W_L

8. Guys in their mid-20's don't go to Cancun, Miami, or anywhere College guys consider "fun" during the middle of Spring

Modern translation, I know. Sounds better than the British translation

The best way to approach religion without approaching moral tradition Love how you approached it Graeme, the little girl felt real and her plight was understandable. When parents ostracize their gay/bi/trans child, most authors will focus on the victimize kid, but the impact affect others as well. A family is not a family unless everyone can be whole; a home cannot stand if you break apart its foundations. Thanks for writing, I hope you will get back to writing a long form story again someday

Thanks Brink for translating, you were the first one to recognize it as the opening lines to the Tao Te Ching. 道可道非常道, 名可名非常名 Most of far eastern philosophy has either roots or been influenced by the book; even when cultures don't hold Taoist religious principles, there are philosophical points that extend outwards towards Buddhism, several Indian religions, and scientific principles. I translate it a little differently than you do Brink: "The way that is known is not the true way", "The name that has meaning is not the true name" It is the Asian equivalent to Cognito Ergo Sum, "I think, therefore I am" As I am writing my sci-fi/fantasy story, I am going to be playing with these concepts and maybe throw a few word games at my readers

I like reminiscing over that old box too... Well ranks can be broken by higher post counts to describe the general reader/poster state of mind: For post counts 0 - Untainted 50- Nervous 100- Drawn 500- Engrossed 1000- Active 5000- Defined (Hmm... I made a hidden message ranking system )

I meant two divisions is not my cup of tea, zombie won this round. It was David's initiation but AD gets bonus points for finding a story I can read as new My choice in words were abstract i agree, though you understood the real meaning zombie as "a lot" vs. "Every".

Thanks, do you want a pickled ham sandwich? As for the amount of sex on nifty versus GA: let's not start an old fashioned flame war (they never work or end well and I don't feel like defending either Nifty or GA on sex content It's one of those touchy subjects and outside the forums rules). So I will just point out that "erotic" is defined as: of, devoted to, or tending to arouse sexual love or desire Synonym: Sexy and steamy Not an old Canard just a mission statement that has been kept by the site for years and is a good selling point. As for quality stories, I did start out on Nifty, not GA, so I know there is quality in Nifty or else I wouldn't be searching for an old story there. As for your story Zombie, eh.....not my cup of tea.

High school or young friends at first, since the guy was just a kid to start. It's a long story as well. Also, I have tried using search and boolean terms to find it again on google, but haven't had luck.

Been wondering about an old nifty story recently too; it's about a boy, who grows up through the story. It starts off very racy and nifty-esque like every other story you'd find there, but it evolves into a more mature and touching story about life, love, and people we care about. At the end of the story, when the guy dies, he meets all the people that shaped his life, including old love. I think 1-2 chapters was equivalent to one year in his life. This story left an imprint on me, when I was reading it years ago, because the plot and the concept was original to me. This is before the "Time Travelers' Wife" or even me reading DK's "Do-Over" the first time around. The entire plot as whole made a complete story in every sense, literal, figurative, and existential. Anyone know this story?

For everyone with 1,000 post, I'd add the rank: "GA Fangirl Poster" 5,000 post: "GA Lifer" For Reputations 10K+, I would change it to: "You are now Mark Arbour"

No politics for today's blog as I don't want to go into the DC shooting, I do give my sincerest prayers for the 14 injured people from the incident, who are still in the hospital, and 12 dead. Others will argue on the points, everywhere else. I want to talk about nothing really important....just the quality of food. I went to a Caribbean sandwich shop, Dominican based, and I wanted to try their Sour Sop and pickled ham sandwich. It tasted good, but I paid for it later. I have had the runs on and off for several days. My gluttony got the best of me, but I've been to other holes in the walls before and if I can eat exotic Chinese cuisine that is just as questionable in terms of sanitary conditions, why can't I eat Dominican Sandwiches? Perhaps the flies circling around are one problem, there's a cooling in Boston, so any place that can still sustain flies is obviously warmer than average. Maybe, it's bad meat, condiments, or pickles. I also tasted a weird type of spice in their sandwich; it feels like curry, but I know that they do not use curry spices. So what can emulate the flavor of curry in Dominican Cuisine? Also, I am an avid curry eater, so I know how to differentiate the flavoring and it doesn't bother me, but this stuff tasted weird. The sour sop tasted funny as well. I have had the drink before and it is an acquired taste, but nothing that would cause such a reaction. It's like a creamy sweet shake basically. Anyone a connoisseur of foods, who want to enlighten me on what could have gone wrong as I consider whether or not to report them to health inspector?

