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That's what I thought too Carole. And it's good to know that I'm not alone Jeanette. It all started one day...I knew something was amiss when I went to get a cup from my kitchen cupboard and realized that they were all siting beside my computer screen...each lined with vintage coffee stains. And there's more...I found myself only using books to prop up my computer screen, occassionally refering to them as "Bio-Optically-Organized Knowledge" devices (hence, the acronym 'BOOK'). Shortly after that, while searching my computer files for something-or-other, I found loads of sub-sub-sub-directories with titles like "doo.what" and "didnt.dat". With absolutely no recall of ever having created these directories, I began to wonder if I was experiencing cyber-blackouts? So I began to monitor my daily eating habits...I noticed the following: When feeling hungry while working at the screen, I would reflexively type in phrases like 'iamhungryandneedtoeatfoodrightnoworelse @ home.meat' Whenever I was planning my grocery list, I would first do a search at SUPPER.COM . One night, after unsuccessfully searching for 'take-out' URLs, I decided to cook dinner : but took a bit of a break from my culinary concoctions to check my email, only to be quickly recalled to the kitchen by the strong smell of carbon filling the air ... I reacted to the gooey black mess in my hot pots by instinctively reaching for the "refresh" button on my stove top. To my dismay, there wasn't even a "back" button. It was then that I knew my thinking was stinking. Things went from bad to worse, Jeannette and Carole. I found myself referring to viruses as 'electonic microorganisms : I automatically blamed them for the lumps in my lumpy mashed potatoes. After all those hard lumps, I ultimately asked one poignant question. Had I ascribed religious significance to the icons on my computer screen? The answer came with a resounding ERROR message flashing across my mind's eye....This was rock bottom. I needed help (although technically it is called 'support'). That's when I discovered Internetaholics Anonymous one day while surfing aimlessly. It struck me that AI (acronym for 'artificial intelligence') spelled backwards is IA (acronym for 'Internetaholics Anonymous'). At first I tried to find an IA Group on-line. But in the end, bit by byte, I've come to see through the smoke arising from my modem and gently hovering in front of my computer screen... If I don't get conventional-linear-real-time-and-real-space help soon, my retinas will turn into screen savers. So I have made a decision...I am going to t-t-t-t-turn off my computer ...to free up a phone line and dial for help. I hear that Internetaholics Anonymous can offer a great recovery plan for mis-filed data : This is the first step. Now for Step 2. ...'Come to believe that a power greater than our service provider can restore us to sanity'. When in Step 2, take a deep breath and remember this moral from childhood : "The phone company is omnipotent". (I am going to need a sponsor to guide me through my recovery tho ...I hear that the third step has something to do with a fearless SEARCH of personal software.) If you can offer any insights (or websites), I'd appreciate them (and even BOOKmark them). I'll keep you posted..but only in moderation. Joan U. (taking it one window at a time) On November 14, Carole wrote... >Turn on your computer? Carole H. >--- Leo Fuhr wrote: >> joan, txs so much for stepping forth and admitting you >> are an >> internetaholic. now i'll see if I can admit it, >> too.......OK, I admit, my >> name is jeanette and i'm an internetaholic. What's step >> 2? >> >> jeanette fuhr