HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: avk@hafnium.cchem.berkeley.edu (Tony Konashenok)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: long distance calling
Date: 24 Dec 1992 05:58:24 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: hafnium.cchem.berkeley.edu

One more hint on bargaining with the LD carrier: MCI and Sprint
(maybe AT&T too, but I didn't ask them) *like* when your LD
charges get billed to your credit card instead of plain phone bill.
(Sure they have a credit card issuer to help them twisting your
arms if you default). You can get an additional discount (5-10%, or
up to $4-5 worth free LD calls each month) if you sign up for
credit card billing. In addition, you have on extra month to pay
your bills.

-- 
Tony Konashenok   avk@hafnium.cchem.berkeley.edu   (510)843-5632 (home)
University of California, Berkeley                 (510)642-5831 (office)

Strauss research group, Latimer Hall, UC Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, U.S.A.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: aggie@wealthy.ocean.fsu.edu (I R A Aggie)
Subject: Re: PRODIGY STILL SUCKS and is HORRIBLE
Followup-To: misc.consumers,misc.misc,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Organization: An Ol Ag surrounded by a bunch of unfriendly Seminoles
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 02:40:27 GMT

In article <1992Dec19.190912.11364@panix.com>, eravin@panix.com (Ed Ravin)
wrote:

> Of course it's possible to snoop on someone's PC system,
> but any reputable software provider, from Microsoft to Mike Shareware,
> doesn't do these kind of things.  If they did and they were caught at
> it, they'd be in big trouble -- either with the law or with their
> customers, who would never come near them again.

Bingo. So it's in Pr*digy's best self-interest to not only be clean,
but to also *appear* squeaky clean, given their previous difficulties
with their reputation.

They've got a long way to go before I'll even *think* about using
their services.

James
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics,soc.culture.japan,misc.education,misc.entrepreneurs
From: strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight)
Subject: Re: America doesn't have a clue: (was DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!)
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 21:25:16 GMT

With reference to Mike Fester's message--I no longer respond to inflammatory
content in public. 

For the massive documentation of Japanese unfair economic and trade
practices which violate the comparative advantage model, check van
Wolferen or Prestowitz's books, various PBS television documentaries,
or the publications of the U.S. Special Trade Representative, and
many other sources mentioned over the past few weeks in this
discussion.

David

-- 
David Sternlight
RIPEM key on server
Organization: University of Central Florida--Computer Services
Date: Wednesday, 30 Dec 1992 16:48:53 EST
From: Laura Kittleson <LAURA@UCF1VM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: HELP - ANTS

I've had good luck with Combat Ant disks.  The poison is contained in
little disks; the ants take it back to the nest and eventually they start
dying of it, including the queens.

There's an 800 number on the back of the box if you have any questions.
I called to ask them about some of the kinds of ants they say the disks
are effective against.  They seem to know their stuff (but then I don't
know much about ants at all so you could tell me anything).
From: john.ewin@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (John Ewin)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Low Fee Credit cards with Freq Flier Mileage
Date: 27 Dec 92 17:37:00 GMT
Reply-To: john.ewin@pcb.batpad.lgb.ca.us (John Ewin)
Organization: The Batchelor Pad PCBoard ~ Long Beach, CA ~ +1 310 494 8084


nav@apollo.hp.com (Navaneet Kumar) writes:
NK>I wonder whether there are any credit cards that
NK>have no/low annual fee and that give Frequent Flier
NK>mileage.
NK>
NK>I am aware of the American Advantage Citibank Credit Card which
NK>charges $50 annual fee. I would prefer a card that has
NK>an annual fee close to $20.

There is another from of card CitiBank offers...

In conjunction with "Air Miles", the card is basically the same as their
Classic cards, is only $5 more ($25/year), and offers mileage credits
for several airlines.

I seem to have misplaced their phone #, but try calling 800 dir. asst.
(1-800-555-1212) and ask for "Air Miles".

