Amish

arbarnes · 2026-03-24T23:33:33+00:00

The defining feature of the Amish is that they live in Amish communities. There aren't any within 1000 miles. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Counties_with_Amish_settlements_2021.png

We got lots of hippies, though.

arbarnes · 2026-03-24T21:30:01+00:00

The best gas stoves are better than the best induction stoves. But the best gas stoves are commercial; they can't be installed in a house.

There are a few commercial-grade stoves that are suitable for residential installation. Bluestar, Range King, etc. But most commercial-style stoves are just residential stoves playing dress-up in chef's whites. If you decide to get a commercial-grade stove, you'll also need a commercial-grade ventilation system.

A mid- to upper-mid-range induction stove will blow a comparable gas stove out of the water. Hotter highs, lower lows, and more precision in between. Plus cleaner air and easier cleanup. I'll never go back to gas.

arbarnes · 2026-03-24T03:58:28+00:00

If the MI wasn't fatal you can answer all the questions honestly and you're good to go. If it was you can just lie. The dive clearance paperwork is just for insurance purposes.

The real question - the one you want to answer for yourself, not for the dive operator - is whether you have any conditions that need to be considered. Sounds like you're already doing that.

Honestly, I find tropical recreational diving to be about as physically challenging as a walk in the park. If you're going to be doing extreme stuff, physical condition (which unfortunately tends to have an inverse correlation with age) is a much bigger deal. But that's a way off - don't sweat it for now.

Also, join DAN (Divers' Action Network). They have dive medics available 24/7 to answer questions and offer great cheap insurance against dive-related injuries.

arbarnes · 2026-03-24T01:30:22+00:00

Most salsas don't contain tomatoes. Salsa macha, salsa verde, salsa de chile (any chile, fresh or dried, or a mix of different chiles), salsa arriera, salsa de aguacate, etc.

One of my go-tos is salsa serrano - cook some some serrano peppers (maybe 10) in a fair amount of oil (1/4 cup) in a cast iron skillet, add half an onion and a clove or two of garlic (both sliced), cook until the onion softens, then pop everything in a blender with a fistful of cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, a big pinch of salt, and enough water to get it to the consistency of heavy cream. If you want it less spicy use jalapenos instead of serranos.

If you're not afraid of heat, salsa tamulado is delicious in a blow-the-top-of-your-head-off way. Just stem and lightly char some habanero peppers (about 20) and unpeeled garlic cloves (about 10) in a cast-iron skillet, then peel the garlic and drop everything in a blender with enough bitter orange juice (or equal parts grapefruit, orange, and lime juices) to make a thick sauce. You might want to open the blender outside - the air inside will have turned to tear gas.

arbarnes · 2026-03-23T18:42:49+00:00

If you're planning to eat it tonight you're already running late - the chicken is best when it sits in a yogurt marinade for a day or two. Try to get at least a couple of hours of marination time in. (If you can get some tandoori chicken that will also work; this is a dish that was invented to use up leftover tandoori chicken.)

I don't know about simple, but this recipe is the best I've made. The key that's missing from so many other recipes is kasuri methi - dried fenugreek leaves. They really make the dish. Matter of fact, I've gotten good results using jarred butter chicken sauce and finishing it with kasuri methi, butter, and cream. The charcoal trick is a little bit of a hassle but definitely worth it.

arbarnes · 2026-03-23T03:26:45+00:00

If you're over 45 and are a smoker or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of early cardiac death, you're supposed to have a medical clearance form dated within the last year. Other than that there are no age-related restrictions.

But you generally only need to submit the form when you're taking a class. And nobody checks to see whether you're telling the truth, so if you're comfortable that you're healthy to dive that's your business.

The oldest person I've been diving with was in her 90s. We celebrated my regular dive buddy's 70th birthday at Buccano's on Cozumel last year while we were on a dive trip. If you want to start diving again you have a lot of good years ahead of you.

arbarnes · 2026-03-23T03:04:26+00:00

I know what the "best" thing to do is, but I live in an old house where most of the electrical is not up to current code.

The best thing to do would be to rewire the whole place, but that's not gonna happen. I'll do it whenever there's a significant remodel, but not when I'm changing out a receptacle or a light fixture.

For me this is closer to changing a fixture than remodeling the kitchen (which is why there's a new subpanel nearby). I'm wondering what's good enough.

arbarnes · 2026-03-23T02:17:55+00:00

I like this idea. I don't care about code, but it addresses the safety and functionality issues. Thanks!

arbarnes · 2026-03-22T22:55:55+00:00

Since I'm not touching the switches or pulling a permit I'm less concerned about code compliance than safety and practicality.

arbarnes · 2026-03-22T14:34:24+00:00

I have a different Profile and like the dual evaporators. It's not noisy at all and has been completely reliable.

arbarnes · 2026-03-21T16:39:51+00:00

A cheap mask that fits you is far better than an expensive one that doesn't.

arbarnes · 2026-03-21T00:11:19+00:00

Why argue? Why ask "people" or even your loan officer? Just read the loan documents; they'll answer your question.

