Frugal Living: misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 7 topics

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

misc.consumers.frugal-living@googlegroups.com

Today's topics:

* Boost Mobile: May have to try it - 2 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/349d16161b538880?hl=en
* Have you ever ate roadkill? - 17 messages, 5 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8270986512a793d6?hl=en
* Contraceptives - bad for the economy! (Sarcasm) - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/5155d02987e6eee7?hl=en
* Ebay alternative? - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/81ad82de073681df?hl=en
* What to do when laptop keys stop working? - 2 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/d6266bc229b8004b?hl=en
* WSJ: Yes, You Can Live With Less Plastic - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4a1f7f88656f37c1?hl=en
* Computer crash - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8bc95c99ebdef045?hl=en

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Boost Mobile: May have to try it
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/349d16161b538880?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:03 am
From: me@privacy.net

Gordon <gonzo@alltomyself.com> wrote:

>me@privacy.net wrote in news:oq4sn4ttk8ta30n4i0hng0g5vklac3rl8e@4ax.com:
>
>> http://clarkhoward.com/liveweb/shownotes/2009/01/15/14921
>
>Intresting.
>Now, does that run on the old Nextel system, or the Sprint CDMA
>system? If the latter, I may convert my Sprint phone over to
>Boost and save a few bucks a month.
>Note that these plans are good for talkaholics. If you don't
>use the phone too much, there are better pay by the minute
>plans that can save you even more.

Don't know as I'm not a phone
techie...just came across it on Clarks
web page

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:03 am
From: me@privacy.net

Brian Elfert <belfert@visi.com> wrote:

>Boost has a new $50 unlimited plan, but the review I saw said it is awful
>and the reviewer's wife went back to another phone before the 30 day
>review period was up. The main complaint was dropped calls.

have a link to this review?

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Have you ever ate roadkill?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8270986512a793d6?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:10 am
From: KevinS

On Jan 27, 10:27�am, "Virginia Tadrzynski"
<ta...@enter.net> wrote:

> �I have hit two deer, both damn near totalled
> the vehicle and both times the buck walked away,

It's a special treat when the deer comes through the
windshield.

== 2 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:11 am
From: Dave Smith

Virginia Tadrzynski wrote:

>
> Here in PA I believe you have to contact the authorities when you hit a deer
> and kill it. An officer or county game officer comes out, verifies that you
> hit it with a car and weren't poaching and you can claim it for food. I
> have hit two deer, both damn near totalled the vehicle and both times the
> buck walked away,

I know a few people who totalled their cars hitting deer, one of twice.
Another hit on one and its head came right through the windshield
cracking his jaw and breaking a few of his teeth.

They aren't quite as bad as moose. If you hit a moose it could be fatal.
They are tall enough that the front end of the car hits them in the legs
and the body comes through the windshield. Not a pretty sight.

== 3 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:55 am
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 26, 7:19 pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.

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CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

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Please contact:

== 4 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:56 am
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 26, 10:02 pm, Omelet <ompome...@gmail.com> wrote:
> In article
> <365ce340-9bc1-4c93-8674-ccb59ce6f...@g39g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
>
> James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> > damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.
>
> That's not legal in most states tho'.
> --
> Peace! Om
>
> "Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 5 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:57 am
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 26, 10:30 pm, Dan Musicant (m...@privacy.net) wrote:
> On Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:19:57 -0800 (PST), James <j0069b...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> :I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> :damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.
>
> Not to my knowledge.

