I was just now informed that ODB finally committed suicide. We weren’t too close, but I’d like to say a few words.

He was a good guy to me; always helpful, funny, and nice. He showed me around Encyclopedia Dramatica so I wouldn’t look like a fool, and taught me how to use wikis. He gave me good advice during some internet drama I’m not particularly proud of.

After I gave up internet trolling, he recommended the work of Dalai Lama, during our discussions on Buddhism and the nature of suffering. This was extremely important to me because I was on an atheist streak, and wrote off Tibetan Buddhism as being too ritualistic to be of value. Little did I know!

His pending suicide was no great secret on ED; it’s been “a quarter ‘til midnight” for awhile now. He may have been an internet troll, but he was a hell of a guy. I am glad he is no longer suffering. Goodnight, sweet prince.

For some reason, people love to shout at me while I walk home from work. Maybe it’s my height or my new beard, or that I’m read-walking, but today I managed to interrupt them with loud laughter. It was just quick enough that I could see their reply expression.

Friend Shawna taught me a similar technique for dealing with obnoxious drivers: get everyone else in the car to slowly do the queen’s wave until they are no longer in visual range. It’s the disarming, creepy opposite of road rage.