HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: thomasd@tps.COM (Thomas W. Day)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.culture.japan,sci.electronics,alt.sex,soc.culture.african.american,misc.education,misc.entrepreneurs
Subject: America Doesn't have a Clue (was Say Yes to Japan)
Date: 21 Dec 92 17:45:19 GMT
Organization: Telectronics Pacing Systems

In article <1992Dec20.134441.5019@hellgate.utah.edu> llarsen%peruvian.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Loren Larsen) writes:
>These plants will contribute $226 to $452 billion dollars to the US and
>Canadian economies over the next 10-20 years and provide 60,000 American 
>jobs.  This transplanting trend has just begun.

>Earlier (in a previous post), I mentioned that it is highly advantageous for
>Japanese companies to move their plants to the US because the cost of
>transportation represents a huge portion of the consumer price of a product.
>Due to lower costs in labor through automation etc., and the lower cost of
>raw materials.  

Doesn't it bother you that we have become a great source for cheap labor and 
materials?  We may be defining the space between first and third world.

>Certainly the Japanese aren't great gift horses trying to give America a break.
>I believe they are unfair in their hiring and firing practices based on
>ethnic origin.  They will destroy themselves long before they destroy America.

This seems to depend heavily on the "truth and justice will win out" 
theory.  Their "hiring and firing practices" could also be a great source of 
strength.  They don't have to deal with multicultural differences, 
multilingual language barriers, or minority discrimination problems.  They 
can concentrate on the goal: world manufacturing and economic dominance.  
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: Dedicated ATM card?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 09:39:10 GMT

rboudrie@chpc.org (Rob Boudrie) writes:
: 
: >FYI, Plus also has one:  1-800-THE-PLUS
: 
: 
: This service is automated - you are prompted to touch tone in the area 
: code and the first three digits of "the number you are calling from".
: 
: This makes a marvelous way to easily determine what town a phone number
: is in (unless it is one of those rare towns without a plus ATM 
: nearby).

I don't know why they would want that. Since it is an 800 number, they
have your complete phone number, as soon as you call.

Bill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: cvb@unislc.uucp (Clair Barrus)
Subject: amway
Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 22:52:29 GMT

My sister has taken the Amway plunge.  So should I be happy for her, 
or tell her she is crazy?o

Advise any one?

Or does anyone have a collected set of Amway information that may be 
useful in giving her some information on the company that is not from 
the company?


E-mail would be fine, as I'm sure this has been re-hashed enough times
here.

Thanks.


--
  ". . . he looks exactly like a woodchuck, & talks like a woodchuck 
  on a stump with a chaw of tobacco, in his mouth." - Joseph Smith 

Clair Barrus
cvb@unislc.slc.unisys.com or unislc!cvb@Sun.COM
--
From: jarnold@tixel.mv.com (Jon Arnold)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: What is a Good Brand of Breakmaker
Date: 30 Dec 92 00:30:35 GMT
Reply-To: jarnold@tixel.mv.com

Just got the DAK "Mister Loaf" and are very happy with it.  We probably
*wouldn't* have been happy with it, except that we were pre-warned *NOT*
to follow the bread-making instructions that come with it; apparently
there were some errors when translating the original Japanese into
English, especially in regard to proportions of ingredients.  It makes
a 1 or 1.5 lb loaf in 2.5 hours.  Good stuff.

Jon Arnold                        Phone: W: 603-883-1233
Nashua, New Hampshire             Fax:   W: 603-883-7350
                                         H: 603-883-6371

      "If you ain't the lead dog, the view never changes."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics,soc.culture.japan,misc.education,misc.entrepreneurs
From: wa2ise@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (robert.f.casey)
Subject: Re: Can I cut the wings on VU-75 and fit the antenna in my attic?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 12:42:58 GMT

If what you mean by "wings" are the metal rods extending from the horiz-
ontal support boom, the answer is theoritica;;y no.  these rods are
resonant antenna elements, and electromagnetic physics theory determine
their length.  But, if you're close to the TV transmitter, you could
reduce the length and get weaker reception.  If you're close, you won't
notice the weaker reception.  The lower channels will be the ones affected.
Like Ch 2,3,4.  Just be symmetrical in your trimming.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: friedric@mdd.comm.mot.com (Bernd Friedrich)
Subject: Compact Dishwashers?
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: Motorola Mobile Data Divison
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 02:01:20 GMT

Does anyone have a recommendation for a particular brand/model of small
dishwashers?

