Inane thought for the day:

Never settle for a big word when a diminutive one will do.

Yes, The Paris Blog is miles better than reading about Susan Spano's attempts to avoid living like a Parisienne. It covered La Nuit Blanche and the fashion week, both in brief and readable pieces.

However, it isn't immune from the American perspective either. A few days ago we had gossip from the terrace of that stunningly overpriced piece of fakery, Les Deux magots. That counts as American territory, doesn't it, kind-of like the Embassy? It bills itself as Le rendezvous de l'élite intellectuel. Pardon me while I barf.

Actually, now that I am temporarily unemployed, I've been reading more blogs, especially yours. Not bad at all. I'm thinking of creating my own, as an unemployed writer.

Perhaps the reason he has a job is because he IS one of the few talented writers who enjoys syndicated publication. By the way, an advice columnist should not be counted amongst syndicated. He writes of matters that mean something to the majority of people. I don't think that one has the right to complain about a humanitarian and Pulitzer prize winner when she herself features such selfish rambling as the return of the Pink Rambler. There is no poetic prowess, or any substance higher than the status quo of a high school English class in your writing. Please, know your place. You're a self proclaimed goddess but you sure do seem like a mortal when you're being ignorant.

Apparently someone can't take their own head out of their ass long enough to acknowledge that someone has seen through the bull. Take your self-loving, fire crotch self, cash that unemployment check, buy yourself a thrown and PLEASE please keep your fantasy world out of the public eye. You're embarrassing yourself.

Dear Amy,
For anyone who has grown up in Los Angeles reading the LA Times in the morning has only been made bearable by the insightful and humorous writing only capable of being produced by a multiple Pulitzer Prize winner, Al Martinez. But don't worry, I have read your blog and understand why you wouldn't be able to understand intelligent writing. Even as I respond now, I am careful to refrain from using too many large words as I doubt your muddled brain could compute. I'd like to show here a segment you might find familiar. "BEING A GIRL, I find in-person visits in such situations to be quite helpful. ("Hi, I have big breasts, will you find my car?")"
Wow Ms. Alkon, top notch stuff. I'm sure that one day, if you keep it up, You'll win three Pulitzers too. That last sentence was sarcastic, because you're a bad writer. I can't imagine the fool that cares what you think.
Sincerely,
someone who wants the last five minutes of their life back.

Well please someone get this girl a cookie! First of all, the awards you both regrettably received and did not Al did win and many more. Secondly, two of the Pulitzers were won in groups but groups orchestrated by Al. He wrote the book but it was translated and partially researched by a group. Rising Voices; look it up. And you should research before you speak, it makes you look foolish. Thirdly, I am not old I am young and a great fan of Al's. I wanted him to get his job back and he did. There is no longer much talent at the LA Times and if you knew anything about literature, you would know this as well. Fourthly, your writing is self absorbed bullshit and does nothing to serve the greater good but instead seems only a device to serve your deep rooted narcissism. You are so high on your horse you can't see reality very well can you? Fifthly, I feel bad that someone who has a Pulitzer had to edit that which is below him. Lastly, we all know you are fooling yourself. The truth of your inadequacies are in the work you seem so proud to post cheaply on your plastic website. Al Martinez has more imagination in a single column than you will know in your lifetime. I among many do not approve of one so regrettable and sad attacking one who has done so much good.

I feel I must respond further to this bull. We are two different people using the same computer. Both fans of Al Martinez and both equally angered by your half baked blog and dense opinion on a great writer. This man has been writing since before you were born eloquently, with intent, and with more grace than you seem capable to imagine. I am truly happy that someone was dumb enough to publish one of your books. Really, bravo. If you cared to look, Al Martinez has published many books that have been extremely high on both the Los Angeles Times and New York times best seller lists. It's rather laughable that you are bragging about a book that hasn't even been published yet. Someone who proclaims herself a goddess should have more to show than what you do to back it up. In answer to your question; what about your writing is bad. Did I not already say you had no poetic prowess? Did I not already say that there was not one original or important idea in one of your pieces? Well, let me elaborate. There is no art in anything you have written. Literature (especially journalism) is meant to point out a concealed truth about humanity, about something that matters. It may be introspective or inspiring but it must be something we didn't know or read before. Writers should be philosophers. Your work is Cosmopolitan Magazine chewed up and then thrown up on a computer screen. You are a direct product of your fake environment instead of being a unique, insightful individual.

I will make this simple for you Amy the self proclaimed deity.....
Your writing= bad. Me= offended that you believe you have the right to talk about a much better writer than yourself.
I don't believe it even comes down to opinion.
As for personal attacks? Eye for an eye, sweetie pie.
Its swell you are doing something for your community(without getting your hands dirty I might add). But what I was referring to was your writing.
As for an advice column? I'm sure that did so much good for so many people. Come on. Reread that to yourself and tell me that makes any sense.
As for my relation to Al Martinez? None at all.

O, there's no need to start a blog criticizing you. Believe me there's plenty of people online who hate you.
If I were to ever see you on the street I would let you know exactly what I thought of your "work" as well as let you know who I was. Your writing is bad and your piece on Al is certainly not objective but brimming with self-righteous indulgence in probably what is all for your own selfish gain. As you have exhibited in the past with Wikipedia you are all too willing to use publicity for your own gain. There is so much more that's wrong with you that I can't begin to fit it all in. Being Jewish and a woman I am ashamed of you and I'm begging you to please stop. You are giving us a bad name.

Well, I'm employed again after being bumped from the L.A. Times. I have a column twice a week on the front page of the L.A. Daily News. Also, I created and conduct the Topanga Writers Workshop. So now that I'm employed, I have more or less dropped my blog.Who needs a virtual audience when you have a real one? Well, maybe I do. We all scratch around for a little notice, even if you're a goddess.