HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jws@billy.mlb.semi.harris.com (James W. Swonger)
Subject: Re: Horsepower is a meaningless advertising term.
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 15:49:51 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne FL

In article <1992Jul21.100528.7286@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> weverka@spot.Colorado.EDU (Robert T. Weverka) writes:

>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
>

 A household drier outlet is anywhere from 25-50 amp service, at 220V. Any 
compressor over 2HP is likely to require 220V, and at 5HP it's a given.
Anyone who has a big compressor is likely to have the power to run it.

 Power = pressure x flow / efficiency. You want lots of air at high pressure,
horsepower is no longer meaningless.
-- 
##########################################################################
#Irresponsible rantings of the author alone. Any resemblance to persons  #
#living or dead then yer bummin. May cause drowsiness. Alcohol may inten-#
#sify this effect. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Billy!#
From: duncan@ravel.ati.com (Jim Duncan)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Pool Chemicals by Mail Order
Date: 24 Jul 92 06:42:12 GMT
Reply-To: duncan@ravel.ati.com (Jim Duncan)
Organization: KUFX 94.5 FM Stereo, San Jose, CA 'The Fox'

In article <1992Jul20.144248.19913@bcrka451.bnr.ca> janick@bnr.ca writes:
>In article <1992Jul19.011011.48@taney.uscghq.uscg.mil>,
>roseberry@taney.uscghq.uscg.mil writes:
>> 
>> 	Has anyone bought chemicals mail order and have any recommendations ?
>
Yes definitely.  I get all my pool chemicals by mail order from
LESLIE'S, "World's Largest Retailer of Swimming Pool Supplies".  The
prices are terrific, and the materials are high quality.

They have a technical support line, 800-LESPOOL, and an order line, 
800-LESLIES. Call this latter number and ask for a nice color catalog.
Then when you need soda ash, pool toys, pump motors, etc., etc., just
call the order line, and they'll ship UPS ground free - there's no added
shipping charge! 

It's slick.  

-- 
KUFX |      w  ["]                            | WA6MBV     
94.5 |...   |___|_____..duncan@ravel.ati.com  | Jim Duncan  
FM   |          H                             | ----------   
********  \_____I_____/  37 3 10N/121 59 10W  **************
From: weller@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu (Bonnie Weller)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Supplemantal Health Insurance??? Does it exist???
Date: 24 Jul 92 16:13:03 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.BrwIDt.4w0
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

My husband and I were astounded this week when we figure out how much
it will cost us in medical bills to have our baby, and this with an
80%- 20% plan.  It turns out the deductable is $450 a year (from 1/92
to 12/92 so it is not a full year for us as we have not used the
deductabe yet!) plus $100 deductable per hospital admittance, plus
20% of all bills.  It will not include any physicals, including the
baby's first physical after birth, or well - care for the baby.  It
will also not cover any vacinations for the baby.  So I figure in
reality we will be paying for about 50% of the birth and first years
care of the baby.  Not the best deal in town.  And this is the normal 
coverage most businesses offer their employess.  How can people afford 
this?  Are there supplemental coverages that will help capture the 20% 
plus some of the maintenance care not covered under our original 
policy?  Do any capture the deductable?  Is it worth buying the extra 
insurance if it is available?  And if so, could anyone recommend a 
company that you've had good experience with?

Thanks in advance.

Bonnie
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jchen@cash.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Jason Chen)
Subject: Re: MSG
Reply-To: jchen@ctt.bellcore.com
Organization: Bell Communications Research
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 14:41:17 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.031156.29799@pony.Ingres.COM>, rion@Ingres.COM (Rion Cassidy (x3357) OGT) writes:
|> I imagine that most people who frequent this newsgroup have seen or at least
|> heard about the 60 Minutes story on Monosodium Glutamate.  

There are a lot of misconceptions about MSG. 

The problem with MSG is that some people are allergic to it, just like
other natural substance that people are alergic to. If you have not experienced
with MSG related reactions, you do not have to worry about it.

There is  no clinical evidence to link MSG to any health problem to a
normal person. Even for those who are allergic to it, the symptoms are
typically short and mild. Very few had strong reactions, none has died
of it.

