HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: richg@hatch.socal.com (Rich Greenberg)
Subject: Re: Sticky paste in plumbing
Organization: Hatch Usenet and E-mail.  Playa del Rey, CA
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 19:31:49 GMT

In article <1992Jul26.141414.19582@crd.ge.com> joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph) writes:

>Yesterday when I was walking around in the basement of my house,
>I noticed something which has gotten me worried.  I have copper
>plumbing, and the welding material (lead ?) used to join sections
>of pipe together seem to be melting.  This happens only on
>pipes carrying hot water.  The welding material has turned into
>sort of a sticky paste.

>Anybody know why this is happening, and what the remedy is ?
>Any advice and/or opinions before I get ripped off by a plumber
>will be appreciated.

I would guess that the plumber used too much flux on the solder when
installing the pipes.  The "welding material" is solder which is a
silvery colored metal.  Wipe off the paste with paper towels and dispose
of the towels.  CAUTION: some types of flux are corrosive.
Keep an eye on the pipes and watch for corroded metal and water
leaks.
-- 
                
Rich Greenberg - N6LRT - 310-649-0238 - richg@hatch.socal.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
From: louise@cc.gatech.edu (Louise Penberthy)
Subject: Re: WARNING: 1987 Mazda 323 Defect
Reply-To: louise@pravda.cc.gatech.edu (Louise Penberthy) 
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology 
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 20:54:20 GMT

In article <1992Jul29.044442.15682@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com> billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
>sga@cray.com (Steven G. Anderson) writes:
>: 
>: We recently had a bad experience with my wife's 1987 Mazda 323,
>: [.....]
>: We are appealing to the State Insurance
>: Commission.  The problem appears to occur around 50,000
>: miles.  I will also be writing to Mazda and the Consumer Products
>: Safety Commission.
>
>Forget the CSP. Writing to Mazda was a good idea. You might also
>contact your State Attorney General's Office - fraud division.
>They might have some insight into the matter.

Also try your local Better Business Bureau.

Good luck.





-- Louise Penberthy

Louise Penberthy                |    "I don't care what you do with your
College of Computing/ Georgia   |     crayons.  Just don't call it art."
Tech/ Atlanta, GA 30332         |     	
louise@pravda.cc.gatech.edu     |       -- Jess Anderson
From: leslie@think.com (Leslie Muth)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: testing
Date: 28 Jul 1992 09:00:46 -0400
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation


Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.taxes
From: weverka@spot.Colorado.EDU (Robert T. Weverka)
Subject: Re: $$$ for middle class
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 12:26:34 GMT

In <7531@public.BTR.COM> timlee@btr.com (Timothy J. Lee) writes:
>
>How about defining the middle class as the people who pay
>the highest national income tax marginal rate (including FICA)
>on their wage/salary/tip income?  This range, for people using
>the standard deduction and having no other income (admittedly
>artificial assumptions), is:
>
>Single people with no dependents:
>$25900-53400 (35.65% marginal tax rate)
>
>Married people, 2 children, each spouse makes 1/2 of the income:
>$48300-106800 (35.65% to 38.65% marginal tax rate)

The highest marginal tax bracket is on married with children
with self employed income between $15,000 and $20,000.
  FICA                           -> 15.3%
  Fed Tax                        -> 15%
  Earned income credit recapture -> 10%

  Total                          -> 40.3%

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:14745 rec.radio.shortwave:6010 rec.photo:13412
From: phr@soda.berkeley.edu (Paul Rubin)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.radio.shortwave,rec.photo
Subject: Re: WARNING KODAK batteries leaked!
Date: 31 Jul 92 10:34:02
Organization: CSUA/UCB
	<wb9omc.712523592@dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu>
	<1992Jul31.074729.3980@michael.apple.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: soda.berkeley.edu
In-reply-to: ems@michael.apple.com's message of Fri, 31 Jul 1992 07:47:29 GMT

Do you know for sure that Kodak doesn't guarantee to fix whatever
the batteries damage?  I had some Duracells leak in a tape recorder,
and the Duracell co. sent me a prepaid mailer to ship the tape recorder
to them with so they could get it fixed ("repair or replace").
They were extremely good about the whole thing and tried to make
it as convenient as possible.  The mailer had photos of all the
kinds of different devices that they recommended Duracell batteries
for, and this included some expensive cameras etc., so apparently
they're willing to go to considerable expense to make sure their
batteries don't screw you.
From: rklute@enchanter.tymnet.com (Robert Klute)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: MSG
Date: 27 Jul 92 22:21:00 GMT
Organization: BTNA

