HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: tjoa@cory.Berkeley.EDU (Richard Tjoa)
Subject: Re: What does collectible mean?
Summary: Thank you for your patronage!
Keywords: collectivle repossess confication sex
Organization: You see, Burke Lee
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 07:52:05 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.052606.622@ncsa.uiuc.edu> acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng) writes:
>If a borrower can not or does not make the monthly payment, the bank
>can come repocesses the "collectible".  For a car loan, that is the
>car.  For a home-loan, it is the property.  Can they "confiscate" the
>furniture and other contents (e.g., that mink coat)?

I don't think so.  Or if they do, they get it out.  As I see it, you take
a mortgage out on your house, not the contents.

>After the bank has sold the collectible and if there is not enough
>money to cover the loan balance, can the bank come back for more?  Or
>the repocession of the collectible is the end of it?

I think the repossession is the end of it.  The "loan balance", ideally
for the bank, is less than the value of the home.  (Remember, that you
"strip off" the interest when you figure it out, because it's just like
paying the balance off at the present time.)  Anyway, this is the reason
that we have the S&L crisis.  People found that their mortgages costed more
than their houses, so they didn't feel that paying their mortgage would
be benificial, so they let the bank repossess it.


-Richard
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup)
Subject: Re: Compressors & Air Tools
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 21:48:53 GMT

In article <9228@alvin.mcnc.org> brooks@mcnc.org (Ted Brooks) writes:
>So you can open the petcock at the bottom of the tank and make sure no water
>collects in it. The compressors always say to drain the tank daily for this 
>reason.

I meant to ask- how long does something like this take? Sometimes I forget to
do this, and I hope that the water from 6-7 compression cycles (motor on)
sitting for 3-4 days will no real harm.

Is this off base? I'm sure they galvanize the inside of the tanks, right?

	-Kenny
-- 
Kenneth R. 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.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: WARNING: 1987 Mazda 323 Defect
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 04:44:42 GMT

sga@cray.com (Steven G. Anderson) writes:
: 
: We recently had a bad experience with my wife's 1987 Mazda 323,
: and from our conversation with the service people, this is
: sounding like a generic problem with 1987 Mazda 323's.  Read,
: they have seen this problem before.  The problem is that a
: "key" which holds the timing gear in sync with the crankshaft
: breaks.  This also causes damage to the crankshaft itself.
: Total repair bill is around $2000.  Worse yet, my wife had
: gotten an extended warranty (before I met her) and they
: refuse to cover it.  We are appealing to the State Insurance
: Commission.  The problem appears to occur around 50,000
: miles.  I will also be writing to Mazda and the Consumer Products
: Safety Commission.

Damage to the crankshaft? I can understand damage to the pistons
or valves or lifters or push rods. I don't know of any way that
the crankshaft could be damaged.

You can get a complete new engine for less than $2000.

Forget the CSP. Writing to Mazda was a good idea. You might also
contact your State Attorney General's Office - fraud division.
They might have some insight into the matter.

Bill
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: drevik@utkvx2.utk.edu (Drevik, Steve)
Subject: Re: ARK correction
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Tennessee Computing Center
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 13:34:00 GMT

In article <1220@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>, emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro) writes...
>In article <84521@netnews.upenn.edu> crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L.
>Crawford) writes:
>>Hold everything!  Don't build that ark yet!  I posted incorrect
>>dimensions.  
>>
>>It's actually supposed to be _450_ feet long, not _45_ feet long.
>>As someone kindly pointed out to me, a 45-foot-long, 75-foot-wide
>>boat would be, as he put it, a bit beamy. 
>                The ark will be made out of 2 1/2" cedar.
>        Don't know where the heck I can get "gopher wood."
> 
>        And what am I to do about the 2 MALE cats?  Well, they
>        used to be male...
> 
>        Elizabeth
>        PS>  Where I live you have to get permits and inspections
>                to put up a childrens playhouse/treehouse. I do 
>                suppose they'll want to inspect the ark.  What's
>                code on a residential ark?????

	I don't know about construction specs, but I'm sure the
    use of pitch is going to require a detail environmental impact
    statement, and the EPA is likely to shut you down ("You want to
    put WHAT in the water?").  Then again, you can probably negotiate
    a tiny little fine like Exxon did (interpolating from Exxon's 
    multi-million gallon spill to your probably use of pitch to cover
    a 450 foot arc in a 3/16" layer, your find would probably amount
    to about $70.00!)

-steve
From: rdong@PLAYMATE.MAT.JHU.EDU (Rui - Tao  Dong)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Car Buying Service in Maryland
Date: 30 Jul 92 18:59:54 GMT
Organization: Department of Mathematics, The Johns Hopkins University.


	I read from the local newspaper a while ago that there was a car
buying service in here Maryland, which would give you at least 5 bids from
local car dealers for a fee (about $100). Their price were very good
according to the paper, (below invoice sometimes.)  Does anybody know their
phone number and/or has any experience with them? The car I'm interested in
is a Honda Accord or something like that.

Thanks in advance.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
	Rui - Tao  Dong			10230 Hickory Ridge Rd. # 302  
	Department of Mathematics	Columbia, MD 21044	       
	The Johns Hopkins University	(410)992-4308(H)	       
	Baltimore, Maryland 21218	(410)516-7406(O)	       
	rdong@playmate.mat.jhu.edu	(410)516-5549(Fax)	       
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: fs@cs.tulane.edu (Frank Silbermann)
Subject: Fitness Machines
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-27954]: caesar
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 18:13:00 GMT


I used to use Nautilus machines at a health club.
Nowadays I have neither the money for membership
nor the travel/dress/undress/wait-in-line time to spare.
So I'm looking into home strength-training machines.

Some of these use weight-stacks, some thick rubber bands,
and others use things that look like automobile shock-absorbers
for the resistance.  Any opinion on which approach is best/worst?

My own inclination is to avoid the weight-stacks
as being less safe with small children in the house.

The shock absorber type machines (e.g. Trimax & Nordic Track Gold)
are pretty expensive, except for one brand that didn't offer
a full range of exercises.

I believe competition will drive the prices down before long,
and/or lead to significant product improvements.
Therefore, to test my working-out resolve I am considering
a cheap $300 Sears rubber band model while I wait for
the really good machines to become affordable.
How good are these cheaper models?

(I value performance and convenience, and won't mind
that much if it breaks three years from now).

------------------------------------------
Frank Silbermann	fs@cs.tulane.edu
Tulane University	New Orleans, Louisiana  USA
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder)
Subject: Re: Airline Antitrust Litigation
Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston VA
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 13:59:37 GMT

In article <9207241434.AA00206@iecc.cambridge.ma.us> johnl@iecc.cambridge.ma.us (John R. Levine) writes:
>My wife just got the anti-trust filing form in the mail, which is a little
>[etc]
>
Does anyone know how to get one of these claim forms? I haven't
received one, though I have flown on several of the previously 
mentioned airlines. And I still have all of my ticket stubs (not 
sure why I kept them, though)

Steve
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: drevik@utkvx2.utk.edu (Drevik, Steve)
Subject: Recommendations on Vacuum Cleaners sought
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Tennessee Computing Center
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 17:27:00 GMT

I am looking for recommendations on vacuum cleaners for the
home.  It must clean carpet deeply, including cat hair.  Edge
cleaning would be nice.  A floor polisher attachment would 
also be nice (we saw one during a Kirby sales pitch), but not
required.

Basically, we got the Kirby sales pitch about how well it cleans
(it does a pretty good job) but I'm sure there are equivalent
alternatives for less than $1000!!!  I don't care about the
vacuum lasting 20 years, because the technology changes so 
quickly (a 20 year old Kirby or hoover is about on the level
of a Dustbuster today!!).

I am particularly interested in reviews on the Dirt Devil
upright.  It is cheap ($100 to $150), has a 7.0 amp motor,
and has a edge cleaning feature.  Anybody have one of these?

Thanks,
 Steve

Xref: sparky misc.consumers:14284 alt.folklore.urban:19416
From: bobk@ESD.3Com.COM (Bob Konigsberg)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Re: Banks + Short Term Car Loans = Scam?
Date: 22 Jul 92 14:24:20 GMT
Followup-To: misc.consumers

I'm overall inclined to disagree with the idea of banks closing on loans
just to sell a house/car to make money.  Banks (at least the bankers I've
known) don't want to be in that business.  I'm sure that there are some slime
balls out there, but (especially in a sluggish economy), a bank doesn't want
to be in the position of being stuck with a house/car/boat etc.  If it doesn't
sell quickly (why they sell cheap), they are stuck with maintenance/storage costs.

BobK
--
This is a signature file.  Let's see if it gets there.
From: fritz@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (Gary Fritz (tmp))
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1992 17:13:49 GMT
Subject: Re: AMWAY info wanted
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

lawson@acuson.com (Drew Lawson), in a message he concludes with:

>I am constantly amazed at how people will not read all the words in a
>sentance before deciding it is liablous(sp?).  

also says the following:

>In article <1992Jul9.122305.1495@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil> slusk@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil writes:
>>Since the thrust of the marketing plan is based primarily (but not
>>exclusively) on consumables, the need is likely to always be there.
>
>You have need for ALL consumables?  Since you are defending Amway, I
>assume that you are familiar with the product line.  Are you saying
>that you have a need for every consumable that is offered?  I find that
>hard to believe.

I am constantly amazed how people will read anything they want into
a sentence just so they can flame (MLMs or whatever).

Where in Mr. Slusk's posting did he say he needs "ALL consumables"?
For that matter where did he say ANYthing about his personal need for
consumables?  He said, "The [Amway] plan is based on consumables."

He implied that basing a company's business on consumables was in general
a good idea, since there is always a need for consumables.  I think you
would be hard pressed to find many sensible businessmen who would debate this.

Look, folks, there are plenty of good points we can debate on the net.
Let's not stoop to ad hominem and strawmen to fuel our flames, OK?

Gary
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.radio.shortwave,rec.photo
From: mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu (Mike Suter)
Subject: Re: WARNING KODAK batteries leaked!
Organization: BITS, St. Louis, MO
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 21:10:03 GMT

ems@michael.apple.com (E. Michael Smith) writes:

>Just a warning that I had a set of KODAK alkaline batteries take a leak
>in my radio ... 

I just had a pair of AA's do the same in a flashlight.  Granted, this
was a glovebox flashlight, so they were idle for a while between uses
and they see a large temperature range, but still..

Mike
-- 
mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: gordon@sneaky.lonestar.org (Gordon Burditt)
Subject: Re: State income taxes
Organization: Gordon Burditt
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 21:20:55 GMT

>I'm going to be moving out of California at the end of August.
>Considering that I was a CA resident for most of the year, will I still
>have to file a CA state income tax return?  I'm particular interested in

In general, income is "contaminated" by a particular state if the income
came from that state and/or you lived in that state (tax authorities
use some damn-fool concept called "principal residence") while you earned it.
You have to report income "contaminated" by a particular state on a
return for that state, unless the amount is so low you're not required
to file.  This often results in double taxation.  It's a real good idea
not to work in one state and live in another for very long.

You can file for a refund whether or not you are required to file.
If you have half a year's income in a state, you probably are required
to file.  If you don't have to file and have a refund coming, you
get to decide whether it's worthwhile to file to get a dollar and
seventeen cents back.

As an example, a certain partnership which doesn't report its own
taxes but divides it up for shareholders to report gave me a list
of a dozen states and income I was supposed to report in that state.
(Since the largest amount was $3 besides the state I live in, which
doesn't have an income tax, I didn't have to bother.  If I owned a 
lot more stock in that partnership, I would have to.).

>filing because I believe that CA will end up owing me come April 15,
>1993.  The state I'm moving to has no state income tax.  Could someone
>please inform me if I can do this legally under the CA state tax code?

By the way, does the state of California accept its own IOUs as payment?
(They give you an IOU for something, you give it back as a motor vehicle
registration fee or tax payment).  Is there a secondary market in
IOUs?  (Someone willing to buy them at a discount).

					Gordon L. Burditt
					sneaky.lonestar.org!gordon
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Subject: Re: Recommendation for Flowbee hair cutters
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 23:20:00 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

I've had my Flowbee for over one year. I agree with your
assessments.

It's not perfect, but as with any appliance, you learn to
circumvent its limitations with time.

Given the time, cost, and unpredictable results from allowing
a barber to cut your hair, the Flowbee wins.
From: joseph@emmax5crd.ge.com (joseph)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Supplemantal Health Insurance??? Does it exist???
Date: 24 Jul 92 23:09:41 GMT
Reply-To: joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com (joseph)
Distribution: usa
Organization: GE Research


In article <BrwIDt.4w0@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, weller@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu (Bonnie Weller) writes:
>
>My husband and I were astounded this week when we figure out how much
>it will cost us in medical bills to have our baby, and this with an
>80%- 20% plan.  It turns out the deductable is $450 a year (from 1/92
>to 12/92 so it is not a full year for us as we have not used the
>deductabe yet!) plus $100 deductable per hospital admittance, plus
>20% of all bills.  It will not include any physicals, including the
>baby's first physical after birth, or well - care for the baby.  It
>will also not cover any vacinations for the baby.  So I figure in
>reality we will be paying for about 50% of the birth and first years
>care of the baby.  Not the best deal in town.  And this is the normal 
>coverage most businesses offer their employess.  How can people afford 
>this?  Are there supplemental coverages that will help capture the 20% 
>plus some of the maintenance care not covered under our original 
>policy?  Do any capture the deductable?  Is it worth buying the extra 
>insurance if it is available?  And if so, could anyone recommend a 
>company that you've had good experience with?
>
  It has been my experience that most insurers who allow free choice
  of doctors/facilities have significant deductibles. And they typically
  don't cover well baby care.  However, most HMOs do not have significant
  deductibles, cover well baby care, and allows you to do away with the
  paper work, in return for using their doctors and their approved
  facilities in non-emergency situations.

  When my family and I were in Champaign Urbana area, we have used
  Christie Clinic's Personal Care HMO and Carle Clinic's HMO.  Both
  provided satisfactory service.  Most employers offer a choice of
  HMOs or the regular Blue Cross type insurance.  I don't know if
  UIUC does that, but I can't imagine why not.  If you do go with
  Christie Clinic, consider Dr. Boucek (or Bouchek ?) for pediatrician.
  My (3 year old) son was so impressed with him.

  We moved out of the C-U area in 1990, so this information is two
  years old.

  james joseph            joseph@c2a.crd.ge.com
From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: ARK correction
Date: 27 Jul 92 20:12:10 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

Hold everything!  Don't build that ark yet!  I posted incorrect
dimensions.  

It's actually supposed to be _450_ feet long, not _45_ feet long.
As someone kindly pointed out to me, a 45-foot-long, 75-foot-wide
boat would be, as he put it, a bit beamy.  

For the record, that's 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

Hope that little mishap didn't sink your day!

-- 
===============================================================================
Lauren Crawford  //  crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu
"What a waste it is to lose one's mind, or not to have a mind is being very
wasteful.  How true that is."--J. Danforth Quayle to United Negro College Fund
From: crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu (Lauren L. Crawford)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: ARK correction
Date: 29 Jul 92 16:00:39 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <1220@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM> emolinar@stake.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Elizabeth Molinaro) writes:
>        PS>  Where I live you have to get permits and inspections
>                to put up a childrens playhouse/treehouse. I do 
>                suppose they'll want to inspect the ark.  What's
>                code on a residential ark?????

With the kind of weather you've been having, I don't think you'll
have to worry much about it.  Just float away.


-- 
===============================================================================
Lauren Crawford  //  crawford@ben.dev.upenn.edu
"What a waste it is to lose one's mind, or not to have a mind is being very
wasteful.  How true that is."--J. Danforth Quayle to United Negro College Fund 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: hubcap@hubcap.clemson.edu (System Janitor)
Subject: Re: Rechargable Power Tools
Organization: Clemson University
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 13:50:21 GMT

My makita drill is great, as I'm sure lots of people will agree. It was
a Christmas gift. 

