This weird thing happened where all of a sudden I could not get a DHCP address while the Application Firewall was on.

So the answer for me is to replace the alf config with an original.

sudo cp /usr/libexec/ApplicationFirewall/com.apple.alf.plist /Library/Preferences/com.apple.alf.plist

Mac support was of no help.  When I called I had two people say  “Oh so you want to connect to the internet AND have your firewall on?”  And that I would need help from Engineering for my “Special” request.  I feel for all those other users out there that had  reinstalls because Apple Support is so friendly and nice, but totally clueless.

I don’t know why they can’t even search their own site before they start calling their customers stupid.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1810?viewlocale=en_US