HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hrad@ellis.uchicago.edu (vincent peter hradil)
Subject: Re: Looking for a *great* coffeemaker
Reply-To: hrad@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 17:03:17 GMT

In article <fRKl55j@quack.sac.ca.us> pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey) writes:
>Of course everyone already knows how to make real coffee, right? You get
>fresh roasted beans, like from Trader Joes or any number of other fine
>places, and you use them as soon as you can and store them in the
>freezer. Grind them fine with a grinder and place them into a French
                     ^^^^
>press coffee maker with water just below boiling. It takes about a 1/2
>cup of beans to make about a cup and a half of good strong coffee.
  [stuff deleted]

I disagree.  I find that the coffee tastes much better from my press
if I grind it coarse.  Too fine of a grind tends to make
the coffee bitter, but then you did say that you like it that way.

BTW, why hasn't anyone mentioned my favorite: Guatamalan coffee?
I think it has very good acidity, and I just love it.

Also, another good book on the subject is "The Perfect Cup".

Vince
From: bkwg0457@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Whitlock)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Rather large late fee on my cable bill
Date: 27 Aug 92 16:33:01 GMT
Reply-To: bwhitlock@uiuc.edu
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

<F0O@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:

>   I just paid my cable bill last night and noticed it was about one
>week overdue.  Opps.  The monthly charge is normally $18.36 for
>around 30 channels(no HBO, ShowTime, or channels like that).  On the
>bill it says if you pay late, you will be charged a $2.00 late fee.
>Now while I suppose I can't get out of paying this, $2 for a late fee
>seems rather steep to me.  Our power and phone company only charge around
>20 cents.  Is it within my rights to demand the cable company show me
>some documentation which justifies why their late fee is so high?  Is
>it possible for me to fight this?
>   The other thing which bothers me is in the past it would say on the
>bill when it had to be paid.  Now they write something like "bill must
>be paid 20 days after the date shown at top of bill".  Why they ever
>made a change like this, I don't know, but if they want their bill
>paid by a certain date, then I think they should explicitly, not
>implicitly give the date.

>                                                           [Tim]

I don't know what you can do, if anything, about their late fee. But you
are lucky that their regular rate is so "low."  The rate for basic service
with about the same number of channels in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois is about
$23.48 per month.


-- 
    * * * * * * --> DISCLAIMER:  I speak only for myself. <-- * * * * * *
Brent Whitlock		Beckman Institute for Advanced Science & Technology
bwhitlock@uiuc.edu	Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering
			University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15786 misc.consumers.house:11477 misc.invest.real-estate:591
From: savoia@sw.stratus.com (Rick Savoia)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Should I buy extended warranty?
Date: 3 Sep 92 13:52:38 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.

In article <1992Sep3.004022.7631@leland.Stanford.EDU>, triumph@leland.Stanford.EDU (Chung-kao Hsieh) writes:
> Dear netters,
> 
> 	I recently went to Circuit City to buy a refrigerator, a washer, and
> a dryer.  All three machines are made by Whirlpool.  The salesperson was 
> pushing me into buying their extended warranty.  I remember reading somewhere
> saying that it's not worth buying it.  Could someone share theire knowledgeable
> experience with me?  Thank you very much
> 
> -- Chung-kao Hsieh
> triumph@leland.stanford.edu


This is common, I find, when buying camera equipment as well as 
large appliances.  Usually the idea is you spend an extra $20 
or so for three years warranty on a camera.  I turn it down 
everytime.  One time I even got hassled to buy it and trashed
the sale because of the salespersons insistence.   IMHO, if
you have to buy an extended warranty for something, then it 
wasn't worth buying in the first place.  The only time I have
got suckered into this was when I bought a VCR from Highland 
Superstores.   It was a two year extended warranty on top of 
the VCR's one-year warranty.  Highland went out of business
two years after I bought it.  I've never had a problem 
with the VCR.  

It's up to you.  Some people feel comforted by extended 
warranties which is why they offer them on cars.  I don't.

Rick
========================================================
Rick Savoia                     |	This
savoia@watts.sqa.stratus.com    |	Space
rsavoia@beirut.sqa.stratus.com  |	For
Rick_Savoia@vos.stratus.com     |	Rent
========================================================
From: micky@flytrap.Eng.Sun.COM (Mayank Choudhary)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Which cordless phone to buy
Date: 4 Sep 1992 21:14:16 GMT
Organization: SunSoft, Sun Microsystems Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: micky@Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: flytrap

I am looking for a cordless phone with a few features, in order
	10 channel operation
	at-least an 8-bit security code
	3-or-more days between recharging
	decent range

I have looked at a few and am trying to decide between a Sony and an ATT
phone. Both are comparably priced, $100.00, have the afore mentioned features.
I'd appreciate any recommendation/comments, especially from owners of these 
models. 

