HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: "tom betz" <tom.betz@execnet.com>
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: hydrides (was: carburetor
Date: 8 Sep 92 22:38:12 EST
Reply-To: "tom betz" <tom.betz@execnet.com>
Distribution: misc
Organization: Executive Networks Information

Quoth Michael George Buening regarding HYDRIDES (WAS: CARBURETOR on 
09-08-92:

MG>In article <1992Sep4.181003.19528#ttinews.tti.com> kevin@drogges.tti.c
MG>> However, I remember back in 1976 reading in Scientific American that
MG>> there were methods of storing chemically-available  Hydrogen for com
MG>> bustion safely in the form of metal hydrides. In fact, the article s
MG>> that they ran buses in Germany (experimentally, of course), and clai
MG>> it was safer to transport than gasoline (they shot the hydride canis
MG>> with a 30-06 rifle).
MG>>

MG>I wonder how they liberated the hydrogen from the metal hydride in a r
MG>fashion.

My recollection (from Popular Science, not that hifalutin' Scientific 
American! ;^) was that the hydride tank was warmed slightly using an 
electric coil heater, which liberated enough gas to start the engine.  
Sustained heating was supplied by waste heat routed in a controlled 
manner from the exhaust pipe.

I don't recall with certainty the metal used to produce the hydride, 
though I believe it was a lithium alloy.




---
  WinQwk 2.0 a#299  "Damn it, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a tagline." Dr. McCoy
--
Executive Network Information System  (914) 667-4567
International ILink Host
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Blood pressure gauge?
From: <BIGCU@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Friday, 4 Sep 1992 23:23:36 EDT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

In article <1992Sep3.044958.10136@cs.ubc.ca>, yogi@cs.ubc.ca (Yossi Gil) says:
>My fathere suffers from a high blood pressure, and he needs to monitor
>his blood pressure contantly. He currently uses to different gauges,
>and he is very displeased with the results. The devices  give different
>readings even if he doesn't pause at all as he swithces from one to
>the other.
Yup.  That's the way it's SUPPOSED to be!  You WILL get different readings
if you take them consecutively - you'll need a couple of minutes "rest"
between readings to return things to normal, but blood pressure is quite
dynamic and can well change in a couple of minutes anyhow.  You will also
get different readings in right vs. left arm, and different readings when
sitting or standing.  For the most part, I wouldn't worry about small
variations - it's probably the general trend that is more informative.

Anyhow, the most accurate gauges tend to be the column of mercury ones.
Some dial gauges can be quite accurate too.  I've heard that a pretty good
gauge that's also reasonably priced is the "Prosphyg" aneriod sphygmomanomter
marketed by American Diagnostics Corp in West Babylon, NY.  They got a full
line of such stuff, I think.

The least accurate ones are usually the electronic ones that take the BP
at a fingertip.

Consumer reports had a report on these things a while (2 years?) back.
Perhaps it's worth locating the issue, though note that the cheapie
electronic models have probably improved in accracy since that report
was published.
-------
Bill Gruber   BITNET: BIGCU@CUNYVM  Internet: BIGCU at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
City University of New York Computer Center

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.discrimination
From: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Reply-To: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Organization: Teknekron Software Systems. Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 19:31:46 GMT

In article <18gck9INN6gi@agate.berkeley.edu>, konstan@cs.berkeley.edu (Joe Konstan) writes:
|> Now wait a minute here.  Isn't this the same Waldenbooks, owned by K-mart, 
|> that so freely censors sexually explicit magazines?  It wasn't that long
|> ago that K-mart caved in to some right-wing activists and removed even 
|> Playboy from their K-mart shelves.  I believe that Waldenbooks carries
|> Playboy, but none of the more explicit magazines.
|> 
|> So what is their message here:
|> 
|> 	We can censor sex at headquarters, but we don't want other
|> 	offensive materials censored at the stores!?!
|> 
|> Maybe if the right and left wings refuse to patronize Waldenbooks we'll 
|> have more good local bookstores around.


