I handed my boy Simon Baker his own post as my #1, but I'll also nominate Hugh Jackman, Clive Owen,and Ryan Kwanten (from True Blood). And I doubt he'll get any traction here, but my reptilian brain insists I nominate Rusty Joiner. And let's face it, the reptile in… Read full post »

Sexiest Man. Simon Baker. When he smiles. When he broods.

My favorite shot is from Something New:

It's an under-rated film from Focus Features, btw, where he gets involved with a bright black woman, but she's embarrassed to go out with him because he's white, and working class,… Read full post »

Demetri Martin was one of the funniest correspondents The Daily Show has had in a long time. (Which is saying a lot.)

He was the Senior Youth Correspondent, presenting hand-scrawed flip charts in segments called "Trendspotting" and then "Professional Important News with Demetri Martin."&nb… Read full post »

I have always liked Caroline Kennedy. I felt queasy when I heard her suggested for the NY Senate seat.

Caroline has led a very full life, with lots of achievements, but surely no one is suggesting she would get the seat because she's been a good lawyer, written good books,… Read full post »

Interesting NYT piece about a Kindle alternative:

Don’t Quit That Kindle Just Yet.

The COOL-ER device sounds not ready for primetime, but I like a lot of where it's going--especially on price.

And most of all, I like the flurry of alternatives. That's likely to juice up the… Read full post »

In zero words, why McCain is losing:

Hard to believe this is not photoshopped. John McCain actually did this. The description from Yahoo, where it's curently the #1 most emailed photo in the world:

US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) reacts to almost heading the wr… Read full post »

Sony announced the 7-inch touch-screen Daily Edition today.  PC World said, "In portrait mode, about 30 to 35 lines of text will visible, making the experience very similar to that of a printed paperback book."

An ebook the size of a paperback, with the screen content of a paperback--and hopeful… Read full post »

I lost count. I think I've been robbed six times in the past three years. All my car. Most of them in my own parking space, right under my third-story balcony, in the alley behind my apt.

That's where it happened this time. It sat there all day, with me… Read full post »

It looks like Ted Stevens is going to lose his senate seat after all--by the voters, in last week's election.

They had not counted the early voting or mail-in ballots, and it appears that many Dems voted early and Democrat Mark Begich clobbered Stevens in the early rounds, offsetting the almost-tie… Read full post »

The issue of O Magazine is not supposed to be out until Tuesday, but NBC found a copy on sale in LA. They faxed me a copy this evening just before taping an interview for tomorrow's Today Show.

I had to read it fast, but it stopped me cold several times.… Read full post »

The announcement came suddenly, apparently. From Washington City Paper's site this afternoon:

 Just hours ago, the staff of the Blade learned that its parent company, Window Media, had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, that the Blade was closed effective immediately, and that the paper&rsq… Read full post »

Sarah Palin wrote her 400-page book in four months. (Or she got a head start before she announced her resignation. Maybe she was lying and did quit early for the big-book paycheck. 

Pub date has been moved up to Nov. 17.

Yow. I wonder if it will read like… Read full post »

nine days ago, i had a little accident. i've finally got things together enough to edit the msg i sent my fambly the next day,  followed by some updates. (the "yesterday" in the first line refers to friday, september 26):

so i sent the final changes to my book to my editor… Read full post »

I'm gripped by fierce mixed emotions this afternoon.

Tuesday, the New Yorker asked me to do a Q&A for their book blog, about my book Columbine.  The interview is up right now--both on the book page, and featured near the top of their home page.

Making the New Yorker… Read full post »

I am praying against Larry Summers for Treasury Secretary. I just can't stand to hear him speak. Does he actually speak, ever, or just bloviate? A pursed-lips version of John Kerry. The two of them are hotly pursuing Dan Rather for title of Most Pompous Speaker in America.

I love… Read full post »

Today was a big day in my career. I have literally gone to sleep hundreds of times fantasizing about Publisher's Weekly reviewing my book, and giving it a starred review.

Today it happened. Woohoo! My editor is ecstatic. Me, too. Most of my friends are confused. My family, too. They tried… Read full post »

So she's not dumb.

Sarah Palin deserved all the heckling she got, in my opinion. She made an ass of herself. She seemed to revel in ignorance, and glorify it. But she turns out to be intelligent after all.

I'm watching her right now on Oprah. I'm halfway… Read full post »

Has anyone culled this stat yet?

I predict we will hear it a million times, and rightly so:

"Two years ago, Sarah Palin was the mayor of a town with x stoplights."

I was shocked to hear just how small Wasilla is. Wiki says: "As of the 2000 census,… Read full post »

 Tomorrow marks D Day. That ghastly queen in England will not be at the commemoration.

Way to go France!

The NY Times says  Liz is "fuming." I am delighted.

Her poor little "highness" snubbed? Not nearly enough.

What I don't understand is why people outside that country--or i… Read full post »

The list is out. Congratulations to all the finalists.

I have special admiration for the nonfiction finalists, having gone through that little adventure (of creating one):

• David M. Carroll, Following the Water: A Hydromancer's Notebook(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• Sean B. Carroll, Remarkable Cre
… Read full post »

This time, I neeed advice.

My laptop died nearly a year ago, and I need a new one. I have my eye on the HP HDX18t, because it has such a big screen. But I've been waiting for the best discount, and not sure when the best time to buy… Read full post »

The Today Show announced this morning that Michael Phelps "lost" a race last night, his second "loss" of the weekend.

Yet they showed footage of him getting a silver medal laid around his head.

I googled, and found most of the stories, including this one at Yahoo say he… Read full post »

. . .  but. I cannot quit watching this Rafa Martin guy. Check out this video:

 Sounds like a simple request, but where do you address these things? God? The police? My facebook page? None of that seems to help.

I've tried really hard to be a good boy--perhaps He'll grant me one. He's been known to smite people, but I don't think He takes requests on… Read full post »

Book tour has been great: exhilarting and interesting, but tiring as hell. I hate hearing authors complain about book tour, so that's not my intention, but I do want to share a bit of what it's been like.

Dorkiest moment: dousing a woman and a row of coffee table books… Read full post »