AFriendlyFace

That is an excellent analysis, Altimexis!

Oh wow, Jules! I can't believe you're not a teen anymore! You'll be older than me in no time at this rate Have a very awesome and happy birthday, dude! I hope your day is fantastic are your year is terrific! -Kevin

Hi all, I've just released my newest (and coincidentally oldest ) short story The Long Goodnight. Please check it out then let me know what you think! I was thinking it fit rather well after the events of the last chapter of BMAD, but obviously it's not related at all I hope you enjoy it! Take care and have a great day! Kevin

I just wanted to wish Leo a very happy and special 19th birthday!! Have an awesome one, dude!

That does sound complicated!

Dudes, I love those songs! FALL OUT BOY "The Take Over, The Breaks Over" Baby, seasons change but people don't. And I'll always be waiting in the back room. I'm boring but overcompensate with Headlines and flash, flash, flash photography. But don't pretend you ever forgot about me. Don't pretend you ever forgot about me. Wouldn't you rather be a widow than a divorcee? Style your wake for fashion magazines. Widow or a divorcee? Don't pretend, d-d-d-don't pretend. We don't fight fair. We don't fight fair. They say your head can be a prison. Then these are just conjugal visits. People will dissect us till This doesn't mean a thing anymore. Don't pretend you ever forgot about me. Don't pretend you ever forgot about me. Wouldn't you rather be a widow than a divorcee? Style your wake for fashion magazines, ohhh. Widow or a divorcee? Don't pretend, d-d-d-don't pretend. We do it in the dark with smiles on our faces. We're dropped and well concealed in secret places, woah. We do it in the dark with smiles on our faces. We're dropped and well concealed in secret places We don't fight fair. We don't fight fair. We don't fight fair. We don't fight fair. We don't fight fair. We do it in the dark with smiles on our faces. We're dropped and well concealed in secret places, woah. We do it in the dark with smiles on our faces. We're dropped and well concealed in secret places. We don't fight fair. With smiles on our faces. We're dropped and well concealed in secret places. We don't fight fair. Don't pretend you ever forgot about me. We don't fight fair. Don't pretend you ever forgot about me. We don't fight fair.

I disagree to some extent. I don't think most PETA members are ostensibly (though perhaps practically) deifying animals. They're usually simply arguing for greater rights and better treatment for animals, which personally I agree with. It's their general application, not their ideology, where I personally differ with them. That's a very good point. Jamie already said most of the things I was going to say in response to this, but I'll add one more. We've artificially inflated the population of pigs (and other livestock), if they were living in nature they likely wouldn't have gotten so over-populated in the first place. As I said, not all living things are created equally. There's a very definite hierarchy IMO. I'm willing to eat - and exploit - forms of life lower on the hierarchy, but I'm given pause when it comes to beings higher up on it. Very well said! I disagree, Steve. I'm not a PETA member, but I know several people who are. They would likely find this tactic reprehensible as well. Yet they still believe in the overarching message of a more humane, ethical treatment of animals...why should they be condemned because a faction within their group acts in an extreme way? ...On the other hand stuff like this is precisely why I haven't become involved with PETA myself, so I guess I could argue the point either way. Exactly! Great points, Jamie Take chickens for example, chickens are not the animals nature intended. Instead they have ridiculously disproportionately massive breasts and they mature at a freakish rate. Even if I were going to eat chicken I would be hesitant given all the hormones and chemicals to which they are subjected. Indeed I seem to remember reading somewhere that chicken had the highest quantities of growth hormones present of all food compared in the study (sorry, but I can't recall any other details or come up with links, I'm going strictly from memory). I'm really not an organic food nut, but when it comes to chicken I intend to serve any kids or spouse I may later acquire nothing but organic chicken meat. I won't be a nutty zealot though, if they occasionally eat chicken at restaurants or something no big deal, but I'm not going to serve them the hormone enhanced goo at home. Just my thoughts, -Kevin

Oh wow! I'm so sorry you're having all these problems, Dion I regret the delay too, but obviously you can't help it and you need to look after yourself and your situation. Good luck and I hope everything works out! -Kevin

An interesting chapter! It'll be interesting to see what happens in the final game!

