HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jongsma@esseye.si.com (Ken Jongsma)
Subject: Re: 27" TV Recommendations
Reply-To: jongsma@esseye.si.com
Organization: Smiths Industries
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 01:47:25 GMT

In <18NOV199211442593@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov> smpod@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov (Stefan) writes:

>I asking for recommendations for a 27" TV.  Priorities are:
>1)reliability
>2)price  (around $600 max)
>3)performance
>4)convenience

I'm pretty pleased with my Zenith 27 inch set. Note that Zenith makes three
different 27 inch sets (other mfrs do similar things). I bought the top of
the line unit. It has a the words "Digital" on the top right of the frame.
You have to read the specs and look carefully, because they all look very
similar.

Anyway, it has color picture in picture, surround sound and of course is
stereo. The PIP is nice: You still need the VCR to drive it (it doesn't
have two tuners), but they've done some neat things with it. You can
watch the VCR and have three little pictures scan the last three channels
you were watching. There's an SVHS jack on the back as well as the usual
audio out jacks.

I've had it for over a year and have no complaints. Well, I do have one.
The words on the instruction decal under the bottom of the remote wore
off after about three months. I wrote Zenith and asked them for a new decal.
They mailed me a photocopy of the instruction page from the manual. :(

>Thanks.

You're welcome.
-- 
Ken Jongsma                                          
Smiths Industries                               jongsma@esseye.si.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan                      73115.1041@compuserve.com
From: irw@bharh58.bnr.co.uk (Ian Woollard)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Aluminum cookware:  Recipe for disaster?
Date: 19 Nov 1992 10:29:43 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe Ltd, London Road, Harlow, England.
NNTP-Posting-Host: 47.131.128.36

In article <JONATHAN.92Nov18164042@speedy.cs.pitt.edu> jonathan@cs.pitt.edu (Jonathan Eunice) writes:
>Aluminum is also one of the most common elements on the earth.  It
>appears in many soils and clays, for example, not to mention foods.
>So even if one were to avoid Al cookware and pipes, there would be
>plenty of opportunity to bring it into your body.

The current advice is: don't throw away your aluminium pans. If you
treat them reasonably carefully (perhaps like non-stick pans) you'll
do fine. The aluminium within hours forms aluminium oxide on any
damaged surface, and little aluminium(/oxide) gets carried into the
food after that. The one thing that is definitely *not* considered
wise is to cook acidic food like stewed fruit in aluminium pans.  The
acid attacks the metal and dissolves the surface and carries it into
the food.

The reason not to panic about your aluminium pans is that there are
large sources of aluminium in many peoples normal diet, as above. I
believe that tea has quite a good dose in it, more than you might get
from your pans.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: guppy@wixer.cactus.org (Jennifer Mery)
Subject: Re: A problem on 1990 Dodge CaraVan and other problems.
Keywords: Dodge, CaraVan, Plymouth, Voyager
Organization: Real/Time Communications
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 23:10:34 GMT

In article <Bxv4vp.8FJ@unx.sas.com> massengi@cloves.unx.sas.com (Darrell Massengill) writes:
>>Another known possible problem if the car is failing when hot is the
>>MAP sensor.  Being about a $60 item it is a fairly easy thing to replace.
>
>
>Hmmm.  There seem to be a lot of people (that I know - 6 off the top
>of my head) who have had this type of problem.  The symptom is 
>always the same.  There have been many different solutions applied.  
>I know of some people who have had the sensor replaced.  Another 
>solution involves replacing the fuel filter (under the van at 
>the sliding door).  The fuel filter seems to
>have worked for me for a while (until just before it blew a head
>gasket).   All solutions seem to have some effect.  But I keep 
>wondering why so many Caravan/Voyager owners are having the problem.  
>Are the Dodge/Plymouth people hiding a known problem?