That is why FDA does not regulate the use of it, only the labeling of it for
those who are allergic to it.

The whole thing was blown out of proportion in 60 Minutes.

-- 

C. Jason Chen                 
**************E-Mail: jchen@ctt.bellcore.com
**************V-Mail: (908)699-6993
**************P-Mail: 444 Hoes Lane, 1E229, Piscataway, NJ
From: tj@cs.ucla.edu (Tom Johnson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Answering Machines
Date: 31 Jul 92 16:35:19 GMT
Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department
Originator: tj@kona.cs.ucla.edu

I'm looking for a good answering machine with the standard features 
(remote message pickup, voice activated recording, disconnects when 
another line has been picked up, etc...).  Preferably $100 or less.
I haven't really looked at them for years--what kinds of features are
available these days?  Any specific recommendations?

Thanks-
  Tom

-- 
Tom Johnson             "They say Confucious does his crossword with a pen."
tj@cs.ucla.edu                               -Tori Amos
From: markm@wri.com
Subject: Re: Citibank bill dispute
Reply-To: markm@wri.com
Organization: Wolfram Research, Inc.
Date: Fri, 17 Jul 1992 12:22:44 GMT

In article <24632@dog.ee.lbl.gov> witold@hilbert.msri.org (Witold Biedrzycki)  
writes:
> Citibank's customer service is prettty hopeless and stubborn
> as well. An ordinary customer service rep will probably keep
> refering you  to their letter no matter what you tell him/her. 

This is ridiculous!  Without starting a whole big Amex/Citibank flame war, I'd  
like to relate two Amex billing disputes that were resolved with only a single  
phone call in each case.

1.  I ordered approximately $200 worth of tickets for myself and six friends to  
go to a concert.  The ducats never arrived in the mail.  The Ticketmaster  
people told me they would be there by the day of the show; if not, I should  
call them and I could pick up my tickets at the will-call window at the venue.   
Well, guess what... no tix in the mail and after assurances and new  
confirmation numbers from Ticketmaster, nothing at the box office either.

The next day I called American Express, explained what happened, they said they  
would take care of it.  I received a letter about a week later from them  
stating they were crediting my account the appropriate amount.  End of story.

2.  My wallet was stolen on a recent trip to Boston.  I called Amex and  
cancelled the card within fifteen minutes after the robbery (This was about  
2:00 in the morning.)  When I received the bill, there was a charge from Foot  
Locker for $89 dated the same day the card was stolen.  (< 24 hours)  Again, I  
called Amex, explained that it wasn't my charge and that it was most likely the  
scum that lifted my wallet.

I got a letter in the mail about a week later explaining that my account was  
being credited for the proper amount.  Period.  That's it.  No further  
explanation or documentation required.

When my wallet was stolen in Boston, I was able to pick up a new American  
Express card just two blocks from my hotel, and less than 36 hours after I  
reported the theft.  It took me two weeks to get a replacement MasterCard.

--A satisfied American Express customer.


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: shihtsun@ecn.purdue.edu (Shih-tsun Alex Chou)
Subject: Airline Tickets Refund Regulated by Federal Government ?
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 21:59:38 GMT

I heard that Federal Government ordered four major airline companies
(Northwestern, and ?) to refund part of the money their customs paid.

Could anyone tell me more details about it? Which companies are 
involved? How do I acclaim? I don't read this newsgroup often, so please
e-mail me. I'll post a summary later. Thanks in advance!!

Alex Chou
grad student
EE, Purdue Univ.
From:  (jmhodapp@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Airline Tickets Refund Regulated by Federal Government ?
Date: 27 Jul 92 16:35:05 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: haphazard, at best

In article <1992Jul26.215938.4609@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>, shihtsun@ecn.purdue.edu (Shih-tsun Alex Chou) writes:
> 
> I heard that Federal Government ordered four major airline companies
> (Northwestern, and ?) to refund part of the money their customs paid.
> 
> Could anyone tell me more details about it? Which companies are 
> involved? How do I acclaim? I don't read this newsgroup often, so please
> e-mail me. I'll post a summary later. Thanks in advance!!
> 
I just received a legal notification stating that a civil suit was about to comence in 
(Georgia??) and that as a one-time passenger of the defendents (USAir, TWA, United,
Continental...) who were being accused, I would have the option of particcipating in a 
settlement dwal.  The judge would make no comment on the utrility of
the suit or the claim.  I, of course, can't find my old airline receipts.  No dough
for me.  I don't have the letter with me, but I'll post more info if anyone wantd it.

