HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: samf@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Sam Fairchild)
Subject: Re: setback thermostats
Summary: warning when things go wrong
Keywords: battery batteries problems
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 19:49:36 GMT

We installed a cheap setback thermostat a couple years ago (gas furnace, 
electric central air conditioning).
When the air conditioner cycled on for only a minute or two art a time, we 
became worried.  It turned out the cheapo batteries were installed had  
corroded just enough to cause a problem when the house got too humid.
Humid, you ask?
We are the kind of frugal folks that only turn on the air conditioning when we 
cannot stand the ambient weather.  We *love* fresh air!

Moral: buy only the best batteries for your environmental control units 
(including the remote control  entertainment stuff, and the date-retaining 
batteries in the camcorder and house computer).
Sam Fairchild
=============
P.S. the setback thermostat survived, but we did call a repairman!  :-(
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
From: eliot@chutney.rtp.dg.com (Topher Eliot)
Subject: Re: Advice needed on attic mounted HVAC system
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 04:21:52 GMT
Organization: Data General Corporation, RTP, NC.

In article <1992Jul22.213334.26433@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> patter@dasher.cc.bellcore.com writes:
>In article <14063@borg.cs.unc.edu> weiss@hatteras.cs.unc.edu (Steve Weiss) writes:
>>      1. Is it safe to put a gas furnace in an attic?  
>
>It should be. According to a fire inspector I spoke with in Atlanta once,
>natural gas and propane both vent explosions sideways. It should be just as
I find this notion of explosions being 'vented sideways' rather suspect, but
that's not to say gas is dangerous.
>safe up there as in a crawl space. 
True.
> The only problem you might have is that
>these gases are heavier than air, but you *are* venting the attic, right?
>
I understood LPG (propane) to be heavier than air, natural gas to be lighter
than air.
>>      2. (related to 1) Would a heat pump be better?  
>
>You're in North Carolina? My mother lives in East Tenn. and TVA told
>her that gas was better for heat (she already had A/C). In NC, it probably
>doesn't matter much either way. Of course, you could put the heat pump out
>in the yard instead of the attic. Further North, you'd want to go with gas.
>Try asking your local utility company for advice on costs.
Everybody I've spoken to here (in NC) who has or had a heat pump didn't like
it.  They said it blew barely-warm air, which made it feel drafty.  I would
definitely choose gas over a heat pump.

>>      3. Will the attic unit be noisy?  
>
>Sure will. Another argument for a heat pump.
Huh?  The noisy part is the blower that moves air through the ducts; why do
you think that would be louder with gas than with a heat pump?

Topher Eliot             Data General DG/UX Systems Administration Development
(919) 248-6371      eliot@dg-rtp.dg.com       {backbone}!mcnc!rti!dg-rtp!eliot
Obviously, I speak for myself, not for DG.
misc.consumers.house archivist.  Send mail to house-archive@dg-rtp.dg.com
"Daddy, did you know that super banana squash is a vampire?  And he drinks
blood from cactuses?"  -- Tommy, age 3.
Topher Eliot             Data General DG/UX Systems Administration Development
(919) 248-6371      eliot@dg-rtp.dg.com       {backbone}!mcnc!rti!dg-rtp!eliot
Obviously, I speak for myself, not for DG.
misc.consumers.house archivist.  Send mail to house-archive@dg-rtp.dg.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.taxes
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Middle-class salary range
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 18:46:16 GMT


In article <92203.085726F0O@psuvm.psu.edu>, F0O@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>   Just seems strange to me.  The government has programs for the lower
>class/poverty level.  Certainly they must have income limits in which to
>base their programs on.  Or the luxary tax which was supposed to be for
>certain luxary items, which probably only the upper middle-class/rich
>could afford to buy.  One would think there world be salary ranges for
>each class, or how does the government distinguish between the groups?

Middle class is a politician buzz word.  There are at least two
definitions:

Democrates:
	If you are on welfare, you are the poor.
	If you paid less tax than the average people, you are
		the filthy rich.
	None of the above?  Welcome to the middle class.

Repulicans:
	If you don't pay tax, you are the lower class.
	If you need a tax break, you are the rich.
	None of the above?  Welcome to the middle class.


