HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: artc@iplmail.orl.mmc.com (Art)
Subject: Re: DISCOVER card ( MUST READ! )
Organization: MMC
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 16:41:26 GMT

About a year ago -> I've learned about a new credit 
card that is a great combo. of my AMEX & Discover card:
Ford Credit Card!!!
Reasons:

               AMEX        DIISCOVER           FORD

memb fee       $55          free               free
90 days prot    Y            N                  Y
free ext warr.  Y            N                  Y     
(up to 1 yr )
travel ins.     Y            Y                  Y
rental car ins  Y            N                  Y
money back      N         up to 1%            up to 1.5%



as ya'll can see -> FORD = AMEX + DISCOVER 
anymore question???
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17318 misc.consumers.house:12993 misc.invest.real-estate:755
From: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house,misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: REALLY STUPID QUESTIONS ON REFINANCING
Keywords: Please don't laugh
Date: 29 Sep 92 18:36:06 GMT
Reply-To: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR E&M CLEMSON Liberty, SC

I've bought and sold several houses but I've never refinanced one and
I'm REALLY ignorant about how it works.  I know that if I do it I'll have
to deal with a bank or mortgage company and they can answer these
questions, but I'd like to at least get a vague idea before I start.


Oh  by the way.  My current mortgage company can't refinance anyone, so
I need to find someone new.

So here goes.  Please answer in words of less than 4 syllables.

1. DO YOU NEED A CERTAIN EQUITY LEVEL TO REFINANCE?

Seems like I've heard mention that you do.  And if so, why?  If they were
willing to give me a 95% loan the first time, why not again?  Isn't this
process pretty much like selling your house and buying it back without 
moving out?

And if the answer is yes, will they consider equity increases caused
by appreciation?  In other words, if I only put down 5%, but an appraisal
says my house is now worth 15% more than it was 3 years ago, does that
mean I now have 20% equity for refinancing purposes?

Also, if I get this appraisal and can show 20% equity, does that mean my
new loan (if I go through with it) will be without PMI?  (Even though I
haven't contributed any more actual cash to this equity).

And I can assume, I suppose, that getting this appraisal, regardless of its
results refinancing-wise, will cause my taxes to go up.

2. HOW DO I GET STARTED?  

How to find a reputable broker/bank/mortgage company?
Should I use a broker?
Is it possible to "phone-shop" -- give info over the phone and get a
good faith estimate faxed back to me?
What information do I need in hand to start talking to the relevant
institution(s).
Once I get the daily interest/points quotes, what other things do I need to
know that will influence the costs to me?

3. WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY COSTS INVOLVED?

I know that the closing costs involved are pretty much the same as 
the original mortgage.  In what particulars do they differ (in general --
I realize this may vary by state).  In terms of the impounds for taxes,
insurance and interest, doesn't this kind of net out to zero when the
amounts in my escrow account are refunded?


4. HOW SOON WILL THIS PAY FOR ITSELF?

My assumption is that if I take the amount I'm saving in monthly payments,
adjusted for the extra taxes I'll be paying (due to lower deduction), and
divided that into my closing costs, I'll get the number of months.
Roughly.  Correct?

I TOLD YOU I WAS IGNORANT. 

All information will be appreciated.  Thanks.
From: lederman@taney.uscghq.uscg.mil
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Damark International
Date: 6 Oct 92 12:59:18 EST
Organization: United States Coast Guard

> In article <1992Oct3.200153.11470@sequent.com> debk@sequent.com (Deborah Stewart) writes:

    I've ordered some things from them.  One didn't do what I
 wanted: they took it back immediately, no questions asked. 
 Another turned out to be mis-labeled by the manufacturer, and
 again they took it back.  Other items have been exactly what was
 described in the catalog, and were what I wanted, and were a good
 price so I kept them.

