HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: konstan@saturn.cs.umn.edu (Joe Konstan)
Subject: Re: Stores can't "detain" shoplifters
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Minnesota
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 21:36:58 GMT

In article <1js6d4INNj1n@mojo.eng.umd.edu>, georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
|> Stores have every right to detain by physical means, if necessary, anyone
|> suspected of shoplifting. There are two conditions: a) They must have
|> probable cause. b) They cannot detain a person for more than a
|> reasonable length of time, usually one hour.

|> The same applies to private citizens, in general. Any citizen has the
|> right to detain by physical means, if necessary, anyone suspected of
|> committing a crime. The crime doesn't even have to be a felony.

Based on the law in which state?  I certainly don't know Maryland law, 
but in California (where I lived for five years until recently) the 
citizen's arrest laws only allowed citizen's arrest by a citizen that 
PERSONALLY WITNESSED a FELONY.  I'm interested both in whether this law 
varies state-to-state and whether I'm misinterpreting it here.

I'm particularly interested in the idea that "probable cause" and 
"reasonable length of time" enter into this.  I would assume that 
private citizens or stores would have an obligation to inform and 
summon police immediately. 

|> Stores often instruct their employees not to physically retrain a
|> shoplifter, however, but this is only to reduce their liability risk,
|> either from an injured employee, injured suspect, etc. These policies
|> have nothing to do with the store's legal rights.

I certainly agree that a store would have a high liability risk by
detaining someone.  I'd also guess it would cost them more money to
establish probable cause in court (let alone the rest of the suit)
than to follow this policy.  And, they would be opening themselves up
to criminal proceedings if their probable cause wasn't sufficient.

Interesting stuff.

Joe Konstan
konstan@cs.umn.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: slightbo@wizard.Berkeley.EDU (Sam Lightbourne)
Subject: Re: Pre-Approved card Mail in annual fee??
Reply-To: slightbo@encore.com
Organization: Encore Computer Corp., Fort Lauderdale FL
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 14:08:39 GMT

In article <1993Jan26.000825.23905@watson.ibm.com>, rubin@watson.ibm.com
(Bill Rubin) writes:
> In <C1FI3u.Aqq@encore.com> slightbo@wizard.Berkeley.EDU (Sam
Lightbourne) writes:
> >My wife received a pre-approved credit application for a Gold MC
> >they offer a $10,000 credit line.  All they ask is that she mail 
> >in the "annual fee" payment of $39. This is not covered in the FAQ,
> >but I smell a rat? What do you think? 
> 
> Are you sure that this is a Gold MasterCard or does it just say "Gold
Card".  
> If it is the latter, then it is a scam, it is not a MC or Visa but some 
> useless card that can only be used to buy overpriced merchandise from their 
> own catalog.  Ditch the mail as quickly as you can.  
> 
> -- Bill rubin@watson.ibm.com

actually, when I looked at the mailing, there was no mention of
Master Card or Visa or any type of bank for that matter. All they
said was you will receive a gold card.  I'll probably get a 39
dollar catalog and a "gold" card to order cheap merchandise from.
They did provide a postage free envelope to mail back my "annual
fee". Wasn't that nice of them!
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Strange call from "Franchise Tax Board"
Date: 26 Jan 93 02:11:08 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Distribution: ca
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation

In article <1jteiv$l70@agate.berkeley.edu> musick@hera.Berkeley.EDU (Ron Musick) writes:
>My husband & I recently got a strange message on our
>answering machine from someone allegedly from the
>"Franchise Tax Board".  She said something like "This call
>is for Ron and Emy Musick.  We are trying to locate a
>neighbor of yours, a Mr. xxx (forgot).  Please call us
>back @ (916)xxx-xxxx"
>
    If you still have that message, RECORD it onto something else
    where you can get at it.

    It may have actually been the FTB [the California equivalent of
    the IRS] calling.  

    You COULD always just call that number back and find
    out...because if it WAS some scum telemarketer and you have the
    original message, ask them how many thousands of dollars it is
    worth to them for you NOT to play that tape for the State of
    California.  

