Query
 

He's more likely to try to snoop than some random person. That's all. Dirty as that sounded.

Query
 

Oh. True. A couple of his roommates are computer science majors. So it would be helpful if someone could recommend a particularly strong wiper. Flinty sent me this link: http://dban.sourceforge.net/ but if you are recommending a really thorough wipe, maybe you have a suggestion for a second one?

Query
 

Just run it a couple of times.

Query
 

OK. My stay-at-home-mom sister, who has 2 kids both of whom have been in school since January 3rd, and who has a college student babysitter who lives with them, finally managed to clear up her schedule enough to mail my cell phone back to me on Tuesday, so I have it back. I am feeling much happier about life. No blackberry and no cell phone make fringey a sad sad girl.

Mac mini media center
 

OK, now that I can dowload Star Trek, I can see my new macbook pro's 160 GB HD will soon be full.

I was thinking of taking over my son's mac mini, adding an external HD and making it the media center for music and videos and giving him my old powerbook.

He has one of the older power PC processor ones.

Any thoughts?

Will it be too slow if I later want to get an apple TV and stream?

Mac mini media center
 

I think it should be fine. Aren't there websites devoted to teh mac mini as media server?

The speed bottleneck is likely to be the network, not the firewire or the internal processor if you're streaming through iTV. Of course, why would you need iTV if you have a mini already doing it?

Mac mini media center
 

Query
 

I call b.s. You're too safe for that.

Dishwashers
 

At the risk of going rather low-tech, anyone have a dishwasher recommendation? I am unhappy with the Kenmore that I have, as it tends to leave a residue of crap on the glasses on the top rack (most annoying) and is noisy. If I decide to replace it, I will likely go with something higher end (e.g. Bosch) but wondered if anyone had recent experience.

Given that I have no idea who manufactured this particular Kenmore, that brand is no necessarily out of the running if someone has had a good experience.

Dishwashers
 

I have a Bosch that is about 2 years old. Mid-upper-range of their lines. Very quiet, very good cleaner. Listen to what they tell you about using just a tiny bit of detergent and keeping it filled with the rinse agent, and it's excellent.

Dishwashers
 

2 to all of this.

I vacationed recently at a place that had a Fisher Paykel (or however it is spelled) drawer-styled dishwasher. I dug it.

Dishwashers
 

I have a Kenmore, and it's fine and quiet (it was at the time high in the consumer reports ratings). The rinse agent helped a lot. And tailoring the amount of detergent to whether your water is hard or soft helps. I forget the relationship, but there is one.

Dishwashers
 

If you forget the relationship then how are you accounting it for in doing the dishes? Or do you just dump that duty on your poor overburdened wife?!? Sexist!!!

Dishwashers
 

Burger is MARRIED?????!!!!!!?????!!!!!!

And the heavens wept.








OK, I knew that -- I just felt like emoting.

Query
 

Good point. Yay me!

Dishwashers
 

The trouble with Kenmore is that it could be made by anyone, depending on who won the bidding thay year (although I guess it is mostly Whirlpool). Which is fine as long as you are willing to buy Kenmore, but unhelpful if you want to buy branded product based on a good Kenmore experience.

But thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I will try cutting back on the detergent, although I am skeptical as the crap that ends up inside my glasses was not there before washing.

Dishwashers
 

If you're not dead-set on buying something new, you might schedule a service call - depending on what the residue is like, it may be the rinse agent, or it could be an issue with enough water getting into the dishwasher - intake valve issue or something. Even so-so dishwashers usually do a decent job for a good long time and don't leave gunk behind.

Dishwashers
 

and don't forget to run the garbage disposal before starting the dishwasher.

Dishwashers
 

If that's getting dirt on the dishes, then your plumbing needs a major fix.

Dishwashers
 

I live in an apartment. I'm going with what works. It works. Like a charm. And is significantly less hassle than trying to get them to screw with my plumbing.

Dishwashers
 

Also, the filter might be blocked.

I don't believe Adder is concerned about quality. I think the real reason he doesn't want a Kenmore is that he is a domestic appliance status whore.

Dishwashers
 

It's not as if you wrote, "flush the toilet before running the dishwasher."

