Frugal Living: 25 new messages in 18 topics

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

25 new messages in 18 topics - digest

misc.consumers.frugal-living
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living?hl=en

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

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TOPIC: dimmer switches: power savers?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/e4c4948008d4c7c6?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 7:20 pm
From: "Bob F"

"Logan Shaw" <lshaw-usenet@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:469c1985$0$4716$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Bob F wrote:
>> "val189" <gwehrenb@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>> news:1184627459.090616.127090@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>>> Or do they merely lessen the light output?
>
>> Using dimmers will result in less light for the power used. A low
>> wattage bulb is more efficient at producing less light.
>
> Hmm, I'd never thought of this before, but I suppose that is
> one advantage of 3-way bulbs: 3 different light levels, each
> with all filaments involved burning at full power and thus
> maximum efficiency.

And they make 3-way compact flourescents also.

Bob

==============================================================================
TOPIC: OT: barrack's girl
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/beb29ce64259c3a1?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 7:57 pm
From: JohnZhang

Obama girl, daaaaamn, that's hot!!!

http://www.thepollspace.com/polls.php?pollid=1832

==============================================================================
TOPIC: TracFone 240 min. for $50
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/8fbe6b5c2a6cd7b9?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 8:18 pm
From: Joe

On Jul 16, 2:38 pm, Brontide <eri...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 16, 11:12 am, A Veteran <geor...@humboldt1.com> wrote:
>
> > at Target. Now would these "expire" if I delayed 6 months in installing
> > in my "tank"?
>
> > --
> > when you believe the only tool you have is a hammer.
> > All problems look like nails.
>
> Page Plus... use any CDMA phone ( Verizon, Sprint, InPlus, ... ) rates
> between 12c-5.7c/minute recarges every 120 days
> T-Mobile to-go... GSM. Rates around 10c/minute and if you go gold...
> all refills are 1 year!
>

We've have several phones on Page Plus for a year. Buying recharge
minutes on ebay or over the phone, with low usage, the monthly cost is
phenomenally low ($10/120 days). No complaints on usage, though you
may have to "double dial" in some locations when roaming.

Some say you can do even better using TMobile prepaid. If the phone
lasts about 3.5 years, the monthly minimum is about the same, but you
have to buy a $100 (gold) card to start.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Why don't the liberal whiners start a health insurance company?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/18cfba458dce8ce2?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 8:30 pm
From: krw

In article <5mSmi.139$fB2.52@newsfe04.lga>, bashley101
+usenet@gmail.com says...
> krw wrote:
>
> > jesmith100@msn.com says...
> >> How about cleaning up some of the fraud in the systems?
> >>
> >> Eg how does a medical service justify this: Draw one sample of blood,
> >> run it once through one machine, which gives 4 separate readings.
> >> Whoopie. Bill for 4 tests!
>
> They used to refuse to put calls through to the patient, but pass on a
> message so they could charge the patient for the return call. I don't think
> they do that any more.

The hospital here has "free" phone and cable TV (for each bed). I
was rather surprised. It would have been fine, except the asshole in
the other bed liked to wake up and watch TV at 3:00AM.

> > Tests aren't free, even if some of the work is done at the same time
> > by the same machine.
> >
> >> Get a social security # and it's the entry to the Golden Goose
> >> Medicare Land. Not too long ago one enterprising medical care
> >> provider billed GG for 280 procedures on a person he'd never met.
> >
> > I've been billed by *many* doctors I've never met. That's the way
> > things work. They don't all come by to shake your hand first.
>
> No, all they have to do is shout from the doorway "Hey, how ya doin"? in
> order to collect their $200 (last time I noticed) for a hospital visit. If
> they actually touched the patient it would be ragarded as an extended ($400)
> visit.
>
They don't even have to do that. One eyeball on an Xray (or, or in
my case, EKG, Echo, MRI, ...) and they've got an easy $500.
...rinse, repeat.

--
Keith

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TOPIC: Woman is content living in 84-sq. ft. tiny dream home.
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/911886124117ed11?hl=en
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== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 8:56 pm
From: "Paul Maffia"

"Paul Thomas, CPA" <paulthomascpapc@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:pkRmi.24975$09.12530@bignews8.bellsouth.net...
>
> <editor@netpath.net> wrote
>> How much square footage do college students choose to pay tens of
>> thousands of dollars yearly for to live in dorms and go to college?
>
>
>> That's way large - over 20'x20'. That's far more than one student
>> at an expensive college spends a fortune for to choose to live in if
>> in a dorm.
>
>
>
>
> A point to be made, most college students have their expenses paid by mom
> &/or dad.
>
> You'd be surprised to find, I believe, that most college dorm rooms have
> more square footage than you expect.
>
> Even sailors on a sub have more total living space (although shared) than
> 84 sf.

