HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bill@twg.bc.ca (Bill Irwin)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Canadian proof (not) that taxation lowers cigarette consumption
Date: 26 Jan 93 23:23:42 GMT
Reply-To: bill@twg.bc.ca (Bill Irwin)
Organization: The Westrheim Group, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

josh@Happy-Man.com (Joshua_Putnam) writes:

: Despite Canadian consumption, U.S. tobacco production is in a
: long-term decline.  In 1982 dollars, tobacco manufacturing dropped
: from $9,561 million in 1980 to $3,080 million in 1989.  Per
: capita consumption dropped from 7.9 lb/yr to 5.7 lb/yr over the
: same period.

: U.S. smoking rates have declined rapidly, too.  In 1979, 43% of
: 18-25 year olds, and 37% of those over 25, smoked.  By 1991, this
: dropped to 32% and 29%, respectively.

: Because the U.S. anti-smoking business has been going for a long
: time, 1980s numbers hide a large overall drop during the
: 1960s and 1970s.  1970 tobacco consumption was 9.7 lb/yr per
: capita, 70% more than in 1989.

If you are using the 7.9 lb/yr figure you quote above, then this
is a 22.8% increase of the 1989 amount, not 70%.
-- 
Bill Irwin    -       The Westrheim Group     -    Vancouver, BC, Canada
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
uunet!twg!bill            (604) 431-9600 (voice) |     Your Computer  
bill@twg.bc.ca            (604) 430-4329 (fax)   |    Systems Partner
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup)
Subject: Re: Rude drivers, was Re: Auto insurance laws in different state
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 17:18:26 GMT

In article <64060005@hpcss01.cup.hp.com>
twv@hpcss01.cup.hp.com (Terry Von Gease) writes:

>Look sport, when you're out there pedaling your little heart out on your
>child's toy you are mostly in the way.

rest of post deleted, but AMEN!

	-Kenny

-- 
Kenny 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.
	  Religion: The longest-running gag ever played on Mankind.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Distribution: world
From: Bill_Fielding@ultramac.uucp
Organization: Odyssey Ultraware, Inc
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 03:04:23  CDT
Subject: Re: Oct 1992 Consumer Reports

Check your library, or somewhere.  Most get CU, and will have back issues.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: bparrish@rose.hp.com (Bill Parrish)
Subject: Re: How to fight telemarketers
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 19:03:08 GMT
Organization: HP - Systems Technology Division
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.8 PL6]

Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher (egreen@East.Sun.COM) wrote:
: In article B85@icon.rose.hp.com, bparrish@rose.hp.com (Bill Parrish) writes:
: >
: >The guy said they are the largest organization advocating rights for
: >police officers... 
: 
: Excuse me?!?!
: 
: ---

Honest... that's what he said.  It seemed like a peculiar sort of thing to say,
but he seemed to be working from a script (not unusual) since after asking if 
I would display their bumper sticker, I said I couldn't help them... and he
went right on to "we understand it's been a tough year with the economy and
all" (paraphrased).  

The word "research" made me think it was a survey... but no, this was a 
solicitation for funds.

Bill


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rdonahue@spdcc.com (Bob Donahue)
Subject: Re: How to fight telemarketers
Organization: insert anything here
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 18:45:35 GMT

hirai@cc.swarthmore.edu (Eiji Hirai) writes:
>(1) Make a call to your local telephone company and have your phone number
>    be unlisted for the next edition of the phone book.
>
>    You may have to pay some fee but it's worth it (I pay $1.75 to Bell of
>    Pennsylvania each month). If you have a choice between "unlisted in
>    phone book" and "unlisted in phone book and not available to the
>    operator", choose the latter.  My friends and my doctor have my phone
>    number.  There's no need for anyone else to make an "emergency" query.
>
>    I think this one act, more than anything, has cut my junk calls the most
>    (after the new edition of our local phone book came out).

	This is idiotic.  Talk about cutting your nose off to
spite your face.  I simply don't have all of my friend's phone numbers
memorized.  When I travel I like to look people up.  Sometimes I don't have
their number handy.  So, I have to use DA.

