HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: cosc16tt@menudo.uh.edu (Dennis Gray Jr.)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Hazardous water park - Schlitterbahn (long)
Date: 5 Oct 92 04:57:32 GMT
Reply-To: DGray@uh.edu
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: na
Organization: /posole/cosc16tt/.organization

In article <81059@ut-emx.uucp> cwlng@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu writes:

   had taken any action first. See below.) I did not contact the BBB 
   because I didn't think they would be effective. I thought about the 

The Schitterbahn is not a member of the local BBB.

   didn't know how to get the insurance company's name. I am pretty 
   sure that Schlitterbahn wouldn't give it to me. Any suggestion as 
   how to get the insurance company's name?	

Because they ar enot required to.  This is completely irrelevant to
you though.  You cannot sue the insurance company anyway (well, you
can but the insurance company has not damaged you in any way).  You
sue the water park and their insurance company is obligated to defend
them.  They have absolutely no responcibility to provide you with som
much as the time of day (and likely have been advised to do exactly
that -- say nothing).

   On September 24, I received a reply from the General Manager,
   Richard Faber, of Schlitterbahn which I have attached to this 
   posting. In his letter Mr. Faber said they are investigating 
   the matter. I hope he is sincere. 

   Schlitterbahn is now closed for the winter. I intend to write to	
   Mr. Faber before the their re-opening next summer and ask him what
   his investigation discovered and what actions he had taken if any.
   In the mean time, I am not pursuing the matter any further.

This may be a bad idea in the long run.  There are statutes of
limitations that are kind of important.

   When you visit Schlitterbahn, or any similar water park, enjoy and
   be very cautious.

Also when you are driving, taking a shower, or just going to the
beach.

Since you don't seem to understand how liability cases work I would
suggest you talk with an attorney of your own -- someone who is
working for you.

Good luck with achieving your goals in this matter.

-dennis
--
Dennis Gray, Jr.                 "What the hell were you doing???"

DGray@uh.edu                   "Attempting the hell to communicate."
                                     -from The Voyage Home
From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: HOW DO I HANDLE PHONE HA
Date: 3 Oct 92 22:18:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-1243v.32bis
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 


-> I know the names of the people who are calling, as well as their
-> company names and phone numbers (All left conveniently on the
-> answering machine), can I bring harassment charges against them?

You could always post their company name and phone number here and some
of us could give them a call and ask them why they persists in pestering
you.
                               
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,ny.general
From: ji@cs.columbia.edu (John Ioannidis)
Subject: Re: NYC Parking Violations Bureau Fun & Games
Organization: Columbia University Department of Computer Science
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 19:48:14 GMT

In article <1992Oct3.003812.18391@linus.mitre.org> wtr@mitre.org (Bill Ralston) writes:
>in article <1992Oct02.180214.148303@watson.ibm.com> rubin@watson.ibm.com 
>(Bill Rubin) writes:
>
>[long story about getting ticked for parking at a broken meter that 
>mysteriously unbreaks when the meter-officer comes by & writes a ticket]
>
>Next time, make sure the meter is damn good and broken before you park 
>there.  Like with a sledgehammer :-/
>

Too obvious. Super-glue works *so* much better... (but then again, how
would *I* know).


/ji

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17195 aus.general:1714
From: daniel@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Daniel Bowen)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,aus.general
Subject: Re: Why you shouldn't buy Nestle
Date: 28 Sep 92 02:04:14 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: Monash University, Melb., Australia.

In <u911661.717435435@bruny> u911661@bruny.cc.utas.edu.au (Mad Mal) writes:
>daniel@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au (Daniel Bowen) writes:
>>[Reprinted from a leaflet from the Baby Food Action Group, part of
>>Community Aid Abroad, Victoria, Australia.]

>>Nestle, the world's largest producer of powdered baby milk, .....

>At least they are doing something....what are you doing....

>Mal.

Pardon?


Daniel Bowen
-- 
Daniel Bowen, Monash University |
            Melbourne Australia |           I think fishing
   daniel@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au |          is a load of carp.
      TCWF: tcwf@gnu.ai.mit.edu |                                    [TCWF]
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.med,capdist.general
From:  wrf@ecse.rpi.edu (Wm Randolph Franklin)
Subject: Patient access to medical records
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 20:26:30 GMT

Patients have a right to their medical records in NYS and many other
states.  However some providers, such as Community Health Plan of Latham
NY (near Albany) directly lie about this.

