I spent the day researching cluster munitions. Tomorrow I’ll debunk the Human Rights Watch (HRW) lie that Saudi Arabia dropped cluster munitions in the city of Sanaa, Yemen, on January 6, 2016. Thanks to HRW’s photographers, I’ll also prove that previous accusations of cluster munitions being used were also lies. Now I’m too tired to…
War requires love
March 30, 2014
On my home page today, I saw a banner ad for Axe deodorant. It had a slogan I hadn’t seen in over forty years: “Make love, not war.” This is silly on so many different levels it’s hard to know where to start, but the most glaringly obvious flaw in this mindless catchphrase from the…
I met the real Jason Bourne
January 21, 2014
On May 3, 1986, I met the real Jason Bourne. It was on a ferry between Korea and Japan. I’d gone to Korea to extend my tourist visa so I could work another three months before having to find a work sponsor. Korea was a nightmare of inexplicable, shudder-inducing strangeness. It was the only nation…
What they’re feeling in Westgate Mall
September 22, 2013
On December 28, 1995, a gunman tried to murder Tim and me at our bookstore in Norwalk, California. He was dressed all in black—including a heavy flak vest and balaclava—and he carried a TEC-9 semiautomatic pistol with a barrel extension. I drew it as part of my banishment of the incident. Tim and I were…
The Bird Stole Fruit
September 11, 2013
Twelve years ago I lived in Tim’s house. At about 7:30 on the morning of September 11, 2001, I suddenly heard, “Tom! Tom!” As a child I often heard my name called perfectly clearly, in a voice that was neither male nor female. I still remember the timbre. I’d go find Mom and ask her…