In 1985 I went to Japan to seek my fortune. I began studying Japanese in 1981, mostly because of my interest in Japanese military history. In the winter of 1983-1984, I spent six months in Sapporo on an exchange program. That sealed the deal. Japan was clean, orderly, and had great food. And oceans of…
Fear overcome. Now I’m sure this won’t come true
January 8, 2016
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…
The REAL paid trolls
June 2, 2015
Adrian Chen has written a stunning piece on Russian social media trolls. Titled “The Agency,” the article is a virtuoso example of investigative journalism. Chen can rest on his laurels forever, as far as I’m concerned. “The Agency” is the gold standard of how to expose wrongdoing. It’s a very long article, but here’s an…
Romance, rescue, and revenge
January 9, 2015
As far back as I can remember, I’ve been deeply affected by tales of romance, rescue, and revenge. It’s not a mystery why: We yearn for that which eludes us. I experienced true romance just once. It was only three years, and it ended more than two decades ago, but it still visits me in…
Fire burns, but…
December 13, 2014
Last night I had a dream that was brought on by hate mail. It was a very unpleasant dream, but it led me to finally understand why I’ve been so doggedly building up the planet’s largest collection of World War I flamethrower photos. Hate mail caused the dream, the dream made me go through my…
Emotions hurt, as they should
September 20, 2014
I offered to send Ghosts and Ballyhoo: Memoirs of a Failed L.A. Music Journalist to a reader. She replied that emotions hurt, which I take to mean that she’d rather not read the book. I understand. Here’s what a reviewer said about it. At every turn revealing, enlightening, and heartbreaking in the most jagged fashion…
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…
But what does it say about YOU?
June 24, 2014
Yesterday I changed. Permanently. It’s neither a good nor a bad change. However, it was necessary. I didn’t intend to change; June 23, 2014, was going to be just another day. But something happened that set in motion a whole series of thoughts and conclusions, and by nightfall I was a different person. I would…
Frigging dumb limbo mumbo jumbo
June 9, 2014
One of my favorite films is Altered States, starring William Hurt and Blair Brown. It’s about a man who searches for meaning and feels entirely cut off from everybody. I love Charles Haid’s epic rant that ends with, “I’m not going to listen to any more of your cabalistic, quantum, frigging dumb, limbo mumbo jumbo!”…