Real problem is Aluminum wires with copper rated fittings and the difference in expansion between dissimilar metals works it loose. Proper Aluminum rated fittings is much better.

Don't forget previously mentioned Softmaker office. 2008 version is free:

Get a kill-a-watt meter or similar. I have one that you can set an overload amount and it will beep an alarm.

GFI outlets check if the current on the neutral is different from the current on the live. Strictly speaking it will function without a ground connection to the appliance, but with an appliance designed to operate around water and potentially exposed chassis components, why take the risk?

PAL is also lower framerate and gives you a seizure looking at a CRT television.

You need a lot of willpower to avoid the candy, chocolate coated coffee beans, etc.

Credit reports will let you ensure the accuracy of the reported data so you don't get broadsided by fraudulent listings. If you're planning a big mortgage or something, sure pay for the score, otherwise for free make sure your file is correct.

In Canada you can request as many free credit reports ("Disclosures") as you want. There's mail in forms on Transunion's or Equifax's website, or you can use the automated system using the numbers on Industry Canada's site:

The really expensive, pompous restaurants also omit the "cents" amounts, or the prices altogether.

Sadly IE is missing in the third party extension department. Particularly in content blocking. Which is strange given that IE has a history of being overwhelmed with third party toolbars.

Is there no free ad-blocks for IE?

I've heard urban legands of people that would take the free CD offer, and towards the end (when it would convert to a pay subscription) call and threaten to cancel, only to be given another free month from retentions. People have done this for years.

Sirius. My car came with a 6 month trial. Towards the end they offered 6 months for $5/mth, so I took it. Towards the end of that they sent the letter for the full subscription ($15/mth or whatever), so I called to cancel citing "price was too high", without a hesitation she offered me 4 months for $20, so I took it.

Wow that's intense. I'd be happy with spending less time on the internet and less TV.

I've seen evil newer HPs that will expire a cartridge even if it's full (either because of time or page count I don't know).

Windows XP used to bug you. Don't know what service pack they removed that with (either SP1 or SP2), and whether there was a change in cache settings I don't know.

I agree with Rob B.

usually some combination of an indexing service or media player service. Flush cashe using sysinternals "sync" command, manually unmount drive from disk management and remove.

My first instinct when something is burning is to not try and take it apart, but rather to extinguish it. My fingers are worth more than a phone.

Please tell me you got photos / videos of it!