Bondwriter

Ibuprofen!

Within limits, my friend, because I've seen young people drinking lately (a festival in a seaside resort), and it tended to make the gathering a total failure, unless you measure success by the number of people taken away in ambulances.

Once again, the figure lovers have overlooked quality: humor, tons of story reviews, frankness... Aren't these things more important than a string of zeros? So, congratulations for all your fine and thoughtful posting, Conner.

Having to surf for porn got you into some mighty dark areas. I was not thinking of James West and Artemus Gordon (James West having lots of interest in being shirtless and tied up by the villains ), but more along the lines of Deadwood, or Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's movies.

One leaves for just a few days, and CJ's fans have converted to the Dark Side. Which is not surprising, by the way. Chapter 36 features another evil cliff-hanger. Obviously after such a feat, the Piedmont police is certain of getting it for good: either being arrested by state/ federal authorities, or being dealt with wild west-style by our shirtless blonds turned into gunslingers. Either way, die, Piedmont Sheriff, die!

This is excellent. But we here are guilty of using some of them phrases! Everybody go have a look and become aware of phrases that should be used with caution!

Kyle in Maybe, maybe not. Just for the sake of having different opinions.

I can

Yes, blame it on Shadowgod! (This marketing technique is known as shortage tooting: claim a product will cease being available soon so people rush on it. Lesson 2 at Caprine U.) But once again, the warnings were in vain, because the chapter will be posted this Tuesday. And once again, I may even tell you it features .

So you're not the only one to blush, I may add Ieshwar to the list of those who are over 500 posts and of a high quality too, with lots of thoughtful reviews and personal comments on the various issues discussed. He doesn't want to dance in a skimpy bikini for us, but hey! that doesn't prevent him from being a great poster.

Lots of good reasons to celebrate. Glad it rains in Arizona, and that the summer camp is over, L0st Cause. I'd like to point out the quality of the BeaStKid's contributions: his steady welcomes to newcomers and the celebration of birthdays of anonymous members, for instance. But he reviews tons of stories, made me aware of tons of issues about India I didn't know about. So yes, these are not 500 posts to be celebrated, but a genuine plus to the threads in which he intervenes. And he has a sense of humor, which doesn't hurt.

Nice find, this is funny. (Ieshwar, if you move like these girls, please post videos!)

I was being sarcastic all the way through, and I seldom use smilies to underline it. Sorry!

The clue to Brandon being gay is that he removes his shirt with quite a lot of pleasure (the others do it out of necessity). And we're not told they kick out Clump because he's gay. He's of course unreliable, but then they might have prejudice towards gay people's emotional instability. And, thinking of it now, yes, I assumed Brandon had to flee from home because he was gay, but there's nothing completely explicit said about this. He still manages to find a cool boss, the "a bit tough but with a big heart" kind. I'm sure Gabe will love Brandon making it as a singer.

The prologue is great, though this "explosives in fiction" issue doesn't leave me the only one to be worried, apparently. What worries me as far as Brandon is concerned is the three homophobic brothers who kicked out the gay singer, after giving him a derogatory nickname and whose generous, bleeding-heart liberal father, who cannot tolerate such vile macho behavior, had to ask them to stop living under his roof? Will Brandon manage to get them to accept homosexuality without being kicked out, asked to put his shirt on and maybe even gay-bashed? Of course one of them bearing a first name of ill repute in CJames' FTL doesn't help yo make him come across as pleasant.

I downloaded it a year or some ago. At the time I uninstalled it because it crashed down, but I changed OS since; I didn't try it again, but the sound quality was amazing, because we used mikes that are much better than a phone receiver. Some of my friends have used it for a while without any problems. Would I have to be talking long-distance with someone regularly, I'd use Skype.

In the American South West, they love hot peppers. So do I. And we have evolved in the West, we tend to like spicier foods. Now what spices would you use for goat/ lamb? There's a cookbook dedicated to this in Dom Luka's forum. (Yes, I know we're getting off topic!)