I'd say yes, based on my experience. My sister doesn't have a van, she
has a 1987 Dodge Aries K, and they've had to replace that map sensor
several times (at least three times in 2 years), twice on long trips and
once in town. It broke down right after they bought it, but the dealer
didn't say what he had to do to fix it, but I wouldn't be surprised if
that was actually the MAP sensor again. And while some people may say that
it's a cheap fix, my sister isn't rich (at all) and 3 MAP sensor plus
labor isn't cheap (at leat $100 each time). I think the previous owner
of the car had the right idea: replace the map sensor and sell the damn
thing immediately.

jam
-- 
==============================================================================
Jennifer Mery |
Austin, Texas | guppy@wixer.cactus.org
==============================================================================
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rsingh@goliath.Stanford.EDU (   raj)
Subject: Millennium rechargeable batteries are COMPLETE JUNK!!!!!!
Summary: Junk American product
Keywords: rechargeable batteries, highway robbery!
Organization: Makalu Mountain Hermitage, Mt Makalu, Nepal
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 92 07:15:47 GMT

Folks, *don't* buy Millennium rechargeable batteries from a company
called "Gates Energy Products, Gainesville, Fl 32602."

I bought four millennium AA size rechargeable batteries and a
recharger at Fry's electronics a while .. it had a offer in that if I
mail the original receipt and one dollar to some p.o. box number in
kalamazoo, michigan, they would send me two more batteries free.
Well, it's been over 2 months and nothing has arrived. (And I put 1#
note, not a check, so don't even know if they got the letter or not.)

More importantly, the rechargeable batteries seem to have died down
after just abut 8-10 charges!  Even if I charge it for many hours, it
still barely runs for 1-1.5 hours in my walkman WITHOUT using the
motor for cassette, just radio.  Seems like a complete ripoff!

Anyone else have a similar experience?

--raj
-- 
Rajesh Kumar Singh               E-mail: rsingh@goliath.stanford.edu
Gauls!  We have nothing to fear; except perhaps that the sky may fall
on our heads tomorrow.  But as we all know, tomorrow never comes!!
                                         -- Adventures of Asterix.
From: lou@hpkslx.mayfield.HP.COM (Lou Kvitek)
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 01:02:16 GMT
Subject: Re: Nope again (was Re: Yup, Amway's a scam)
Organization: HP Response Center Lab
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

In misc.consumers, ldcolto@PacBell.COM (Larry Colton) writes:

> >VISA

> I wasn't aware VISA sold products to consumers.  Could you please offer
> some examples.

An Amway distributor can market VISA credit cards from 
Rocky Mtn National Bank in Colorado.  A VISA credit card
is a product.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.fitness,misc.misc,rec.misc
From: mack@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Gregg Mack ( Sun ))
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted on Home Workout Equipment
Organization: Motorola Inc., Austin, Texas
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 19:48:43 GMT

smay@boi.hp.com (Scott Smay) writes:

>gilbert.m.stewart (gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com) wrote:
>: 
>: In article <1992Nov11.144150.16158@oakhill.sps.mot.com>, mack@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Gregg Mack ( Sun )) writes:
>: |> glex@nitro.cray.com (Jeff Gleixner) writes:
>: |> >FYI: The sports listed above, not including bicycling, are not going to do
>: |> >much for you aerobic/cardiovascular wise.  They are short duration, anerobic 
>: |> I strongly disagree with your assesment of bicycling not being aerobic.
>: |> it all depends on how you ride the thing.  Riding a century (100 miles)
>: 
>:
>Come ON, people, learn to read. Of course bicycling is aerobic, as the 
>poster conceded when he excluded bicycling from the list of sports that
>aren't aerobic. Nobody in this thread has said bicycling isn't aerobic.

>cheers?
>scott 

*************************************************************

 I admit that I made a mistake!  I read the double-negative incorrectly
and fired-off my defense of bicycle riding being aerobic.  I didn't
discover my error until after I posted it.  I've already sent an 
appology directly to Jeff.  I am now posting one to the entire world
so that no further USENET bandwidth will be wasted over this MISTAKE.
I'M SORRY...

I know.  That was terrible.  Shoot me.
OK, ...............

         \                      /
              \    | |      /
                 \     /
         \       @#####@      ______                                      !!!
     __    __  (###   ###)-.           BBBBB  LL       AA     MM     MM   !!!
             .(###     ###) \  ---     BB  BB LL      AAAA    MMMM MMMM   !!!
        /   /  (###   ###)   )_____    BBBBB  LL     AA  AA   MM MMM MM   !!!
         / (=-  .@#####@|_--"          BB  BB LL    AAAAAAAA  MM  M  MM    _
        /  /\    \_|l|_/ (\            BBBBB  LLLLL AAA   AA  MM     MM   (!)
       /  (=-\     |l|    /  \
      /    \  \.___|l|___/    \
           /\      |_|   /
          (=-\._________/\
           \             /
            \._________/
              #  ----  #
              #   __   #
              \########/
-- 
Gregg Mack                  ---------- __o       __o       __o       __o
gmack@paceline.sps.mot.com  -------- _`\<,_    _`\<,_    _`\<,_    _`\<,_
Motorola RISC uProcessors   ------- (*)/ (*)  (*)/ (*)  (*)/ (*)  (*)/ (*)
Austin, Texas  USA          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: bb11807@medtronic.COM (Brian A. Blow)
Subject: Re: Products you only buy once
Organization: Medtronic, Inc.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 13:31:48 GMT

 (FJM1@psuvm.psu.edu) wrote:
: I am trying to identify products that a person only purchases once.

