HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: srj@key.COM (Scott R. Johnson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.consumers.house
Subject: Remote Control (IR) Antenna Rotator-- anybody got one?
Date: 11 Nov 92 03:44:58 GMT
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Advanced Systems, Fremont CA

I'm looking for an Antenna Rotator that uses an IR remote control to
turn the antenna.  I *know* there's something out there that will do
this, but I haven't found it, yet.  Does anyone have one of these?  If
so, where did you get it?  How much was it?  etc. etc.

Thanks,


-- 
  --srj           It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone 
       o_O        underwear.                                   --Norm Peterson
      =( ) =      ------------------------------------------------------------
        U   Ack!  Scott Johnson  Amdahl Adv. Sys. srj@key.amdahl.com  623-2333
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: calwa@bnr.ca
Subject: Re: Baby Monitors - Any suggestions?
Organization: Bell-Northern Research
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 15:57:53 GMT

We have a Playskool monitor and it works well.  The base station is battery
powered too - great for use at a cottage without electrical service, while
camping, etc....

Kevin Chapman
 BNR Ltd., Ottawa
From: egreen@east.sun.com (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Doctor ripoff, or just reality?
Date: 13 Nov 1992 15:21:34 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, RTP, NC
Distribution: world
Reply-To: egreen@east.sun.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: laser.east.sun.com

In article 92Nov12165745@trout.ksr.com, eugene@ksr.com (Eugene Yi-jen Pan) writes:
>
>In most situations, people ask
>for the price before buying, and I don't see why it should be any different for
>medical care.

It shouldn't.

The reason it IS is that after the first couple of hundred per year,
people don't pay the cost of their health care, the insurance co.
does.  Everybody is lavish with somebody else's money.

---
Ed Green, former Ninjaite |I was drinking last night with a biker,
  Ed.Green@East.Sun.COM   |and I showed him a picture of you.  I said,
DoD #0111  (919)460-8302  |"Go on, get to know her, you'll like her!"
 (The Grateful Dead) -->  |It seemed like the least I could do...

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: chrz@tellabs.com (Peter Chrzanowski)
Subject: Re: The other side of the coin (Re: Revenge on a Telemarketer - the Sequel (Long Post))
Organization: Tellabs, Inc.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 23:44:16 GMT

In article <l^#@byu.edu>, $stephan@sasb (Stephan Fassmann, Software) writes:
> These people are pions in the lowest sense, it is a hopeless kind of a job, in no 

   Wow, these people are so small they're, like, subatomic ...
From: westover@sunpix.East.Sun.COM (Lee Westover - Sun NC Development Center)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Questions about Personal Umbrella Liability Insurance
Date: 5 Nov 1992 15:25:43 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Research Triangle Park, NC
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: jt1.east.sun.com


Hi,

I have recently been looking into getting Personal Umbrella Liability
insurance for my family. I have a couple of questions that maybe the
net can help me answer.

My insurance agent has come up with a policy from Continental
Insurance. This company keeps costs down by only issuing joint home/car
insurance policies to families who have a home with a value of over
$100,000 and NO points on their driving records.  The prices he quotes
for car, house and the umbrella coverage are all low compared to other
options.

Now the questions:

1)  Do any netters have experience with this company? (It is rated A by
    A. M. Best) My current policies (car/home) are with The Travelers.

2)  Givens suggests setting Medical coverage to the absolute minimum.
    Is this really a good idea?

3)  My agent says that companies will only issue umbrella coverage if
    you increase your car and house liability insurance to 250/500/50
    coverage. Is this true?

4)  My agent says that companies require that your uninsured motorist
    coverage is equal to you liability levels (see above). Givens
    suggests that you put this to the minimum required by your state.
    Do you believe this? How does one check this out?

5)  Has anybody had any luck calling the insurance company directly
    and gotten better answers/lower rates?

6)  How does one make sure they are insured for the 80% replacement
    rule? It seems that the $XX/square foot guestimate is pretty
    scary when you are dealing with your largest asset.

