HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kmldorf@utdallas.edu (George Kimeldorf)
Subject: Re: Thermostats
Organization: Univ. of Texas at Dallas
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 23:40:34 GMT

I have a different question about thermostats.  I have a
mechanical thermostat (old-fashioned bi-metallic strip attached to
a mercury switch) which operates from the 24V furnace transformer to
control both heating and air conditioning.  It works okay, except 
that there is a large range between the temperature at which the
air conditioning, say, goes on and goes off.  Depending on how we
set it, it either gets uncomfortably warm before the AC starts or
uncomfortably cold before the AC goes off.  Would it be better to
replace the thermostat with an electronic one?  If so, can anyone
recommend one?  We want something simple, no complicated programs, 
no clock, no setbacks.

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:10576 alt.privacy:1062
From: edp@bsdbld.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.privacy
Subject: Re: capturing caller id data
Date: 17 Apr 92 15:34:48 GMT
Reply-To: edp@bsdbld.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <1992Apr17.020409.4931@rfengr.com>, rfarris@rfengr.com (Rick
Farris) writes:

>Gads.  "it is not really completely secure"  Isn't that like
>being a "little bit pregnant?"
>
>Is there any difference between the phrase "not really
>completely secure" and "not secure?"

I remember reading somewhere that every lock is a time lock.  A bank
vault is not really secure because it can be broken into, given
sufficient time.  Would you therefore say it is not secure?  Calling
line identification does provide features that would be useful to some
people for security purposes.


                                -- edp (Eric Postpischil)
                                "Always mount a scratch monkey."
                                edp@alien.enet.dec.com
From: muncie@einstein.eds.com (muncie)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Chevy Lumina Experinces?
Date: 13 Apr 92 13:03:44 GMT
Organization: EDS/TSD - Troy, MI

I am planning on buying a new car soon, and considering the national
economic situation ........ I want to buy american made. I like the 
appearance, price, ride, and seating comfort of the lumina euro.

Now the question for those of you owning said vehicle, what are your
views after the purchase? If enough reply with answers, and enough 
wish a summary..... I shall post one.

Thanks In Advance,

Bob M.

-- 
Bob Muncie                              Inet: muncie@pascal.tsd.eds.com
EDS/TSD/FSD/CSDPG/CSIST                 Troy,MI. (313) 265-8468 
~
From: dudding@sallyride.crd.ge.com (Kate Dudding)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Reducing styrofoam usage
Keywords: BYOPC  (Bring Your Own Plastic Container)
Date: 8 Apr 92 12:42:40 GMT
Reply-To: dudding@sallyride.crd.ge.com (Kate Dudding)
Organization: GE Corporate R&D Center

I don't read this news group, so if someone else has already thought of
this, sorry...

Whenever we go out to eat, except fast food places, we bring home food
(I don't eat all of my main course so I'll have room for desert :-).

In USA, the leftovers are usually put in styrofoam containers.  Now
we leave plastic containers in our car; so that whenever we go out,
we can use our own containers.  (For us, it's easier to put these
containers in the car as soon as they are clean, than to remember to
put them in the car as we're dashing out the door to the restaurant.)

This idea was inspired by a friend's idea.  She objects to using paper
plates at picnics.  So she keeps a set of reusable plastic dishes and
silverware in her car that she used at our work picnic, for example 


Kate Dudding                                   dudding@crd.ge.com
GE Corporate Research and Development
Bldg. KW, Room C315
PO Box 8, Schenectady, NY 12301                (518) 387-7164
From: gboja@mips.com (Glenda Boja Ramil)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: how to fight a citation
Date: 10 Apr 1992 17:20:49 GMT
Organization: MIPS Computer Systems, Sunnyvale, California
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: ralph.mips.com
Originator: gboja@ralph.mips.com

Hi all,

I would like to get information on the following situation:

My husband's family own a fourplex in Santa Clara, CA (Santa Clara
county).  Last month they received a violation notice when a
Santa Clara inspector inspected the fourplex (outside premises only).

They were able to correct all of the items in the violation notice
(most of the items included tenants leaving boxes/auto parts in the
carport) except for one item.  For this one item, the inspector wants
the dryer(for the washer/dryer) vent to be rerouted since according
to him that at its current location, it is a fire hazard.