My wife and I are getting tired of hand-scrubbing, and want a good
cleaning, reliable dishwasher that will fit into a smaller space. Little
room in the kitchen.

We prefer a built-in as opposed to the roll-away kind (no place to roll
to).

Thanks in advance,
Bernd


Bernd Friedrich
Motorola Mobile Data
friedric@mdd.comm.mot.com
Quality Means The World To Us (TM)
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:21017 sci.electronics:21279 misc.entrepreneurs:3695
From: lance@helios.UCSC.EDU (Lance Bresee)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics,misc.entrepreneurs
Subject: Re: DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!
Date: 21 Dec 1992 15:18:24 GMT
Organization: UCO/Lick Observatory
NNTP-Posting-Host: helios.ucsc.edu

In article <1992Dec18.205739.11193@doug.cae.wisc.edu> kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad) writes:
>The Japan discussion is rather interesting...
>
>It sounds to me like Japan has some rasty nasty trade barriers set up, but
>I'm not really sure that I'd like the U.S.'s government to erect our own
>trade barriers to try to cause Japan to drop some of there own.  Here's
>why:
>
>
>						---Joel Kolstad


Would this be a good time to garner support for NAFTA?

NAFTA includes a 60% provision which mandates that 60% of
a product must be manufactured in the free trade area to
be eligible for no tariffs.

Opponents to NAFTA suggest that NAFTA will export jobs to
Mexico.  The 60% provision suggests that job gains in 
Mexico will come more from Asia and overseas than from US.
Also, the opponents of the treaty who claim that the
treaty will cause job loss in the US as plants move to
mexico invariably back up their claim by stating that
plants are already moving to Mexico now, WHEN WE DON'T
HAVE THE TREATY!

Personally, I respect LOGIC more than DOGMA.....

lance
From: tzs@stein.u.washington.edu (Tim Smith)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Dedicated ATM card?
Date: 3 Jan 1993 05:10:26 GMT
Organization: University of Washington School of Law, Class of '95
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu

>Service charges are another one of those scams that brings to
>mind the old question:
>	If banks are those nice friendly folks you should trust
>	with your money; why do they chain the pens down?

Because backs don't require customers to by nice friendly folks.  What
a dumb "old question."

--Tim Smith
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: alie@csl.dl.nec.com (Andrew Lie)
Subject: Re: Interplak vs. Braun
Organization: NEC America, C & C Software Development Lab
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 15:06:25 GMT

I would like to know more about Braun, too.
My Interplak just broke down two weeks ago (it no longer recharges).
From: dave@us.oracle.com (Dave Dargo)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Dedicated ATM card?
Date: 31 Dec 92 21:54:50 GMT
Organization: Oracle Corp., Redwood Shores CA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

trsnyder@mcs.drexel.edu (Bob Snyder) writes:

>In article <6222@naucse.cse.nau.edu> rrw@sunset.cse.nau.edu (Bob Wier) writes:

>     Yup - that's what I've found.  Virtually everywhere I've had bank
>     accounts in the last 10 years charge a fee for using "foreign" atms.

>I'm happy with the way my bank solved this....  I pay a annual $14 fee,
>in exchange for this I get unlimitted ATM usage, no matter if it's MAC or Plus.
I bank at Chase Bank of MD.  They don't have many branches and fewer
ATM machines.  Their policy is free checking and free ATMs if you have
direct deposit or a certain minimum balance.  (I have direct deposit.)
When I got the account I was told that "out-of-area" ATM transactions
would cost $1.  However, they have since changed that policy and I can
use any ATM anywhere without incurring a charge (I've only tried in
MD, VA, DC, and CA.)

Dave (ddargo@oracle.com)
From: jarnold@tixel.mv.com (Jon Arnold)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: long distance calling
Distribution: world
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 15:32:52 GMT
Organization: 
Reply-To: jarnold@tixel.mv.com

Or alternatively, find out who has the best promotion in a given month,
and is waiving "cross-over" charges to switch services, and then make
the switch.  I probably have 4-5 LD carriers in a year, sometimes the
same one; each month enjoying xx minutes of free long distance, or the
$20 incentive voucher, or the .......

Jon Arnold                        Phone: W: 603-883-1233
Nashua, New Hampshire             Fax:   W: 603-883-7350
                                         H: 603-883-6371

      "If you ain't the lead dog, the view never changes."

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,ca.driving
From: schwartz@nynexst.com (Steven Schwartz)
Subject: Re: Fines for not registering a vehicle?
Originator: schwartz@baba
Reply-To: schwartz@nynexst.com
Organization: Expert Systems Lab., NYNEX Sci. and Tech., White Plains NY
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 92 16:13:36 GMT


In article <1992Dec22.230400.1600@netcom.com>, wtfxston@netcom.com (William Todd Featherston) writes:
> daniels@netcom.com (Daniel A. Segel) writes:
> : I recently purchased an older motorcycle that had not been registered by
> : the last two owners. Because of this, all I have are a bunch of receipts
> : showing transfer of ownership.
> : 
> : I know there will probably be a sizable fine for not having registered it
> : before, but does anybody know how the procedure to license it will work 
> : or what kind of fine there will be?

I'm missing something.  In NY, there's no legal obligation to register a
vehicle unless it is to be driven on public streets.  If you want to
drive it around your backyard, you don't need plates.  Is CA different? 
-- 
Steven H. Schwartz		Expert Systems Laboratory
schwartz@nynexst.com		NYNEX Science and Technology Center
PROFS: SCHWARTZ@UNIX		500 Westchester Avenue
914-644-2960			White Plains NY 10604
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:21316 soc.men:21909 misc.misc:4193
From: staggers@cup.hp.com (Ken Staggers)
Subject: My new fireplace...where's the instructions?
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 19:18:52 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8.1]

A simple question...my new apt has a fireplace.  I have never lived in a
place with a fireplace.  I would like to have a nice fire going for 
Christmas.  So, I guess its off to Home Depot to buy wood or logs.  Any
brand recommendations?  What next?  I dont suppose I have to get charcoal
fluid :)  This citykid novice wonders what the step by step tasks are to
building a fire in the fireplace.  Also, I would like to have the fire
out before I head off to ski.  So how many logs do I need to use at one
time?

--Ken, hoping not to set the apt complex on fire.
  staggers@cup.hp.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: wmorgan@stsci.edu (Windsor Morgan)
Subject: Re: Legal Tender?? A different Twist
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 20:07:49 GMT

>Rhonda Gaines (rrg@rtp.fibercom.com) wrote:
>> How much of a dollar bill ($20 bill to be exact) do you have to have
>> before it's spendable?  My husband found 3/4 of a $20 bill and
>> figured that it's probably unspendable but I thought I'd pose the
>> question anyway.  Replies to rrg@fibercom.com

In article <1992Dec29.033526.11110@nwnexus.WA.COM> phaedrus@halcyon.com (Mark Phaedrus) responds:
>     When I ran into a similar situation, my bank told me that the Federal
>Reserve uses a "rule of thirds".  If more than two-thirds of a bill is
>clearly present, the bank can return it to the Federal Reserve for full
>value.  If more than one-third, but less than two-thirds, of the bill is
>clearly present, the Fed will give half face value for it.  If only one-
>third or less of the bill is present, it is worthless.


I read in the latest National Geographic (January 1993 or December
1992) that at least 51% of paper money must be present to be
reimbursed in full.

-- 
'Verily, there be no leader as wise as the Vision!'
                         Windsor Morgan (wmorgan@stsci.edu OR NHT@PSUVM.BITNET)
                         Space Telescope Science Institute
                         Baltimore, MD   21218
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.electronics,soc.culture.japan,misc.education,misc.entrepreneurs
From: brian@quake.sylmar.ca.us (Brian K. Yoder)
Subject: Re: America doesn't have a clue: (was DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!)
Organization: Quake Public Access
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 06:56:16 GMT

In article <1992Dec21.215358.4886@netcom.com> strnlght@netcom.com (David Sternlight) writes:

>Thomas Day is correct in pointing out, in effect, that free trade is not
>an ethical or moral principle, but is an economic principle we have
>been taught, based on some fundamental assumptions.

Really?  Do you really think that the question of whether a man ought to
control the product of his labor is a moral question?  It is certainly
one with economic implications, but it IS a moral issue.  I should
point out that if one concludes that from a moral perspective, the 
products of one's labor ought to be controlled by the society in
general rather than by the one who produced it, the question of free 
trade in the economic arena becomes moot. 