	The other ideas were OK though, thanks.

	Now I've had this problem and complained to the phone company.
Apparently they can block intra-state calls to your house but not
inter-state calls to your house.  I don't know why it's limited like this
since they're not checking the area code (many states have >1 area code
these days)...

	What irks me most of all is the computer auto-dialers.  Most
of them won't relinquish the line if you hang up on them.  I've
had my line tied up for *30 minutes* whlie it cycles thryu the whole
schpiel!  Aside from leaving msgs in the gaps like "I can't dial 911
when your computer is holding the line hostage" and "Mom`s dialysis
machine has failed and she's not looking too good" nothing has
seemed to work...  I'm esp. plagued by some place in NH that has
a time-share - I get them a couple tmies a year.  They never call
back with a human, and I never qualify for their timeshare anyway... ;-)

	Grrrrrrr.

BBC
From: dbraun@cad636.intel.com (Doug Braun )
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: The Rotodent
Date: 22 Jan 93 01:38:28 GMT
Organization: Intel Design Technology


-- 

My dentist thinks I ought to use an appliance called the "Rotodent".
This is a fancy electric toothbrush that spins a little brush, much
like the tool the dentist uses.  It's NOT the same as that fancy electric toothbrush you can get in stores where each bunch of bristles twirls back and forth.

This thing is not cheap (~$100) and the impression is that you
can only purchase it through dentists.  SO, I was wondering:

Has anyone read any review or article about this gizmo, that
said if it was a good thing or just a gimmick?

Also, has anyone ever seen it for sale somewhere besides at the
dentist's (and presumably cheaper)?


Thanks,



"There is no human problem which could not be solved if
 people would simply do as I advise." -- Gore Vidal


 Doug Braun                         Intel Design Technology
                                    408 765-4279

 dbraun@scdt.intel.com

                 / decwrl \
                 | hplabs |
 or maybe:      -| oliveb |- !intelca!mipos3!cadev6!dbraun
                 | amd    |
                 \ qantel /
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.misc
From: shedevil@leland.Stanford.EDU (Anne P. Mitchell, JD)
Subject: Bissell Carpet Cleaner Comparisons?
Reply-To: shedevil@gw.home.vix.com (Anne P. Mitchell, J.D.)
Organization: Fathers Rights & Equality Exchange
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 93 19:32:03 GMT


I happened across the infomercial for the Bissell "Big Green Cleaning
Machine" the other day, and thought "Wow, if this thing works 1/2 as
well as the infomercial makes it appear, it'd be GREAT for us!".

These are those types of carpet cleaners that lay down warm
water/cleaner solution, and then immediately suck it back up, along with
the dirt, etc.  They look like wet/dry vacuums.

A friend of mine had bought a Vax [vacuum, not computer :-)] brand of
the same type of cleaner.  He had compared, and felt they were very
comparable in performance to the Bissell.  I tried his, and it was 
indeed great.  I want one of these types of cleaners!

My question is this:  Both the Vax and the Bissell are quite
expensive... > $300, and around $225/250 on sale if you get lucky.

BUT, both CitiBank and Damark have what appears to be an older model of
the Bissell, for *$89.00*.  

The description reads the same, and it *looks* like it does the same
thing..the only funcational difference by appearance is that the uptake
doohicky at the end of the hose is bigger on the older version.

Does ANYone know what the deficiencies in the old model, if any, are?
I'm *guessing* that there is less suction power...that would be about
the only thing I can imagine, plus the infomercial for the new Green
Machine made a huge deal out of the suction power of the newer
model...they showed it suspending a bowling ball from the hose [now, I
don't know about YOU, but *I* don't need to hang a bowling ball from my
carpet cleaner, so if the older model has enough suction to clean my
carpets, that's good enough for me!)