They have had this unit for 4 years now and this is the first time
that they have been given this citation and they checked the building
next door and the dryer vent location is in the same place.

They tried to talk to the inspector to have him waive this citation but
he will not.  They have also talked to another inspector within Santa
Clara county and he said that if he had inspected the unit, he probably
would not have given that citation.

So, the bottom line is that they would like to fight this one item
in the citation.  Does anyone have any advice on doing this ? 

thanks much,
Glenda Ramil

ps. email is fine (gboja@mips.com)
From: toad@cellar.org (Tony Shepps)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Read books/40k yr ?????????
Date: 11 Apr 92 17:27:22 GMT
Organization: The Cellar BBS and public access system

> I was looking though the local trade paper and I have some questions on some 
> the jobs that were listed.
> 
> First, what is the catch with reading books and TV scrips for 40K a year?
> 
> Second, what is the catch with assembling products at home for $500/week?

You can save yourself a lot of time and effort in trying to "debunk" these
kinds of offers... just consider the way the free market works.

Figure this: there would be an awful lot of competition for jobs like these.
Both jobs are the kinds of jobs that people want to do.  Many people want to
make a lot of money while working at home; many people would want to earn a
living simply by reading.

If there actually were such jobs at that kind of pay, wouldn't they be
filled instantly?  Wouldn't the demand for these jobs be very great?  In
fact, would anyone even have to ADVERTISE these jobs?  I would think that a
person with these jobs to offer would be able to fill them through
acquaintances and word-of-mouth.

In general, the marketplace offers more money for jobs that can not be done
by just ANYONE.  Supply and demand comes into play.  There are only a few
people who are able/willing to fight oil fires, perform intricate surgery,
or design bridges -- therefore, those kinds of jobs pay well.  On the other
hand, practically anyone can stock supermarket shelves, flip burgers, read
books and TV scripts or do simply assembly in their own home.  Therefore,
those kinds of jobs pay very poorly.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Tony Shepps      toad@cellar.org      (...{tredysvr|uunet}!cellar!toad)  -
- The Cellar BBS  +1 215 654 9184   Reliable hardware, responsible sysops, -
- and line nois# is n~ver a prob{{{d~~{d{d{d{d{{{{i8f~~      NO CARRIER
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: berger@atropa (Mike Berger)
Subject: Re: How to end unwanted phonecalls
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 21:10:37 GMT

robger@intellistor.com (Robert Gerovski) writes:
>I found an easier way purely by accident. When I was buying my house
>I heard from friends that as soon as you hook up your phone you get
>inundated with calls from telemarketers. For reasons not related to
>this I had my phone number "unlisted, unpublished." The phone company
>told my that the first takes you out of the phone book, and the second
>takes you out of the lists for directory information. In the last 2
>years I have only received 3 phone calls from telemarketers, and all 3
>were from people dialing random numbers.
*----
Why should YOU have to pay extra to avoid telemarketers?  That's not
a very worthwhile solution in my opinion.
--
	Mike Berger
	Department of Statistics, University of Illinois
	AT&TNET     217-244-6067
	Internet    berger@atropa.stat.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking
From: amo@cbnews.cb.att.com (arlene.m.osborne)
Subject: Re: Where to buy Seafood in Boston??
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 18:15:34 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Summary: $$$

In article <kuokooINNqnf@roundup.crhc.uiuc.edu>, mary@uicsl.csl.uiuc.edu (Mary E. Allison) writes:
> 
>      I would like her to bring home (to Illinois) some friends for
> dinner (in the form of some lobsters and a few scallops).  
> 
>      So, I'm looking for a place in Boston, near the Conservatory (or
> near a "T" stop) that sells FRESH - CHEAP - seafood that will package


Have you priced lobster lately?????  Somehow the words lobster and cheap
don't go together anymore, especially in the same post.  It's been
$8.99 to $9.99 a pound!  If you're looking for cheap, I don't think
you're gonna find it!