Note:
    I have read both Givens books. While much of what he says you must
    take with a VERY large grain of salt, some of what he says makes a
    lot of sense. I am not a Givens zealot, but am willing to steal
    good ideas from anybody -:)


Thanx for you time,
lee
lee.westover@sun.com
From: nicklaus@lonetree.physics.wisc.edu (Dennis Nicklaus)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Baby Monitors - Any suggestions?
Date: 11 Nov 92 19:49:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: pslu1.1992Nov11.194915.26051
Organization: High Energy Physics

In article <1992Nov9.155724.29822@mcc.com>, srogers@teenwolf.mcc.com (Steve Rogers) writes:
|> We recently replaced our old baby monitor (a Gerry) with a Sony.  The
|> is in use.  I would NEVER have thought they would put two such devices
|> on the same frequency - something to think about. 

You obviously don't watch enough bad TV movies!
There was one a year or two, starring my all-time favorite actress, Teri Garr,
with a plot that involved a woman overhearing (on a clown-shaped baby monitor)
her neighbor plotting to kill his wife over a cordless phone.  (He 
was plotting with the woman with whom he was having an affair, or some
silly soap-opera kindo of thing.)  Not one of Ms. Garr's finer parts, I'm afraid.
(Of course, she was great within the confines of a pretty silly story.)
From: jpt@telecaster.think.com (James P. Taylor)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: jet stream ovens [high temp, high speed convection ovens]
Date: 6 Nov 92 12:57:43
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: telecaster.think.com


The Jet Stream oven -- does anyone use one?

There is competing infomercial brand [don't know its name.] any
comparisons?

jim  jpt@think.com   

Thinking Machines Corp    Cambridge MA
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: The unhappy byproduct of gas stations and ATM cards
Date: 9 Nov 92 23:08:09 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

>In article <n|#@byu.edu>, $stephan@sasb (Stephan Fassmann, Software) writes:
>|> I thought it was illegel to charge more for using a credit card then for 
>|> cash. I think I read this in the local paper but it was some time ago.
>|> Anyone know for sure?
>
In article <1992Nov7.222528.29181@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> jung@base.bellcore.com (Eric Jung) writes:
>Well, I think you're right, but it's a useless law, because it is not
>illegal to offer a cash discount.
>
    I don't know of any such "law" in the first place.  There are
    credit card merchant contracts for cards like Visa, MC, Amex
    which prohibit such practices, but these are strictly contracts
    that allow the credit card company to cancel a merchant who
    violates them...not that most won't if offered cash.  

    There are oil companies who have routinely charged approx. a 4
    cent surcharge for plastic....and advertise this as a courtesy
    to their cash customers who don't have to bear the burden of
    subsidizing their credit customers.
From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: HELP..MAIL ORDER DISPUTE
Date: 8 Nov 92 11:54:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-8298v.32bis
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 

-> Today I receive a letter from the post office said their record
-> showed that JC Whitney did receive the item and there is nothing they
-> can do.
->
-> I'll send JC Whitney a letter asking them to resolve the dispute. But
-> I doubt they will do anything about it.   What options do
-> I have now?  Could you give me some suggestions?(small claim
-> court :-<)

Write Whitney a letter (to CEO) that you are trying to ascertain if
that this is evidence of fraud on their part or a
deceptive trade prtactice and you therefore want to give him/her a
chance to straigten this out before you proceed further with the AG of
their state, your state, the postal inspectors etc.

Of course send a copy of letter form USPS.

Explain to the CEO how you have been greatly inconveinced and that this
has taken a lot of your time.

Then if you don't get a good response get nasty.
                        
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:18834 misc.invest:13495
From: bruce@zuhause.MN.ORG (Bruce Albrecht)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.invest
Subject: Re:  FORD visa vs. DISCOVER
Distribution: world
Date: 7 Nov 92 08:31:04 CST
Organization: Society to Stamp Out Bogus Organizations

In article <1992Nov3.224354.10489@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen) writes:
>In article <Bx5toA.rz@encore.com> mpalmer@encore.com (Mike Palmer) writes:
>>ff76@vaxb.acs.unt.edu writes:
>>
>>>A while back the FORD visa card was discussed quite a bit on the misc.invest
>>>forum and its virtues extolled.  In particular, it was pointed out that FORD
>>>visa's cash refund is superior to Discover's.  I sent for their brochure and
>>>happen to disagree.  FORD visa gives you an automatic 0.5 percent rebate on
>>>every purchase made.  The rebate is 1.5 percent in any month when you have 
>>>carried forward a balance from the previous month.  For many folks, who do not
>>>like paying astronomical interest rates and use a card for convenience,
>>>benefits (such as cash back) and pay off the whole monthlt balance each month,
>>>this is a much worse deal than DISCOVER.

