HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: johne@vcd.hp.com (John Eaton)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How to get UPS to pay up AND what's a good alternative
Date: 4 Sep 92 18:02:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: vcd.Bu2FGo.200
Organization: Hewlett-Packard VCD
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5

Khan (tmkk@uiuc.edu) wrote:
: 
: responsible for the package while it's in their posession. Supopse you
: loaned me your $30,000 projection TV set, and while it was in my
: posession I dropped it, damaging it beyond repair. Would you accept an
: answer like "sorry, chump, you should have insured it" from me? THE HELL
: YOU WOULD. You'd be on my back to pay up the $30,000 I owed you for
: damaging your equipment, and you'd be right.
: 
----------------------------------------------
A better analogy would be:

Suppose I was moving across town and asked all my big strong buddies to 
show up for a U-Haul party. If one of them dropped my TV and broke it would
he be responsible? Try telling everyone that you are not going pack or load
anything because that way if anything is broken then you can collect from
all of them.

A 30 lb, one cubic foot, $10,000 value package costs more to ship than 
  30 lb, one cubic foot, $100    value package. You can scrimp and send
the 10K package at a $100 rate but then YOU are taking the risk. If you
can't afford that risk then buy the insurance.

John Eaton
!hp-vcd!johne
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.environment,sci.med
From: drand@spinner.osf.org (Douglas Rand)
Subject: Re: "Small amounts" of radioactivy (was: Light Bulbs)
Organization: Open Software Foundation
	<1992Sep3.142402.641@newshub.ccs.yorku.ca>
	<16857BEF1.M20614@mwvm.mitre.org>
Date: 4 Sep 92 10:59:45

In article <16857BEF1.M20614@mwvm.mitre.org> M20614@mwvm.mitre.org (Hugh Pritchard) writes:

   In article <1992Sep3.142402.641@newshub.ccs.yorku.ca>
   tony@nexus.yorku.ca (Anthony Wallis) writes:

   >For a start, due to their varying penetrating powers, there's orders of
   >of magnitude difference between the effects of diffused exposure to
   >alpha, beta, and gamma radiations. I don't ever want to be anywhere
   >near a low intensity gamma source, but am not too concerned about a ...

   I was under the impression that "gamma rays" were merely photons --
   light rays.  Are "gamma rays" in this context photons of a specific
   energy or range of energies?  Perhaps they are more energetic [ =
   shorter wavelength] than X-rays.

Merely photons is a little deceptive.  They can certainly cause
chemical and structural changes in your body.  Even the lowest
energy gamma can penetrate deep into your body.  

Gamma rays are emitted by nuclear interactions,  for example the decay
of a radioactive isotope or the "destruction" of an electron/positron
pair.

X-Rays are emitted by electron energy change interactions.  This 
is primarily from Bremstrallung (sp?) or "braking radiation."  It
is possible to have X-Rays of high energy,  but the tendency is 
that X-Rays are in the lower energy range,  as compared to gamma
rays.

   And aren't gamma rays of this energy emitted by radioisotopes (e.g.
   technetium) used in nuclear medicine?  The gamma rays are detected
   by a scintillation counter ("gamma camera").  Lots of patients (me
   included) have had gamma scans with no apparent ill effects.

Yes,  but the amount of technetium (sp?) is very, very small,  and
technetium has a very short half-life and so is gone in a few
hours.

The original poster's assertion on beta particles (electrons) is
only kind of true.  High energy electrons can definitely penetrate
far into people.  This is one common form of radiation therapy.
But low energy beta particles won't make it past your skin.
--
Douglas S. Rand <drand@osf.org>		OSF/Motif Dev.
Snail:         11 Cambridge Center,  Cambridge,  MA  02142
Disclaimer:    I don't know if OSF agrees with me... let's vote on it.
Amateur Radio: KC1KJ
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15949 misc.legal:16829 alt.peeves:14018 rec.skiing:5553
From: vaccaro@novavax.UUCP (N. Trafford Vaccaro)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal,alt.peeves,rec.skiing
Subject: Re: wrong health care, and still having to pay for it
Summary: the collection Agency!!!
Keywords: misdiagnosis, malpractice, negligence, miscreant doctors
Date: 2 Sep 92 09:46:53 GMT
Organization: Nova University, Fort Lauderdale, FL

