[JohnBond]

Josh --

thank you for your kind words. Abdul is also an old B&M as well as internet friend, and if he's been banned from here then the forum is certainly the poorer for it. He is passionate, articulate and knowledgable about poker -- if not always right and who among us is?

Diane is also an old pal.

I've known Mason a long time. I take everything he says in the context of how he views the world -- and if you understand that, and cut him some slack on account of it, he's really not a bad egg. Insensitive? Always. Ungracious? Sometimes. Unreasonable? On occasion. Forgiving? Never. But not bad. We in the poker world are better off for him being here. And I personally am better off for knowing him.

Not to say he can't be a jerk -- but once again who among us doesn't that apply to?

I dropped in here because somebody told me the Roy/Russ thread had taken on a life here. I'm likely to appear intermittently with lots of posts, then disappear for long periods with none.

But I do know many folks here, and am glad to have come by to visit.

Thanks again for your welcome.

Best,

jb