E-mail me directly and i'll post a summary if there is enough interest,
or reply to this group. 

thanks
micky
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:16105 rec.video:10899 sci.electronics:15200 sci.misc:1567
From: gkwan@balboa.eng.uci.edu (Greg Kwan)
Subject: Re: VCR Maintenance Advice Wanted. Head Cleaners Any Good?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.video,sci.electronics,sci.misc
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Date: 4 Sep 92 01:21:23 GMT

>>>Anyway, what I'd like to know is the current state-of-the-art of VCR head
>>>(and capstan, etc.) cleaners, as well as other maintenance systems.  The
>>>repair person stated that there's no good system to clean the heads,rollers,
>>>etc., other than getting in there with a soaked q-tip.  However, I really
>>>don't yet believe him since such advice is self-serving - I'd like to get
>>>VCR maintenance advice from knowledgeable yet impartial people.
>>
>>alcohol soaked Q-tip.  That worked great.  I seem to also remember him
>>saying that you should only brush perpendicular to the circumference of
>				   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>OUCH!     I always go in the direction of the tape travel.
>	I also use only foam covered 'Q-tips' (TM) (available at RS and
>other 'fine' electronics stores) because regular 'Q-tips' can snag on
>the heads and leave lint in undesired places.

When cleaning audio or video heads, only go in the direction of the
tape travel; perpendicular cleaning can ruin the head. I also agree
with only using foam covered Q-tips on VCR's.

When I was a tech, the place I worked at recommended using non-abra-
sive (important) cleaning tapes regularly, but that those only removed
maybe 80-90% of the junk. To really clean the heads you have to open
up the machine.

The real question to me, however, is why are your video heads getting
so dirty (twice in 2 years)? Are you using cheap tapes? Don't do this.
Do you re-record on the same tapes over and over? You should change
tapes every so often (they do wear out). Finally, do you have a sep-
arate rewinder? Rewinding/fast-forwarding takes a lot out of the VCR
and should be minimized.

greg

gkwan@balboa.eng.uci
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mf@dancer.uucp (24241-fusco)
Subject: Re: Auto insurance companies forgiving tickets?
Organization: On the Road
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 92 00:55:16 GMT

In article <1992Sep02.052035.19823@truevision.com> frank@truevision.com (Frank Loffel) writes:
>  State Farm (my current car insurance company) has a discount structure that 
>looks about like that:
>  0 tickets and 0 chargeable accidents in three years: State Farm Mutual, 
>lowest premium.
>  1 ticket or 1 chargeable accident in three years: Standard discount, 
>somewhat lower premium than standard.
>  More than 1 ticket or 1 chargeable accident: No discount.

	I have State Farm also (for many 'clean' years) but I read this as:

	--standard rate    (until you get a ticket, etc)
	--standard rate +  (until ticket, etc expires in X years)
	--standard rate ++ (until ticket, etc expires in X years)

	I mean, what is a 'discount' anyway?
In fact, I've noticed variablity in my rates with them (with a perfect
record no less) depending on (I guess) how much they pay out
(read as: pay their shareholders).
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: romain@salt.eng.pyramid.com (Romain Kang)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: halogen lamps
Summary: failure modes
Date: 26 Aug 92 00:05:30 GMT
Reply-To: romain@pyramid.com
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp, San Jose, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: salt.eng.pyramid.com

In case anyone is interested, here are two theories about halogen
lamp failure I received via e-mail which seem worth repeating.

Mike G. Hoffberg <hoffberg@phebos.aps.anl.gov> suggested that
corroded metal contacts heated faster than the ceramic ends of the
bulbs.  Differing coefficients of thermal expansion between the metal
and the ceramic accelerated microfracturing of the bulb, leading to
the ultimate failure of the bulb.

Peter Z. Simpson <pzs@ficus.webo.dg.com> speculated that the poor
quality of the lamp contacts and mounting arrangement could not
compensate for thermal expansion and contraction, causing arcing,
further deteriorating the contacts and aggravating heating
problems.