In article <1992Jul22.201823.3688@walter.bellcore.com> jchen@ctt.bellcore.com writes:
>
>60 Minutes is an excellent program. It is one of my must-sees. But
>it also has made several major mistakes in the past.  The story
>of "Unintended acceleration" almost killed Audi. To date, Audi
>has not fully recovered from it. The episode on MSG, was another
>biased report.
>
The Audi acceleration problem does exist.  It happened to me, once.  I own a 1980 5000.  
I had floored the car to go up an on ramp, then discovered a stalled car at the top. I
slammed on the brakes, and stopped in time; however, my engine was still trying to 
accelerate the car to 60 MPH.  If I wasn't 6'+ and 200+lbs, I probably would not have 
been able to stop the car in time.  

BTW, since the car was stopped and I wasn't going anywhere for a few moments, I had
time to 'play'.  I put the hand brake on, and put my left foot on the brake (it is an
automatic and I drive with my right foot only).  I tried 'lifting the accelerator w/
my right foot, no change, the engine was still racing.  Then I shifted the transmission
through the power gears (1, 2, D), no change.  I finally put it into neutral, the 
engine revved up until there was no load on it, and immediately dropped down to slow 
idle.  It has never happened again in the five years since.

By way of rumor, one friend stated that the problem had to do with a special feature
of the car.  It was, as I vaguely remember, a device that regulated the idle so the
engine idled fast enough to be 'smooth', a luxury feature, not a neccessity.  Anyway,
it occasionally got `fooled' and opened the throttle ( or its equiv. since it is a 
fuel injected car).

---

They came for the 4th amendment, I said nothing for I wasn't a drug dealer. 
Then they came for the 2nd amendment, but I said nothing, I wasn't a gun owner.
Then they came for the 6th amendment, but I kept quiet, I knew I wasn't guilty.
Finally they came for the 1st amendment, and it was too late to say anything.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Newsgroups: misc.consumers


Usually, I don't purchase extended warranties, but I did for my mult-disc
changer CD player (one of the cartridge types).  The salesguy must've
caught me during a weak moment.  Anyway, I was lucky I did, because it's
broken down 3 times in the 2 years I've owned it.  The cartridge-type
changers probably have more moving parts than the Sony carousels, so I'm
not sure this is relevant to your situation.

- Lou Marzano
  lou@hpams0c.ptp.hp.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos.tech,rec.autos
From: weverka@spot.Colorado.EDU (Robert T. Weverka)
Subject: Horsepower is a meaningless advertising term.
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 10:05:28 GMT

In <1992Jul20.182720.26606@bnr.ca> Peon w/o Email priv (Eric Youngblood) writes:
>In <1992Jul20.153457.20046@cbfsb.cb.att.com>, rjc@cbnewsf.cb.att.com writes:
>|> 
>|> I'm looking at 5hp, 80 Gal tank, cast iron, compressor.
>
>WOW! I envy you! You must have a dedicated work shop. I cant say much about a 
>compressor that large, but I will relate my experience purchasing a 3.5 HP 25
>gal unit. Paid $299 at Sears. After close inspection this *is* a high quality
>piece of equipment. It has a 120/240 15/17.5 amp GE electric direct drive motor.
Horsepower is a meaningless advertising term.

A normal house circuit produces no more than 15 Amps of current
at 120 volts.  This is 2.4 horsepower at 100% efficiency.
To get more horsepower you need to run special wiring.

Don't believe any horsepower ratings.

-Ted
From: masticol@cadenza.rutgers.edu (Steve Masticola)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Air Conditioning (DON'T!)
Keywords: Please - recycle the Freon!
Date: 23 Jul 92 13:32:40 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


Please, PLEASE don't try recharging the A/C yourself! Take it to a
shop that has the equipment to recycle the Freon.

Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), and damages the ozone layer. If
that goes, we're all in for a healthy dose of hard ultraviolet
radiation. Then we'll have to either risk getting skin cancer and
cataracts, or have to forget about going outdoors anymore.

