I planned on being a novelist, but after my parents died, and my publicists turned out to be frauds who robbed me of my life’s savings, I gave up on it. Today a deranged woman on Twitter kept using the word “novelist” to insult me. Since she’s illiterate, has no factual knowledge, and hates Jews,…
An interview with my proofreader
April 1, 2015
The proofreader of Ghosts and Ballyhoo: Memoirs of a Failed LA Music Journalist is named Tom Pickel. He generously did the job for free. A professional would’ve charged me $2000 at least. Tom is a great proofreader; today he informed me that he’s also a very odd fellow, which is truly excellent. I’m a huge…
Cancer of the mind
October 21, 2014
There’s a cancer of the mind. It’s called “fantasy.” Like cheesecake, fantasy is great in controlled dosages. My brother Paul and my sister Carrie once made a cheesecake with strawberry topping, split it in half, and finished it down to the last crumb of graham-cracker crust. Neither of them ate cheesecake again for over twenty…
Israelis know
August 31, 2014
Imagine living a world in which almost everyone who interacts with you is dishonest, corrupt, irrational, implacable, and hostile. Again and again you find yourself facing generic personalities, humanoids that repeat the same slogans endlessly and can’t be reached. They screw you without mercy, but you have no recourse. Nobody understands. I don’t have to…
Why I write posts on Pallywood
August 4, 2014
Since so many people have asked, tonight I’ll explain why I write posts on Pallywood. I have a very specific motivation. And, because of my burgeoning reputation as a madman, I’ll explain why I believe that maybe—just maybe—this was my purpose in life. First of all, I’m not religious. I’m a theist, which means I…
You don’t speak for me
July 11, 2014
Today I read a long blog post about how “90 percent” of us are furiously jealous of all good fortune that others enjoy. It’s only natural. If someone else is happy, successful, attractive, physically fit, talented, healthy, wealthy, and wise, the overwhelming majority of us wish ill on the person and hope they suffer calamity….
A nightmare, some help, and a flower
June 5, 2014
Last night I had terrible dream. I don’t know why it was so awful. Since my bad dreams linger, I was sure that the whole day was ruined. But I appear to have gotten some help. In the nightmare I tried to call my mother on the phone. The need to connect with her was…
On Losing Everything, Part Two
June 3, 2014
So, what are my thoughts on Ryan Kelly Chamberlain’s letter about losing everything? I think it’s a joke. He’s a joke. Don’t get me wrong: His depression is certainly real. But how he handled his problems is sickeningly self-indulgent. Today a fat, fabulously wealthy bastard told me I was too angry, and I need to…