Mature women who insist on speaking in a babyish voice is another one that bugs me (since obviously I'm on a roll with being irked here). I know that we're genetically predisposed to speak at a certain timbre, but I also know women who make no effort to deliver their speech in an adult, womanly voice - insisting on pitching this squeaky little girl's voice from the back of the throat instead. Do they think that makes them "adorable"? Because it doesn't. I call that the Marilyn Monroe Syndrome and many young women have become afflicted with it as well. Don't get me wrong I think a beautiful voice is quite attractive. But when I sixty year old or a sixteen year old person uses that baby girl talk I want to spit up. ....Jane

Hello softball_80, Have you checked compatibility? Just an FYI for you. It is always best to check with the software manufacturer FIRST. They will tell you if they have tested the product and the version, as well as whether or not it will work with Windows 7. Check out the Windows 7 Compatibility site: (There you will find out about hardware and software compatibilty.) http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx There is a pulldown from which you can choose "hardware" and "software". There are also some great articles, instructional videos and such to help with your Windows 7 at our Springboard site: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx In any event a lot of the times, Vista drivers will work in lieu of Windows 7 drivers, however, it's not 100%! As stated previously, it's best to have the Windows 7 certified drivers installed. Microsoft does have an official Windows 7 Support Forum located here http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/w7itpro. It is supported by product specialists as well as engineers and support teams. You may want to check the threads available there for additional assitance and support. Thanks again, John M. Microsoft Windows Client Support

Although I don't know anything about your son's situation except that his language has not developed by that age, I also recommend for your son's hearing to be tested and language development evaluated if not done already. Then you will have a starting point. I am also a teacher of the deaf and I am Deaf. I was very fortunate to have parents who started me in a good program for the deaf right away after finding out about my deafness at the age of 2. They also started learning sign language to communicate with me. All of that helped me greatly with my language development compared to many deaf people who are still struggling with English. Now my son is also deaf, I have already began working on his language development so he will have the same advantage as I had.

axmom, I did bargain on the rental and got what I wanted. How is that a game?? I was prepared to move on if he didn't come down. Its a buyers/renters market. Tons of places on the market and many sitting for over a year. I realized, as I was looking around there was room for a lot of negotiating. You wouldn't believe what landlords were willing to offer to get their places rented. Trust me, I wasn't playing games. I got a good deal. I am ignorant of the Korean culture, as well as many other cultures. Should I well versed in all cultures before selling my house? How is that 'redneck?' They buyers are lovely people, I allowed a long closing because they are renting and their lease ends in April. I wasn't in a rush to move, but did not want to move in Feb. because I feared weather problems. I was right as we got hit with 2 ft. of snow and no power for 2 days. Had I insisted on an earlier closing I would have saved myself a few thousand dollars. We close Monday, Mar. 1 and I went to see my home today and we have tremendous tree damage which I am responsible to clear up. My allowing a 4 month closing will cost us a lot of money and headache. I'm not even sure how this is handled. Buyers called me daily on both cell and home phones asking to do the walk-thru with some friends and construction people. No matter how I explained we were moved out and the roads were closed, I hadn't cleaned after the move and we had no power (electric and water), they kept insisting they see the house. We moved Wed. because movers were afraid of the impending storm. I was not prepared and had to pay extra to have an man help me box. Took all day to move out and in to the new place. It started snowing that night and by morning my neighbor called to say trees were down and the power was off. We are on well/septic and I had left many plants behind in the house. I thought I had 3 days to clean up before the walk-thru. The roads were closed, my husband and I spent hours yesterday trying to get to our house. Our Town declared an emergency and we were almost stranded on the road. We managed to get to the house today to assess the damage. Luckily the trees did not hit the house or pool but we have huge limbs all over the ground and dangling from the trees. During all this, the buyer and his agent continued calling both me and my agent insisting they wanted the walk-through. No matter how I explained I couldn't get to my own house, how there was no water or electric, he didn't care or he wasn't understanding. I didn't want to be rude, but my nerves were frazzled and I just wanted to see my house and whether it was still standing. This is my first time selling a house. We've lived in it for almost 40 years. I wasn't prepared for the stress and amount of work involved. I did pack in advance as much as possible but we were still living in the house. I was trying to sell furniture and other items which took time and we both work full time. Plus, we love our house and enjoyed the time it was off the market. Those four months before closing were like a vacation. Guess we could have timed it better, but we still would have faced the snow storm because we allowed a long closing. So we pay the price. Tomorrow we agreed to meet the buyers, their agent and construction people at 2pm. My house is a mess from the movers and I will have to try to clean it up before they come. They want to inspect it again and worry it was damaged in the storm. I understand their anxiety, but they don't seem to understand mine. I need to hire a tree service to clear the mess but no one is even answering my calls. It will be Spring before the snow melts and work can begin. We were told money will have to be held in escrow to cover any damages. The tree work will cost us a small fortune. My problems could have been avoided if we closed earlier. Azmon, there was no 'double-standard.' I could have refused any of their requests which was my right. Jane