Phatforums-Blog

February 22, 2010 5:04 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS

* NATO fires on convoy, believes insurgents inside
* Interior Ministry: 27 dead, 14 injured
* U.S. military: Women, children among dead
* Civilian casualties straining Afghanistan-U.S. ties

RELATED TOPICS

* Afghanistan
* The Taliban
* NATO

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — A NATO air strike on a convoy in southern Afghanistan killed more than two dozen civilians, officials said Monday.

The incident took place Sunday in the Daikondi province. Afghan officials provided conflicting figures on how many civilians were killed.

The interior ministry placed the death toll at 27 civilians, and said 14 others were wounded.

The president’s office said at least 33 civilians, including four women and a child, were killed and 12 others hurt.

A convoy of three vehicles was traveling to Kandahar province when it was struck, said Zemeri Bashary, the spokesman for the interior ministry.

He had earlier said the attack occurred in Uruzgan province. Daikondi was carved from the larger Uruzgan province and neighbors it.

NATO confirmed its forces fired on the vehicles, believing that they were carrying insurgents.

When ground troops arrived, they found women and children in the cars, the U.S. military said in a statement.

The military did not say how many people were killed in the attack.

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it has ordered an immediate investigation.

“We are extremely saddened by the tragic loss of innocent lives,” said the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, who spoke to President Hamid Karzai Sunday evening and expressed his regret.

“I have made it clear to our forces that we are here to protect the Afghan people, and inadvertently killing or injuring civilians undermines their trust and confidence in our mission. We will re-double our efforts to regain that trust.”

The Afghan cabinet called the attack “unjustifiable.”

“The council of ministers strongly condemns the repeated killing of civilians by NATO,” the ministers said in the Pashtun and Dari version of a statement.

The English version of the same statement did not include that sentence.

Civilian casualties at the hands of U.S. and NATO troops have strained relationship between Afghanistan and the United States.

The numbers have fallen off in recent months since McChrystal took over as U.S. commander.

Elsewhere, an insurgent rocket struck a car in Kapisa province Monday and killed one civilian, officials said. Five others were wounded in the attack.

Earlier, Afghan officials had blamed the attack on a NATO ground-to-ground missile but later corrected the account.

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MELBOURNE, Australia — The sixth annual Adultex B2B trade event will be held March 12-14 in Hunter Valley wine district, two and a half hours out of Sydney.

Adultex is founded and managed by Australian adult distributor Calvista Australia.

“Adultex is a fantastic trade event,” Calvista Australia CEO Michael Bassett said. “It brings together adult retailers, manufacturers and studios for three days of focused information exchange, new product releases, seminars and buying, without the distractions of consumer shows. Adultex 2010 sold out within one week, we are already seeking for a larger venue for 2011.”

The commercial event allows adult industry retailers to meet with company owners and sales representatives from more than 40 leading companies such as California Exotic Novelties, Doc Johnson, Topco, Pipedream Products, Pjur and Sportsheets.

Bassett said that Vida Internationale has signed on as a sponsor and will debut its line of luxury vibrators at the event.

“Adultex is the premier business event for the Australian market, and we are so pleased to be participating,” said Susan Colvin, president and founder of California Exotic Novelties. “We are very pleased to support the show, and meeting everyone who attends.”

Media producers attending Adultex 2010 include Vivid Entertainment, Digital Playground, Private, Titan Media, Daring Media, Marc Dorcell, Jules Jordan Video and New Sensations.

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So you like wearing a thong when you go to dinner? Or being tied up and spanked? Anal sex? Well, you’re certainly not alone. The trouble is, in our oh-so-modern sexual era (not!) bringing up fetishes and kinky pastimes with your new lover may not go down too well. At best, she will grin seductively and reveal that she too loves to do those things. At worst, she will think you are a pervy-weirdo creep and unsure if she should see you again. If the former happens, well that’s great. The latter? Read on friend. I don’t want you or your new girl getting your pink frillys in a twist.
women like kinky sex
Even the most prudish woman can be connivingly convinced to partake in the most lascivious and lewd sex acts. Don’t believe me? It’s entirely possible. Despite rumors, more often than not, women are actually deviant sex goddesses waiting to be released from their good-girl prisons. The main factor when introducing new games to the bedroom is preparation; there should be very few surprises. This means — oh yes, you guessed it — lots of talking… preferably before you leap into bed.

