W_L

I know this might not be everyone's favorite part about games, but I like it nonetheless. Currently, Sins of a Solar Empire is my favorite for modding purposes as I love adjusting the minute details of creating custom planets, ships, and weapons. I know there are mods out for Star Trek, Stargate, and Babylon 5, there are even teams of players developing their own fictional stories based on the game play platform. As a kid, several games got me into the recreation of modding games, one of them was Homeworld. After watching giant space battles on TV, I always wanted to be the one to lead the fleets into titanic struggles against overwhelming odds, too. Other great games for modding include Age of Empire II, Rise of Nations, and FPS games like Halo: Combat evolved on PC. As writers, we create stories in print and develop characters through experience. The same can be said of Modders as well, who create whole worlds with sleepless nights of editing, modelling shapes, and patching sprites. Anyone else have thoughts about modding?

Don't worry y_b , you and i are probably grade c meat Come to think of it, i wonder if there has ever been an Asian meet up.

Does that make George Washington an Assassin? Or are Assassins and Masons, synonymous? This will be an epic game, can't wait.

Now I remember the name I forgot, Jeffrey Dahmer, the US serial killer, who target gay men. This guy just rings of the M.O right down to the dismemberment and necrophilia. James, I don't think people will see this as a reflection on gay guys as let's face it, the victim was also gay (unless you want to separate gay guys into groups with the bottoms being the least likely to go nuts ).

Agreed, don't make me get back into the soapbox before the right time By the way, does anyone know where this psycho was heading? I've been to Berlin and know the place a little, I doubt that he'd travel half way around the world to go to there (Unless he is so deluded to think the wall hasn't fallen yet). Though, the Chinese population has grown tremendously by what I heard and saw in the city, which is kind of creepy that a few months ago, a serial killer might have been staking out places where I had my trip. Also, it's such an American thing to be traveling by air in Europe, the HoF in Germany is far superior to the airlines like Lufthansa in my opinion, unless he was heading towards a foreign location outside the train network.

We only hate king George, if it was Queen Liz, we would throw a parade for her!

I won't lie part of me was afraid that a gay Asian targeting serial killer, who seeks dismemberment and necrophilia, was out there. I knew being gay was dangerous, but i don't think anyone thought it could be so bad. This is not a bad reflection on gay guys, nor a sad reflection on Canadian mental health. It is simply a tragedy and i am glad he got caught, even though the French let him pass thru without incident.

Yeah, I think most of us had the same hopes. At least make it one of the heroes that we can relate to. Maybe Marvel will create a new superhero that we could be happy with. Anyone has a new idea for a superhero? design? Back story? Love interests? Name?

You can say the same for Hockey and Football as well, both had their own walk out issues. I do agree with you the NCAA are much more fun to watch as these players are trying to prove themselves and get better. I don't watch high school games after high school. Besides, I grew up in the era of Jordan with a dad who was a big fan of the old Celtics of the 80's, even though most people of my generation remember only Mike, without the rest of the Bulls (plus Rodman and Pippen, who was a hothead himself, but he got some humble pie in '94-95) at his side he'd be in trouble, too. Basketball at the NBA level should be about good team work and integrating all your strengths together into a strong and versatile dynamic. It is why the Knicks haven't made it to the finals or even semi-finals in years, no amount of money and talent can create a team. No matter how good you are personally, your team is what should matter.

Long live the Queen!

Big sweaty guys rubbing against each other, trying to throw an orange ball into a small hoop, and tag teaming giants. (Yes, homo-erotic, but hey, gay + fan) The Semi-Finals are still going on and it looks like no sweeps are in the future for the Spurs, and Youth might not beat experience for Heat. I follow the Celtic-Heat games more, but I still find it amazing how well my team is playing despite their age and limits against the king of the hill Lebron James and his team. It's a tough game and team based play making rather than superstar power is important, when you match players. While the Celtics only won game 3 last night, we gave the Heat a good run for their money in game 2. We held them off with good game play and strategy. Plus, we also started seeing the obvious advantage we have over them, we're taller Seriously,, it is a real game changer without Bosh, 3 inches of height is great.

I'll have to settle for slash fiction for now, sigh!

To W.L at age 11 Hey, drop the book on guns for a minute and just listen. I get why you want to daydream of huge battles, epic confrontations, and great conflicts. I do that too, well of course I do, I am you. Yet, sometimes, you got to let it go. One of the things that has pushed so far in life is our desire to fight, it will push you to confront bullies and get beat up without backing down, get you into a good school, and even help you achieve a piece of security in a world that is flying out of control. However, it is the biggest thing that will hold you back in life as well, You probably have already noticed that you like boys more than girls, but you don't want to accept it. You will fight that feeling for years until you turn 16 and something awful happens, which still haunts you to this day. You will think you had found shelter in God, but it was a crutch that harms people more than it helped. To seek peace with your sexuality, you can't keep fighting it, but talk to it and see what it wants and where you want to go. Having an urge to fight gives us the ability to reach beyond what our physical limitations might not allow us in other people's eyes, but don't let it keep your emotions and empathy back. As you grow older, you will see a lot of things that will make you lose hope in people and even in your ideals. I won't tell you what those things are as without those experiences, we would not be who we are today, but what I can give you is two words: "Keep trying".

neither as they borrow from history and fiction. I only read puzo for godfather, is his novel on the Borgia good?