> > 
> > You may have noticed the large number and variety of newsgroups I
> > am posting this to. I am rather angry at being ripped off by 
> > a small town medical operation in Winter Park, Colorado, called
> > the "Seven Mile Clinic".
> > 
etc.......
> > $300! A collection agency now has the account. What should I do? Should
> > I pay the bill, or take them to small claims?
> > 
> > 
> > N.V.
> 
> can do, and with a statement of "the dirty b******s did not deliver 
> the service they contracted to deliver and almost killed me!" that 
> mark on your report won't mean a whole lot.
> 
> At least pursue a complaint with the medical revue board and 
> an malpractice suit -- other people might die in that clinic
> if you do not act to prevent such callous mistreatment.
> 
I can't sue for malpractice because of the statute of limitations. This
happened about 6 1/2 years ago! But I want to refinance my condo so
I can pay my legitimate bills (like my student loan!) but now a creepo
from the Broward County Collection Services called me and I spoke
to him in a normal way until he started with his generic collection
guy insults. *sigh* I just hung up on Magnum P.I. and called an
attorney, who sent Magnum a letter. I am awaiting the results.

I didn't want to sue to begin with, I just wanted to live! I was
bombarded with hospital bills that I could not pay, I offered
something like 25 dollars a month to each of the four hospitals
I went to (except the clinic, I offered them a lawsuit and never
heard from them again until they sneaked the collection agency thing
on me). Everyone dropped the bills except this jerk. I am forever
indebted to the doctors and the hospitals I went to, and will
someday repay them, one way or another. The Seven Mile Clinic (in
Winter Park, Colorado) is making it impossible for me to have a chance
to even pay for the education I just received; I can't even get
started because of this rich doctor enjoying his lucrative business
and his low paid incompitent staff in a ski paradise is stepping
on my credit after almost killing me! If I had died, he would have
been sued anyway! Gotta go, bye!

Nick
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.legal
From: vrr@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (veenu.r.rashid)
Subject: HELP:  Getting homeowner's insurance to pay for car damage
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 23:37:04 GMT
Followup-To: poster


During a recent storm, a tree fell on one of our cars, damaging the roof
and windshield and making dents in the sides.  The car is covered by
basic liability insurance.  Now the homeowner's insurance company says
that they won't pay to fix the car, even though the tree which fell on it
was on our property.


Is this a normal homeowner's policy clause?  Is there a way to get them to
cover the damage?  Has anyone had any experience with this before?


Please email an comments/suggestions to vrr@cbnewsj.att.com


Thanks very much,
Veenu
From: avk@hafnium.cchem.berkeley.edu (Tony Konashenok)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Epilady or Remington Smooth&Silky?
Date: 27 Aug 1992 17:32:09 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: hafnium.cchem.berkeley.edu

Hello world:
I'd greatly appreciate your comparative opinions about Epilady and
Remington Smooth & Silky epilation machines. Which one would you pick
(for woman's legs)?
-- 
Tony Konashenok   avk@hafnium.cchem.berkeley.edu   (510)527-7524 (home)
University of California, Berkeley                 (510)642-5831 (office)

Strauss research group, Latimer Hall, UC Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, U.S.A.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Carburetors, gasoline, and why I don't recycle
Keywords: BOOM
Date: 2 Sep 92 23:06:37 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Originator: daemon@sword.eng.pyramid.com

In article <1992Sep2.173112.15476@news.acns.nwu.edu> drt@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Robert Toreki) writes:
>
>	With the note here about a H2-fueled car...seems like a great idea. 
>Then imagine the public horror (liability...) the first time one of these
>suckers gets creamed in an accident and goes up in a fireball.  Would make a
>Ford Pinto look like a Bic lighter.  Ever see those signs on the highway
>"TUNNEL 10 MILES" with huges warnings about carrying compressed gases?  Think
>there might be a reason for these?  Ever witness the detonation of a
>hydrogen-oxygen balloon?  Mighty impressive. 

