Q. How do you make Spotlight search for system files by default?

A. The published solution below will require you to use Command+F in finder to activate, but its nice because now you have the choice. Normal spotlight will act.. normally. Command+f will include all system files.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20080229204517495&query=finder%2Bsearch

Q. What does ~/ mean when describing folders on a mac?

A. The tilda refers to the users home directory.

i.e. ~'/Library' = 'jlross/Library' for me