Ms. Helper and I are "camped out" at a friend's house in Lynnwood. Our home street in Kirkland is without power, but only just - the street control lights are on west of us, but east towards Woodinville is just dark. In a strange twist, Comcast came by our house an hooked up a generator to power their cable switch on the utility pole in our front yard.
At 3pm today, the Woodinville downtown area was just getting power back. An employee of Top Foods suggested they would open at 4pm, but that for now customers really wouldn't want to go in. (Given the scent in our refrigerator, I can just imagine an entire store...) Red Robin had power but wasn't open, Cost Plus decided to close at 3pm, and the movie theater looked like it had power but without customers. Target's parking lot was full to overflowing.
PS - Bettas don't survive the cold nearly as well as goldfish do. Birds, neither - luckily we were able to take them with us.
... so not actively helping the police arrest one is now considered taserworthy resistance? What happened to falling limp as a form of protest that by design was no threat to anyone in the situation? I really wish we heard more about police ombudsmen (do those exist?) that would arbitrate things like PinkMoose's situation - at least then something like "he was resisting arrest"/"I was physically incapable of resisting arrest" would get resolution.
So the funny(?) thing is that the ad YouTube served up was one of those jittery "you are the Nth visitor to this site!" How appropriate! Maybe the ad designer was faking/exaggerating its motion to make a point?
(ps - make sure you have a nice long bread knife to cut the loaves; they're often less dense than store-bought bread, meaning they end up floppier and harder to cut well without a blade that you can really slice with...)
I have to agree with dayfat; I've made probably 20 loaves in the 6 years I've had it. Each one is initially very good. Except those that had too much water and ended up squishy. Or those where the top fell in and got a half loaf with the same weight. Or those that didn't mix properly and ended up with something other than bread. The ones that do come out OK dry very quickly; be sure to let them cool then wrap in a clean linen towel (reusable) or a ziplock back (longer lasting.)
Be sure to make variations - the beer bread was fantastic.
Of course, if Mrs. Helper wasn't celiac, I'd probably make more.
A few additional points...
Dells have their Windows XP product key sticker on the bottom. If you wipe or replace the HD, your new buyer might be suprised to get a 'blank' system. If you still have your restore CDs, then you might want to use them before selling, or at least including them so your buyer can reinstall.
You could keep your license by removing both the previous install and the sticker (the media is mostly irrelevant, but you might want to keep it too.) If you buy a blank system and install XP again using your old key, it's likely activation will fail; call up the activation phone system and tell them what happened - feel free to fib and say you just got all new hardware. If you buy another system from Dell or another 'normal' retailer that includes XP in their deals, you'll then end up with two licenses - perfect to throw one onto that frankenstein system built out of the spare parts in the back of your closet.
Ms. Helper is also very allergic to "regular" cats. We got two Cornish Rex kittens about five years ago. She still gets slightly stuffy-headed when they haven't been bathed in a while (yes, we bathe them; no, they really don't like it.)
The two cats were about $500 each. The cost generally varies with "show qualities" and whether or not they're fixed. Catteries we looked into all had "pet quality" cats - those that didn't have the right looks/coat/ears/etc. to be potential show winners or breeders - for the $500-$800 range.
Definitely worth it - Cornish Rex cats are extremely active and personable. It's like having (very dumb) dogs. The image of a typical cat lazing around just doesn't apply. Be sure you have a china hutch/cabinet into which you can put your breakables.
I'd posted this after talking to the owner of the development, who has been extremely unresponsive to other neighbors' concerns. I was reasonably positive that my requests would go nowhere.
This morning I caught up with the foreman (site supervisor maybe?) and explained my grievances. He was very nice and offered immediately to repour the anchors if necessary and replace the splintered corner-pole, pole caps, and braces.
Thanks for all the advice - I still worry that they won't actually complete the repairs properly and that I'll have to go the "next step" of mediation, but I really do want to avoid the courts.
Man, on review I do sound like a whiny little bitch in the original post...
Man, I love me some white-trash queso. Although I can do without the green chilis. Back when Mrs. Helper could have cheese we used to have this concoction as dinner about twice a month. Although, we would use a high-falutin' double boiler for smoother heating...