    I would expect it may really have been the FTB....I can't
    believe any telemarketer would be stupid enough to identify
    themselves as part of an organization with slightly less
    tolerance than the IRS.

>messages on the answering machine.  I REALLY hope this isn't
>some new telemarketing gimmick relating to helping you fill out
>your taxes for a fee or investigating if you qualify for "unclaimed 
>taxes" for a fee.  I'd be most upset if I pay long distance
>charges to hear a telemarketing spiel. 8-(.
>
    If it was I would certainly give that telephone number and any
    other identifying information you can gather to the FTB even if
    the original message was lost.  They really don't have much
    tolerance for this type of scam.
From: sbp@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (Sue Price)
Subject: Re: How to improve credit ratings ?
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 17:46:40 GMT

In article <C12srC.JtC@news2.cis.umn.edu> konstan@saturn.cs.umn.edu (Joe Konstan) writes:
>In response to a question on whether to build a credit rating by paying in
>full vs. carrying a balance, georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:
>|> Paying your monthly balance in full will distinguish you as being someone
>|> who has learned to manage cash. In the world of credit, that gets noticed.
>
>I agree with the recommendation, though not the reason.  And, I'd like to add
>a caveat.  You should pay in full because it is cheaper for you (no interest 
>charges).  The REASON is that credit reports do not show whether you carry a
>balance. They only show whether you paid each month and in some cases what
>your high balance (or credit limit) is (depending on the issuer).  For these
>purposes, nobody can tell whether you carry a balance, so why pay to?  Of
>course, nobody can tell whether you pay in full monthly either, so you don't
>get credit for that.

When I applied for a mortgage, the loan application asked me how much I
charge to my credit card each month.  They did not ask what my balance is,
which I thought was more significant in my case because I pay in full,
and I noted that on the application.  Interesting that they had no way
to know whether I was telling the truth.  I had assumed that anything
they asked me, they would be able to verify.


-- 

Sue Price
sbp@hound.att.com

From: ajeans@hplred.HPL.HP.COM (Albert Jeans)
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1993 15:37:27 GMT
Subject: Re: Mail Order source for Video Eqpt.
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

I can highly recommend Camera World of Oregon. I didn't encounter any hassles
when I decided to return one product and exchange it for another. Their prices
are low and they're honest.
From: smithkl@cpva.saic.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Camcorder - Image Stabilization
Date: 21 Jan 93 11:35:40 PST
Organization: Science Applications Int'l Corp./San Diego

In article <1993Jan21.151011.23830@exu.ericsson.se>, exustp@exu.ericsson.se (Stephen Pittner,xt-dt,x0672) writes:
> Hello,
>   I am considering buying a camcorder soon and I am especially interested in ones
> with "Digital Image Stabilization". I have not seen any advertised here locally
> in Dallas and was wondering if any netters have had any experiences with this 
> type of camcorder.
> 
>  Any feedback or recommendations are welcome (Price too if you know it)
> 
>                                  Thanks,
>                                  Steve

My fiancee purchased the Sony TR-101 for me for Christmas.  This model has
a different form of image stabilization that uses prizms to change the
direction of light hitting the CCD (Charge Coupled Device) as movements
are made by the camera operator.  From what I have read, this actually 
uses less camcorder power and the image is sharper because the electronics
aren't doing pixel magic to make the image look less jerky.  The Sony
really does a great job!  Now for the price.  We got ours for $1449
MSRP $1599.  I have seen the same unit for ~$1100 in the video mail order
magazines.  Your mileage WILL vary.

Kevin
smithkl@cpva.saic.com
From: so690561@mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu (Susan Elizabeth Olson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Mail Order Sources For Kitchen-Aid Mixers
Date: 24 Jan 1993 03:51:34 GMT
Organization: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tx
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu

...get Commercial Culinary's catalog (1-800-999-4949)...although I
couldn't find their most recent catalog the summer '92 listed the
300 watt KSM90 for $229.95, the 325 watt K5SS/KSM5 (5 quart lift-up
bowl) for $299.95, and the 350 watt KSM50 (also with 5 quart lift-up
bowl) for $349.95...shipping on any model is $13.95.  Since I got my
K5SS a few years back as a gift, I can't tell you how much my parents
paid for it or how good CC's Kitchen-Aid prices are, but they have
(CC) given me excellent service and I've been very pleased with their
prices and the quality of the kitchen equipment they carry. CC like
A Cook's Wares also seems to carry the complete line of accessories
and the truly awesome Kitchen-Aid hand mixers.
Just a satisfied kitchenware fanatic (not a CC employee)
-S(usan Olson)
It pays to shop around.
From: johne@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE (John Eaton)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: What to do if your wallet is stolen
Date: 26 Jan 93 17:53:05 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard VCD
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Henrik Schmiediche (henrik@stat.tamu.edu) wrote:
: so what is the best line of self-defense if your wallet gets stolen.
: Canceling credit cards is easy, what next? How does one protect against
: another person using your identity?
: ----------------
(1) Keep your wallet Clean. Don't carry anything that you really don't
need in the immediate future.You don't have to carry EVERY credit card
that you own all the time. 

(2) Never carry your SSN card or anything that shows the number. This may
be hard in states where your DL# is your SSN. Be wary of insurance cards
and others that use your SSN.

(3) Keep a list of everything in your wallet with Numbers and who to
call.

(4) Ever see those ad's in the Sunday paper that will give you a nice looking
SS Card embossed in plastic? Get one with your name and a bogus SSN. Never
use it for anything!!!! Hopefully the thief will think it is valid and start
using it with your name and his address. 



John Eaton
!hp-vcd!johne
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: lbd@cbnews.cb.att.com (linda.b.dunlap)
Subject: Re: Sneaky Cop Caught Me (was Re:Radar Detectors)
Organization: AT&T Network Systems - Columbus, Ohio
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 13:03:02 GMT

We bought our first radar detector (actually our son bought it for us) after
a "Sneaky Cop" gave my husband a ticket when it couldn't have been us speeding.
(I know, you're saying, "SURE!!!!).

We were driving a bright red, 300Z and had just gone through a town that was a
notorious speed trap.  We slowed down below the speed limit, kept it
there because we were looking for a turn-off.  (This was not an interstate.)
This cop stopped us, said we were doing 72 in a 40 mph zone, but said he would 
"do us a favor" and lower it to some lower speed to reduce the fine.

My husband doesn't argue with cops.  We paid the fine because we knew the
judge wouldn't believe us.  We had also just driven back from Florida 
averaging about 80 mph, so we sort of considered it delayed justice.
From: joe@sybase.com (Joseph Weinstein)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Making your own cheques...
Date: 25 Jan 93 18:49:01 GMT
Organization: Sybase, Inc.



Is this off base?

Can I use cheques I've made myself by duplicating cheques issued
from the bank or cheque printing firm?


--
Joe Weinstein   joe@sybase.com   Sybase 1650 65th st.  Emeryville Ca 94608

NOT A DISCLAIMER!   THIS IS THE OFFICIAL OPINION OF AN IMPORTANT CORPORATE
                    ENTITY (NOT SYBASE).     FOR COMPLETE DETAILS SEND $10
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.culture.usa
From: schwartz@nynexst.com (Steven Schwartz)
Subject: Re: Speeding ticket in OKlahoma --- what's SP8?
Originator: schwartz@baba
Reply-To: schwartz@nynexst.com
Organization: Expert Systems Lab., NYNEX Sci. and Tech., White Plains NY
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 23:44:29 GMT


The Cross Bronx Expwy is bad, but it's not the worst.
That distinction belongs to Boston's Fitzgerald Expwy
(I-93/SR-3, Central Artery).  The Artery is currently being
depressed from an 6-lane elevated (with a surface road in
downtown Boston) to a 10-lane tunnel.  
-- 
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
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: lola@lucid.com (Lola McCrary)
Subject: Re: Gevalia Kaffe Offer
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Organization: Lucid, Inc.
Distribution: na,local
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 93 21:16:01 GMT

In article <Dmerrill-220193085934@47.140.3.220> Dmerrill@bnr.ca (Dana Merrill) writes:


   I and several others I know sent for the deal.  Nice little coffee pot and
   yes the coffee is that good. Excellent!  But for me, $10 a pound is just
   too much.  I mail order all my coffee at around $4.50 a pound including
   shipping and have over 60 blends to choose from (not all $4.50 but the
   majority are <$5).