According to the real middle class:
	The group of people between a rock and a hard place--that
	is between the Donkeys and the Elephants.  *sigh*
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: burgoyne@highlite.uucp (J. Robert Burgoyne)
Subject: Re: Recommendation for Flowbee hair cutters
Organization: Gotham Communications Research
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 17:34:21 GMT

mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer) writes:
: From what I remember there are two types of Barbers shop in Taiwan.  Which
: type are you referring to?

Actually, I can think of three types. One is where you get your hair cut by
a man, much like here in the US. Next is the full-service type of shop, where
you can easily spend two and half hours without your wife getting mad.

Finally, there's the type of barber shop where your wife will get
mad if you go.

Robert 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.taxes
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Middle-class salary range
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 18:53:06 GMT


In article <1992Jul21.173826.20893@col.hp.com>, lpj@col.hp.com (Laura Johnson) writes:
>On another subject that's being discussed...By getting married, you gain
>if one spouse makes much more than the other, because the rates are lower
>for "married filing jointly." You lose if you make similar amounts, because
>you go into a higher bracket, and this outweighs the benefit of the 
>"married" rate. Hence the tax code favors the traditional "breadwinner +
>homemaker" married couple. 

One spouse can always quit work to take advantage of this great favor
from Uncle Sam.  :-) More serious, married couple with similar income
can combine resource to purchase a house (thus getting mortage tax
break), or invest in less taxed options (like IRA).  It is not as bad
as it appears.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: sasbge@unx.sas.com (Gantt Edmiston)
Subject: SEARS extended warrantys
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 04:42:02 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.

Two years ago, I purchased a large chest freezer from Sears.  Tonight I 
got one of those unsolicited calls from a Sears rep. who wanted to sell
me an extended warranty on the freezer.  The basics are as I remember them:

1. All parts free
2. All labor free
3. All service time and travel to my home, free
4. Maximum $200 cash for food replacement due to spoilage.
5. Optional (at no extra cost) annual preventative maintenance checkup.

All this during the extended warranty period.  They initially quoted me
a 3 year contract for $137.86.  When I inquired, they also had a 1 year
and a 2 year contract as well.  The 1 year was $42.00 and the 2 year was
$87.68.  Quick math told me it was cheaper to buy 3 one year contracts
than to go for the 1 three year contract.  I asked about the difference
in price.  The sales rep, had no idea.  Later after more baffling questions
on my part, I was transferred to a "supervisor".  The supervisor told me
that next year the 1 year contract would be more because the freezer 
would be 1 year older.  After contemplating the situation and confirming
that I would not be billed, I asked for a quote to be mailed for my
consideration.

So I ask the net, what do *you* think about this warranty?
Has anyone had any problems with SEARS and extended warrantys?

I tend to think that the freezer should last a long while.  I works
quite well now.  Never had any problems, it *is* only 2 years old, however.

Thanks for you thoughts and replys...

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gantt Edmiston                         =  o     | "The fewer the facts, the
QA Host Systems, V416 x6091         =  _ /- _   |  stronger ,,, the opinion!"
SASnet: <sasbge@ant.unx.sas.com>   =  (_)> (_)  |          (o o)
-------------------------------------------------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo---------
From: srivatsa@karna.Eng.Sun.COM (Chakra Srivatsa)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How do I know if it's beneficial to file jointly?
Date: 24 Jul 1992 15:38:55 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: srivatsa@karna.Eng.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: karna
Keywords: joint, filing, separate, tax

In article 20407@mdd.comm.mot.com, ceng@mdd.comm.mot.com (Curtis Eng) writes:
>O.K. here's some questions for all you tax experts:
>
>I'm getting married on new year's eve at 5:00 p.m.  If I sign the marriage
>license on Dec. 31, does that mean we can file jointly on April 15, 1993?

Yes!
>
>And if I can, would it help us out to file jointly if:
>
>a.  Our household income is about $70,000+.
>b.  I make more money than she does.
>c.  She is somewhat wealthy, and had to pay a lot because she has a lot of stocks
>    and investments and a house.
>d.  I will get a decent refund.

Generally, if the difference in salaries is significant, it is beneficial to
file joint.  If both salaries are the same, it's possible that filing separate
will result in lower taxes.