>Take a look at the discover rebate, i don't think it starts out at
>1%. I think the first $1000 is at a lower rate.

I think Discover's rate starts at 1/4%, and does not go to 1% until you've charged
over $3,000 in a year.
--
bruce@zuhause.mn.org
Youth is wasted on the young.

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: hubcap@hubcap.clemson.edu (System Janitor)
Subject: Re: Bally's Health Club SUCKS Read this...
Organization: Clemson University
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 18:02:02 GMT

>>You evidently have learned how to victimize yourself.
>I have to agree with Ray.  You did yourself in on this one.

The original poster may not have a legal let to stand on, but it still 
seems to me as if he was slimed over by a slick scumbag. He told the Bally's
guy his situation, and the Bally's guy looked him in the eye and lied, while
thinking to himself ``Now if this sucker just believes me and doesn't read
the reference pointed to by the addendum to the fine print...''.

It almost seems as if we have two choices these days:

  * watch your back all the time, never trust anyone, and hopefully
    never get screwed over.

  * try to give the benefit of the doubt, try to treat and see others as
    you'd want to be treated and seen, and eventually end up fleeced.

Which one of the above situations is the win?

-Mike
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.arts.books
From: chod@hoover.mitre.org (David A. Chodorow)
Subject: Easton Press: A Good Buy?  Alternatives?
Keywords: n
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 16:40:17 GMT

We received a mail solicitation to become subscribers to The Easton Press.
Once a month they ship you a very fancy edition of one of "The 100 Greatest
Books Ever Written", meaning the classics like Moby Dick (the bait),
Ivanhoe, The Carpetbaggers ( 8^) well, it was much sought after when I
was a kid).  The price is about $43/book when you throw in S&H and
tax.  There are the usual terms about returning unwanted books and
cancelling the subscription.

Their selling point is the quality and appearance of the books: leather
bound, acid-neutral paper, illustrations, gold accenting, thread-sewn
bindings, etc.  I was wondering if anyone out there is familiar with
the product and/or company.  Are the books as beautiful and durable as
the advertising makes them out to be?

What's nagging at me is that I'm sure I've seen ads in the past for a
similar product for much less money per book.  I simply can't remember
any specifics.  Does anyone know of any other companies offering a
similar product?  (I hope no lovers of great literature are offended
by my use of the word "product".  The subject of this posting is
strictly limited to the presentation of the words in these books, not
the words themselves.)

Thanks to all who respond.
From: lpj@col.hp.com (Laura Johnson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: The other side of the coin (Re: Revenge on a Telemarketer - the Sequel (Long Post))
Date: 6 Nov 92 16:22:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: col.1992Nov6.162232.27809
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

$stephan@sasb (Stephan Fassmann, Software) writes:
> In article <1992Oct30.152504.22444@col.hp.com> lpj@col.hp.com (Laura Johnson) writes:
> >From: lpj@col.hp.com (Laura Johnson)
> >Subject: Re: Revenge on a Telemarketer - the Sequel (Long Post)
> >Date: Fri, 30 Oct 1992 15:25:04 GMT
> >J.T._August@ultramac.uucp writes:
> >> Once, I received a call from a telemarketer selling aluminum siding.  I told
> >> her "You don't do your homework, do you?"  "What do you mean?" "Your calling a
> >> brick home."  "Oh, well sir, we offer siding geared especially towards brick .
> >> . . . "
> >>  
> >> She just didn't get it. 
> >>  
> >> John August
> >> starsabre@oui
> >> 
> >
> >If they did their homework, they wouldn't be all the time calling renters.
> >-- 
> >Laura Johnson
> >lpj@hpctdls.col.hp.com
> >Opinions expressed are my own, but may be licensed for a nominal fee.
> 
> I just found this group and went through some of the messages about the 
> telemarketers at random and I saw none stating the telemarketers side. Maybe 

> ....

> and they don't even know who you are, or why you hurt them. If you what them 
> stopped sue the companies, hurting someone who is trying to survive is mean, 
> and un-Christian. Maybe this will cause you to think about the other side of 
> the coin before you do something uncharitible.
> 
> _____________________________________________________________________

I don't know why you singled out my posting for this response. I certainly
wasn't advocating hurting telemarketers. Nor do I blame the individual
caller for making nonsensical calls, like trying to sell siding to a renter;
it's the company, or the arm of the company that makes up the list of
phone numbers, that ought to do that homework. (Not only to avoid annoying
me, the renter, but to save their employees the trouble of making useless
calls, and to save themselves the cost of having the employee do so.)