    I agree with the previous statement: read the catalog
 carefully.  Also shop around: sometimes their prices are very
 good, sometimes they are just average.
From: neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Bausch & Lomb contact lenses
Date: 2 Oct 92 20:34:31 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <1992Oct01.140651.40438@uvmark.uucp> susan@uvmark.uucp (Susan Todhunter - (JWT)) writes:
>
>Have any wearers of B&L HO4 lenses recently had problems getting comfortable
>new lenses?  I've tried a number of lenses in the past few months (-10.50
>power), and all of them are uncomfortable in a way usually associated with a
>rough or nicked edge.  I'm wondering if this is a trend with B&L, or if I've
>just been unlucky.
>
>Susan

I don't know if I have the HO4, but I have the B&L extended wear
lenses.  I've often had problems with one lens of a pair being
very uncomfortable, and having to try several replacements to
get a comfortable one.  

When I complained to my optometrist recently, she mentioned
that B&L had some quality problems, but she felt they had
improved consistency substantially in the last year or two.

--Neil

-- 
Neil Williams: neilw@informix.com

Seen on my last trip on United: "If you are seated in an exit row 
and can not (sic) read this card... please notify a crew member."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Damn those airlines!
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 17:10:23 GMT


In article <charlesv.717434303@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca> charlesv@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca (Charles Van Duren) writes:
>
>>From a George Hayduke book:
>
>[...roadkill in suitcase story deleted...]
>
>No airline will fly if an unattended suitcase is on board. If you buy a ticket,
>check in, check baggage, but don't board the plane, the plane won't depart
>with your suitcase.

That would be an even more effective revenge.  Imaging all luggage
loaded, everyone but you is on board.  The pilots, the stewards, the
passengers, the gate, the whole airport, are waiting for you.  Everyone
looks at his/her watch, sucking in the warm recycled air.  All along you
just stand by the window, enjoying every minute of it.  Then someone
have to go through the whole cargo bay, looking for that one piece of
luggage.  You don't even need any road kill or a suitcase.  And you
will get 400+ paying customers getting really mad at the airline too.

I have flied separately with my luggage, one time even by two different
airlines (it was a long story that I wish to forget).  I don't think
your assertion is commonly practised.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,aus.general,alt.activism
From: rsl@aplpy.jhuapl.edu (Russell S. Laderer)
Subject: Re: Why you shouldn't buy Nestle
Organization: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 13:40:27 GMT

(Much banter about Nestle, nutrition, and greed deleted.)

It seems to me that what is really going on here is a racially
motivated, systematic attempt at genocide.  Face it, the
lily-white corporate power holders have long been in league
with the world's largest white governments, and far from
being callous in regards to african & hispanic infant mortality,
are doing their best to wage a 3rd world-wide population
control campaign to assure the continued white dominance
of our planet.

DISCLAIMER: This is of course just my opinion, so don't mistake
it for anything else.


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: singer@uwovax.uwo.ca
Subject: Good Crockpots?
Organization: University of Western Ont, London
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 11:39:35 GMT

Recently, my wife got re-interested in slow-cooking with a crock pot. The old
one, a Farber, had a fixed-in-place container (bad for washing), but being from
an earlier time when lead-glazing was common, was no longer acceptable (she was
not sure it did not contain lead). She tried two new Rival crockpots without
lead content and with removable containers but both burned the food. I wonder
if anybody has had experience with crock pots that work like they are supposed
to--slow slow cooking--and which are current models. NB, the pot should feel
relatively cool to the touch.-- 
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17268 rec.auto:3 rec.autos:22987 mit.bboard:119
From: schmidt@plains.NoDak.edu (Randy Schmidt)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Cordless Telephones
Summary: Good Cordless phone
Date: 7 Oct 92 00:52:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: plains.21009
Distribution: misc.consumers
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computing Network


     I'm looking to purchase a cordless phone.  I'm looking for 
a good clear signal and good range.  I may also be interested in a 
hands free option.  I've heard that AT&T makes good phones.  Could 
anyone tell me what would be the best brand/model to go with?

     Please send E-mail to schmidt@plains.nodak.edu.

                  Thanx
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: richard@pegasus.com (Richard Foulk)
Subject: Re: Trying to find watch/compass.
Organization: Pegasus,  Honolulu
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 92 14:10:37 GMT

>I'm trying to find a watch with a compass.  Has
>anyone ever seen one of these?  If so, where can
>I find it?

