HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: de5@ORNL.GOV (Dave Sill)
Subject: Re: Radioactivity and Superstition; was: Re: Are Your Light Bulbs Radioactive?
Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, TN
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 17:17:14 GMT

In article <gjcnpd#@dixie.com>, jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
>
>... Gross ignorance of the nature of radioactivity
>coupled to such "spreading of the word" leads to the worries
>that border on hysterical, as we've seen here. 

I encourage sharing information about threats and *potential* threats,
whether they're radioactive or not.  In my opinion, raising the question
about the potential hazards of radioactive sources in smoke detectors and
compact flourescents is perfectly reasonable.  A perfectly reasonable
response to this question would be to address the amount of radioactivity in
these sources and why they don't resent a serious threat.  An unreasonable
response is to call someone a fool for asking the question.

>Dave, you ought to know better.

Better than what?  What did I say that was ignorant or unreasonable?  I never
said anything like "these things are dangerous" or "don't use these products".

>Let's try a little test.  Put the following in ascending order of
>radioactivity.  Then put the list in ascending order of radiation emittance. 
>Identify the active isotope in each and the approximate quantity.  For extra
>credit, note where, if ever, on the list a radiation health hazard becomes
>apparent.  Cite the applicable NCRP or NRC reference for your assertion. 
>
>[list deleted]

I can't do that, but I'd like to see your answers.  I know the Fiestaware
china with orange uranium-based glaze is pretty radioactive.

>It's treated differently because people who should know better cite 
>radioactive sources emitting tens of millions of times less radiation than
>that which causes any known or suspected effect and then call them 
>hazards.

Fine, so I'm guilty of not knowing how much radiation the sources emit. 
When I don't if something is safe, I consider it potentially dangerous, i.e.,
a threat.  But I don't go around like Chicken Little claiming the sky is
falling until I've acquired the facts.  Also, even though I assumed these
devices were safe in external exposure, I had/have no real idea of whether
they're still safe if swallowed.  I've been told that radioactivity taken
internally is much more dangerous.

-- 
Dave Sill (de5@ornl.gov)	   For every Bill Joy there is a Kirk McKusick.
Martin Marietta Energy Systems     For every Bill Gates there is a Richard
Workstation Support                Stallman.                     --Paul Graham
From: rrw@elden.cse.nau.edu (Bob Wier)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Recalls
Date: 1 Sep 92 08:13:15 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff AZ
Originator: rrw@elden.cse.nau.edu


 I got a brochure from my insurance company with the following 
 information which I thought might be useful for some misc.
 consumers to file away:

 On vehicles, call the National Highway Traffic Safety 
 Administration at 800-424-9393. Ask not only for recalls
 but also for investigations which are notices sent to
 NHTSA about potential vehicle problems. Or alternately
 send a SASE with 45 cents postage to Center for Auto
 Safety, 2001 South Street N.W. Suite 410, Washington DC
 20009 and provide information on the make, model, and year.

 For other products, you can call the Consumer Product Safety
 Commission at 800 638 2772, particularly toys and appliances

--BW

 - Bob Wier

  ---------- insert favorite standard disclaimers here ----------
                   College of Engineering
      Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Arizona
  Internet: rrw@naucse.cse.nau.edu | BITNET: WIER@NAUVAX | WB5KXH
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dtschett@scott.skidmore.edu (donna tschetter)
Subject: Re: How to get UPS to pay up AND what's a good alternative
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 20:24:36 GMT

How about calling the Attorney General's Office?

FEDERAL EXPRESS might be a better choice next time...!
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: derich@netcom.com (Scott A. Steinbrink)
Subject: Juiceman Jr
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 05:00:27 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

 Is the above product worth buying?

- Scott

-- 

Scott Allen Steinbrink
 
NetCom: Derich@netcom.com
CompuServe: 76106.2055@CompuServe.Com (Going out of accountness soon!)
America Online: Derichman

All opinions and remarks are not my responsbility - it's my own
mind's full responsbility. I just speak what it commands me to say. 

"Deaf people can do anything except hear" - I. King Jordan
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15680 rec.food.drink:2752 ba.food:2931
From: fineberg@win31.nas.nasa.gov (Samuel A. Fineberg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.drink,ba.food
Subject: Re: Looking for a *great* coffeemaker
Date: 26 Aug 92 18:58:58 GMT
Reply-To: fineberg@nas.nasa.gov
Distribution: usa
Organization: CSC, NASA Ames Research Center, NAS Division

Since we're on the topic of coffee.  I have been thinking about trying to
roast my own beans for a while.  Does anyone have any suggestions on coffee
roasters?