If she likes the Mario series at large, she may enjoy Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. It's an RPG, but not in the dungeon-crawl vein; Ms. Helper and I found it adorably cute. It controls like a platformer-with-depth, the battles are turn-based, and the character-building system (while present) is reasonably simple for a first-timer. There's (almost) no boring "gotta build my character" time involved, and the Ms. and I were both able to play for a comfortable 40ish hour game.
Overall, a nice stepping-stone for someone who likes the Mario series at large, but isn't ready for a full-on RPG.
This site and others like it might contain reviews of models you're interested in.
Depending on what your pressure setting is, you may want ramping; that's where it starts low (mine starts at 6) and after a preset time switches to your actual prescription setting (7.5.) The delay lets you fall asleep before the higher pressure kicks in - I don't mind the pressure, but I do mind the noise.
I haven't tried bipap... it sounds like a good idea; my pressure is low enough that exhaling isn't too hard. (And I like the funny whistling, though Ms. Helper differs...)
As for a humidifier, I would suggest getting just the basic pap for now, and seeing if you have a problem. Here in the northwest, it doesn't get overly dry in the winter so I haven't needed one. (My concern with the humidifier is that I'll end up needing hoses more often to ward off mold&mildew...) If you find you need one, better to pay for the add-on (most devices support a number of addons) rather than paying upfront.
Call your insurer to ask about their coverage for used devices. Remember that you generally do not have to do business with whoever your doctor has suggested. If you find the distributor's prices too high, poke around online. You'll need to get the prescription from your doctor, as most companies won't sell you one without.
Regarding the "agriculture as an early tool of aristocracy," I heard an interview on NPR's Marketplace at least two weeks ago where the counterargument was made. Particularly, that an aristocracy arose as a result of the seperation between those who could read agricultural records and those who could not.
Food needed to be stored for future use, as long-term storage for famine times is the basic value proposition of farming. Every family having their own granary lead to inefficency, waste, and poor utilization across a community. Someone decided to make a communal granary to allow the whole group to have better distribution and management. Whammo - a caste of people whose job it is to keep track of what's in the silo rather than adding to its contents. Secondarily, those records need permanent storage so they can be referred to later - suprise! - writing becomes prominent rather neatly thereafter. Those folks who just add things to the silo don't need to read the records, they just have to trust that the one who is reading them does so correctly.
I don't know - both explanations are equally plausible. I'm sure Sid Meier has something to say about all this.
(ps - good elk is damn tasty)
I'm partial to the now-departed Chitra Ragavan. I can't help it, listening to her report on all things Congressional came at a time when I was stuck in an otherwise uninteresting Midwestern experience. Congress' goings-on were far more interesting than listening to college cohorts yammer about their sporting conquests, especially when read with her precision pronunciation and delightful Indian lilt.
So the trick to adjusting the pressure is to just keep upping the level a few points per night until he stops snoring. I had to up mine by 1.0cm/H2O from where the Doctor put it. If the pressure is set too high, he'll wake up tired and with achy chest muscles because of the effort expended to exhale against the CPAP. The tricky thing is that some doctors don't give instructions on setting the pressure... Which of course is crap, since your fiancee paid for (maybe indirectly through the ins. company) and instead require office visits to adjust. But, they're the doctors, and certainly do want to track what's being done with the prescription. If he's using a DeVilbiss machine, shoot me a note (email in profile) and I'll explain how to modify the pressure.
Manifesto including infinitive verbs - gerunds. 'Joking' ok.
posted by HamburgerHelper 16 years ago
In "LolCatBuilder"
Do you expect me to purr?
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "The new U.S. e-passport"
"Would you like fries with that?" "Welcome to Wal-Mart..." "If you're not with us, you're against us."