== 6 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:57 am
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 26, 11:40 pm, "MarieD" <a...@123.com> wrote:
> "Omelet" <ompome...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:ompomelet-269F80.21021126012009@news-wc.giganews.com...
>
> > In article
> > <365ce340-9bc1-4c93-8674-ccb59ce6f...@g39g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
> > James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> >> damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.
>
> > That's not legal in most states tho'.
>
> I wonder why it would be illegal?
>
> We are almost out of deer meat. We got two this season and I love it, I
> never taste any "gamey" taste to it and cook it like any other meat.
> Spaghetti and deerballs is my favorite ;o)
> Marie

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 7 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:57 am
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 12:00 am, KevinS <sheeh...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Jan 26, 8:40 pm, "MarieD" <a...@123.com> wrote:
>
> > I wonder why it would be illegal?
>
> Going back to my prosecutor days of 30 years ago,
> my state at the time (Washington) had a law which
> basically said that if you killed a deer while driving,
> the carcass belonged to the state, and the meat was supposed to be
> used to feed prisoners or others in
> state custody. Converting the carcass to your own
> use was punishable by fines and jail. I had first
> heard that from my grandfather, who was a state
> game officer. I don't know whether that is still the
> law.
>
> My memory of this is faint and I may be forgetting
> some of the details. Nor can I speak for other
> states.

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 8 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:57 am
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 12:03 am, spop...@speedymail.org (Steve Pope) wrote:
> KevinS <sheeh...@aol.com> wrote:
> >Going back to my prosecutor days of 30 years ago,
> >my state at the time (Washington) had a law which
> >basically said that if you killed a deer while driving,
> >the carcass belonged to the state, and the meat was supposed to be
> >used to feed prisoners or others in
> >state custody. Converting the carcass to your own
> >use was punishable by fines and jail.
>
> Sounds like a holdover from English law concerning poachers.
> Obviously, the game belongs to the Crown, and if we made
> an exception for accidental vehicle hits, the poacher types would
> just drive around trying to run down deer.
>
> S.

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 9 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:06 pm
From: Dennis

On Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:11:34 -0800 (PST), KevinS <sheehyke@aol.com>
wrote:

>On Jan 26, 9:03?pm, spop...@speedymail.org (Steve Pope) wrote:
>
>> Sounds like a holdover from English law concerning
>> poachers.
>
>Maybe so, although intentionally driving one's car into
>good sized deers would have to be one of the dumber
>pastimes. I did have occasion to prosecute the oc-
>casional poacher. They tended not to be among the
>brighter or more ambitious people I have ever come
>across.

Of course you only got to prosecute the ones who got caught.

Dennis (evil)
--
"There is a fine line between participation and mockery" - Wally

== 10 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:23 pm
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 12:11 am, KevinS <sheeh...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Jan 26, 9:03 pm, spop...@speedymail.org (Steve Pope) wrote:
>
> > Sounds like a holdover from English law concerning
> > poachers.
>
> Maybe so, although intentionally driving one's car into
> good sized deers would have to be one of the dumber
> pastimes. I did have occasion to prosecute the oc-
> casional poacher. They tended not to be among the
> brighter or more ambitious people I have ever come
> across.

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 11 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:24 pm
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 2:38 am, zxcvbob <zxcv...@charter.net> wrote:
> KevinS wrote:
> > On Jan 26, 8:40 pm, "MarieD" <a...@123.com> wrote:
>
> >> I wonder why it would be illegal?
>
> > Going back to my prosecutor days of 30 years ago,
> > my state at the time (Washington) had a law which
> > basically said that if you killed a deer while driving,
> > the carcass belonged to the state, and the meat was supposed to be
> > used to feed prisoners or others in
> > state custody. Converting the carcass to your own
> > use was punishable by fines and jail. I had first
> > heard that from my grandfather, who was a state
> > game officer. I don't know whether that is still the
> > law.
>
> > My memory of this is faint and I may be forgetting
> > some of the details. Nor can I speak for other
> > states.
>
> Is the state gonna pay for the damage to my car? (actually, in some
> states they used to)
>
> Bob

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 12 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:24 pm
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 7:36 am, "Cornholio" <are...@threatening.me.com> wrote:
> "Omelet" <ompome...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:ompomelet-269F80.21021126012009@news-wc.giganews.com...
>
> > In article
> > <365ce340-9bc1-4c93-8674-ccb59ce6f...@g39g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
> > James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> >> damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.
>
> > That's not legal in most states tho'.
>
> It is in Tn, and yes, I've eaten roadkill deer.
> The shoulder she took the bumper with was almost like hamburger. We tossed
> that. The rest was fine.
>
> TFM®