Sam
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: fogarty@erevax.com (Ben Fogarty)
Subject: Re: Looking for a *great* coffeemaker
Followup-To: misc.consumers,rec.food.drink,ba.food
Organization: Exxon Research & Engineering
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 15:43:45 GMT

	Could anyone out there suggest a source for the Rowenta coffee maker
mantioned a few days ago? Also a ballpark price would be appreciated. I
would prefer to find a supplier in the New Jersey area, better yet Western
New Jersey.

Ben Fogarty - Senior Staff Analyst
Exxon Research & Engineering
Computing and Telecom Support Division
fogarty@erevax.com
From: derich@netcom.com (Scott A. Steinbrink)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Worth buying JuiceMan Jr?
Date: 4 Sep 92 13:57:32 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)


 Is it worth buying Juiceman Jr.?


-- 

Scott Allen Steinbrink
 
NetCom: Derich@netcom.com
CompuServe: 76106.2055@CompuServe.Com 
America Online: Derichman
Bitnet: 11sstein%galluj.bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.edu (* COMING SEPT 8TH! *)

All opinions and remarks are not my responsbility - it's my own
mind's full responsbility. I just speak what it commands me to say. 

"Deaf people can do anything except hear" - I. King Jordan
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:16145 sci.environment:11078 sci.med:16874
From: amirza@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Anmar Caves)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.environment,sci.med
Subject: Re: "Small amounts" of radioactivy (was: Light Bulbs)
Date: 4 Sep 92 17:10:41 GMT
Organization: Indiana University

In article <1992Sep3.231610.14654@cs.rochester.edu> dietz@cs.rochester.edu (Paul Dietz) writes:
>In article <Bu0sz3.sA@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> amirza@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Anmar Caves) writes:
>
> >Low level gamma radiation isn't nearly as bad for you as beta or
> >alpha.  According to Joe-Bobs school of survivalism,  the problem with
> >high-energy gamma is that it converts some of the calcium and
> >phosphorus in your bones to different isotopes and they then emit
> >alpha and beta radiation right into the bone marrow, causing leukemia.
>
>If this is the quality of the information from Joe-Bob, I suggest
>you try to forget everything he said, as this is utter bullshit.

I stand corrected and blame a faulty memory, and last night took a
look at all that civil defense literature and the bone-absorption is
due solely from taking in radioactive isotopes such as calcium and
phosphorus, hence the recommended supplements.  Don't blame Joe-Bob,
he's more interested in results rather than why :-).  I believe the
primary effect of high amounts of ionizing radiation (aside from a
slight heating effect which is negligable due to the short duty cycle)
is a disruption of the neural processes of the CNS.  Remember, I've
wandered off subject from nuclear bananas to nuclear war.  

>Nuclear physics lesson time.  Each isotope in your body has a
>threshold energy below which the probability of a photonuclear
>reaction is *zero*.  The lowest such threshold for a stable isotope is
>for beryllium-9 (1.6 MeV), the next, deuterium (2.26 MeV).  In either
>case the cross section is in the millibarns.  To transmute the common
>isotopes in your body at even a mediocre rate requires very energetic
>gammas, in the 10-20 MeV range, to excite the "giant dipole
>resonance".  Even there simple scattering off electrons in your body
>or pair production are more likely.  The induced radioactivity
>will give you a tiny fraction of the primary dose.

Thanks for the physics lesson!  

>In food irradiation, the gammas are kept below about 4 MeV
>to make activation completely negligible.

-- 
Anmar Mirza   # Mayor of Dogspit, IN  #My Opinions! NotIU's! #Purveyor of
EMT-D         # Located somewhere in  # Legalize Explosives! #nontraditional
N9ISY (tech)  # the Outback of the    #I've got my own fusion#family values
Networks Tech.# Mirza Ranch.C'mon over#plant. Just ask me.   #Space For Rent
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15644 sci.environment:10856 sci.med:16400
From: snoopy@sopwith.uucp (Snoopy)
Newsgroups: pdx.consumer,misc.consumers,sci.environment,sci.med
Subject: Avoiding radioactive household products
Date: 25 Aug 92 23:55:42 GMT
Article-I.D.: sopwith.1992Aug25.235542.17607
Distribution: na
Organization: The Daisy Hill Puppy Farm

In article <1992Aug24.185340.19127@unlinfo.unl.edu> cbettis@unlinfo.unl.edu (clifford bettis) writes:

| Comparable sources can be found in smoke 
| detectors, lantern mantels and even salt substitute.

