It's definitely a YMMV situation. I work for a staffing agency and I doubt that one cover letter in a hundred gets read here. At other companies that's not the case.

It already seems you can write. Words in a row. Correctly spelled. Reasonable syntax and grammar. You've already exceded what many applicants will deliver. If you have something to say, a point of view to express, go for it! What's the worst that can happen? They delete your email and you start your own site?

I only found out about it last week and haven't had a chance to take it for a test drive. However, the number of users claimed and the traffic stats make me think it does work. On the down side, they freely admit there is a performance penatly. Not an answer for file sharing, but it probably still has its place. …

Perhaps using the Tor Project's services would help? [www.torproject.org] It seems to be designed for just this sort of situation, and any situation where you want to have a secure connection.

I bet Mike's significant other gets really annoyed when Mike leaves the room and everything shuts down, leaving the SO alone in the dark.

Sounds like having a second account on the social media sites, your squeaky clean pages, would be a good idea if you're desperate enough to find a job that you'd at least want to look like you're willing to give up your personal info.

I have been hired several times because I sent thank you notes. At this time, I work for a staffing agency, and I see that a lot depends on the corporate culture. Still, a mailed piece of paper carries a lot more weight than you might think.

The big unstated issue here is, will you actually do the work? Sure, you can save a few hundred bucks by changing your plugs, or doing your own brake job. However, when you look at the list of things to check and do for your scheduled maintenance, are you going to really do them?

Incandescent light bulbs have not been outlawed. They just have to meet a higher efficiency standard to continue to be sold. And some of them already do.

Have they fixed voice dialing with bluetooth yet? It would be nice to have a true hands free phone experience. And necessary in some jurisdictions.

It depends on which model you get. The early ones were not very good.

Actually, you don't need to thaw the meat first. We put steak in sous vide bags with rosemary and freeze them. When we want a steak, straight from the freezer into the water bath.

Not only does the water never reach the boiling point, the water never reaches the fish. Just the heat. VERY different from boiling, simmering or steaming.

Gee... you should have put a spoiler alert on that.

A number of people are generalizing things that really are a matter of individual taste. Personally, most colognes give me severe headaches. A small amount at close range doesn't seem to bother me. Enough that I can smell it before I see you is enough to cripple me.

@cisco_03 Gee, you failed the reading test. I said that writing would not be part of their job.

That's right, you finger people!

Tailoring the resume for the position is NOT cheating, it is a success strategy. If I'm looking for a PHP programmer, I don't need to know about your Fortran, Cobol and PL1 experience.

It also depends on the nature of the job you are applying for. We hire a lot of mechanics, and we really don't care about their spelling and punctuation. Writing will not be a part of their job.

Giving software is ALWAYS dangerous. Touch it once, support if for life! You WILL get phone calls and emails. About "this software you gave me". I like the idea of a gift that keeps on giving, but when what it gives is pain to the giver... not so much.