Paul, that is true on modern Tridents. But in the old pig boats of WWII,
each sailor had a lot less than that. Even the Capt, made do with less.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 11:28 pm
From: miles

Curly Surmudgeon wrote:

> I have no mortgage, enough land to provide firewood, a good well and soon
> will be off grid. Best of all Bush doesn't rule here.

You'll join the ranks with Bush then. His house has been off grid for
many years.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Onesuite phone cards and their VoIP services
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/ed3fa1b085650717?hl=en
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== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 9:03 pm
From: stephencole7@gmail.com

I'm a beta tester too of Onesuite SuiteAdvantage before they launched
it last month and I could say most of the time I am satisfied with it.
At the beginning their were lots of bugs and hiccups but eventually
they were able to fixed it and now I got around 95 percent uptime,
meaning very few connection problems. The $2.95 monthly charges for
SuiteAdvantage is very reasonable, unlimited free incoming calls and
pay as you go outgoing calls thats even cheaper than Skype.

I give Onesuite a commendation on this one.

HTH

Stephen

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 9:16 pm
From: stephencole7@gmail.com

I'm a Onesuite SuiteAdvantage beta tester before they launched their
service last month and I could say I am fairly satisfied while doing
the testing. I reported a few bugs and eventually the connection and
its service improved. Now I'm subscriber to SuiteAdvantage for $2.95
monthly fee which gives me unlimited incoming calls and I only pay for
the outgoing calls as I call and the rates are very good, even cheaper
than Skype.

Hope this helps.

Stephen

==============================================================================
TOPIC: MENS, WOMENS, KIDS BELOW WHOLESALE CLOTHING FROM BLOOMINGDALE'S,
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/2e330b7c58a6b1dd?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 9:38 pm
From: BestBargainsEver4@gmail.com

MENS, WOMENS, KIDS BELOW WHOLESALE CLOTHING FROM BLOOMINGDALE'S,
MACY'S KOHL'S

We specialize in Off-Price name brand clothing from major Department
stores at below Wholesale prices. Choose from a wide selection of
men's clothing, women's clothing, children's clothing, mixed clothing,
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Mens Brands Available: Adidas, Axcess, Arrow, Alfani, Bachrach, Blue
Ink, Brandini, Calvin Klein, Champion, Chaps by Ralph Lauren, Charter
Club, Champion, Columbia, Croft & Barrow, Claiborne, Colebrook,
Converse, Crossing, Dickies, DKNY, Dockers, East Island, Ecko UNLTD.,
Emanuel Ungaro, Extreme Gear, Geoffrey Beene, Guess, Haggar Clothing,
Izod, Jantzer, John Ashford, Jones NY, Joseph & Lyman, Kenneth Cole,
Marsh Landing, Metropolitan View, Nike, Nautica, Oscar De La Renta,
Polo, Pendleton, Perry Ellis, Polo Sport, Russell Athletic, Reunion,
Reebok, Ralph Lauen, Speedo, Savane, Slates, SQ Wear, Tek Gear, Tommy
Bahama, Tommy Hilfiger, Unionbay, Van Heusen, Wear First,
Weatherproof, Wishpering Smith, Winners, and much more...

Womens Brands Available: A.B.S, Actionwear, Adrianne Vittadini,
Alfani, Alfred Dunner, Anne Klein, August Silk, BCBG, Bill Blass,
Bisou-Bisou, Bloomingdale's Now, Bloomindale's Yes, Briggs, Calvin
Klein, Carole Anderson, Chaiken, Charter Club, City DKNY, Clio,
Company by Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman, David Dart, Democracy, Diane von
Furstenberg, DKNY, Due-Per-Due, Eileen Fisher, Ellen Tracy, Emanuel,
Finity Natural, Finity Studio, French Connection, Gianni, Hot Cotton,
I.N.C., Jeanne Pierre, Jennifer Moore, Joan Vass, Jones New York,
Joseph A., Karen Kane, Kasper, Katayone Adeli, Kenneth Cole, Koret,
Laundry, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Le Suit, M.A.G., Marc Jacobs, Max
Studio, Michael Kors, Michael Stars, Nautica, Nicole Miller, Nina
Leonard, Nine West, Norton, Notations, Parallel, Paul & Joe, Pierre
Cardin, Plenty, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Black Label, Rebecca
Taylor, Rena Rowan, Sag Harbor, Sigrid Olsen, Studio Sport, Style &
Co, Tahari, Tamotsu, Thalian, Theory, Tocca, Tommy Hilfiger, Uniform
and much more...

==============================================================================
TOPIC: a point about China's problems
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/c328870180227d9a?hl=en
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== 1 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 9:43 pm
From: PaPaPeng

On Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:57:23 -0700, "D." <djensen36@cox.net> wrote:

>I would suggest anyone interested in this topic read the personal
>views of this food reporter, who loves China, the Chinese people, and
>Chinese food. Perhaps the problems are more widespread that PaPaPeng
>would lead us to believe,
>
>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6897844.stm
>
>D.

Must be a slow summer. There's a lot of self induced hysteria over
Made in China product safety in the States. It hardly comes up as a
news item here in the Great White North. Probably there is a pinko
commie conspiracy to poison Americans or at least drive them up the
wall.

I live in Canada and hardly ever use China made food products or
personal hygiene products. Shopping and cooking the regular grocery
store stuff is so much more convenient. If I want authentic Chinese
cusine I go to a Chinese restaurant. You don't want to make that from
scratch. Its too ridiculously difficult to get it right. I dine out
there maybe once to four times a fortnight. They'd have a hard time
poisoning me if they tried.

I am frugal but not that hard-up as to shop at the Dollar Store for
personal hygiene products. The savings if any are not enough to make
a difference. Shopping for me is a very quick and predictable affair
and I have stuck to the same core products (non Chinese) for several
decades now. Old habits and old tastes die hard.

I love all the other Dollar Store knickknacks though. They're cheap
enough to use and to experiment with anything new. If its crap just
toss it. It is never worth the expense in time and a trip for a
refund. I enjoy expermenting with new stuff until I find something
that works for me and may stick to it. There isn't very much that is
new that I need to changes my preferences for. This is no brainer
ordinary. common sense. I presume all of you consider yourselves in
this category.

If I as a honest to goodness sinophile Chinaman have so little
interaction with Made in China products the chances are your
encounters with Made in China products with safety concerns is
practically nil. To save a lot of argument why not just make it
absolutely nil. Your lives will be so much more worry free.

With regard to that BBC story its an insipid story to cash in on the
current hysteria. No one is twisting anybody's arm to eat in Chinese
food establishments. If anyone believes it has hygiene problems just
walk away. Even a lame brain knows enough to do that for any
establishment whatever its origin. But there is a point I am in
total agreement with. I am against the use of exotic animals for
luxury dining. There is absolutely no need to use non farm produced
animals for food.

== 2 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 2:45 am
From: Jon v Leipzig

D. wrote in part:

> We are still at the tip of the iceberg as far as
> new revelations go about Chinese tainted products and quality
> problems.

For some reasons, the serious problems elsewhere never make it to the
mainstream "news" in the US. In Europe (don't recall exactly which
countries) they found counterfeit birth control pills and fake blood
protein from China. Think that incident in Panama with the fake
glycerine mixed into cold meds happened last year. Just recently heard
mention of this. Supposedly about 50 deaths were attributed to this,
just in Panama.

Y'ad think maybe the importer or cold med mfgr would test this stuff
before buying 50-gallon drums of it. ??

Also, the incidents occurring within China rarely make it to the Western
media, such as the fake powdered milk disaster. This product was also
exported to India. so who knows how many babies died in both countries.

>> when you go out for a burger, you're not getting any cardboard in your meat.

Imo, cardboard might be a good source of non-nutritive fiber, probably
less contaminated than the meat.

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 2:53 am
From: Jon v Leipzig

max wrote in part:

> The Chinese should improve their product safety and quality, and we will be
> fools if we think that won't happen, and bigger fools if we don't forsee the
> long range consequences to our balance of trade.
>

I wish they'd hurry. I have an ever-expanding list of cheap, defective
crap from Slavemart. The novelty of having a Walmart fairly close to
town is wearing off quickly. Maybe can't blame the Chinese, it's
Walmart that demands cheap, Grade C junque.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Breast-Feeding: Private Act or Public Right?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/d9ae679497789a49?hl=en
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== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 9:46 pm
From: "Wilson"

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=3378982&page=1

Breast-Feeding: Private Act or Public Right?

It is an act millions of new moms do everyday. But when it comes to
breast-feeding, some argue there is a time and a place for it.

