HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: niebuhr@bnlux1.bnl.gov (david niebuhr)
Subject: Re: humming noise in furnace pump
Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 20:17:18 GMT

In article <1jr4voINNe53@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> ad376@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Patricia Dedula) writes:
>
>I just had a new furnace installed and whenever the furnace is on 
>I get a loud humming noise from the pump.  Can anyone tell me if 
>this is normal?  Since my furnace is still under warrenty, I would
>like to know.  I have a baseboard hot water heating system.

What you are hearing is the noise from the circulator.  It's normal
if it's not too loud which is subjective.   

I replaced my aging (25+ year oil-fired boiler) three years ago and the
most noise is a small hum while the circulator is running; that is after
the burner stops.

The two main things in a hot water system are the burner and the
circulator (1 per heating zone); either can cause problems but I
think that the hum heard is due more to the newness of the system
than anything else. 

There was a tremendous difference when I went from an old system
to a modern one in terms of noise.

Dave
-- 
Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
Xref: sparky misc.consumers:22658 misc.misc:4484 comp.sys.mac.comm:13559 comp.sys.mac:617 comp.sys.ibm.pc:1116
From: msilverm@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mike Silverman)
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
Date: 26 Jan 93 20:22:07 GMT
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.

From reading comments here, I would think that Prodigy was the Hitler of
on-line services!  Before I subscribed to it, I was full of bad impressions
gleaned from discussions here on the net and other places.

"Prodigy reads your hard drive!"
"Not only do they censor your messages, but they send Brownshirts to your
 house!"
"Prodigy is the Great Satan!"

Anyway, after a month of membership, I have to say a few things:

The message areas on it suck!
(who cares - thats what Internet is for!)

Only 30 mail messages a month
(only for Prodigy communications...everywhere else, use the Net)

No downloadable software
(use sumex-aim, or America Online)

With these negative aspects, why use Prodigy at all?
Mostly for updated news and sports highlights, and political info.
During baseball season, Prodigy updates baseball box scores every five
minutes.  As an avid fan, I may be on the service for an hour a night just
checking scores.  With the lump sum of 15 bucks a month, I think I
am getting a damn good value, especially since there is no
alternative for this kind of information, unless I want to pay 6 dollars an
hour on America Online or read about it in tommorrows paper.

Rather than talking about what Prodigy isn't, remeber what it is.
If the Internet is a Porche,  than Prodigy is a VW bug; inferior to
the Porche in every way, except that the bug get better gas mileage.

As for the shit about Prodigy reading your hard drive, I don't
believe it. For one, this is so illegal that I can't imagine
any reputable company engaging in it. 
As for their censorship, sure it's wrong, but they also have the
right to do it, since they are a prvate company. Anyway, if you
have access to the Net, why read Prodigy's discussion areas at all?

--
msilverm@nyx.cs.du.edu				GO CUBS!!!

"One likes to believe in the freedom of baseball" - Geddy Lee
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin)
Subject: Re: FORD credit card .5% rebate
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 23:09:53 GMT
News-Software: IBM OS/2 PM RN (NR/2) v0.17c by O. Vishnepolsky and R. Rogers
Reply-To: rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin)
Organization: IBM T. J. Watson Research

In <lmb21rINNnko@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> mimit@benji.Eng.Sun.COM (Mimi Tam) writes:
>In article 12382@watson.ibm.com, rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin) writes:
>>
>>Alas, they changed their deal in August, 1992 to this new offer. Old 
>>cardholders still get the "up to 1.5%" even if we do not carry a balance.
>>
>>If you shop at the places their refund checks are good at, check out the GE 
>>Rewards MC.  They've just removed the annual fee.  1-800-GE-REWARD.  
>>-- Bill rubin@watson.ibm.com
>
>I have a FORD MC since '91 and I'm enjoying their cash rebate on
>purchases I made ever since, but I got a letter from FORD yesterday
>saying that they will upgrade my existing FORD MC to a Gold MC, still
>with no annual fee, but the cash rebate feature of my MC will discontinue
>after my next anniversary date.
>
>I called their customer service and asked if I can choose not to accept the
>upgrade and keep the cash rebate feature, cause I'd rather get some money
>back each year than carry a gold card. They said I can deny the upgrade, but
>the cash rebate will still be discontinued no matter what. I'm sure they
>will see a lot less activities on my card after they discontinue the cash
>rebate. It's time to take out my Discover Card again.
>
>Does any FORD card member out there get the same notice of change?