Let's demand a gay homeland! I knoe what you mean and I am sick of "dates" to nowhere. I am a normal gay guy with a dream that one day someone will be my partner in life, beyond just the bedroom.

Sounds interesting, Are you doing it to fill in the missing story between Bruce's death and Dick Grayson taking up the mantle of Bruce with Damian as the new Robin in the ongoing storyline?. I would love to read your take on his relationship with Dick, Tim Drake, and Jason Todd, plus his reaction to Ra's Al Ghoul, his grandfather. I know he and Tim Drake did not end things well and Jason Todd is the psychotic robin in the corner. I've got really diverse taste in Fan Fiction, especially when it comes to stories I wish were told from different viewpoints.

I was bored today and wanted to catch up on TV that I missed last year, which turns out to be a lot better than I thought. The show of choice was: Hannibal, based of Silence of the Lamb and Red Dragon character Hannibal Lecter. I was not originally interested, but I read the reviews and tried it out. It was incredibly interesting, disturbing, and psychologically educational, like watching a progressive drama about the root of sanity and insanity in the modern world. Sure, the guy eats people, but there's an underlying sanity in his disturbing actions, which is creepy in its own way. Antony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter was the genial madman, who no one imagined was a cannibal, but you do not understand why he does what he does. Show-runner, Bryan Fuller, has plot development that fleshes out this sociopath into something that goes way beyond the crazy theatrical monster, this Hannibal Lecter is human except he does not hold human empathy. Now that in itself makes me a happy TV viewer, but reading an article on CNN today makes me feel weird: Massachusetts Man plotted to kill and eat Children That news article really hit close to home and it makes me wonder how many people out there really could be capable of doing what Hannibal Lecter does in fiction. I wonder, is this type of sociopath part of modern world or a reaction to it? Are sadists created due to the emotional isolation in the world or are they byproducts of our "applied" isolation from labels and political correctness? I don't know the answer and it is what scares me.

Business is War! I have most of the military classics, but I think they are missing one more martial strategy: The Book of Five Rings Japanese martial ethic is unique in offensive capabilities and complements Chinese strategy on capabilities in Arts of War as Sun Tzu is tactical strategy based, Miyamato Musashi is Operational strategy

Simple and rustic, I like the story's take on the American South; even though, it feels a little too "Gone with Wind"-esque in terms of themes. There are several GLBT movies that goes with southern gay guys developing relationships in the slow, hot, and simmering cauldron of the Deep South, ready to explode in a fiery infernal of passion, envy, and violence. With a little more on the characterization, we would learn more about their motivations. Sexual abuse is a complex issue and its effects do not end within one chapter or one day; it is a lifelong journey towards something like normalcy. This issue would be complicated by the brothers' own relationship and prejudice from both the Heterosexual world and the GLBT individuals, who would accept though alienate them, causing more issues internally for Brayden. However, I tend towards psychological in storytelling, which not everyone would like.

Sasha don't despair, if you can write a good story with incestuous lovers, some of us will still read it (hidden under a rock, several feet below ground ) In a few of the "new wave" Asian fiction stories, I've found some interesting stories centered around soulmates that have reincarnated as siblings. Conceptually, it is usually tragic and melancholic, but still very interesting. Not my preference though, but I still enjoy the alternative perspectives. Damn it, I am starting to get into an Asian Bent, I need an American Hamburger and French Fries!

You have not spoken to enough people: "Waves his hands up high as a Wincest fan" I might not write fan fiction, but I read enough of Supernatural's Fan fics to simply say, it's no big deal to a gay, bi, or even straight readers. Seriously, incest really doesn't matter to me in gay relationships; in heterosexual relationships, it is more biological issues with offsprings that I worry about. Before you brought up this topic, I thought that gay incest was normalized within the gay community. Unlike something like pedophilia, gay incest seems quite open. Also, I recommend watching "From Beginning to End", a Brazilian gay movie about two brothers in a incestuous gay relationship, which is interesting, poetic, and makes me happy at the end even though I can't understand a damn thing they are whispering to each other without subtitles, but the love story and expressions' of the actors were great. http://youtu.be/BH6vtx3HVB8

