One of the best things about living in Taipei, at least if you’re horny AND literate, is the presence of Eslite Books, which recently opened its second 24-hour branch. Like the first branch, the second is very near popular discos and clubs; both bookstores are packed until dawn with sexy party people. It’s always a pleasure to leave Luxy or Room 18 at 3 am with bleeding eardrums, and then wander over to Eslite to pick up, if not a phone number, then at least the Economist.

But at what price our pleasure? Eslite received some terrible publicity yesterday when their sales manager hung himself on Yangminshan, leaving behind a suicide note that cited too much pressure at work.

The smaller Hess Bookstore chain, however, scored twice in the same news article. First, Hess was mentioned favorably as the deceased’s previous, less-stressful employer. A few lines later, it was revealed that the deceased’s old boss at Hess had immediately visited the bereaved family to offer his condolences—but no one from Eslite had yet done so.

Let us hope that suicides do not become a regular Friday feature here at Badhummus.