Jon  jmhodapp@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu
===============================
"The nature of  SCC's phenomenal success is that their trivial design
flaws completely overwhelm their fundamental design flaws.  People can spend 
dauys complaining about the difficulty of changing a directory's name, when the
computer can't even hook up to a disk drive."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ioguo@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (OA Guo)
Subject: Re: Experience on changing flight schedule (Continental)
Followup-To: misc.consumers
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 21 Jul 1992 10:23 EDT  

In article <1992Jul20.200920.26913@news.acns.nwu.edu>, staggers@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Ken Staggers) writes...
>I crossposted this to rec.travel.air.  Followup back to misc.consumers.
>My response first.
> 
	........
> 
>Thus, imho, you were not aware of the rules.  This isnt a hidden policy if

	Yes, I am awared of the rules.

>Continental is following the policy established by AA.  Your travel agent
>should have been aware of them.  Seems to me that everyone at Continental
>acted properly.
> 
>So why did you get to exchange your ticket for only $25 when you got to
>the airport?  Because the ticket people at the airport have a LOT more

	Thanks for the explanation but apparently, you miss my point.
	I was not showing up for the last minute change.  I just went to
	the counter asking for a change of the flight from July 31 to
	August 7, and from August 2 to August 9.  I asked to check the
	availability of the Q-class seats for the flight that I wanted to
	change to.  And, yes, the Q-class seats are still available.
> 
>--Ken
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
OA Guo                        |My statement does not reflect NASA's point of
NASA - Lewis Research Center  |view.  Nor should NASA's statements reflect
Cleveland, Ohio               |my point of view.
From: pdm@majestix.cs.uoregon.edu (peter d. mark)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: phone answering machines
Date: 31 Jul 92 08:29:18 GMT
Organization: University of Oregon Computer and Information Sciences Dept.


has anyone out there had any experience with the 
ATT digital phone answering machines?

if so, do you compare the sound quality of it
with the sound quality of the conventional
analog (micro-cassette) machines?

a friend of mine complained that the quality
of the digital model was actually *worse*
because (he suspects) the sampling rate is
lower than it should be.  i was wondering if
that's been other people's experience as well.

also: what do you think of the conventional
phone machine models?  would you recommend
other brands over ATT?

thanks very much,

peter 
pdm@cs.uoregon.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup)
Subject: Re: Cheap, Sturdy Bookcases?
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 19:07:57 GMT

In article <Jul.23.11.21.20.1992.27910@remus.rutgers.edu>
clong@remus.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) writes:
>I went shopping for bookcases recently and was shocked to find
>that anything that was reasonably priced was crap, and that
>anything that looked sturdy was greatly overpriced (at Ikea).

I don't know what your "cheap" criteria is, but I like the two Doxey
bookcases I got from a chain here in NE called Lechmere. 6 ft x 4 ft(?)
x 2ft. On sale for $50/each, normally $70. They are filled to the gills
and look like they will hold up for a while. I had another for 3 years
previous. They are pressboard or something, not like oak or whatever.

	-Kenny
-- 
Kenneth R. Crudup, Contractor, OSF DCE QA
OSF, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142	+1 617 621 7306
kenny@osf.osf.org			OSF has nothing to do with this post.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: burgoyne@highlite.uucp (J. Robert Burgoyne)
Subject: Re: Recommendation for Flowbee hair cutters
Organization: Gotham Communications Research
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 05:28:14 GMT

georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
<mostly positive remarks>

Hi George, and everyone else in netland. Too bad it's such a long
flight to get a haircut in Taiwan. I guarantee that 90% of the men
out there saving money on haircuts with Flowbee would change their
habits after one trip to a barber shop in Taiwan.

Hey you men out there, here's an assignment: Find a male who grew
up in Taiwan and ask if they think Flowbees would sell to men who
otherwise go the barber shop in Taiwan.