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 13 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:26 pm
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 9:12 am, clams_casino <PeterGrif...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote:
> MarieD wrote:
> > "Omelet" <ompome...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:ompomelet-269F80.21021126012009@news-wc.giganews.com...
>
> >> In article
> >> <365ce340-9bc1-4c93-8674-ccb59ce6f...@g39g2000pri.googlegroups.com>,
> >> James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>> I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> >>> damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.
>
> >> That's not legal in most states tho'.
>
> > I wonder why it would be illegal?
>
> Oddly, collecting road kill is illegal in most states.

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 14 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:28 pm
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 9:27 am, Dave Smith
<adavid.sm...@DELETETOREPLYsympatico.ca> wrote:
> KevinS wrote:
> > On Jan 26, 8:40 pm, "MarieD" <a...@123.com> wrote:
>
> >> I wonder why it would be illegal?
>
> > Going back to my prosecutor days of 30 years ago,
> > my state at the time (Washington) had a law which
> > basically said that if you killed a deer while driving,
> > the carcass belonged to the state, and the meat was supposed to be
> > used to feed prisoners or others in
> > state custody. Converting the carcass to your own
> > use was punishable by fines and jail. I had first
> > heard that from my grandfather, who was a state
> > game officer. I don't know whether that is still the
> > law.
>
> > My memory of this is faint and I may be forgetting
> > some of the details. Nor can I speak for other
> > states.
>
> I knew a police officer who used to take home fresh deer kills. He was
> patrolling a 20 mile stretch of highway with a good deer population.
> People usually call in a deer collision to get the police report for
> insurance, but even if they didn't, he was patrolling up and down that
> stretch of road often enough to know when he had a fresh one.

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 15 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:28 pm
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 11:33 am, rosie <RMi1013...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Jan 26, 6:19 pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> > damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.
>
> Noty knowlingly, of course I am origionally from rural Indiana, and I
> now live in Texas....
>
> Rosie

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
6 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV,
contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 16 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:28 pm
From: rdfusacasting@gmail.com

On Jan 27, 12:24 pm, blake murphy <blakepmNOTT...@verizon.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:31:38 -0500, Dave Smith wrote:
> > KevinS wrote:
> >> On Jan 26, 9:03 pm, spop...@speedymail.org (Steve Pope) wrote:
>
> >>> Sounds like a holdover from English law concerning
> >>> poachers.
>
> >> Maybe so, although intentionally driving one's car into
> >> good sized deers would have to be one of the dumber
> >> pastimes.
>
> > That is an expensive way to kill a deer. They can do a lot of damage to
> > a car.
>
> > I did have occasion to prosecute the oc-
> >> casional poacher. They tended not to be among the
> >> brighter or more ambitious people I have ever come
> >> across.
>
> > I had a sumer job in an alloy smelting plant while attending university.
> > There was a guy in there who didn't like the student summer workers, and
> > we never thought much of him because he was so vocal and incredibly
> > stupid. He got got poaching deer back in his home province. The natural
> > resouces people used to prop up dead deer in a field near a road, close
> > enough that the headlights would light up their eys. The poachers would
> > stop, get out and take a shot. This guy fell for it and got caught
> > ..... twice.
>
> <snort>
>
> your pal,
> bambi

ABC's PRIMETIME SHOW WIFE SWAP IS LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE ROADKILL
CLEANING FAMILY FOR PRIMETIME!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of
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contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show
Please contact:

== 17 of 17 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 1:01 pm
From: "www.Queensbridge.us"

On Jan 26, 7:19 pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have. After the buck ran into my new compact car and did over $1700
> damage, you bet your deer he ended up in my freezer.

Maybe in a restaurant without being told what it was.