There seems to be general agreement that consumer lamps are cheaply
manufactured.  Some people felt they were getting good value for
the dollar and liked the color of the light, while many others felt
frustrated by declining performance over time.  "Quality construction"
and "consumer halogen lamps" seem to be mutually exclusive.

Thanks for the responses.

Romain
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ens@ccu.umanitoba.ca
Subject: Re: Radioactivity and Superstition; was: Re: Are Your Light Bulbs Radioactive?
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 23:19:55 GMT

In <l9ns6oINNmol@utkcs2.cs.utk.edu> de5@ORNL.GOV (Dave Sill) writes:

>Few of which are radioactive, since most folks don't have concentrated sources
>laying around their house...unless they have smoke detectors or compact
>flourescents.  Which is *exactly* the point the originator of this thread was
>trying to make.  Radioactivity *is* a different kind of threat than most
>parents are used to dealing with.  For this reason it makes a great deal of
>sense of consider the threat, know how to deal with it, and spread the word. 
>Yes, this is, in practice, a minor threat compared to electrical sockets, busy
>streets, and pesticides/drain cleaners/oven cleaners.  But it *is* a threat.

But you're advocating far more action than people take for sockets and 
cleaners.

>>Yet somehow people become morbidly fascinated with the radioactive sources
>>in smoke detectors, as if they were somehow A Class Apart, because they
>>work by means of Invisible Mysterious Rays.
>They *are* different.  You can't see, smell, taste, hear, or feel
>radioactivity.  This isn't true of most physical phenomena people deal with,
>including chemicals and electricity.  It's hardly surprising that it's treated
>differently.

You can't sense (usual 5) toxins or asbestos fibres in trace (but 
dangerous) amounts in the water or air either. In fact radioactivity
is far easier to detect, measure and identify at levels far below toxicity
than most chemical hazards are. The ease of detection does make it
different and probably accounts for the public's anxiety.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.environment,sci.med
From: M20614@mwvm.mitre.org (Hugh Pritchard)
Subject: Re: "Small amounts" of radioactivy (was: Light Bulbs)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean VA 22102
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 17:34:37 GMT

In article <1992Sep3.142402.641@newshub.ccs.yorku.ca>
tony@nexus.yorku.ca (Anthony Wallis) writes:
 
>For a start, due to their varying penetrating powers, there's orders of
>of magnitude difference between the effects of diffused exposure to
>alpha, beta, and gamma radiations. I don't ever want to be anywhere
>near a low intensity gamma source, but am not too concerned about a ...
 
I was under the impression that "gamma rays" were merely photons --
light rays.  Are "gamma rays" in this context photons of a specific
energy or range of energies?  Perhaps they are more energetic [ =
shorter wavelength] than X-rays.
 
And aren't gamma rays of this energy emitted by radioisotopes (e.g.
technetium) used in nuclear medicine?  The gamma rays are detected
by a scintillation counter ("gamma camera").  Lots of patients (me
included) have had gamma scans with no apparent ill effects.
 
**  Hugh Pritchard,  hapritch@mitre.org,  703/883-6616
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15792 rec.food.drink:2783
From: spl@pitstop.ucsd.edu (Steve Lamont)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.drink
Subject: Re: How to dispose of empty paint cans?
Date: 28 Aug 1992 14:06:50 GMT
Organization: University of Calif., San Diego/Microscopy and Imaging Resource
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: pitstop.ucsd.edu

In article <1992Aug27.194307.288@ultra.com> wayne@ultra.com (Wayne Hathaway) writes:
>We have been doing a bit of painting of late, and consequently have
>several empty gallon latex paint cans around.  Does anybody have any
>advice on the best way to dispose of the beasties?  Capping them and
>throwing them in the trash seems pessimal, but clearly the curbside
>recycling people won't take 'em.  Any other ideas out there?  Thanks!

Hmmmm.  

My usual solution is to fill the paint cans with ice, add a couple of
pints of vodka and a splash of vermouth, shake, not stir, and serve in
a martini glass with a lemon twist.

Well... you *did* cross post to rec.food.drink... :-)

							spl
-- 
Steve Lamont, SciViGuy -- (619) 534-7968 -- spl@dim.ucsd.edu
UCSD Microscopy and Imaging Resource/UCSD Med School/La Jolla, CA 92093-0608
"O generation of the thoroughly smug/and thoroughly uncomfortable...
.. the fish swim in the lake/and do not even own clothing." - Ezra Pound
From: vemuri@informix.com (Sudhakar Vemuri)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: camera
Keywords: camera remote batteries
Date: 2 Sep 92 19:42:33 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

Hi friends,

I got a Olympus Zoom 330 camera with remote. Recently, while I was going
through their instuction manual ( pretty late !!! ), I found that the
remote unit batteries are not replacable. However, it says, they last for
5 years.

