It is worth it for the groceries alone. They have a lot of items I cannot buy locally, and the prices on many items are better than the store prices. Cumin, coriander, agave nectar - all much cheaper from Amazon.

It is also great for small items that I don't need immediately, that would normally require a special trip to a store. I needed a 4 gig flash drive for something last week. To get one at a decent price would require a trip to a store 20 miles away. Not... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 2:25 AM on January 20, 2008

I know this doesn't answer your question, but using FTP for uploading is a very bad idea. Consider using anything else.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 5:24 PM on January 9, 2008

You can do a lot with dry ice.

If you know the why and the how of dry ice and loud noises, you will find you can do a lot of other things with various ingredients.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 9:17 PM on December 20, 2007

Porpoise - Are you just trying to be an asshole? Or are you just that much of an idiot?

If pompomtom doesn't even know what can be made legally, do you really think that mentioning nitroglycerin is a good idea?

If you don't know why you shouldn't be playing with contact explosives, you shouldn't be playing with contact explosives.

There are plenty of ways to make a nice 'boom' without risking life and limb.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 9:50 PM on December 20, 2007

Ask scarabic. I'm sure he has thought about this.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 8:45 PM on December 16, 2007

bbranden1 - No easy answer for this one. Printing is your best bet.

For anyone coming back here to look at this question later, the best way to do this is to use a proxy and look at the logs. Find out exactly which files are being downloaded. If they use relative mapping (no http://www.website.com/etc), you might be able to get away with putting them in the same directory (or directory structure) on your hard drive. If not, you can configure a local web server and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 8:22 PM on December 16, 2007

SpecialK - There is no reason to think they will not do something with the data in the future, and absolutely no reason to use real information in the first place.

So even discounting any paranoia, what is the benefit to using real information? What is the harm in using fake information?

Check cashing was mentioned by iguanapolitico. Does anybody actually do that anymore? If so, why? Is there any reason to use checks for in-person payments anymore?
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 8:05 PM on December 16, 2007

While there are ways to fix this problem, you are eventually going to have to reinstall XP. Back up your data before it gets to that point.

This is likely just a symptom of a greater problem. Sorry.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 3:48 PM on December 15, 2007

Swap it out with a new soft kitty and proclaim you got it very, very clean in the washer.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 1:01 PM on December 15, 2007

Thirding 'you aren't a morning person'.

Even going to the gym in the morning doesn't wake me up. Some of us are just that way, and want to shoot the people that tell us we aren't eating right, or should go to bed earlier.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 3:04 PM on December 14, 2007

Seconding what I said earlier. If you really are a night person, you can ignore almost everything here. The morning people just don't get it, and they never will.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 5:24 PM on December 14, 2007

What bitdamaged said.

Don't think about bringing it up in the interview. Impress the hell out of them, then wait for the offer. Write a nice letter, or e-mail, or fax, back to the HR people, and tell them that you now know more about the job, and you are a perfect fit, but you think that your experience and the job responsibilities should command a higher salary.

When an HR department is dealing with money, it is their function to pay you as... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:31 PM on December 14, 2007 marked best answer

If you have a local Costco, see what they have in stock. If you buy it and don't like it, you can always take it back.

I don't advocate abusing their return policy, but it is there for a reason. I bought my digital video camera and my last digital camera there, and was very happy with both of them. I researched the hell out of them first, but you never know until you see the results, so I figured buying there was a smart move.

My camera is an... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 3:20 PM on December 14, 2007

solopsist - It isn't just a function of the megapixels. The CCDs have improved in quality. How old is that CCD on a 6 megapixel camera?

The poster wanted some quick information, and pixel count is one of the easy numbers to find when you are buying a camera. I would much rather have a good lens, good RAW results, and a triple CCD at a lower resolution as opposed to a small lens, full of JPEG artifacts higher megapixel count camera, but finding the right camera with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:22 PM on December 14, 2007

Traffic court is usually a sham. Tickets get rubber-stamped unless there is a flagrant violation of the law. Sometimes that isn't enough, and you have to pay anyway.

You probably have great grounds for an appeal. Do you think it is worth it?

IANAL, but I have represented myself in traffic court.

Judges don't want to end up in traffic court. That should tell you all you need to know.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 7:57 PM on December 13, 2007

Just as a data point, my body is more comfortable with a 30 hour day. I automatically drift to it if I have a few days to myself. So I'm not really an insomniac, I'm just forced into being one by the rest of the world.

Sleep when you feel tired. Learn to avoid alarm clocks as much as possible.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:01 PM on November 20, 2007

You screwed yourself by checking one of the accounts from home. They might have poor security, but that doesn't mean that they aren't logging.

If I was called in by a company after something like this was reported, the first thing I would do would be to check all of the logs.

Document every single thing you have done. Put as much as you can down on paper, date it, and have it notarized. Do this before you report anything to the company.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 7:39 PM on November 18, 2007

I have had some luck with Sinus Buster, which is basically a hot pepper nasal spray.

It has helped with a couple of really bad headaches, although I do not suffer from migraines.

FWIW, I bought it as an alternative to coffee. I didn't really buy into the headache thing until I tried it.

It is uncomfortable for a few seconds, but it doesn't have that lasting OH MY GOD IT BURNS! feeling that you think it would.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 3:14 AM on October 20, 2007

Are you positive SELinux is completely disabled? Something seems familiar about this question, but I can't quite place it. I ran across something when I was planning an SELinux install, and I seem to remember something about needing an extra step to completely disable it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:31 PM on October 1, 2007

Has she been tested for lyme disease? The abdominal pain symptoms aren't a match, but the rest of it matches up.

You mentioned she has been tested for parasites. How many of them?

Has she tried an infectious disease doctor? They have experience diagnosing unusual conditions.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:03 PM on September 28, 2007

drpynchon:

You are correct. Most of us do not have the necessary qualifications to even guess at a diagnosis in this case, or in any other case. Without test results, we are shooting blind.

But this posting seems like a last-ditch effort at brainstorming. To find out what could possibly be causing these symptoms, and to not discount anything.

Because sometimes doctors miss things.

Despite all... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 2:32 AM on September 29, 2007

drpynchon - Very good point about introducing bias. You would think I would have figured out by now that people don't always act rationally and make informed decisions. Especially because I see people acting irrationally every damn day.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:21 PM on September 29, 2007

Did you actually check the voltage, or just for the presence of voltage? I have seen some strange things during brownouts. I have also seen lots of things die when the line is dirty (constant dips and spikes, caused by some heavy machinery in a warehouse below an office building, line finally checked with an oscilloscope).

Probably a shot in the dark, but could someone outside of the apartment have been using a lot of juice for something?
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 3:54 PM on September 21, 2007

Is there a router anywhere in the mix?
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 12:46 PM on September 15, 2007

Assuming there is no router (and if there isn't, you really, really should get one), try this command:
netsh interface ipv4 show subinterfaces
If the MTU setting is over 1400, you might need to try this command:
netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface “Local Area Connection” mtu=1430 store=persistent
I don't have a Vista box handy to test these on, but the google search for 'vista mtu setting dsl' came up with this page.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 12:58 PM on September 15, 2007 marked best answer

Any more suggestions on how to perfect this? Sauce tricks, seasonings, etc?

Much easier to follow the recipes of others until you know why you are doing what you are doing. Another vote for Alton Brown.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 2:03 PM on August 21, 2007

My (face) shaving tips, which are the opposite of most things I have read:

Get one of the vibrating razors.
In the shower, put hair conditioner on your face.
Lightly rub the razor over the area to be shaved, against the grain, multiple times.
After two or three uses, replace the blade.

I am very susceptible to razor burn, but with this technique I can actually shave two days in a row. I used to max out at... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 3:53 PM on August 15, 2007

Oh, and don't try Nair on your face. Really.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 3:54 PM on August 15, 2007

1 - No, sorry.
2 - Yes. Call around, it probably won't be much.
3 - Following the advice in those books is likely to piss off the judge.
4 - Let the lawyer do it.
5 - That depends on the court. Either go and watch before your court date to formulate a strategy, or let a lawyer do it for you.

Traffic court (in general) isn't a big deal when you are just talking about minor speeding offenses. But it really helps to prepare,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 7:29 PM on August 8, 2007

If you have achieved this much while still working full time at another job, how much more successful do you think your side business would be if you were to work on it full time?

If you think it would be workable, is it sustainable?
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 6:08 PM on July 25, 2007

Another recovering picky eater here.

Learning to cook is definitely an advantage. I started as a teenager, mostly because I didn't like most of the food that was given to me. Which leads to the next point...

A lot of people aren't picky, and will buy the large, tasteless tomatoes in the grocery store, because they are larger; use canned sauces because they are easier; eat fatty cuts of meat because, well, I have no idea why anybody eats fat on... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:12 PM on July 5, 2007

In short, this is a security nightmare.

It can be done, but it is not easy to do safely, and you probably wouldn't know if you left yourself more exposed. That is not meant as an insult, it just isn't easy to do securely, especially with Windows.

