Dear Lucy, It's me again. I'd just like you to know i'm rooting for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election. Why? Because he's very much like JFK, my favorite president. (If Kerry wins, he'll be my favorite living president. For now, Ronald Reagan holds that position.) How is he like JFK? Well, they have the same intials (John Ford Kerry), they're both Massachusetts-area aristocrats, they're both Roman Catholic, and they've both had wartime experience. (JFK served in WWII, Kerry served in Vietnam.) I'm also hoping that Kerry chooses John Edwards as his running mate, because Edwards looks a lot like (the late) John Ritter. And so, i have 3 questions: 1. Do you think Kerry should win? 2. Do you think Kerry should pick Edwards? 3. Does the Presidential Election not matter to you since you live in New Talia? Hope to write you again, Kampfy Uberhund. Reagan, huh? Hmm. I guess I should have answered this earlier. 1 - I do think Kerry should win. I mean, look at the alternative. You can think what you want about Bush, love him or hate him, but the fact is that I do not think you can look at his term as a success. 2 - I hadn't really thought of it, but yeah, Edwards makes the most sense. 3 - The election actually does matter to me, because I am still an American citizen, even though I reside in New Talia. hey Lucy, I've been having a problem. My girlfriend (of sorts) and I live together. we are almost a married cuople, we've known each-other for most of our lives, she's two years older than me and we met when I was three. we have lived together since she started college. I learned from one of her friends a few days ago that she wants me to propose to her and I figured that you would be able to help. Aesop p.s. do you have any views on inter-species relation ships? I'm asking because I'm a Red fox and she's a Timber wolf. Inter-species relationships are fine as long as you can avoid eating each other. As for your main problem, figure out why you refer to her "my girlfriend (of sorts)" before you do anything. And then don't ask me, because I'm not the one that will be sharing my life with her from now on. You need to do what you want to do, not what you heard she wants you to do. If a friend of hers told you she'd really like some vanilla ice cream, then it's no big deal to buy her a tub of that. Marriage is a big deal, and not something you should do just to appease her. Do it to appease yourself as well, and only when and if you're ready for that. Hi Lucy, I just have one question, and to everyones major suprise, it's in no way sexually related (gasp!). The question is: How is New Talia pronounced? New Taylia or New Tahlia - or some third alternative I haven't imagined...? Regards, Thomas Hillebrandt Copenhagen, Denmark Interesting question. It's actually pronounced "New Tally-ah," to rhyme with "Sally-ah." Dear Lucy I was wondering what your opinion on the armed forces of the US is. I know with the recent scandal and all we don't look too god right now. But aside from that what is your general opinion Respectfully HN Berg USN I have lots of respect for the armed forces. You're way braver than I am, and I am thankful for what you are prepared to do for your country, and by extention, me. My only problems are with the people sitting at home at cushy desks, giving out inane orders to you. You're only following orders, and I know that there's nothing you can do about that. All that doesn't apply to the idiots in the military (and there seem to be several) who let their holier-than-thou patriotism override their common sense. The ones in that prison are the most prime examples, but one could also look to that guy who decided, hey, let's put an American flag on the statue of Saddam Hussein's face. Way to make the liberation of an oppressed country look like American conquest, asshole. Hey, Lucy, its Eugene from NY again. Long time no see! Hey, I was just reading back thru the old dear lucks, and remembering a few things from your past. Part of this might have to go to Mat, actually, but my question is just this: What is your past? Since Mat and That-other-artist-who-shall-remain-nameless-for-fear-of-flames had their whatever that was, I am just wondering what has happened with your story. I recall that a question was raised in a dear Lucy long ago about how you became such a (I believe this was the word) "nympho", or possibly something less polite. I am just curious. Oh, congrats on the award, by the way. Can't say that I support the industry, but its always nice to see music appreciated. From Houghton College Eugene Yeo Well, the basic story is that I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia with my best friend, Lydia. I went to college, studying music and journalism with the goal of becoming a music critic. My professor helped me out by discovering that one of his associates in New Talia worked at Sonica magazine, and was looking for a new music critic. So I flew in for an interview, and got the job. Lydia came with me when I relocated to New Talia, where I started working for Sonica, and she opened her own body art shop with a tattoo artist she met here named Sally. And here we are. I don't know how much help I can offer on the "nympho" thing, though. Dear Lucy, Why does Mat feel it is more important to jabber on about Hocky and other sporting events instead of updating Badly Drawn Kitties? Love Jen Because updating BDK is a hobby, not an obligation. His obligation is to work at a job where he actually makes money. If you don't like it, start sending him $900 a month. I guarantee, he'll be more than happy to update each and every day in that case. Hi Lucy! What ever happened to that Thrashers jersey your mom bought you long time ago? It pretty much only got mentioned once. Did it fall into a black hole in the back of your closet? If you still have it, could you wear it so I can see it on you at least once? And while your at it, ask Mat about that holloween costume that he said he would show us. Until next time, Kilian P.S. I know you mentioned something about a band name last Dear Lucy, and even though you've already found one, I promised my friend I would suggest his. So, uhh, I present to you... "Shared Rectum" I don't know about you, but I think it sounds kind of... ... painful. Like "DVDA". I