I don't see censorship as the issue at all here.  What we have is the right
of a business owner to stock and sell whatever lawful product they choose.
If I own a book store, I have the right to sell whatever books I want to 
sell for what ever reason I want to sell them.  My employees do not have a
right to dictate to me what I sell.  Period.  My customers don't have to
buy from me either, that's their right.  K-mart is within its rights not to
sell Playboy.  If you feel strongly about this, don't shop there.  Waldenbooks
has the right to sell material that is in poor taste.  If you feel strongly,
don't shop there.  However, if you want to control what is sold at these 
stores, I'm afraid you are going to have to either buy the store, or change
the U.S. constitution and then pass a law.  You can't do it buy becoming their
employee, nor should you be able to.

-- 

	Jim Burke	"Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!"
	Teknekron Software Systems		... burke@tss.com
  	phone:(415) 617-2432			... uunet!tekbspa!burke
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: gl1@cec2.wustl.edu (Greg Lyon)
Subject: Credit Problems
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis MO
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 16:46:47 GMT

    I have a bit of a long problem, so bear with me while I explain it.

    I am currently a 20 year old college student.  In early 1989, my mother
received a "pre-approved" application from Discover Card.  When she filled it
out, she asked that a copy of the card be made in my name. (I was 17 at the
time).

    Over the past year, my mother has been going through some financial
problems, is unemployed and unable to make payments on the balance.  Currently,
the card is around 90 days delinquent.  She has been getting the standard 
"please pay now or else" calls from Discover.  Recently, Discover started to
make them in my name as well.

    After speaking to the "Regional Collections Manager", I was told that it
appeared to them that I was put on the account as a "joint cardholder" and 
did not just receive a copy of the card in my name as had been asked.  

This leads me to ask several questions :

1) If I only received a copy of the card (and she remained the official
cardholder) am I responsible for paying the bills ?

2) If I somehow did end up as a "joint cardholder" accidently, what recourse
do I have to get my name (and credit history) cleared from this mess ?

3) If I somehow ended up as a legititmate "joint cardholder", am I responsible
for paying the bills even if I was under age 18 at the time the application
was filled out ?

 Any help anyone could give regarding all this would be most helpful.

Thanks,
Greg

gl1@cec2.wustl.edu

Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.discrimination
From: kd1hz@anomaly.sbs.risc.net (Michael P. Deignan)
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Organization: The Rhode Island Internet Systems Cooperative Network
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 1992 22:51:37 GMT

konstan@cs.berkeley.edu (Joe Konstan) writes:

>Now wait a minute here.  Isn't this the same Waldenbooks, owned by K-mart, 
>that so freely censors sexually explicit magazines?  It wasn't that long
>ago that K-mart caved in to some right-wing activists and removed even 
>Playboy from their K-mart shelves.  I believe that Waldenbooks carries
>Playboy, but none of the more explicit magazines.

K-Mart and Waldenbooks are different marketing entities. K-Mart is designed
to be a family discount store - not a location where you would expect your
kids to be able to browse through the latest issue of Penthouse on the
mag rack. I support K-mart's decision to discontinue sales thru that
outlet, since they make them available thru their other outlets, like
Waldenbooks.

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: eastwood@inline (David Eastwood)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Not Sony (was Re: Best 27 - 30" Big Screen T.V.)
Date: 11 Sep 92 16:33:24 GMT
Distribution: usa,world

In article <BuArGH.B11@well.sf.ca.us> casey@well.sf.ca.us (Kathleen  
Creighton) writes:
> 
> I've got a 26" Sony and I love it.  It was worth every dime I paid for  
it.

I'll second that - my 27" Sony has functioned flawlessly for over
5 years.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
David Eastwood  ...I feel better than James Brown.....  Sybase, Inc.
eastwood@sybase.com                                     Emeryville, CA.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jfox@vms.macc.wisc.edu
Subject: airfare address
Organization:  University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center
Distribution:  na
Date: 14 SEP 92 15:36:41    

I'm told that the address for the air-fare lawsuit claims
was posted on this group, but it is not in the items still on my system. 
I have mislaid a claim form that I received.
I'd appreciate it if someone
could email the address to me. Thanks.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: haber@shark.mel.dit.CSIRO.AU (Yaacov Haber)
Subject: Hong Kong
Organization: CSIRO, Division of Information Technology, Melbourne
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 92 13:17:33 GMT