Sorry to say, I received the same letter yesterday.  I got a $380 rebate 
last year.  Fortunately, the rebate will still be offered until you hit your 
anniversary date, which in my case is December, so I still have time to 
collect for the rest of the year.  They did lower the interest rate and 
offer you 6% cash advances thru August, as well, plus they threw in free 
membership in the Ford Auto Club, for whatever that's worth.  

I am waiting for my GE Rewards cards to show up, that will be my #1 card 
once I get it since the effect rebate is 2% (I figure I can use all the $10 
coupons they send me, your mileage may vary).  

Oh by the way, my "increased credit limit" was a whole $100, from $6000 to 
$6100!!!

-- Bill rubin@watson.ibm.com
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Date: 27 Jan 93 02:39:02 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation

In article <1993Jan26.211935.15271@cfa203.harvard.edu> nassio@head-cfa.harvard.edu (George Nassiopoulos) writes:
>
>BTW, how do you know what urine tastes like? :-)
>

   Ask any medical history student why doctors daily offer a prayer
   of thanks to "Saint Fehling" for a clue to the answer.  

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: acheng@ncsa.uiuc.edu (Albert Cheng)
Subject: Re: Insurance question
Originator: acheng@shalom.ncsa.uiuc.edu
Organization: Nat'l Ctr for Supercomp App (NCSA) @ University of Illinois
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 19:50:12 GMT


In article <1993Jan21.025025.3938%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu>, mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu (Mike S.) writes:
>Every life insurance policy I have had required a blood test.
>I also believe the insurance companies check medical databases
>to see what medical treatment you have had recently.

What do you mean?  I thought my medical record is private.  Or
did you mean they check with my doctor(s)?
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: ACCY2918@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Dale M. Velkovitz)
Subject: Re: fight telemarketers
Organization: C.C.S.O.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 03:57:09 GMT

If you have a smaller type handset on your phone let me recommend my approach
to telemarketers.  Ask the telemarketer to hold on for a second, bring your
handset into the bathroom, hold the handset slightly into the toilet bowl
and flush!
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: bbb1s@kelvin.seas.Virginia.EDU (Bibhuti B. Banerjee)
Subject: 6.9% (!) Signet Visa Card
Originator: bbb1s@kelvin.seas.Virginia.EDU
Organization: University of Virginia
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 18:38:40 GMT

I just received a "pre-approved" offer in the mail for this. The
variable rate is prime + 0.9% till 4/1/94, and then prime + 5.9%.
It works out to 6.9% at current rates. The catch is that there is
an annual fee of $18.

I realize that I can save much more if I carry a large enough balance
for a long enough time, but I normally don't do that. Would netters
who have this card tell me whether Signet Bank waives its annual fee
if requested? Any other comments from users of their card are also welcome.
I have to reply by the 27th. of this month if I am to accept the offer.

Thanks for any replies. I shall summarize if there is enough interest.

Bibhuti Banerjee (bbb1s@virginia.edu)
From: sandya@hpfcmdd.fc.hp.com (Sandy A)
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 23:10:19 GMT
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Organization: HP Mechanical Design Division
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

David K. Poulsen (poulsen@sp91.csrd.uiuc.edu) wrote:
: Well, since everyone else has said all the obvious bad things about Pepsi
: Clear, let me add a more interesting (and inflammatory) one:

: I thought it was absolutely lousy, because it tasted exactly like Coke!

: (don flame-retardant suit now)

: Really, the stuff does taste like Coke to me.

: DP

It's called Crystal Pepsi, isn't it?  Anyway, I really like the diet 
version.  I think it tastes more like Classic Coke (you know, the
original coke with sugar) than anything else.

It's even better when you dump in some Rum.  :-)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Distribution: world
From: assist@ultramac.uucp (Harley Nolan)
Organization: Odyssey Ultraware, Inc
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 15:43:35 CDT
Subject: Re: Mail Order Coffee

In addition to Nicholas Coffee Co, another fine source for exquisite coffee is:

Green Mountain Coffee Co.
33 Coffee Lane
Waterbury, VT    05676
1-800-223-6768

and for Tea lovers everywhere, try:

Upton Tea Imports
PO box 159-s
Upton, MA   01568

or call 1-800-234-TEAS for an issue of the Upton Tea Quarterly...