I wouldn't be to surprised at how difficult it might be to get the
public to accept hydrogen powered cars....

Actually the stuff is safer than propane or LNG, as those tend to
pool in the event of a rupture, where hydrogen would disperse
upwards pretty rapidly.  

It does burn with a colorless flame (like pure alcohol) but that is
easily taken care of...   

But I would expect the "Hindenburg syndrome" to make it pretty tough
to ever do much with it....
From: bdm@druwa.ATT.COM (Brian Millham)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Title vs. registration in NY state
Date: 1 Sep 92 18:59:06 GMT
Distribution: na

in article <1992Aug31.185217.26030@news.acns.nwu.edu>, cjc@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Christopher Chen) says:

> Now, can anyone confirm or deny this?  I argued with the Illinois
> Secretary of State's office about this for a long time, and they're
> willing (they say) to let me do this if I can produce some
> documentation that this guy's claim is true.  Can anyone help me out
> here?  I'd really appreciate it.

When I moved from Vermont to Colorado, I did not have a title on my car,
as Vermont doesn't (didn't) issue titles for cars older than 15(?)
years.  When I tried to register my car in Colorado, they said that
without a valid title, I can't register here.  I agrued for quite
a while with the clerk, asking how I could get a title from a state
that doesn't have titles for old cars.  She finally reached in front
of her, pulled out a book, opened it to the Vermont page, and said
"Oh, you're right, they don't issue titles.  You can register without
one and we'll send you a Colorado title."  We wasted over 10 minutes
arguing, when she could have simpily taken the 1/2 minute that it
took to verify my claim.  Aren't public servents wonderfull.

--
Brian Millham     |Kitty      |Fletch |Dragon's Lair |Kick Man |New World
AT&T Bell Labs    |Ferrah     |Buddy  |Space Ace     |Sinistar |High Speed
Denver, Co.       |Dr. Pepper |       |              |         |
bdm@druwa.att.com |(ferrets)  |(cats) |(laser disc)  |(video)  |(pinball)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.video,sci.electronics,sci.misc
From: kimnach@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (GREG KIMNACH)
Subject: Re: VCR Maintenance Advice Wanted. Head Cleaners Any Good?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date:  4 Sep 1992 10:30 EST  

In article <1992Sep3.121728.13233@hubcap.clemson.edu>, michaet@hubcap.clemson.edu (michael dale townsend) writes...
>noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring) writes:
>>We have our VCR in the repair shop for the second time in two years, and
>>again it is a very dirty head.
> 
>>Anyway, what I'd like to know is the current state-of-the-art of VCR head
>>(and capstan, etc.) cleaners, as well as other maintenance systems.  The
>>repair person stated that there is no good system to clean the heads, rollers,
>>etc., other than getting in there with a soaked q-tip.  However, I really
>>don't yet believe him since such advice is self-serving - I'd like to get
>>VCR maintenance advice from knowledgeable yet impartial people.
>>Much thanks.
>>Jon Noring
> 
>I worked in a T.V./VCR repair shop while I was in High School.  My boss
>said the very same thing and I believe him.  Just last week I rented a
>movie that must have been partially melted or put into a VCR that ate
>oatmeal.  It instantly corrupted my VCR's heads, so I cleaned it with an
>alcohol soaked Q-tip.  That worked great.  I seem to also remember him

Never use "alcohol" (e.g., isopropyl) or a Q-tip (the cotton fibers can ge 
caught in the video head)

>saying that you should only brush perpendicular to the circumference of
>the head (up and down) in case you scratch the head.  One vertical
>scratch is better than a long scratch all the way around.  I usually

Never use an "up and down" motion on the video head...do you want to 
misalign or--worse yet--break the video head?  I'd expect a "repair shop 
to use this technique and then turn around an charge you for an expensive 
repair.

This has been discussed often on the net so I'm sure that there's  a FAQ 
for this subject (or there should be).  Or you can just buy a book about 
VCR repair and maintainance.