I've seen them, but the small ones (an inch across or smaller) aren't
worth much.  I wish they were.



-- 
Richard Foulk		richard@pegasus.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mpb@troy.uucp (22161-bunz)
Subject: Re: DISCOVER card ( MUST READ! )
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 19:30:00 GMT

In article <1ai3quINNg2m@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, bd670@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Russell I. Dyreng) writes:
> 
> Sounds like a nice card.  Now tell me about the grace period.
> -- 
> Russ
> bd670@cleveland.freenet.edu
25 days, Just like Discover!
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kd1hz@anomaly.sbs.risc.net (Michael P. Deignan)
Subject: Re: Why you shouldn't buy Nestle
Organization: The Rhode Island Internet Systems Cooperative Network
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 03:01:25 GMT

gadfly@cbnewsi.cb.att.com (Gadfly) writes:

>No, but Nestle knows that contaminated water will be used in preparation of
>their formula, yet they apparently continue to sell it.  (I, too, thought
>they had stopped.)

My understanding of the original problem was that Nestle didn't package their
product with appropriate labelling (i.e. it was in English and contained no
specific information on preparation) but these items were corrected.


>In your rush to defend the free enterprise system you've failed to think this
>through

In your rush to condemn the evil yankee-pig-dog capitalist conspiracy, you
fail to see common facts:

	1. Contaminated water fed to children would also be consumed by
	   the mother, also making her sick and unable to produce breast
	   milk.

	2. Once properly labelled, it is not the responsibility of the
	   product manufacturer to police how its items are used. Should
	   IBM start policing their PCs to make sure you're not using
	   them to pirate software?


>Does Nestle bear any
>responsibility for this?  Yes, obviously.

Obvious to you only, I guess. Not to me.


>So much so that Nestle had agreed some time ago to stop
>peddling their infant formula to the third world.

My understanding was that they agreed to repackage the formula and attempt
to educate new consumers better as to proper preparation techniques.


>Infant formula works pretty well in industrialized nations with modern
>sanitation.

Infant formula in powdered form can work just about anywhere, given a
properly educated consumer and the proper preparation techniques.


MD
-- 
--  Michael P. Deignan                      / Sex is hereditary. If your 
--  Domain: mpd@anomaly.sbs.com            /  parents never had it, chances 
--    UUCP: ...!uunet!rayssd!anomaly!mpd  /   are you won't either...
-- Telebit: +1 401 455 0347              /
From: af954@yfn.ysu.edu (Maoee Tsen)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: How to ship heavy stuff cheap?
Date: 1 Oct 92 01:21:53 GMT
Reply-To: af954@yfn.ysu.edu (Maoee Tsen)
Organization: St. Elizabeth Hospital, Youngstown, OH


How to ship an old LaserJet cheap?  The laserjet is around 85-90 lb.
The USPS and UPS will ship upto 70 lb for one package.  FedEx ship
it for about $100 which is too much to me.  The LaserJet is shipping
from CA to MN.  Anyone has the expereince to ship heavy stuff?
Thanks in advance and have a good day!

-Maoee
-- 
-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-==-
Maoee Tsen,   tsen@chemsun.chem.umn.edu   af954@yfn.ysu.edu
Dept. of Chemistry, Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0431
####
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,ny.general
From: amb@cs.columbia.edu (andrew m. boardman)
Subject: Re: NYC Parking Violations Bureau Fun & Games
Organization: Slug Hordes of the Planet Gamma
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 01:05:55 GMT

In article <SMEHTA.92Oct2180616@kwela.nynexst.com> smehta@nynexst.com writes:
>I have not heard from them since and it has been ~10 weeks. I'm assuming
>that the matter has ended.

If you've sent them a letter, *certified* *mail*, and can produce the
USPS slip and a copy of the letter, and they haven't responded within 45
days, then you're golden.  I assume you can have it dismissed by this
mechanism by mail, although I've only done it in person.

To mangle an old saying, just because you've heard nothing, doesn't mean
they're not out to get you.  The notation to keep all PVB records for
eight years and three months is not a joke.  They are deadly slow.