I'm going to be in Hong Kong for a couple of days. The prices on 
electronic goods are supposed to be very good. Does any one know
the best place to shop? Do the prices beat those of NYC?
From: sasse@netcom.com (Ellen Sasse)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Need carpet stain remover
Date: 14 Sep 92 12:45:09 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Not


I need recommendations of safe ways to clean old stains on a carpet.
It was apparently shampooed when I moved in, so that wouldn't help.
It's a wall-to-wall beige/off-white cheap-ish carpet, seems dense but
crushes easily. I think it's around 5 years old (it's a rented apt,
so I don't know).

I seem to remember it's vital to know what the stains are in order to
clean them, but I only know the one that I made ;-) - which was a glass
of skim milk that became greyish. I used dish soap and warm water on
it after I mopped up the spill, then when that dried out and didn't work
I tried "resolve carpet cleaner" on part of it. It may have lightened
it a little, but did not really seem to help.

The stains are almost entirely in the living room (parties?) and mostly
greyish in color. Some look like they may have been paw prints
from a big dog. Two of them are red and look is if they were rust (?!)

Does anyone know of any carpet stain removers that can help me clean up
those spots without damaging the carpet? Time isn't that big an issue
since my lease doesn't terminate til next April and I am willing to
scrub it with something for hours if necessary (if that will work).
From: so690561@mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu (Susan Elizabeth Olson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Extended warranties
Date: 6 Sep 1992 04:28:10 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tx

...if recollection serves me correctly, one of the consumer magazines
recommended putting aside the money it would cost for an extended warranty
into a savings account.  While current interest rates are dismal, if the
item never needs service (which is usually the case), you aren't out any
money, and if the item needs repairing after the original warranty expires,
you do have some money to pay for it (and maybe more than you might have
had with an extended warranty - if the extended warranty is a limited
warranty rather than a full warranty, you may not be covered to the extent
you thought you were...that is the case with those "buyer protection"
warranties you get with many credit cards anymore.).

-S. Olson

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: weller@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu (Bonnie Weller)
Subject: How much Life Insurance?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 17:53:13 GMT

Well, now that a baby is on the way, my husband and I think we ought
to get some life insurance.  Does anyone have a formula for how much
life insurance a couple with one child should get?

you can post or e-mail

Thanks

Bonnie
weller@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu
From: dan@resonex.com (Dan Kell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: REQUEST: credit card charges disputes - how do they work
Keywords: credit cards
Date: 14 Sep 92 12:21:47 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Resonex Inc., Sunnyvale CA

In article <1992Sep12.210829.22901@ms.uky.edu> kherron@ms.uky.edu (Kenneth Herron) writes:
>JULIE.KADASHEVICH@OFFICE.WANG.COM ("Julie Kadashevich") writes:
>
>>I am curious how adjustments work.  Did the credit card company
>>had to "eat" $148, or do they have a way of forcing
>>a non-cooperative company to pay them back?
>
>If the company is still submitting charge card charges the amount can
>be witheld from one of the reimbursements.  MicroChip should also have 
>posted a bond of some sort when they signed their merchant agreement, 
>though obviously that can only go so far if they screw a lot of people.

There is no bond required to obtain a credit card "account". Typically the 
bank (in my case) charges a percentage to process your charges. The more
charges you run through them the lower the percentage you pay. Sometimes
credit card companies will "eat it" but mostly they recover from the 
merchant in question. It's very easy. Pay us back or we won't process
any more of your charges and then you'll eat it! When you have several
thousand dollars worth of your goods out you don't have much problem with
a couple of hundred dollars.


-- 
Dan Kell                  
email to dan@resonex.com
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."   A. Einstein
From: nall@sun8.scri.fsu.edu (John Nall)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Looking for Major Medical insurance policy...
Date: 11 Sep 92 01:00:17 GMT
Followup-To: misc.consumers
Distribution: usa
Organization: SCRI, Florida State University

My daughter recently (last week) moved to Chicago to go to school.
While in Florida, I was picking up the tab for her HMO fees, but
since she has moved, she is no longer eligible for this plan.