How about that doctor who invented the 'suicide machine'?  I bet he
doesn't get too many repeat customers.


--Brian                   brian.blow@medtronic.com
                          (612) 574-4030
From: splee@pd.org (Seng-Poh Lee, Speedy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: eyeglasses: want info about anti-reflective coatings
Date: 19 Nov 92 23:23:49 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Public Domain Inc., Atlanta, GA
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Marc Weinshenker (marc@acuson.com) wrote:
> I would like to hear about experiences with anti-reflective
> coatings for regular clear eyeglass lenses. I have some idea
> about the advantages as well as the expense, but I would also
> like to know about what the downsides might be.
> 
Are these coatings placed on the inside or outside of the lenses?
I have a pair of high refractive glass lenses and the reflections
on the INSIDE (via light from above and/or behind) really bother me.
Will coating on the inside help?

Thanks

--
Seng-Poh Lee    <splee@pd.org>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.kids
From: monwel@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (douglas.w.monroe)
Subject: Electronic Sketch-Pads/Animators info wanted
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 18:09:48 GMT
Followup-To: poster


Hello, I'm trying to find some information about the sketchpads for kids.
The two I"ve seen are the V-Tec and the My First Sony. Anyone have any 
experience wiht them? Did your kids like/love/hate it? Any other brands
I should check out. Also, what is the best price obtainable for these?
I've seen V-Tec advertised at $89 (Best Products) and Sony at $99 (The Wiz)
I had a horrible experience with the sales folks at the Wiz (BTW) Can you get
them cheaper by mailorder? Many thanks--please e-mail replies.
-- 
                                                          Doug Monroe
                   				       dwm@pruxl.att.com
  						 or   monwel@cbnewsk.att.com
From: curt@vtucs.cc.vt.edu (Curt Tilmes)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Doctor ripoff, or just reality?
Date: 16 Nov 92 22:33:38 GMT
	<1992Nov12.202654.25647@cpqhou.compaq.com>
	<1992Nov13.061347.4826@cbnewsc.cb.att.com>
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: na
Organization: Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
In-reply-to: kapa@cbnewsc.cb.att.com's message of 13 Nov 92 06:13:47 GMT

In article <1992Nov13.061347.4826@cbnewsc.cb.att.com> kapa@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (k.a.perkins) writes:

>   It is quite clear to me what my insurance is not
>   going to pay for, like preventative medicine, for example.  My insurance
>   will not pay a dime for vaccinations, but if I or one of my dependents
>   got polio or tuberculosious (sp?), they would pay big time.


Why do you need insurance for a 100% probable cost?  There is an
overhead cost for every dollar that you (or your employer) pays the
insurance company, who then pays the doctor.  If you know you are
going to have to make some payments, just keep that money out of your
paycheck yourself.
From: saseph@hal.unx.sas.com (Ed Hughes)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Products you only buy once
Date: 23 Nov 92 15:11:43 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Originator: saseph@hal.unx.sas.com


In article <1emnjnINNqib@uwm.edu>, fino@point.cs.uwm.edu (Alexander Finogenov) writes:
>In article <92325.170640FJM1@psuvm.psu.edu> <FJM1@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>
>: I am trying to identify products that a person only purchases once.
>
>I am not sure about a book: what about the following editions?
>
>How about anything which may be protected under the Copyright (software,
>painting)?
>
>Expensive jewelry? Sledge hammer? Wedding dress?
>
>Services of a bad surgeon?