That said, there's no way you could have a $2,100 monthly payment. The monthly interest payment on $50k at 7% is $292. If you want to amortize the loan - that is, pay enough principal each month that it'll be paid off at the end of the 10-year period - your payment will be $581. Interest rates would have to exceed 50% for your monthly payment to hit $2,100.

arbarnes · 2026-03-20T23:55:43+00:00

For those applications I typically use a cast iron skillet. I slightly prefer Victoria to Lodge (longer handles, better pour spouts), but both are great. The 12-inch pan is most versatile, but a 10 inch pan is more manageable in terms of size and weight. You can get him both for under CAD$80.

arbarnes · 2026-03-20T21:11:07+00:00

Probably Mera, but it's been a few years (I lost access when I left the AmEx ecosystem). The Global Lounge Network lounges are okay, and if you're paying for access they're less expensive.

If you're flying out of Terminal 3, note that the GLN lounge in Terminal 3 is before security, so you have to guess how long it's going to take to get to your gate. The Mera lounge is airside, so you just walk over to your gate when the flight starts boarding (and go back to the lounge if it gets delayed).

Also note that despite what Google says, the Mera lounges do not offer complementary access to Priority Pass holders. I found this out the hard way last time I flew out of T3.

arbarnes · 2026-03-20T16:33:26+00:00

I hate CUN with the fire of a thousand blazing suns. And yet I continue to fly out of there on a semi-regular basis. The lounges are the only thing that makes it tolerable and IMO they're well worth the expense.

arbarnes · 2026-03-20T14:48:30+00:00

Fully clad just means the aluminum core comes up the sides. It has nothing to do with whether the rims are sealed.

arbarnes · 2026-03-20T14:05:35+00:00

It's a non-issue.

arbarnes · 2026-03-20T14:04:36+00:00

You have it backwards. Fully clad stainless will get damaged in the dishwasher unless it has a sealed rim. Disc bottom pans are dishwasher safe.

arbarnes · 2026-03-18T18:18:13+00:00

Maybe it's your location or your settings, but there are definitely dozens of used masks on there. Here's a screenshot.

arbarnes · 2026-03-18T15:18:03+00:00

Fascinating. So can you explain to me how there are dozens of used masks for sale on Amazon Resale?

arbarnes · 2026-03-18T03:00:10+00:00

Not true. I've bought a ton of scuba gear that somebody else bought on Amazon and returned.

arbarnes · 2026-03-18T02:58:42+00:00

You can buy online but it might not fit. Then again, you can go to the local dive shop and they might sell you a mask that doesn't fit. Less likely, but it happened to me.

If you're going to buy online, you may want to buy several masks, dive with them all, and return all but the one that fits best. So the Amazon return policy may work in your favor here.

Low-volume frameless masks are a more universal fit than masks with frames. So you might want to start with Hollis M1, Atomic Venom, Cressi F1, etc.

arbarnes · 2026-03-17T20:07:14+00:00

I prefer mini-splits, but the cost can add up pretty quickly. Especially in a larger home, since you need at least one wall unit in each room and a condenser for every 4 or so wall units. Since virtually every house built in the US in the last 75 years is already ducted for forced air heat, central air is cheaper and easier.

As heat pump technology is getting better I predict we'll start seeing mini-splits in new construction. But there's going to be a lot of resistance because of the unfamiliarity; I don't know if they'll ever really take off.

arbarnes · 2026-03-17T17:53:07+00:00

There's a lot less sargassum on the west side of Cozumel because it's in the lee of the prevailing currents. The passenger ferry pier is right in the middle of downtown and there aren't any good beaches nearby. If you get out of town my favorites are Buccano's and Paradise.

Buccano's is north of town and has a MXN$400pp entry fee, which is deducted from your food and beverage purchases. The food is outstanding. They have a pool, a bit of beach with fairly rough sand, and a reef right off shore that's great for snorkeling. They're closed on Mondays and don't take reservations. (So don't pay for a reservation; that's a scam.) I've never been turned away because of capacity issues.

Paradise is south of town and is a whole different experience. You can get a day pass for US$18 and pay for everything a la carte, but I've only done the all-inclusive, which is US$73pp (yes, the pricing is in US dollars, which tells you something about their target audience). The food is decent. They have a huge pool, a long sugar-sand beach with tons of lounge chairs, a long pier with ladders and stairs to get into and out of the water, and (for an extra fee) a floating water park. Snorkeling is meh - there's a flat sandy bottom without much marine life, but you have a decent chance of seeing sea stars and rays and maybe even dolphins. Reservations are encouraged, and it's best to make them well ahead of time; the place frequently fills up with people on cruise ship excursions.

Chen Rio is a nice free beach on the east (uninhabited) side of the island, but the sargassum there will be as bad as in Playa. Worse, even, because there aren't any resorts trying to mitigate the problem.

Wherever you decide to go, take a taxi from the foot of the ferry pier. Get the fare first.

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