Thanks L.J., I've removed the thermometer all together now!

i've tried being bare foot (albeit not wet substrate under me) but i have multimetered a direct ground to substrate. Same as before... a jump in current (0.6V) at first, then it is just a noisy signal +0.1V to -0.1V or so afterwards... but when the UTH is not plugged in, the noisy signal is only about +/- 0.03V.

So, it does seem like something is going on... just don't know what.

I figure perhaps the UTH is defective, it is a 2 prong, perhaps the big/small prong were switched internally... or its ground protection is just mucked anyways...and consequently the thermometer AC adapter didn't have a small/big prong... only 2 small prongs... maybe that adapter just doesn't have ground protection?!

Appreciate the suggestions.. please anyone CHIME IN WITH IDEAS... needless to say, i will be exchanging the UTH tomorrow.

-Brian