--
Get cell phone service for a little as $5.00 a month. Go to
www.virginmobileusa.com Check out Virgin Mobile phones and plans. Buy
one of their phones and activate it. Enter Kickbacks Code number:
yQqUHOsQ to get 60 minutes of bonus airtime after you add money to
your account

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Contraceptives - bad for the economy! (Sarcasm)
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/5155d02987e6eee7?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:19 am
From: "Rod Speed"

The Real Bev wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> lenona321@yahoo.com wrote:

>>> Don't we have enough children languishing in foster care already?

>> Nope, if we did, we wouldnt see so many buying kids from 3rd world countrys.

> Yes, but those are NEW children and the adopting parents can feel good because they're giving a NEW life to this NEW
> little child from far away. The locals are just partially-broken ghetto kids and probably have diseases, deformities
> and lice.

It happens with the kids from 3rd world countrys too. That 7 up doco series had
one on russians and one of them ended up in the US with the same problems.

>>> Shouldn't we be working on how to keep the country going without a
>>> young "slave" population - maybe through greater personal frugality?

> Apparently they don't make very good slaves...

>> Doesnt work, you end up with no one paying taxes and all the geriatrics starving.

>>> http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/01/23/contraceptives-not-the-kind-of-stimulus-boehner-can-believe-in/

>>> First paragraphs:

>>> Barack Obama's $825 billion plan to boost the recession-bound U.S.
>>> economy has some elements that, well, aren't the sort of stimulus
>>> that House Minority Leader John Boehner says he can believe in.

>>> "I'm concerned about the size of the package, and I'm concerned
>>> about some of the spending that's in there," Boehner complained
>>> Friday after a meeting at White House.

>>> "How can you spend hundreds of millions of dollars on
>>> contraceptives? How does that stimulate the economy?"

>> Someone has to make them, stupid.

> It's mind-boggling that there's an official anti-contraceptive ideology not related to the Catholic church.

Nothing that the god botherers get up to ever boggles my mind.

After all, it was them that burnt each other at the stake very enthusiastically.

In fact it got so bad at one time in germany that the buildings on the downwind side of
the town square ended up with considerable deposits of human fat on them, quite literally.

> Surely preventing the birth of unwanted children is a GOOD thing, no matter whose children they are.

Clearly the silly old farts in Rome feel otherwise.

Its not too surprising that some other god botherers agree with them.

In fact plenty of moslems feel the same way.

> I regard it as an investment, not an expense.

Sure, but you arent a brainless god botherer, just a gorgon with a horned helmet.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Ebay alternative?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/81ad82de073681df?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:22 am
From: Truly Stunned

In article <gl7qud$1ecc$1@news.ett.com.ua>, OhioGuy <none@none.net>
wrote:

> I've been looking for an alternative to Ebay to sell some things on,
> ever since they jacked their fees up about a year ago, and then again 4
> months ago or so.
>
> I looked at a couple of promising websites that had a lot of things
> listed, only to find when I did a search for some popular items that had
> actually sold over the past year, only 3 or 4 came up. (I would have
> expected at least dozens) So while many things are listed, few are selling.
>
> Can anyone recommend a place that folks are actually checking out?

<www.base.google.com>

==============================================================================
TOPIC: What to do when laptop keys stop working?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/d6266bc229b8004b?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:52 am
From: Seerialmom

On Jan 25, 7:07 pm, OhioGuy <n...@none.net> wrote:
> We have a Dell laptop that has several of the keys slowly becoming
> harder and harder to get them to register anything. It is really
> becoming a distraction. Eventually, I feel the keys will stop working
> entirely.
>
> I was wondering if anyone ese had ever dealt with this sort of issue,
> and what options there are to fix the problem? For instance, does
> anyone sell replacement keyboards for them?
>
> I'm hoping that this isn't some sort of issue where I have to decide
> between spending $250 to repair the laptop or buying a new one.
>
> Thanks!