Someone might come back and say I am an idiot, and you can use some simple piece of software to do this. They might be right on both counts. But you have to weigh the risk against the reward - how... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 6:56 AM on June 23, 2007

rdr- Thanks, taken care of. Although she won't actually be entering Mexico, the paperwork for the kids is taken care of.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 8:37 PM on April 26, 2007

To elaborate on the important point - the issue now is getting onto the ship, not getting back into the US. The cruise line, in a likely CYA move, is requiring paperwork that the State Department does not require. No passengers are disembarking outside of the US - this is a cruise to Hawaii with a quick refueling stop in Mexico.

I have two weeks to find a way to get her back into the country, and numerous ways to get the proper paperwork. My issue is with the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 9:09 PM on April 26, 2007

Just to follow up -

She boarded today, having a notarized faxed copy of a birth certificate. She only needed a driver's license.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 1:47 PM on April 28, 2007

Thanks, spork. If I am concerned about the amount, not the debate about the usefulness.

I should mention that while our home does not have fluoride, his school does, as does our gym, and numerous other places we visit.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 7:10 PM on April 1, 2007

If I am
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 7:11 PM on April 1, 2007

ikkyu2 - Thanks for the well reasoned response, as always. I should have made it more clear that my concern was the amount, since my son gets plenty of regular tap water.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 8:23 PM on April 1, 2007

Indeed, .5mg/day. I did check the standard dosing before I posted this, and I think in my next ask mefi I will be a bit more specific.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 8:34 PM on April 1, 2007

WTF happened to this place tonight?

I am assuming that most of the people saying that you shouldn't speed don't live in this area.

I know nothing about the multiple state license question, but I can tell you that tickets in Fairfax County can be beaten quite easily. I've done it without a lawyer a number of times, but I understand the lawyers are quite cheap. Most people just pay and never think about going to court. A lot of the people that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 6:58 PM on March 27, 2007

I just took the quiz to see what would happen. I somehow got through it. Here are the highlights of my 'matches':

For favorite books, two had the DaVinci code, one said she doesn't read, one is in school so reads textbooks, and the only one that actually reads lives 3 hours away.

The matches that live within a reasonable distance generally enjoy the following:
Watching TV
Going to movies
Talking on cell... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 4:13 AM on March 15, 2007

Jeff -

I can offer no book.

I can only offer this - you might find something else to life if you wait. If you do not wait, you will not.

Seek help to alleviate your pain. It will take time. But you seem to have the time to give.

If you have lost all faith then you need to stick around and find a purpose. Checking out now will only be giving in, and you don't seem the type. You had the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 11:27 PM on March 3, 2007

At my favorite brewpub the bartenders do indeed pour and stop without tipping the glass. Then they do something else, come back and hit it one more time, the head rises to where it should be, and they serve. This seems to be the preferred method for their heavier beers.

For a lager, I have seen them angle the glass and pour until it spills.

There is some method to the madness I've never been able to to discern, as these people are all career... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 6:09 AM on February 18, 2007

This is not meant as a slam -

Realize you are lucky enough to have a life where you sometimes have to work for a while and you know things will go back to normal. If it isn't manual labor, plan a party for yourself when all is over. You probably get paid to think, and it isn't easy sometimes, but it could be a hell of a lot worse.

Most of my jobs require me to do nothing most of the time, and then work constantly when I need to. I get paid to... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 5:59 PM on February 16, 2007

I know a broker who will do the paperwork if you want to do the rest of the work yourself. He is local. If you get to the point where you think this is a good idea, feel free to contact me.

He is not in any way an agent, and has no desire to fill that role.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 5:21 PM on February 16, 2007

Butter. You can freeze it when you aren't using it, but leave it at room temperature when you are.

Tomatoes, as mentioned above.

Most hot sauces.

Eggs, if you get them fresh.

Oh, and DO refrigerate real bread, if you can find it. The kind that is twice as heavy as regular bread, does not have the words 'bleached' or 'corn syrup' in the list of ingredients.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 5:17 PM on February 16, 2007

Unfortunately it is completely in pieces. It belongs to a friend, and I thought I could get it back together until I saw it. I will see what I can do about getting a picture.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 12:57 AM on February 14, 2007

polyglot - here.
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 1:08 AM on February 14, 2007

IANAL, but even if you had not taken any insurance from the moving company, do you not have a negligence claim against them? If I pay UPS to ship a TV, and they admit to dropping and breaking it, should they not be liable?

Maybe you should talk to a lawyer?
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 8:00 AM on February 3, 2007

As a possibly useless data point, I lived on the ground floor of an apartment building for a short time, and the upstairs neighbors would throw various items in the disposal, clog the plumbing, and the sewage would back up into my tub, out of the toilet, etc. That was more of a problem with the plumbing, and it got me out of the lease easily.

Have you checked with people on the bottom floor to see if they know another reason the disposals are not being maintained?... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by bh at 5:05 PM on February 2, 2007