I'm not an expert (I don't work in internet security), but for online banking. I think it's more a question of your browser than which version a Win user uses. I could be wrong. You should have a number of defenses working for you: 1) The data communicated between you and your bank is encrypted (on your side) by your browser. Which browser you use seems to matter, they're not all equally secure. Further, the communication follows certain protocols designed to provide a measure of security. It's not absolutely secure (there are still means and avenues of attack), but read on. 2)Your internet connection matters. Best not to do financial transactions on a public computer or an unencrypted public wifi. 3) As always, a current and effective anti-virus program helps prevent intrusions and malware. If all else fails, to my knowledge banks absorb customer losses from fraudulent acts. This is nothing new, people lose checkbooks and some crooks try to fake checks all the time. I'm not saying there are no chances you'd be inconvenienced, but I think anyone's risk of loss is close to nil. I'm an anti-paranoid. There's risk in all daily activities, I refuse to worry or overly concern myself with them. Most risks of using the internet are easily avoided with simple tools and common sense. Beyond that, I never give them a second thought.

Interesting video. I've never seen anything like that. If I had have had to guess, I would have thought it was receiving mail and you were getting bombed. :) But it seems to have happened to others as well: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windowslive/forum/livemail-email/windows-live-mail-continued-issues-duplicate/22d3d165-60e1-4c20-9775-ac934698b30f?msgId=74bb9174-ed33-4fcf-9148-6ea163388d90 and http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-networking/windows-live-mail-hundreds-of-duplicate-messages/d52b5445-4389-421b-a538-11fadfe2f807 As for an easier way to delete all your unread emails at once, from http://msgroups.net/microsoft.public.outlook.general/how-to-delete-all-emails-in/62867: "Press control-a to select all files and then press shift-delete to permanently delete all" sounds like it might work. I could be wrong but I don't think the duplicating emails was caused by a virus, just a glitch of some sort... but like I say, I don't really know. Perhaps someone else will.

I think the realtor I contacted is trying to set it up for a Tuesday look. Interesting comments on the potential layout. The auditor's site makes it sound like 1 floor with an unfinished attic. Sounds like they did something to have 1 bedroom on the main and partly finished out the attic...not sure how you do that in a ranch, they'd have to put in stairs? I hope it doesn't have one of those metal spiral things.... I wouldn't care if the LR were in the back per se. But according to the listing they have added a porch to the back and if that blocks the living room light I'd be unhappy. My perfect house was a 50s 1150 rancher with a LR that faced south with a mature maple in the front yard. Shaded the LR in summer, let in tons of light in the MI winter. Which left the back porch in the north, also shaded by a maple, nice a cool for hot summers. As for the windows...something about 2 separate windows in the same room, especially if it were the kitchen I think might be annoying. Guess I'll have to wait and see. I'm most interested in the back and how the house relates to the property and what the property is like. That and the price. Since it was bought in 2005 for 219 and put on the mkt for 199 then dropped two weeks later to 179, I think that 179 is a teaser. Its reading tea leaves but I figure 199 was probably what was owed to the two lien holders. 179 is probably an ok price, but for me personally its pushing it. Plus I need to have enough money to replace that...portico? is that what its called? :)

I went to "Merlot 2 Masterpiece" here in Houston with a group of girlfriends 6-8 weeks ago! It was quite a bit of fun, and we all purchased groupon's so we went for half price. To be honest, I just threw my painting out because it did not look very good. One of my friends had been 4 other times, and she commented on the lack of quality this time...instructor error, so to speak! Go ahead and try it. It was a very nice way to spend a Friday night. BTW, before we scheduled, we were able to opt what painting we wanted to complete. The whole class paints the same thing, so we picked our painting choice 1st, and then scheduled on a day the studio was painting our choice of picture.