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "No power after massive storm in Seattle"
Ms. Helper and I are "camped out" at a friend's house in Lynnwood. Our home street in Kirkland is without power, but only just - the street control lights are on west of us, but east towards Woodinville is just dark. In a strange twist, Comcast came by our house an hooked up a generator to power their cable switch on the utility pole in our front yard. At 3pm today, the Woodinville downtown area was just getting power back. An employee of Top Foods suggested they would open at 4pm, but that for now customers really wouldn't want to go in. (Given the scent in our refrigerator, I can just imagine an entire store...) Red Robin had power but wasn't open, Cost Plus decided to close at 3pm, and the movie theater looked like it had power but without customers. Target's parking lot was full to overflowing. PS - Bettas don't survive the cold nearly as well as goldfish do. Birds, neither - luckily we were able to take them with us.
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "The police appear to have trouble"
... so not actively helping the police arrest one is now considered taserworthy resistance? What happened to falling limp as a form of protest that by design was no threat to anyone in the situation? I really wish we heard more about police ombudsmen (do those exist?) that would arbitrate things like PinkMoose's situation - at least then something like "he was resisting arrest"/"I was physically incapable of resisting arrest" would get resolution.
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "Short youtube video in response to that whole Michael J Fox/Rush Limbaugh thing. "
So the funny(?) thing is that the ad YouTube served up was one of those jittery "you are the Nth visitor to this site!" How appropriate! Maybe the ad designer was faking/exaggerating its motion to make a point?
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "Curious Bread Making George"
(ps - make sure you have a nice long bread knife to cut the loaves; they're often less dense than store-bought bread, meaning they end up floppier and harder to cut well without a blade that you can really slice with...)
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
I have to agree with dayfat; I've made probably 20 loaves in the 6 years I've had it. Each one is initially very good. Except those that had too much water and ended up squishy. Or those where the top fell in and got a half loaf with the same weight. Or those that didn't mix properly and ended up with something other than bread. The ones that do come out OK dry very quickly; be sure to let them cool then wrap in a clean linen towel (reusable) or a ziplock back (longer lasting.) Be sure to make variations - the beer bread was fantastic. Of course, if Mrs. Helper wasn't celiac, I'd probably make more.
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "Curious George: Who would want to be me anyway?"
A few additional points... Dells have their Windows XP product key sticker on the bottom. If you wipe or replace the HD, your new buyer might be suprised to get a 'blank' system. If you still have your restore CDs, then you might want to use them before selling, or at least including them so your buyer can reinstall. You could keep your license by removing both the previous install and the sticker (the media is mostly irrelevant, but you might want to keep it too.) If you buy a blank system and install XP again using your old key, it's likely activation will fail; call up the activation phone system and tell them what happened - feel free to fib and say you just got all new hardware. If you buy another system from Dell or another 'normal' retailer that includes XP in their deals, you'll then end up with two licenses - perfect to throw one onto that frankenstein system built out of the spare parts in the back of your closet.
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "Curious George!"
Ms. Helper is also very allergic to "regular" cats. We got two Cornish Rex kittens about five years ago. She still gets slightly stuffy-headed when they haven't been bathed in a while (yes, we bathe them; no, they really don't like it.) The two cats were about $500 each. The cost generally varies with "show qualities" and whether or not they're fixed. Catteries we looked into all had "pet quality" cats - those that didn't have the right looks/coat/ears/etc. to be potential show winners or breeders - for the $500-$800 range. Definitely worth it - Cornish Rex cats are extremely active and personable. It's like having (very dumb) dogs. The image of a typical cat lazing around just doesn't apply. Be sure you have a china hutch/cabinet into which you can put your breakables.
posted by HamburgerHelper 17 years ago
In "2006 Roll Call:"
66. I guess. #1203. I actively ignore census data, though.
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
In "Litigious George:"
I'd posted this after talking to the owner of the development, who has been extremely unresponsive to other neighbors' concerns. I was reasonably positive that my requests would go nowhere. This morning I caught up with the foreman (site supervisor maybe?) and explained my grievances. He was very nice and offered immediately to repour the anchors if necessary and replace the splintered corner-pole, pole caps, and braces. Thanks for all the advice - I still worry that they won't actually complete the repairs properly and that I'll have to go the "next step" of mediation, but I really do want to avoid the courts. Man, on review I do sound like a whiny little bitch in the original post...
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
In "<b>Curious, George</b>-Nasty Food, International."
Although on posting I should have avoided reusing 'although.' Although those who believe so might just be grammar jerks.
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
Man, I love me some white-trash queso. Although I can do without the green chilis. Back when Mrs. Helper could have cheese we used to have this concoction as dinner about twice a month. Although, we would use a high-falutin' double boiler for smoother heating...
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
In "Curious, George: video games for non-gamers"
If she likes the Mario series at large, she may enjoy Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. It's an RPG, but not in the dungeon-crawl vein; Ms. Helper and I found it adorably cute. It controls like a platformer-with-depth, the battles are turn-based, and the character-building system (while present) is reasonably simple for a first-timer. There's (almost) no boring "gotta build my character" time involved, and the Ms. and I were both able to play for a comfortable 40ish hour game. Overall, a nice stepping-stone for someone who likes the Mario series at large, but isn't ready for a full-on RPG.
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
In "Curious George - Sleep Apnea Followup Questions"
Maybe because they've been sleep-deprived for those four years?
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
This site and others like it might contain reviews of models you're interested in. Depending on what your pressure setting is, you may want ramping; that's where it starts low (mine starts at 6) and after a preset time switches to your actual prescription setting (7.5.) The delay lets you fall asleep before the higher pressure kicks in - I don't mind the pressure, but I do mind the noise. I haven't tried bipap... it sounds like a good idea; my pressure is low enough that exhaling isn't too hard. (And I like the funny whistling, though Ms. Helper differs...) As for a humidifier, I would suggest getting just the basic pap for now, and seeing if you have a problem. Here in the northwest, it doesn't get overly dry in the winter so I haven't needed one. (My concern with the humidifier is that I'll end up needing hoses more often to ward off mold&mildew...) If you find you need one, better to pay for the add-on (most devices support a number of addons) rather than paying upfront. Call your insurer to ask about their coverage for used devices. Remember that you generally do not have to do business with whoever your doctor has suggested. If you find the distributor's prices too high, poke around online. You'll need to get the prescription from your doctor, as most companies won't sell you one without.
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
In "The Oil We Eat"
Regarding the "agriculture as an early tool of aristocracy," I heard an interview on NPR's Marketplace at least two weeks ago where the counterargument was made. Particularly, that an aristocracy arose as a result of the seperation between those who could read agricultural records and those who could not. Food needed to be stored for future use, as long-term storage for famine times is the basic value proposition of farming. Every family having their own granary lead to inefficency, waste, and poor utilization across a community. Someone decided to make a communal granary to allow the whole group to have better distribution and management. Whammo - a caste of people whose job it is to keep track of what's in the silo rather than adding to its contents. Secondarily, those records need permanent storage so they can be referred to later - suprise! - writing becomes prominent rather neatly thereafter. Those folks who just add things to the silo don't need to read the records, they just have to trust that the one who is reading them does so correctly. I don't know - both explanations are equally plausible. I'm sure Sid Meier has something to say about all this. (ps - good elk is damn tasty)
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
In "NPR, PBS DOA?"
I'm partial to the now-departed Chitra Ragavan. I can't help it, listening to her report on all things Congressional came at a time when I was stuck in an otherwise uninteresting Midwestern experience. Congress' goings-on were far more interesting than listening to college cohorts yammer about their sporting conquests, especially when read with her precision pronunciation and delightful Indian lilt.
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
In "Curious George - Sleep Apnea"
So the trick to adjusting the pressure is to just keep upping the level a few points per night until he stops snoring. I had to up mine by 1.0cm/H2O from where the Doctor put it. If the pressure is set too high, he'll wake up tired and with achy chest muscles because of the effort expended to exhale against the CPAP. The tricky thing is that some doctors don't give instructions on setting the pressure... Which of course is crap, since your fiancee paid for (maybe indirectly through the ins. company) and instead require office visits to adjust. But, they're the doctors, and certainly do want to track what's being done with the prescription. If he's using a DeVilbiss machine, shoot me a note (email in profile) and I'll explain how to modify the pressure.
posted by HamburgerHelper 18 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)