Actually, CJ's "poor, misunderstood Eric" would be the most incriminating evidence against him. Or cloud of smoke, if he indeed is innocent. And I agree, there would be quite an explanation to give. The 1st person narrative also gets us to see reality through Chris' eyes, who starts the story completely despaired by the disgusting blackmail, and who has consequently a bad opinion of Eric. He is guilty, no doubt, he even admitted some of his crimes, the issue that remains is to know if he was forced to act the way he did (I doubt it) and if he runs the crime ring. I didn't join the Pro-Ericers, but of course a shocking revelation can still be in order. Well, make that "is in order". The epilogue has been written for a long time, I'm eager to know what's in it.

Do not forget about Beelzebub. Or Veronica. Or Rob and Joe (their body repair shop could be a cover for an illegal operation). And the worst is to think CJ/ Shadowgod is behind all of this.

So, you managed to list eleven reasons to hate Eric, and that could explain his actions. I see your point, and I actually believed in this theory until the staking out episode. At this time, he acts on his own free will, he's not wired and watched, and though he obviously acts with accomplices (getting a ride and so on...), he comes across more as a leader than as a follower. Of course, CJ not only writes a whodunit, he is also evil as was amply demonstrated in various threads on this site. So there could be more shocking revelations. Actually the Mr. Williams' theory would blend in well with yours. But then I would hate the author as much as I hated Agatha Christie when I read The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Of course, being a gracious and considerate Eric-hater, would I be proved wrong and would he turn out to be a victim indeed, I would admit defeat in this very thread. We'll see how it turns out.

Happy Birthday! (let me get the cake... my favorite one... here you go!)

Thaddeus is indeed in deep doo-doo. I'm glad to see the Anti-Eric side remains vocal and doesn't weaken in front of the Pro-Ericers; soon the problem will be solved completely, once the author lets us know how the story ends.

What absolutely appalls me is the general moral relativism of the Pro-Eric people, who gather more and more followers every week. What we're up against is a fictional villain. This kind, though it borrows some traits to a human being, is a creation of the author (whom we cannot identify for sure at the moment, since other threads carry the rumor that Shadowgod and CJames are one and only person) The fictional villain, as opposed as to your ordinary RL juvenile delinquent, cannot be redeemed or changed in any manner. Go back to the story, Steve, and gather evidence that prove your point. You'll find none. Blackmail, lies, illegal videos, murder attempts, assault on a police officer... Yes, this is all written in the book. The author controlling the fictional villain's genes may decide (and decided in this particular case) once and for all that he is evil. I do hope Eric gets caught, and that he didn't roast in the fire, but you'll never know with this author(s). More with Shadowgod on this one. Of course there could be more earthly possessions going up in flames, but from the description of the church's altar, I had imagined Thaddeus indulging into vanity with this place, and being genuinely distressed by seeing his work burn. The barf adds to the distress, doesn't it? With the ending of this chapter, one almost feels sorry for Thaddeus, a philanderer, a hatred preacher, an embezzler, a hacker, a conspirator... At least, he doesn't end up with frozen assets.

I agree with Graeme and CJ. He might be confused. On the other hand, he also might be gay. So if you get the chance, get the message across that you like him regardless of who he is (not regardless of what he does!) and avoid any physical contact, or anything that might be misinterpreted by him or others. Set the limits that will make your relationship a healthy and responsible one. If you have the chance to work with evolved grown-ups, let someone know of the situation, not only to cover your back but because this part of the teamwork involved in such a job. If these are cavemen witch-burners, avoid at all cost, and rejoice in venting it out in your blog.

(Yes, I know your name's not Jason, but no birthday cakes with a motorbike and Steve, Bourbon or Jacob on them! There was a cool one with Bridget, but I traumatized someone last week with a girl's first name... Aren't you a man of many names anyway?) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEVE!