HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sam@hfglobe.intel.com (Sam Sivakumar)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.visa.us
Subject: Re: Can one be denied insurance based on citizenship?
Date: 23 Dec 92 17:49:27 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Intel Corporation

In article <tinkess.724721540@cambridge> tinkess@cambridge (Randall Tinkess) writes:
>shekar@bnr.ca (Shekar Benakatti) writes:
>
>>I was recently denied Insurance because I am not a citizen
>>of USA, but a permanent resident.  I have been informed that
>>they cannot legally do this to a permanent resident just
>>because he is not a citizen.  Does anyone know what I can
>>do?  The insurance company is refusing to put this in
>>writing.
>
>That insurance company is full of crap. I purchased and received full 
>insurance coverage immediately upon entry into this country and my 
>coverage was 100% for the full time when I was simply on a work visa. 

	My general experience is that very few people have any idea at all 
	about what any status other than a citizen is.  When you tell them
	that you are not a citizen, they generally think you are some kind
	of illegal alien.  The common person hasn't the foggiest idea about
	work visas, green cards, etc.  Because of the possible           
	misunderstandings that can occur due to this, everyone who is not
	a citizen would be well advised not to bring up that fact unless
	absolutely asked for.  The insurance agent probably thought that
	since you were not a citizen, you were a migrant worker or an 
	illegal alien and promptly freaked.


-- 
Sam Sivakumar
sam@intelhf.hf.intel.com
Portland Technology Development, Aloha OR 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: niebuhr@bnlux1.bnl.gov (david niebuhr)
Subject: Re: Dedicated ATM Card
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 12:27:52 GMT

Home Federal Savings and Loan has no fee for an atm card, nor does
it charge a fee is one of it's atm machines are used.  I believe it
does charge a $1 or $2 fee if the card is used on a non-Home Federal
atm.  Also, there is no minimum balance required in either a checking or
savings account to get the no-fee card.  

I've never had an occasion to use the card at a "foreign" atm so I
can't say what will happen.  When Home Federal's predecessor, Union
Savings (belly up 8/29/92), had the card, there was a $2 fee for
using a foreign atm machine and I did that once but strangely, never
saw a charge for it in my monthly checking account statement.

Dave
-- 
Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: colette@bnr.ca (Colette George)
Subject: Re: Cover Charge for Restaurant?
Organization: Bell-Northern Research 
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 17:59:22 GMT

In article <1992Dec19.080924.6804@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU>, ash@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (David Ash) writes:
|> I was somewhat annoyed this evening by something, but maybe I had no
|> justification to be;  I want the opinion of you guys.  I'm a *very*
|> regular customer of a particular local restaurant which recently expanded
|> to be both a restaurant and a bar.  However, I'm still only interested in
|> going there for the restaurant, not the niteclub, aspect of the place.  I
|> should mention that there are clearly separate restaurant and bar areas
|> to the place, although they do serve food in the bar area.
|> 
|> Tonight I was out with friends and we wanted seating in the restaurant
|> area for dinner (fri night).  They wanted a $5 cover charge.  We refused
|> and left.  I'm thinking of not going back since as I pointed out to the
|> guy (who knows I am a regular) that there should be some reward for
|> customer loyalty, and he refused to listen.
|> 
|> So my question is am I right to be miffed?  I feel I am because:
|> 1. cover charges help defray the expense of customers who order maybe
|> one drink (or water) and occupy a seat for hours--a dinner customer isn't
|> going to freeload in this way
|> 2. cover charges may be a reasonable fee for their live entertainment--but
|> then should be charged only in the bar area where one can benefit from the
|> entertainment
|> 3. regardless of policy, they should be willing to make an exception for
|> regular customers.  it's not like we wanted free dinners.
|> 
|> What do people think?

I've never heard of a restaurant charging a cover charge at the door - in fact,
it's ridiculous if you're going there for dinner - sort of like having to pay 
two tips or something. 

If you really like this restaurant, and want to stay a regular, you should
write a letter to the manager and follow-up with a phone call.  Ask them to
change their policy on cover charges.  Make it clear that they will lose the 
business of a regular, loyal customer (you) and potentially other business, 
such as your family, friends, etc. Be polite and reasonable at all times, and 
try to make them see the customer's point of view.  If they decide to change - 
great, but if not, I would stop going altogether.  

Personally, I think it's pretty sleazy to expect restaurant patrons to pay just
to get in the door. 

-- 
===================================================================
Colette George 			
Bell-Northern Research Ltd. 	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Internet:  colette@bnr.ca 
===================================================================
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: brett@sr.hp.com ()
Subject: Re: Interplak vs. Braun
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 17:20:02 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: HP Sonoma County (SRSD/MWTD/MID)
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.2 PL7]

Marcia Geier (geier@xylogics.com) wrote:
> I have been using an Interplak for a year or so and was wondering
> how the Braun compares....

Consumers Report had an article a couple of months back about electric
toothbrushes and other oral hygiene stuff.  I don't remember to many of the
details, but the Braun did come out above the Interplak. 

The biggest difference is in the head design.  The Braun is MUCH simpler and
therefore less likely to stop working.  That's one reason you can use any
toothpaste with the Braun.

We have a Braun and really like it.  We'll get another one if this one ever
stops working (which I hope isn't for a long time).

--

							Brett Carver
							(707) 577-4344
							brett@sr.hp.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kadie@cs.uiuc.edu (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject: Re: Levi Strauss DEFUNDS Boy Scouts
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 19:57:27 GMT

jess@engx25.trt.com (Jess Alvarado) writes:

[...]
>  There is no restriction preventing a boy (at any age), who
> professes to be homosexual [...]  from joining Boy or Cub Scout
[...]

Not so, boys who are homosexual or are nonbelievers may not
participate in Boy Scout of America programs. See rec.scouting for
details.

- Carl

-- 
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent any organization; this is just me.
 = kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =
From: stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Getting rich -- this is no joke!
Date: 3 Jan 93 00:16:40 GMT
Organization: Summit NJ

>On a related note: What is the biggest pyramid scam in the history
>of mankind?
>
>Answer: The U.S. social security. Thanks grandpa and grandma!

U.S. social security is not a pyramid scheme; it's a Ponzi scheme
(i.e., pay off the early investors with money received from later
investors).
-- 
Stan Krieger                 All opinions, advice, or suggestions, even
UNIX System Laboratories     if related to my employment, are my own.
Summit, NJ
smk@usl.com
From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: JUNK MAIL WITH BILLS
Date: 21 Dec 92 10:15:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-8298v.32bis
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 

-> The worst thing credit card companies do  is to attach a flap on
-> their payment envelopes with inane advertising  on it.  This ticks me
-> off  because I have to spend my time removing these things so  I can
-> seal the envelopes to mail them. Of course,  I send this stuff  back
-> with my  payments too.  If they  send junk that is too big to fit in
-> the envelope, I just fold it so it will fit in.

I even stick other advertising in their envelope. The best type is
sheets 8.5x11 that look like it MIGHT be correspondence from you about
your account.

If you should have to look at other stuff with you bill, they should
look at other stuff with your check.

ray.normandeau@factory.com
If I don't acknowledge EMail to me I didn't get it
                     
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ward@cs.uiuc.edu (Christ Ward)
Subject: Re: electric razor experience
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 21:28:34 GMT

phr@telebit.com (Paul Rubin) writes:

>In article <1hn4paINN329@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> jxs18@po.CWRU.Edu (Jerry Sy) writes:

>   Now I got a brand new Braun 2000 (2-position) ($47 at wal-mart).
>   It definitely shaves closer than norelco, will work with or without
>   the cord (norelco 805 only works cordless).  downside, it is VERY
>   noisy and it feels like you are holding a massager on your hand due
>   to the strong vibrations. other advantages, replacement blade is
>   cheaper ($15 compared to $20 for norelco), more compact in size,
>   has autovolt feature (works anywhere from 12v-220v AC or DC).  I do
>   like the pop-up trimmer of norelco better than braun, braun's
>   trimmer is too close to the foil and might catch your sideburns.
>   well, I'll just see how long this thing last.