I didn't believe this at first, it's true.  If husband makes 50K and wife makes 50K,
they usually pay less taxes filing separate.  But if husband makes 35K and wife 
makes 65K (just to be pc!) then they pay less taxes filing joint.

You have to work it out to see which is better for you.  There is no sure-fire
easy way.
---
The one l lama, he's a priest. 		srivatsa@eng.sun.com
The two l llama, he's a beast.
And I will bet a silk pajama, 
there isn't a three l lllama!		says Ogden Nash

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: MSG
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 06:03:37 GMT

sethb@fid.morgan.com (Seth Breidbart) writes:
: In article <1992Jul24.180416.7080@walter.bellcore.com>
: jchen@ctt.bellcore.com writes:
: >In misc.consumers, the discussion should be limited to disclosure of facts.
: 
: >In the discussions of MSG, it is clear that there are conflicting facts.
: >On one hand, FDA and many European governments have clinically proven
: >the safty of MSG (the fact I am conveying). On the other hand, some 
: >individuals are convinced that they were sickened by MSG.
: 
: The FDA never proved the safety of MSG.  The FDA accepts MSG as safe
: because it has been in use for a long time (the GRAS - generally
: recognized as safe - list).

No, they accepted it as safe when a bunch of double-blind experiments showed
no correlation to the claimed symptoms.

Bill
From: littlec1@jaguar.uofs.edu (Chris Little)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: New requirement (was: Time-sharing condos - Win a free trip - ??)
Date: 28 Jul 92 15:23:51 GMT
Organization: University of Scranton


I wrote last week about winning a trip to Orlando, Florida with one of
those time-sharing condo places in the Pocono's.  A lady called me and
told me I won the trip and my only obligation was to come and take the
tour of their location.  When I got a followup letter to the phone
call, I discovered that one other requirement was that I had to be a
U.S. citizen, which I'm not.  Nowhere on the original entry form was
this requirement stipulated and even on the phone the representative
commented on my "nice Irish brogue."  I not willing to spend too much
energy on this, but I may write a letter expressing dissatisfaction with
their inconsistent requirements' specifications.  Any suggestions?

--
Chris Little, Programmer/DBA
                                                University Computing Systems
                                                University of Scranton
  LITTLEC1@JAGUAR.UOFS.EDU                      Scranton, PA 18510
From: rion@Ingres.COM (Rion Cassidy (x3357) OGT)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: MSG
Date: 23 Jul 92 21:30:41 GMT
Reply-To: rion@Ingres.COM (Rion Cassidy (x3357) OGT)
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501


I would like to make some clarifications on the discussion of MSG that I
started.  First I meant to say "Hydrolyzed protein", not "Hydrolyzed salt".
This, along with "sodium caseinate" and "natural flavorings" purportedly
contain MSG.  I didn't mean that they were synonyms for MSG.

The intent of my posting was to inform those who may be concerned about MSG
one possible way to avoid it -- buy tuna in water, not oil.  I made no
suggestions about MSG being dangerous.  I did nothing to instill "blind fear"
in net readers.

Then Jason Chen came along and felt he had to put things in perspective.  
I resent it when someone claims to be putting things in perspective when they 
are really just expressing their own views.

I try to avoid doing anything that would be considered a personal attack or
insult publicly on the net.  I was wondering if perhaps Jason knew someone 
who had owned a Chinese restaurant that may have suffered financially because 
of an MSG scare.  That might explain his defensive attitude on MSG.  I 
consider this an honest question, not an insult, but chose to use email just 
to be considerate. He replied:

>I dare you to take this conversaton to public domain. I don't take your
>sneaky insults. In the public eye, there will be a fair judgement.

I think that this is the first time I've heard anyone ask to be insulted
publicly on the net.  I then asked why he was refusing to answer my questions
via email, and he replied:

>To answer your question is very simple, but useless.

>If you are set out to believe that I have a vested interest in
>promoting MSG, you would believe I lied to you if I told you
>otherwise.

>If you attempt to make that kind of personal insult publicly,
>You will shoot yourself on the foot.

Obviously, he wants everything very public, so I have obliged.

All I can say now is that if you look at where this discussion has gone from 
the original posting, it's pretty sad!  Let's end it right here.