I just found out about it the other day, and I got my new card (I was
already a CitiBank Classic MC holder new logo, same acct. #, etc) within
2 or 3 days!
---
 . SM 1.06 *0020 . If the shoe fits, buy it.  -Imelda Marcos
                                                                                               
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad)
Subject: Re: Interplak vs. Braun
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Date: 27 Dec 92 13:59:00 CST

In article <44030@zygot.ati.com> john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon) writes:
>In article <34638@rnd.GBA.NYU.EDU> jcao@rnd.GBA.NYU.EDU (Jingbin Cao) writes:
>
>>Is the electro-magnetic field harmful to human bodies? I heard stories
>>about people get sick living under high-voltage power lines.
>
>Perhaps if you slept in the charging receptacle. You would, however,
>need to curl up into little ball about .75" in diameter to do that.
>
>Gimme a break!

Of course, the leakage flux from an Interplak charging base is going to be
somewhat higher than that of a standard transformer of the same wattage.
(Plastic has a significantly higher reluctance than iron.)

I agree with John that we're talking about totally negligible fields here
anyway, though.  (Those from the lights in the ceiling above you are
probably going to be of a larger magnitude than those in that Interplak base
10 feet away...)

Dissenting opinions from Bill Nelson, etc. are welcome. :-)

					---Joel Kolstad
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: golka@bnr.ca
Subject: Re: OK..why shouldnt I get an extended car warranty?
Organization: Bell-Northern Research
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 18:07:30 GMT

In article <BzExKz.3HJ@sneaky.lonestar.org> gordon@sneaky.lonestar.org (Gordon
Burditt) writes:
>>I just bought my new car, a Mercury Tracer LTS.  Today's session with
>>the sales people was to talk financing and "other options".  They made
>>the extended car warranty sound OH SO GOOD.  After listening to him,
>>I couldnt remember anything the net has said about these warranties.
>>I need to be reminded...why are they such a bad deal?  On principle, it
>>sounds great.  For $660 I can get an extra 2 years of coverage.  And the

>>brochure they give indicates a lot of things that are covered.  I have
>

On my car, the list of exclusions included all of the known problems with the
car
There was never anything that broke that was covered. NOTHING! There were a few
clauses,
like "electrical contacts", ... and when combined they could be used to exclude
almost
any part of the car!

>Find out who's backing the warranty.  If it's not the manufacturer of
>the car, (e.g. it's the dealer or some company that only does 
>warranty service) and maybe even if it is, ask for financial statements 
>and a credit report on the warranty company.  Having the company go 
>Chapter 11 before the warranty expires (or even starts) might be more 
>likely than power door locks failing.

 And then the companty went under which terminated my so called "extended
waranty".

Bill Crick. JUST SAY NO TO EXTENDED WARANTEES.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: battan@sequent.com (Jim Battan)
Subject: Re: Auto Windshield Replacement; Orig. Equip. vs Brand X
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 21:37:18 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.174448.28797@cbfsb.cb.att.com> hbb@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (harlan.b.braude) writes:
>I'm paranoid enough to wonder whether there is any real difference in
>specs between windshield glass that Honda sells and brand-X windshield
>glass.

My wife's Honda needed a replacement windshield two years ago.  We
chose the Brand-X kind.  It has held up well, but it has several
noticeable optical distortions in it that are quite disconcerting.

Don't forget:  You usually get what you pay for.

-- 
Jim Battan - Sequent Computer Systems, Beaverton, OR
battan@sequent.com or uunet!sequent!battan
+1 503 578 5129
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mpb@troy.cc.bellcore.com (bunz,marcus p)
Subject: Re: rechargeable batteries and recycling fees
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 15:04:57 GMT