>The Braun foil blade may need replacing more often; I don't know.
>The Norelco rotary blades are self sharpening.  My Norelco is over
>5 years old and I've never replaced the blades.  It is a 660tx
>and it is autovolt.  I'm surprised if the 805 is not autovolt.

Well here's .02 more, 

I've had the Braun (I think the 2000) for over three years.
I liked so much I bought the company...no that's not right,
just kidding.  I really do like it as does my father, who gave it 
to me when I was still living at home.  In fact my father got his
own this x-mas, because since I moved out he's been wanting one.
Anyway I've yet to replace my foil or the cutters (you can replace 
both right?), but, it is getting close to that time I think (I might
be able to go anouther year, however, it doesn't seem as sharp anymore).
I'm realy hard on it, because I only shave once a month or so and I 
have a really rough beard.  So, if you use it daily you might have to
replace the foil once a year or so, I can't remember what they sugjest.
But once a month it gets a real work out 10-15 min trimming and mabey
5-10 min shaving.  I hate shaving (thus the monthly cycle), but, the 
Braun really helps to make it more pleasent.  I never really noticed the
strong vivibrations, but, it's the only shaver I've ever used so YMMV.
It is nice to be able to use it with or with out the cord - I do both
as it's only go for the first 10-15 min after a charge, so I finish 
with the cord.  Oh, well happy shaving folks.



-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris T. Ward  DoD#0710   "Don't take life too seriously, you can never come
                           out of it alive."  -?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ashabana@agsm.ucla.edu (Ahmed Shabana)
Subject: Re: Recommendation for Nursery Monitors
Distribution: usa
Date: 21 Dec 92 10:07:02 PST

us267418@mmm.serc.3m.com (Andy Ihlenfeldt) writes:


>I use a Fisher Price model and am generally pleased with it.  I am amazed at
>the sensitivity of the microphone.   On occasion I do have problems: 

>1) I get static on the receiving end which can usually be alleviated by
>   moving the receiver.

>2) My receiver picks up conversations, possibly from radio, tv, cb 
>   or something else.  It's pretty annoying and seems to be getting
>   more frequent.  Changing channels has little effect.  Anyone else find
>   this a problem?

>Andy
>arihlenfeldt@mmm.com

I am very happy with the Playskool (sp?) model.

The conversations are nearby cordless phone calls. Baby
monitors and cordless phones share some frequencies.  

Ahmed
--
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahmed A. Shabana	         |
Anderson Graduate School of Mgmt.|
U.C.L.A.                         |
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dtasman@NMSU.edu (Dan Tasman)
Subject: Re: New Ikea Stores ????
Organization: New Mexico State University
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 03:29:16 GMT

In article <4918@wet.UUCP> sritacco@wet.UUCP (Steve Ritacco) writes:

: Can anyone tell me if there will be an Ikea store in the San Francisco area
: anytime soon.

I'd like to see IKEA open stores in relatively small markets, like they have in  
Canada.  In the States, IKEA stores are all located in fairly large metro areas  
(Washington, LA, New York), while north of the border, there are IKEA stores in  
such locales as Burlington (Hamilton), Quebec City and Ottawa.  

The Bay Area is ripe for IKEA, as are Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Atlanta,  
Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, Seattle and St. Louis ... why don't they  
realize this back in Stockholm?


--
   Dan Tasman                                       dtasman@dante.nmsu.edu
                                                     molson@rever.nmsu.edu
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
   "I think that I shall never see a billboard lovely as a tree
    Indeed, unless the billboards fall, I'll never see a tree at all."
                                                                Ogden Nash
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.culture.japan
From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: America doesn't have a clue: (was DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!)
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 16:49:57 GMT

In article <1992Dec28.190946.12722@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
>
>Mike Fester mentions the Lockheed case as an attempt, one assumes,
>to justify Japanese buying of influence here.
>
>The Lockheed case was an isolated incident acknowledged to have been
>wrong. People were, presumably, punished.
>
>Japanese influence-buying here is massive and consistent with
>Japanese policy. That's a very big difference.

