It seems like I may have to find a sneaky way of taking the lid apart, as my model isn't one where you're supposed to disassemble it.

To the many users who tried to turn this into don'teatthatfilter: not helpful.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 5:47 PM on July 25, 2008

Anyone who's been on a low-carb diet will tell you that carbohydrates are responsible for retaining quite a bit of water in your body. Do like a bodybuilder preparing for a competition: eat only proteins and fats for the rest of the day, and minimize your salt intake. Caffeine should help too. Have some sugary food/drink ready just in case you get light-headed and need a quick pick-me-up.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 7:27 AM on July 19, 2008

Wine (9% alcohol) will burn if you pour it into a hot pan near on a gas stove

That's because you're heating the wine up really fast, putting ethanol vapor in the air above the pan, and then lighting that on fire.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 7:24 PM on July 1, 2008

For silken tofu:
1. Mapo tofu

2. Soon dubu chigae

3. If you've got really good fresh tofu, just cut it in big cubes and top with thinly sliced scallion and a drop of soy sauce. A little kimchi wouldn't hurt either

For firm tofu:
1. Freeze it, then thaw it. This will make it very chewy and spongy. This is fantastic with any kind of heavy brown sauce, which the tofu will readily soak up (e.g. an... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:48 PM on May 27, 2008

Do you consume much/any caffeine? It's a simple, convenient, socially acceptable, and probably healthy way to maintain your energy level and suppress your appetite a bit.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:39 PM on May 27, 2008

A good stir fry doesn't use any sauce. The flavor of stir fry is wok hei (the air/breath of the wok). This flavor is produced by extremely high heat reacting with fairly small amounts of oil and the natural sugars and proteins in your food.

This is achieved in restaurants by using a thin, seasoned carbon steel wok with a gargantuan flame. Unless you're this guy, you can't achieve that at home. Your best alternative is to use the biggest, heaviest pan... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:37 PM on May 27, 2008

PC prices have been ridiculously low in the past few weeks... probably a good time to buy. Yes, Compaq makes crap, but not to worry, because some of the best prices right now are with Dell and Lenovo, who make some of the best quality machines. Check out the Lenovo Outlet website, and look for deals on FatWallet and SlickDeals. Definitely some good laptops to be had for $750 or less.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 5:07 PM on April 29, 2008

The in-the-pointy-shell durians at Super 88, Kam's, CMart, etc. are all frozen whole, and generally are sold as such, although some might be dragged out of the freezer for display.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 8:59 PM on April 26, 2008

Truffles, sure. Truffle oil, not so much... it costs about 5 bucks a liter and is made from a single synthetic flavoring agent, not the expensive cocktail of aroma you get from real truffles.

I'd be interested in the article too, because "secret restaurant techniques" generally are "use high heat and don't hold back with the salt and butter." Everything else (rare ingredients) costs money, and if you want to spend it, you could replicate that at home too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 2:37 PM on April 26, 2008

Eddie Mars is correct. Eating jalapenos isn't a challenge or a chore, if you're the type who enjoys seriously spicy food. Habaneros, well OK, then we're talking about a high level of difficulty- you might have trouble even keeping those down. Practice. Embrace the burn. If you can get the things down, well, the rest is all in your head.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 7:55 PM on April 6, 2008

Eat it, stop worrying.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 2:44 PM on April 6, 2008

Cabot Private Stock (1.5 years), or Cabot "Old School" (5 years).
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 7:42 PM on April 3, 2008

I read JC in 9th grade and there were no accompanying videos or TV shows or multimedia extravaganzas. And I seem to remember actually enjoying the play itself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 7:33 PM on April 3, 2008

I would say definitely don't add sugar, as that will only add to the heavy flavor imparted by too much tomato. Also, it will also make it taste more like a canned soup.

I'd recommend diluting it down with water until it's a little weak-tasting, then bringing back up the flavor with something other than cabbage and tomato, e.g. meat, pasta, beans, zucchini, onions, etc. and then re-salting. Maybe also put some good olive oil in before serving. Aaand, chopped parsley... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 2:17 PM on March 29, 2008

Firefox + ABP (for pictures and flash) + CustomizeGoogle to clean up the last bits.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 6:30 PM on March 21, 2008

Max your 2007 and 2008 Roths and IRAs, then either put the rest into a savings account for emergencies (if you don't have one) or a CD (if you have liquid savings and you'd like to lock in good rates before they plummet).
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 1:37 PM on January 26, 2008

1. Never wear jeans, collarless shirts or sneakers to work, ever, even if some people do it and get away with it. You can phase these back in when you're chairman and CEO.