Harley Nolan
assist@oui.com

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: lchoqu@asylum.cs.utah.edu (Lee Choquette)
Subject: Re: Making a purchase with a check
Keywords: check credit cards
Organization: University of Utah Computer Science
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 22:44:51 GMT

Around here, many merchants want a "check guarantee card."  My check guarantee
card has the Visa logo, but says "Checking Card" right on it, so I suppose Visa
can't have any objection to it being used to cover a check.  The merchants here
just write the 16-digit card number and expiration date on the check.  Does
anyone know how this service works, and whether it costs the merchant an extra
fee?  When I lived four months in Illinois, the stores there had never heard of
a bank-issued check guarantee card, but each grocery chain had their own
checking card.  How widespread are "check guarantee cards"?
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
   . . . . Lee Choquette . . . . . . . . . .Eat dessert first. . . . . . . .
  . . . .lchoqu@cs.utah.edu . . . . . . . . Life is so uncertain. . . . . .
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin)
Subject: Re: PEPSI CLEAR & TAB CLEAR
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 15:40:05 GMT
Distribution: na
News-Software: IBM OS/2 PM RN (NR/2) v0.17c by O. Vishnepolsky and R. Rogers
Reply-To: rubin@watson.ibm.com (Bill Rubin)
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In <1993Jan22.044513.29262@infonode.ingr.com> krajnatg@infonode.ingr.com (Tom G. Krajna) writes:
>Okay, it's clear that no one seems to like the new stuff.  But am I missing
>something here about it *tasting* so different?  Didn't they just ditch
>the coloring, leaving the flavor alone?  Can you identify Pepsi Clear in
>a blind taste test vs. Pepsi Unclear?

I tried Pepsi Clear last week in Dallas and I thought it was pretty awful. 
But then yesterday I had some regular Pepsi and it didn't taste a whole
heck of a lot better.. I usually dring Sprite, sometimes Coke but not too
often.

-- Bill rubin@watson.ibm.com
From: camerons@NAD.3Com.COM (Cameron Spitzer)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Pepsi Consumer Line - call up and get a fr
Summary: nothin's free
Keywords: junk mail
Date: 25 Jan 93 17:36:33 GMT
Reply-To: cls@truffula.sj.ca.us

In article 20703@netcom.com, derich@netcom.com (Scott A. Steinbrink) writes:
>
> When I called Pepsi Customer Line...
> They were so
> pleased they're sending me several coupons for a free Crystal Pepsi. :)


They were pleased they get to sell your name, address, and phone number
to a junk mail list broker.  Did you ask for a cut?  Did you ask
what they would do with the data they are collecting?

Cameron

Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: schwartz@nynexst.com (Steven Schwartz)
Subject: Re: Making your own cheques...
Originator: schwartz@baba
Reply-To: schwartz@nynexst.com
Organization: Expert Systems Lab., NYNEX Sci. and Tech., White Plains NY
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 93 17:50:38 GMT


In article <1k8ts2INN5a4@seven-up.East.Sun.COM>, egreen@East.Sun.COM (Ed Green - Pixel Cruncher) writes:
> In article 29628@nynexst.com, schwartz@nynexst.com (Steven Schwartz) writes:
> >
> >EXCEPTION:  One guy posted some time back that his credit union had an
> >account agreement clause that required that he use only checks 
> >ordered from the CU.  A nice moneymaker for them, and
> >legally enforceable, but most banks have no such requirement.
> 
> Perhaps legally enforceable, but not practically.  Checks are paid by a
> clearinghouse, and most CUs probably use the same services for
> microfishing the canceled ones.  They *may* notice and complain or give
> you grief, but I doubt if they could refuse to honor an independantly
> printed check.  If you chose a style essentially the same as one the CU
> offers, they would probably never know the difference.

As I remember, the CU -did- identify this guy's check.
There is one stage in check proc'g that is still, as far as I know,
manual: stuffing the checks in with the monthly statement.
Many back print (sometimes without legend) the number of items
to be added on the monthly statement, presumably as a verification
for the clerk.  The point is that the original poster did get stomped on.

> BTW - the federal requirements are required only for checks that you
> insist conform to the federal time limits for handling and paying.
> When obtaining cash from a teller, most banks and CUs use their own
> printed forms, with no magnetic characters or endorsement areas.
> Similarly, you can legally write a check on any form you like... just
> don't expect to be able to buy groceries with it.