Dishwashers
 

I'm sure it's less hassle. If it's having an effect, the plumbing is a clear code violation. You're supposed to have an air gap between the dishwasher drain and the sink to prevent backflow. That's what the little knob on the side of your sink is for (at least that's where it usually is). If there's a blockage in the sink from undisposed food, what should happen is your sink fills up with the dishwasher drain water. If it sucks that water back into the dishwasher, well, the plumbing isn't right.

Double your pleasure
 

Bad news: Using your neighbor's wireless internet can get you jail.

Good news: It's in Singapore, where gum chewing is also illegal.

Dishwashers
 

PI?

Seriously though, it might open up some new possibilities to avoid or mitigate any future droughts........

Dishwashers
 

I may, in fact, be a bit of a status whore. But I am happy with the rest of my Kenmore appliances, and, in truth, the high end Kenmore stuff is oftern the same as or better than the branded stuff. Although deep down I just want to be able to hear the tv in the adjoining living room while the dishwasher is running, but am unwilling to spend the money if that is the only "problem."

But thanks for all of the suggestions, you guys have been very helpful.

Dishwashers
 

One thing I love about my dishwasher is the timer. I set it before going to bed, and in the morning, clean dishes (with no soapy residue). Although I can hear it if I'm in the next room, it doesn't wake me up. A feature to keep in mind, unless you sleep in the kitchen (hi Slave!)

Dishwashers
 

I can also recommend Bosch for quiet operation--if there is any other noise, I'm not certain it is running unless I am right next to it. Friends have Maytags which are comparably quiet; I am sure that the higher-end Kenmores are also. Also have no problem with residue, using exclusively the (manufacturer recommended) Electrasol tablets.

Dishwashers
 

Sounds great, Heloise, but why do you need the timer if you set it before going to bed to wash the dishes while you are sleeping? Are you the first one in your household to retire?

(As an aside, I would never do this, because I love the sound of the dishwasher running.)

(Also, I think all newer dishwashers are quieter than their predecessors. I bought a new, not terribly high-end Kenmore for my previous house and you could barely hear it, much to my chagrin.)

Dishwashers
 

I love being able to be in the kitchen having a conversation, then hearing a beep and only then remembering that the dishwasher's on.

Dishwashers
 

So I can set it and forget it!

I don't, miss literal, go back to the kitchen after brushing my teeth to turn the dishwasher on. I set the timer after loading it up after dinner, so that it starts washing a few hours later. Also, water is cheaper at that time of night.

If you want to zing me, you could point out that I'm a lazy bastard to want a timer rather than taking those extra steps.

Dishwashers
 

why not just turn it on when you're standing there?

Dishwashers
 

Aha. I admit, I was picturing you stopping at the dishwasher while in your robe, about to head up to bed after collecting a fresh glass from the cabinet in which to soak your teeth.

Dishwashers
 

Seriously? You have peak/off-peak water pricing? Electricity, sure, but water? Is it b/c of the price of the electricity for the pumps?

Dishwashers
 

If his low-end Kenmore dishwasher weren't so goddamned loud, you would have heard him mention that water is cheaper later at night.

Dishwashers
 

Because with the timer I don't have to. I can regale you with confusing stories about how I prefer to have it go on in the middle of the night, without any subsequent effort on my part!

I also have the clapper. (not the clap. Hi slave!)

Dishwashers
 

No, not seriously.

And to get timed electricity pricing here you have to subject yourself to some rEdiculous rates during all but middle-of-the-night hours.

Dishwashers
 

Another old-man rant:

Why do dryers have buzzers on them to alert you to the end of cycle, but washers do not?

Dishwashers
 

Ah, right - I forgot who has the crappy noisy dishwashers and who doesn't. I'm now having a minor crisis wondering a) whether my water is cheaper at night, b) whether I should be micromanaging my utilities along those lines and c) whether even if I wanted to I could constitutionally stand to do it. On the other hand, I have a fancy-ish dishwasher that I think purports to use less water, so maybe these concerns aren't for such as I. But maybe pennies add up. And as a poor divorcee living in an expensive mortgage, perhaps I should pay better attention. Augh.

Dishwashers
 

Fancy ones do. A pleasant, periodic beep.