I've been using this for the last 6 months traveling in South America (Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile) as well as Costa Rica and Peru in the last 2 years to charge my ipod, cellphone and 2 cameras (one point and shoot, other a digital rebel) without any problems.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 2:58 PM on March 4, 2008

flip-flops or Crocs - theres nothing like sitting around doing nothing all day to make my feet stink like crazy. Unfortunately this is a cycle that feeds on itself - once you feet/socks/shoes start to stink a lil bit, everybody in the van is going to bitch at you to keep them on all the time (trapping the stink inside, but also making it worse, meaning you really have to keep them on all the time, continue until you are forced to throw out shoes and socks and buy new ones). Despite thinking... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 9:33 PM on February 24, 2008

more general tips...

a PLAN for loading equipment into your trailer/the back of your van. One specific band member should be charged with loading up all the equipment the day BEFORE you leave, and remembering how EXACTLY it all fit together. You never know when you need to make a quick exit from a show, and it sucks to be exhausted, sweaty, dirty, and possibly drunk and have to unload and reload everything FIVE TIMES before it all fits in the van. Draw a map if you need... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 9:49 PM on February 24, 2008

I do cell in front left, keys in front right (house, chain lock, motorcycle, don't have a car), in the back I carry debit card, credit card, license (sometimes), and cash held together with a couple of the extra thick/strong girls hair ties. I started out using rubber bands, but the rubber is too sticky, it grips jeans when you try to pull it out. After a period of experimentation, I settled on the hair bands. They last about 6 months and run like $3 a dozen.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 8:00 AM on February 22, 2008

When I was working (Richmond VA BUT I'm originally from Boston...) as a Java Developer working for a consulting firm (other companies would hire us on to complete projects, we would bill by the project or hourly depending) I did everything in my power to spend only 8 hours a day at work (including lunch). There were a number of times when we were billing hourly and the project required extra hours (which showed up in my paycheck later) and I would stay later during those periods, but I have... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 2:09 PM on September 13, 2007

Mission Hill - super close, walking distance to longwood (as well as a stop&shop), relatively cheap, definite possibility of your car getting broken into, decent mix of college kids and locals

Jamaica Plain - farther from longwood/downtown, possibly far walk for green line access (the green line sucks after Northeastern anyways, get a bike), hip bar scene, not as many college kids, way more post college kids, cheapest

Allston - 5 minute bike... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 1:03 PM on May 24, 2007

Buy a phone card from a locutorio, that's what I did for the couple of months I was in S. America and it was the cheapest, simplest way to communicate back home (other than email).
"Tarjeta telefonica de estados unidos por favor"
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 1:29 PM on May 3, 2007

Is futbol usually on Saturday or Sunday? I can't remember but I'm leaning towards Sunday, but if there's a game on Saturday definitely go to La Bombonera and watch Boca Jr play.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 9:21 AM on April 4, 2007

$725 was the best deal we found to fly from Washington DC to Buenos Aires last year, I don't think you'd be able to find anything much cheaper than $700. We got it through intratours.com.

(I've always figured that stories like check out the foreign language paper or call up a foreign language travel agent for the REAL deals were mostly BS, maybe they were somewhat true before the internet, but not anymore)
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 12:26 PM on April 3, 2007

My roomate has these, they super portable and can get pretty loud.

http://reviews.cnet.com/LG_Portable_Stereo_Speakers_MSP_100/4505-6448_7-31929465.html
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 7:11 AM on March 30, 2007

I thought part 1 of fiefs answer sucked - why should he cut this company any slack? He gave them a months notice that he was leaving, and then another two weeks after that. Why should the company be held to a lower standard than him? If he was a contract employee who broke the terms of his contract (like if he didn't show up for work for 2 weeks), you better believe the company would sue his ass off for breach of contract. Who cares how much paperwork HR has to do to finalize his leaving the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 7:58 AM on March 15, 2007

We went to peru and did the 4 day Inca Trail in November, it was awesome. We left our bags at the hostel we stayed at while we were gone, which was free. I'm sure any of the smaller hostels in Cuzco would be more than willing to store as long as you're going to be staying with them when you come back.

Depending on your age/fitness level, you might want to spend some more time in Cuzco to acclimate. We are both 23 and I'm in really excellent shape, so the hike wasn't... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 12:37 PM on March 7, 2007 marked best answer

We used Peru Treks and Adventure for our guides, www.perutreks.com They were excellent, and I would definitely recommend them. They are recommended by andeantravelweb.com, all the equipment they brought for us was EXCELLENT, the tents seemed to be brand new, and pretty expensive. The cook was also amazing, we had pizza, pie, tea twice a day, as well as delicious breakfests, lunches, and dinners. Our guide said that he was retiring from the Inca Trail, but maybe he hasn't yet, so if you book... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 5:56 PM on March 7, 2007

I don't really know the answer to this question, but I was wondering almost the same thing the other day - I have a friend who was on road crew for Robbie Williams last tour, and he isn't just popular, he's HUGE. The tour was supposedly the biggest ever, in history, and I know that places where the Rolling Stones played last year Robbie Williams would play in the same place, but 3 times more shows. Pretty crazy. My friend told me that he's a really good boss and that he treated his road crew... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 6:11 AM on January 26, 2007

I would put the onus on the friends dad, but I need this done and on the road ASAP - this isn't a priority to his dad, and when you want something done do it yourself etc...
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 4:41 PM on December 31, 2006

BJJ and Muay Thai definitely, go to a couple of schools and sit in on their classes, you want to try and find a place that trains people who do fight competitively, but isn't totally focused on pushing all their students into the ring. You can do Muay Thai strictly for the exercise and avoid the sparring part if you really want to, but BJJ you're gonna have to roll if you want to get anything out of it. You might not be interested in fighting (in the streets or the ring) but it's worth... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 2:54 PM on December 29, 2006

The BEST restaurant in town - Mamma'Zu in Oregon Hill. Sort of Italian Cuisine with AMAZING daily specials in addition to the regular menu. You could spend anywhere between $25 and $100 for 2 people but it will definitely be delicious. Other good options: Comfort, Helen's.

Cool places to see:
Belle Isle (formerly THE ISLE OF MISERY) is worth visiting just to go over the walking bridge underneath the highway. It's better in the summer when you can swim, but... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 6:38 AM on December 28, 2006

Although I LOVE 821 Cafe (sausage egg and cheese on a giant biscuit with rosemary potatos for less than $5 can't be beat), The place is dirty, dingy, sort of gross and usually filled with tattooed weirdos, I would hardly call it "romantic" - and this is coming from a dirty tattooed weirdo.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 6:41 AM on December 28, 2006

I flew to BsAs last year in January for around $750 - December will probably be more expensive because of Christmas. We bought our tickets through Intratours. Who consistently have pretty good deals. Also keeping an eye on TravelZoo and Sherman's Travel is a good idea.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 10:24 AM on November 13, 2006

PS - That flight was out of Dulles in D.C. with a connection in NYC. The cheapest flights to anywhere in the Central/South America region will either leave out of LA, San Diego or Miami if that helps you at all.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 10:27 AM on November 13, 2006

I can second both Costa Rica, and Argentina as EXCELLENT destinations.

What exactly is your budget and for what period of time period?

Like unmake said above, plane tickets to argentina are $800 but after that you can easily live on $25 a day (eating out every meal) in Buenos Aires. Traveling will cost you a little more. A 16 hour ride on a first class bus (very comfortable, reclining chairs, meals provided to you, movie, etc...) to the Iguazu... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 8:44 AM on October 20, 2006

Yes, exactly.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 12:01 PM on September 4, 2006

Gator - good information, thank you. What would happen if the out of state license was issued by one of the 5 states that are NOT members of the Drivers License Compact?
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 12:08 PM on September 4, 2006

Gator - the car could either be - registered and plated out of state in the name of the revoked driver OR could be somebody elses car, registered and plated in VA and totally legal.

mediareport - "if the cop simply runs your name/birthdate on his Virginia computer - which seems like a fairly routine thing to do during a traffic stop" that's along the lines of what I was wondering. Is it common for police to do this? If an officer did run a search like this,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 12:50 PM on September 4, 2006

Risk your life? C'mon! It's definitely possible, do a little research, find out where you want to go and when you leave the airport, after going through customs, look for a little stand on the left, right before the door to exit the airport. You can get a taxi there, that will take you to your location. Go, eat, see some stuff, don't worry about getting robbed/killed/carjacked/etc... as long as it's daylight and you're in a public/touristy area. Then catch a cab back, but don't forget you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 2:40 PM on January 27, 2006

If you're driving 40 west out of southern California, and it's still hot in the desert (it was for us late last august, 110-120 degrees), you should jump into the Colorado river, which I'm pretty sure forms the border between AZ and CA. You'll cross a bridge over the colorado, and to your right will be a railroad bridge. 100 yards after the bridge there's a turn off on your left, park there, hike down to the river, climb the railroad bridge and either swing off the rope swing, or climb up onto... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 8:56 PM on August 9, 2005

I also second mecran01's recommendation of Utah national parks, these places are AWESOME. Also - the only recorded bubonic plague break outs in the last 50 or so years occured in them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by youthenrage at 8:57 PM on August 9, 2005