still have that jersey. I wore it every time I watched the Thrashers play, or (more frequently) listened to the games on the radio via the Internet. It's just that me watching TV or listening to my computer isn't a great comic. And, you know.. the Thrashers kinda started sucking again. As for Mat's Halloween costume, he's decided that he might use it this year, since he never had the chance last year. So he's gonna keep it under wraps so it's a surprise when the time comes. And the band name. Um... maybe he can use that name for his own band. I've just started reading BDK and so far i've realized a few things, i won't explainthem all here, but i will ask the on question that's been on my mind a bit. how did you manage to sleep with your brother? not that it brothers...but just curious i suppose. anyways, bye jen It was pretty easy to sneak around the house in the old days, and then we both moved out of our mom's place and it got even easier. So it wasn't hard. Hello there, I’m the person who wrote you about the origins of homophobia. I’m writing you this time with *gasp* a music question! Well, more like a musical recommendation really. I won’t say that I much listen to punk or ska or rock or anything like that, I just listen to what I find is good. And some of my absolute favorite artists include Jeff Buckley, New order, Buju Banton, and a man named Mark Curry. (no, not the mister cooper mark curry.) He is a remarkable talent, and the styling could be considered white blues with a touch of rock to it. His first album, “It’s only time” is done completely by him, with him playing every single instrument and laying the tracks together. If you have never heard his music, I implore you to purchase his first album and give a listen. He’s very very VERY hard to find, but you can usually find “It’s only time” fairly easy online. Buju Banton is a reggae-ish singer. I wouldn’t exactly call him reggae as he doesn’t share too much with people like Bob Marley or Shaggy, but he does lay down a good rhythm which if you can get down with, you can enjoy. His best album is titled “Til’ Shiloh” and it might not be for the faint of heart. As for New Order, if anybody out there doesn’t know them by now, it’s not going to be my job to educate you on the band who created “Blue Monday” Jeff Buckley is also a very decent singer, who met a tragic death when he tried to swim in the Mississippi river while on a visit to Memphis. His best song in my honest opinion is “Last Goodbye” which is NOT AT ALL like the Kenny Wayne Shepherd song of the same name That’s it for my musical recommendations. I hope you see fit to listen to a few of them. Solanus Dracon I'll see what I can do. I actually am familiar with Jeff Buckley and New Order, and the name Buju Banton rings a bell. I'll take a look around. Thanks! I thought I would write again and say thank you for the picture. As a sign of good faith, I am sending you a pic I drew of myself. I am sorry, but I’m nowhere near a good artist. I am wearing my ankle length trench in the pic. I hope you like it. Forever Furry Bryan (The Rat) Gardner If I were a lesser cat, I'd complain that I had to give a nude picture and yours is fully clothed. But I won't. It's a sweet thought, so thanks! Dear Lucy, Now that Fisk and Jezzebel aren't together anymore, will you sleep with Fisk regularly again? I miss you and Fisk being together :,-( Also, how did things start with you two? Thanks, Jengou No, I'll be sleeping with Jezzebel regularly now! Fisk's off in Whackoffistan or something. As for your second question, which I believe jen was also asking a few letters ago, it's been my position that the comic Better Days was going to deal with that story. Since then, of course, Jay Naylor got enough cards in his graveyard to reach threshold, at which point he turned black and destroyed all other creatures his controller controlled. I don't even know what that means; Mat made me say it. It's a bit too major a thing to cover here, so I guess that story will be told in BDK proper someday in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned. Dear Lucy, This is sort of a sex question, but it isn't actually about *having* sex, and it's not about you, so I think I'm in the clear. The issue is... the word "cum". Or "come". That's the problem, there's no single accepted spelling. I've heard people argue that it should obviously be spelled "come", as anything else is a dumbed-down phonetic bastardization of the pristine and perfect English language. I disagree, simply because I think it's a completely separate word, it just happens to be a homophone with a different verb. Some people might say that the spelling doesn't matter, but of course the spelling affects the conjugation, as the past tense of "come" is "came" and the past tense of "cum" should obviously be "cummed". Anyway, I was just wondering if you had a spelling preference, and if you could run this quandary past your contacts in the porn industry. --Tailsteak. Tailsteak... Tailsteak... That name sounds familiar. Mat, do you know a Tailsteak? KILL! Oh, right, Amber Panyko's boyfriend. You'll have to excuse Mat, he's just a little bit jealous. Anyway, this is a question that has plagued mankind since cybersex was invented, when regular people had to figure out how to talk about orgasms in cool shorthand. I think the official rule is that "come" is a verb, and "cum" is a noun. When you have an orgasm, you come. The stuff that is ejaculated is called cum. Thus, the past tense of an orgasm is "came." It's pretty easy if you look at it this way. The real sticky part (heh) is the use of the word "cumming" as opposed to "coming." I think "coming" means "having an orgasm," where "cumming" means "ejaculating." However, my friends in the porn industry tell me that "cum" is also acceptable as a slang verb, and the past tense of it is still "came." Dear Lucy, Great comic keep up the good work and all that crap, but lets get to the point. Is mat slowly losing his mind due to exhaustion, sleep depravation, and insomnia? If so will it clearly interfere with the interesting Adventures of Lucy and Lydia? amused fan Kalabak843(dont ask) aka Greenwolf akaOvrlydstrbdhspnc Thank You Yes he is. And it may eventually interfere, but I think he's found himself a way of managing for the time being.