>clean the capstans and audio head while I am in there.  I wouldn't pay
>someone $50 to do what you can do yourself with a screwdriver, a couple
>of Q-tips, and $.02 worth of rubbing alcohol.  That is also cheaper to
>me than buying an automatic head cleaner of questionable quality for
>$19.95.  
> 
>Michael Townsend        michaet@hubcap.clemson.edu
> 


Greg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
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                                                                --R. Lebron

Another version:
"It's not what you know, it's what you do.  And you don't know what to do!"
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Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: amirza@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Anmar Caves)
Subject: Re: Radioactivity and Superstition; was: Re: Are Your Light Bulbs Radioactive?
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 03:38:03 GMT

In article <l9ns6oINNmol@utkcs2.cs.utk.edu> de5@ORNL.GOV (Dave Sill) writes:
>[Followups, again, directed to misc.consumers.]
>
>In article <1992Aug26.195524.25813@athena.cs.uga.edu>, mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) writes:
>>
>>A child's environment is _full_ of things that are dangerous if ingested.

>laying around their house...unless they have smoke detectors or compact
>flourescents.  Which is *exactly* the point the originator of this thread was
>trying to make.  Radioactivity *is* a different kind of threat than most
>parents are used to dealing with.  For this reason it makes a great deal of
>sense of consider the threat, know how to deal with it, and spread the word. 
>Yes, this is, in practice, a minor threat compared to electrical sockets, busy
>streets, and pesticides/drain cleaners/oven cleaners.  But it *is* a threat.

I don't believe I'm contributing to this thread.  What the hell, it's
late night and I'm bored.

Dave, have you any idea of what .25 microgram of Americium, and it's
associated radioactivity is?  Your kid will be exposed to more
radiation today breathing than he would get from ingesting the
incredibly tiny amount of mildly active material, which happens to be
encapsulated and could not be absorbed into the body by ingestion.
Even were such a scenario to happen his risk of developing cancer from
such a source is hundredfolds less than from his yearly dental x-ray.

Yes, radiation, especially to children, is a bad thing.  You waste
your efforts in warning people about such hazards.  Efforts which
could be better spent encouraging people to learn about *real* dangers
to themselves and their children.  

>>Folks, radioactivity is a part of nature.  We have never lived in a world
>>without it.  Like electricity, chemicals, etc., it can be dangerous in
>>large amounts, but that doesn't mean it should (or can) be eliminated
>>totally.
>
>No kidding.  Gee, thanks for that patronizing little message, Mike.  Now, for
>extra credit explain why "natural" does not mean "good".

I think the little message Mike sent was one that many people often
forget, and should be reminded of.  

Now, of course, you are perfectly welcome to worry about such things,
it's your right.  Please don't ask the rest of us to worry about them
as well.  I, for one, have more important things to worry about.  Like
getting hit by a meteorite.  :-)   <------for the smiley impaired

-- 
Anmar Mirza   # Mayor of Dogspit, IN  #My Opinions! NotIU's! #Purveyor of
EMT-D         # Located somewhere in  # Legalize Explosives! #nontraditional
N9ISY (tech)  # the Outback of the    #I've got my own fusion#family values
Networks Tech.# Mirza Ranch.C'mon over#plant. Just ask me.   #Space For Rent
From: wicklund@intellistor.com (Tom Wicklund)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: How to get UPS to pay up AND what's a good alternative
Date: 1 Sep 92 20:50:48 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Intellistor, Inc.

In <Btwt2H.LL5@news.cso.uiuc.edu> tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:

>On the other hand, FedEx screwed up $30,000 worth of equipment which the
>poster paid them to deliver safely. Seems to me that FedEx is
>responsible for the package while it's in their posession. Supopse you
>loaned me your $30,000 projection TV set, and while it was in my
>posession I dropped it, damaging it beyond repair. Would you accept an
>answer like "sorry, chump, you should have insured it" from me? THE HELL
>YOU WOULD. You'd be on my back to pay up the $30,000 I owed you for
>damaging your equipment, and you'd be right.