If anyone out there has a psychological analysis as to why net people get 
so carried away and hostile, I would like to hear it, but via email, OK?


Rion
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rion@Ingres.COM (Rion Cassidy (x3357) OGT)
Subject: MSG
Reply-To: rion@Ingres.COM (Rion Cassidy )
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501
Date: 22 Jul 92 03:11:56 GMT

I imagine that most people who frequent this newsgroup have seen or at least
heard about the 60 Minutes story on Monosodium Glutamate.  Apparently it 
is not always labelled as such on product labels, sometimes going by 
"hydrolyzed salt" (found in tuna), "sodium caseinate", or just
"natural flavorings".

I was surprised to hear that it was in tuna and then thought how I'd 
always bought the stuff in vegetable oil as opposed to water because it
seemed to taste better.  Guess what?  The tuna in water has no "hydrolyzed
salt" !!  (at least my brand doesn't).  So if MSG concerns you, compare
the labels.
 
 Rion


Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: weverka@spot.Colorado.EDU (Robert T. Weverka)
Subject: Re: middle class/affording a house
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 08:23:41 GMT

In saving for a house some tips were offered.  Here is my addition.
In <1200@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM> emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM writes:
>        In the spirit of helping out that one true believer ; ), I would like
>to offer a couple of tips that have served me well, for all my 30 years:
>
>        1.  Get those credit card bills down to $0.00
>        2.  Save ANYTHING.  But make sure you save at least
>        3.  Do not buy anything on the spur of the moment. This means
>        4.  into a savings/money market investment fund at least once a month.
>        5.  Begin your investment fund/money market by either:
>                A. signing up for an instant withdrawal from your
>                B. signing up for a fund that has no minimum
>        6.  live frugally for a year or two.  Find free things to do,
>        7.  Life is not too short to live frugally for a year or two, in 

         8.  Leave California for a place where housing prices are within
sight.

-ted
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu (Nathan F. Janette)
Subject: Re: MSG
Reply-To: nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu
Organization: Yale University, Department of Computer Science, New Haven, CT
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 17:31:24 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.165731.23990@walter.bellcore.com>  
jchen@cash.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Jason Chen) writes:
> In article <1992Jul22.164206.732@cs.yale.edu>,  
nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu (Nathan F. Janette) writes:
> |> In article <1992Jul22.144117.20399@walter.bellcore.com>  
> |> jchen@cash.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Jason Chen) writes:
> |> > 
> |> > There is  no clinical evidence to link MSG to any health problem to a
> |> > normal person. Even for those who are allergic to it, the symptoms are
> |> > typically short and mild. Very few had strong reactions, none has died
> |> > from consuming it.
> |> 
> |> Nor is there any good reason to use it.  If the food is fresh,
> |> you won't need to make your tongue swollen with MSG to enjoy
> |> the taste.
> |> 
> I certainly agree that MSG is not a neccesity of your life. Nor are
> hot pepper, parsley, cinnamon, or even sugar. As a matter of fact,
> salt and sugar do more harm to your body than MSG.

Salt and sugars are naturally occurring substances within
the human body; MSG is not.  In reasonable quantities,
salts and sugars pose no harm to the body.  MSG is a highly
concentrated substance derived from a natural
substance.  Hot peppers, spices, etc have inherent taste;
MSG does not, it just makes your tongue swollen. 

IMHO, Avoid it in any quantity.

--
Nathan Janette		"I'm a NeXTstep man,
Dept MB&B, Yale Univ	 I'm a NeXTcube guy"
New Haven, CT
nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu (NeXT)
From: jordan@IMSI.COM (Jordan Hayes)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ATTN: Citibank Cardholders
Date: 24 Jul 92 20:24:46 GMT
Organization: Investment Management Services Inc., NYC

Nathan Janette <nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu> writes:

	If that isn't enough to make you drop them, how about the
	notice they sent out a month ago about the rates becoming
	variable instead of fixed.  Sounds good at first, until you
	catch the line that states they can transfer the entire balance
	to their highest rate (19.8%) if they decide you've been a bad
	person.

Uh, maybe I missed something.