What I would *like* to be able to do is to have some sort of major
medical insurance policy, so that if she gets into serious medical
trouble, the insurance will pay for it.  Meanwhile, since she is young
and healthy, I don't mind paying out-of-pocket for the occasional
sore throat, sprained ankle, etc.  She is technically an adult (22),
but not really ready to be self-sufficient :-(

Anyone have any thoughts on this?  Especially anyone who might know
about what is available in Illinois, since I know each state probably
is a little different.

Thanks for any help.

John

--
John W. Nall              | Supercomputer Computations Research Institute
nall@mailer.scri.fsu.edu  | Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
   "A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou....and perhaps some
	 munchies, couple of pillows, some music.." - Omar Khayyam (modern)
From: monwel@cbnewsk.cb.att.com (douglas.w.monroe)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: SEAR'S WARNING!
Date: 15 Sep 92 13:23:44 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Sep14.123440.1@vax.sonoma.edu> butler@vax.sonoma.edu writes:
>I wanted to warn all potential Sear's customers to avoid purchasing anything
>there.  They simply don't stand behind what they sell.
>
>My most recent problem with them is about an LXi (Sear's brand) VCR 
>that has a design flaw.  I've spent dozens of hours over the past several
>months dealing with complete incompetence.  I've been subjected to the 
>imbeciles they have anwsering the phones - all for nothing.  I'm either
>given erroneous information, told to call another number, or am told 
>that someone will return my call.  No one ever does.  My letters have 
>yielded no results either. 
>
>I'm afraid all I can do now is chalk the VCR up to experience, and to 
>warn others to stay away from Sear's.
>
>-Bob
>



First off, let me say that I think this vented outrage in such a public forum 
is irresponsible on your part. Second, let me tell you that I used to work at 
a SEARS during college days. We constantly had people coming in to return
things that, IMO, should not have been returned (eg shoes that wore out, trash
cans with bottoms worn out from dragging, etc.) We ALWAYS refunded, sometimes
with a small amount of "haggling". The SEARS philosophy at the time was
that it was better to give back the 10, 25, 100 dollars rather than risk
his/her NEVER coming back in the store again. I can suggest going to the 
store manager, waiting if necessary, and demand some satisfaction. If he/she
balks, take them to the front of the store where it says "Satisfaction 
Guaranteed" and make your point in front of some customers. Hope it doesn't go that far, but stop playing games with the "peons" at the counter, go to somebody
who CAN do something, as opposed to somebody who doesn't WANT to do anything!
-- 
                                                          Doug Monroe
                   				       dwm@pruxl.att.com
  						 or   monwel@cbnewsk.att.com
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Subject: Re: Britannica $$??
Reply-To: burke@tss.com (Jim Burke)
Organization: Teknekron Software Systems. Inc.
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 20:13:18 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.235539.23022@microsoft.com>, gideony@microsoft.com (Gideon Yuval) writes:
|> What price is the current Encyclopedia Britannica? the Britannica
|> people won't quote me a number -- they insist on sending a
|> salesman (prsumably for the usual song&dance act).

Although I would love to buy a set of Encyclopedia Britanicas, I have
always been irritated at their refusal to name a price without an in-home
salesman.  So, I'll never buy one.  I do know that the price used to be
around $1500 and is probably closer to $2500 by now. 

-- 

	Jim Burke	"Life is uncertain - eat dessert first!"
	Teknekron Software Systems		... burke@tss.com
  	phone:(415) 617-2432			... uunet!tekbspa!burke
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:16459 alt.discrimination:4336 alt.censorship:7443
From: jsp@uts.amdahl.com (James Preston)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,alt.discrimination,alt.censorship
Subject: Re: Waldenbooks fires staff for refusing to sell racist book!
Date: 12 Sep 92 05:00:01 GMT
Reply-To: jsp@pls.amdahl.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

so@fortran.cs.psu.edu (Nicol C So) writes:

}The boycotters are exerting their "fair share" of influence on the business
}decision of bookstore owners, there is nothing morally wrong with these
}people.  The boycotters have no moral obligation to patronize businesses
}whose business practices they do not approve.  Nor do they have the moral
}obligation to help spread any particular idea.