>Perhaps FedEx has some sort of disclaimer saying "if you ship with us,
>you agree to hold us harmless in the event that your package should be
>lost or damaged by us." Otherwise, I don't see how they can escape
>responsibility.

Of course, if you ship via the US Post Office you don't get any
insurance unless you pay extra.  If we're being outraged, be outraged
at the Post Office.

FedEx probably requires that you declare the value of the item if over
$100 when you ship it.  I'm sure their shipping agreement holds them
to either the declared value or $100, whichever is lower.  I'm not
sure if extra insurance costs money or not.

This declaration is to prevent fraud -- if a package is lost they
limit liability to the declared value.  Otherwise they would be wide
open for fraud from a customer claiming a high value for something
lost.

At least from what I hear Fed Ex is prompt about handling claims.  As
previous posters have mentioned, UPS is well known for poor claim
response (I'm also going through a claim with UPS which has taken 15
months so far for a $75.00 amount).
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:15814 sci.energy:4162
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,sci.energy
Subject: Re: Radioactivity and Superstition; was: Re: Are Your Light Bulbs Radioactive?
Date: 28 Aug 92 20:56:29 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Originator: daemon@sword.eng.pyramid.com

In article <gjcnpd#@dixie.com> jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
>
>Dave, you ought to know better.  Let's try a little test.  Put
>the  following in ascending order of radioactivity.  Then put
>the list in ascending order of radiation emittance.  Identify
>the active isotope in each and the  approximate quantity.  For
>extra credit, note where, if ever, on the list a radiation
>health hazard becomes apparent.  Cite the applicable NCRP or NRC
>reference for your assertion. 
>
>FiestaWare china
>Coleman lantern mantles
>The human body
>A common brick.
>A basket full of veggies.
>A cinderblock
>Fireplace ashes
>A tritiated luminous clock dial
>An ionization smoke alarm
>An ordinary fluorescent lamp starter.
>A neon bulb
>A StaticMaster antistatic camera brush
>A compact fluorescent lamp
>A vacuum tube.
>
   How about publishing the results?   I would guess that the brick,
   china, veggies, human body, and maybe the coleman mantel would be
   high on the list?   [And I would also bet that answer is likely
   to be wrong >:-) ]\
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer)
Subject: Bread Makers - Which is the best?
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 16:35:57 GMT
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation

Anyone have any tips for an automatic breakmaker purchase.  The Hitachi
HB-B101 handles up to a 1.5lb 100% Whole Wheat bread and costs $175 locally.
From: rinehart@aramis.rutgers.edu (Mark J. Rinehart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Rather large late fee on my cable bill
Date: 27 Aug 92 17:40:47 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

In article <BtnHz1.34J@news.cso.uiuc.edu> bkwg0457@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Brent Whitlock) writes:
> <F0O@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
> >   I just paid my cable bill last night and noticed it was about one
> >week overdue.  Opps.  The monthly charge is normally $18.36 for
> >around 30 channels(no HBO, ShowTime, or channels like that).  On the
> >bill it says if you pay late, you will be charged a $2.00 late fee.
> >Now while I suppose I can't get out of paying this, $2 for a late fee
> >seems rather steep to me.  Our power and phone company only charge around
> >20 cents.  Is it within my rights to demand the cable company show me
> >some documentation which justifies why their late fee is so high?  Is
> >it possible for me to fight this?
> 
> I don't know what you can do, if anything, about their late fee. But you
> are lucky that their regular rate is so "low."  The rate for basic service
> with about the same number of channels in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois is about
> $23.48 per month.


I am so fed up with my cable company's overall attitude toward their
customers that I recently sent them a note along with my payment,
about late fees - TKR in Central NJ charges a late fee of $5.00. The
note said that they had a choice. They could never charge me a late
fee again (I usually pay my cable bill once every 2 months), or they
could cancel my subscription, which comes to $50 per month (w/4
premium channels). I suppose I shall find out soon what their decision
is.  






Mark
Newsgroups: misc.consumers