What We Knew: Terror, Mass Murder and Everyday Life in Nazi Germany is an excellent collection of oral histories from people living in Germany at the time.

If you're open to primary sources/literature written during the period, I can't recommend The Diary of Anne Frank and Das Gesamtwerk by Wolfgang Borchert enough [second link auf Deutsch].... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 8:40 AM on August 5, 2008

I worked at a law office as a transcriptionist. It's among the better-paying office work out there, and the company I worked at had very flexible hours. YMMV.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 7:35 PM on August 3, 2008

I love the Magnolia Hotel, a really nice boutiquey hotel with chocolate chip cookies and happy hour every night.

See this post for some good food/beer suggestions.

By the by...a little thing called the Democratic National Convention is happening mere days after you leave...not sure how that is affecting hotel occupancy before the DNC.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 5:00 PM on August 3, 2008

hair and there
cuts on call
dial-a-do
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 6:13 PM on August 2, 2008

Toastmasters might be a good option if you are looking to speak in a business context.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 11:05 PM on August 1, 2008

In my experience, thinking yourself into someone else's head is a dangerous proposition. Especially when it concerns sexuality.

Long story short: mind your own business.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 2:13 PM on August 1, 2008

I second calling them. Once a recruiter talks to someone who is clearly qualified and hungry, dollar signs should start flashing before their eyes. Hopefully they'll be motivated to help you seal the deal (and get a big fat commission).
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 5:10 PM on July 30, 2008

You can sign up for GrandCentral now if you have a Blogger account.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 8:57 PM on July 19, 2008

Cotswold Gloucester is like heaven on earth.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 8:53 PM on July 19, 2008

Mm, actually I find that a breakfast with some fat and fiber and carbs in it keeps me way fuller and "sets me up" for a good eating day. When I eat just a handful of cereal or a piece of fruit, my metabolism rushes off like a thundering steed and I eat like a hog all day (to mix my animal metaphors). I like a smoothie made with flax meal, soy yogurt, tons of berries, and a bit of almond, peanut, or cashew butter. YMMV.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 8:50 PM on July 18, 2008

Unfortunately, allergies aren't quantity-sensitive (i.e., in a true allergy, ANY exposure to the allergen provokes a response, not necessarily just drinking gallons of milk). This means that full-on prevention is usually the only cure. Yes, it sucks, but there is hope.

I too am allergic to casein and have cut it completely out of my diet. This means no milk products in any foods and is a huge pain in the ass. Yes, cutting dairy out of the diet SUCKS. But since I... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:07 AM on July 13, 2008 marked best answer

Sorry, should have qualified...I'm not a doctor, but mine have told me to completely avoid the allergen whenever possible, because while my allergy doesn't necessarily produce a detectable reaction, ingestion of the allergen could contribute to other things like inflammation, crappy immune system, increased sensitivity to other foods, etc. Allergies also can change over time. Consult your doctor to find out what's right for you.

Here's an article that deals with... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 12:12 PM on July 13, 2008

I'm in love with my Pearl Izumi running cap. It's a baseball cap style; I can stick my ponytail or messy bun out of the back, it totally prevents sweat from getting in my eyes and the bill is black underneath to absorb rays.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 11:52 AM on July 9, 2008 marked best answer

I get that exact same feeling when my food allergies act up. I'm allergic to dairy and citrus.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 10:28 PM on July 7, 2008

Amazing popovers at DuParr's that will soothe any hangover
Hollywood Forever cemetery
Reading the names of shows filming at the various studios
The Hollywood Christmas Parade
Beachwood Canyon
LACMA, especially the amazing Central Meridian: The Garage" mixed-media piece
The Getty
Mint tea outside at the Casbah Cafe in Silverlake
Lavash press and Chinese chicken salads (or just brunch) at Jumpin'... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 4:22 PM on July 6, 2008

I'm going to say what I always say in such threads, which is "get thee to a dietitian who can measure your actual metabolism and give you a diet to suit."

I was extremely active and found upon metabolic analysis that I had actually been eating too little to sustain weight loss. This may or may not be the case for you. The point is that only an actual assessment of how many calories you are burning on a daily basis can really yield useful... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 4:29 AM on July 2, 2008

When the toys lose their luster, don't be afraid to get out some pots and pans, your cell phone (turned off, of course), or a set of keys. These are baby gold.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 8:07 PM on July 1, 2008

I don't see why the two have to be mutually exclusive. There have been plenty of writers with day jobs before you, and there will be plenty more when you're gone. Writers aren't all crammed up in stinky garrets dying of TB and wondering where to go begging for their next meal.

