This is what I’m getting everyone. Just buy it, you’ll love it. If you know me and want your gift to be a surprise don’t poke the link okay.

UPDATE: You all poked the link and ruined your suprise. I hope you’re happy.

One teenager sets himself on fire, another stops eating. The Burn Journals and Stick Figure, two memoirs about kids who almost killed themselves. Common lesson learned: almost dying is a sure way to meet famous people.

The Hamlet Syndrome: Overthinkers Who Under Achieve
I thought it was just me! Nope, it isn’t. And all my peculiarities, my endless pontificating (usually about myself), my hyperawareness of the influence of my actions no matter how miniscule (not recycling a receipt), my exhaustive extrapolations of every possible situation to their usually negative terminus, and my hyper criticism of everything, yeah, they’re all indicative of the Hamlet Syndrome. Would you rather stay in college forever instead of getting a "real" job? Do you poo-poo people who value material wealth over achieving personal satisfaction and integrity? Does the idea of joining the "rat race" of the mainstream disgust you? Yeah? Then you got it too.
I feel so weird now. The authors busted me on my bullshit. Now I can’t leave piles of dirty laundry and dishes around, and spending the day reading does not make me a better person than those studio execs in their SUVs. I’m better than them because, wait, give me a second…

At a recent book signing, Chuck Palahniuk gave out BBQ scented air fresheners, steak-shaped shower mats, and flung artificial severed limbs into the audience knocking over drinks and beaming inattentive girls on the head. We need more literary events like that.

Favorite quote of the evening removed from its context: “You won’t see Dakota Fanning look up at Nicole Kidman and say. ‘Mommy, why does my Flintstones toothbrush smell like pussy?’”

"Losers" was the original title of "Bavanard’s Folly," my new favorite book. It’s 13 tales of 13 people who failed miserably, were outsmarted, or just had terrible luck trying to improve their lives or better the world. Heartwarming, funny, and oddly inspiring.

Dave Eggers disposes this Harvard kid’s snot-nosed concepts (and many of our own) during this interview turned angry rant against critics, selling out, and "keeping it real."

You don’t have to know who Eggers is to understand the key points in this, but you should anyway­ Read his Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and shop at the pirate store at his 826 Valencia too!

Had a great party for the launch of my book, "Obscene Interiors," book and print collection. Restauranteur, Fred Eric, tickled our tummies and eyes with bizzaro cheese towers among other eats.