Arlene Osborne
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.privacy
From: epstein@sunc7.cs.uiuc.edu (Milt Epstein)
Subject: Re: capturing caller id data
Reply-To: epstein@cs.uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 20:16:58 GMT

In <1992Apr04.040917.14098@disk.uucp> tony@disk.uucp (tony) writes:

>Well, it may not be universally known, but you can prevent folks with
>Caller ID devices from getting your number.  Just precede the number
>you want to call with1167 (rotary phones) or *67 (tone phones).  I
>think doing this would be particularly useful if you were dealing with
>a company like a collection agency, as they would be more likely to
>use Caller ID than the average consumer.  This way,say you were a
>debtor, you could negotiate a payment plan before identifying
>yourself.  I use the *67 dialing prefix whenever I have to call a
>party I'm un- familiar with as I feel it is my prerogative to
>introduce myself when, and if, it is appropriate.

What you describe is called "per-call blocking".  However, I'm not
sure that it's available everywhere that Caller ID is.  It is up to
each state's commision as to what they want to allow.  Here in
Illinois, the phone companies asked for Caller ID without any kind of
blocking, but the ICC (Illinois Commerce Commission) said that they
must provide per-call blocking (and perhaps that it must be free).

I believe that some state commissions have allowed Caller ID without
any kind of blocking, and some mandate that "per-line blocking" (where
you can specify that all calls from a phone have the ID blocked) be
available.  Can anyone verify this, or provide some stats about how
many states have approved Caller ID, and with what stipulations?

-- 
Milt Epstein
Department of Computer Science
University of Illinois
epstein@cs.uiuc.edu
From: rinehart@aramis.rutgers.edu (Mark J. Rinehart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ***WARNING: BE CAREFUL WHEN DEALING WITH ALLSTATE INSURANCE!***
Date: 15 Apr 92 15:07:46 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

In article <14910014@hprpcd.rose.hp.com> ehill@hprpcd.rose.hp.com (Eric Hill) writes:

> Allstate has always had the reputation of taking care of their own 
> customer and putting everyone else through the ringer.  
> Their pattern is to deny every claim coming from a non Allstate
> client.

But interestingly, I had occasions to be hit, twice, by drivers
insured by Allstate. On both occasions, the fault was the allstate
insureds, and the damage was just under $1000 each time. Allstate
issued me a voucher with not one bit of static or other problem. The
voucher cleared within a week each time, and I was able to get my car
fixed using my body shop and within the estimate. While I hate them,
and have heard my friends horror stories about trying to collect from
them, insured or not, they have treated me fairly. I must have gotten
lucky - twice!! But they still suck. 

Mark
From: masticol@cadenza.rutgers.edu (Steve Masticola)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Discrimination at Mitsubishi
Date: 14 Apr 92 13:14:29 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Wow. I've taken shit from dealerships before, but never like that.

I think you have a case for lawsuit and criminal prosecution of Mr.
Avery on grounds of slander and racial harassment.

A friend of mine makes a policy of being willing to spend twice as
much to teach a lesson to a bad apple like that, as said bad apple
originally cost him. Although you didn't lose any money, I think this
applies here.

Forget about Mitsubishi's promise of "internal discipline" for Avery;
at most they'll fire him. NAIL the bastard.

- Steve (masticol@cs.rutgers.edu).
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jeff@jlk.Berkeley.EDU (Jeff Kilpatrick)
Subject: Heathkits info
Keywords: Phone number
Reply-To: jeff@jlk.b11.ingr.com
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, AL
Distribution: misc
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 17:03:00 GMT

  I just read this about Heathkit ceasing operation.  Does anyone know if they're having a sell off?  If so does someone know a phone number?  Sorry if this has already been hashed over, I don't normally read this group.  Please email.  Thanks.

jeff

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:10305 alt.privacy:997
From: jack@myamiga.mixcom.com (Jack Decker)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.privacy
Subject: Re: capturing caller id data
Date: 9 Apr 92 03:45:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: f8.1992Apr9.37e2
Organization: Northern Bytes BBS - Sault Ste. Marie, MI U.S.A.

In article <1992Apr4.002109.21279@mdd.comm.mot.com> dated 4 Apr 92 00:21:09
GMT, gilbert@mdd.comm.mot.com (John Gilbert) wrote:

 > >Most areas implementing Call ID are also implementing the ability
 > >to block the service when placing a call.
 >
 > I don't know the reality of implementation, but most anywhere that
 > blocking is offered, it is over the opposition of the service providers,
 > and by requirement of the utilities commision.  And then they fight
 > hard against line blocking and claim per-call will be enough,
 > because the presumption is most people will forget to block.