Timing is not everything, but rates highly. Educating her is paramount. Making it seem like her idea in the first place is simple genius… if you can pull it off.
Introducing spanking, biting and hair pulling
Kink factor: 2 out of 5

These are such childish behaviors, but they can add an uninhibited layer to good sex. The good thing about these is that you don’t really have to talk about them too much before you do them. You can test the waters as you go along, but always keep it light. There are very few preconceived ideas about spanking, biting and hair pulling.

How to introduce it: These things are best done during a very passionate sexual encounter. Go with the flow and use your common sense — tread deliberately and carefully. Wild abandon usually equals pain.

Spanking: The problem with spanking is it gets better the more you do it, and the first couple can sting quite badly. Let her spank you back. Have a good spanking session, laugh your heads off and spank each other silly. The eroticism will come later. Don’t spank every session unless requested.

Biting: The success of your nibbles relies heavily on pressure, timing and frequency. Keep it light, only do it while in the absolute throes of passion, and don’t do it often. If you want her to bite you, instruct her on the art — she is unlikely to just know how you like it. Don’t ever bite breasts or vaginas unless expressly asked to. Leaving marks is not desirable.

Hair pulling: If you want to pull her hair, do it gently. If you want her to pull yours, then just asking nicely should yield results. There are loads of pressure points in the scalp that makes hair pulling quite a sensuous activity when done properly. Don’t yank, and be conscious that her head and neck is attached to that beautiful hair. Hold the hair close to the scalp and in handfuls as opposed to pulling on a ponytail or the ends of longer hair.

Breaking out the sex toys, role playing and tying her up…

Introducing sex toys
Kink factor: 3 out of 5

Men pulling out sex toys? Hang on a sec — that’s supposed to be the woman’s job. Times are changing, and it is entirely acceptable for a man to declare his longings for sex toys — even huge cock shaped ones — to be introduced into the bedroom repertoire. It is great to have a man who isn’t insecure about it. Just be careful when pulling out butt plugs or prostate massagers because she is unlikely to be familiar with these. A vibrating plastic vagina might be on the weird side, and she may not know how to use a cock ring, or have ever seen a French tickler before, but no doubt she will embrace them with enthusiasm once given a quick lesson. But what if she doesn’t?

There is a small chance she might think you are weird, in which case, you simply need to educate her so she is no longer afraid of the strange objects you wish to bring into the bedroom. The first step is to talk about it, especially if the toy is not standard issue vibrating material.

How to introduce it: Ask her if you can use a toy on her. Or, next time you are giving her oral pleasure, add it in without her even seeing it. Other toys may need a better explanation, so just take care to explain the purpose of each toy, how it works and what she can expect. She doesn’t want to feel like an uneducated sex toy klutz if she has never used one before.
Introducing light bondage
Kink factor: 3 ½ out of 5

Yes, she has a view on this particular passtime even if she has never ever done it. She might think it is fun and sexy or she might think it is scary and weird. Just so you know, most women view this as sexy, not weird. But whatever her view, make sure you know what it is — talk. You must always have permission.

How to introduce it: Next time you’re in the throes of passion, hold her wrists above her head or by her sides and tease her with your hands or mouth or a feather. Hold her wrists lightly so that when she tries to wriggle free, she can’t move unless she pushes against you firmly. Tease her some more, and then whisper seductively in her ear: “Can I tie you up and tease you until you have an orgasm/can’t stand it any longer/want me to stop?” Then, do your thing!

Some guidelines: Don’t both be tied up on the same occasion. If you are using rope, hemp is soft and won’t burn. Cotton is good because it’s soft, but fraying may be a problem. Synthetic rope will probably give rope burn, so unless you enjoy the pain, give it a miss. Try pulling out some fluffy handcuffs or a scarf. Save the blindfolding for another day. Keep some blunt ended scissors handy and always check the temperature of tied-up body parts (hands, feet) in case the circulation is being cut off and they need to be released. Never refuse to release someone unless this is part of your sex game. If this is the case, use safe words. Never tie anything around someone’s neck.