You get the original decision and an appeal within the PVB.  If you lose
that and you want to go further, it's the Supreme Court of the State of
New York.  The Supremes do not seem to be a fun crowd.  Actually, broken
meter claims go first to the meter units, so in effect you get three
chances with the PVB with those.  In either case, after you original
decision from an ALJ, you have to pay the fine to go any further.

About meters: look at the ticket.  If the "meter operational: yes" box is
not checked, and there's no "time of first observance" listed, then
that's also grounds for dismissal.  (It's a defective summons.)  (If a
meter is not working, then you're allowed to park there for the max time
on the meters, and they have to prove you were there for longer.)

I've heard rumors that the disabled vehicle defense is no longer being
allowed for offenses after 1-JUN-92.  Anyone know if there's truth to this?

It's a strange hobby I have, but it saves a lot of money.  Good luck...

andrew
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: greg@netcom.com (Greg Bullough)
Subject: Re: How to ship heavy stuff cheap?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 21:49:48 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.201318.28017@news.ysu.edu> af954@yfn.ysu.edu (Maoee Tsen) writes:
>	I received lots of suggestions for shipping the heavy printer,
>Thanks to every one and especially to Alan, he told me RPS(Roadway Package
>System) has very good rate for shipping heavy stuff.  A call to RPS showed 
>the rate is $23 for shipping the 90 lb printer from CA to MN.
 
My experience with RPS was very bad. They dumped a package marked "fragile"
three feet over a balcony railing, leaving it exposed to the elements, since
they didn't find me home to receive it. 
 
When it was necessary to send the package back, defective, it was very  
inconvenient to get them to pick it up (they wanted a four-hour window),
and they made the mistake of attempting to re-deliver it to me after I
drove it to their terminal. Fortunately, I was home to fend it off.

They also seem to have an unduly inefficient system of terminals and package-
tracking.

Not recommended.
 
Greg
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rhn@netcom.com (Ron Nicholson)
Subject: self winding watches
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 01:17:15 GMT

I have found two sources for non-high-priced automatic (self-winding)
watches.

Macys and Emporium both carry the Swatch and Hamilton brands of
watches.  Both these brands have mostly quartz models.  But Swatch
recently introduced 4 models of automatic watches for less that $80.
Hamilton, in its "Khaki" line also has a couple of models of
self-winding watches for less than $200.  One of the Hamilton "Khaki"
models has a clear back, not quite as good as a skeleton watch, but
some of the mechanism is visible.

Finally there are some alternatives to jewelry store watches that cost
mucho $$$ and hard-to-find fake Rolex's with mechanical movements.

Does anyone know of sources for wind-up or automatic skeleton watches?

---
Ronald H. Nicholson, Jr.                Sigma Designs, Inc.
rhn@sigm.com, rhn@netcom.com            Fremont, Ca.
#include <canonical_disclaimer>         (510) 770-2985
N6YWU
-- 
Ronald H. Nicholson, Jr.	Sigma Designs, Fremont, CA
rhn@netcom.com, rhn@sigm.com	(510) 770-0100 x2985
N6YWU
From: prange@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Henry Prange)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Differences in disposable contacts??
Keywords: contacts,disposable
Date: 30 Sep 92 15:22:54 GMT
Organization: Indiana University

I have been using the Johnson & Johnson variety, Accuvue?, for several years
and I love them. I often wear them for three weeks or more and have had no
prblems at all. I find my vision varies occasionally and when I change lenses
but the variation is slight and can usually be correlated with a previous
evening's dehydrating activities. I've not tried other brands.

I get mine through Perle Vision and rarely have trouble getting the supply
replenished or scheduling an appointment to visit their optometrist. Unless
you have health problems related with your vision, there is no point in paying
for an ophthalmologist.
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17323 misc.consumers.house:12999 misc.invest.real-estate:756
From: amb@cs.columbia.edu (andrew m. boardman)
Subject: Re: NYC Parking Violations Bureau Fun & Games
Organization: Slug Hordes of the Planet Gamma
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 22:11:01 GMT

ji@cs.columbia.edu (John Ioannidis) writes:
>Too obvious. Super-glue works *so* much better... (but then again, how
>would *I* know).