I used to use a CHP dentist, and when he left for private practice I
followed him.  The local CHP office said that they would forward the
Xrays only, but not their records.  Their head office confirmed that it
was their policy not to forward the complete file.

So I called the Dept of Health.  Seems there is a law #18 about this.
The enforcement person encouraged me to write CHP, with a copy to
Health.  Then Health would send them a copy of the law!  When I called
CHP back and mentioned this, suddenly they decided that, yes, they could
give me a copy.  

The general lesson here is that if you're dealing with obstinate
organizations, try to find a bureaucrat on your side.
-- 
Wm. Randolph Franklin,  wrf@ecse.rpi.edu, (518) 276-6077;  Fax: -6261
ECSE Dept., 6026 JEC, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst, Troy NY, 12180 USA
From: meltsner@crd.ge.com (Kenneth J Meltsner)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Diamond Advice Wanted
Keywords: diamond
Date: 29 Sep 92 19:08:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: crd.1992Sep29.190808.1211
Reply-To: meltsner@crd.ge.com
Organization: GE Research and Development Center



In article <1a7hlqINN60m@gershwin.crhc.uiuc.edu>, 
impact@crhc.uiuc.edu (Temporary Account for HP visitors) writes:

|> A family friends knows of someone who works at a wholesale/retail diamond
|> store in Chicago who showed a couple solitaire round cut (what do you call it,
|> the circular one with 52 cuts?) diamonds. He had a very nice one that was
|> considered one of the store's top diamond. He claimed it was a "russian"
|> cut diamond with classification VSS2, Color D, and was a .79 carot stone.
|> He said it was $3,299 and I believe it was suppose a wholesale price. Does
|> sound like a good price? 


****GET THE DIAMOND APPRAISED.****

Any legitimate store should allow you to leave some sort of security
(or none, since we bought from a wholesaler that knew my Aunt Paula)
so you can take the diamond to an independent appraiser with GIA
certification.  Since you'll need an appraisal for insurance purposes,
it's worth the effort.

As to the pricing, a friend in the Boston diamond business said they
had a three-tier system: family, friends of family, and friends of
friends of family.  The latter wasn't much lower than a good retail
price.  And this may not always be the case, since the couple before
us at the appraiser had been ripped off (20% > typical retail) by a
FOAF wholesaler.


===============================================================================
Ken Meltsner                        | meltsner@crd.ge.com (518) 387-6391
GE Research and Development Center  | Fax:  (518) 387-7495
P.O. Box 8, Room K1/MB207	    | Nothing I say should be attributed
Schenectady, NY 12301               | to my employer, and probably vice-versa
================ Materials and Manufacturing, World O' Stuff ==================
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,aus.general
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 02:51:29 GMT

fpaterra@kong.gsfc.nasa.gov (Frank Paterra - CTA) writes:

>I'm asking this question because I really don't know.  I thought it was
>possible for a woman to milk herself (for lack of a better phase) and
>save her milk in for later consumption by their child.  If this is indeed
>the case, and in fact children have trouble eating without a bottle 
>after being fed formula, couldn't the mothers simply put their breast
>milk in bottles for the children if they could not afford the formula?

Well, yes and no.

First, a woman has to start breastfeeding within a certain amount of time
or they loose the ability to produce milk. Hormones, or some other such
thing.

It is possible for a woman to use a breast-pump to extract milk to save
for later. My wife used to do this on a regular basis while she was at
work - otherwise, her breasts would become overloaded with milk and she
would start to "leak", for lack of a better term.

Of course, in a 3rd world country, most people would not be able to 
refridgerate pumped milk - hence the need for powdered milk that can be
mixed with boiled water and served as needed with little leftover.

Furthermore, alot of bottle manufacturers are making their bottle nipples
similar to the shape of a woman's breast so that children will not have
a difficult time adapting for those women that both breast and bottle
feed.

