Thanks, all. I'm still looking for more sources.

Here's an interesting article I found that's heavily footnoted.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 4:25 PM on September 27, 2008

Yes. I am related to deeply religious evangelicals who are also lifelong Democrats. There's absolutely no reason why people cannot be both.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 3:34 PM on September 24, 2008

Hey, surenoproblem:

Could you clarify the question please? Are you only looking for the specific words on the radio show, or are you attempting to ask a more general question?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 6:23 PM on September 16, 2008

Are books out of the question? The Shrine of Jeffery Damer is this generation's In Cold Blood (you know about In Cold Blood, right?) Both books are disturbing and brilliant.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 1:04 PM on September 14, 2008

Yeah, The Killer Inside of Me and American Psycho. I'm pretty sure Dexter is first person(but he's totally self aware). There's a lot of noir that could be classified as such, depending on your definition of "evil." Andrew Vachss's Shella is narrated by a professional killer, but he's not exactly evil.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 6:10 PM on September 13, 2008

Yeah, but Holden isn't evil.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:34 PM on September 13, 2008

Los Angeles will be a good city to be in. For one thing, we're on the West Coast so election returns will start coming in three hours earlier in the day than they will in Miami. The weather will be nice, there's a lot of enthusiasm and plenty of bars and clubs. There's also a lot of different cultures here to soak in, and plenty of cheap and wonderful food from around the world.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:27 AM on September 13, 2008

Trouble is, at the end of the day it's really difficult to transition from non-fiction to fiction and from have-to-I-get-paid to want-to-so-I'm-disciplined work.

I've had this problem as well. Two things: maybe try getting up in the morning and writing fiction first-thing, as opposed to waiting all day and feeling guilty. Also, be sure that this isn't just an excuse for a deeper kind of procrastination based on fear, anxiety or something like that... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 11:07 PM on September 5, 2008

My parents played a smart trick on my brother and me when we were young. They bought us a whole lot of books and then marked their inside covers with a difficulty level. They never explicitly said, hey, read at the highest level! But who wants to read a dumb old level one book when there are level five books waiting to be discovered?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 5:09 PM on August 21, 2008

I lived there for a year. It's pretty great. But it's really expensive, and in its own way its as close-minded, insular and uniform as my previous home of the Ozarks. I actually started telling people I was a Republican just to see the look in their eyes.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 8:11 PM on August 19, 2008

Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps
Queens of the Stone Age
Kyuss -- Blues For the Red Sun
Metallica -- And Justice For All

Guys like this that I know often get very into A Perfect Circle and Tool, and maybe Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains and Pantera.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 2:14 PM on August 16, 2008 marked best answer

You do realize this solo act will be crazy difficult to pull off without a lot of advance planning and luck?

Absolutely. That's why I'm not certain it's part of the plan.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 12:31 PM on August 8, 2008

Seconding the Rollins Band up there. Also, although it's specifically about feminism, I always enjoy "Seneca Falls" by the Distillers for this kind of thing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 11:47 AM on August 5, 2008

It's a stereotype, of course, combining all the worst perceived traits of the American left, in much the same way that "redneck" is a concentrated dose of conservative stereotypes. When used by generally liberal people (who are the only people I hear bitch about hippies these days), it's a means of distancing yourself from these stereotypes without having to make excuses for your politics. "I may vote Democrat, but I'll eat the hell out of this steak" and whatnot.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 1:48 PM on July 31, 2008

I interviewed Dean Ween once, and brought up the topic of hippies at Ween shows. A musician on mocking and not mocking hippies:

"Yeah, we sure are [attracting hippies], huh? It's cool. If they dig it, they dig it. We openly kind of mock that scene. I don't really give a shit, though ... We come from a jam mentality. We don't have rehearsals. We jam for five hours -- probably not unlike fucking Phish or moe. or anybody like that. Except with us, that's not where it's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 3:44 PM on July 31, 2008

Maybe I used a bad example, but I'm certain that it doesn't mean "offscreen." For one thing, there's already notation for that, as in

BOOKHOUSE (O.S): Maybe I used a bad example.