Are the remote units sold separately ?  The remote button is part of shutter
cap.

In general what are your experiences with that particular camera.

Reply to ----> vemuri@informix.com ( I will be away from office till 9th Sept.)

Thanx a lot.


Sudhakar Vemuri
From: sullivan@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (paul.b.sullivan)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Another Scam
Date: 2 Sep 92 17:47:49 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <RJOHNSON.92Aug31110544@conus.shell.com> rjohnson@shell.com (Roy Johnson) writes:
>My story:
>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.  Then some check boxes indicating "Package", "Insured
>by shipper", a box for Sender:

Free lifetime supply of film means that they send you a roll of KODAK
film each time you have film developed by them.

You are right to call this a rip off.

Paul Sullivan
From: reza.naima@uttsbbs.uucp (Reza Naima)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Are Your Light Bulbs Radi
Date: 26 Aug 92 09:47:00 GMT
Reply-To: reza.naima@uttsbbs.uucp (Reza Naima)
Organization: The Transfer Station BBS, Danville, CA - 510-837-4610/837-5591

anderson@SSD.intel.com (Mike Anderson) wrote

MA>Abstract: Alert!!! some compact flourescent light bulbs have 
MA>radioactive
MA>materials in them.
    [ Stuff cut out ]
MA>Problem: One of my friends pointed out the message on the back of the 
MA>box:
MA>
MA>|Caution:               .......
MA>|                       .......
MA>|                       .......
MA>|(last line) Starter bottle within lamp base contains 0.33 Micro-Ci 
MA>Pm-147.
MA>
MA>I had not read the fine print. I believe this label indicates that 
MA>the 
MA>radioactive element Promethium is being used in some manner. It has 
MA>been 
MA>some time since I had physics so I am bit rusty.  I found Pm on my 
MA>periodic
MA>table at element 61.  And my book indicates that this element emits 
MA>GAMMA and
MA>BETA radiation.  It is my recallection that GAMMA radiation is not 
MA>extermely
MA>desirabled.
MA>
MA>Request: Can someone familiar with the properties of Pm please post 
MA>more
                                
  I recently purchased a big handbook of chemistry and physics at a 
book-sale for a qarter, and this is what it says regarding Pm 
(The description is long, so I cut out the uninteresting parts)

Searches for the element in nature have been fruitless, nad it now appears 
that promethium is completely missing from the earth's crust. Fourteen 
isotopes of promethium, with atomic masses from 141, to 154, are now 
known.  Promethium-147, with a half-life of 2.64 yrs., is the most 
generally useful.  (It goes on stating that Promethium-145 edoes not emmit 
gama radiation and some other stuff).  Promethium salts luminesce in the 
dark with a pale blue or greenish glow, due to their high radioactivity.  
(blah, blah).  The element has applications as a beta source for thickness 
gages, and it can be absorbed by a phosphor to produce light.  Light 
produced in this manner can be used for signs or signals that require 
dependable operations; it can be used as a nuclear-powered battery by 
capturing light in photocells wich convert it into electric current.  Such 
a battery, using Pm-147, would have a useful life of about 5 years.  
Promethium shows promise as a heat source to provide auxilary power for 
space probes and satellites. 

     Well, that sure revealed a lot, huh?  The book is about 20 years old, 
so there might be more info...

Reza
reza.naima@uttsbbs.uucp

--- WinQwk 1.10a #0
                                    
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ask@cbnews.cb.att.com (Arthur S. Kamlet)
Subject: Re: Questions on umbrella coverage
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories,  Columbus, Ohio
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 20:55:15 GMT

In article <case.15.714352897@ucs.sdsu.edu> case@ucs.sdsu.edu (Steve Case) writes:
>1. If one purchases a 1 Million dollar umbrella policy, couldn't you 
>save money by lowering your homeowner and car insurance liability amounts to 
>the bare minimum? I have seen prices of around $200-300 for a 1 Meg policy. 
>That's less than the cost for the 300K (max) liability amounts I have on my 
>car and homeowner policies.

Most umbrella policies pay over some deductible amount.

And most umbrella premiums are based on this deductible.  So you
could save on your homeowners and auto and pay more on your
umbrella.  It pays to look at several alternatives, and then decide.