Speaking of which, where can one get smoke detectors that are
nuke-free these days?  I can't find them anywhere...  :-(

    _____
   /_____\   Snoopy
  /_______\   
    |___|    cse.ogi.edu!sopwith!snoopy
    |___|    {ares,illian,loop,parsely,qiclab,sequent,techbook}!sopwith!snoopy
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ottoh3@CFSMO.Honeywell.COM (Otto Heuer #3)
Subject: Florida disaster raise auto or home insurance rates?
To: misc.consumers
Posted-Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 17: 34:50 CDT
Mailer: Elm [revision: 64.9]
X-Disclaimer: I speak for me and not my boss; Honeywell's gain & Usenet's loss
X-Car: (612) 865-4301
X-Voice-Mail: (612) 785-4600 x8528
Organization: Hack-Man's Hangout
X-Internet: ottoh3@cfsmo.honeywell.com
X-2nd-Choice: hackman@pnet51.orb.mn.org
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 22:34:50 GMT
Received-Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 17: 34:26 CDT
X-Phone: (612) 785-4343


The person in the office next to mine was mentioning today how he was
expecting his car and home insurance rates to rise quite a bit due to 
the damage done in Florida this past week (several billions of dollars
in claims filed).

My question:  can they really do this (raise rates (in Minnesota in my
case) becase they get stuck with a hefty bill in Florida)?

Should I start looking for an insurance company that doesn't serve
the Florida area (and therefore wasn't (and won't be in the future)
effected by disasters in other states?

Please respond via email, as I don't read this group (and am not even
sure if this is the correct group--I couldn't find anything closer in
the .newsrc file)  :-)

If there is interest, I will summarize to the group.

Thanks in advance!

                --Otto "HACK-MAN" Heuer
--
C, Pascal, Fortran, BASIC, Assembly Language, Snobol, Ada, APL, Prolog, LISP
Unix, MS-DOS, ProDOS       .  .   .   .... .  .   .   .   .   .   . Audio/Video
ottoh@cfsmo.honeywell.com  :..: .:.:. :    :.' .. :`.': .:.:. :`. :   Star Trek
hackman@pnet51.orb.mn.org  :  : :   : :... : `.   :   : :   : :  `:  Apple IIgs
From: thuyan@brahms.udel.edu (Thuy-An Hartman)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Undercoating and Paint Protection?
Date: 26 Aug 92 19:56:21 GMT
Organization: University of Delaware

For all that are watching this continuing saga, the
MX-3 is on it's way and will be here Friday.

It is going to be red (and I mean RED!).  So, my questions are:

1. Do I need paint protection and how much should it cost me?

2. And what is this undercoating non-sense they are trying to sell me?
   How much should that cost, what does it do and do I want it?

Any info and advice before I pick this sucker up on Friday would be
greatly appreciated!!

Thuy-An
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15772 rec.food.drink:2774 ba.food:2984
From: nuke@reed.edu (Bill Newcomb)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.drink,ba.food
Subject: Re: Roasting beans like popcorn
Date: 27 Aug 92 23:50:05 GMT
Article-I.D.: reed.1992Aug27.235005.17901
Distribution: usa
Organization: Reed College, Portland, OR

In article <CHRIS.92Aug27113414@endgame.gsfc.nasa.gov> chris@endgame.gsfc.nasa.gov (Chris Shenton) writes:

>
>How much coffee can you do at a time? How long does it take?

You can do as many green beans as will just cover those vents in the bottom.
I think it's about 1/2 cup for a typical popper. It takes about 10-15
minutes per batch, and we would usually do two batches in rapid succession,
where the second would go more quickly.

>How do you prevent the beans from flying out the chute of the popper?

I don't know why, but the beans seem just heavy enough to stay in there.
When it's working correctly they will swirl around. 

>and does it produce a lot of smoke and chaff?

