Greetings, one and all:

Well, someone had quite an INTERESTING Christmas Eve, didn't they?!?!?!?

The MAD POSTER got all the way up to SIXTY-SEVEN posts before all was said and done. As a few of you have noted that episode was QUITE DISTURBING to say the least. Perhaps it's a good thing that this individual does not live in Buffalo --- otherwise I might have gotten a visit the other night from someone OTHER than that dude in the red suit! (Ha!)

You gotta laugh --- otherwise it is just too damn sad that someone could be that disturbed by my continued presence here at the ol' DBIS.

If the truth be told --- and I ALWAYS tell the truth --- I was literally in tears watching this meltdown right before my eyes. Beyond the obvious psychosis --- this was quite alarming --- as was the TIMING of the attack.

Perhaps they ran out of GEORGE W. BU$H action figures at the NEO-CON toy store --- and the pressure was just too much to bear?!?!?

Ah well --- such is the pressure at the holidays!!

I would like to say one thing at the request of my lovely Paula --- who asked me to pass along the following message:

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"I have never participated in the goings-on here at the DBIS, even though Kent has shown me various messages from time to time. I have no idea why you would have wanted to include me in your rant; you don't know me, and by your comments, you obviously don't know my husband either.

He is a very brave man, with courage that some of you wish you had. Perhaps the real problem is that you are taking Kent (or yourself) way too seriously.

Kent often talks about what he calls the POLITICS OF BELIEF. Perhaps the problem isn't that you disbelieve him, but in fact, you DO believe him, and that was what you found to be too much to bear.

I love him and I support him in everything he is doing. He does not benefit in any way from his work, and it is his love of humanity that is at the core of all of his decision-making. I don't know why you chose to make me a part of your rant, but next time, and I hope there isn't going to be a next time, please leave me out of it."

--- Paula Jean Bentkowski, Buffalo, New York USA

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I would also like to say that I do appreciate all the support and encouragement I have received in the past twenty-four hours in my private e-mail box. As I have told each one of you who took the time to write --- I am not asking for every single one of the people here to believe every single thing I discuss. Those of you who are ready to do so --- will find something within my words to bring you to your own truth.

This following quote from the judge's decision in the Larry Flynt vs. Jerry Falwell lawsuit seems appropriate to this situation:

"The fact that society may find speech offensive is not sufficient reason for suppressing it. Indeed, if it is the speaker's opinion that it gives offense, that consequence is a reason for according it Constitutional protection. For it is a central tenant of the First Amendment that the government must remain neutral in the marketplace of ideas."

--- excerpt, FLYNT v. FALWELL (1988)

Perhaps what may have been so disturbing to the MAD POSTER is the realization of the following regarding myself:

01) How seriously I take what I am doing.

02) The high-level of audacity and courage I have.

03) How hardcore of an individual I truly am.

04) The fact that NOTHING will deter me from my goals.

05) And finally --- that I am NOT going to stand for character assassination and run away like a scared little bunny . . . .

There are other attempts to stop me from my true goals --- distractions in my private life that constituted the FAMILY EMERGENCY that I referred to the other day. Even those efforts are having little effect on my finishing my current project, as well as the ones that will follow.

I am not here to make enemies --- although it is apparent that I have at least one --- as the events of the other night indicate. However --- all this individual accomplished was calling into question, his own sanity and state of mind. Judging by the e- mail I have received --- I am not alone in this concern.

I have my thoughts on who it was that did this --- and that identity I have shared with those of you who have written me privately. I do not want to embarrass this person further than they themselves have already done.

But I will say this --- the other night as I watched this happen before my eyes --- I came EXTREMELY CLOSE to having 911 dispatched to this person's home --- whose address I do have. As it was --- I had a friend of mine who is in the mental health field on the phone for nearly four hours on Christmas Eve.

Also --- I would like to say that MR. AW SHUCKS owes at least my wife an apology --- if he is man enough to offer one that is. I do not wish to embarrass this person further here online --- so if you would like to apologize --- please send it to me privately. You DO have my private e-mail address from when I recently communicated with you off-board. And if you are a TRUE MAN, you might wish to add a few words to me as well.

It's the RIGHT thing to do --- as THAT was uncalled for.

Yes --- I am HARDCORE, sometimes obnoxious, and ALWAYS controversial. THAT is NOT going to change --- I can assure everyone of that. I have the balls and the courage that some of you wish you had --- as Paula points out in her message above.

Yes --- I will continue to make frequent and lengthy posts --- simply because I am one of those people who does (for better or worse) have quite a bit to say. For those of you who are not interested in what I have to say --- feel free to skip any such post that you are uninterested in. My subject lines ALWAYS indicate the message's contents.

And if on some days I do make more postings than other days --- so what? Careful review of the archives will reveal that I am perhaps the most read person here --- next to Reggie and David Baerwald himself. My intent is to get people to THINK and DISCUSS their reality and the world around them.

And if I talk about something that some of you cannot imagine or accept --- such as reptilitan shapeshifters or underground mag-lev trains that can travel at MACH TWO speed --- then DON'T BELIEVE IT! The important thing is that I BELIEVE in them --- otherwise I wouldn't bring it up at all. Each one of us looks at this world in our own unique manner. What I see does not make what you see invalid --- any more than what you see does not make what I see invalid.

And finally --- to the MAD POSTER himself:

I do not harbor any ill will toward you --- and THAT was why I sent you a holiday card to your home address. I have also not made any rude or disparaging comments about you on this message board. It was however --- absolutely shocking to see your level of rage --- something that is not good for your overall mental health.

Everyone here --- and I mean EVERYONE --- is deeply concerned about this episode and we all hope that David will not want to pull the plug on at least his own participation here.

In the world of music --- the DBIS is a rarity. I can think of no other fan based site that is frequented by the star themselves.

I can tell you MAD POSTER --- that as we go forward and into 2004 --- I am going to continue on this path --- as I really do not have a choice in the matter.

Finally --- I do want to wish you GOOD TIDINGS and I sincerely hope that you find the peace of mind that you DO deserve.

Onward! And upward! Forgiven and forgotten!

KDB = Buffalo, NY USA