I disagree strongly.  There is indeed something morally wrong, even morally
offensive, about people who have as their goal the suppression of material
that they deem offensive.  Let me make it clear (even though others on
this thread have already come to my defense) that I do NOT dispute anyone's
right to boycott anyone or any store for any reason.  But that I support
someone's right to boycott does not mean that I support the goal of their
boycott.

I agree completely that no one has an obligation to patronize a business nor
to help spread an idea they disagree with.  However, it is not the case that
the only other alternative is to attempt to prevent the spread of that idea
to those who might be receptive to it.  There is a middle ground on which
you do not partake of the idea, but you allow it to exist for others to
partake of if they so choose.

The person who started this thread has stated explicitly that his desire
does NOT lie on that middle ground, but rather that he wishes that the
freedom for everyone to choose for themselves whether or not to read
such "offensive" (in his opinion) material as this joke calendar be
removed from existence.  And that is what I find morally objectionable.

--James Preston
From: slusk@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: auto-start AUDIO cassette recorder ??
Date: 10 Sep 92 17:13:52 EST
Organization: USAF AL/CFH, WPAFB, Dayton, OH

In article <Btz8C8.H8p@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, bkwg0457@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Whitlock) writes:
> amy@vineland.pubs.stratus.com (Amy McNulty) writes:
> 
> 
>With all of the recent advances in VCR technology, I'm surprised that  
>I've never seen an AUDIO cassette recorder that can be pre-set to start  
>taping at a specific time. Has anyone ever seen or heard of one of  
>these? Although I haven't tried it, I assume that connecting my stereo  
>system to an automatic timer wouldn't work (even if I could get it to  
>come on at a reasonably close approximation to the correct time)....
> 
>Any ideas?

I've done this with a portable radio/cassette player/recorder.  I'm unsure of
the effect on the recording heads, but I've used a simple automatic timer that
plugs into the wall.  Press "record", then let the timer do the rest.  When 
you get home, press "stop".  The assumption is that it's no worse on the
machine than a power failure.  :}

Steve
-- 
Internet e-mail				    slusk@falcon.aamrl.wpafb.af.mil
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| "The opinions and views expressed here are strictly my own and do not   |
| necessarily reflect the official position of either the U.S. Air Force  |
| or its contractors."                                                    |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: harris@ROTC.orst.edu (Captain Harris)
Subject: Samsonite Stands behind their products
Organization: University Computing Services - Oregon State University
Distribution: US
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 15:32:47 GMT

I have had nothing but problems with a Samsonite piggyback suitcase I bought 
18 months ago - I sent it back about three months after I bought it to have 
it repaired - Samsonite paid the shipping out, and returned it to me, fixing 
that problem.

Now, I have had more problems with it, so I wrote them a letter a few weeks 
ago, and asked them to replace it.  Even though I think it is out of 
warranty, they agreed to replace it!  All I have to do is send it back to 
them; they will replace it, and if I send the receipt for the shipping in 
their postpaid envelope, they will even refund my shipping costs.

Now that's getting my $.35 worth (I figure $.29 for postage, and $.06 cents 
for electricity, paper, toner, etc).  I love a company that stands behind 
its products!

----
Jeffrey Harris, harrisj@ccmail.orst.edu

### Where would Captain Kirk have been after the first week without his 
Chief Engineer?  DEAD.  Behind every legendary captain, there is an even more 
legendary Chief Engineer to pull his cookies out of the fire every week.

Think about it - before the Captain can have his fun and chase the ladies, 
SOMEBODY had to design and build the Enterprise in the first place, and 
redesign and rebuild it (four times, at last count). ###
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.forsale.computers
From: JULIE.KADASHEVICH@OFFICE.WANG.COM ("Julie Kadashevich")
Subject: Software of the Month Club - is it a good deal?
Organization: Mail to News Gateway at Wang Labs
Date: 15 Sep 92 16:23:30 EST

Does anyone have experience with the Software of the Month Club? (shareware)
Do they sent good quality software?  Is it worth the money?
How much software do you receive each time?  Sounds like you will receive
something twice a month.

The annual membership fee is $24.95, plus a $6.95 for each package
which includes shipping and handling.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.video