>2. Does an umbrella policy cover all types of liability? Does the coverage 

Depends on the policy.  It helps if all your insurnace is with the
same company that writes the umbrella policy.

-- 
Art Kamlet  a_s_kamlet@att.com  AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: uyeno@meetng.enet.dec.com (Alice Uyeno)
Subject: VCR recommendations
Reply-To: uyeno@meetng.enet.dec.com (Alice Uyeno)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 16:41:03 GMT


HI,

I'm on the hunt for a VCR.  Any recommendations?  I don't plan to record anything since we don't have cable.
From: ccb@macbeth.umd.edu (Phoenix)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Personal protection (was Re: PARALYZER CS tear gas)
Date: 3 Sep 92 04:34:01 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, College Park

The stuff you folks are talking about isn't peppar *gas*, exactly -- that's
the stuff that was used in the trench warfare during WWI. I own a container
of PepperGard, by the same people that make Mace. It's a liquid just like
Mace, but the active ingredient is a peppar extract. I bought it for two
reasons: 1) I was going on a road trip by myself and expected to sleep at
highway rest stops, and 2) I bicycle quite a bit, and while Mace isn't
effective on hungry dogs, this stuff is.

I was actually surprised that PepperGard is better than Mace; according
to my local gun store owner, the product will make a person blind for
about 20 minutes. Not fun, eh? The best part is that it costs less than
Mace ($14, vs. $19 out here).

"Seeing much, suffering much            -Blake Sobiloff (ccb@umd5.umd.edu)
and studying much, are the               Human-Computer Interaction Lab
three pillars of learning."              Department of Psychology
         -Disraeli                       University of Maryland
From: PNCSPPC@CCVAX1.CC.NCSU.EDU
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Alternative check sources?
Date: 1 Sep 92 16:13:34 GMT

I've heard that there are alternative check sources.  Does anyone know
which companies are the best?  And is it really worth the extra trouble? If
so, phone #s of the companies (toll-free, preferably) would be very
helpful.  Since my Usenet newsgroup access is variable I'd appreciate
replies by e-mail.  Thanks.

Phil Calvert
 
<Bitnet: pncsppc@ncsuvax / Internet: pncsppc@ccvax1.cc.ncsu.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: triumph@leland.Stanford.EDU (Chung-kao Hsieh)
Subject: Should I buy extended warranty?
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 92 00:40:22 GMT

Dear netters,

	I recently went to Circuit City to buy a refrigerator, a washer, and
a dryer.  All three machines are made by Whirlpool.  The salesperson was 
pushing me into buying their extended warranty.  I remember reading somewhere
saying that it's not worth buying it.  Could someone share theire knowledgeable
experience with me?  Thank you very much

-- Chung-kao Hsieh
triumph@leland.stanford.edu
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15886 rec.food.drink:2828 ba.food:3088
From: aland@informix.com (Colonel Panic)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.drink,ba.food
Subject: Re: Looking for a *great* coffeemaker
Date: 1 Sep 92 03:20:32 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: The Helen Keller Bondurant High Performance Driving School for the Blind

In article <11922@optilink.UUCP> brad@optilink.UUCP (Brad Yearwood) writes:
>
>Peets: gak, phooee.  I haven't seen anything there that hasn't been roasted
>to a greasy crisp.

I agree 100%!  Here again, though, personal tastes come into play.  I bought
some Kalossi there once that I found to be absolutely undrinkable.  I gave
it to a colleague and Peet's fan who absolutely loved it.

That's my opinion.  That and $.50 will get you a cup of... something...

>Brad Yearwood   brad@optilink.com   {uunet, pyramid}!optilink!brad


--
Alan Denney      aland@informix.com      {pyramid|uunet}!infmx!aland

"This song is a traditional bluegrass number, in the sense that 
 it's about dead ancestors."  
  - The Austin Lounge Lizards   (live, introducing "Grandpa's Hologram")
From: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Keeping ants away
Keywords: ants
Date: 1 Sep 92 14:57:55 GMT
Reply-To: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Organization: E 4th St Home For The Overeducated Underemployed - Chicago Div.

In article <4882@rosie.NeXT.COM> afitz@next.com (Alex Fitz) writes:
>Does anyone know of an effective, environmentally safe way to keep ants  
>from coming in your house?

Lock the doors & shutter the windows.  Call them up and  tell them you
are not going to be home.  Move. Tell your uncles you'll buy them
each a beer not to bring their wives over...

		;-) ;-) ;-)

				reb
Newsgroups: misc.consumers