You know, the "I like Sony products" defense really touches a nerve with me. Many years ago, I worked for a company that caught an employee skimming nearly $10,000. I was in the band of four managers who had to decide what to do. In the conversation, our boss revealed that the guy was having an affair with another employee, and that he knew about the guy's routinely demanding sexual favors from his female contractors. We wanted to fire and prosecute him. The boss vetoed us. The bottom line: "He brings in a lot of profit. We just need to see he doesn't do it again." The stealing, not the porking. The saddest, sickest thing about our culture is that we seem to have no moral or ethical principle that matters more than our own personal convenience. Sony makes good products, so who cares if they rip off their customers? Just don't buy the dangerous products. Right-o. And buy your car from the local child molester, as long as he stays away from your kid. I bought a Sony Digital Recorder about a month before this story broke. I'm going to check my computer to see if the recorder's interface tools messed it up. I can't afford to throw the thing away, but if I had learned about this before buying it, I'd have an Olympus, in spite of the huge difference in quality and features. Sony may make great TVs and stereos, but I'll be buying another brand for quite some time. Folks, learn to pay for your principles. Oh, and have some. M