Only spoke to him once. I asked him a really stupid question at the 2014 BBQ. He told me to use my best judgment. I probably got off easy.

Thinking about all of you who knew Brad well and loved him dearly. I can't imagine. Cannot. My heart goes out to you and his family.

I was lucky to catch .22 in Chicago (in 2008) and met Brad in person just that once after the show. I joined the forum in 2004 and like everyone was struck by Brad's laugh-out-loud wit, his confidence, and his passion. I wasn't a sports guy (or an REM superfan), but over the years we exchanged friendly messages (more so, years ago) and he always made it clear that he valued and appreciated me. I hope he knew the feeling was mutual. We messaged much less over the years but always had friendly exchanges on FB where I saw his daughters grow up in photos. I have struggled with major depression throughout my life, including suicidality, though not for years thank god. I never talked to him about that stuff, and I didn't know anything about his struggles.

Good to see his friends coming together to support each other, virtually and in person where possible. Take care of each other!

I was explaining to my partner who he was last night and I was like, remember that FB pic I showed you a while ago of a midwest PRF guy's roof rack with gigantic BLACK LIVES MATTER decals spanning his kayak? That guy.

Salut, BRW.

I never personally knew Brad, but his presence on the board loomed so large. We had a couple of private messages ages ago about random silly stuff, and his wit was evident.

Mostly, I admired his swagger. Whether I agreed with him or not, he waded into threads with absolute confidence in his position, and it was invigorating to behold.

Salut, BRW.

I don't want to fault anyone, and I've been perhaps even overly sympathetic to the plight of the suicidal at times.

But after three in two years, I just want to say:

Please do not take yourself out unless you are terminally ill and give everyone close to you a heads up.

Otherwise, man, the pools of grief you will leave behind, you can't fathom them. Everyone who ever liked you gets brutalized by it.

Life seems short the older you get. It's really not. Even long slogs can change quickly. You can't game where it will go. That's not how it works. And being alive is all we got.

There's an old guy in my hood who looks exactly like an 80yr-old William Burroughs. He just walked by my window as I typed this.

I've been watching him do that since we moved here in 2004. There's something immensely comforting and reassuring about it, like a bird landing on your window sill, having come from who knows where, to remind you it's a big world out there.

eephus wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 11:27 am I don't want to fault anyone, and I've been perhaps even overly sympathetic to the plight of the suicidal at times.

But after three in two years, I just want to say:

Out of the loop here, but I know about Jake and Brad. Who was the other? fuck.

cakes wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:17 pm

eephus wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 11:27 am I don't want to fault anyone, and I've been perhaps even overly sympathetic to the plight of the suicidal at times.

But after three in two years, I just want to say:

Out of the loop here, but I know about Jake and Brad. Who was the other? fuck.

Not a poster here I don't believe, but Nina Nastasia's music/life partner Kennan. There was a tribute thread before the board went down.

penningtron wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:26 pm

cakes wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:17 pm

eephus wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 11:27 am I don't want to fault anyone, and I've been perhaps even overly sympathetic to the plight of the suicidal at times.

But after three in two years, I just want to say:

Out of the loop here, but I know about Jake and Brad. Who was the other? fuck.

Not a poster here I don't believe, but Nina Nastasia's music/life partner Kennan. There was a tribute thread before the board went down.

I think that's four I think closer to our circle would have been Mandroid

I'm so sorry for Brad's loss, for everybody feeling it so hard, all the people I know and the many more I'm sure he touched that I have no idea about. I don't think I ever met him in person and we didn't have any particular online connection, but he was one of those fb friends who often chimed in with a welcome note of enthusiasm or wit or a pointed question, and I'll miss that in my tiny corner of his world.

Garth wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:29 pm

penningtron wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:26 pm

cakes wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:17 pm

Out of the loop here, but I know about Jake and Brad. Who was the other? fuck.

Not a poster here I don't believe, but Nina Nastasia's music/life partner Kennan. There was a tribute thread before the board went down.

I think that's four I think closer to our circle would have been Mandroid

Wow. OG crew. I didn't know her that well, but still it's hard to take in. RIP

Garth wrote: Thu Mar 31, 2022 1:29 pm I think that's four I think closer to our circle would have been Mandroid

I was unsure if that was suicide directly or years of self-medicating that caught up (kind of splitting hairs there I realize).