-- 
 LOOKING FOR:  Danny Kimmons, Paul Murray, Vinnie Cattaloni, & Michael Hobson
I am: Anne Mitchell, mom, & founder of the Fathers' Rights & Equality Exchange
Ask me about FREE!  FREE files available via anonymous ftp 128.45.1.1; dir /pub
			FUTUE TE IPSUM ET CABALLUM TUUM
From: hildin@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (kathleen.a.hildin)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Gevalia Kaffe Offer
Date: 21 Jan 93 18:43:43 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <1993Jan21.100309.1@mcvax4.d48.lilly.com>, kroin@mcvax4.d48.lilly.com writes:
> I just got this wonderful offer in the mail from an outfit called
>  Gevalia Kaffe.  $10 for a trial offer in which you receive a European style
>  automatic drip coffee
> maker(4cup) and a pound of really wonderful (i am reading this) coffee. It's
> one of those we'll keep sending you coffee at probably $10 a pound until you
> tell us not to. You keep the coffee maker whatever you decide. You don't get
> the next shipment for six weeks and may cancel by letter or phone before then.
>  I would really be interested in the offer if the coffee is that good. If not,
> I could still console myself with the free coffee maker. The co. is based in
> Sweden and has local importers.Anyone dealt with them or have any info about
> this offer? Thanks, Stan -- 
>       +--------------------------------------------------------------+
>       J.S.K@Lilly.Com is really Julian Kroin,late of Indpls. IN.
>       +--------------------------------------------------------------+

I also accepted this offer about 2 years ago.  Excellent coffee, good
coffee maker.  You can adjust the time frame in receiving the coffee, 
ie., every 3 months or 6 months or 9 months, or whatever suits your
needs. I cancelled after about a year.  The reason: I gave up coffee.
I never had a problem cancelling, just called their customer service,
they were very nice.  I just received a "come back" offer - it was
a 10-cup coffee maker and 2 lbs. of coffee for $5.00 plus shipping
and handling.  Since I now drink decaf coffee - I'm seriously considering
rejoining.  Only this time I would cut down the amount of coffee I'd
receive and also extend the time period.  It turned out I started to
stockpile the coffee!
Just my experience with Gevalia....

Kathy
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.med
From: geier@xylogics.com (Marcia Geier)
Subject: Air Ionizers
Organization: Xylogics, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 18:42:01 GMT

Do air ionizers such as the model by Pulseair really eliminate cigarette
smoke from the air?

I live in an old wood frame building. All other tenants in this small
building smoke A LOT. I live on the top floor and the hall and the
inside of my apartment smell terrible...it smells like they are all
smoking in my kitchen and living room at once!

Will one of these gadgets help me out? Will it eliminate the odor 
along with the smoke particles?

Thanks in advance for any replies....I've already requested that
these folks open their windows when they smoke, but to no avail....


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: staggers@cup.hp.com (Ken Staggers)
Subject: Re: Where to file complains when disputing with an airlines?
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 19:37:08 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8.1]

Ping Huang (pshuang@athena.mit.edu) wrote:
: On the other hand, does anybody know if anybody has contested in court
: the validity of these "contracts" outlining what the airline's "sole"
: obligations are in cases of delayed flights (or luggage loss, etc.) when
: the customer never signed the contract or saw the terms before payment?
: (Reminds me in some ways of the "shrink-wrap" license controversy.)

Every ticket should have some rules on the back of it.  Ticket jackets have
more rules on the back.  By purchasing and/or using the ticket, you are 
agreeing to these rules.  I'll have to look at my NW and AA tickets at
home.  I think the rules are short, but they reference particular airline
tariffs by number.  I guess its perfectly legal to leave it up to the
consumer to find out what those tariffs are (I have no problem with this).

--Ken

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dwn@bnl.gov (Dave Niebuhr)
Subject: Re: Insane NYC Tolls
Reply-To: dwn@bnl.gov
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 13:57:28 GMT

In article 595@newstand.syr.edu, pbwhite@rodan.acs.syr.EDU (White) writes:
>At least they have a reason for keeping the NYC Tolls insane.  If the tolls
>were any cheaper, every person would drive over the bridges, tunnels and get
>into the city - an then, as if there isn't enough traffic already - we'd
>really have a jam.  
>

Actually, it's to keep the residents in so that the state/NYC/counties 
pick their pockets and reline theirs.

