InscrutablePhil

I'm attempting to build a little script that will pull elevation data from the USGS's Elevation Point Query Service.

I've used urllib and requests and both hang. I've tried passing parameters and hardcoding and both hang. curl hangs. wget hangs. However when I use postman it magically works. But only inside postman. When I copy the python code produced by postman and run it, it hangs. At this point, I have no idea why it won't work outside postman. For reference, here's the exact code postman produces:

import requests

url = "http://nationalmap.gov/epqs.php"

querystring = {"x":"-75.981746", "y":"36.389272", "units":"meters", "output":"js

I took advantage of the discounted El Jefe over at Ikon to try my hand at SE razors. So far I've been through four different blades and can't help but cut myself to pieces. I might occasionally nick myself with my DE or straight if I'm not paying attention, but this is, by comparison, a blood bath. They're not major cuts, just weepers, which led me to think it might be a matter of finding the right blade, but having gone through four with no change, I'm suspecting this might require a different technique.

Here's the deal: I'm interested in exploring the next level of straight razor honing, so I stuck my head out and peered into the rabbit hole that is the world of high end natural hones and guys, I'll be honest, I need an adult.

I think I'm getting it squared away, but some insight would be awesome. Here are the contenders and what I understand is a comparable "grit":

Black Arkansas (8000-10000), Translucent Arkansas (10000-12000), Y/G Escher (10000-12000), B/G Escher (12000-15000), Zulu Grey (HIGHLY variable 8000-15000), Apache Strata (12000-15000), Apache Black Gila (Something ridiculous 15000+?), Jnats (Depends on slurry stone. Upper end 15000-30000)

One thing I will mention, because I

Recently I posted that I've been gifted a weishi by a friend and am interested in buying a more aggressive DE. To that end I've been hoping to find a Gillette adjustable of some kind and would like some advice.

I've pretty well scoured the local antique stores and flea markets. Good news is I found two Gillettes, bad news is I don't have a good sense of a fair price for these.

One is an E/F 4 (couldn't read it clearly) flair tip super speed. It's in really good condition from what I could tell, and asking price was $45. Problem is, from what I understand, this is barely a step up in aggressiveness from the weishi.

The other was a Fat Boy (I completely forgot to even look at the date code)

Since picking up wet shaving I've always shaved with a straight, however, a friend of mine suggested I try a DE as he insisted it would be quicker and easier. He then gave me one of his razors, which is either a Van der Hagen or a Micro Touch, I can't tell, and a small unmarked box of blades.

Anyway, I've been experimenting with it a few days now and I'm generally happy with it, the idea of using a DE that is, but there's one thing that's really bothering me: If anything, this razor is too mild. I cannot for the life of me feel the blade--I may as well be running the back of my straight across my face. I can't really gauge if and how well the blade is cutting, if my angle is correct, if

I tried a mentholated soap for the first time recently (Maggard's orange menthol) and while I enjoyed the sensation, good god, it made my eyes burn.

Are there any other, less overwhelming, mentholated soaps so I can get the menthol sensation without having to break out my old chem lab goggles?

I'm beginning my second semester working towards a masters in engineering, however, I'm rather lacking in drive now thanks to my experience last semester because I very much got the sense that my goals and priorities are not at all in line with that of the university/faculty.

I decided to come to grad school because I enjoyed undergrad and wanted delve a little deeper into the material so that I could have a greater appreciation and understanding of the field. I was told grad school was the place to do that.

However, I'm rather disillusioned after last semester. I took 9 hours (considered full time here, I know some places require 12) and honestly feel that I came away with very little to