Antarctica has already lost its ozone layer. I heard about a fellow
who was with an Antarctic expedition recently, who spent ONE DAY
outdoors without sunblock. He got severe facial burns and will
probably be disfigured for life.

Releasing Freon into the air is equivalent to throwing waste oil down
the storm sewers. Please respect the environment.

- Steve (masticol@cs.rutgers.edu).
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.forsale,misc.forsale.computers
From: gregj@kong.eng.hou.compaq.com (Greg Judkins)
Subject: Re: advice needed for dealing with dentist/insurance
Organization: Compaq Computer Corp.
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 17:27:43 GMT

In article <1992Jul24.022843.3250@lucid.com> lola@lucid.com (Lola McCrary) writes:
>Next, contact your state insurance commissioner and find out what your local
>laws are.
>
I don't see how this situation could be covered by any laws governing
insurance.  The insurance company has not even been involved yet.


Greg
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:14339 rec.autos:18313
From: sriram@hoff.berkeley.edu (S. Sriram)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos
Subject: Auto insurance reccomendations wanted.
Date: 23 Jul 1992 04:24:46 GMT
Organization: U. C. Berkeley
Distribution: ca
NNTP-Posting-Host: hoff.berkeley.edu

Hi!

I'm looking for a reliable company to buy auto insurance
from (just the liability).

Since I have had a license for only about 2 years and I am
aged below 25, insurance companies like AAA, 20th century
are closed to me. Others such as Farmer's, State Farm,
Allstate seem to be quoting exorbitant ($1500 + per year)
rates.

Does anybody out there with similar experience have 
any recommendations? What about some of the not-so-well-known
companies? Any suggestions shall be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Sriram.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: jadams@vixen.uucp (26070-adams)
Subject: Re: Sticky paste in plumbing
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 17:51:07 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Summary: Solder paste residue?

In article <1992Jul26.141414.19582@crd.ge.com>, joseph@emmax5crd.ge.com (joseph) writes:
> 
> Yesterday when I was walking around in the basement of my house,
> I noticed something which has gotten me worried.  I have copper
> plumbing, and the welding material (lead ?) used to join sections
> of pipe together seem to be melting.  This happens only on
> pipes carrying hot water.  The welding material has turned into
> sort of a sticky paste.
> 
> Anybody know why this is happening, and what the remedy is ?
> Any advice and/or opinions before I get ripped off by a plumber
> will be appreciated.
> 
Just a guess, but there is a paste product many people use that
combines pulverized solder (tin and lead) with a paste flux to make speed up
the "sweating" of copper plumbing connections (I've used it myself).
Sometimes, not all of the material goes into solution under heat leaving a
bit of it behind...ergo your sticky paste residue.  If the joint doesn't
leak, leave it alone.  If it does, get help!

Jack (John) Adams		| Bellcore RRC 4B-259
(908) 699-3447 {Voice}		| (908) 336-2871 {Facsimile}
jadams@vixen.bellcore.com	| kahuna@attmail.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
	-- If God had meant for us to vote, He would have given us
	candidates.  -- Anon
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: niebuhr@bnlux1.bnl.gov (david niebuhr)
Subject: Re: Health Insurance w/ optional coverage
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 12:50:47 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.215007.82922@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> ky04@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (KUN YU) writes:
>My school requires that either I buy the student's insurance or show
>proof of other coverage. The school's is, I 'd assume, pretty good.
>$100 deductible, covers first $1000, pays 80% up to $25000. The
>premium is $430.

Do you have access to another policy such as the one your parents carry,
either through their job or an individual one?  That's the first place
to look.  My daughter has coverage through me and believe me the limits
that I have make the one you describe look like a non-winner.

The next place to look is who is underwriting the policy.  More than
likely it's Mutual Benefit since I've seen them advertise heavily for
specialty groups such as students.

If you should be unfortunate to be injured in an accident, you policy
would be eaten up in a few days.

The third place is to compute just how much you are liable for if
the policy is used and do it for one big expense and then for multiple
small ones such as if you have to go to the doctor for some reason.

>Since I am young and perfectly healthy, the premium seems high to me.
>I would like higher deductible and lower premium. But the policy is
>all set, and I have no choice.

For the premium, you are probably going to be ripped off.

>Is there any company that offers coverage to my needs? Or with
>selective coverages? 

What you should realize is that this insurance probably has so many
exclusions that it's relatively worthless, especially at the price the
you quote.  Remember, the school is probably getting a piece of the
action on each policy sold to a student.

