So, at the crack of dawn today....well, 7:15 - I got a call from Gene. I knew what he was calling about. But by the time I got to the phone, he realized it was too early because I was in a different time zone, so he hung up.
I got hold of him later, after a couple of cups of coffee; and sure enough, he said what I thought he would say:

Joe, you give all those other people advice about computers, so you should certainly be smart enough to change out a power supply and it should only cost you $30 or so. Don't throw away a computer for $30.

Yup, that's what he said. Now, sometimes I think I know better than Gene does, but I always listen to him. By the time I had to leave the house to go to the dentist, I was feeling very ashamed of myself, so I took my computer along.

The first computer shop checked my power supply and verified that it was dead, but they didn't have a replacement power supply with SATA connectors - they could order one for me and it would cost me $75, installed. The second shop was staffed by two burly, dumb-looking guys; and they wanted $69.95 for the power supply, plus $45 installation. The third shop was recommended by the first shop, and the guy at the counter recognized me from church. He wanted $32.95 for a power supply, $65 installed. But I didn't want to look like a dummy in front of a guy from church, so I said I'd install the power supply myself.

So I did, and it took me less than an hour and I got the opportunity to clean all the dust out of my computer, and it works like a champ.

So, I'm proud of myself - all because Gene shamed me with his early-morning phone call.

Ain't Mudcat grand?

Thanks, Gene - and thank to all of you others who gave me advice and encouragement.

-Joe-

P.S. And I got a good report from the wicked, evil, mean-hearted dental hygienist, whose slogan is, "Floss or die!"