Depends.  If you use a "checking acct withdrawal" form, you may be
correct.  OTOH, if you use a "counter check," i.e. a check that can be
filled in for any account at any bank, the account number (and, if
necessary, the bank's ABA routing number) will be encoded during check
processing.  One difference is that you will receive a counter check
with your other cancelled checks each month.

Then again...

Some years ago, a friend from MIT was having an argument with a cohort
about whether a check can be written on anything.  My friend wrote a
check on a classroom blackboard.  The cohort unbolted the blackboard and
carried it off to the bank.  The teller balked, but the branch manager
did honor the check.  The manager then called my friend and asked him to
come sign for receipt of the "cancelled check" immediately, or the bank
would start levying *storage charges* for the blackboard!  

This is *not* an urban legend.  
Spend some time at MIT, and you'll understand.
-- 
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: herbison@manage.enet.dec.com (B.J.)
Subject: Re: Continental, Compassion Fares, and Price Gouging
Reply-To: herbison@erlang.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Littleton, MA
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 17:51:52 GMT


In article <1993Jan21.184730.28794@pvi.com>, todd@pvi.com (todd) writes:

>She purchased a reduced rate ticket to fly from Denver to Kansas
>City for Christmas to visit her family.  The cost of the ticket
>was $325.  The week before Christmas, her mother died (what timing),
>and so my friend needed to leave a day earlier than originally
>planned in order to get to the funeral.  She called Continental
>to see what they could do about giving her a "Compassion Fare".
>
>Continental then changed her ticket to a day earlier, but charged
>her a $25 change fee and the difference between her original fare
>and the $490 "Compassion Fare".  So, she actually had to pay an
>extra $200.  She didn't think that was exactly compassionate, but 
>wasn't really in the frame of mind to complain or argue, and so 
>she took the new offer and paid the extra money.

There is a missing piece of information--what was the regular price
for the ticket for which the `compassion fare' was $490 (assming a
ticket booked at the time the compassion fare was booked)?

If the price was over $490, then she got a good deal.

Second, what were the exchange conditions on her `reduced rate ticket'?
If the agreement was `changes allowed for $25 plus price difference',
then the airline did the right thing.  If the agreement was `no changes',
then she got a good deal.

>1. Is this kind of "Compassion Fare" normal in the airline industry?
>	Obviously, she feels that Continental made money off her bad 
>	situation (which is true).

Everytime I have investigated compassion fares, the prices have been
lower than non-compassion fares under the same circumstances.

Continental makes money by selling airline tickets.  Should the
airlines refuse to sell tickets to people traveling to funerals
to avoid making money off a bad situation?  Don't complain about discounts. 

>2. Would it do any good to write a letter to someone to complain?
>	The ticket agents she talked to in person and over the phone
>	seemed completely unconcerned with her poor treatment.

I have yet to see evidence of poor treatment.

>3. Who would be the right person to write to in order to complain
>	about this?  She would really love a name and address instead
>	of just sending it blindly to Continental.  
>
>4. Is there a regulation against this kind of "price gouging"?

What price gouging?  If your complaint is that purchasing tickets
in advance is less expensive than purchasing last-minute tickets,
then this has nothing to do with the compassion fare.

						B.J.
From: lim@addvax.llnl.gov (Doug Lim)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: FORD credit card .5% rebate
Date: 27 Jan 93 17:48:00 GMT
Reply-To: DougLim@llnl.gov
Organization: LLNL
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <lmb21rINNnko@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM>, mimit@benji.Eng.Sun.COM writes...
>I have a FORD MC since '91 and I'm enjoying their cash rebate on
>purchases I made ever since, but I got a letter from FORD yesterday
>saying that they will upgrade my existing FORD MC to a Gold MC, still
>with no annual fee, but the cash rebate feature of my MC will discontinue
>after my next anniversary date.
> 
>I called their customer service and asked if I can choose not to accept the
>upgrade and keep the cash rebate feature, cause I'd rather get some money
>back each year than carry a gold card. They said I can deny the upgrade, but
>the cash rebate will still be discontinued no matter what. I'm sure they
>will see a lot less activities on my card after they discontinue the cash
>rebate. It's time to take out my Discover Card again.
> 
>Does any FORD card member out there get the same notice of change?
> 
>************************************************************************
>Mimi Tam				Mimi.Tam@Eng.Sun.COM
>Sun Microsystems Inc., MTV10-129
>Mountain View, CA 94043

Does this mean *NO* cash back at all or the new 0.5% back or 1.5% back if
you carry a balance? I just recently got the Ford VISA (not MC) which has
the above cash back terms and wonder whether or not I will be receiving
a similar type of notice in a year! :-(  If it is *NO* cash back, I wonder
if this is just for their MC Card? I have done a very crude analysis of
some of the credit cards that my parents, brothers, and myself have or have
considered and came up with the following conclusions.