The topic is a provocative one for parents and even those without children.
I think it's perfectly natural and decent," one woman said.

Another man agreed.

"It doesn't bother me," he said. "It's none of my business, to tell you the
truth."

But not everyone was on board for breast-feeding.

"It's something that should be kept behind closed doors," one man said.

Another woman said she found it disgusting and immoral to breast-feed in
public.

"We have a lot of ambivalent feelings about breasts being used to feed
because we see them as sexual objects," said ABC News parenting contributor
Ann Pleshette Murphy.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 11:28 pm
From: "Rod Speed"

Wilson <wilson@universal.com> wrote

> http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=3378982&page=1

> Breast-Feeding: Private Act or Public Right?

> It is an act millions of new moms do everyday.

So is fucking and picking your nose and taking a crap.

> But when it comes to breast-feeding, some argue there is a time and a place for it.

Everyone does, actually.

There's no one actually stupid enough to claim that an
airline pilot should be doing that when landing a plane etc.

> The topic is a provocative one for parents and even those without
> children. I think it's perfectly natural and decent," one woman said.

> Another man agreed.

> "It doesn't bother me," he said. "It's none of my business, to tell you the truth."

> But not everyone was on board for breast-feeding.

> "It's something that should be kept behind closed doors," one man said.

> Another woman said she found it disgusting and immoral to breast-feed in public.

> "We have a lot of ambivalent feelings about breasts being used to feed because we see them as
> sexual objects," said ABC News parenting contributor Ann Pleshette Murphy.

Have fun explaining why almost everyone feels that there is a time
and place for picking your nose, taking a crap, farting, etc etc etc.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: aqp Dale Warfel: Cat Killer, 3 time Fired Engineer, and Failed Real
Estate Agent now spams Usenet, what next!? ueb
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/50fc1c1fc3965289?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 9:45 pm
From: Anonymous Sender

c h oi2q ufi2 uifh oiwhufic9ie uq ewc 21u9eh 98i2q98fivj slxh
u9ifjd9ifjcfuihqew8oidcnjhjqu9ivhisoxhjc 983uywirjc qoiashd 98 3qwosfl

*** Failed Real Estate Agent who made only 1 sale last year is about
to host a Million-"air" seminar, how laughable. This guy is broke
and about penniless, and he is about to try to tell you how to "make
a million." If he knew how, he would have already done it; just
another of his scams to try to get your money out of your pocket and
into his. ***

DO NOT USE DALE WARFEL OR KELLER WILLIAMS AS YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT!:

ADDENDUM TO THESE INFORMATIVE POSTINGS ABOUT CROOKED CAT KILLING
REALTORS: DALE WARFEL AND MIMI WARFEL

One will see in Google searches and postings elsewhere, regarding
DALE WARFEL and MIMI WARFEL, matter with the following and other web
addresses: "prweb.com," "openpr.com," "blogspot.com," "prleap.com,"
"clickpress.com," "express-press-release.com," "pr.com," "free-news-
release.com," "free-press-prelease.com," etc.: all of these web
addresses represent free self-posted promotional material. In other
words, when these web addresses are seen with respect to either of
the two odious people mentioned above, they are nothing more that
self-posted free advertising by them.
On investigation of his company, the very crooked KELLER WILLIAMS
ASSOCIATES, it has been discovered that together, DALE WARFEL and
MIMI WARFEL made only one sale for the entire year of 2005 and have
made no sales thus far this year. Clearly, the word is getting out
about these two miscreants; do not patronize them and do not
patronize their company. If you are doing business with them now,
cancel it and find yourself another agent who is honest and does not
kill and torture helpless animals for his and her selfish and
fiendish pleasure.
DALE WARFEL and MIMI WARFEL are bad people, avoid them and tell your
friends to avoid them.

It has been discovered that Dale Warfel, aka Dale Allen Warfel, has
a criminal history regarding firearms violations in Santa Clara
County, California and that he has misdemeanor violations for cruelty
to animals and for the intentional killing of deer and other
wildlife; it is indicated that he has spent time in jail for the
killing of wildlife.

A local investigator has reported, upon the questioning of his
neighbors in the neighborhood where he was reared as a child, that as
a child Mr. Warfel would routinely shoot and kill cats in his yard
with his 12-gage shotgun, and that he delighted in doing so.

Dale Warfel is employed on a part time basis by KELLER WILLIAMS
REALTY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU BOYCOTT THIS COMPANY AND THAT YOU
DO NOT PATRONIZE THEM WHILE HE IS IN THEIR EMPLOY.