To me, the "am I too comfortable to be a writer" non-issue (and the fact that it took you a very, very long time to explain it in this post) may be an indication that you are avoiding... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 12:04 AM on June 30, 2008

For brunch, go to the Petticoat Bruncheon at Bump & Grind (439 E 17th Ave -- 17th and Pennsylvania) on Saturday or Sunday. It's within walking distance of the 16th Street Mall, the food is DELICIOUS and plentiful, and it will be served to you with a huge smile by an awesome drag queen.

Capitol Hill is very queer-friendly in general; perhaps a cocktail at Thin Man (2015 E 17th Ave -- 17th and Race) is in order.

In addition, don't miss... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 6:37 PM on June 26, 2008 marked best answer

I wouldn't be too worried as long as you stay on 17th. It tends to be pretty full of foot traffic on a weekend. Colfax can be kind of skeevy, but if you're a Brooklynite you'll laugh since the Denver version of skeevy is way less scary than the New York version.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 7:55 PM on June 26, 2008

Do you have any experience in the business? If not, I wouldn't even DREAM of opening a restaurant.

Either way, if you decide you want to, it sounds like you need a mentor. You shouldn't be opening a restaurant until you know how to perform every task from washing dishes and sweeping floors to dealing with vendors and doing menu planning or hiring staff.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 12:44 PM on June 26, 2008

You'll be fine. You're close to I-70 and the neighborhood is getting more gentrified by the second.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 6:21 PM on June 20, 2008

Sounds like you're doing well on the foam roller. I have really tight IT bands and it hurts like a MOFO to roll them out.

Try putting your front foot flat on the floor, then rolling your underside leg up and down the roller (no idea if that makes sense). You can also use it to roll out your backside by laying directly on top of it or rolling against a wall.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 10:21 AM on June 17, 2008

Seconding the idea of a brief trip. Travel made me feel more grown-up than any object when I was 16.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 8:38 AM on May 27, 2008

The song "You Walk With Me" from the musical "The Full Monty" is a GORGEOUS duet with love-related lyrics and was really simple to learn (I learned it in less than 24 hours for a funeral). I walk the line between mezzo and alto and found it really comfortable in my range.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 7:00 PM on May 15, 2008

Bernhard Schlink's Der Vorleser and Wolfgang Borchert's Das Gesamtwerk (a collection of short stories, poems, and essays, are both highly recommended.

The Reklam Heftchen are somewhat classically oriented, but I remember that Rohwolt put out a series of small books (about 75 pages apiece) that were translations and original-language works and were GREAT. One of them I recall reading was a Dorothy Parker short story in translation.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 10:29 AM on May 13, 2008

Public school, San Diego, 1985-1998. We did a "mini city" type thing where we learned how to write checks and balance an account book in about fourth grade...and there the education ended. I did go to a flaky arts high school and spent my junior year abroad, so maybe I just missed out on something?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:19 AM on April 28, 2008

I've had my Suunto for over a year and have had no quality problems. There's a slight learning curve to figure out which buttons to press, but I love it overall and use the watch with interval timer in the water four times a week without any damage.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 11:40 AM on April 27, 2008

I make a smoothie out of soy yogurt, a tablespoon of flax meal, about a tablespoon of delicious macadamia, cashew or almond butter. Add a cup of frozen fruit you've defrosted somewhat (a minute in the micro will do), rip out the immersion blender, and zap! Simple, healthy, filling, delicious.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 1:19 PM on April 19, 2008

Check your MeFi mail. :)
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 5:40 PM on April 18, 2008 marked best answer

327 or so comments on the flush/do not flush dilemma
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:16 PM on March 22, 2008

Some of the Go-Go's songs sound like they were recorded in a coffee can in a miserable shack somewhere. See: the entire "Beauty and the Beat" album.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 5:48 PM on March 11, 2008

I would try experimenting with more and better lube. No shame in making it easier. I can't imagine that giving her oral is going to hurt ANYTHING; nor is your being sensitive to her needs.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 8:34 PM on March 4, 2008

What about the bombing of the animals in the Berlin Zoo (Tiergarten) during WWII?
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 2:08 PM on March 3, 2008

The phone is a red herring here. You yourself say it's not the worst of his abusive, intrusive behaviors. The true issue is that your father is manipulative, controlling, and scary, and that you are terrified of doing anything about it.

As you well know, one of the key tactics of an abuser is to develop a relationship in which the abusee is dependent on the abuser. This is precisely what makes an abusive situation so hard and so fucking scary to end.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 10:15 PM on February 18, 2008

Little House on the Prairie.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 12:32 PM on February 18, 2008

+1 for "doch"...it's the equivalent of "yuh-huh", but an actual word!
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:03 AM on February 18, 2008

Do you get Scola TV or any station that has the Deutsche Welle programming auf Deutsch? I was an exchange student in high school, and that's one of my remaining connections to the language.

Also, I would recommend finding a German-speaking Stammtisch, either through MeetUp or a local college. You sit around and speak German with people of all levels. It's really the best way to keep fresh, get better, and make German a regular part of your life.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:50 AM on February 11, 2008 marked best answer

I adore Musso & Frank's. Old-fashioned service, olden-timey interiors, and amazing little olden-timey cocktails.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 10:18 AM on February 5, 2008 marked best answer

I met my boyfriend of over 3 years on OkCupid. When I was doing the online dating thing, I tended to immediately reject e-mails that were:

* generic. Anything that sounded canned or did not directly respond to something in my profile was chucked
* accompanied by cock shots. For obvious reasons (or perhaps not so obvious? Some online daters seem to have a hard time with that).
* poorly spelled or otherwise indicative of atrocious grammar or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 12:16 PM on January 28, 2008

This kind of reminds me of what the AA crowd says about making amends to people. It is not recommended that a person pursue amends, or a reconciliation, or whatever you want to call it, if they are likely to cause harm by doing so.

It might relieve your conscience or feel therapeutic to reach out to her, but I would ask myself about what the consequences might be for her before pursuing this course of action. If she truly desires never to hear from you again, you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 10:48 PM on January 11, 2008

The original Super Mario Bros. for NES.

Oregon Trail for Apple IIE.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 10:31 AM on January 8, 2008

Distribution and marketing budgets are huge reasons to go mainstream. If you self-publish, you're going to have to distribute and market your book yourself. A mainstream publisher takes over many of these functions for you in addition to giving you a legitimacy you'd never have on your own. Case in point: I don't hear or see many (any) authors on Fresh Air or CNN who have written an e-book or a self-published book. I DO see tons who have published through mainstream houses that lend their... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 1:23 PM on January 7, 2008

I heart Whole Foods' vanilla soy powder.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:00 AM on January 4, 2008

Er, Wild Oats. Shame that they're all becoming so interchangeable to me!
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:00 AM on January 4, 2008

I would suggest finding a reputable dietitian or nutritionist, doing a metabolic analysis and designing a plan together that's tuned in to your body, your lifestyle, and your needs. Supervision can make sure that the weight comes off at the right speed and that it stays off. My dietitian helped make a plan that's easy to track, doesn't deprive me of ANY foods, and is shaving off the weight slowly, surely, and hopefully permanently, and I can't recommend that road enough.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:12 PM on January 3, 2008

I'm curious -- did he know you were awake? Was he overtly "performing" for you, or was it more like a bodily function he just happened to be performing in front of you?

If it was not okay with you, you obviously have an issue to address. Either way, it sounds like talking to him is the only way to a) find out what his thought process is/was, and b) lay out boundaries and expectations as to how you will proceed in the future.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 9:04 PM on January 3, 2008

I will be watching this thread with great interest, since I have been in a similar situation with my little sister for the last seven years or so.

I'm not sure how you can warn your sister without losing her trust, since it sounds like she will be defensive at best.

No matter what, though, she should know that you love her, you are here for her, and you will continue to be so no matter what. It's been hard to keep that promise through the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 6:03 PM on January 1, 2008

Palm Thai Restaurant is a short drive away and features delicious Mee Krob, amazing curries and the Thai Elvis, which is its own entertainment unto itself.
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 6:56 PM on December 30, 2007

Add an "s" and you have the name Palms Thai, which is its real name. :)
posted to Ask Metafilter by mynameisluka at 6:58 PM on December 30, 2007