In article <9212241515.AA05834@cs.utexas.edu>, asa@STL-09SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin on 9000) writes:
> >From: murthy+@EDRC.CMU.EDU (Sesh Murthy)
> >Why isn't there a recycling fee of $1.00/battery.  I use all rechargables
> >and I do not understand why other people should not be charged for putting
> >toxic heavy metals in my environment.  
> 
> I'd be happy if there was a simple WAY to recycle ordinary batteries! I
> have a plastic wastecan half-full of old batteries sitting and waiting
> for someplace here to appear where I could dump them to be recycled!
> Like everybody else, I used to just pitch them in the trash. Then, a
> year or two ago, there was publicity about new legislation here in
> Missouri regarding waste disposal and recycling. One item mentioned
> was that "all places that sell batteries would be required to accept
> old batteries and then turn them over to recyclers." So I began saving
> instead of discarding old batteries.  Well, that legislation went into
> effect, but it turned out that the "battery" provision was only for
> AUTOMOBILE batteries! 
> 
> Here I was envisioning every Radio Shack, every Walgreen's, every 
> corner drugstore or snack shop that had a rack of blister-packed
> batteries would have to have a "used-batteries" can in the corner, where
> anyone could dump their old batteries and they'd eventually make it to
> some sort of recycling plant. No such luck... :-(
> 
> That's what we need -- just the provisions to allow recycling, not 
> some elaborate "fee" structure... And it is important that the recycling
> collection points be just as convenient as the sources to buy the
> products. It doesn't help if you have to drive to some area recycling
> center in order to get rid of the stuff. 
> 
> Does this type of point-of-purchase battery recycling exist ANYwhere? 
> 
> Regards, Will
> wmartin@st-louis-emh2.army.mil OR wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil

Well, maybe not point-of-purchase, but every two weeks my town
picks up my batteries at the front curb!  Don't worry too much,
St. Louis is only about 5 years behind us in New Jersey when it
comes to recycling!  I still remember my mother thinking 
how crazy we were for having to put up with separating our glass
and cans from the other trash 5 years ago.  Now that they have to do
the same it doesn't look quite as crazy.  In time, whoever picks
up your cans/glass will also end up picking up those C & D cells.

Marc
From: sean@cobra.dra.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: HELP! Credit Reporting info needed
Date: 22 Dec 92 16:01:06 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Data Research Associates, Inc.

In article <1992Dec22.140925.9805@aio.jsc.nasa.gov>, cobarruvias@asd2.jsc.nasa.gov writes:
> I have a judgement against an individual in Florida. The judgement came from a
> Dade County, Florida court. I am desperate in trying to get a judgement against
> this individual. I have been advised to post this judgement on his credit
> report. Does anyone know how to do this? Or has anyone done this before?

Depending on the amount, the credit reporting companies may have already
picked it up (or will in a few months).  Court records are generally
public records, and the credit reporting companies regularly go through
them for information such as judgements.

-- 
Sean Donelan, Data Research Associates, Inc, St. Louis, MO
Domain: sean@sdg.dra.com, Voice: (Work) +1 314-432-1100
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jmalloy@itsmail1.hamilton.edu (Joseph T. Malloy)
Subject: Re: AmEx Vs Visa
Organization: Hamilton College - Clinton, NY
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 15:19:02 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.212323.11885@opencon.com> giand@opencon.com (Deepak S. Gianchandani) writes:
>In article <4890047@pollux.svale.hp.com> dlow@pollux.svale.hp.com (Danny Low) writes:
>>>(Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher) 
>>>IMHO, the only time using AmEx is not bonehead stupid is if your
>>>company pays for it, or if you are traveling internationally.  The same
>>>thing goes for their Shearson financial services.
>>
>>AmEx is worth it if you do a lot of traveling. Period. Hotel reservations
>>guaranteed by AmEx are truly guaranteed unlike Visa/MC where they

[deletia]
>
>	Plus, AmEx one gets a carbon copy of "charge" receipt on every
>charge you made (along with the itemised list, which is
>convient) in your MONTHLY statement.  I don't know of other
>cards doing it, i.e. VISA of Master Card. 
>
For me, the value of the AMEX gold card is not only the monthly record
they send but the annualized report I get in January, in which my
purchases are categorized according to type and reported for each month
of the previous year (with yearly totals, too).  This is especially
handy for us at tax time.  If you don't need it, it's surely not worth
the extra money for the card, I would think.

jmalloy@hamilton.edu
 

>
>
>-- 
>____________________   .    .   __         .       | Deepak S. Gianchandani
>\___________________|) .____.--"--"---._____       | E-mail:giand@opencon.com
>     .      ||       /_____/  NCC_1701  __/ .  . . |   To Boldly Go Where 
>.       .   ||      /--/--._________.----/   .     | No One Has Gone BEFORE


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jono@netcom.com (Jonathan Levine)
Subject: Re: HELP - ANTS
Organization: Our Lady of Perpetual Motion
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 17:31:51 GMT