CONTACT AND INFORMATION FOR DALE WARFEL:
Home Address: 311 Bodega Way, San Jose, California 95119.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 53391, San Jose, California 95123
Currently works out of the Great Oaks Keller Williams Branch near
his home.

Home Phone: (408) 629-0290.
Cell Phone: (408) 624-6202.
Email Addresses:
dale@dalewarfel.com
dwafel@hotmail.com
dwarfel@kwsv.com
dwarfel@quixnet.net

Social Security Number: 572-45-0086
DOB: 11-9-61

John Stoddard Botanini, Private Investigator
Torino, Italy

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9832y 9ezofdv 98ewjs 9idvch 9iev98uq098wrt 98whdcuh3 98wry
t982uwufidv9iwqadsu98fy3298wjds 98f

==============================================================================
TOPIC: FREE ONLINE DATING AND Hooking UP NOW!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/6c3ad6c96fa2fbb0?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 10:12 pm
From: bort

FREE ONLINE DATING AND Hooking UP NOW!

GOTO: www.Shop4Love.com

Great place to find someone or post a FREE ad! It worked for me....

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Danielle Lloyd Shows A Little Skin http://www.teenwag.com/go/8133
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/010ab241d602f12d?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 10:36 pm
From: golden gate

Danielle Lloyd Shows A Little Skin
http://www.teenwag.com/go/8133

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Confused About Mobile Phone Plans
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/77c9e041d54a37c2?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Jul 16 2007 11:07 pm
From: Five By Five <5x5@5x5.com>

I am trying to find the best mobile (cellular) phone or wireless solution.

My blood relatives are within a 200 mile (360 km) radius, and I live less
than 2 miles from my job site.

My wife and daughter however are overseas, about 11,000 miles (17,000 km)
away. I want to be able to dial from my mobile to either a mobile or
landline to the target country.

What bothers me is the widely varying per-minute rates on calls to the
country from the United States (note: I don't want international
roaming...I don't care if my phone works when I travel to that
country...and it probably won't anyway, even with the promise of carriers)

Consider:

Recommended to me was a carrier called Metro PCS, which wants $0.05/min
from my mobile to any landline in the target country, and $0.24/min mobile-
to-mobile. I don't know what individual plan I want.

T-Mobile, whose Get More 1000 Plus Promotional seems a fit for me, wants
$0.69 / minute to the target country.

Verizon wants $1.49/min under their "Standard International Dialing" but
$0.35/min if one pays $4 fixed a month under the "International LD Value
Plan."

I talked to a girl at customer service from Sprint-Nextel whose English
could have used a lot of improvement and who sounded like she was talking
from a can strung to a wire (can it be heard in New Dehli?), and she told
me at first that the rate was 2.49 / minute WITH a per month flat $4
international calling option, and $4.19/minute WITHOUT the plan. I could
hardly believe what I heard, then went to the website and found out she did
not know what she was talking about: there is a $4 fixed month to join an
international special plan, which costs $0.34/min with the plan (add
$0.12/min if made to a mobile) and $1.99/min without the plan ("standard").

I have not yet checked AT&T/Cingular yet.

The MetroPCS rates look quite attractive to me.

But as with anything: what's the catch?

I know that MetroPCS is some kind of pre-pay rather than post-pay system---
still don't know how it works.

I am guessing that MetroPCS has lower rates, and a no-contract system
because of what? Poor coverage? Poor voice quality because they use the
Internet (packet-switched networks) instead of dedicated circuits (PSTN)?

Someone please tell me why wireless companies vary so much in terms of
plans and prices and quality.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 4:19 am
From: "Don K"

"Five By Five" <5x5@5x5.com> wrote in message
news:Xns996FEB50DB30F5x55x5@207.115.33.102...

> Someone please tell me why wireless companies vary so much in terms of
> plans and prices and quality.

Deliberate obfuscation.

When AT&T had a land-line monopoly, they would never give you their
various phone plans and rates written down on paper. They would rattle
them off over the phone, but they would never write them down for you.

Now with computer billing, phone companies can easily itemize charges that
vary by when, who, where, and how, knowing that most consumers won't
be able to decipher the total pricing structure to do meaningful comparisons.
They just quote the most attractive price per minute number, without working
thru the details of how different rates kick in to vary the total cost.

But that's what you have to do. Make a spreadsheet of how you are going
to use your phone. Vary the number of minutes per month from 1 to N
for each category of usage (local, mobile-to-mobile, international, etc).