Evidently it depends on the popper. Ours never smoked, but took kind of a
long time. Our friend's model smoked a bit, but roasted fast--so fast, ti
would produce a really dark roast almost too quickly. You get a lot of chaff
regardless, about what you would expect from the amount of beans. The chaff
is light enough to be carried away on the current of warm air.

nuke
--
~/.oo
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: PARALYZER CS tear gas
Date: 27 Aug 92 18:00:15 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Originator: daemon@sword.eng.pyramid.com

In article <hansg.714899391@risken> hansg@risken.vd.volvo.se (Hans Granqvist) writes:
>
>oops, excuse me, "ignore" tear gas? right, like some dope dealer
>ignores being shot by the police, or what?
>
    No, like military trained soldiers ignore CS or CN tear
    gas...and are trained in how to do so.   

    It is inherently obvious you've never had this training or are
    aware it exists.  It does, it is possible.....

    As stated before, if you tear gas a military veteran all you are
    gonna do is annoy them even further.   

    And as far as your "shot" statement,,,in case you've never
    personally observed same, human beings are incredibly tough
    and difficult to kill.  A small caliber bullet wound on an
    annoyed individual is NOT a suitable defense.  

    If you have any friends or acquaintances in either the police or
    military veteran camps, you might want to ask them about just
    how useless small arms and/or gas can be against a motivated and
    annoyed attacker.  
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,ny.general
From: cjc@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Christopher Chen)
Subject: Title vs. registration in NY state
Organization: Northwestern University
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 18:52:17 GMT

So, this guy passing through sold me a 50cc Honda scooter.  With it,
he gave me the New York state registration receipt, which, he claims,
serves as the title in NY.  The front of the card reads
"TRANSFERABLE", and the back sez "If the front...says NONTRANSFERABLE,
you must use your title to transfer the vehicle.  If it says
TRANSFERABLE, complete the items below and give it to the new owner."
Needless to say, the "items below" are filled out.  So far, so good.

Problem is, Illinois tells me that this isn't a title, it's a
registration receipt, so I can't use this to transfer the title to
myself here in Illinois.  I called up the guy who sold it to me, who
now lives in Berkeley (!), and he told me, "That's all I had."

Now, can anyone confirm or deny this?  I argued with the Illinois
Secretary of State's office about this for a long time, and they're
willing (they say) to let me do this if I can produce some
documentation that this guy's claim is true.  Can anyone help me out
here?  I'd really appreciate it.


cjc
--
Christopher J. Chen  cjc@nwu.edu  (708) 491-4109  (708) 491-3824 fax
Academic Computing and Network Services, Northwestern University
"I understand too little too late. I realize there are some things you say and 
 do you can never take back. But what would you be if you didn't even try. You 
 have to try. So after a lot of thought, I'd like to reconsider.  Please, if 
 it's not too late, make it a *cheese*burger."
					-- Lyle Lovett, "Here I Am"
-- 
Christopher J. Chen  cjc@nwu.edu  (708) 491-4109  (708) 491-3824 fax
Academic Computing and Network Services, Northwestern University
"I understand too little too late. I realize there are some things you say and 
 do you can never take back. But what would you be if you didn't even try. You 
From: borowski@hpspkla.spk.hp.com (Don T. Borowski)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 15:55:08 GMT
Subject: Re: Want Phone Recorder Cassette of High Quality
Organization: Hewlett Packard Company, Spokane, Wa.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

In misc.consumers, news@iscnvx.spk.hp.com writes:

>I have a PhoneMate 4300 phone recorder.  I've used one before, loved it,
>using my own now I also love it.  But the incoming message casssette frequently
>jams.  I'm not surprised, since it appears to have cost about 29 cents.
>
>Can anyone recommend a highly reliable incoming message cassette?  It's really
>just like a regular cassette, but there is no leader on the tape- it is
>all recording tape.  If not for that, I would just use a quality regular
>tape cassette.

Just go down to Radio Shack, and buy one.

Or, to get the best quality, go and buy a good quality C-60 cassette.  Open
up the cassette by removing the screws.  Cut off the leader.  Remove the
plastic wedge which holds the old leader to the take-up hub, and then put
the end of the the now leaderless tape into the hub, and replace the wedge.
Reassemble the cassette.