Dave

-- 

Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
From: lola@lucid.com (Lola McCrary)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: advice needed for dealing with dentist/insurance
Date: 24 Jul 92 02:28:43 GMT
Organization: Lucid, Inc.

In article <1992Jul23.221047.29704@col.hp.com> cab@col.hp.com (Chris Best) writes:

   > $900.00.  I paid for the first appointment in cash (credit card) because of
   > "office policy for new patients".  They were supposed to submit the claim
   > to the insurance company...
   > 
   > Is there anything I can do?  Is this insurance fraud?

   ----------

   A provider who submits claims for you is only doing it as a service.  They 
   are not required to do it.  Many can and do require all payments at time of
   service.  So no, it's not insurance fraud, but it sure isn't good service, 
   either, if they said they'd do it and then didn't.  It's also pretty lousy
   of them to take so long to credit your payment. 

   Regardless of who submits the claims (or if they're even submitted at all),
   you will still be liable for the balance after a certain time has passed 
   (and this time depends on the provider's policy).

   I hate dealing with insurance claims, too, and it's nice to find a provider
   who will do it for me (and wait for payment).  You'll have to weigh the
   services they provide administratively vs. medically, and decide whether
   to stay with them or not.


Two suggestions:  Next time you go in have them give you a copy of the claim
form they "forgot" to mail to the insurance carrier (you should have one for
your records anyway), and just mail it to the insurance company yourself.  Ask
when you go in, and if they don't have it handy tell them you expect it before
you leave.  If they decline to provide it to you, inform them that they clearly
can't expect you to provide any payment when they are not meeting their part of
the service to the extent of giving you a record of your charges.

Next, contact your state insurance commissioner and find out what your local
laws are.

And finally, a free hint from your netland claims examiner:  Many insurance
companies have what they call a "better benefit" clause for oral surgery.  If
the benefits are better under dental, they pay it under dental.  If they are
better under medical, they pay it under medical.  However many insurance
examiners are lazy, and don't figure this out before they pay the claim.  Check
your benefit booklet under medical exclusions and look for one that says
something like:  "Charges for the teeth and gums are not covered, except for
charges related to an accident or an open, cutting procedure."  If it's there
with a little math you should be able to figure out which part of your
insurance offers the better benefit.  Email me if you want any additional help.

Lola
From: martinc@grover.cs.unc.edu (Charles R. Martin)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Please help Craig
Date: 30 Jul 92 01:34:47 GMT
	<1992Jul27.131534.6879@city.cs> <13818@auspex-gw.auspex.com>
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: UNC Department of Computer Science
In-reply-to: johnf@Auspex.COM's message of 29 Jul 92 21:23:40 GMT

In article <13818@auspex-gw.auspex.com> johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira) writes:


   I was in a mall yesterday and saw a woman that was wearing a "Make a Wish
   Foundation" T-shirt.  It looked like a new shirt.  Too bad I wasn't wearing
   my "Get a Clue" T-shirt.

Sorry to spoil it all for you, John, but the Make A Wish Foundation is a
real organization that doesn't in general more or less what ol' Criag
wished for in particular -- that is, the foundation makes it possible
for kids with life-threatening diseases to do something that they would
wildly like to do but which wouldn't normally be possible, like meet
Magic Johnson or see North Dakota or something.

My application for a week in Aspen with Cindy Crawford and Anne Archer
was rejected.

Although -- after reading the application, in which I described what I
had in mind -- they agreed that I was pretty sick, they said it wasn't
life threatening.
--
Charles R. Martin/(Charlie)/martinc@cs.unc.edu/(ne crm@cs.duke.edu) 
O/Dept. of Computer Science/CB #3175 UNC-CH/Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3175
H/3611 University Dr #13M/Durham, NC 27707/(919) 419 1754
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"I am he who walks the States with a barb'd tongue, questioning every
one I meet,/Who are you that wanted only to be told what you knew
before?/ Who are you that wanted only a book to join you in your
nonsense?"  _Leaves of Grass_ xxiii.4.
From: wayne@ultra.com (Wayne Hathaway)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: GOOD service from Price Pfister
Date: 23 Jul 92 16:08:22 GMT
Reply-To: wayne@ultra.com (Wayne Hathaway)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Ultra Network Technologies

This is a report of a *GOOD* experience with a manufacturer, so if you
are only interesting in reading complaints, press "n" now!  :-)

I have a five-or-six-year-old Price Pfister single-handle kitchen
faucet that has an oak "button" on the top.  From normal wear, the oak
got to looking pretty ratty.  I tried Varathaning it, and this worked
for a year or so, but then the thing started turning all yucky like it
had dry rot.  (Oh Lord, let that be the ONLY dry rot in the house! :-)

The only replacement buttons the local Price Pfister dealer carries
are stainless steel, so I called Price Pfister Customer Service to
find out where I could buy a replacement oak button.

I described the yucky button, and the service person immediately asked
whether I had ever replaced the cartridge.  A bit taken aback, I said
no, but ...  Then before I could even so much as ask about buying a
replacement she said "Well, it sounds like the button is getting wet
from the bottom, and that means the cartridge needs replacing, so I'll
have a new button, cartridge, and retainer ring sent to you right
away, no charge.  Now, what's your address for UPS?"

Needless to say, I was flabbergasted -- I thought service like this
had gone out of style decades ago!  At any rate, I will certainly buy
Price Pfister in the future (and by the way, this is the ONLY problem
I've had with the faucet) and I would encourage others to do likewise.

We now return you to the bitching and moaning in progress ...  :-)

    Wayne Hathaway               domain: wayne@Ultra.COM
    Ultra Network Technologies     uucp: ...!ames!ultra!wayne
    101 Daggett Drive             phone: 408-922-0100 x132
    San Jose, CA 95134              FAX: 408-433-9287
From: jordan@IMSI.COM (Jordan Hayes)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ATTN: Citibank Cardholders
Date: 21 Jul 92 22:13:47 GMT
Organization: Investment Management Services Inc., NYC

Ken Staggers <staggers@casbah.acns.nwu.edu> writes:

	American Express did the same thing around January.  I told
	them that I had no intention of paying early, and they mumbled
	and said it was ok.

Well, what Amex did was change the little message on the bill that says
"please pay by XX/XX/XX" -- but the "due date" is defined as "needs to
clear before the next statement is cut" which is the "closing date" on
the bill.  I called them on this too, and they assured me that the due
date was remaining the same, only the message was to "encourage" people
to pay sooner ...

Gotta love fine print.

/jordan
From: r1156c@sps.mot/com (Michael R. Dow)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Uncut Dollar Bills - Yoo Hoo... WHAT'S THE NUMBER?!
Date: 23 Jul 92 16:09:45 GMT
Reply-To: r1156c@sps.mot/com (Michael R. Dow)
Organization: David Mitchell & Associates - Austin


	Will someone *PLEASE* post the number again?  PLEASE?!  I missed 
most of the thread and want to check it out.

Michael R. Dow
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin)
Subject: Re: ATTN: Citibank Cardholders
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 15:04:30 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In <9207210250.AA19783@TIS.COM> dave@TIS.COM ("David I. Dalva") writes:
> The purpose of this note is to alert Citibank cardholders of a slimy, secret
> program implemented recently by Citibank to a subset (how big?) of their
> credit card holders.  They have quietly moved the payment due dates on some
> of their credit cards up about a week, effectively reducing by about 25% the
> advertised grace period.  I noticed this when the payment due date on my
> Citibank AAdvantage MasterCard changed from around the 8th of the month to
> the 2nd.  I called them to complain, and they mumbled something about
> "conducting an experiment", and immediately restored my old due date.

I am confused here.  Did they change the closing date of your statement as
well or just the due date?  Seems to me that the number of days between
statement closing and the payment due is a part of the cardholder agreement
and you would need to be notified if it changed.

-- Bill rubin@watson.ibm.com
From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Cleaning Oriental Carpets
Keywords: airlines antitrust litigation refund
Date: 23 Jul 92 15:53:50 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

I bought a Tibetan, wool carpet while I was in Nepal.  It was hanging
outside a storefront, so it wasn't pristine when I bought it.  I would
like to clean it but am concerned about the best way to go about it.
The center is a pale cream color and the border is dark blue; I'm
concerned about colors bleeding.  

Has anyone ever cleaned their own Oriental carpet?  How did you go
about it?  

Alternatively, what are people's experiences with professional cleaners?
Price, quality, etc?

--Lauren

Newsgroups: misc.consumers