Here's an example taken from a Final Draft template:

CLAUDETTE enters and ambles over to them.
CLAUDETTE
(re: Dutch)
Dialogue here.
She steps away from Vic and Lemonhead, approaches Danny and Dutch. Off Vic and Lem turning away to do some policing --
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:52 AM on July 23, 2008

You usually only see OFF and ON in shooting scripts, because they're director and cinematographer notes, not screen notes.

And this is the most salient point for my purposes. Thanks, all.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 10:15 AM on July 23, 2008

a). There is a wonderful chapter in David Simon's Homicide that discusses just how the police convince suspects to talk without a lawyer. Obviously it happens, or there would be almost no convictions or guilty pleas.

b). In discussions with the police, yes. In courtrooms, no. See the same chapter of Homicide to see how cops elicit confessions.

c). I'm not qualified to talk about this one.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:57 PM on July 22, 2008

"will have my guts my for garters."

"will eat my lunch."

"will own my ass."
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 4:06 PM on July 22, 2008

Marlena Shaw's version of California Soul, played loud.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 6:45 PM on July 16, 2008

I have to join the chorus of voices that say, "don't bother." Someone saying they don't believe in science indicates 1). A deep misunderstanding of what science is and 2). most likely some deeply held beliefs that they aren't going to shed for you or anyone else.

You'd have to explain to them how science isn't men in white coats making proclamations about the universe. You would most likely lose them at this point. If you were able to get... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 1:51 PM on July 15, 2008

Just an update -- Thin Lizzy posted the question, but I'm the one who needed the service. And Script Copier is awesome. He printed up my manuscript, had it boxed and ready to go, and even had a "requested materials" sticker to place on the Fed Ex box so my mss wouldn't get lost in the slush pile. Almost 400 pages, shipped from LA to NYC, and for just twenty dollars. Awesome service. Thanks, visual mechanic.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 1:36 PM on July 15, 2008

French cuffs? You can even use paperclips on 'em.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 7:23 PM on July 14, 2008

Planet Earth has spectacular slow motion nature shots.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 8:58 PM on July 10, 2008

A Not-For-Tourists guide, a Zagats guide, a Metro card, Dr. Schol's pads for his shoes, an umbrella.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 7:44 PM on June 15, 2008 marked best answer

Cavite is a Filipino-American (set mostly in the city of the same name) film with both English and Tagalog dialog. It's pretty good.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 6:50 PM on June 15, 2008

Wouldn't it be a lot easier just to leave your credit cards on the ground?

Anyway, you either head to a country with no extradition treaty, or hide out somewhere where people are sympathetic to you.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 7:28 AM on June 15, 2008

It's Mr. Show! It's when David Cross moves from pretending to be a doctor to an audience member. It happens at 12:30 or so in this video.

Thanks. My nightmare is now over.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 4:38 PM on June 8, 2008

Information is your friend.

Buy a Not For Tourists guide. They have incredible maps of the city with tons of information (including subway lines). Use hopstop.com to plan your trips until you learn the subways well. Read Chowhound to learn good places to eat.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 7:53 AM on June 6, 2008

You might be interested in this thread.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 12:58 PM on June 1, 2008

Y'all get up early. I'd say noon as the right time. That's as early as I'd phone anyone who'se schedule I wasn't sure of, and power tools are louder than a phone.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:17 AM on June 1, 2008

Seconding Barefoot Boy with Cheek. It's a very clear inspiration for Deep Thoughts.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 10:51 AM on May 26, 2008

The Cotton Club, sorta.
Idlewild
This number in The Band Wagon
Film noir-ish with musical numbers:
The Godfather Part III (opera)
The Black Dahlia (weird lesbian stage show)