Some backside loving and a little bit of role play never hurt anyone…

Introducing anal sex
Kink factor: 4 out of 5

So you like it in reverse? Good for you. The problem is, she might be scared sh*tless of the idea. This makes your job extra hard: Not only do you have to remove all the old ideas, but you need to replace them with new, convincing ones.

Your first port of call before embarking on an anal adventure is to know your bum business. This does not mean watching anal porn for tips on how to slam her. You need to have a clue what you are doing. Look up instructions on the net.

How to introduce it: When you think you have a clue of how to do it properly, bring it up. A simple “Have you ever had anal sex and enjoyed it?” works. There are only two answers to this question. If the answer’s “yes,” ask if she would she like to do it again. If the answer’s “no,” ask if she would be brave enough to try it with you. Pull out your instructions and educate her. Every woman can enjoy anal sex if it’s done right. The orgasms are different, and can be quite intense. Pull out your instructions. Sell it to her.

What not to do: It is not cool to just try to put it in “by mistake.” This is excruciatingly painful. Always have permission, and never pressure her. The trick is getting her to want it.
Introducing role play
Kink factor: 4 out of 5

You need to be careful with this one, because she may take your fantasy request the wrong way: She may think you are implying she isn’t enough for you. The trick is all in the presentation.

How to introduce it: To increase your chances of success, you need to make it sound like a really fun idea. Talk about it long before you want to do it, but make her role in the play seem exciting and sexy, so she can fully imagine herself dressed up to the nines, behaving like a secretary/princess/prostitute/whatever. You need to appeal to her imagination, so keep it humorous and light-hearted. Once you are fairly sure she is keen, organize it. Chicks love playing dress up!

What not to do: Avoid anything to do with animals, rape or involving other people/people you know. Don’t just pull out a ridiculously small maid outfit and expect her to put it on and polish your family jewels. It is highly possible that she doesn’t want to be dressed as a maid, and that outfit you bought without her input is probably hideous and far too small. Don’t be over keen to play dress up, because you can give her a complex. And yes, wearing her underwear for too long will make her question your sexuality.
coming out about a fetish
A fetish can be a strange thing to observe in somebody, and even stranger to observe in yourself. For those without a fetish, it is very hard to understand what it’s like to be aroused by an inanimate object that normally isn’t associated with sex. If you have a fetish, denying it is futile. It is a part of who you are. The best thing you can do is to make sure you are totally comfortable with it yourself before sharing it with the person you love, if indeed you choose to share it. Some people keep it to themselves their whole lives, and it seems a shame that something you love so much has to be hidden.

Fear of rejection is high on the list of reasons why not to tell, but if you are in a loving and healthy relationship, surely sharing a part of yourself can only make it stronger? If you are worried about sharing a fetish, you are certainly not alone. Before taking the leap, find a fetish community and talk to others about it and see what they have done, haven’t done or wished they had. Only you can decide if it is the right thing to do.
kink it up
Introducing your new lady friend to your preferred bedroom antics can be nerve wracking. This is with good reason — she may not react well. Don’t forget that you can get away with just about anything if you approach it in the right way — discuss it, educate her, keep it light-hearted, and you may just get your wish. Women love to try new things and be kinky minxes, but it takes a little while for her to build up trust and confidence with a new man. The great thing about it is that you are her new man, and she is free to explore her sexuality. Use this newness to your advantage, but don’t forget: Only fools rush in.

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There are loads of things that affect a woman’s sex drive. Some factors are obvious, while others definitely are not. It can be very difficult to tell exactly what the problem is, so here is a collection of sneaky things — from birth control to ecstasy — that may be affecting her sex drive.
common libido killers
The most common libido killers are stress, children, relationship problems, physical injuries or lack of physical ability, and illness. Libido is fairly fragile at times and relies on many different human aspects — emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual — to work in harmony.
1- Psychological hindrances
Confidence: Confidence issues and stress are both major hindrances to a healthy sex life. Bad self-image is the worst offender, with weight issues topping the list. These are the women who always want the lights out and won’t fully undress in front of you. It can take a long time for a woman to get comfortable in her own skin, and the best thing you can do is reassure her that she is beautiful and desirable. Find the parts of her you love (her brain as well as her body), and remind her how great she is as often as you like.

Stress: Most people are a little stressed, but when it starts to affect your sex life, it becomes a problem. Stress relief is in order here, but how that is achieved is up to you and her. Take the bull by the horns, and provide a relaxing massage and a bit of pampering — this will go a long way. Just watch out if she is stressed and tired because a great massage may put her to sleep!