Your interest rate is x%.  They say "for being a good customer (any
customer is "good" these days :-) we'll drop your rate to (x-y)%, but
if you change into a bad customer, it will go back to x%" ... this is
bad?

I suppose they could have left it at 19.8% and you'd be happy?

/jordan
From: quan@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Suu Quan)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Compact 35mm cameras
Date: 30 Jul 92 20:15:15 GMT
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server

One feature I'll recommend is the imprint of the date or date/time
on the negative.

I find myself looking back at pictures and has no way of knowing
when that happened. Specially frustrating when the pictures are of my
darling daughters : they look so much alike that I can't decide whether
it was the older one at 3 years of age, or the younger one at 3.

PS : the younger one does wear big sister's hand-me-down clothes
From: bier@acuson.com (Jeff Bier)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Where to go for car oil change, etc. in Mtn. View Area?
Keywords: car auto shop repair maintenance
Date: 23 Jul 92 15:46:43 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: Acuson; Mountain View, California

I'm looking for recommendations for a place to do oil changes and other
minor maintenance and repairs on my 1986 Volvo.  I'd like to find a place 
in Mountain View, though other nearby locations would be OK.

Any information appreciated.


Jeff Bier
bier@acuson.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: markr@mot.com (Mark)
Subject: Re: Middle-class salary range (and taxes)
Reply-To: markr@mcil.comm.mot.com
Organization: MCIL
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 04:59:34 GMT

In article <1992Jul20.221957.21495@tandem.com> Brady_David@Tandem.Com (David Brady) writes:
>Thanks for backing me up on this.
>
>Also, the first $25,000 (or so) of your income is taxed at one rate. 
>Everything after that is taxed at a higher rate.	
>
>A simple example (details left out!): I
>
>f I make $30,000 and S.O. is making $20,000...
>
>Single :  ($45,000 * lower rate) + ( $5,000 * higher rate) = much lower taxes
>Married: ($25,000 * lower rate) + ($25,000 * higher rate) = much higher taxes

Of course, this is not quite right.  The higher tax bracket for married people
begins at a higher income than for single people. (though probably not higher
enough)

In your example :

Single:  (45,000 at lower rate) + (5,000 at higher rate)
Married: (42,000 at lower rate) + (8,000 at higher rate)

Assuming the higher rate kicks in for married people at $42K. (I don't know
what the current numbers are, I am extrapolating from three years ago)

Mark



Xref: sparky misc.consumers:14389 rec.autos:18368
From: hwpwh@usho92.hou281.chevron.com (Pat Whitnel)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos
Subject: Re: Auto insurance reccomendations wanted.
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:47:55 GMT
Distribution: ca
Organization: Chevron

In article <14lcaeINNj8t@agate.berkeley.edu>, sriram@hoff.berkeley.edu (S. Sriram) writes:
|> Hi!
|> 
|> I'm looking for a reliable company to buy auto insurance
|> from (just the liability).
|> 
|> Since I have had a license for only about 2 years and I am
|> aged below 25, insurance companies like AAA, 20th century
|> are closed to me. Others such as Farmer's, State Farm,
|> Allstate seem to be quoting exorbitant ($1500 + per year)
|> rates.
|> 
|> Does anybody out there with similar experience have 
|> any recommendations? What about some of the not-so-well-known
|> companies? Any suggestions shall be much appreciated.
|> 
|> Thanks,
|> Sriram.

The new Conusmer Reports issue rates auto insurance companies... 

-- 
Pat Whitnel          hwpwh@chevron.com            Unix System Administration
Chevron Information Technology Company            Computer Operations Department
2811 Hayes Road  Houston, Texas   77082-2642      Phone: 713-596-3190
P. O. Box 42832  Houston, Texas   77242-2832      FAX:   713-596-3041
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.kids
From: mlr1@athens.uucp (22450s-radeer)
Subject: Reusable Diapers
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 92 13:21:49 GMT
Followup-To: poster
Keywords: diapers

My sister is having twins in a few weeks and she is looking
for a specific type of diaper.  There is a brand/type out on
the market now that is reusable, but similar to a pamper.
She is unable to get out of bed and therefore unable to
"shop around."
Does anyone know the brand name?
Where to purchase?

Thanks,

Marion Radeer