I'd connect an external keyboard before spending big bucks on
repairing. Unfortunately you can't just go to Fry's or Compusa (is
that still open?) to buy replacement keyboard membranes/sensors for
laptops. But you can buy a relatively light weight roll up keyboard
for about $20.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 11:55 am
From: Seerialmom

On Jan 25, 9:48 pm, The Real Bev <bashley...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Rod Speed wrote:
> > Fix them or if that isnt feasible, replace the keyboard.
>
> > OhioGuy wrote:
>
> >> We have a Dell laptop that has several of the keys slowly becoming harder
> >> and harder to get them to register anything. It is really becoming a
> >> distraction. Eventually, I feel the keys will stop working entirely.
>
> > Some you can pop the keycap on and clean whats underneath, some you cant.
>
> My IBM Model M will be 21 in a month. I took the caps off, cleaned them, and
> removed 21 years of cruft from underneath. Yeah, I realize I could have got
> that out by removing the top and vacuuming, but it was kind of satisfying doing
> it by hand. Besides, cablemodem service was down for half the weekend.
>
> Laptop/notebook keyboards are hellspawn, as are touchpads. Fortunately I
> discovered how to disable the touchpad on the Acer.
>
> > Dunno about Dell keyboards specifically. Dell should be able to tell you if
> > you call them.
>
> >> I was wondering if anyone ese had ever dealt with this sort of issue, and
> >> what options there are to fix the problem? For instance, does anyone sell
> >> replacement keyboards for them?
>
> > Yes, Dell does and there are some on ebay too for all the common laptops.
>
> >> I'm hoping that this isn't some sort of issue where I have to decide
> >> between spending $250 to repair the laptop or buying a new one.
>
> I've heard that laptops are the only thing you should ever buy an extended
> warranty on because they ALL destroy some part of themselves that costs more
> than the warranty within the extended warranty period.
>
> > A replacement keyboard shouldnt cost that.
>
> Those flexible roll-up keyboards are intriguing and seem like they'd be really
> easy to stuff into the notebook bag. Anybody used one? I've only seen pictures.
>
> --
> Cheers, Bev
> ===============================================================
> Children, your performance was miserable. Your parents will all
> receive phone calls instructing them to love you less.

IBM had laptops 21 years ago???? Was it about 50 pounds?

==============================================================================
TOPIC: WSJ: Yes, You Can Live With Less Plastic
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/4a1f7f88656f37c1?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:47 pm
From: "h"

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:O%Hfl.16306$c45.8925@nlpi065.nbdc.sbc.com...
> Dave Garland wrote:
>> h wrote:
>>> That said, anyone who doesn't pay off their credit card every month is
>>> really hurting themselves. Except...I did use a card with a "1.99% for
>>> the life of the balance" once when I was expanding my office. I got the
>>> card, wrote myself a check for $25,000, paid the $180 fee and took 2
>>> years to pay it off. That was WAAAY cheaper and easier than taking out a
>>> home equity loan to finish the addition. The trick was to just never use
>>> the card again until the full amount was paid off.
>>
>> The deal I took was 0% for the life of the balance. The gotcha was,
>> you need to make at least one purchase per month with the card, and
>> payments go toward the portion of the balance that's at the lowest
>> interest (0% vs 17% on purchases). I faithfully buy $0.75 of gasoline
>> on that card every month.
>
> Discover had a deal like that a few years ago, which included no-fee
> balance transfers. So I took $30K out of my HELOC then let Discover pay
> off the HELOC, and I put the $30K into 5% CDs. I have to make two $1
> purchases per month at the regular interest rate to keep the 0% on the
> rest. $1 out of the gas pump twice a month takes care of that.
>
> Years ago I had a credit union Visa card that let you do no-fee balance
> transfers and they gave you "points" (for airline tickets) on these
> transfers. That didn't last too long before they realized what people were
> doing.

But, probably 50% or more of the people who use these "teaser rate" checks
carry a balance on the card. They pay off the teaser rate balance fairly
quickly and the card issuer is back to making their 21%, or whatever the
rates are these days.

