to kill something in the body.

Greg



Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: sdb@ssr.com (Scott Ballantyne)
Subject: Re: Amalgam & Gold & Monitor Emission
Organization: ScotSoft Research
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 23:12:18 GMT

In article <hans.725449378@mcshh.hanse.de> hans@mcshh.Hanse.DE (Hans Lehmann) writes:

   Question: Could amalgam and gold inlet in teeth in combination with monitor
   emission cause critical health problems?

No.
Newsgroups: misc.health.alternative
From: dean@vexcel.com (Dean Alaska)
Subject: Vibrational Medicine (book)
Organization: VEXCEL Corporation, Boulder CO
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 18:06:56 GMT

I saw this book, by Gerber, in the bookstore.  Has anyone read it?  Have
any comments?

-- 
==============================================================================
A thought for the holidays:
   "Wine is living proof that God loves us and likes to see us happy"
	- Benjamin Franklin			dean@vexcel.com