Donald Borowski    WA6OMI    Hewlett-Packard, Spokane Division
"Angels are able to fly because they take themselves so lightly."
                                       -G.K. Chesterton
Organization: The American University - University Computing Center
Date: Thursday, 3 Sep 1992 11:29:23 EDT
From: Joni Snyder <JSNYDER@auvm.american.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: GE Refridgerator: Compressor problems

In article <7166@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com>, delanzo@sparc22.hri.com (Michael
DeLanzo) says:
>
>The compressor om my GE refridgerator died after only 5 1/2 years of
>service (just out of warranty). I heard/read somewhere that they had a
>recall on this a few years back. Does anyone know about this or has
>anyone dealt with GE on a problem like this?
>
This is happening in my 5-7 year old neighborhood with most houses
supplied with GE refridgerators.  Call 1-800-GE-CARES they will fix
at a reduced price and give a rebate.  The cost and amout of rebate
depends on the age of refridgerator:

Under 5 years - free
5-6 years - ~$199 and $100 rebate
6-7 years - ~$215 and $ 75 rebate
Over 7 years - ???

Joni Snyder
>
>Thanks - Michael
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: irwin@uvmark.uucp (Frank Irwin)
Subject: Re: Another Scam
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 19:31:04 GMT
Distribution: misc
Organization: Vmark Software, Inc.

In article <RJOHNSON.92Aug31110544@conus.shell.com> rjohnson@shell.com (Roy Johnson) writes:
>My story:
>
>Got one of those carbon-paper-folded-up-envelope things from "Sweepstakes
>Clearinghouse" the other day.  "Hmm, I wonder if a sweepstakes entry has
>paid off."  I opened it, it looked good at first glance:  "NOTICE" was
>printed across the top, then in a box below, was typed "35 MM VIVITAR
>CAMERA WITH FLASH ADAPTER PLUS LIFETIME SUPPLY OF KODAK FILM (UP TO 100
>ROLLS)" below it.

[...munch...]

>So, what we have here is something that looks like you won a prize and
>need to claim it, and pay postage.  Only, it's really a "sales solicitation"
>made to look like a sweepstakes prize.  I don't care if the cost per roll
>of the film comes out to as low as 13 cents a roll, these people are scum
>and I'm convinced it's a rip off.

Actually, if it's something that I got mixed up in several years back, it's
not even that good of an offer.  The only way you get the "LIFETIME SUPPLY
OF KODAK FILM (UP TO 100 ROLLS)" is to have your film developed through the
company you bought the prize from.  With each roll you have developed, you
send in one of the 100 stickers they give you, and they'll send you a roll
of film.  I don't remember how much developing was, but probably not nearly
worth the "free" film.
-- 
 ============================================================================
 Frank Irwin                   | "Mike and Blair have the lowest ___________
 Vmark Software, Inc.          |  to ____________ ratio of all rec.gamblers."
 irwin%uvmark@merk.com         |     - You fill in the blanks.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ash@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (David Ash)
Subject: Re: Service charge on returned check.... 
Originator: dash@Xenon.Stanford.EDU
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 04:43:20 GMT

In article <BtrF2J.A6E@news.cso.uiuc.edu> tamu@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Todd Henderson) writes:

>I've always wondered how banks can get away with this considering, as the
>first postered indicated, the person depositing the check has no way of 
>knowing it might not go thru!  If they pass a charge along to the other
>bank who then passes it along to the individual, I could see that, but
>why should I get charged for trying to deposit a check?
>
>I think banks are getting way out of hand in this country!

My opinion (and I know this will be a minority opinion) is that a charge
for *writing* a bad check is even less justified than a charge for
*depositing* a bad check.  The reason I say this is that writing a bad
check is a crime, and I don't believe that banks should be in the business
of profiting from others' crimes.
-- 
David W. Ash               | "What profits a man if he keeps his eternal soul
ash@sumex-aim.stanford.edu |  when he could have lived life to the full and
HOME: (415) 497-1629       |  been forgiven at the end of it all anyway?"
WORK: (415) 725-3859       |         --David Merritt, a.k.a. THE RED SHARK
From: fwb@siemens.com. (Frederic W. Brehm)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: "Things of Science"
Date: 2 Sep 92 16:44:05 GMT

russ@bbxrbk (Russ Kepler) writes:
>When I was a kid (many moons ago) my father had delivered to the house
>some science exploration kits from an outfit called "Things of
>Science".  They would explore some topic such as bouyancy or
>electromagnetism with some small gadgets and geegaws, and I really had
>some fun with them.

>Anyone out there know of a source for this sort of thing?

See the concurrent thread on Edmund Scientific. Their store (and catalog)
is chock-full of little kits to explore optics, magnetism, geology, etc.

Fred
--
Frederic W. Brehm	Siemens Corporate Research	Princeton, NJ
fwb@siemens.siemens.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers