HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: misc.consumers

In misc.consumers, kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad) writes:

> Your DC blanket will, of course, generate a magnetic field -- just not an
> electric one.  

Now wait a minute.... Let me get in on this too, but without using foul
language :-)

The wires in an electric blanket heat by dissipating power in their
(non-zero) resistance.  Since these wires must form some sort of loop,
this produces a magnetic field.  Since the wires do have non-zero
resistance, voltage is dropped across them.  Even at DC this voltage
difference between points on the wire produces electric fields. 

Any time you set up current flow through a loop of real non-ideal wire
it is pretty tough to not set up both electric and magnetic fields.

Does this sound right, or should we go back to the foul language ???

Jason
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.misc,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
From: zkessin@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Zach, the Lego Maniac)
Subject: Re: PRODIGY New and improved STILL SUCKS, HORRIBLE as before
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 01:32:56 GMT

jdavis@ssf-sys.DHL.COM (Jim Davis) writes:

>In article <1992Dec16.060755.6327@panix.com> imran@panix.com (Imran Anwar) writes:
>>
>>If you are considering joining Prodigy as a new member, or left and are
>>considering rejoining with their "come back" mailing efforts, or are
>>just thinking Prodigy is the service you should use - just several
>>pairs of two words:  STAY AWAY!  IT SUCKS!  BAD MOVE!
>>
>>Imran Anwar
>>
>>PS I love internet and Compuserve if you wanted to know :-)

>I chopped out most of this but you get the idea Imran doesn't like Prodigy.
>Well I feel obliged to respond.  I've used Prodigy for a couple of years and
>like it very much.  I tried Compuserve and think it SUCKS!  So there you are!
>What do they say, "different strokes for different folks, etc"?

DON'T use Prodigy, well not unless you dont care that other people may
be snooping on *YOUR* files. I just read on alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
something about Prodigy uploading stuff from peoples HD's. I think the
EFF has more info.

just a warning.

Zach
zkessin@cs.brandeis.edu
From: jsc52962@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Jeffrey S. Curtis)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: CD walkmans
Date: 18 Dec 92 19:19:16 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

In article <78558@hydra.gatech.EDU> gt4585a@prism.gatech.EDU (gt4585a gt4585a MOORE,JAMES FREDERICK) writes:
}    A friend of mine purchased a Sony "CAR" Discman (can't remember the 
}number) which seemed _very_ shock resistant (1 skip in a 400 mile drive over
}three days with the player velcro-ed to his gearshift base).  The sound
}quality was very good, too.  
}   As far as long-term quality is concerned, I haven't heard anything about
}the player for a while...  Has anyone had any experience with this brand of
}Discman?

I've owned the Sony D-180K Car Discman for about six months now.  It
almost *never* skips due to bumps, as you've noticed.  Unfortunately,
if you have so much as a speck of dust on one of your CDs, that will
cause it to skip forever.  My current record is about 45 skips in one
song (about three and a half minutes) due to a minor nick in the CD
(it plays fine on my Sony home unit).

Jeff
-- 
Jeffrey S. Curtis sidewinder@uiuc.edu | "Resplendent and full again, they revel
 The Power of 37  free2207 at uiucvmd | in their role as self-appointed critics
   Jensen - Polk - Sansui - Proton    | of the establishment..."
 Sony - StreetWires - Sanyo - Sennet  |   -- INXS _Welcome to Wherever You Are_
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:20841 misc.misc:4105 comp.sys.mac.comm:12181 comp.sys.mac:532 comp.sys.ibm.pc:997
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.misc,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: PRODIGY New and improved STILL SUCKS, HORRIBLE as before
From: scasterg@waltham.columbus.oh.us
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 03:05:13 -0500
X-Mailer: rnMac Buggy, I mean Beta, Test Version

jd> I chopped out most of this but you get the idea Imran doesn't like Prodigy.
jd> Well I feel obliged to respond.  I've used Prodigy for a couple of years 
and
jd> like it very much.  I tried Compuserve and think it SUCKS!  So there you 
are!
jd> What do they say, "different strokes for different folks, etc"?

If you don't mind my asking, what in the world do you find to like about it?

The commercials? The lack of file download capability? The interface (gag)?
The lack of connectivity with the internet? The way it takes over your Mac?

There must be something wonderful that I am missing. Sorry to sound sarcastic,
but please do elaborate!