Anxiety: If she is anxious, she won’t be randy. Along with stress, feeling anxious about sex for whatever reason (perhaps childhood abuse, rape or other fears) is a tragedy not only for your sex life, but for her whole life. She needs to figure out and overcome her reasons for feeling anxious, and the best thing you can do is support her. It won’t be easy, but with good communication, it can be handled and eventually resolved.
2- Physical health
Lack of physical exercise: Women who exercise regularly have higher sex drives, and more often than not, their periods are less painful and PMS is a lot less severe or even nonexistent. In fact, if a woman does regular strenuous exercise (four times a week for about an hour), she is far less likely to suffer from hormone-induced problems. This happens because when the body is healthy, small chemical and hormone changes have the effect they’re supposed to have — preparing the body for pregnancy — instead of causing major disturbances to chemicals in the brain and wreaking havoc on the body and mind.

Better your sex life by ditching the burger and fries and avoiding these female libido killers…

It can be an extremely stupid thing to suggest to a woman that she exercise more, so by suggesting physical activities you can do together (like going for jogs or rollerblading), you are improving your own sex life (and overall health and happiness) as well as hers.
Poor diet
Diet plays a major role in painful periods, and in overall happiness and well-being. Her diet can be stopping her from feeling her best, so taking a good look at what goes in will help to determine what her body dishes out. After all, we are what we eat. Again, suggesting she stop eating crap food is going to land you in the dog house, so make these changes to your own eating habits so she doesn’t feel she is being picked on. Let her learn by your example. Swap the chips for a salad, the Coke for water, and both your energy levels will rise as a result. More energy for life means more energy for sex.
Toxic overload
If we don’t help our bodies clear out toxins, they will build up and give us zits, odors and low energy levels. Helping our bodies rid the toxins will make us feel better quite easily and quickly. Smoking, pollution, lack of exercise, bad diet, and being overweight all make us feel less stellar than we should, and these factors also kill our sex drives. The best ways to rid our bodies of toxins are to drink plenty of water and antioxidants like green tea, and get exercise.
PMT
PMT can affect her in the week or days before her period. All women experience premenstrual changes, but some have what is clearly defined as a serious problem. You probably know of women who suffer from PMT: they are the women you refer to as The Bitch or The Psycho. Their behavior is irrational, illogical, emotional, and fraught with tension and anxiety. One minute they may seem perfectly fine, and the next they are a raging maniac, crying, yelling, and being irritable.

This may be a bad time for trying to have sex, and saying something like, “Have you got your period?” will go over like a lead balloon. In saying this, sometimes increased premenstrual aggression means sex is especially vigorous and primal. Women are extra sensitive during this time because of high estrogen levels. The best way to deal with this is to avoid arguing back, and if you want to help fix the problem, encourage her to do some exercise and other stress-relieving activities (and yes, sex is one of these, but do try others).
Birth control
Oral contraceptive pill: The OCP is a small pill that controls the body’s hormones artificially to prevent pregnancy. The good news: The freedom gained from the pill is an aphrodisiac; knowing she won’t get pregnant is liberating, and definitely encouraging for both of you. The bad news: The pill can be dangerous for a woman’s libido. Her hormones are leveled completely (and artificially), which rules out the sexual peak at ovulation (most birth control pills force the body to skip ovulation) and just before her period. It effects the body by increasing the levels of something called SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin), which attaches itself to testosterone in her bloodstream, rendering it useless.

Keep reading for more female libido killers..

Unhappy couple in bed – Credit: iStockphoto.com
Female Libido Killers
Testosterone is responsible for much of a woman’s sex drive, so the loss of her already low levels is bad news. This can be a trade off, because we all love raw sex. Going off the pill may not be the best idea, so get her to ask her doctor for an alternative type of birth control.

Depo-Provera injection: This injection is a high dose of artificial progesterone. This tricks the body into thinking it is already pregnant, but progesterone inhibits the production of estrogen, which is essential for the health of her reproductive system and, therefore, essential to her sex drive. The lack of estrogen can cause a problem called atrophic vaginitis, which can make sex painful and cause serious and uncomfortable problems with the urinary tract, vagina and vulva.

