http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook_com/forum/oemail-osend/unread-emails/0c433f45-c10c-4f9f-8c5f-74fcf6274eac brings up how linking accounts can create odd and strange effects on the read status.
http://email.about.com/cs/hotmailtips/qt/et122402.htm brings up something folk have pondered for years. Just because you open the email, it's not been read. Go figure how a computer will even be able to tell if you read it.
Bob

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