COFFIN.
-- 
Ed Hughes, SAS Institute  | "I'm human; now shut up and pass the salt!"
Cary, NC                  | --Crow, "Rocketship X-M," MST3000
                          |
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:19129 misc.consumers.house:14672
From: ahill@boi.hp.com (Andy Hill)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Kerby Vacuum Cleaners Information
Date: 16 Nov 92 16:11:21 GMT
Reply-To: ahill@boi.hp.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: LaserJets by Bill & Dave
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

James H. Cloos Jr. (cloos@theory.TC.Cornell.EDU) wrote:
> 
> Now just what the Distributor's price is I'd be very interested to know....
> 
The sales organization is a pyramid, with fairly large markups at each
level.  Based on guesstimates from an ex-Kirby salesman, I derived an
approximate pricing chart:

                                  % Markup     Generation 3 Prices
              Ex-Factory            --                340
              Local Warehouse       15                392
              Area Manager Cost     20                470
              Sales Manager Cost    20                564
              Salesman Cost         33                750
              List                 100               1500
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: lrj@cs.cornell.edu (Lew Jansen)
Subject: Re: Whining about buying American cars
Organization: Lab of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 20:15:42 GMT


	Jeff, great article!  :)  Yer reeling them in by the boatload!
	Hook, line, and sinker.

-- 
    -- Lew Jansen, N2KNV               lrj@helios.tn.cornell.edu
    LASSP/LNS Systems Manager                (607) 255-6065
            "You can't fight in here, this is the War Room!"
From: joel@upchrch.UUCP (Joel Upchurch  )
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Can I sue for lost value of car after accident?
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 01:36:33 EST
Organization: Upchurch Computer Consulting, Orlando FL

stanton@haas.berkeley.edu (Richard Stanton) writes:

> Some months ago I was hit (while driving) by an uninsured motorist. My
> insurance covered this, and they paid a body shop about $8,500 do do repairs
> on my 1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible. Why did I not take the money? Because
> I'm an idiot, and because I was assured by the body shop that
> 
> a) The car was worth over $10,000 (pre accident)
> 
> b) The value after they'd repaired it would be at least as high as before
> the accident.
> 
> I rather suspect I got screwed. A mechanic who looked at the car
> recently gave the workmanship a fair passing grade, and said it would
> definitely affect the amount I could get if I sold the car. I'm pretty
> sure now I wouldn't get any more than the cost of the repairs if I sold
> it today. Oh well. I suppose I should learn something from this.

It pays to deal with a reputable body shop. I was in a fairly serious
accident last year. When I saw the estimate from the insurance company
I saw several things I thought the adjuster had overlooked. I
mentioned them to the body shop and when the car arrived he went over
it and found a lot of things that the adjuster and I had both missed.
He called the insurance company and they sent out an adjuster and he
showed the adjuster all the things that were wrong and the insurance
company agreed to total the car. The guy at the body shop told me
that there was no way he could fix up the car well enough that he
would drive it much less let a customer drive it. This decision
cost him several thousand dollars in business in the short term, but
means that I will certainly use him in the future and recommend him
to anybody who asks. By the way the body shop is McManus Auto Body
6239 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida.

It didn't hurt that my insurance company, State Farm, takes pretty
good care of their customers and gave me a prompt and fair settlement
on the value of the car. I also got my deductible back when the other
insurance company settled with them, but the other insurance company
took their own sweet time paying off.

Of course after that was the living hell I went through when I used
an auto broker to buy my next car and he disappeared without paying
the dealer for the car. But that is another story.

(If your mail bounces use the address below.)
Joel Upchurch/Upchurch Computer Consulting/718 Galsworthy/Orlando, FL 32809
joel@peora.ccur.com {uiucuxc,hoptoad,petsd,ucf-cs}!peora!joel (407) 859-0982
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: guido@blink.att.com (Guido Bertocci)
Subject: Re: Kerby Vacuum Cleaners Information
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 14:45:12 GMT
Keywords: We are talking about a Kirby not a Dirt Devel

debraa@elvis.sharebase.com (Debra Ashcraft) writes:

>Okay, Kirby's are great--I've owned one for about 17 years now. 
>But how about allergies? My sister moved in with me 4 years ago
>and complains and complains about the dust particles that the Kirby
>throws out.

>She says Rainbows are better because the dirt gets caught in the water
>filter.  Then there's some brand that Whole Earth Access sells that has
>something like 3 filters, that is supposed to be even better than the
>Rainbow.  (Something about fungus from Rainbow's water filter ... )

>Not that I necessarily want to purchase another vacuum cleaner ....  
> 
>Any comments?
>Debbie

As a Kirby owner, I strongly recommend throwing the damn thing away
and investing in a central vac for slightly more than the cost of a Kirby.
Since you can often get a good central vac installed for less than $1000
and by having it vent outside and it will drastically reduce allergy problems.
Unlike the Rainbow you don't have to worry about constantly cleaning a bunch
of filters.