By the way, although I have no interest in "doing something uncharitable" (and
don't know why you thought I would), I also have no interest in behaving in 
a Christian fashion as I am not Christian (and don't know why you thought
I was).
 
-- 
Laura Johnson
lpj@hpctdls.col.hp.com
Opinions expressed are my own, but may be licensed for a nominal fee.
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,rec.collecting
From: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Subject: Re: USPS and stamp collecting - help needed
Reply-To: reb@Ingres.COM (Phydeaux)
Organization: E 4th St Home For The Overeducated Underemployed - Chicago Div.
Distribution: na
Date: 13 Nov 92 18:08:50 GMT

In article <1992Nov12.185107.9367@phx.mcd.mot.com>fredch@phx.mcd.mot.com (Fred Christiansen) writes: 

>However, the few local post offices in Arizona and Oregon that I have 
>tried have all sneered at the idea hand cancellation and refuse to 
>accept my placing any plastic over the stamps.  
>
>Has anyone had better success?  What magic words do I have to say?

Magic words?  Try: "Civil servants."

>Is there a special desk at only major post offices or something?  Thx.

The *only* time they seem anxious to hand-cancel letters at *any* post
office is the afternoon/evening of April 15th.   Every other time they
give  you  a hard time   about it.  Lately  they  try  to  sell you  a
"certificate of mailing" for 50c or so ... this is a little  form that
*you* fill  out and  pay  to have  them  hand-cancel along  with  your
letter.

My advice?  Find the *smallest* post office you can ... like one in
the back of a store or something and ask there.

		Good luck,
				reb
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: jadams@vixen.uucp (22475-adams)
Subject: Re: The Baldridge award (was "AT&T Universal Card (tm? by AT&T)")
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 92 18:17:02 GMT
Summary: Poor Malcom
Keywords: AT&T UNIVERSAL CREDIT CARD VISA


Just for the record, Malcom spelled (he's dead now) his last name: Baldrige...only
1 "d" thank you!
Jack (John) Adams			| Bellcore NVC 2Z-220
(908) 758-5372 {Voice}			| (908) 758-4389 {Facsimile}
jadams@vixen.bellcore.com		| kahuna@attmail.com
	-- Illigitimi non carborundum est -- Kris Kristofferson
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:18922 misc.fitness:8335 misc.misc:3761 rec.misc:279
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.fitness,misc.misc,rec.misc
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted on Home Workout Equipment
Date: 10 Nov 92 17:26:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbnewse.1992Nov10.172656.10667
Organization: AT&T

Jon Noring (noring@netcom.com) wrote:
: 
: My cardiovascular system is fit enough.  I'll compare my cardiovascular
: fitness with most other men my age and younger (age 37, blood pressure 105/65,
: rest pulse 55 and lower, cholesterol 110-120, excellent HDL/LDL ratio,
: optimal body fat, and I don't diet at all, I eat like a horse).  Not only
: will I out eat anybody here and maintain optimal weight, I'll out hike
: anybody here on strenuous vertical Class II and III climbs in the High

: keep in touch 60 years from now - I definitely intend to live to a hundred
: (I've got excellent genes) and want to die at the hands of a very jealous
: husband. :^)
: 

Don't sign your real name, as it could endanger your loved ones, and
stay away from Kryptonite.

GMS
From: briang@bari.Eng.Sun.COM (Brian Gordon)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Prodigy - Don't even think about it!
Date: 5 Nov 1992 17:36:24 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: bari

In article <100606@bu.edu> vida@crsa.bu.edu (Vida Jakabhazy) writes:
>
>In all this discussion no one has mentioned America-on-Line.  I've
>heard it's faster and easier to use than Prodigy or GEnie and costs
>less than Compuserve.  Any comments?

One disadvantage of AOL (which I do use, by the way) is that they have no plan
for unlimited off-hours access for a flat fee.  Your $6.00 a month or whatever
gets you just 60 minutes of off-hour connect time.  Downloading something big,
like an OS or Word Processor update, can easily take more than that at 2400
baud (the higest available, as far as I know).