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jadams@vixen.cc.bellcore.com (adams,john)
Subject: Re: Tell me about electric blankets
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 21:39:27 GMT

In article <1gt7j0INN7u@hp-col.col.hp.com> cab@col.hp.com (Chris Best) writes:
>> BART runs on direct current, as do virtually all electric train
>> systems. So much for science.
>
>----------
>
>Lionel and Tyco, maybe.
>
>Better check your facts.  Read rec.railroad for a little while, and you'll
>find out differently.  Those are the people who actually drive the trains.
>I think it was mentioned that NYC subways run on 25 Hz.
>
>So much for superior knowledge.
Being a died in the wool railroad fanatic, allow me to correct one or two things
here.  1)  NYC TA trains *ALL* operate on 600volts DC.  2) Other trains systems of
the world operate on a variety of voltages and frequencies (DC up through 60
hertz).  3) AMTRAKs North Eastern Corridor (NEC) operates under 11KV at 25 Hz for
instance.
-- 
Jack (John) Adams			| Bellcore NVC 2Z-220
(908) 758-5372 {Voice}			| (908) 758-4389 {Facsimile}
jadams@vixen.bellcore.com		| kahuna@attmail.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Legal Tender???
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 04:12:09 GMT


In article <1glqaoINNf5k@gap.caltech.edu>, roder@cco.caltech.edu (Brenda J. Roder) writes:
>I think it is a matter of ratios:  3 guilder out of 100 guilder is like
>buying a 0.60 dollar newspaper with a 20 dollar bill, which is not something
>that most newsstands would flinch at here.  However, trying to buy a 60 cent 
>newspaper with a 50 or 100 dollar bill would be something else.  Also, there
>is the matter that most places that limit the bills they accept only do it
>late at night when there is worry that the probability is higher that they
>will be robbed so they keep money available (i.e. change) to a minimum.

I think the last is the most dominate reason.  The public city bus here
(and probably most other towns too) do not make change at all after
sunset.  Riders must deposit exact fare or buy tokens.  The driver
promptly deposits the money into the thick safe box which he/she cannot
open.  A robber would have to hijack the bus and use explosive to open
it.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: CHP can't use radar?(Was: What radar d
Date: 16 Dec 92 20:10:51 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <1992Dec14.075009.18391@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com> billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson) writes:
>
>Please post some documentation of this fact. I have seen the markings on
>the roads. Funny they would be there if they cannot be used. I also doubt
>that such a method would be illegal - it is the only accurate way to clock
>speed from an aircraft.
>
    NONE of the posters claiming the "fact" have posted any court
    challenges to the plane clockings.  NONE of them have ever been
    in a traffic court in CA where their quotes from the CVC have
    been used as a defense.  NONE of them have any working
    relationship whatever with traffic law specialists...or the
    current [admittedly sad] state of speed enforcement in the great
    state of California.   

    They are also technically ignorant of how small aircraft measure
    their own speed...and how difficult it is to pace an auto from
    the air.  Also they are ignorant of the difference between air
    speed and ground speed...and how impossible it is to measure
    ground speed unless you know the exact winds aloft at your
    altitude at the specific time of the flight.

    They have also obviously never observed the air patrols at work
    or they wouldn't make such mis-assumptions....the air patrols
    tend to work back and forth ACROSS the freeways, NOT flying
    linearly along them which would be required to clock a car
    against the plane's speed.  (And how difficult it would be to
    clock a car moving under 75-80 knots anyway....)

    But lack of actual knowledge has NEVER been a deterrent to
    posting on the net.  >:-)

    I can only hope that they take their precious little copies of
    the CVC into court with them if they are busted by aircraft.
    Perhaps their encounter with a CA traffic court judge will be
    highly educational--although the tuition costs are a bit high.   



>Bill
From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: TV INFOMERCIALS
Date: 16 Dec 92 18:53:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-8298v.32bis
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 

-> There are numerous infomercials on TV now and most have various
-> celebrities that are either selling the products or endorsing them.
-> Does anybody know whether they are paid for selling the products or
-> are they just doing it for the publicity and exposure?  Thanks,
-> Peggy Wageman

I audtioned for one Infomercial producer in NYC, and you can be SURE
that I was gonna get paid if accepted.