Right you are.  However, technology will come to the rescue.  I have already
seen an ad in a telephone industry magazine for something called "ID Stopper."
The description reads "Any subscriber to Caller I.D. service now has access to
your telephone number whenever you call them.  If you value your privacy and
would like to restrict such access you need SouthTech's CALLER I.D. STOPPER."
The drawing shows a phone plugged into this device and the device in turned
plugged into a phone jack. I suspect it works by simply listening for dial tone
and then firing a *67 down the line, then you can dial your number, but I don't
know that for a fact.  Of course, that would only work in areas where per-call
blocking is available.  Some areas of the U.S. and Canada do not have ANY type
of blocking available.

The dealer price on these is currently $35.00 and I rather expect to see
similar units for less money soon.  The ad I saw was from a company called New
Tech Industries, Inc., 2000 S.W. 71st Terrace, Suite B-5, Davie, FL 33317,
800-822-2602.  I have NO connection with this company, nor have I ever ordered
anything from them (we don't even have Caller ID in my neck of the boonies
yet), I simply saw their ad in a magazine and thought some might be interested
to know that such a device is purportedly available.

Of course, if the use of these units becomes widespread, the telcos will
probably try to charge for per-call blocking on a per-use basis.  :-(

Jack Decker                               | No, I don't own an Amiga; I just
Internet address: jack@myamiga.mixcom.com | get Internet mail via a gateway
Fidonet address:  1:154/8                 | system that runs on an Amiga.
From: pjl2@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Paul J Landsberg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Complaining about a hospital bill...
Date: 15 Apr 92 16:46:58 GMT
Article-I.D.: cunixf.1992Apr15.164658.6943
Reply-To: pjl2@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Paul J Landsberg)
Organization: Columbia University

Mike Berger writes:
>stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger) writes:
>>Finally, here's a book answer of mine.  After the guy who drives a
>>BMW while I drive a Chevy or whose kid goes to a prestigious high-priced
>>college while mine goes to a state college charges me more than what
>>the insurance considers "reasonable and customary", and who gives me
>>a lecture about Travelers not setting his prices, my response is simply
>>that if it weren't for the boss' medical plans, he'd be lucky to do
>>half the business he's doing, because nobody could afford his prices
>*----
>If everybody had that attitude, nobody would want to sell anything
>to me here at the University of Illinois.  It can take 3 months to
>get paid by a state institution.  And I know that medical insurers
>aren't often faster than that.

Actually, I can vouch that it already is happening.  A friend of mine
had a small architectural firm.  They had gotten burned once by dealing
with COlumbia University.  He says there view of vendors is, "if your 
mother carries you for nine months, you can carry us for nine months."
Anyway, they had opportunities to bid on small renovation jobs, etc
and they would have provided personal, quality very reasonable service.
HOWEVER, since Columbia is a reknowned deadbeat, they refused to do any
business with them.  Basically, the end result is that Columbia has to 
deal with BIG firms with BIG overheads and LARGE profit margins.  In
other words, carrying this to the end, Columbia ends up "overpaying"
on most services they purchase because of their policies.

>I'll take your statement a step further.  If it weren't for your
>boss's medical plan, the care-provider might demand cash-on-delivery
>in exchange for lower prices.  Would you be prepared to front the
>costs out of pocket while YOU wait for reimbursement?

Some doctors already do this.  I can name four.


>And finally, the costs of certain drugs or organ transplants may
>seem pretty high, but your complaint reminds me of the people that
>used to complain that "a computer shouldn't cost $ 2000.  The
>components probably don't add up to $ 500."  What about all the
>research and development that led to the production of those
>components?  What about the expertise that went into integrating
>the system?  Who do you suppose covers the cost of after-sales
>support if it's not built into the selling price?  If you want to
>beat the high cost of drugs or organ transplants, I'll give you
>the same answer I tell people who don't want to pay the computer
>expert's fee.  Do it yourself.

Ahem, excuse me but the AMA might have something to say about "do it
yourself."  But this goes into free market nonsense so.............

