I've read this thread with interest.. wrote out several responses.. (all of which I deleted) and then just sat and thought. I appreciate all points of view. I think we benefit from hearing different ideas and points and advice from all walks of life. I have been "put in my place" by Meg1 several times and as a result.. I rarely take part in the forum. I don't have ALS.. but, I have been nursing my Mum and watching her die every day. To say I don't have something worthy to contribute to this forum simply because I do not have ALS.. is wrong... I know sooooooo much about ALS and I have been to every doctors appointment and I have watched every change and every devastating thing about this disease. People are people and some people are empathetic and compassionate, and some people are only too happy to point out our short comings and be negative. We can certainly take on a dose of reality just as much as we can a dose of humanity. My life will never be the same because I have loved someone with ALS, do not forget about the family left to go on without their loved ones. I will never look at life the same way again. This disease effects and affects. My Mum is dying... quickly, and I will never be the same again. Meg1.. although you are very proficient at the technical stuff, and it is appreciated.. perhaps, you can learn how to get your point across without seeming to sound so angry and condescending.