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: jsp@uts.amdahl.com (James Preston)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Cable TV Consumer Protection Act of 1992
Date: 1 Oct 92 17:23:33 GMT
Reply-To: jsp@pls.amdahl.com
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

jack@myamiga.mixcom.com (Jack Decker) writes:

}Simple answer:  You never know when it is coming on these days.  Even if you
}keep the remote control close at hand, you never know when they are going to
}cut to an objectionable scene.  Also, if you have invested some amount of time
}in watching a show, you hate to have to turn it off just because the producer
}decides to put a steamy scene in the middle of the program (one that often adds
}nothing to the story line).

Simple solution:  Don't "invest" the time in the first place.  If the
possibility of seeing a "steamy scene" so bothers you, then don't run 
the risk of accidentally seeing one and don't watch at all.

}The one other point, which I know some of you disagree with but which is only
}common sense (sorry if some of you don't have any), is that if a person
}predisposed to criminal sexual activity and/or violence watches sexually
}explicit or violent material, it can give them ideas and heighten their urge to
}go commit criminal activity.  

Who was it that was telling us that juries exist because not everyone shares
the same view of what is "reasonable" or what is "common sense"?  The above
may make sense to you, but it is most certainly not "common" sense, because
it is NOT shared by most people.

}Now, which of you bleeding heart liberals is going to step up and defend the
}right of a rapist or sadistic murderer to watch porno or graphic violence?

Well, I am certainly not a "bleeding heart liberal" (not that I expect that
to make any difference to you; I suspect that your definition of "bleeding
heart liberal" is really "anyone who disagrees with me"), but I will
certainly defend ANYONE's right to watch anything they want.  What is it
that the NRA (a conservative organization if ever there was one) says about
guns?  Something like, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people"?  The
same applies to pornography.  It is not the pornography that rapes, it is
the rapist that rapes.  So we lock up the convicted rapist to keep him from
raping again.  Possibly, if the convicted rapist does his time and is
released back into society, we restrict the convicted rapist's access to
pornography IF it has been established that there is a link, just as we
refuse to sell a gun to a convicted murderer.  The key word here is
convicted.  Somehow, I don't think that that is what you had in mind
when you wrote the above.  But feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

--James Preston

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: margaret@infonode.ingr.com (Margaret Wiginton)
Subject: Wind-Up Baby Swings
Keywords: What kind should I buy?
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Distribution: misc
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 14:26:05 GMT

I'm attending a baby shower this weekend and plan to
buy one of those wind-up baby swings as a gift. 
I know nothing about these (or any other baby
stuff).  Could someone please give me a few words
of advice?  (A brand name to look for, how much it
will cost, etc.)  Also is there an FAQ about baby
stuff?  (cribs, carseats, etc.)

Thanks from a baby-illiterate.
-- 
___________________
Margaret Wiginton
margaret@msw104i.b24b.ingr.com

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: tjoa@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Richard Tjoa)
Subject: Optifast
Summary: Body metabolism rates
Keywords: diet body metabolism cold time for a new thread sex
Organization: University of California, at Berkeley
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 07:42:10 GMT

I was wondering if anyone out there has had experiences with Optifast (or
the like) liquid diet plans.  More specifically, they say that while
on the plan, you will very likely feel cold, because your body temperature/
metabolism will be slowed down/reduced.  A friend of mine was on the plan
for a while, now she's not, but she's always cold...  Anyone know anything
about it?

Also, it would seem to me that lowering metabolism rates would be totally
dumb, after all, wouldn't you want to be burning as many calories as you
possibly could, while taking in less?


-Richard
The use of "anyone out there" is merely a rhetorical device.  Given the large
size of net-land, there is bound to be a great many people who have tried
this or some other form of liquid-diet.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Advice sought on Grolier's _The New Book of Knowledge_ Encyclopedia
Date: 2 Oct 92 19:42:28 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

>In article <1992Sep29.231102.16688@dvorak.amd.com> msoques@mozart.amd.com (Martin Soques) writes:
>>I'm thinking of getting Grolier's _The New Book of Knowledge_ Encyclopedia
>>for my sons.  I was quoted $495 by somebody who sells Discovery Toys.  
>>Can I get a better price somewhere else?  Suggestions, comments and
>>recommendations are welcome.  Thanks in advance!