   Everyone that I know had absolutely no trouble at all cancelling the
   Gevalia Kaffe deal after the first order, and I must admit it was tempting
   to order some more.

   So, I'd recommend you go for it.

   dam

   ==================================================================

   Dana Merrill                                Bell Northern Research
   DMerrill@BNR.CA                         Research Triangle Park, NC
   ==================================================================

No one yet has mentioned the type of coffee given.  Their 'standard' coffee is
a light roast, nice flavor, but if you like *strong* coffee, it takes a lot to
get it up to taste (note: we drink dark roasts most of the time and like it
very strong).  They have a cinnamon flavored coffee that is very nice, but can
be reproduced by adding ground cinnamon in the filter with any good coffee
before brewing.  

Their standard decaff is very nice, better in my opinion than their regular
caffe, and it takes less the make a strong cup of coffee.
  
Overall, I'd agree with the people who say you can get as good cheaper in local
stores, and buy the coffee maker out of those savings.

Lola
From: charleen@net.bio.net (Charleen Bunjiovianna)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Discover Card - Pffffft!
Date: 21 Jan 93 17:27:33 GMT
Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Biology

In article <1993Jan20.150350.19012@sdc.com> kenk@sdc.com (Ken Konecki) writes:
>
>And if you pay off your debt every month (which you should), the
>interest rate is insignificant no matter which card you use.

Ken?  Ohhh, Ken?  Anyone awake in there?

I am so sick of this moralizing re carrying a credit card balance.  I
agree that it makes no sense to make many small charges and pay
interest on them from month to month, but some of us are not
sufficiently flush with cash to be able to pay off one or two large,
utterly necessary charges in a month.  I just bought a condo four
months ago.  (Can you say, "house poor"?)  I've been having very
expensive car problems, one after another.  I need the car to get to
work and to run my small sideline business. Ergo, I've put the repair
bills on the trusty ol' Visa and will pay them off over the next six
months or so.

And what about the students who have to charge their tuition, with plans
of paying it back after they land a post-college well-paying job?

Interest rate matters.  I shouldn't have had to explain this.

Charleen
From: hotz@isi.edu (Steve Hotz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Info wanted: Bondwel/Librex N-book
Date: 27 Jan 93 00:47:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: venera.23291
Reply-To: hotz@isi.edu (Steve Hotz)
Organization: USC-Information Sciences Institute

Hi,

Looking for info/comments (positive or negative) about both
Bondwel and Librex notebook computers.

They seem to be the least expensive on the market, and i'm
concerned/curious what disadvatnage comes along with the
considerably lower price?

Hopefully this is the appropriate newsgroup,
if not sorry for the noise.

xxoo (& thanks),

	steve
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,soc.culture.usa,misc.misc
From: stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger)
Subject: Toll Roads (was: Speeding ticket in OKlahoma --- what's SP8?)
Organization: Summit NJ
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 22:51:09 GMT

>True, but it's also perpetually under construction  ...
>("Welcome to PA... Single lane most of the next 300 miles" :-) and liberally
>sprinkled with craters. I doubt that PA has any plans to remedy this, since it
>forces more people to take the PA Turnpike which is, mile for mile, possibly
>the most expensive toll road in the US. [Does anyone have a counterexample? The
>insane bridge tolls into New York City don't count...]

As an aside, in the 1960's and early 1970's, the PA Turnpike was among
the lowest price, per mile, toll road.  It's obvious that they've now
corrected that mistake.

I think the $1 for about 15 miles of I-95 in Delaware comes to a pretty
high cost per mile.  And, until they removed the tolls last year,
the $1.50 on the 25 mile Richmond-Petersburg Pike was also a bit high.

In NJ, the cost per mile in the northern part  of the state is much
higher than in the south.  For example, if I take the Garden
State Parkway north to the NY Thruway, it'll cost $1.40 for about
32 miles, or over 4 cents a mile, but if I want to go south to Cape
May, it'll cost $2.45 for 140 miles, or under 2 cents a mile.  I
believe tolls on the NJ Turnpike are comparable.