Robert
From: tobias@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Tobias)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Getting better gas milage (was: Re: MOLY BLACK GOLD. (Slick50))
Date: 29 Jul 92 11:15:21 GMT
Reply-To: tobias@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Tobias)
Distribution: na
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In misc.consumers, billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
>:   I'd hate to dissagree with you, but...  In my little Honda Civic I found a
>: way to get 10% better fuel economy.  I was running regular unleaded when I fi
>: got my 91 Civic.  After 5000kms I put Slick 50 in and saw only a marginal
>: improvement.  Then I switched to Super Unleaded (94 Octane) and I litterally
>: get 10% more distance per quantity of fuel.  The octane boost does make a
>: differance in a good fuel injected  car, but not everyone uses it, and few
>: say it's required.
>:   Has anyone else tried this?  Pardon the pun, but, milage may vary.  :)

    My '92 Mustang GT only requires regular unleaded fuel. However, I
have noticed that I consistently get approximately 4-5 mpg more (25 vs
approx 21 mpg) when I first add 5 gallons of Super Unleaded (Shell SU
2000E I think it's called), then top off the tank with the usual 87
octane regular unleaded. The regular is currently running $1.149 per
gallon while the super unleaded runs $1.299 (if bought on Tuesday with
$ .05 per gallon discount, otherwise it's $1.349). So going 200 miles
would cost almost $11 with regular and about $10.40 with the 5 gallons
of super unleaded in place of the regular. No great savings, about $150
over the course of 50K worth of driving, but I figure the super unleaded
might contain more additives to clean fuel injectors, so it's probably
worth it. I don't notice any difference in acceleration between the
different grades of fuel. If the 5.0 liter V-8 in the GT had a knock
sensor to adjust the timing, there probably wouldn't be much difference
in gas mileage.
				       Steve
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tjoa@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Richard Tjoa)
Subject: Re: Airline Antitrust Litigation
Summary: Broke college students
Keywords: airlines antitrust litigation refund
Organization: Mine
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 10:56:35 GMT

In article <1992Jul24.062455.6452@ncsa.uiuc.edu> acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng) writes:
>It is a nightmare to adminstrate such a refund.  It probably costs more
>to verify the records.  Why didn't the judge tell the airlines to
>reduce the price for all current flights (like power companies do) or
>just send the overcharge to Uncle Sam to reduce the national debt?

Nightmare?  They shouldn't have price-fixed us in the first place!
I think that one of their provisions is the receipt for the tickets
purchased.  If we sent the overcharge to the U.S. government, I really
don't think it would be fair to those of us who actually paid for the
overcharge.  This also applies to the airline price reduction plan.

Also, I heard that the refund might come in the form of rebates on future
flights.  Great.  Now it comes after I have nowhere to go...


-Richard
Aargh!
From: benefiel@wyse.wyse.com (Daniel Benefiel xtmp x2531 dept234)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ATTN: Citibank Cardholders
Date: 27 Jul 92 18:58:17 GMT
Organization: Wyse Technology, San Jose


I made my call to Citibank about my due date being moved up, and got
about the same answer as Jordan.  The grace period actually runs until
my statement is printed (about the 14th or 15th).  The due date (4th)
was printed because of "customer demand."  Satisfied that I can
make my payments even later than I did before they moved the date up,
I didn't ask them to print a different date on my bill.  Probably
should have.
From: ich@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Ing-Chin Hwang)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Contact Lens Mail Order Places
Date: 23 Jul 92 13:25:45 GMT
Reply-To: ich@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Ing-Chin Hwang)
Followup-To: ich@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX
Originator: ich@donald.cc.utexas.edu

I remembered a while back there're some discissions on mail order 
contact lens. Can someone please forward?
Thanks.
ICH
-- 
Ing-Chin Hwang, ich@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
From: barrett@cloudgen1.gatech.edu (James Barrett)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Ikea catalog
Date: 29 Jul 92 14:54:59 GMT
Organization: Georgia Tech College of Computing

Does anyone have an Ikea catalog lying around they could send me?
Do they mail catalogs by request?  When will they get mail-order?!?!?!? ;)

Thanks!

