RC, I did a system restore early on;in fact did it twice with different dates. Message said there were no changes. So I went to Bob's link, found a download box, clicked on it and nothing happened. I also saw this there: Visit the Firefox download page in any browser (e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer). The page will automatically recommend the best version(s) of Firefox for you. I went there, didn't see anything like a recommendation. I did see a download box, clicked on it, but nothing happened. There were illustrations and instructions, but nothing live to click on. So I am back where I started. There has got to be a way to do this. But what, where? Thanks. Sue

Hi Chelone, What's with the listing of your magazines? Was that meant for this thread? Or are you saying that all of those are your cause for belief that "deregulation in banking has encouraged the shocking lending practices that have lead to the present circumstance."? I'm sorry I screwed your name up. I'm usually pretty good about that, and historicially I've been "on the money" with your's, I think. No worries, no offense taken (the mix-up, as I stated, is so extremely common outside of written communications that I'm virtually never offended by it... no even when an offender points out in hindsight that she *MEANT* it to be offensive at the time ;~) I'm either thick-skinned, or thick-skulled (depending who you ask) that way. My own philosophy about investing (WHEN and how) is very different than your's, Dave (sorry again!). I believe in retiring debts efficiently before the term. What do you believe in when the term is too short to efficiently eliminate the leverage, in respect to a person's actual life (not the arbitrarily set term of the loan)? My own portfolio has seen a downturn, but not a terribly precipitous one, frankly. Mostly, I think, because I have paid my major debts in full and now have the option of directing current contributions (that would have be directed to debt/interest payments) to longer term investments. If you look at a comparison of a pre-funded sum growing on a compounding basis (even minus the interest charges considered if the funds were from leverage,) versus a "drip-funded" scheme of the same monthly payment... you'll apparently be quite surprised at how dangerous the "eliminate the leverage, then drip the investment" strategy actually is. I am reasonably certain you will find fault with it all. I'm OK with that. I know that the properties I own are owned "free and clear". I know also that my portfolio is reasonably (within my "risk toleranace") conservative relative to the times frames I have in mind. I'm glad to know you are blissful. ;~) "Broadbrush" is workin' just fine for me. I'll keep that in mind when I see future claims or statements, and pull in the reigns of my accuracy expectations. Here's to your blissful seasons; that you are confronted by no surprises you weren't anticipating, and that you remain safe without having to be aware! Dave Donhoff Leverage Planner

Hallelujah, hallelujah!! It recorded today! TGINMA. (Thank Goodness It's Not Mine Anymore!) I don't know if I'm happy yet; I'm too exhausted to tell. Some of you know how frustrating last few weeks have been as I posted about all the delays over in the buying and selling forum. Things got so twisted and sideways, I wasn't sure if it ever would close. I am definitely NOT happy with the realtor; he kept promising to explain all the delays, but never did. As expected, we bled money on the deal. Not enough to require a transfusion, but enough to make me want to cry. When I recover (soon, I hope), I'll be focused once again on this house, the "one that Topsy built", the too-big house I want so badly to get out of. I'm going to make a huge effort to draw up a plan room by room - and hope we can stick to it. There are soooooo many things that need attention, paralysis by analysis sets in quickly if I'm not careful. I want to start with the kitchen and right now, I can't even see a beginning, much less an end. I think I will move upstairs and use that kitchen so I can take everything out of this one and strip it down to walls. We did things in the reno house that I'd like to do here - and we made mistakes I'd like *not* to do. A huge thank you to all of you who advised, encouraged and offered support as I struggled to hold on to a vestige of sanity. I actually got a t-shirt sometime during this misadventure that reads, "Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints"!

I'm using Mozilla's ThunderBird and like it. (It was written by the same crew who wrote the original Netscape and has features similar to Netscape.) ThunderBird is available as free a download, but you are on your own for installation and setup. However, instructions are avialble. Once the parameters are set, it runs as well as any others and will interface with a spell checker. You can download email from more than one ISP after setting up a profile for each ISP.