"They have the responsibility to provide consumers step by step instructions on where the water line is, how to shut it off and how to change the water filter from the time the refrigerator is installed. The manual provided is unclear so I called their customer support and still got no clear explanation other than to call (and pay for) a plumber to shut off the water line." Anyone living in a house should know where the water shut offs are ... that's one of the first things you should be finding/shown when you move in or are old enough to be home alone, along with gas shut off (if applicable) and the breaker box ... What do you do in case of a leak? I mean, if that water line broke, you'd need to go turn the water off; you wouldn't be looking for instructions from the refrigerator manufacturer then (that would be a plumber or the fire department) ... same difference without the emergency.

I wasn't going to do anything because I'm supposed to get auto updates. Ususally when I get the Updates are ready message, I check and they are already installed. Well, I just checked and I have one update necessary. I'm doing it now, hoping that nothing is wrong. It's working, but boy is it slow. I do have virus protection. More scary though - I got a message the other day that a virus was innoculated. Here's hoping nothing is wrong. I can't stand these bored techno-geeks!! With all that we could use their talents for, they choose to do this. I'm sure they could get satisfaction and more money working their talents honestly.

zeebo, On re-reading, I think that I overdid the issue of getting back at your stepdad. The point that I meant to make, was that thermostats, etc. don't bite. It was stepdad that took a bite out of your psyche, years ago and the scars remain. It isn't thermostats that bite - it's stepdads (and others). Now - don't let a simple little thing like a mechanism, electronic device like a thermostat continue to get you all bent out of shape - the real biter is long gone. So - bury him, O.K.? Teach yourself, well, re-teach yourself, that thermostats aren't to be avoided/feared/whatever. I'm pleased that you have managed to get him, well, at least half-way buried, as far as a lasting influence in your life is concerned. As for concern with sticking our nose into the lives of others, being kind to your Mom by helping her, if it can be done easily and gently, to do some re-orienting of the way that she does things in her life might be helpful to her. In a psychic way, as well as the practical one of possibly helping her avoid a fall, for her life might well be happier if she can shake off the voice of the ghost of your stepfather - he may be long dead, but she hasn't got him well and truly buried, either, it seems to me. Or why wouldn't she run her life now like she did, in a more "reasonable" fashion, before he appeared on the scene? Help her become "modern" - it's the thing for women to be more independent, right? In conclusion, I hope that you can forgive me for sticking my nose into your life. I hope that you and yours have a great summer. ole joyful

I haven't read all the replies yet but as someone who is just about ready to abandon online personals after 11 years on again off again there are a few things I can think of that jump out at me. Men who say "I'm 50 but look 40 and act 30" - I assume they are going through some sort of crisis and need a woman half their age to feel like they are still attractive. I've even read a profile that told the women it was okay if they were over 50 as long as they looked and acted much younger. Needless to say I don't waste time with these guys. Men who post pictures with other women! If the picture of you is good move it into MS Paint and crop out the other woman because that really turns me off. Men who are looking for women more than about 12 years younger than themselves. Men who refuse to exchange a few emails first and want to go directly to IM or the phone. I don't have time for IM. You get started and before you know it 3 hours have passed. And I'm not giving my number to someone until I've exchanged several emails and determined that I actually want to talk to them. Men who are "currently separated" - that means you're married and have no business being here. I also steer clear of men who look for a replacement woman immediately after divorce. If you don't care enough to take time to get over her and mourn the loss of your marriage or relationship I'm not going to believe you could ever care for me either. Men who tell me their daughters will need to approve of me. I guarantee you we will never meet then because I'm not interested in a man who gives a child that kind of power over his life and expects me to accept it too. If you don't have the backbone to be a parent instead of a buddy you are not for me so let's not waste each others time. Men who are best friends with their ex's or they have female best friends. I've been there done that too many times and when these "just friends" won't even make eye contact with you obviously you are more than "just friends". I even read one profile where the guy admitted that the saddest day of his life was when his female best friend got married. As far as I'm concerned he is just looking for a woman to pass time with until his best friend is available again so maybe he can get together with her. I dated a guy like this for several years and then all of a sudden he and this "just friend" were getting married! Men who have been divorced 3 times or more. So many times that second divorce was from the much younger woman and then they got divorce another time or more? When men get married and divorced repeatedly I just find it hard to believe they really get attached to any of them. I would feel too replaceable so I'll pass. I could go on and on but I'll leave you with just one more. I have been on and off the personals since 1998. I always had tons of responses until I turned 50 so I figured it was my age. I rarely even got a response back from men I contacted first and when I did it was usually thanks but no thanks. So I did a little experiment. I made myself 20 years younger. Everything else in my profile stayed the same including my photos. Guess what? I got tons of responses from men, MOSTLY men over 50! And some of them were the same guys who wouldn't give me the time of day when they thought I was 50 something instead of 30 something. This proves what I've thought for a while - men my age are looking for someone half their age. It is their loss not mine. I do believe God had someone picked out for me but I don't think I'm going to find him online trolling for young women.