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Computer crash
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/t/8bc95c99ebdef045?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Tues, Jan 27 2009 12:49 pm
From: westom1@gmail.com

On Jan 26, 10:52 pm, Marsha <m...@xeb.net> wrote:
> Great, another tidbit of info to file away! I vacuum what seems like
> massive amounts of dog hair on a regular basis, and by now there's
> probably a wad inside the tower. Next on the to-do list....

So many posts of "it could be this or could be that or could be".
So what do you do? Wildly replace parts?

Any properly constructed computer must work just fine in a 100
degree F room with dust balls inside. If the computer then works
after removing dust bunnies or after cooling the room, then defective
hardware still exists and will be getting worse. Heat is how to find
failures. Those who never learned hardware want to fix the symptom
(heat) rather than find the failure. Worse, they want to fix things
without first learning what is wrong.

Anyone who posted "it could be this... " and did not list at least
seven items was also starving you of facts. Below is what to do to
find failure.

A computer's foundation is the power supply 'system' - not just a
power supply. That 'system' can be defective even when the system
works just fine. Swapping a power supply and the computer boots? The
'system' could still be defective. The new power supply could still be
defective. Solution means numbers. That means a tool sold where
hammers are sold, for about the same price, and even sold in Kmart and
Wal-mart. Get a 3.5 digit multimeter. In less than two minutes, get
numbers for power supply voltages. Now we know if the power 'system'
is good or bad.

What is your alternative? Keep replacing parts until computer never
fails again. IOW replace almost every part inside the machine. Or
perform simple procedures also summarized in "When your computer dies
without warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007 in the newsgroup
alt.windows-xp at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh
Connector chart to locate each color:
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/power/atxpower.html

In your case, important numbers are from any one of yellow, red,
orange, and purple wires. Voltages must exceed 3.23, 4.87, or 11.7.
Numbers taken only when machine is executing under maximum load. IOW
first play complex graphics (ie a movie), while downloading from the
internet, while playing sound, while reading a CD-Rom, while ... IOW
multitask so that every peripheral is executing and consuming power.
Then get those numbers.

If a power 'system' is 100% defective, any number will be too low.
Of course, this reply comes from one with more knowledge. So post
those numbers to obtain further informed insight. Without numbers,
the better informed cannot post anything except "it could be this or
could be…".

Now move on to other suspects. Windows stores problems in the
system (event) logs, then works around those problems. You are
expected to consult those logs later when ready to address them. What
does the system (event) logs and Device Manager report? Again, don't
even think about fixing anything yet. Step one is always to only get
facts. Fixing comes later.

Responsible computer manufacturers provide comprehensive hardware
diagnostics for free. Execute those diagnostics that do extensive
tests on every part and peripheral (except the power supply system).
Diagnostic may take something less than an hour. Diagnostics are on
hard disk, on a provided CD-Rom, and from the manufacturer's web site.
Diagnostics execute without Windows loaded (because good analysis
separates the problem into parts; then analyzes those parts
separately. Ie test hardware with no Windows. What do diagnostics
report? Then put the computer in a very warm environment (ie a 100
degree F room) and execute again.

CD-Rom previously had a memory test. If comprehensive, that test
took 20 minutes to 3 hours. Otherwise memory is still unknown.
Defective memory often works just fine in a cool environment. It is
detected defective only when diagnostics are performed in a warmer
environment. For example, when memory is heated by a hair dryer on
highest heat settings while diagnostics run. That ideal (warm) memory
temperature is how defective memory is located. However, most
defective memory causes a task crash or a complete computer crash. It
either completely crashed the computer or is reported in memory logs.
Where is that fact?

Notice no wasting time with "it could be this or could be that".
First determine what is good - without doubt - or what is bad.
Answers must be definitive. Later, we analyze what is learned. That
means numbers are necessary. Only then replace a part. Others want
to fix things immediately which explains no useful answers. Step one
- no way around numbers from that multimeter and reports from the
logs.

First establish hardware integrity. Only then move on to other parts
of the problem – software. But again, don't start replacing or
downloading things without facts. Stop wild speculation from 'it could
be this... " reasoning.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

misc.consumers.frugal-living - 25 new messages in 7 topics - digest

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