This form of birth control has been linked with mental health issues, weight gain and vaginal problems that hinder sex by making it painful and uncomfortable. Aside from those symptoms, it decreases sex drive considerably in most women, which is obviously not good for you.

Implanon implants: Similar to Depo-Provera, this implant is a slow release of progesterone that can last in the body for up to three years.

The good news: Her sex drive may hit the roof (or the floor), taking you with it. If it works for her, it is a good (and sex-a-plenty) alternative to the pill. The bad news: This matchstick-size implant can wreak havoc with her body, resulting in a very high sex drive, but almost black-widow-like behavior (she’ll hunt you down, screw you, then eat you alive). The side effects — moodiness, obsessive behavior, acne, and depression — can be very destructive. It also causes swelling of the brain. Every woman experiences different changes in libido, both positive and negative, while using this form of birth control.
Prescription drugs
Antidepressants: Some antidepressants can increase libido in women, while others, such as Prozac, reduce it significantly. There are some that have had fewer reported sexual side effects, so if one antidepressant doesn’t work well, there are other options. Overall, antidepressants help encourage sex because she will be feeling better about life in general and will have more energy, but orgasm can often be delayed or not happen at all. In this case, good communication is essential because a chemistry problem can turn into a psychological problem very quickly. If you have to kiss and play around while she gets better, then so be it; pressure to have sex is also a libido killer.

Blood pressure drugs: Most blood pressure drugs kill a woman’s sex drive, so other drugs may be prescribed to counter this. The doctor may try a few different types of blood pressure drugs to find one that won’t affect her sex drive. The reason for the high blood pressure needs to be addressed so she can get back to full health, and easy ways to help this are encouraging exercise and good diet, and doing fun, stress-free activities.

Drugs are uncool, buddy, especially for her the female libido. Here’s why…

Sedatives: Medications like Xanex, Diazepam and Valium are known to lower one’s sex drive and ability to be aroused. Occasionally, this may result in an inability to reach orgasm, which can be a terrifying and stressful experience. Most sedatives do exactly that — sedate the body and mind. Having high energy levels and normal brain-body function is impaired significantly, leaving women feeling more like a lobotomized zombie than a sex goddess. It is hard to help things like this when the doctor seems to be in charge, and the reasons for being on sedatives are unique. Keeping the body as toxin-free as possible is always a good idea, so exercise, water and doing fun things will help her regain her health and well-being.

Other prescription drugs: Antihistamines can effect lubrication and cause drowsiness; antipsychotic, anti-seizure, anti-cancer, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can all effect libido in a negative way.
Recreational drugs
Ecstasy: This drug is great for making out, and her sex drive is likely to go through the roof when she’s on it since her body is in the best mood ever, and everything feels great. The negative effects of ecstasy use are the after-effects of low serotonin — depression of normal body functions while the body realigns itself chemically and physically. Ecstasy is an aphrodisiac, but regular use is bad news.

Marijuana: Smoking pot has a depressant effect on the body, therefore, this drug is a libido killer. It also dries the vagina (and mouth) up, which is not helpful. If you want to have sex, don’t get her stoned.

Amphetamines (speed, crystal meth): Amphetamines are known to cause sexual dysfunction in both men and women. While speeding, sex is likely to be far from her (and your) mind, but talking a lot, and really fast, will not be.

Opiates (seroin, cocaine): Opiates are linked with the inability to orgasm and low sexual desire. Men may find they cannot get an erection, and women can have problems with moisture. Most people who use heroin say that sex is very low on the list of important things to do. Cocaine can be good for confidence, and sometimes increase sensations, but overall it is a slack aphrodisiac.
Illnesses and disorders
Thyroid: Problems with the thyroid directly affect hormones, which in turn wreaks chaos with a woman’s sex drive. It is one of the most undiagnosed problems with low sex drive because it is not really talked about as a symptom.

Adrenal glands: The adrenal glands are responsible for producing some of the testosterone in women, so when this gland is not performing to its peak, the amount of testosterone (the sex hormone) is lowered. This means she’ll experiences less desire to have sex at any time. This gland is what keeps a woman’s sex drive active after menopause (when the ovaries, which are responsible for the rest of the testosterone, cease to function).