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


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: markm@wri.com
Subject: Re: Gevalia Kaffe Offer
Reply-To: markm@wri.com
Organization: Wolfram Research, Inc.
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 16:25:45 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.100309.1@mcvax4.d48.lilly.com>  writes:
> I just got this wonderful offer in the mail from an outfit called
>  Gevalia Kaffe.  $10 for a trial offer in which you receive a European style
>  automatic drip coffee
> maker(4cup) and a pound of really wonderful (i am reading this) coffee. It's
> one of those we'll keep sending you coffee at probably $10 a pound until you
> tell us not to. You keep the coffee maker whatever you decide. You don't get
> the next shipment for six weeks and may cancel by letter or phone before  
then.
>  I would really be interested in the offer if the coffee is that good. If  
not,
> I could still console myself with the free coffee maker. The co. is based in
> Sweden and has local importers.Anyone dealt with them or have any info about
> this offer? Thanks, Stan -- 

I got this same offer in the mail a about a year and a half ago.  I wish I had  
never seen it.

I too said, "Hey! a FREE coffeemaker!  Cool!"  The coffeemaker came with the  
first shipment.  The coffee was horrible.  BUT I GOT A FREE COFFEEMAKER!

I wrote them a nice letter explaining that I wished to cancel my "subscription"  
to their service.  Over the next few months I received no less than three more  
shipments from them for which I was of course billed.  I also wrote many more  
letters to them telling them I didn't want any more coffee. I also phoned.   
Finally the coffee stopped coming.  But they got their money out of me for the  
coffeemaker, that's for sure.  It would have been cheaper to go to Wal-Mart and  
buy one for $15 then go to the supermarket and buy gourmet coffee for less than  
what they charge for regular stuff.

Just my $0.02

--Mark Moline
markm@wri.com
From: liu@flamingo.Corp.Sun.COM (Marianne Liu, Corp. Consolidations x67907)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Insurance question
Date: 26 Jan 93 19:27:47 GMT
Reply-To: liu@flamingo.Corp.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: flamingo.corp.sun.com


>From staggers@cup.hp.com (Ken Staggers)
>For my life insurance, there was no blood test required.  HP gives new
>employees 30 days to sign up with a private (I dont think we own it)


When you are under certain age and certain $ (I think $100K, not sure),
a blood test is not required.

I also purchased life insurance thru my company, and it didn't require a blood
test at first.  But starting last year, guess I pass that magic number, a blood
test was required.

marianne
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: markm@wri.com
Subject: Re: Toll Roads (was: Speeding ticket in OKlahoma --- what's SP8?)
Reply-To: markm@wri.com
Organization: Wolfram Research, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 17:42:56 GMT

In article <1993Jan22.225109.10422@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> stank@cbnewsl.cb.att.com  
(Stan Krieger) writes:
> 
> 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.

What about the (approx) 15 miles of 355 in the Chicago 'burbs?  I drive it  
about once a month, but it costs me 85 cents to go about 8 miles.  It costs 50  
cents when you get on at the south end (I-55) then another 35 cents when you  
exit at Roosevelt Rd.

I'm sure one of our readers from Chicagoland could give a toll-total from end  
to end, but I'll bet it's among the highest per-mile cost.


Xref: sparky misc.consumers:22442 rec.food.cooking:25832
From: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking
Subject: Black and Decker Handy Steamer
Date: 22 Jan 93 21:56:01 GMT
Reply-To: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Distribution: na
Organization: NCR E&M CLEMSON Liberty, SC

Does anyone have one of these and if so do they work well?  How about
on very small quantities (1 cup) of vegetables or rice?  And are they
easy to clean.  Also if you have a different brand I'd be interested
in hearing about it -- I'm having trouble finding a B&D in stock anywhere.
From: rrg@rtp.fibercom.com (Rhonda Gaines)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Date: 25 Jan 93 22:32:55 GMT
Organization: FiberCom, Inc., Roanoke, Virginia

In article <1993Jan21.005928.22673@csrd.uiuc.edu> poulsen@sp91.csrd.uiuc.edu (David K. Poulsen) writes:
#
#Really, the stuff does taste like Coke to me.