Another interesting statistic.  In a recent discussion in NJ about
removing the tolls on the Garden State Parkway, a graphic showed that
maintenance costs on the GSP and the NJ Turnpike are about 3x more
expensive per mile than on the free roads.  I personally that a lot
of it isn't more thorough maintenance, but rather that the toll
authority needs to justify it's existence.

One final note:  the original poster mentioned the insane bridge tolls
into New York City.   For those of you who are curious, the Port
Authority of NY and NJ charges $4 round trip (toll collected into
NY only) for the 3 crossings into Manhattan and the three into
Staten Island.   Within NY City, most of the Triboro Bridge and
Tunnel Authority crossings are now, or soon to be, $3 each way
(which is why I take the Brooklyn Bridge instead of the Battery
Tunnel, or the 59th St. Bridge instead of the Queens-Midtown
Tunnel).   Of course, there are no, or minimal, highway links
to the free bridges, but there are highway links to the toll
bridges (much of which is interstate highway).
-- 
Stan Krieger                 All opinions, advice, or suggestions, even
UNIX System Laboratories     if related to my employment, are my own.
Summit, NJ
smk@usl.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rdonahue@spdcc.com (Bob Donahue)
Subject: Re: Discover Card - Pffffft!
Organization: insert anything here
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 18:37:14 GMT

In article <1455@bridge2.NSD.3Com.COM> cls@truffula.sj.ca.us writes:
>In article 5168@spdcc.com, rdonahue@spdcc.com (Bob Donahue) writes:
>>	Anyway if you HAVE a Discover Card, I suggest giving them a call
>>and balking... to Thomas R. Butler, President Discover Card Services...
>>PO Box 15184, Wilmington, DE  19886-1013.
>>	Me, I'm cutting up my card and mailing it in.
>
>Of all the credit cards I use, Discover was the only one which refused
>to stop sending junk mail.  It only stopped when I mailed Mr. Butler
>the pieces.  His letter of apology claimed that I was the only customer
>in the history of the Discover Card who had ever complained about its
>junk mail.  He refused to make any changes in his junk mail policy.
>
>Cameron
>


	Oh Goody - I'll add in a PostScript that you said hi!  ;-)

	Someone else sent me e-mail showing the decpetive plot intheir
promo.  What a bunch of losers.

BBC
From: egreen@east.sun.com (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Where to file complains when disputing wit
Date: 25 Jan 93 18:10:46 GMT
Reply-To: egreen@east.sun.com
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

In article 2154@walter.bellcore.com, jchen@wind.bellcore.com (Jason Chen) writes:

[cancelled flight]
>I lost one precious day, and the only compensation NW provides
>is hotel and meals during the stay in Seoul.

>and what do you think
>an "reasonable compensations" should be?

Hotel and meals during the stay in Seoul.

---
Ed Green, former Ninjaite |I was drinking last night with a biker,
  Ed.Green@East.Sun.COM   |and I showed him a picture of you.  I said,
DoD #0111  (919)460-8302  |"Go on, get to know her, you'll like her!"
 (The Grateful Dead) -->  |It seemed like the least I could do...
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dwn@bnl.gov (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: Re: Toll Roads (was: Speeding ticket in OKlaho
Reply-To: dwn@bnl.gov
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 15:11:16 GMT

In article 10422@cbnewsl.cb.att.com, stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stan Krieger) writes:

>In NJ, the cost per mile in the northern part  of the state is much
>higher than in the south.  For example, if I take the Garden
>State Parkway north to the NY Thruway, it'll cost $1.40 for about
>32 miles, or over 4 cents a mile, but if I want to go south to Cape
>May, it'll cost $2.45 for 140 miles, or under 2 cents a mile.  I
>believe tolls on the NJ Turnpike are comparable.
>-- 

I think that this is more a function of how far one travels.  How long is
the Garden State Parkway and what is the toll for that?  I drove the NJ
Turnpike in September and the toll from exit 13A (Linden) south to the
Delaware Memorial Bridge was $3.05.  Unfortunately, I don't remember the
mileage.

---
Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093