------------------OS/2 v2.0 -- Why settle for anything less?--------------------
James C. Barrett (barrett@cc.gatech.edu)| "When I need a little free advice
Georgia Tech College of Computing       |    about Saddam Hussein, I turn to  
                                        |    country music." -Bush, Oct 1990
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jchen@cash.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Jason Chen)
Subject: Re: MSG
Reply-To: jchen@ctt.bellcore.com
Organization: Bell Communications Research
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 20:18:23 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.184155.11235@pony.Ingres.COM>, rion@Ingres.COM (Rion Cassidy (x3357) OGT) writes:
|> In article <1992Jul22.144117.20399@walter.bellcore.com> jchen@ctt.bellcore.com writes:
|> >In article <1992Jul22.031156.29799@pony.Ingres.COM>, rion@Ingres.COM (Rion Cassidy (x3357) OGT) writes:
|> >|> I imagine that most people who frequent this newsgroup have seen or at least
|> >|> heard about the 60 Minutes story on Monosodium Glutamate.  
|> >
|> >There are a lot of misconceptions about MSG. 
|> >
|> >There is  no clinical evidence to link MSG to any health problem to a
|> >normal person. Even for those who are allergic to it, the symptoms are
|> >typically short and mild. Very few had strong reactions, none has died
|> >of it.
|> >
|> >The whole thing was blown out of proportion in 60 Minutes.
|> >
|> 
|> First, I was not spreading any misconceptions about MSG.  Second, why do you
|> take such a defensive stance towards the stuff? 

First, nor did I accuse you of spreading misconceptions. Second, I am
trying to put things into proper perspective.

|> Are you implying that anyone who has a reaction to MSG is not "normal"?
|> While not being allergic to it, I do believe that it gives me headaches.
|> Becuase no one has died from it there's nothing to worry about?

We are talking about extraordinary reactions to MSG, not your health.
Will you put the words in proper context?

|> I think that a very rational view (and the way I percieved the 60 minutes
|> report) is that this stuff has no real benefit, but can cause real problems
|> for some people. We have a right to know what products its in so we 
|> can avoid it if we want to.
|> 
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.

C. Jason Chen
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dmmg1176@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (David M Marcovitz)
Subject: Re: ARK
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 19:02:36 GMT
Keywords: Rain rain go away

crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford) writes:

>So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it
>with pitch inside and out.

I believe that is "gopher wood".

-- 
David M. Marcovitz                     |  internet: marcovitz@uiuc.edu
Computer-based Education Research Lab  |            dmmg1176@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
University of Illinois                 |  novanet:  marco / cca / nova
From: fritz@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (Gary Fritz (tmp))
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 19:15:23 GMT
Subject: Re: United Consumer Club .... What's the scoop?
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

In misc.consumers, rboudrie@chpc.org (Rob Boudrie) writes:
> - High up front fees
> - Tremendous sales pressure
> - A warning that if you refuse to sign a contract on-the-spot, ...

All true, and all of which should set your "scam alarm" clanging off the wall.
They are pressuring you to make an investment with no chance to consider it,
look at competitors, or talk to previous customers.  There's a very good
reason for that.

I know a number of people who joined UCC and similar groups.  I think one
of them felt he got his money's worth, and that was because he was building
a house and used UCC to purchase all his appliances and furniture.  And
even then he was very disgruntled by the poor selection, inability to see
a product before buying, etc.

My advice to people who are considering UCC & similar deals:  save your
time and energy.  Don't even bother going to the presentation.

Gary
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Re: Recommendation for Flowbee hair cutters
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 13:00:07 GMT

burgoyne@highlite.uucp (J. Robert Burgoyne) writes:

>georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
><mostly positive remarks>

>Hi George, and everyone else in netland. Too bad it's such a long
>flight to get a haircut in Taiwan. I guarantee that 90% of the men
>out there saving money on haircuts with Flowbee would change their
>habits after one trip to a barber shop in Taiwan.

>Hey you men out there, here's an assignment: Find a male who grew
>up in Taiwan and ask if they think Flowbees would sell to men who
>otherwise go the barber shop in Taiwan.

From what I remember there are two types of Barbers shop in Taiwan.  Which
type are you referring to?