No celebrity would do it for free as that might then prevent you from
get a booking from a competitor who is willing to pay.
                                                                                                                
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mpb@troy.cc.bellcore.com (bunz,marcus p)
Subject: Re: Legal Tender???
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 92 21:43:21 GMT

In article <1992Dec15.195746.2482@ads.com>, henry@ADS.COM (Henry Mensch) writes:
> a sorta-related issue: why are usans so squirrely about
> large-denomination banknotes?  if you read other newsgroups then you
> know i travel the world; i've only seen this sort of braindeath in the
> usa ... i have a hundred-guilder note from the netherlands in my billfold,
> and if i go to a dutch newsstand and buy a three-guilder newspaper the
> merchant will make change cheerfully, will not fret and fuss over the
> denomination, and i'll be on my way in minutes.
> --
> # henry mensch / booz, allen & hamilton, inc.  / <henry@ads.com>
There are two reasons businesses won't accept large bills.

1) They don't want to get stuck with a large denomination bill that is
conterfit.  For example, it was cheaper for Mc Donalds to give away
a few burgers and fries, then to get stuck with a bad $50.00 a few years
ago.  Armed with that bit of knowledge, a starving student could eat
for a long while (so long as they kept their last $50.00 in one note
:-).

2) Fear of hold-ups.  Take your gas station attendant at 2:00 am, if
they can only make change for a twenty, they probably won't have much
accessible cash.  Another concern is for Pizza delivery people and
the like.  (Actually, there was a time when a popular trick was to order
a pizza, and explicitly state that you only had a twenty, and make
sure the delivery person had change, at the time it would have been
over $15.00 change (OK it was a LONG time ago), and the delivery persons
were being robbed left and right.)

Maybe the businesses are a little paranoid, but as they say,
just cause you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out go get you.

Marc
From: irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Irvine)
Subject: Re: Santa Dollars.......
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 23:37:25 GMT
Keywords: church, state, religion

In article <1992Dec12.231758.23105@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> ecl@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Evelyn C. Leeper) writes:
>In article <1992Dec11.220909.26097@asl.dl.nec.com> alie@csl.dl.nec.com (Andrew Lie) writes:
>> In article <1992Dec11.210223.21105@leland.Stanford.EDU>, rsingh@goliath.Stanford.EDU (   raj) writes:
>> |> As it is, a LOT of people have trouble with "In God We Trust" being on
>> |> US notes, so isn't putting Santa's picture on the note not only
>> |> endorsing religion, but also Christianity.  Comments? Flames?
>> |> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
>> 
>> Santa has nothing to do with religion, or Christianity.
>> It is just a benevolent figure reminding us to care and share.
>
>It has been my experience that Christians say Santa has nothing to
>do with religion and Christianity, but Jews feel otherwise.  Santa is,
>after all, Saint Nicholas.  And Santa is linked with Christmas, an
>arguably religious holiday.

I think the confusion comes in is that Santa Claus is not viewed by
Christians as carrying the 'message' of Christianity, so therefore,
according to Christians, has nothing to do with Christianity.

Christmas is a religious Holiday, but since the advent of Santa
Calus, and Queen Victoria's idea of gift-giving, has become more
secular than a pure religious holiday (as has Easter).

Perhaps in a few hundred years, Christmas will evolve into a
purely secular celebration of friends and family (Like the
American Thanksgiving is today) with gift giving?  Christians
(myself included) would attend church in celebration of the
birth of Jesus, but the two events would be viewed as separate
things entirely.

Any comments?

-- 
+-------------------------+-----------------+---------------------------------+
| Brent L. Irvine         | NE PER INGENIUM | The above personal opinions     |
| irvine@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu | MEUM SED DEI    | can be yours too for only $50!  |
+-------------------------+-----------------+---------------------------------+
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad)
Subject: Re: Tell me about electric blankets
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Distribution: na
Date: 13 Dec 92 19:35:48 CST

In article <1gfetaINN2ct@symbi1.symbiosis.ahp.com> teds@symbiosis.ahp.com writes:
>kenk@sdc.com (Ken Konecki) writes:
>
>>What's the latest report on EM fields and your health, especially with
>>respect to electric blankets?
>
>I too, have wondered about this.  I suppose that an enterprising person
>could make a box that would operate an electric blanket from Direct Current.
>No AC EM field would be generated, just DC.  The blankets I've seen
>would work fine on DC, but perhaps not all of them. 
>Perhaps using DC only for some parts of a home would be beneficial.
>Whether there would be any health benefits or not, I don't know.