2. Exude confidence.

3. Speak with authority about things you do know, and know when to admit that you don't know something. In these cases, always know who to ask for information or a favor.

4. On the note of #3, network. Having a network of people... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 2:22 PM on January 22, 2008

I had to do a similar thing (3000 characters, so a little longer) for the NDSEG. I'd suggest taking a strong position on an issue relevant to your field (what is the most important problem to address in your research? what is and underrepresented group that you want to help? how do you feel about certain popular opinions in your field?)

After stating your position, use your academic/research experience and interests to justify your claim and add a personal angle to it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 6:25 AM on January 22, 2008 marked best answer

Pick an ethnic cuisine that has hundreds or thousands of years of experience in the development of delicious meat-free food. It's pretty much guaranteed to come out better than "American" foods that have been modified. If you figure out a few South Indian dishes (rice, dal, a couple vegetable curries, flat bread cooked on the stovetop) you're all set.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 11:49 AM on January 20, 2008

Problem is, Indian food - even Southern - is almost never vegan. You'd have to end up substituting items there as well.

Not sure where you're going with that. While a good raita will perk up a lot of dishes, there isn't an important dairy component in a lot of typical South Indian dishes (dal, dry vegetable curries, chapati). I'll admit that a dosa cooked in vegetable oil will certainly lose a special something... but it doesn't mean you have to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 5:29 PM on January 21, 2008

Yup, Tonkatsu sauce or a related sauce with different viscosity. Those Bull-Dog sauces are the easiest to find in Asian grocery stores around here (Boston area).
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 11:47 AM on January 20, 2008

It's an interesting thing to say that "there is a reason for everything," because in biology it is generally understood that there really is a reason for everything, because natural selection causes to wash away useless stuff. In matter itself, though?
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 5:40 PM on January 16, 2008

Slick Rick - Children's Story
Black Rob - Thug Story
Ghostface Killah - Run
Killah Priest - Science Project
Pastor Troy - Ain't No Sunshine
Notorious B.I.G. - Me & My Bitch
Method Man - Mr. Sandman
Busta Rhymes - Things We Be Doin' for Money
Warren G - Regulate

Prince Paul's "Prince Among Thieves" album
Raekwon's "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx" album
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 2:59 PM on January 15, 2008

How about you make your own "mix?" The only ingredients in good bread, other than the yeast and water, are flour and salt. Just mix some flour and salt.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 2:41 PM on January 15, 2008

I've played on the Remo set you linked and I didn't like it as much as more "rubbery" types of pads. The Remo set consists of basically "real" drum heads over a stiff pad and I found that the action is rather dead in that pad. I much preferred a single practice pad I had (just to put on a tabletop) that was basically a solid block of rubber- the bounciness was much closer to a real snare or cymbal and I found it more conducive to practicing fundamentals.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 5:12 AM on January 15, 2008

"Purple head?" Oh dear.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:50 PM on January 12, 2008

Of course, getting plain ol' skin cancer which then metastasizes by the normal mechanisms is probably 9999999999 times more likely to occur than fermezporte's mechanism.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:48 PM on January 12, 2008

Keep in mind that Xbox/XBMC can only handle SD video.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:41 PM on January 12, 2008

I don't know what BobbyDigital is talking about. The floor of my gas oven gets hot enough to make a nicely charred pizza in about 6 minutes, which should be hot enough to make crispy anything. I bake larger breads (with nice crisp, dark crusts) at about 450 F.

So, I can't help you, but don't doubt your capabilities.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 9:15 AM on January 10, 2008

You don't state where you need to be during the daytime, but I'll assume it's somewhere in Kowloon or on the Island. Train fare from SZ roundtrip every day will cost you US$20, which I would say is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming (about an hour each way).

If you're going to be doing stuff mainly on the Island: Cosmic Guest House

If you are interested in the New Territories: I would recommend checking out this hostel in Sha Tin, which... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 6:23 AM on January 10, 2008

1. The reason that there is no real information on the websites is that there are no fixed prices. Cable TV/internet service is one of the few truly price-negotiable products one can buy these days. This means that if you simply call up and say "I'm moving into a new apartment, please sell me service" you will be given a relatively high price.