In article <10620.2546.uupcb@factory.com> ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau)  writes:
>-> I have heard something about getting rid of ants by placing small
>-> cups of sugar and boric acid near their trails. Does this work and
>-> what proportions should be used? Is it intended to kill them outright
>-> or have them take it back to the nest? Should it be dissolved in
>-> water or left as powder?
>
>I would place boric acid in a THIN FILM where you expect them to walk.
>If left in a pile, they will walk around it.
>                                                                                       
I've had good luck with "Grant's Ant Spikes."  These seem to be a mixture
of corn syrup (or some other sticky, sweet matrix) and arsenic.  The ants 
seem to take the bait for about a week, then disappear.

Jon



-- 
Jonathan Levine			"Paradise is exactly like 
jono@netcom.COM			 where you are right now,
(    ^^^^^^^^^^ New EMail Path)	 only much, much better."
					-- Laurie Anderson
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal,soc.misc,alt.conspiracy
From: karl@ddsw1.mcs.com (Karl Denninger)
Subject: Re: How does a PI locate somebody?
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 17:17:54 GMT
Organization: MCSNet, Chicago, IL

In article <2JAN199307371121@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov> packer@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Charles Packer) writes:
>A friend tells me that she used the services of a private
>investigator to locate a boyfriend from high school days (25
>years ago), mainly out of curiosity as to what had become of
>him. She paid the PI something around $150-$200 for this, as I
>recall, contingent on success in the search. 
>
>The PI was able to find the former flame within a day using his
>databases, the nature of which he wouldn't disclose to her. He
>did say that he had worked for the Federal government in the
>past. 
>
>How did he do it? It would seem that he would have to have
>access to some union of all American telephone directories.

In most states your Driver License number can be deduced from your name 
and date of birth.  Given that, its easy.  Most driver license records are
public; ergo, it takes only a phone call or database access to find your
current address once you have the number and a name.  Simple stuff.

This is the quickest way if the person you're looking for lives in a state
which uses "Soundex" driver license numbers.

Telephone directory searches are also possible, but the DL number is more
reliable.

--
Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
Data Line: [+1 312 248-0900] Anon. arch. (nuucp) 00:00-06:00 C[SD]T
Request file: /u/public/sources/DIRECTORY/README for instructions
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight)
Subject: "Japan Bashers/Protectionists"
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 08:35:19 GMT


The Japanese and their apologists here often try to discredit those
who call attention to their unfair trade practices by calling
them Japan Bashers, Protectionists, racists, etc.

This is a huge red herring whose purpose is to distract attention from
the well-documented unfair practices of the Japanese. Anyone who uses
such language is trying to mislead and sucker the rest of us, and in
my opinion is not worth serious consideration for anything else he or
she says, having proved himself a dishonest propagandist, rather than
a serious and honest discussant.

David
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: cobarruvias@asd2.jsc.nasa.gov
Subject: Re: JUNK MAIL WITH BILLS
Organization: NASA/JSC
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 13:50:16 GMT

In article <10494.2546.uupcb@factory.com> ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray
Normandeau) writes:
>-> 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.

And before using phone banking, I would include ALL advertisements STAPLED to
my payment and with a note asking them to stop. Hmmp, I should them.
(Hum......come to think of it I was doing this every month until I got phone
banking!)
>
>ray.normandeau@factory.com
>If I don't acknowledge EMail to me I didn't get it
>                     
>



*****************************************************************
John R. Cobarruvias, Texas A&M Class of '78, 
NASA Johnson Space Center Houston Tx.
(713)483-9357

"And to think..................I hesitated" (Hellraiser II)
*****************************************************************

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:21116 comp.sys.laptops:4787
From: das@voodoo.boeing.com (Deb Schwartz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,comp.sys.laptops
Subject: Micro USA?
Date: 22 Dec 92 23:26:30 GMT
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: usa
Organization: Yet Another Graphics Project, Bellevue, WA

Has anyone out there bought anything mail-order from Micro USA in Los
Angeles?  They have the best price I've found yet on a laptop that I covet,
but I'd like to hear from folks who have experience with them before I send
them a whole lot of money.

