Jack Abbott did the universe a big favor and threw himself a private necktie party. Stormin' Norman Mailer issued his usual predictable numbskullian apologia:

"His life was tragic from beginning to end," Mr. Mailer said yesterday in a prepared statement. "I never knew a man who had a worse life."

Don't get out much, Norm?

Actually the tragedy was for those who had the misfortune to cross his path. And, yes, perhaps few had worse lives, but it was worse only in the sense that it was a life lived extremely badly. He wasn't misunderstood, except by the Norman Mailers of the world--he was just a thug who could occasionally put words together. I wonder how long it will be before Mailer's fellow sob sisters start lamenting his passing?

Anyway, if a beast exists, I'm pretty sure that Jack Abbott is now truly in the belly of it. And Mr. Mailer may not be too far, in time or morality, from joining him.