Had I purchased it myself, I would have at least considered some of the 
known-to-be-good US made brands as well, Milwawkee, Dewalt (really B&D
professional?).

-Mike
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: price@linus.serum.kodak.com (Kevin Price (x37128))
Subject: Standard Furniture Mark-Ups?  (Couches)
Organization: Clinical Products Division, Eastman Kodak Company
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 16:14:43 GMT


Ok, I know that the "market value price" touted by the furniture dealers is
fiction - I have never seen a single item whose advertised selling price was 
within 30% of the so-called market value price.  And store-wide 50% off sales 
are pretty common.  So, a question for you experienced negotiators (or 
ex-furniture salespeople):  Just how steep is the typical mark-up on these 
items? How big a commission is involved on a sale?  


-- 
-Kevin Price		price@serum.kodak.com             
                                                          
 (please use the address above ^   The mailer may call me 
  nobody@kodak.com, but IMHO, I am not.)
From: rmf@bpdsun1.uucp (Rob Finley)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: HELP with The World's Dirtiest Jenn-Air!
Date: 25 Jul 92 17:26:44 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Harris Allied Broadcast Div., Quincy, IL

In article <1992Jul20.220611.2316@ultra.com> wayne@ultra.com (Wayne Hathaway) writes:
At the other extreme we attempt to
>dismantle it and clean each and every piece with whatever industrial-
>strength degreaser we can find (hopefully something that will make
>Easy-Off look like Ivory soap!).  This is the "yucky" solution.
>

Congratulations on your new house.  However, I don't think there 
is a "bug bomb" equivalent to this.

However, a friend of mine (manager of building containing cooking classes)
holds the opinion he can clean (and poison) the world with a good janitarial 
supply store.  Consumer stuff is usually more designed towards beeing idiot-
proof than useful.

You just might even find something safe to use around food appliances.

I used to clean a reasturant oven by putting the pieces in the back of 
my pickup, stopping by the grocery to pick up a case of Easy Off and
then sneaking out to the car wash.  Easy Off does tear up your lungs but
what the hell...  I really don't recommend it too much because a third
of it ends up airborne and in your eyes.

I would start with something like ammonia, anything with the organic
solvent EDTA in it, and Pine-Sol.  The leftovers you can clean up
with Easy Off.

Did you know that there is a magazine just for janitors?   B-)

SteelDeck anyone?
From: jwc@netx.com (Jeff Comer)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Misprinted Ad with great prices
Date: 28 Jul 92 19:11:25 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Chaos Bobs

ylee@oracle.uucp (Yichin Lee) writes:
>A local golf equipment shop, the Nevada Bob's in Belmont, California, put out 
>an ad in a direct mail package that reached me yesterday. In the ad they 
>advertised golf gloves for 4.99, golf balls for 13.99 etc., and also, let
>me quote: " ANY SHOE IN STOCK $5.00,  Limit 1, must present coupon,
>Expires 10/15/92."
>
>Well, Neveda Bob simply put a A-4 size poster in front of their door saying
>that this was a misprint, and they are not going to honor it.

I'm pretty sure all advertisers are immune from printing mistakes made by
the publishers. For example, what if Joe Bloe Oldsmobile listed a 1992
Cutlass Supreme for $2199, accidentally having left off an extra '9'? If
you can prove it was a deliberate come-on, you have a case. But since the
original ad copy is probably lost or destroyed and belongs to the publi-
sher anyway, you're out of luck.

--
Jeffrey W Comer * jwc@netx.com * 703-749-2369 (v) * 703-749-2375 (fax)
Further proof Shakespeare invented baseball:
"And when he caught it, he let it go." -Coriolanus
From: kuplinsk@math.rutgers.edu (Julio Kuplinsky)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: universal card payments
Date: 21 Jul 92 21:33:37 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


I mailed a payment to ATT's Universal Card on July 1st, which was posted on the
13th, so that finance charges were assessed. It is possible (but
unlikely) that my letter was 12 days in the mail. 

Has anyone in the net experience the same problem?

Julio Kuplinsky
Newsgroups: misc.consumers