You need to call up each of the providers in your locality (See #2) and say something like "I'm moving in and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 2:38 PM on January 9, 2008

This time it's from store bought fried chicken, last time it was from a bacon sandwich

How long ago did you eat the chicken? Keep in mind, food poisoning can occur from an item eaten as few as 2 or as many as 48 hours previous.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:29 AM on January 9, 2008

Whenever I make bread (with white flour), I spike it with about 10% whole wheat flour and 5% wheat germ. This increases the flavor quite a bit, simulating a less "pure" white flour as one might find in a traditional European-style white bread.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 9:20 PM on January 7, 2008

I had a situation with a difficult landlord in MA. After a careful reading of the document Brak linked and some related websites, I sent a very strongly-worded letter that cited the specific MA laws requiring the return of my deposit. You should carefully read the document and the relevant statutes, because there are in fact many things for which landlords are not allowed to withhold money (moving might be one, but for example, if you leave the apartment in a less-than-pristine condition,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 5:36 AM on January 5, 2008

If the elitist site you're referring to is eGullet, I've always considered the Home Cooking forum on Chowhound to be the populist version of that sort of discussion environment, with an equal (or greater) number of active participants. They're very chatty and very tolerant of double posts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 6:52 PM on January 4, 2008

After a line drive to the tibia, a massive lump, and a negative x-ray, my doctor told me that there was really no option other than taking enough NSAIDs to make movement comfortable. She insisted that I continue to go about moving around as normally as possible to avoid any kind of gait problems from limping.

It was about a month until the pain was nearly gone, and a few more months before I'd say things were totally normal... though there's still a mark.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 3:03 PM on December 31, 2007

Lots of garlic, gently warmed in olive oil (not fried at a high temperature), then add good canned tomatoes crushed by hand, and lots of salt. Boil about 30 minutes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 6:30 PM on December 30, 2007

I long for ceremony, ritual, rites of passage.

I like Thanksgiving a lot because everyone likes to eat, and therefore everyone is united by their mutual love of food and the togetherness created by this shared experience. The same goes for other secular holidays where enjoyment of the season and traditional meals and gatherings are part of the ceremony and ritual. As for rites of passage, I encounter plenty of those in my career path.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 6:27 PM on December 30, 2007

FatWallet Finance Forum
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 10:15 AM on December 30, 2007

I actually think fake bacon bits (the little crunchy salad bar bits) would fare better in macaroni and cheese than real bacon, because they would (hopefully) retain more of a pure smoky crunch instead of becoming chewy and adding to the already massive richness of that sort of dish.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 6:53 AM on December 30, 2007

Previous responses are all correct.

1. It's just a BS. It will help you get into grad school or get a lame technician job but it's pretty much useless otherwise. Don't consider yourself to be a professional chemical engineer.

2. If you want to apply ChE knowledge to something non-evil, learn a little biology and get into bioprocess design or metabolic engineering. This isn't "biology" per se so don't let it scare you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 9:39 AM on December 28, 2007

If you really trust your oven to hold at 115 or less (and not cycle up to a higher temperature at some interval) then you should put the foil-wrapped roast in the oven... it will only get better as it cooks at that temperature.

You would also probably do well to wrap it in a towel to stay moderately warm while you do the Yorkshire pudding, and then give it the final 500-degree blast before serving.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 1:38 PM on December 24, 2007 marked best answer

kayak and orbitz are good places to find last-minute fares, sure, but today and tomorrow are probably the most expensive departure days of the year. focus your search on xmas day departures... these will still be more expensive than what you'd find for just about any destination 3-4 weeks from now.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 12:13 PM on December 23, 2007

ps. alcohol neutralizes capsaicin

Nope, it dissolves it. Capsaicin is pretty unreactive as far as foodstuffs go.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 12:58 PM on December 18, 2007

If you don't have a Bank of America checking account, you can open one (these days you can do this for free plus get a $100 bonus) and make your initial deposit using any Visa or MC. Voila.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 12:57 PM on December 18, 2007

Somerville, MA -> Slumerville (not used much anymore)
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 8:12 AM on December 17, 2007

Seconding brautigan. The best (and perhaps the toughest) thing you can do is to tolerate his distance but frequently let you know you're there for him 100%.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 1:56 PM on December 16, 2007

It took me about 1.5 years to get used to getting up at 6:30... I'm not sure if it took me that long to acclimate, or if I just got older and naturally became more interested in getting up early. Now, I'm awake (but possible groggy) by 7:15 or so. Before, I had that feeling of sluggishness and nausea telling me IT'S TOO EARLY until 10:30 or so.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 4:53 PM on December 14, 2007

If you want the "amazing" picture you're going to need a digital tuner. The HD Tivo has this, but depending on how your cable company runs things, nearly all of the channels may be encrypted, necessitating the rental of a Cable Card to plug into your HD Tivo.

So, it depends on whether the channels you want to watch are being sent "in the clear" digitally (QAM), and if you're willing to pay extra for a Cable Card.

The answer... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 1:50 PM on December 14, 2007

MC Plus+

no.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rxrfrx at 10:12 AM on December 14, 2007