I posted the new strip a several hours early for a few reasons.

I wanted to test to make sure the site's still working properly ... it is.

I wanted to put the last strip behind me. It's part of the comic now, and I'm not going to strike it from the record, but I'm certainly ready to move on. I don't think I'm alone in that.

I'm working late tonight and don't want to try to update the strip while half asleep.

Thanks to all of you for your patience and understanding during the last few weeks. And a special thanks to those who have leapt to my defense. I really appreciate it.

So, first off, our site got hacked. Missy worked like a fiend and got it running again. She is truly too good for me.

Second, Some have misread a panel in my most recent strip in such a way as to think the boss and I were having sex. I don't find this nearly as troubling as the many others who have misread that strip as me condoning, and joking about, rape.

Please let me assure you that the Boss character in no way interpreted his girlfriend's statements as anything but encouragement. The whole idea of the joke is that he doesn't understand, and if he did get even the slightest idea that she wasn't enjoying the experience he would quit immediately. He's not particularly gallant, but he's no rapist.

Anyway, I think most of you already understood this, and I don't blame those who didn't. I just felt the need to confirm that I'm not someone who finds rape even remotely funny.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

(Note, a large part of this post was copied directly from an e-mail I sent a thoughtful reader who contacted me about the rape issue directly, something you are all always welcome to do.)

The BI site has been attacked with some sort of malicious tomfoolery. Please bear with us as we clean the database.

Sorry for the rerun today. Had out of town guests and am cranking on the book. There’ll be fresh material on Sunday night/Monday morning.

Here’s my plan for the next few months:

September-Finish Second Book (It’s going well, btw!)

Early October-A little surprise for Halloween

Late October/November-Holiday Infini-Tees.

Do all of this without disruption to the comic’s posting schedule.

Speaking of shirts, two new shirts are available in my store. One’s about laziness, the other’s about environmentalism. I hope you like them.