Cablevision had a little surprise for Macintosh users still working on the older Mac Systems below 10.0. During the New Year holiday, Cablevision did some technical work for Optimum online customers using the company for internet and email access. The work was supposed to provide additional security support, we've been told, in the everpresent challenge of staying one step ahead of those who use the internet for diabolical purposes. In the process of doing that, however, Cablevision knocked out access to the email accounts of us older Mac users, and the company has been unable to rectify the problem to date.

In fact, it was more than a week before Cablevision acknowledged that it was their problem. In the meantime, we spent several hundred dollars to bring our IT guy in, believing the problem was generated from our offices.

Finally, Cablevision fessed up and said it was their fault and they are working on it. Since then, we call every week for an update, and every week we're told the same thing: "It's an open issue."

I just love the way they talk. It's an "issue" and it's "open," really means someone screwed up, big time, and everyone can't seem to fix it.

How about it Cablevision, we'd love to hear what is really going on and when we can expect to see the problem fixed. But don't email us with those answers. We can't access our email.