I always bring at least 2 friends, one is generally another guy friend and the other is generally a 9mm or 40.

new favorite column? new favorite column.

I'd pick up shoes and baby toys, but my first Roomba experience was in a 1500sqft house occupied by a Pomeranian, two Corgis, an Australian Shepherd. It's got a little sensor thing so it knows to move around stuff. Sometimes it gets stuck in corners or under furniture, but it makes a sad noise so you know to go rescue…

I make my bed before I get in it every night. My wife and I are on different sleep schedules, so I'm always in bed before her. I go around to her side of the bed, straighten the sheets, fix the covers, and get her all set. Then I go around my side, and do the same for me. I get in bed with a feeling of…

You said Microsoft! I found the bug!

Black electrical tape over all the little power indicator lights on your TV, DVD player, fan, etc. TOTAL DARKNESS!

I want to know what the best mattress value is for the money - we are literally looking at mattresses right now and we probably won't buy another one for a good long time.

Several have had a huge impact. Among them:

My vote, as always, is for Comcast. For everything, in every category.

I keep wondering the same thing... but then I thought, who hasn't had at least one Red Bull in the last 12 years?

We just got back last week from a trip to East Africa and it was so sad to hear how much this was affecting them, in countries with no cases that are thousands of miles away from the outbreak. Our local guide said many folks had canceled scheduled trips, which is going to have a devastating effect on the economy of…

There's really no need for Americans to be concerned at all. Precisely one case of Ebola has been confirmed, and there's no evidence of it having spread at all beyond him anywhere in the US. Frankly, this panic is getting ridiculous.

I'd add another, favor darks over white and bright colors, they'll show dirt less and dry more quickly in the sun.

Our dogs are spoiled, and also are a bit sensitive to the cheaper dog food brands you can find anywhere like Walmart or similar. I have to get it from a smaller local shop, but it's worth spending a bit more for certain items like this if it means they like the food better and its healthier. Just like anything you…

If you're buying junk dog food that you can buy at Big Box, then yeah, maybe Amazon doesn't make sense. We buy A higher end dog food (thanks to a dog with allergies to a lot of other foods) and it's always cheaper on Amazon than the specialty pet stores we would otherwise buy it from. Delivered to my door in a couple…

Fellow Austinite here: I can vouch for this. My mortgage + taxes + insurance for our 2200 sq. ft. home in the northern suburb is only $1600. Coming from DC prices, Texas real estate is a dream.

West LA (specifically Culver City, which is next to Venice, Santa Monica, etc.) 3br duplex, 1,200 sq ft. $3000/month.

This average person? $20 Roseti bag from Bealls Outlet. Inside: pouch containing three flash drives; bugs flash drive filled w/ music; 2 pens; a flashlight; business cards; a wallet; some band-aids; some stashed cash; an alum wallet w/ my vulnerable cards, id, etc.; a lipstick; a small mirror; a tin of Paul Newman's…

A great benefit of being an engineer: What you wear does not matter.* I work in a t-shirt and jeans everyday.

I look at clothes like I look at shoes. As a dude, I feel I am only obliged to own three pairs of shoes: 1 black dress pair for work, 1 pair of sneakers (black Converse oxfords) and a pair of boots.