Yearly Spending Level		Best Card For Cash Rebates
---------------------		--------------------------
< $2000				Ford Visa (no annual fee, %0.5 cash back)
> $2000				Citibank Dividend ($20 annual fee, 1.5% cash
				back) - based on Jason Chen's
				(jchen@ctt.bellcore.com) nice Credit Card
				Survey table

Discover is better than Ford Visa at > $3000 but never beats the terms listed
for the Citibank Dividend.

For a Northwest Freq. Flyer credit card based on the Citibank Dividend
and lots and lots of simplifying assumptions...a 48 state ticket costs about
$300 + annual fee - $20 (Citibank annual fee). Hawaii, Europe, or Asia
tickets can be estimated in a similar fashion.

These are based on the assumption that the balance is paid off each month and
does use lots of simplifying assumptions. Anyone on the net have their own
analysis?

| | | |     +----------------------------------------+
| | | |     |      Doug Lim - DougLim@llnl.gov       |
| | | |__   | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| | |___/   |        Computer Scientist - ASD        |
\ \____/    |    (510) 423-6019 FAX: (510)423-2419   |
 \____/     +----------------------------------------+
From: grb@rbyte.proteus.qc.ca (G. Randolph Bickerton)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Word processors
Date: 24 Jan 93 14:52:36 GMT
Organization: Right Byte Industries, Ville St-Laurent Quebec Canada

dwn@bnl.gov (Dave Niebuhr) writes:

> In article 8093@b8.b8.ingr.com, egsalmon@b8.b8.ingr.com (Emmett Salmons) writ
> >Dear Net People,
> >
> >My brother is considering buying a Brother word processor for his daughter t
> >use for school. This is a subject that I have not seen on this net before an
> >I was wondering if anyone had any good/bad experiences with a Brother W/P.
> >I do not have a model number but it is currently on sale at Sears for ~$230.
> 
> I have the Brother WP-2200 and like it a lot.  The only two drawbacks are
> the spreadsheet capabilities that take up too much space on the hard disk
> and the floppy holds 1/10th of what a DOS formatted floppy does.
> 
> Spring for a few extra bucks and get one of the Brother models that format
> the floppy is MS-DOS format.  It'll be worth it later if a MDS-DOS pc comes
> into the picture.
> 
> ---
> Dave Niebuhr      Internet: niebuhr@bnl.gov / Bitnet: niebuhr@bnl
> Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton, NY 11973  (516)-282-3093
> 
> 

Why not get a used XT rather than just a word processor!

G. Randolph Bickerton              GRB@rbyte.proteus.qc.ca
P.O. Box 751                       TEL (514)744-5524
Pte-Claire Dorval, PQ  H9S 2L5     FAX (514)748-8109
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
From: kherron@ms.uky.edu (Kenneth Herron)
Subject: Re: Stores can't "detain" shoplifters
Organization: University Of Kentucky, Dept. of Math Sciences
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 20:32:32 GMT

tommy@boi.hp.com (Tom Peterson) writes:

>an older gentleman (50's maybe) was stopped 
>in the parking lot of our HOMEBASE store by 2 store employees.
>He was accused of shoplifting (and apparently was quilty), it is
>unclear whether he was beaten or ?, but he died of a coronary in
>the HOMEBASE parking lot.

[This is probably totally irrelevant, but...]

I read once--possibly in the book _Murder Ink._--that if simple
exertion sets off a heart attack, then the person most likely
would have had one anyway within the next day or so.  It seems
to me that a situation like this is probably in the same category.
-- 
Kenneth Herron                                            kherron@ms.uky.edu
University of Kentucky                                       +1 606 257 2975
Dept. of Mathematics "Your ball goes over them, it sails off the edge into a
huge cauldren of fire-breathing dragons."  "And they call this a par three?"
Newsgroups: misc.consumers