Don P

For some reason I have started getting four new buttons in all of my windows title bars, next to the "Minimize, Maximize & Close" buttons. These give options to "Roll Window Up, Create Floating Icon, Hide to Tray, and Always on Top."

Handy, but those buttons conflict with tabs I have open. If I click a tab near the right side of the page, one of these buttons gets clicked instead. The program I'm working in disappears to the tray or to a floating icon. I've right-clicked the buttons to check for the program name or options to disable it, but neither of those options appear in the context menu.

This is driving me nuts. This isn't a Firefox add-on because it appears in most other programs too. Any help would be appreciated!

We were just going over the papers before signing our loan agreement for the purchase of a newly built home. The lender is affiliated with the builder, though they're separate companies (Shea Homes and Shea Mortgage). We will receive a $5,000 incentive if we finance through this lender.

One paper they require us to sign says the following:

"I have applied for a mortgage loan with Shea Mortgage. I acknowledge that I have no intention of refinancing or paying off this loan within 180 days of closing."

We were told that this is because the loan will be sold ASAP, and the investors require that the loan will not be paid off within that time, in order to get at least a minimum amount of interest. But here's the question:

Since it says that "I have NO INTENTION" of refinancing or paying it off in that timeframe, and not "I AGREE THAT I WILL NOT..."

Does that mean that it is not binding? I mean, we may have no such intention when we sign the paper, but may change our mind if our circumstances change within that time (for example, if our current house sells). Would they have legal recourse against us if we do pay it off before their 6 month requirement?

Thanks for your advice!

(I realize it is not binding, just a suggestion on your part)

Our builder is offering an absolutely terrible tub for the master bath - 5' long, but the ends slope so much you have to bend your knees to sit in it. We got him to consider using another tub if we can find one that fits the space. He prefers to work with Kohler or Maxx (not Maax) products.

We've looked but can't really tell all that much from pictures, even diagrams on the web. Have you tried or used a tub with plenty of room? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!!

We're having a house built and the builder wants an absurd amount of money to include wood-wrapped windows (among other things). Would it be possible to hire a carpenter to install wooden window wraps after the house is built?

Is it real difficult, and how much should I expect to pay to have it done by a qualified carpenter?

Thanks!

We're buying a new home that is in the construction stage. The builder will offer a 5-hole configuration and install a faucet, soap dispenser, and hot water dispenser, but he wants to charge several times the actual retail price of some of these things. We've used a local granite fabricator before, but they don't want to drill a hole in an existing granite countertop that they didn't install (that's not an option with this builder).

This is a 3 cm granite slab, and I'm pretty handy with tools when working with wood, but have no experience with granite. I've watched some videos on drilling holes in granite, and it doesn't look too difficult or dangerous. Of course I realize a diamond drill and possibly other tools (like a ring to contain the water at the drilling site) is required.

If I were to get a simple faucet, and purchase the right tools, how hard would it be for me to drill my own hole(s) for soap & hot water dispensers? Also, is there a serious danger of a novice damaging the granite by doing so?

Thanks for your help!

We are currently buying a new home. The current rate we're quoted by the builder's preferred lender is 5.25% for a 30 year fixed. The home will probably be completed in July 2011, about 5 months from now, which is when our mortgage would be funded.

The loan officer told us that we could lock in that 5.25% rate for 170 days for a fee of $1500. My guess is that rates will go up by July, but I don't know if it would be better to pay the fee to lock in the rate now, or to pay a slightly higher interest rate later.

Do you have any advice? We're new at this. Thanks!!

We are having a house built, and the standard plan does not include window wraps. We would like to have wood-wrapped windows inside and out, but the builder is asking what I believe to be a very steep price for installing them. Is it possible to have a contractor install these window wraps after the house is built? Or do they need to be installed, and then the windows installed over them?

Also, can you give me an idea of what would be a fair price for the builder to charge? (Assuming nothing gancy, like

We are about to accept an offer on a home we are buying. We currently own a home with a fairly large equity (about $300K). We have an existing Home Equity Line of Credit for $75K on our current home, and excellent credit.

The loan officer we're dealing with suggested we use the $75K HELOC plus $20K in personal funds for a down payment, and take out a 3/1 ARM to close the deal until our current home sells. When it does sell, he says, we can then get a 30 year fixed on the new home,

That doesn't sound right to me. It is cumbersome, and it requires closing costs on TWO loans. He says he'll "work with us" on the closing costs on the 30 year mortgage, but who knows what that means (nothing if not in writing, of course)? And there will be extra costs no matter how he "works with us."

Does anyone have any suggestions about a better way to do this? A bridge loan? A higher HELOC on this property? Any other ideas? I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks!

We are considering purchasing a condo that uses the Unico heating & a/c system rather than a conventional heater, a/c & ducting system. I have no experience with such a sysstem and have some questions & concerns. The only thing I can find online are basically advertisements which are obviously biased, not actual user reviews.