One political blog posts for old times sake As I am writing a story exploring the Far East and Asian cultures, basically going to my roots, I am hit with an odd conundrum from the other side. Everyone, Republican and Democrat, is using terms like "Exceptional" and "American Values", sounds interesting on a sound bite, but I don't really get it. The American people are deeply divided right now over a million issues, there really is no clear "American Value" that can be described as "Exceptional". Does that mean I agree with Putin's New York Time Op-Ed? No, but it means there's a fundamental problem in American society and politics. As I am writing about eastern philosophy, I am reminded of the Hundred Schools of Thought and how individuality had kept China as 7 different countries about 3,000 years ago..A central authority is always necessary for the functioning of a household, society, and nation. Whether I like President Obama or not, he is still American President and has my loyalty and fidelity as an American citizen. If you ask others, well, the answer is divided and very muddled. I know Republicans, who claim they would never follow or even honor President Obama despite his position, because of all the wrongs he has done to the nation in their view. I understand their perspective and at points share it, but in my mind, it doesn't change reality. For years, I've been trying to figure out a major question on my mind, why is politics so devoid of "realism" or practical concerns? The answer is in western philosophy, the average man dreams of his own paradise and will not settle for a world that is imperfect. Eastern philosophy is less about living in paradise and values understanding the world around us. Taoist and Buddhist share this view that moderation is the best course. Few politicians look at politics as civil service, instead it is personal and professional. Glory, achievement, and goals outline modern politics. Service to the people and state are goals, not values in this version of society. When civil service serves a personal agenda or view, there can be no "true" value system in a civilization just degrees of adherence and defiance. As I said a long time ago, I am a dying breed of conservative.

Mark is a great writer......No more needs to be said without sounding sycophantic.

The more details I remember, the more I want forget that day: I was in high school, just starting out 9th grade. I had morning Gym class and our gym teacher liked to turn on his old short wave radio, while we just messed around playing basketball and whatever. He brought the thing out around the end of the period and it seemed weird. I have really good hearing, so I caught a few words here and there like a plane crash, world trade center, and building burning. It was not until another class, which was World History of all things, that the history teacher brought in a TV set. We watched on CBS as they replayed the two planes hitting the tower, casualty counts coming in. It was surreal. The teacher kept mentioning Challenger and JFK almost like he was trying to comfort us, like this stuff happens all the time. 9/11 is a touchstone of my generation, we grew up with it, we fought wars for it, and to this day we stare in awe of it. Then we had the stories about firefighters, people afraid of planes coming down, and the Anthrax attacks (which no one has identified the perpetrator yet conclusively, despite the assertion of the FBI on a dead suspect, who committed suicide). Late 2001 is definitely memorable.

Sweet Rampage, college kids just need an outlet to let themselves go.

I want a puppy again, I love dogs and rather they live free and happy without man made restrictions including their choice of partner. I wish my dog had puppies, but alas, he was too busy oggling his male friends.

Okay, I will wait, because I want to separate the new story I am working on from anthology authors/readers, giving both breathing room. This is the Modern Eastern Fantasy/Sci-Fi novel, which incorporates myths and legends of Asia, exploring Taoism, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Tengriism, Zoroastrianism, and several other Asian religious/philosophical ideologies with a modern scientific twist. Within a week or two, I will officially ask for Betas and an Editor. If you guys want to work with me, please feel free to message at any time. Currently I have 3 chapters written, but I want to be about 3-6 chapters ahead of editors and betas, which means I as the writer will be 6-9 chapters in total ahead of readers. This delay is intentional and necessary in case anything happens during production or if real life strikes anyone including me, the story will not be interrupted for 2 weeks. The production schedule for this story (Yes, I am going to self impose a production schedule ) will be based on 3 chapters between 15,000-20,000 words a week. Publishing time will be staggered between Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I know from personal experience that if I don't put a schedule on myself, I cannot focus my creative energies properly and risk having issues with completing a story with my original intentions. Any other writer want to comment on my arrangement idea? Am I doing the right thing?

(By the way, I love Steampunk and Cyberpunk, plus Post-Modern Sci-fi structures, just don't see much of it in good ways on Sci-Fi. The only source of TV that provides steampunk for me is Warehouse 13 and I watch it more for laughs than legitimate intrigue.) Another issue with some Fiction today, too much action A lot of plot heavy stories, because audiences want their payoffs early and fast. Many call Tolkien the forefather of Fantasy genre, but if you really read his books, it take time to get into the good parts. Lord of the Rings reads less thrilling than the movies. Just like TV viewers, the average readers' attention span have shorten over time, so grand works like Tolkien in Fantasy or stories like Asimov's Foundation series may become far too wordy for modern audiences in their complete form, i.e. shorten movies with less explanation and more action.