ita, I think there are ones that minimize that risk but they are hellishly expensive.

And I plan on cleaning mine every other week or so. But frankly, since the windstorms, it's been so dry that it's been almost intolerable for me Hence Wilbur the world's cutest humidifier. He was cheap enough.

How are we to be expected to keep up our quota of mocking Eastern Canada at this rate??

Oh, I'm probably just jinxing us so that we have snow well into April.

I looking at the BB&B page of humidifiers. As charmed as I am by Hello Kitty, for some reason I don't want whimsy out of this. Nothing mentions mold or mildew until $69.99, with the Holmes® Cool Mist Humidifier With Permanent Filter.

If you change out the filters regularly (if it is the kind with a filter or a wick) and clean it out periodically, it shouldn't be a problem. Hell, I can get really lackidasical about doing that, and I've never grown anything, and my climate is probably more a tad more prone to such.

I went with whimsical because it was cheap. Mine has no filter. It's the lowest end model not found at CVS with a Vicks' tag on it.

I like Hello Kitty. She's represented in most rooms of my house. Cannot tell you why I don't want her or any cute animals humidifying my apartment. But it's quite visceral.

I've wondered idly if air quality has any effect on my migraines--but I know some of the air filters are based on bogus science, etc, so I've never tried anything out other than humidifiers--and my last one that I threw out last year was one of the antimicrobials.

I wish I could remember why I turfed it.

This is so cool--Chicago will be having a Looptopia from sundown to sunrise on May 11th/12th.

The list of offerings between about 8 p.m. May 11 and 6 a.m. May 12 will be long and varied--from loading dock dance performances to a silent dance party of people grooving to their own MP3 players (to comply with a noise ordinance), said Tabing, executive director of the Chicago Loop Alliance.

Also included will be a dodgeball game in a Plexiglas cage, a sleepover at the Harold Washington Library Center, architecture tours from some elevated trains and a sunrise performance from the Joffrey Ballet in Millennium Park. Throughout the night, even in places when no performances are scheduled, the east Loop will be garnished with lighting displays, video projections and banners.

Looptopia will be capped by music, yoga and a free breakfast buffet at Millennium Park...

Also among the offerings will be "Opera Idol," based on the television show "American Idol," and a cabaret show in an alley. The Art Institute of Chicago will have exhibits open into the early morning hours, and several retailers will offer extended shopping hours. State Street will host a procession of performers for much of the night.

Also among the offerings will be "Opera Idol," based on the television show "American Idol,"

Awesome!

How important in a humidifier is the whole mold/bacteria-free thing? I mean, are those a sizable risk? I desperately need a humidifier, and am obviously not looking to spend much on it.

ita, want one for the cost of postage? I have a pretty decent one that's still in the box.

eta: I think it's a Holmes, but I am not sure. I can tell you tonight.

Lee, that would totally rock.