   You can also get the Grolier on CD-ROM.  Check their adverts in
   any recent Scientific American.
From: emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Damn those airlines!
Date: 1 Oct 92 17:12:33 GMT
Organization: Stakeholder Relations, NCR Corp in Dayton,OH

<1992Sep27.183310.25892@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> <BvAu5q.JxJ@news.cso.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro)
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Stakeholder Relations, NCR Corp in Dayton,OH
Keywords: 

In article <BvAu5q.JxJ@news.cso.uiuc.edu> acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
writes:
>
>In article <1992Sep27.183310.25892@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>,
Brian.E.Hannon@dartmouth.edu (Brian E. Hannon) writes:

      **  Story about baggabe security that we've all seen, deleted  **
>
>I don't see how this can be done in practice.  If I check in first one
>in line, my luggage is now at the bottom.  Are they going to unload a
>thousand luggage (a full 747), looking for one single bag?  The airlines
>don't record the luggage types either, so the luggage handling crew will
>have to check every luggage tag.  Not a fun chore.


        Who said security was fun.  As the original poster noted,
        this is infrequent on domestic flights....it happens all
        the time on European ones, especially if they originate in
        a "hot" area.

        I have, unfortunately, had the pleasure to be on a flight once
        from Rome to NYC where they DID check tickets and bags to see
        if all bags had tickets to go with them.  Apparently one did
        not and/or there was a threat we passengers were unaware of:
        we had to ALL get off the plane, after it was towed many
        yards onto the tarmack, away from the other planes/terminal,
        and claim our luggage--roasting all the while in the sun.

        I really think that the revenge posters who started all
        of this ought to consider what they are advocating.  

        It is not funny and certainly not an appropriate or mature
        way to deal with a complaint--to an airline or anyone.

        Besides, couldn't this, if you were found out, be equated
        with making a terrorist threat?  Remember all those signs
        about the costs of making these kinds of threats, even as
        a joke.  DONT DO IT. 

Elizabeth
From: masticol@cadenza.rutgers.edu (Steve Masticola)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How to ship heavy stuff cheap?
Date: 1 Oct 92 13:39:41 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Try shipping it on a bus. I did this with a bike years ago, and it
went fine. Be sure to pack it well!

- Steve (masticol@cs.rutgers.edu).
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,aus.general
From: allanc@cs.su.oz.au (Restless Wanderer)
Subject: Re: Why you shouldn't buy Nestle
Reply-To: allanc@cluster.cs.su.oz (Restless Wanderer)
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 00:09:35 GMT

In article <hoahosth.59.717431486@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au> hoahosth@halls1.cc.monash.edu.au (ANDREA HOSTH) writes:
>heading. In fact, the only chocolate not produced in Aus by Nestles now is 
>Europe bars. 
>
>Ankh


If memory has it ,Darrel Lea are both Australian made and Australian owned.
(The Australian Buyers Guide II).Methinks ,but I will do a recheck and update.
And lest face it Darrel Lea make fair chocolate.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: klee@wsl.dec.com (Ken Lee)
Subject: Re: Average daily balance over *two* periods! (was: DISCOVER card)
Reply-To: klee@wsl.dec.com
Organization: DEC Western Software Laboratory
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 23:52:48 GMT

|> I just got offered a gold visa in the mail.  Everything looked normal,
|> no fee, 25 day grace period, 14.9%, etc.  But the fine  print revealed
|> that the  finance charge is  calculated on the "Average daily  balance
|> over two periods."  The calculation over *two* periods seems to  me to
|> be quite lucrative for them.

I believe that the new, highly advertised GM credit card also uses
this scam.  Watch out.

-- 
Ken Lee
DEC Western Software Laboratory, Palo Alto, Calif.
Internet: klee@wsl.dec.com
uucp: uunet!decwrl!klee
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:17383 ny.general:357
From: smehta@kwela.nynexst.com (Sandeep Mehta)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,ny.general
Subject: Re: NYC Parking Violations Bureau Fun & Games
Date: 2 Oct 92 22:06:16 GMT
Reply-To: smehta@nynexst.com
Distribution: na
Organization: Speech Technology, AI Lab, NYNEX S&T Inc, White Plains, NY



> rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin) writes:

> This is really outrageous, there is no way that that meter was
> working (and I might add that almost all of the meters on the rest
> of the block were broken as well, they had bags over them, this one
> did not).  Obviously, I definitely would have put the quarters in
> the meter if they had fit, but the last quarter inch or so would
> not go in so I couldn't.  What is the procedure for carrying this
> further?  I can live with the $25 on the duplicate registration,
> but the expired meter ticket really ticks me off!