Hysterectomy: The removal of the uterus (and sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries) effects women differently. In studies, half the women experienced an improvement in their sex lives, with 21% seeing a decrease in desire and enjoyment. This shows that it could go either way. Depending on the circumstances of the hysterectomy, there will be many other factors influencing her sexuality and well-being. Because of the low levels of testosterone, she may end up with other problems, like thyroid deficiency, low energy levels and moodiness.
long live the libido
Defining the problem is the first step toward discovering why we’re not getting laid as much as we should be. Whether it’s overuse of McDonald’s or overuse of ecstasy, everything we put inside us effects our bodies and, therefore, our sex drives. If you can find the real problem, you can fix it.

A word of caution: Approach things you think would benefit from a change with tact and sensitivity. You don’t want to be booted out onto the sidewalk with teeth marks on your neck.

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Game-playing and relationships never mix … or do they? A male and a female writer sound off with their perspectives on whether or not certain games can actually help your chances when it comes to love.

By Rich Santos and Diana Vilibert

1.The “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not” Game

He Said…
The key here is consistent inconsistency. The player makes like a dollar bill on the end of a fishing line. Give a little, take a little: friendly and attentive for a while, then randomly aloof. Now you see them, now you don’t. If played correctly, the player compels his target to solve or figure him out.

She Said…
Mixed signals work … in a way. I’ll admit, “consistent inconsistency” has led to many a girls’ night spent attempting to crack the code. But player beware: This game will come to an abrupt end when the object of your desire realizes they’re now more interested in figuring out what’s wrong with you than actually dating you.

2.The “I Don’t Like You/Make ‘Em Jealous” Game

He Said…
We all want what we can’t have, right? The player refrains from showing any interest in his target. He can enhance his game by flirting with other girls (flirting with her friends annoys her even more). While other guys are putting her on a pedestal, the player is hard to get. This game can be saved for when the player knows his target likes him, and he’s trying to get her to admit it.

She Said…
There’s a thin line with this game — spend too much time talking about other women and I’ll take myself out of the running. But people can smell desperation from a mile away, and someone who is seemingly unavailable or picky is certainly more attractive than those who are too available. Balance is key here. Pretending you’re not interested at all can backfire, so if you dig them, don’t spend too long acting like they don’t exist.

3. The “Doubt” Game

He Said…
The player obnoxiously brings the target back down to earth by challenging her goals: “There’s no way you can run a marathon.” You have no idea, while others are supporting and kissing butt. If played effectively, the target will not only assume the player has — at some point — accomplished what she’s trying to accomplish, but she’ll see the player as part of the goal: “You say I can’t? Then maybe I’ll just conquer you too.”

She Said…
Playful banter and teasing? Sign me up. Someone confident enough to challenge you is sexy … and when you’re just starting to get to know each other, a little feistiness is definitely appealing. Keep it light and friendly, and throw in a smile or a wink to show them you’re being playful, not mean.

4. The “Crass Jerk” Game

He Said …
While Prince Charming is laying his coat in a puddle for the girl, Crass Jerk is ordering another round and encouraging his target to dance on the bar. The Crass Jerk player will stand out, his target will never be bored, and she’ll feel like “one of the guys.” Most likely, her parents want her to bring home Pike Winston Blair III, a graduate of Harvard Law. But Crass Jerk is the guy she wasn’t supposed to take home to Mom, and that intrigues her.

She Said…
Being on your best please-find-me-datable behavior can often have the opposite of the intended effect: The one you’re after may just find you a bit dull and lacking personality. So be yourself and shake it up by treating your crush like a friend. You want the person you date to like the real you, so be clear about who the real you is, lovable quirks and all.

5. The “Be Careful What You Wish For” Game

He Said…
So, she said she wants to be friends? The player gives her what she wished for, and then some. He revokes ALL privileges so he’s essentially out of her life and some other girl is getting his attention and friendship. The player then demonstrates that some other fun friend has replaced her. He takes all the laughter and fun with him … and the target wants it back.

She Said…
When someone tells you they just want to be friends, that wish should be respectfully granted, game-playing or not. But I’ll be the first to confess that I’ve had second thoughts after drawing the platonic line in the sand. Am I merely playing into a game? Perhaps … but sometimes the cliché is true: It often takes an absence of something for us to realize that we wanted it in the first place.

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