Paul Landsberg
From: ersys!bhendrix@agchem.redwater.iol.ca (Brian Hendrix)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: New Canadian Lotto Scam?
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:03:33 GMT
Organization: Edmonton Remote Systems, Edmonton, AB, Canada

miller@dg-rtp.dg.com (Mark T. Miller) writes:

> I just received in the mail an offer to depart with $9.95 to
> participate in the Canadian lottery.  Text below, then a couple
> questions about it's scam-i-ness:
> 
> 	"YOU have been selected for entry in a special Canadian Lotto
> 	6/49 group program. You and your group get 84 sets of computer
> 	selected Lotto numbers in the official Canadian Lotto 6/49 game
> 	for the next 10 drawings.  You and 249 other Americans in your 
> 	group will share all the proze money won duriong the 5 weeks of
> 	play. (Prizes are drawn twice weekly, on Wednesday and Saturday)
> 	The total prize money given away in prizes over 10 drawings should
> 	be well over $100 million dollars. All prize money is paid out
> 	lump sum, and no taxes are paid in Canada on lottery winnings."
 
84 sets of numbers, for 10 drawings, @ CDN$1 = CDN$840
250 suckers, @ US$10 = US$2500
 
See the profit margin?  Send me US$1.25 for each ticket and I'll gladly 
enter you into the 649 draws :)
 
Besides which, Lotto 6/49 has very poor odds for winning when compared to 
other lotteries.  AND you *are* eligible to pay US taxes on your 
winnings.  So while it is true that Canadians don't pay taxes on lotto 
winnings, you're not a Canadian so you will likely get a nice letter from 
the IRS demanding their 40% or whatever.  They *do* track down winners, 
especially the big-money winners.
 
I wouldn't bother if I were you...
 

> 	Mark T. Miller					miller@dg-rtp.dg.com
> 							...uunet!xyzzy!miller


Brian Hendrix  "Il faut etre de son temps"  bhendrix@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca
  DoD #0754  "One must be of one's own time"  '76 Honda CB750-Four
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:10194 rec.autos:10917
From: welty@cabot.balltown.cma.COM (richard welty)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos
Subject: Re: Attempted cheating by Sears Auto
Date: 7 Apr 92 16:21:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: cabot.1992Apr7.162109.10638
Distribution: na
Organization: New York State Institute for Sebastian Cabot Studies

In article <1992Apr6.125532.20284@acsu.buffalo.edu> bphdarcy@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (SJ Roc D'Arcy, MBP) writes:
>In article <1992Apr3.155255.9379@b17d.ingr.com>, andy@b17d.ingr.com (Andrew Brezinski) writes...
>>Well, then, I guess we can all sue Sears for false advertising then, huh?

>>I just saw a commercial on TV last night for Sears Craftsman tools.

>>"...1600 hand tools, all American made, and all guaranteed for life..."

>>I know I just bought a socket set that's guaranteed for life.  Where have
>>you been lately?

the trade off ends up being whether you want a socket that you can return
when you break it (say, break it at 1am when you're trying to get your car
back together to go to work the next morning) vs. a socket that won't
break.  sears craftsman hand tools are still guaranteed, but they aren't
as good as they were a few years back.  my tool box has increasing
numbers of S-K and Snap-On hand tools in it.  if you don't want to
pay the Snap-On premium (i can understand that point of view), then S-K
represents excellent value for the dollar, certainly better than current
Sears Craftsman tools.

>Really.  I got a Craftsman drill for x-mas and the second time I used
>it, it failed.  Sears gave me one hell of a hassle trying to return it.  I
>told my wife not to by from them in the future.  Snap-on may cost more but
>they DO stand behind what they sell.

as far as power tools, there are some excellent alternatives, mostly
japanese but some US-made; all much better than craftsman.  Makita and
Ryobi both make good stuff; in the `buy US' corner, there is the old
standby Milwaukee, makers of the infamous Sawzall (God's favorite power
tool, i'll wager), Skill (their consumer tools are nothing much, but their
professional line is underrated), and Bosch (german owned, but made in
north carolina, and quite good.)  i don't have a good feel for the current
Black & Decker line; the circular saw i just picked up from them seems ok,
but nothing special.

cheers,
  richard
-- 
richard welty                            518-393-7228
welty@cabot.balltown.cma.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.privacy