Thanks,
------
Debbie Schwartz // das@voodoo.ca.boeing.com  // ....uw-beaver!bcsaic!voodoo!das
Date: Monday, 21 Dec 1992 08:28:56 MST
From: <AOAFF@ASUACAD.BITNET>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Using 500W halogen instead of 300W in a fixture

My 500W Halogen lamp has a dimmer switch but I hardly ever use it on max
because it gets so hot near the bulb that it starts to smoke, usually caused
by dust or a dead fly nearby. Although I will sometimes use a brighter
tungsten bulb than indicated for a fixture, I would be more wary with halogens,
as there seems to be less tolerance for error. Allen
From: jcao@rnd.GBA.NYU.EDU (Jingbin Cao)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Interplak vs. Braun
Date: 25 Dec 92 22:31:49 GMT
Organization: NYU Stern School of Business

In article <44028@zygot.ati.com> john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon) writes:
>This switch is magnetic and is easily cleaned, as is the base. My
>Interplak base started smelling like burning transformer (even though
>it still worked) and got lot of crusty brown crud in the charging
>receptical. The Braun is designed differently, even though it is still
>an inductive charger.

Is the electro-magnetic field harmful to human bodies? I heard stories
about people get sick living under high-voltage power lines.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch)
Subject: Re: Dedicated ATM card?
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems; a div of Booz, Allen & Hamilton
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 23:47:36 GMT

lchoqu%asylum.cs.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Lee Choquette) wrote: 
->Same here.  However, at least in Utah, the latest trend seems to be *against*
->free interchangeability.  Last June, a Utah bank with a lot of ATMs started
->charging $1 to use the ATM if the user does not have an account with that bank,
->and another bank with a lot of ATMs will start doing the same January 1. 
->
->Is this same unfortunate trend happening elsewhere?

happening?  it's done.  this is the standard in most large cities.

--
# henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
# "fight the real enemy."  -- sinead o'connor, and many others.
From: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM (Dave Bernard)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Cover Charge for Restaurant?
Date: 22 Dec 92 12:59:36 GMT
Reply-To: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems
NNTP-Posting-Host: clesun.central.sun.com


In article <1992Dec19.080924.6804@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU>, ash@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (David Ash) writes:
|> 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.
|> 
I've never heard of that!  I have heard of a minimum charge- even if you just
order a cup of coffee, you still have to pay $5.00- but even that only at
houses of pancakes etc. where poor college students might congregate after
hours.

At night clubs, covers help cover the cost of entertainment.  You can go to
night clubs in Manhattan that have no cover charge, but you'll be paying $10.00
for your beer.

But to pay for the privelege of eating at their restaurant!  Shake the dust off
your feet.  I'd write them if I were angry enough, but I wouldn't go back... even
if they waived the cover for yours truly.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics,soc.culture.japan,misc.education,misc.entrepreneurs
From: thomasd@tps.COM (Thomas W. Day)
Subject: Re: America doesn't have a clue: (was DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!)
Organization: Telectronics Pacing Systems
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 16:33:23 GMT

In article <1992Dec21.215358.4886@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:
>Thus the free trade model cannot be used with Japan. Instead a
>mercantilist model must be used, hence the arguments for protectionism,
>symmetrical barriers with respect to Japan, etc. until they sign on
>to the assumptions of free trade principles.

Which they will not do until it is to their advantage.  

>Everything else is noise and self-serving propaganda by the Japanese
>and their apologists.

Which they do a lot of to their advantage.  The investment in propaganda and 
government bribery is a lot lower than making real changes.  As our 
government system stands, we don't have a chance of changing anything 
significant.  I've read that Japan invests $400,000,000 per year in 
Washington.  Buying government is much cheaper than any other investment 
they could make.  
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: gmyers@hamilton.edu (George Myers)
Subject: KitchenAid Food Processor.Comments?
Organization: Hamilton College - Clinton, NY
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 05:13:54 GMT

Anyone have experience with KitchenAid food processors? In a recent
issue of Consumer Report dealing with food processors, they didn't even
mention KitchenAid.I'm interested in the smallest (4 1/2 qt) model they
make.