Hi everyone and especially my opponents;
I'm very happy to report that after precisely 3 months of internet and computer
HELL
that began on September 23rd, I am once again back online.
This time I went through the local cable company for internet access, and was able to roughly double my broadband throughput, to about 1gb per sec. (I can increase it later if I want).
After this ordeal, I've learned not to trust my ISP for e-mail, so I'm officially changing my internet address to my g-mail acount. I've already updated the new addy on my ladder profile, so I advise going there and copying it over my old e-mail addy. I will continue to check my old e-mail address maybe once a week or so (at my mom's place), but I'm not going to set up an e-mail client here, so please use my new e-mail address.
I had to buy a (refurbished) computer tower to make the change, and that means I have to install / move / copy / download everything onto the new computer all over. For this reason, my turns will not flow quickly right off the bat - that's a few days away. New OS is windows XP, so the compatility problems (with win98se) of the past are gone.
I wish to offer everyone who put up with my turn delays durning this (painful) time a heartfelt thanks.