Your DC blanket will, of course, generate a magnetic field -- just not an
electric one.  Whether or not this is better or worse from the health
standpoint is, as you point out, a good question.

Also, if the field is strong enough, you've now effectively made yourself a
combination electro-magnet/heater blanket.  If you have large quantities of
change if your pockets, that blanket might just not want to let go... :-)
(Just kidding... the fields aren't anywhere near that big)

People have recently been laying out the wiring in the electric blankets in
a manner that will help to cancel out the EM field.  Sounds good to me.

						---Joel Kolstad
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:20518 rec.food.cooking:22914
From: fwj@reg.triumf.ca (JONES,FRED_W.)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.food.cooking
Subject: Re: Visions (or other) cookwares?
Date: 11 Dec 1992 18:19 PST
Organization: TRIUMF: Tri-University Meson Facility
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: reg.triumf.ca
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

Warning to Visions owners: watch those handles!

Others have mentioned shattering due to dropping or thermal stress or
whatever.  In our case, a handle broke cleanly off a saucepan, right
where it joined the body.  There was no stress except that of lifting
the pot.  Fortunately it didn't land, or splash, on anybody.

----------------------

Re tendency to burn foods: to avoid this, get copper or aluminum-disk
bottoms, or cast iron.  Pans like Visions, and plain stainless steel, 
tend to have uneven heat distribution and the hot spots easily turn 
into burnt spots.

Frederick Jones
fwj@reg.triumf.ca
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: hbb@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (harlan.b.braude)
Subject: Re: Financial software
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 13:46:54 GMT

In article <liv94lINN7he@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> briang@bari.Eng.Sun.COM (Brian Gordon) writes:
><why not call Meca Software directly at 1-800-937-2045 and order your copy
><for only $29.95 ?
><
>
>Is that a sales price?  I recall it as an update price for existing customers.

Yes, it's the sale price plus shipping/handling.

When you call, they also offer "membership" for an additional $15 which
gets you a newsletter, toll-free software support number (non-members
get a toll number,) free media replacement (the copy protection scheme
allows the sftw to be loaded from the floppies once; if your HD crashes,
a new copy of the MYM diskette is required,) a copy of Tobias's book,
free upgrades that occur during the year (the guy said they don't expect
any for another year) and a discount on the upgrade after the year.

-- 
Harlan B. Braude
hbb@karin.att.com
From: schwartz@nynexst.com (Steven Schwartz)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Tape protection
Date: 20 Dec 92 20:58:17 GMT
Reply-To: schwartz@nynexst.com
Organization: Expert Systems Lab., NYNEX Sci. and Tech., White Plains NY
Originator: schwartz@baba


Along the same line:

Why do rental cassettes have a sticker on the seam, reading:
"IF YOU REMOVE THIS STICKER, YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THIS TAPE."
Does opening the tape facilitate copying it?
-- 
Steven H. Schwartz		Expert Systems Laboratory
schwartz@nynexst.com		NYNEX Science and Technology Center
PROFS: SCHWARTZ@UNIX		500 Westchester Avenue
914-644-2960			White Plains NY 10604
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: paul@hsh.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Endless magnetic tape (cassete)_
Date: 15 Dec 92 14:52:17 GMT
Organization: HSH Associates

In article <BypFM3.9s0@acsu.buffalo.edu>, C058SJLX@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu writes:
> 
>    I would like to buy a blank cassete that runs continuosly.
>   These cassetes keep the tape in a loop.  I found one in a
>   garage sale but I did not see any use for it.  Now I need
>   one.  Any ideas?.
>  

Any Radio Shack store has them.  They are used in a wide variety of telephone 
answering machines.  

------

Paul Havemann, VP        HSH Associates          (201) 838-3330 | 1-800-UPDATES
Internet: paul@hsh.com   Compuserve: 70410,3507  America On-Line: HSH Assoc
 "Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the company."
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rhalse20@ursa.calvin.edu (Rob Halsey)
Subject: Re: Summer jobs in Alaska
Organization: Calvin College
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 16:13:02 GMT

totic@dante.cs.uiuc.edu (Aleksandar Totic) writes:

>Hi,
>a friend of mine is interested in getting a summer job in Alaska, doing 
>something with fish, I am not sure what. He had seen the ads about pay being
>very good, you could save up to $5000 during the summer. But he does not know
>where to apply. He had seen the ad offering the information for $40. I thought
>that he might be able to get same info for free, but I do not know where from.
>Does anyone have any information, adressess, experiences about this kind of
>work?

