I also bought a Hoover Windtunnel self propelled about 8 - 10 years ago. It worked great with an fresh bag in, but seemed to loose suction fast. I thought the machine was pretty good, and it was better than anything I'd owned up to that point. Then my daughter broke the self propelled mechanism, and that made it a drag to use, but I kept on for several more years. I bought something else, but it broke and it was still better to use the hoover than it. I finally broke down and bought a dyson animal. Was I amazed at what it sucked up. I now know that I should have been changing bags on that hoover twice each time I did a whole house vacuum. That is based on the amount of yuck I dump out of the dyson while cleaning. I don't find the weight an issue at all, but not being able to get under things is a drag. I've had the machine for about 7 years now and only cleaned it out good once, and it still sucks very well. And even sucking up things like pennies won't hurt it (no impellor). (BTW if you think the years don't add up it's because for a while I had two houses while we were trying to sell one- DH lived in one and I lived in the other, 400 miles apart). I have a few things that I still smile EVERY TIME I use them, and my dyson is one of them. I have been married over 30 years, and this is the first vacumn I've had that didn't end up being a disappointment after the first year. Every person can end up with different results - andersons loves their hoover compared to a dyson, and I think my hoover was a poor example of a vacuum compared to my dyson.

It won't play for me. I've encountered this problem with a few other things. It comes up a blank/white screen and there is a little square in the corner with sort of scenery in it...just a very small square on a large blank screen...what am I doing wrong?

Hello, it is me again. I started the thread. I'm sorry to have posted and then gone incommunicado, but I had a nasty motherboard problem. Eeeek! But I am now back online. I am very, very grateful to those who stepped in to answer questions. I hope you all don't mind if I do some quick clarifications under headings to save time, rather than respond to each individual. Therapy Dogs (TDs): Delta, TDI and Therapy Dogs Inc. are all great. The 14 point test on Delta's site is a very good example of what a TD must be able to do. If you want to volunteer as a TD team, you might want to get a CGC first. It is a good basis. If chapters of the above organizations are not in your area, please do not give up hope, but do a google search for Therapy Animal Groups in your state. There are smaller organizations, and some hospitals are beginning to start their own groups. I do advise joining a TD organization that offers training, ongoing support and, most importantly, insurance in these litigious days. Please don't try it on your own. We get huge enjoyment from our TD work. We also know we do good. We do both "social visiting" and "Animal Assisted Therapy". The first is just pleasant visiting, the second is working with a medical or educational team to achieve identified goals. So, we do regular volunteer visits at: an elementary school Reading Program, an Assisted Living, an Alzheimers Unit, and a residential facility for the severely Develpomentally Delayed. We also do Hospice on request. One of my dogs is a natural TD, and does most of the harder Animal Assisted Therapy work. The other I never expected to pass the test (!) but she has a huge affinity with seniors, and is amazingly understanding of those with dementia. She has totally exceeded my expectations and is enormously loved. Mental Heath Service Dogs: Autism and severe Anxiety Disorders have been mentioned above. Yes, and yes! Northstar is an exellent example of training service dogs for autistic people. I'd also add ADHD to that list. Sometimes petting a dog helps people to focus on the task at hand. Finally, Service Dog training: I did not mean to imply that there are not many wonderful training facilities for service animals. And the larger organizations provide valuable documentation. I do think that it is important to acknowledge that not all legitimate service animals have certification from *known* organizations. To date, there is no federally recognized training or certification for service animals. Some may disagree, and as I said it leaves things open to abuse, but this is a good thing IMO, for the individual who has a well trained animal bonding to them, and for smaller groups just starting up. Most people whose service animal is self-trained, carry a prescription from an MD for a service animal. That is usually accepted as documentation. In addition, most make sure the animal in question is well trained. Finally, Quirky and plasticgarden, I am very glad that you were joking. I did not find the jokes in particularly good taste, but that is because I work with and volunteer with so many disabled people. Possibly I should lighten up. But I would prefer not to. Quirky, and others considering it, best of luck with TD training. I'm sure you will all love volunteering. All the best.

'm glad I'm not alone here. There are ELEVEN HOURS in a row of Dirty Jobs today. My Cat from Hell is my favorite and I used to really like It's Me or the Dog. She was such a good dog trainer. I always thought they should bring Victoria Stilwell on Bad Dog o coach them how to train their dogs or rename Bad Dog stupid, lazy owners. If you're going to own a dog you have to train it, at least know how to care for it. I used to have Animal Planet on all day on Saturday but not anymore. Time Warner has now added new channels to show shows like Hoarding, I Didn't know I was Pregnant, Sex sent me to the ER, ER in different cities. 500 Pound people. Please send the Nude people to one of the porn channels.