title: How to open files relative to home directory
body: <p>The following fails with <code>Errno::ENOENT: No such file or directory</code>, even if the file exists:</p>
  
  <pre><code>open('~/some_file')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>However, I can do this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>open(File.expand_path('~/some_file'))
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I have two questions:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Why doesn't <code>open</code> process the tilde as pointing to the home directory?</li>
  <li>Is there a slicker way than <code>File.expand_path</code>?</li>
  </ol>