--
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
| Brian G. Gordon	briang@Sun.COM    		briang@netcom.COM     |
| B.GORDON2 on GENie	70243,3012 on CompuServe	BGordon on AOL	      |
:-:- Hi! I am a .signature virus. Copy me into your .signature to join in! -:-:
From: ts@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (Tim Su)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Is Pants Press any good?
Keywords: Pants Press, Damark
Date: 13 Nov 92 02:24:00 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T


	Are there any happy owners out there for a thing called
	Paints Press on Damark's catalog? The description for
	this item is like: "Place your pants in this press before
	you go to bed ot work. In 30 minutes the wrinkled fabric
	will be back to its original shape."

	Thanks in advance for any information.

	T. Su
From: splee@pd.org (Seng-Poh Lee, Speedy)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Airline Consolidators (WAS: Prodigy...)
Date: 10 Nov 92 20:25:43 GMT
Organization: Public Domain Inc., Atlanta, GA
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Scott Ferguson (srfergu@rufus.erenj.com) wrote:
> 
> How would I go about finding consolidators? Are they in the yellow pages?
> I haven't been able to find anything, where do I look?
> 

You could always try looking at the Travel section of the Sunday Edition
of the New York Times.

--
Seng-Poh Lee    <splee@pd.org>
From: jreiser@scott.skidmore.edu (Jason Reiser... Asleep)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: The unhappy byproduct of gas stations and ATM cards
Date: 6 Nov 92 08:00:41 GMT
Article-I.D.: scott.1992Nov6.080041.3533
Distribution: usa
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY

Since this is a similar problem with gas stations and credit cards,
it's here instead of it's own post...

Anyway, many stations now allow you to use your credit card right at
the pump.  This is convenient, BUT... make sure you grab your receipt
(at least from the Mobil pumps) as it has your credit card number
right on it!

I know that Exxon pumps ask you if you want the receipt to be
printed... that should help.

I guess Mobil will figure this out eventually.  At least three times
over the last year I have gotten 2 receipts out of the pump... mine
and the last guy's... lucky for him I'm relatively honest.

				- Jason
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------
\ Jason A. Reiser  \ Send E-Mail to jreiser@scott.skidmore.edu \
 \ Skidmore College \ Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 \ 518-581-6580 \  
  \ It's a new Ice Age!  Hooray!!  Sled City!  - Calvin & Hobbes \
Newsgroups: misc.consumers,misc.fitness,misc.misc,rec.misc
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Advice Wanted on Home Workout Equipment
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:14:57 GMT

In article <1992Nov10.014830.3391@netcom.com> noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring) writes:
>
>My cardiovascular system is fit enough.  I'll compare my cardiovascular
>fitness with most other men my age and younger (age 37, blood pressure 105/65,
>rest pulse 55 and lower, cholesterol 110-120, excellent HDL/LDL ratio,
>optimal body fat, and I don't diet at all, I eat like a horse).  Not only
>will I out eat anybody here and maintain optimal weight, I'll out hike
>anybody here on strenuous vertical Class II and III climbs in the High
>Sierra.  I do need, however, muscle toning, especially upper-body and that is
[....]
>keep in touch 60 years from now - I definitely intend to live to a hundred
>(I've got excellent genes) and want to die at the hands of a very jealous
>husband. :^)

Really, Jon, you're much too amazing for me to be so presumptuous as to
give advice  :-).

GMS
From: charleen@net.bio.net (Charleen Bunjiovianna)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Doctor ripoff, or just reality?
Date: 13 Nov 92 18:54:15 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: BIOSCI International Newsgroups for Biology

In article <1992Nov13.061347.4826@cbnewsc.cb.att.com> kapa@cbnewsc.cb.att.com (k.a.perkins) writes:
>
>I also got a letter from my employer, who is self insured, by the
>way, telling me that their costs for health care had gone up 14%
>this past year, so mine were going to go up 150%.  Yet I count
>myself fortunate to even have insurance, since 40 million folks
>in this country don't.

Bummer.

Know something?  In this part of the country, at least, some
unspecified number of physicians charge insured patients more than
private-pay patients for the same services.

So you've got your costly health insurance, and your insurance
administrator is paying the doctor more than someone who walks up to
the counter and plunks down cash.

I used to work for a company that was self-insured.  We noted the
insurance patient/private-pay patient cost disparity, and I suggested
that, to keep costs down, we all pay our bills in cash (to get any
private-pay "discount") then turn in the receipts to our administrator
for reimbursement.  Most people thought that was just too much trouble
to go to.  I guess they'd rather pay higher premiums.  Go figure.

Charleen