--Brian
From: lane@duphy4.physics.drexel.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Cover Charge for Restaurant?
Date: 22 Dec 92 13:08:42 GMT
Distribution: usa,all
Organization: Drexel University Physics

In article <1992Dec21.215842.18270@nynexst.com>, schwartz@nynexst.com (Steven Schwartz) writes:
>
> Minimum dining charges in restaurants have been around for a long time.
> It prevents someone from walking in during the busy hour, ordering
> french fries, and occupying a table for two hours.  This is -not- a
> cover charge: you don't pay up front for "admission."
>
> There is no excuse for a restaurant cover charge unless something is
> being provided in addition to the food, e.g. a jazz concert.

Cover charges are common in europe, but they cover what (in the US)
would be the tip.

This suggests an obvious solution :-)

--

 Drexel University       \V                     --Chuck Lane
----------------->--------*------------<--------lane@duphy4.hepnet
     (215) 895-1545      / \  Particle Physics  lane@duphy1.bitnet
FAX: (215) 895-5934        /~~~~~~~~~~~         lane@duphy4.physics.drexel.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: staggers@cup.hp.com (Ken Staggers)
Subject: Re: long distance calling
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 18:53:53 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8.1]

Pankaj Mayor (pankaj@synopsys.com) wrote:
: >For me the automatic 20% international discount to one number from MCI
: 		      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
: Since December 15th you can have 2 international numbers on MCI F&F

Thanks for posting this!  Every Christmas I call my friend in London.
My first F&F international number is to my friend in Tokyo.  I just called
MCI (Dec 24th) and they added my London friend, effective tomorrow.  A
nice xmas present.

--Ken


Xref: sparky misc.consumers:21147 ca.driving:2642
From: wb8foz@skybridge.SCL.CWRU.Edu (David Lesher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,ca.driving
Subject: Re: Fines for not registering a vehicle?
Date: 23 Dec 1992 23:53:00 GMT
Organization: NRK Clinic for habitual NetNews abusers - Beltway Annex
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: wb8foz@skybridge.scl.cwru.edu (David Lesher)
NNTP-Posting-Host: skybridge.scl.cwru.edu

I don't know if this would work on the Left Coast, but I have
"moved" a vehicle out of state, titled it there, then titled it
again in the first state.......
--
A host is a host from coast to coast..wb8foz@skybridge.scl.cwru.edu
& no one will talk to a host that's close..........................
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.visa.us
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Can one be denied insurance based on citizenship?
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 23:31:18 GMT


In article <1992Dec21.180336.12495@bnr.ca>, shekar@bnr.ca (Shekar Benakatti) writes:
>
>The Insurance company's name is AMICA and they are rated #1
>by consumer's report!!  I did call State board of insurance
>only to be told that it is insurance company's policy and to
>get their reason in writing.  I heard GEICO also does this
>kind of thing.

You haven't said what type of insurance you are buying.  It sounds like
you are buying either auto or home insurance.  Try State Farm--they are
the biggest in auto and maybe home too.  I have used them for
years--they never asked me if I am citizen or PR.  State Farm is
competitive in price and fair in payback too.
From: fino@point.cs.uwm.edu (Alexander Finogenov)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re:  rechargeable batteries (retried)
Date: 23 Dec 1992 16:49:22 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.2.5

In article <1992Dec22.095440.29026@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> hillelm@comm.mot.com (Hillel Meyers) writes:
: Is there a problem with keeping my Sony Camcorder batteries always in the
: recharger once they have been discharged completely?  Can I place them in the
: recharger after a single use even though they are not fully discharged?  I
: seems they are always runni|> ng down while I am not using them.
: 

In one of the early 1992 issues of Consumer Reports there is an info about
camcorder batteries. If I remember correctly, they mentioned that the nicad
batteries have "memory" about previous charge(s). Such batteries must be fully
discharged before you may recharge them.

Alex
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.culture.japan
From: fester@island.COM (Mike Fester)
Subject: Re: America doesn't have a clue: (was DOES AMERICA SAY YES TO JAPAN? - Off track!!)
Organization: /usr/local/rn/organization
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:39:47 GMT

In article <1992Dec30.011051.23413@Csli.Stanford.EDU> hiraga@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Yuzuru Hiraga) writes:
>In article <1992Dec29.164957.2067@island.COM> fester@island.COM (Mike Fester) writes:
>>Tanaka, became BY FAR the most powerful man in Japan even AFTER while time in 
>>jail (the "shadow Prime Minister") which continued until he suffered a stroke
>>in 1985. He was not, seemingly, too severely punished for taking a bribe from
>>a foreign company. And BTW, Tanaka NEVER acknowledged he was wrong.
>
>"In jail" means in custody.