Same here!!

 -rhonda

-- 
Rhonda Gaines, Systems/Network Administrator | INTERNET: gaines@fibercom.com
FiberCom, Inc., P.O. Box 11966,              | UUCP: ...!uunet!fibercom!gaines
Roanoke, VA 24022-1966                       | FAX:   703-342-5961
PHONE: 703-342-6700 or 800-423-1183 x291     |
From: henrik@stat.tamu.edu (Henrik Schmiediche)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: What to do if your wallet is stolen
Date: 26 Jan 1993 07:28:56 GMT
Organization: Department of Statistics, TAMU
NNTP-Posting-Host: data.tamu.edu

In article <C1FI09.G17@vcd.hp.com> johne@PROBLEM_WITH_INEWS_GATEWAY_FILE (John Eaton) writes:

*Most people worry that if their wallet is stolen that the thief will use
*their credit cards. Their biggest worry should be that the thief will use
*their idendity. If they use your cards to buy something then they will get
*caught, but they can use your ID to open up new accounts. 
*
*That is a good reason for not carrying your SSN card in your wallet.

    OK,
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?

     - Henrik


--
Henrik Schmiediche, Dept. of Statistics, Texas A&M, College Station, TX 77843
E-mail: henrik@stat.tamu.edu  |  Tel: (409) 845-9447   |  Fax: (409) 845-3144
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: joel@cray.com (Joel Broude)
Subject: Re: Dispute with Home Owners Assn - Advice Sought
Organization: Cray Research Superservers Inc., San Diego CA, USA
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 02:24:17 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.192752.7854@netcom.com> bsardis@netcom.com (Barry Sardis) writes:
>I own a condo... I engaged a mangement company to locate a tenant...
>The tenants have a dog and they keep it chained on the patio.

>Some residents complained about the dog. The HOA CC&Rs do not allow 
>pets in the complex. There are lots of cats in the complex, roaming
>free.
>
>What I am wondering is if I have any legal recourse to get them [the
>managment company/HOA] to stop the harassment? Can I take them 
>to small claims court?

You have two issues.

First, you are responsible for your tenents, regardless of who located them
for you.  If no pets are allowed, you cannot allow your tenants to
keep a pet there.  You must make them get rid of it or move away.

Second, if you feel the management company didn't fulfill its contract
to locate qualified tenants, sue them in Small Claims Court for your
losses.  If the tenants lied about the pets, file against them for
your losses caused by that lie.  But if you knew they had pets 
before they moved in, then YOU are responsible for breaking the 
rules, and you should accept the consequences of your actions.

Many arguments can be made about unequal enforcement of the rules,
cats vs. dogs, people's rights to have pets, etc.  But the bottom
line is that when you bought your condo, you agreed to abide by
the CC&R's, as did everyone else there.

You now ask advice on how to get away with breaking that 
agreement -- to your benefit, but to the detriment of your 
neighbors, who may have purchased their condos partly to be 
away from neighbors' dogs.

You cannot control those tenants who have cats against the rules.
You should be able to accept responsibility for abiding by the
agreement you made when you bought your condo, even if doing so
carries some costs.
From: ez03+@andrew.cmu.edu (Eric C. Zinner)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Deer Whistles
Date: 25 Jan 93 08:24:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.QfN31pG00WB3Mhtkhf
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

After totalling two cars in two years by hitting two deer I am ready to
try anything to keep my new car from suffering the same fate.  A friend
suggested that I spend $5 and buy "deer whistles", small plastic devices
that mount to the front of a car.  Supposedly, when the car is driven at
more than 35MPH the whistle emits a frequency of 16,000-20,000 Hertz, in
a deer's audible range, and that scares them away from the car.  Of
course, since it is relatively rare to hit deer (unless you're me), it
is difficult to test the effectiveness of such a device unless a large
sample of people is surveyed.  Does anyone know of such a study or have
any knowledge of the usefulness of this gizmo?

With my luck I'll put them on backwards and deer will be attracted to my
car :-)