I can tell you that I sent away for the packet of information.  I don't
think it was worth the $40 because you can get the same info for $10
(although I lost the postcard for it).  The packet that they send you is
only about 1/3 of an inch thick, and while it does provide fairly
detailed information, I wouldn't spend the money again.  BTW, I was
talking to someone on the IRC chatline the other  day who was from
Alaska, and they said that the work is the worst, as all you do is sit
in a cannery day in and day out.  Plus, you have to pay as much as 20
dollars a night for a place to CAMP OUT!  I don't even want to think
about how much a room might cost...(although a very few places offer it
free to their employees).

Hope this helps...
--
* rhalse20@calvin.edu is...* -OVERHEARD AND QUOTABLE- * "So get out there
Rob Halsey (A.K.A. Trebor) *  "Bend over, bend over,  *  and rock, and
Calvin College  Phi 33     *  'cuz "Slick Willie" is  *  ROLL THE BONES!"
Grand Rapids, MI 49546     *  takin' over!!!"         *        -Rush
From: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Norwalk sofas
Date: 14 Dec 92 15:34:18 GMT
Reply-To: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR E&M CLEMSON Liberty, SC

Has anyone bought a sofa from Norwalk Furniture Gallery?  I'm considering
doing so, it seems like a good deal and they promise a lifetime warranty.
Any experiences you've had will be appreciated.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jimh@pacdata.uucp (Jim Harkins)
Subject: Re: Financial software
Organization: Pacific Data Products
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 17:51:09 GMT

In article <DOUGLIS.92Dec14143749@chimay.MITL.COM> douglis@chimay.MITL.COM (Fred Douglis) writes:
>So all in all I don't think price is the right reason to skip MYM.

I posted the original question, email indicates MYM is better than quicken
but costs twice as much.  At my local Egghead Quicken is around $40, MYM is
$45.  Price isn't a factor....

Looks like I'll be getting MYM this weekend.  Thanks for all the comments.

jim

ObGloat:  Once I buy MYM I'm done xmas shopping.  Nyah nyah nyah.

-- 
Plumbers Motto:  A flush beats a full house.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Harkins                         [ucsd|uunet]!pacdata!jim
Pacific Data Products               jim@pacdata.com
--------------------------------------------------------------
From: john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Help with phones...
Keywords: Two-lines, and South Central Bell
Date: 18 Dec 92 17:59:26 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Green Hills and Cows

In article <1992Dec14.202631.2469@opencon.com> giand@opencon.com (Deepak S. Gianchandani) writes:

>	Wait a minute, there are industry standards out there, the one
>line jack is called a RJll? connection and the two line is RJ11J,

A single-line modular jack is an RJ11; a two-line jack of the same
physical type is an RJ14.
-- 
 John Higdon  |   P. O. Box 7648   |   +1 408 264 4115     |       FAX:
 john@ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | 10288 0 700 FOR-A-MOO | +1 408 264 4407
From: wb8foz@skybridge.SCL.CWRU.Edu (David Lesher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Trolling for Taillights (WAS: Radar detectors...)
Date: 12 Dec 1992 02:31:21 GMT
Organization: NRK Clinic for habitual NetNews abusers - Beltway Annex
Distribution: na
Reply-To: wb8foz@skybridge.scl.cwru.edu (David Lesher)
NNTP-Posting-Host: skybridge.scl.cwru.edu

Others said:
# >The other place this always happens is in South Georgia near one of those
# >outlet store super-malls.  Same thing ... too high a signal to be a
# >transient.
{}
# I noticed the same thing driving by Sawgrass Mills in Ft. Lauderdale - it's
# an outlet mall - real high signal level - no way it's a door opener.

It's not a door opener. I'll bet on a monostatic microwave motion
detector such as those made by Protection Technologies or
Southwest Microwave or Raycom or.......
--
A host is a host from coast to coast..wb8foz@skybridge.scl.cwru.edu
& no one will talk to a host that's close..........................
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.misc,comp.sys.mac.comm,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.ibm.pc