He was held in Saitama, in prison. Don't remember how long.

>And the trial is still in the appeal court (supreme court).
>The lower two courts ruled Tanaka guilty.
>But even if so, he would serve about a 4-year sentence at most.

Probably "suspended for 5". Not a criticism (except in this one case), merely
pointing out that, especially for non-violent crimes, Japanese sentences are
routinely held in abeyance, if the criminal behaves himself.

>During that (and a certain following) period, he would be deprived of
>all electoral rights.  But rumor says that had he not appealed and
>served the sentence as a "sanctioning period"; he would have long
>since revived as an ever powerful figure :-<

Ah, but he WAS the most powerful man in Parliament for years after having been
forced to resign, being put in prison (briefly), being convicted, etc. The guy
was harder to get rid of than Rasputin.

>In reality, he has maintained his parliament seat, surviving several
>elections (some of them with a landslide).  This reflects the loyal
>attitude of his electoral district (Niigata 3-ku) towards him;
>which IMO is disgraceful -- ever more so since his current health
>condition inhibits him from serving any public service (be it good
>or bad).
>
>>His legacy still lived on in a) the mess of the current LDP b) the failure to
>>this day to open the second runway in Narita c) the ever increasing role of 
>>money in Japanese politics d) his hand-picking of the next few Prime Minister's
>
>I'm not sure of his affluence in b) -- agreed with the others.

The land grab by Tanaka and his friends in the LDP, just prior to the 
announcement of a new airport, the reaction of the people in the area when they
found out, Tanaka's hard-line stance, the hard-line stance of the opposition,
etc. If your point was that it was not entirely Tanaka's fault, yeah, you're
right. 

Mike

-- 
Disclaimer - These opinions are not so much opinions, as pearls of wisdom. Any-
one disagreeing is obviously either a) a snivelling, whining, mentally-
deficient, weak-willed, inconsequential, namby-pamby tool of some vague but
conveniently defined conspiracy, or b) my wife.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kieran@world.std.com (Aaron L Dickey)
Subject: Re: Sony Equipment (was Re: CD walkmans)
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 00:51:08 GMT

lcc@po.CWRU.Edu (Lih C. Chen) writes:


>>In article <Bzy9pI.EEJ@world.std.com> kieran@world.std.com (Aaron L Dickey) writes:
>>
>>>Whether this is true or just utter bullshit I have no idea, but I
>>>did notice an article in _Popular Science_ recently noting that Sony had
>>>passed a milestone in laser technology, creating a narrower beam that
>>>would allow something like 2-3 hours of music on one CD...as long as the
>>>CD player was in a room about 150 degrees below zero.

>Following this train of thought, I have a question for you technical
>folx out there:  Is it implied, then, that playing 2-3 hours of music,
>even when you have to go through 2 or 4 CDs to do that, at regular
>room temperature is bad for your current CD player?

No no no...that's not what I meant.  It's not that playing too many CDs in
a row is bad for your player; it's that the new technology Sony has in the
lab won't operate unless the temperature is around -150.  It's sort of
like superconducting materials testing; physics lets a lot of things
happen in the cold that it won't let happen in normal temp ranges...at
least, not until we find a way around it. :)

--Aaron

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
From: durtralp@ux1.isu.edu (Ralph Durtschi)
Subject: Re: Wood Burning Stoves vs Screened Fireplace
Organization: Idaho State University, Pocatello
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 17:26:06 GMT

sr.hp.com (Wes Whiteley) writes:
>I'm not positive about this, but I think that a wood burning stove requires
>the fan to be running for it to work.  Therefore, if you lose power during a
>storm, you may not be able to use a wood burning stove....

Most wood stoves are simply metal boxes that you throw wood into. They have 
no fans and require no electricity to operate.
Some wood stoves do have pipes running through the fire box or chimney in
which air is forced driven by an electric fan. This increases the efficiency
of the stove somewhat as long as the fan is blowing.

Still other wood stoves have the entire fire box enclosed in an outer jacket
with forced air blown between the fire box and the outer jacket. This type
is most efficient as long as the fan is on however, without the fan, the
thing hardly heats at all.

The above descriptions do not refer to the "Pellet" type stoves that burn
wood pellets that you purchase in sacks. These stoves are very efficient
but do require electrical power.


Bye for now, and Merry Christmas.

Ralph Durtschi, Idaho State University