Also, there's a couple of musical numbers in Johnny Dangerously, including this song from Weird Al.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:39 PM on May 25, 2008

the kind you would have heard while you were getting high in your friends basement

Ween's Chocolate and Cheese. The Butthole Surfers. Gravediggaz. Tool.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 6:57 PM on May 21, 2008

Yeah, I worked as a full-time music writer for an alt-weekly for a few years, after working as a freelancer before that, and as a movie critic afterwards. I'd stand by what Klang and wfrgms said, mostly. A few things:

1). As Klang said, the number of people who make a living at music writing is vanishingly small, and getting smaller every day. Again like Klang said, when I was a full-timer, I was one of exactly two salaried music writers in my city. People are very... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 3:42 PM on May 10, 2008

Oh, on non-preview:

- Everyone who likes music thinks they would be a good music writer. Be prepared for harsh crit from douchebags.

True story: My paper came out Wednesday morning. Once for a period of two months I got long voicemail every Wednesday from some dude who went through the music section, page by page, and talked about how I was a bad writer, I had bad tastes and all of my freelancers were garbage. I don't know... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 3:46 PM on May 10, 2008

Yes, with two caveats:

1). A really nice bottle of vodka

2). You know for a fact that he'll really enjoy it. Some people don't dig vodka and could care if it is fancy or not. Some people don't drink at all. If you aren't sure, then the answer is no.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:10 PM on April 28, 2008

I guess it depends on how you are defining "fine dining," then. Considering how undressy New York is these days, there's hardly any "get dressed up" restaurants left. al di là's cuisine certainly qualifies, and I hear wonderful things about Momofuku Ko, although I'll probably never get to eat there because they don't take reservations in the normal way.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 7:50 PM on April 28, 2008

Something by Air?
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 4:50 PM on April 27, 2008

Linda, Linda!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:03 AM on April 25, 2008 marked best answer

I just built my site using squarespace and I cannot say enough in praise of it. For easy to use web-based software, I think it looks far better than blogger or wordpress and is just as easy to use.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 4:59 PM on April 23, 2008

I came here to mention the Ellroy books as well, but they do fail your (b) requirement.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:01 AM on April 22, 2008

Oh, and outdoor suggestions are okay, as long as I can get comfortable and there is a public bathroom nearby.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 12:45 PM on April 18, 2008

Thanks, everyone. Hooray, I have written at Tazza in the past (I live two blocks from there). Pretty good food, too.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 4:36 PM on April 18, 2008

I think it is incorrect to see a conversation as merely the transmission of information. People talk for many reasons -- maybe they are trying to process a story, or relive it, or share the moment with you. Maybe they have a hard time fitting their thoughts into spoken words and want to practice. Maybe they want to finish their thought so that it feels finished inside them. Unless they are monologuing for a long period of time, I think you should cut them a break.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:10 AM on April 16, 2008

I'm afraid I don't have any help for you, but I felt the same way as you when I drank (and it got much worse after I hit 30). So I quit drinking completely, and yeah, your social skills suffer, but I'll take that over feelings of panic and cosmic guilt.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:17 AM on April 7, 2008

Yeah, I think most people would say that it's the influence of Method acting, probably most importantly the work of Marlon Brando.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 9:08 AM on April 7, 2008

I'm not sure what's going on here at the time, but May is prime New York City season. It ought to be just beautiful here, neither too hot nor too cold.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 8:01 AM on April 5, 2008

Yeah, just to add to the crowd, you will not get to Chicago in four hours. Five hours at best, but I've had a nine hour ordeal on this route as well. The bathrooms get really ripe when this happens. Pack lots of food (and water).

On the good side, it's not usually an overly crowded train, so you should be able to spread out.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 7:41 AM on April 4, 2008

You must read Man's Search for Meaning, a book written by a Holocaust survivor/psychotherapist.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Bookhouse at 6:33 AM on April 4, 2008