You really haven't read very much on the subject, have you Mr Sternlight? Had 
you even given a CURSORY glance to van Wolferen's book, you would have found:

the following McDonnell-Douglass/Grumman bribery was at least as large (over
$1 million at an exchange rate of Y350 to the dollar).

Both the Lockheed and M-D cases were not "influence peddling" but outright
bribery.

Tanaka, became BY FAR the most powerful man in Japan even AFTER while time in 
jail (the "shadow Prime Minister") which continued until he suffered a stroke
in 1985. He was not, seemingly, too severely punished for taking a bribe from
a foreign company. And BTW, Tanaka NEVER acknowledged he was wrong.

His legacy still lived on in a) the mess of the current LDP b) the failure to
this day to open the second runway in Narita c) the ever increasing role of 
money in Japanese politics d) his hand-picking of the next few Prime Minister's

In short, as Karel van Wolferen disagrees with you, he must also be part of the
Japanese apologist clique you mentioned so eloquently in one of your previous 
posts. But wait, isn't van Wolferen's books one of those recommended by the 
author of the 2-part series whose virtues you extoll? Why, yes it IS, Mr
Sternlight. So, that 2-part series must also be part of the 'apologist' clique.
But wait (again)! Aren't YOU lauding the virtues of that 2-part series? Why
indeed you are! Therefore, you, along with my humble self and many, many
others, must also be part of this 'clique'. I had no idea it was so prevalent.

Mike
-- 
Disclaimer - These opinions are not so much opinions, as pearls of wisdom. Any-
one disagreeing is either a) a snivelling, whining, mentally deficient, weak
willed, inconsequential, namby pamby tool of some vaguely defined conspiracy, 
or b) my wife.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tattersall_derek@macmail1.rtsg.mot.com
Subject: Re: Levi Strauss DEFUNDS Boy Scouts
Organization: CSG Group
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:53:16 GMT

In article <1992Dec30.165849.16524@samba.oit.unc.edu>
Michael.Bohl@launchpad.unc.edu (Michael Bohl) writes:
>I just spoke with a customer service representative from Levi Strauss and
>Co. concerning their defunding of the Boy Scouts of America.  I was not
>certain I knew the reason so I asked their representative for an
>explanation.  She said it was because,
>
>        "The Boy Scouts discriminate against atheists and homosexuals."
>
>If you have an opinion on this matter (either side of the issue) you can
>call 
>
>                1-800-362-5377
>
>to let them know how you feel.  
>
>Additionally, in this era of consumer activism, may I suggest an
>appropriate buying pattern of their products.
>
>This applies whether you choose to purchase their jeans, etc. because you
>approve of their actions, or whether you cease purchasing their products
>because you don't.  
>--
>   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
>     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
>        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
>           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
>
I purchase their products because I like them. I also approve of defunding the
BSA. Maybe they should be defenestrated as well.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.invest.real-estate
From: ktong@shannon.jpl.nasa.gov (Kevin Tong)
Subject: Manufactured Housing (not a mobile home)
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Section 331
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:47:38 GMT


Does anyone out there know anything about manufactured housing or
has any experience with a house built using manufactured housing.  
I'm not referring to a mobile home, I'm referring to a house that 
is built in a factory and then shipped to the site and assembled
together.  The finished product should look no different than a
stick built house.

I'm doing research on this to see if this is a good (and cheaper)
alternative to custom building a home on a lot.

Information that I would like to get is

	* Companies and/or factory that manufactures this type
	of house in the Southern Calif. area.
	* Industry Assn. and or books that I can call or look
	up to find companies that do this
	* Experiences that people have had in having a home
	built this way.
	* References that I should consult (articles, books, etc)

	And any information that I need before I should even consider
using this method of building a custom house.