Not really.  I've seen 'em clear a glued meter in about 30 seconds.  Gunk
like chewing gum that makes a hideous sticky mess is a real pain.  (The
glue was dry -- they just gave the mechanism a few paracticed raps to
break away all of the glue.  The brownie who did this to the meter I had
just parked at at least took some of the change from the upper housing
and maxed out the meter for me...)  And yes, it had all of the signs of
being Super-Glue...

andrew
From: rinehart@aramis.rutgers.edu (Mark J. Rinehart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: the meaningless warranty --> NISSAN
Date: 2 Oct 92 16:02:54 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

> I think that we consumers are in fact to blame for the car companies'
> collectively irresponsible behavior.  We just don't sue them enough.
> I'm doing my part -- I just hit Ford with a massive request for
> production of documents in our ongoing litigation.  I remain convinced
> that someday a jury will force them to pay up and they'll be less
> likely to cheat the next customer.

While you may get what you want out of them, they will never, ever
change their ways. Welcome to business in corporate America.

The problem is not that we don't sue them enough - hell, the court
systems are log jammed with civil cases of this sort. It's that
corporations have fairly unlimited resources, of both legal and
financial means. Average Joe is barely able to get thru an initial
trial with the expenses involved, let alone appeal after appeal. 

The motto for the average American citizen is: you get the justice you
can *pay* for.



Mark
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jchrissi@afit.af.mil (James W. Chrissis)
Subject: Re: Damn those airlines!
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 12:46:07 GMT

charlesv@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca (Charles Van Duren) writes:

>tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:


>>In article <1992Sep24.174700.546@gordian.com> bruce@gordian.com (Bruce Hafford) writes:

>[...complaint against airline deleted...]

>>From a George Hayduke book:

>[...roadkill in suitcase story deleted...]

>No airline will fly if an unattended suitcase is on board. If you buy a ticket,
>check in, check baggage, but don't board the plane, the plane won't depart
>with your suitcase.

I guess my question here is: How do they know if it's ``unattended''?
I mean, if you check your bags, either curbside or at the counter, the
bag is on it's way to the cargo hold (usually!).  I don't recall ever
having to identify my bags prior to boarding the aircraft - at least not
on domestic flights in the US.

>And if they don't follow this procedure, they should. Otherwise don't fly
>with that airline. That's how the bomb got on PanAm 103.

>CvD
-- 
James W. Chrissis                      |  Right.  No quote.
Air Force Institute of Technology      |  Is there a problem with that?
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio             |
From: Scott.Johnson@FtCollinsCO.NCR.COM (Scott Johnson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Canon Camcorder batteries
Date: 25 Sep 92 14:57:46 GMT
Reply-To: Scott.Johnson@FtCollinsCO.NCR.COM
Organization: NCR Microelectronics, Ft. Collins, CO


Just looking for information on batteries that will work in a Canon E250
camcorder (a midsize 8mm camcorder).  The one I got with the thing and the
extra one I bought for it both only last at _most_ 1/2 hour.  This is without
a lot of zooming and without the light.  If it was just 1, I figure that maybe
it was defective, but it seems like Canon's batteries of this size just suck.
Usually I don't even get the full 1/2 hour.  I know that many of the RCA
batteries last at least 45 minutes.
 
Anyone know of another manufacturer (I really don't think that Canon makes the
ones I have, most likely they just stamp their name on it), that makes
batteries that fit this thing?  Otherwise it's a great camcorder.  Thanks!
 
-Scott
 
P.S. E-mail replies are best as this is a hard group for me to keep up on, but
please post if nothing else.  Thanks
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
E-Mail:  Scott.Johnson@FtCollinsCO.NCR.com
	 uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-mpd!Scott.Johnson
My opinions are mine and mine alone (unless I only live in your dream, in
which case they are yours and I denounce all responisbility).
GA to SK
Newsgroups: misc.consumers