1. Are these systems more cost-efficient than standard systems? Do they cost more, or less, to run?

2. Are they comfortable? I mean, the heating vents are on the ceiling and presumably blow enough air to circulate the heat. So do they actually create a breeze? Ceiling vents for hot air don't make sense to me, but maybe they are good?

I guess I'm just wondering what people think of them who actually have them. Any help would be appreciated!

So every morning at varying times between 4:30 AM and 7 AM, while we're trying to sleep, our baby decides it's time to get up and play. So she jumps on my chest and starts giving kisses and pawing at my face. This morning I woke up at 4 AM with her tongue in my mouth. So how can I explain to her that Mommy and I want to sleep a little longer?

I know, exercise, right? I've tried playing with her in the evenings, letting her run and jump all over me (and her poor big sister), but that hasn't helped. Any other ideas?

(I hope it's obvious that this post is semi-tongue-in-cheek, but my wife asked me to post this question, so here it is. If you have any suggestions, though, they'd be appreciated!)

I'm trying to purchase a new camera with some particular features. The folks at the camera stores are great, but each one can only talk about the camera that his/her store is selling. Can someone who's more knowledgeable about the entire camera field give me some advice?

Features I'm looking for are:

Anti-shake technology - Very Important (unsteady hands)

Good low-light shooting - very important

Facial recognition and tagging - would be nice

Fast shutter speed, minimal lag - would be nice

Sequential shots/bracketing - would be nice

Movie mode w/ sound - important

HD movies w/ sound - would be nice

Reasonably compact & easy to carry and to use without a lot of setup (or at least that option), like a point & shoot, possibly a small DSLR or hybrid

I am SO confused!! Any SUGGESTIONS or other HELP would be greatly appreciated!

If I purchase a 1 TB external hard drive, can I hook it up as a network drive, or do I need to purchase a drive that specifically says it's a network drive?

Any advice on what to buy and how to hook it up will be greatly appreciated!

Brand new Android smartphone user here. Sorry if this is dumb.

I can call any cell or landline phone I'd ever need to for free. Skype to Skype = free doesn't seem to be of any benefit. Am I wrong? Is it so you can make calls when there's no cell phone signal, via VOIP?

What is the advantage of having Skype on my new Android? Thanks!

I run an HP laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit. This computer is supposed to be "fast". But it usually feels like I spend more time waiting for it than I do working. I've run all kinds of "system optimizer" programs, but it's still slow as molasses. Honestly, if I had a nickle for every time I've read "Not Responding" while it catches up, I could buy a several top of the line Macbooks.

So before I throw this thing through a window and go buy a Macbook, I need some advice from Macintosh users. Does your system ever seem to freeze temporarily, or totally crash? If so, how often? I'm sure Mac's have problems too, but I suspect that they are light-years ahead of the PC world.

We made the mistake of keeping our Yorkie puppy in a t-shirt for awhile because it was cold. Her coat got very matted, so matted in fact that the groomer didn't want to comb them out and had to trim her very, very short. She looks like a little rat! LOL

Of course we loved her beautiful coat. Do you know how long it will take to grow it out again? Thanks!

Thank you for your patience in reading all of this long question!

We have a deaf son who's trying to make it in the world on his own. He works for very low wages that often don't pay his monthly expenses. Now he is having an issue with his apartment complex, and we're trying to help him because of his communication problems.

He moved from one apartment into a less expensive one in the same complex (this was 5 months ago). The management sent him a notice saying he owes them $1100 (!) for cleaning and repairs in the first apartment. It has now gone to collections.

We know that tenant notification is required by law within 30 days of vacating, but he says he was never notified.

Management says the notification letter is in his file, returned unopened by the post office. So they knew that he never got it. Since he still lives in the same complex, they could have easily hand-delivered it to him. But they never did.

Has the landlord met their legal obligation to notify the tenant of sacrifice of his cleaning deposit, and other charges for cleaning & repairs? Either way, does he have any legal recourse to stop collection?

We considered offering to pay half of the charges in compromise, but they say that because it's gone to collections they can't pull it back.

If you have any advice, and/or can tell us about a very inexpensive way for him to get legal help in Denver (he makes just a little too much to qualify for legal aid), we'd greatly appreciate it.

We are considering purchasing a duplex in Washington State. It all looks good, both units already rented, great location. Only thing we're unsure of is that there is a large built-in pool in the back yard. I think it is a great feature, very desirable for renters. My wife, though, thinks it would turn renters off because of the potential danger. She also thinks it is a huge liability, both financially and legally (if someone bangs their head diving, or a child falls in and drowns, etc.). And we have no idea how much cost it will add to the maintenance of the property.

If you could give us your thoughts and/or experience with this situation, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

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