Thanks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Tong, (818) 354-0657      Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 238-420
ktong@shannon.jpl.nasa.gov       Pasadena, California  91109
---------------------------------------------------------------------
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Tong, (818) 354-0657      Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MS 238-420
ktong@shannon.jpl.nasa.gov       Pasadena, California  91109
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mark@nwra.com (Mark Baldwin)
Subject: Re: Professional carpet cleaning or rental unit?
Organization: Northwest Research Associates, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 18:42:20 GMT

Having done it both ways, here is my advice:
1) Use a professional who has a truck-mounted system. It is much
more powerful than the type that uses your house current.
2) If you can, hire someone who owns his/her own equipment. Ask how
many years he/she has been cleaning carpets.
3) Even if you don't have Dupont Stainmaster carpets, ask how
cleaning them differs from other carpets. The best cleaners have
attended classes conducted by Dupont and use special cleaning
fluids and techniques (so that the warranty is not voided).


    )_ _               ------------------------------------------- 
   /  ) ) _        /       Mark Baldwin - mark@sparky.nwra.com
  /  / / / / /\_  /_/  Northwest Research Associates, Bellevue, WA
 /  / /_(_/_/  (_/ \__ -------------------------------------------  
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.men,misc.misc
From: Michael.Bohl@launchpad.unc.edu (Michael Bohl)
Subject: Levi Strauss DEFUNDS Boy Scouts
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:58:49 GMT

I just spoke with a customer service representative from Levi Strauss and
Co. concerning their defunding of the Boy Scouts of America.  I was not
certain I knew the reason so I asked their representative for an
explanation.  She said it was because,

	"The Boy Scouts discriminate against atheists and homosexuals."

If you have an opinion on this matter (either side of the issue) you can
call 

		1-800-362-5377

to let them know how you feel.  

Additionally, in this era of consumer activism, may I suggest an
appropriate buying pattern of their products.

This applies whether you choose to purchase their jeans, etc. because you
approve of their actions, or whether you cease purchasing their products
because you don't.  
--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: RE: EARN MONEY IN YOUR S
Date: 21 Dec 92 10:05:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-8298v.32bis
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 

-> >For complete details send $1.00 cash or money order to :
-> >     MSLP Opportunities
-> >     P.O. Box 2283
-> >     Russellville, AR  72801
-> >
-> >Also include a note saying "Please send me information on how to
-> >make money from my home.
-> >
-> >The $1.00 covers printing, mailing and other cost incurred.

If it turns out to be a pyramid/chain letter scheme I recommend, I
recommend that the offer be put in an envelope and sent:
TO POSTAL INSPECTOR
at the sender's ZIP code.

Don't worry about putting a stamp on, just write "OFFICIAL BUSINESS"
where the stamp goes.
                                                            
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ggawron@comm.mot.com (Glenn Gawron)
Subject: Professional carpet cleaning or rental unit?
Organization: Motorola
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 08:56:45 GMT

We recently closed on our first house and need to do some cleaning before 
moving in.  The carpets are in good shape but the previous owner has a dog 
and we would like to get the carpets cleaned.  I have a couple of questions 
about this.
1.  Is it better to rent a carpet "steam cleaner" from the local super market
    or have a professional service come in and do it?  (Are cleaning fluids 
    the same and is the equipment comparable?)  
2.  If we have a professional do it then what questions should I ask 
    potential services (cleaning fluids, suction equipment etc...)?
3.  Should we go with the stain guard and other "extras"?

Thanks for all your help in advance!!
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Glenn Gawron                          | Internet: ggawron@comm.mot.com|
|Motorola Central Systems Engineering  |    X.400: C10836@email.mot.com|
|1301 E. Algonquin Road - IL02 Rm 0436 |    Voice: (708) 538-3756      |
|Schaumburg, Illinois. 60196 USA       |      Fax: (708) 576-5640      |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
>> Disclaimer-Opinions expressed are those of the sender NOT Motorola <<
Newsgroups: misc.consumers