Then calculate and plot the total cost vs. minutes for each plan and choose
the one that will best fit your usage.

You have to do this for yourself, because all the plans kick in different rates at
different points.

Don

==============================================================================
TOPIC: No more car rental costs!
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/bec8c0f7242bac80?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 12:56 am
From: Arsenal

A new website has been launched to offer a credible alternative to
renting cars for holiday or business purposes. The site at http://www.pairngo.com
is a community website dedicated to connecting members from around the
world who are prepared to swap (pair) their cars for leisure or
business trips.

Insurance is not as big a problem as it might first appear as many
companies will add an additional driver to a policy at no extra cost.
Where this cannot be done there are a number of companies offering
very competitive short-term insurance who will insure for swapping
purposes. The cost of the additional insurance is generally a
fraction of the car rental costs. Members only agree to final pairing
when insurance details have been agreed and exchanged via letter, fax
or scanned and attached to an email.

Pairngo.com offers a unique service to community members who will save
themselves a lot of money each year by not having to pay for car
rental.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 3:51 am
From: clams casino

Arsenal wrote:

>A new website has been launched
>

and just how many on this newsgroup will be renting cars from ireland?

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TOPIC: pLEASE READ THIS CALL
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/88a4cdd029da83e2?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 2:06 am
From: TALLMAN

:: Please read this call ::

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:: Please read this call ::

==============================================================================
TOPIC: sweat as a frugal substitute for shaving lather
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/2c6cb177ce66d6b3?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 2:58 am
From: Jon v Leipzig

Auntielle wrote:
> On Jul 13, 2:56 pm, "Don K" <dk@dont_bother_me.com> wrote:
>> "Bob F" <bobnos...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:6fmdnVp6x_UkNArbnZ2dnUVZ_v6tnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>> "Don K" <dk@dont_bother_me.com> wrote in message
>>> news:0fCdnRM3mo0xewvbnZ2dnUVZ_u2mnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>>> It works! Hot slimy sweat is slippery enough to lubricate the skin and soften
>>>> the beard just about as well as shaving cream!
>>> Any bar soap works fine.
>> Maybe, but you have to go out and buy soap. Sweat is free.
>>
>> Don
>
> Sweat may be free, but is also full of toxins. When you shave,
> depending on the condition of the blade, you sometimes make
> microscopic cuts in the skin. If your skin is sweaty, you are
> introducing those toxins right into those microscopic cuts.
> A swipe or two of bar soap does cost a few cents, but there is
> something to be said for personal hygiene.

Good point, thanx. I was about to suggest (to bypass working up a
sweat) using warm freshly-brewed urine.....

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Where to buy cables
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/2c33d0f4b582a49f?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 3:07 am
From: Jon v Leipzig

kramer31 wrote:
> Thanks for the ideas, everyone. We live in Portland, OR.
>
> I did some poking around here and found this cool store:
>
> http://www.freegeek.org/
>
> It looks like a Goodwill for computer parts!
>

Try the Bizzness phone book...under Cable. I found a cable outlet I
didn't know existed.

Was going to mention Big Lots, but now I'd say NO. Got sticker shock at
Best Buy for a 6-foot USB ext cable. $30 price tag, but it had
gold-plated ends (Wow!). Found a travel kit at Big Lots with a 3 and
6ft usb cables, for $7. Two weeks later, the 6-footer is now
unrecognized, possibly defective, my puter tells me.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: How can I safely buy from a private party online???
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/3111f57b5bc48c8e?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jul 17 2007 3:23 am
From: Jon v Leipzig

sandy wrote:
> I posted a "Want to Buy" ad on our local Craigslist and got an Email
> from someone in another state who had what I was looking for. It was
> a little older than what I might want but the price was reasonable and
> I'd like to buy it. (He's agreeable to sending it). Is there anyway
> to make sure this isn't a scam and to transfer money safely??? He
> sounds OK and has sent me pictures of the item. Price is just over
> $300.
>
> Any suggestions???

Oh, please.....he "sounded ok"........what's he gonna say..."I just got
out of prison, I need some dope money.."???

The pic doesn't prove it's in working order.....oh, I know....he claimed
it was lightly used.

I almost got fooled on eBay some yrs ago. Seller had pix of genuine Sony
Trinitron monitors. I just bought a pc from a former Dell certified
tech in Texas. Asked him to look at the monitors. He spotted the
trickery immediately....they were cheap Phillips, not Sony.

Don't do it. Wait for one close to your town on Craigslist.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

25 new messages in 18 topics - digest

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