My worst experience was near Grand Central and it may have some
bearing to your case. I had, once, gotten a ticket for an expired
inspection sticker on W 43rd St (a block east of Town Hall). which
got knocked down by 50% on my writing an angry letter (+ a copy of
the new sticker) to the PVB Hearing by Mail Unit. The r-t time on the
paperwork was about 6-8 weeks.

Next time I parked there, the parking rules (after 7pm) had changed.
A fiscally desperate NYC sought it fit to install fairly greedy
meters for after 7pm. I parked at a meter that didn't work and as a
(NYC) habit I moved on to another spot with a working meter. This
spot wasn't perfect in terms of alignment with the meter but my
subcompact fitted fine. I fed the meter & planned on returning during
the intermission to feed it again. I returned to find a $45 ticket
with 20 minutes (!!) still on the meter. I saw the officer @ the end
of the street but by the time I ran after him he had disappeared. It
seems the officer had made the mistaken assumption that I was parked
illegally because the car was parked around its mid-point wrt to the
meter.

Since I had a witness I wrote another angry letter, with an elaborate
drawing (using Framemaker :-)), *and* a signed witness statement and
cc'd a copy of the above to the NYPD Commissioner's office.  I have
not heard from them since and it has been ~10 weeks. I'm assuming
that the matter has ended.

You might want to file a witness statement (although you lost the
first appeal) explaining the derelict state of the meter.

Hope this helps.

I'm not sure what kind of people (read bozos) work for and run the
PVB?? Maybe that explains why most of the streets are in a mess.

/sandeep
--
smehta@nynexst.com
--
               "Why do you compose atonally? You've got talent!"
                 -- Strauss to Hindemith, Donaueschingen, 1921.
--
smehta@nynexst.com
--
               "Why do you compose atonally? You've got talent!"
                 -- Strauss to Hindemith, Donaueschingen, 1921.
From: adamsf@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Camcorders - Please Help!
Date: 6 Oct 92 12:28:22 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

I am new to this group.  My first grandchild will be born in Seattle.
I live in Southern Michigan.  Time for a camcorder.  I want one
easy to operate, not too fancy, mid size that uses VHS tapes.
This will be my gift to the baby.  Money, of course, is a concern
but will pay more for quality.  

I would appreciate *any* input.  Brand names to avoid, ones to consider,
etc.  Features I don't need - features I will regret not getting.

Thanks,

Fran Adams
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: dbarker@spang.Camosun.BC.CA (Deryk Barker)
Subject: Nissan Axxess (Was Re: the meaningless warranty --> NISSAN)
Organization: Camosun College, Victoria B.C, Canada
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 18:07:51 GMT


After the recent postings I'm a little hesitant, but maybe they'll
behave better in Canada? So, does anyone have anything
good/bad/indifferent to say about the Nissan Axxess (apart from their
lousy spelling)? How does it compare to other similar vehicles?

Deryk Barker, Computer Science Dept., Camosun College, Victoria B.C.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: sbonnema@rtsg.mot.com (Stuart D. Bonnema)
Subject: Mattel & Girls & Mat
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 15:58:00 GMT


A friend sent me the following:

According to the Wall Street Journal this morning, Mattel is selling
a product called "Teen Talk Barbie" which says 4 phrases.  One of the 
phrases is "Math class is hard".  I can't imagine a product better
designed to program math avoidance into little girls.  We've all heard
many times how math avoidance limits women's educational opportunities
and career choices.  Mattel justifies this product by saying something
like they aren't saying the other classes are easy, and that they have
a doll availble that says "I want to be a doctor".  I'm sure we all
wish Barbie good luck on achieving her goal of becoming a doctor
without any math skills.  If you have views on this subject that
you would like to share with the Mattel company, you can call
1-800-421-2887 or write to Mattel at 330 Continental Blvd.,
El Segundo, Ca. 90245.

As Barbie no doubt says -- have a nice day.