That's adorable! Awesome pics, Niels! Very hot

AWESOME! Really good! I cracked up when I heard "I love Egyptian Kings" Cute Total clunker in my opinion. I think that's a lesson we can all learn from I didn't like these much either. They're too sickly sentimental, especially in the context of a commercial. The stories are poignant...selling them to cash in isn't. Turned me off Visa a bit actually. I personally thought this one was terrible LOVED this one! (but how can you not like that song?! ) This was cute This was frickin' awesome! I gobbled it up and I totally wanna go out and buy one now. So major props to this one! Here's a fake commercials that I adore: - Hilarious in my opinion and really appropriate for this forum. Warning it does have a bit of strong language

OK Robbie, I know you're not serious, but I can't help commenting. I'm not speaking of the morality of eating meat at all, but it is not comparable to eating vegetation/plants. Plants have no nervous system. They experience no thoughts, emotions, pain, or pleasure. Depending on the animal in question it probably does. Huge difference, dude. There's also a huge difference between animals. If I weren't a vegetarian I would have no qualms (or few) about eating beef or mutton because cows and sheep are pretty stupid. Pork on the other hand would remain a moral no no for me because pigs are quite intelligent. Similarly I would eat chickens and wouldn't eat primates or dolphins. As far as I'm concerned there is definitely a hierarchy here. Again, I'm not saying people shouldn't eat the animals I listed as intelligent; that's your business and I truly don't pass any judgment (I'm not just saying that).

Wow! Being judgmental is pretty much the worst personality trait a psychologist can have, at least in his/her professional dealings anyway. I'm so glad you're doing better and found someone who is a good fit for you, Tim Exactly! Most studies indicate that psychotherapy and medication are about equally as effective in the long-term (although some people respond much better to one than the other); however, the best results are garnered through a combination of both treatments. I hope you get back on it then. Take care all -Kevin

As one of the vegetarian members, no I don't approve at all. Perhaps surprisingly, I'm not a big fan of PETA...they are a bit too extreme for my taste. This is a good example of that. I'm all about animal rights, and I definitely think people should be for the ethical treatment of animals, but that - and some of their other tactics - are just tasteless and shameful IMO. Very well said, Jamie! Take care all and have a great day Kevin

This was an awesome issue, you guys! I really enjoyed the interview with Viv, 'The Lurker', and Krista's article about what's been happening around the forums! Great job!

Yay!

I agree; they're too sickly sweet for my taste (much like a couple of other 'dates' I've had )

I'm celebrating the imminent arrival of the 8th second of the 8th hour of the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year in this millennium

I have to have peace and quiet when I write (talk, or read). I can't stand much if any background noise, especially if it's 'verbal' noise (like people talking, a song, television, etc.). It's not as bad if it's nature sounds or even mechanic sounds, but people sounds drive me up the wall if I'm trying to concentrate.

Really? A newspaper? The ink doesn't get all over the glass? A couple of years ago I'd just moved and my mom was helping me. She wanted to wash a load of dishes while I was unpacking some boxes. So she asked, "how much of this dish detergent should I use?", I responded, "Well, I haven't used that dishwasher before, but I always just fill them up to the top" So she did. A few minutes later soapy water came bubbling out of the dishwasher. And it KEPT coming, even after we turned the stupid thing off! It was like something out of a sit-com! Finally we got the whole mess cleaned up and and I prodded the dishwasher with my tools for a bit to see if I could figure out what the problem was (yes, contrary to most people's perception I'm actually not incompetent when it comes to home repairs and do-it-yourself-ing). Anyway, it looked fine and I was unable to figure out the problem. So, I put in a service request and went on about my business. A few hours later I was making a shopping list. "Do you need laundry detergent?" my mom inquired as she continued suggesting possible items I might need to get. "No," I replied. "This bottle is almost full," I said as I held up the laundry detergent. That's when she got a surprised look on her face and started laughing. I'll give you guys three guesses what she'd used in the dishwasher.

I really enjoyed this chapter! I was quite surprised to learn of the developments with the general's son. LOL, I'm going to go ahead and make the same prediction about Eric and Brian One piece of the puzzle no one seems to have mentioned yet is Keith and Jensen. How do you guys think they'll figure into this? It looks to me like they will have a fairly significant role. Also, was the mention that Keith always handle's Jensen's business a casual remark or something more major? I'm a bit surprised that the general is considering Helen's business offer. I can't really imagine a general working for anyone. I suppose if the price is right though. Anyway, awesome and exciting chapter! I'm looking forward to the next one -Kevin

Is Adam actually a psychiatrist? I wasn't sure what his specialty was. To me it doesn't seem odd that he would do that. I think that the professions people chose very often reflect their general personalities and tendencies (as they should). So that sort of thing probably comes naturally to Adam and it would probably be difficult for him to avoid it. That's just my opinion though. It was a really great chapter and I"m really routing on Adam and Joe figuring out and working through Joe's issues! Looks like they have a promising future if they can pull that off. Great chapter! Kevin

This sounds awesome! I would love to be a part of it!

Have a safe, fun trip, Robbie! And good luck with that thing you talked about doing while you were there That's wonderful, Krista! Congrats!