The basic problem with the Kirby is that it weighs a ton and has been
shown by Consumer Reports not to clean any better than any other
decent vacuum.  I can assure you that I'm not fond of it, my wife hates it,
and even our cleaning help hates it.  The only think I use the Kirby for
these days is to blow up kiddy pools.

Unless you are renting and planning on moving soon a central vac is one
heck of a lot more convenient.  Try cleaning cobwebs near the ceiling with
a Kirby or a Rainbow.  Try vacuuming under a sofa with a Kirby.  It can
be done, but you will spend half your time switching from the power head
to the hose and back or trying to lug the damn thing up and down stairs.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jake@cae.prds.cdx.mot.com (Jake Jacobson)
Subject: Re: Any Experiences/Opinions on NordicTrac Exercisers?
Organization: none
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 20:36:13 GMT


I have been using the PRO model for about two years and I am very
happy that I bought it.  I use it regularly during the colder months,
something I could never say about exercise bikes or any other exercise
machine I have tried.  The action is very similar to cross-country skiing.
The machine can be set to various levels for different degrees of
exertion, and you will get a good workout.  I recommend it highly.
-jake- 

jake@cae.prds.cdx.mot.com

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.drugs
From: henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch)
Subject: Re: Doctor ripoff, or just reality?
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems; a div of Booz, Allen & Hamilton
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 19:28:21 GMT

TCWD000 <TCWD@MUSIC.TCS.TULANE.EDU> wrote: 
->sounds familiar. had to take my SO to the emergency room and after
->treatment i had to spend about $58 on a prescriptionfor 20 capsules

you didn't have to buy these at the hospital pharmacy.

--
# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
# "fight the real enemy."  -- sinead o'connor, and many others.
#     for information on the league for programming freedom, 
#                     write to lpf@uunet.uu.net
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: hemant@cbnewse.cb.att.com (hemant.b.bhatt)
Subject: extended warranty
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 03:50:19 GMT

I am going to buy Plymouth Voyager Minivan.

(1) Should I buy 7 year 70000 miles Bumper to Bumper
    extended warranty?


(2) What kind of Alarm system is good?


(3) Should I get sunscreen glass or after market    
    sunscreening will be okay if needed? Or some
    conversion van like curtains?


Thank you.
From: rrw@sunset (Bob Wier)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Discount silverware?
Date: 22 Nov 92 19:52:36 GMT
Originator: rrw@sunset.cse.nau.edu

From article <96900001@misty.boeing.com>, by karen@misty.boeing.com (Karen Robinson):
> 
>  Don't forget some other less conveitional sources--why pay full retail,
>  or even discount.  People (desparate people) sell their sterling
>  all the time.  Watch the classified ads of major metropolitan area
>  newspapers in the housewares section (usually there is a listing for
>  China, Silver, Glassware or something similar).  Also, second hand
>  dealers and Silver matching services sell at below retail.  Most people
>  hardly use their sterling and it's just doesn't wear out!!! Auctions
>  are also good places to look.  I have bought sterling, Waterford Crystal,
>  and Wedgewood china through such sources.

   This is very true.  When we were breaking up my folk's estate, the question
   of what to do with the (real) silver came up.  We consulted an appraiser
   and was told that with the exception of a few collectable patterns, there
   was virtually no market for it beyond the value of the silver content.

   Mainly this is because no one uses it anymore for actually eating.  IT
   is a labor intensive item (polishing) and expensive to buy to boot.
   The historical reasons for it's use was that it was possible to produce
   very shiny surfaces, and since silver is somewhat toxic its use cut
   down on food poisioning before refrigeration (or at least so I've heard).

   We ended up selling it for virtually nothing at the estate sale, and since
   the set wasn't complete anyway, keeping a few of the pieces for sentimental
   value.

   Or, alternately, you can hope that the Hunt Brother's try to corner the 
   silver market again and wait for the next spike up in the market (what did
   it get to, anyway?  Was it $80/oz? back in 1980 or thereabouts).


- Bob Wier

  ---------- insert favorite standard disclaimers here ----------
                   College of Engineering
      Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona
  Internet: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu | WB5KXH | fax:602 523 2300