My condolences to all his loved ones and friends, I've only seen him once or twice online years ago, but it is sad to see him go.

Best wishes for a fast recovery and a long lasting life full of friends, family, and if fate is kind a lover that will be by your side through all the days to come.

Personally, i think it's contextual and cultural. Different people see attributes and characteristics, while others see comedy or drama. For American black comedies the movie trilogy "Friday" comes to mind, which is hilarious in a satirical way about subculture and race, but not everyone gets it.

If he loves you he won't go after the major arteries. it's just a giant love scar lol

"In Chuck we trust" right I almost forgot one of my new up and coming favorites, Micheletto of the Borgias. Gay assassins are interesting, sexy, and fun; they can be giving you the best sex of your life, then slit your throat just as quickly..

Everyone has said Captain Jack Harkness, darn. Jack McFarland from will and Grace was funny, but a little too campy for my tastes. Queer as folk US hasn't gotten any mentions, Michael, Ben, Brian, Justin, and Emmett deserve some consideration, pretty well rounded group. If we can expand into the realm of speculative gay or bisexual characters, my favorite would be Sam and Dean Winchester. Yes, Supernatural has grown on me and so has hundreds of fan fiction stories that I spot on the web as I begin reading more stories outside of GA. There's a lot of generic stuff, but a few writers really do have talent beyond the slash material.

Don't worry Bill, we can educate you in the world of the comic geeks Has anyone ever gone to one of the comic conventions by the way? I hear the DC/Marvel rivalry actually gets played out by the fans.

So glad I am not alone hoping Tim Drake and Connor becomes a couple. Connor Kent though would be interesting as a gay character, imagine your a hybrid between the world's greatest superhero (to some anyway, I thought Superman is way too powerful) and Lex Luthor, arguably one of the world's worst villain. Connor is supposed to share both the traits of Superman and Lex's intellect. (The fact that he has two dads make this so sweet and simple) Now if he were stuck in Kansas having to hide his secret identity as both a gay kid and superboy, with the added issues of his parentage, I can write volumes on it alone. Add in the angst and skill of Tim Drake, one of the best Robins ever (Dick Grayson is better as nightwing and Damien Wayne is much more sinister. Jason Todd is just too crazy.). I wonder if DC will address gay issues in middle America through him? I love the possibilities.

Just as long as it it is not bizzarro ,

Hmm, let me draw up some chances outside the big three: Superman too Kansas farm boy to be gay (He's married to Lois lane in the comic books already), Batman too dark avenger to be gay (Love Batman by the way, but I have always pictured him as too troubled to ever form a relationship type), and Wonder Woman is not a lesbian (though the island full of women, innate dislike of men, and the macho girl attitude does make me wonder if she ever experimented with her Amazon sisters on the island). Outside the big 3: Flash- I am not an avid follower of his comic series, just browse it from time to time. He's hyperactive, but lovable. Flash is best described as the nicest superhero that you can team up, but he's annoying and sort of snarky, especially Wally West and Bart Allen. However all the incarnations of flash, including kid flash as his young counterpart, are usually ladies men. Besides, who wants to be Flash's lover as he'd be done with you so fast, you won't even enjoy the sex. Green Lantern- Now you might be thinking, which one. I don't know Kyle Raynor would be nice, Hal Jordan is too old for my taste. John Stewart is too wooden and I never really looked into Guy Gardner as he isn't classic enough to be DC historic or young enough to be interesting to me. Martian Manhunter- I can see why he might be gay, but Martians don't count. I would say any shapeshifter is already bisexual, just like Mystique from Marvel. Aquaman- Nope, he's married to mera and has a kid. Though Arthur is a gay name Green Arrow- Nope, he's too involved with Black Canary, not to mention his political views (Don't go there, it will make Tim's head explode) Hawkman- He's got Hawkgirl and I am not sure if Thanagarians count Any other superheroes? I don't really care about the teen titans as much, but I'd say Superboy, or Connor, is possible and might have a thing with Tim Drake, former Robin. In the comic books, the two of them seem close and I sort of always wondered if they could ever have had something, but that's slash fiction material. With all that said and everyone knows how much of a comic book geek I can be, Will the gay DC superhero please stand up?

Guys, can we get into a private chat together for everyone who is coming? Like a group conversation between us. I think we should exchange email and cell # prior to getting together just so we can contact each other for events. We can keep it simple and loose, maybe one or two things we can do as a group and other stuff based on our interests (I want to visit the library of Congress for instance, but I know most of you guys will get extremely bored by it or want to visit the Presidential monuments, which I have seen several times already.) Does that sound like an idea? Q, probably would best know the area for restaurants and entertainment, so if you can give us a run down on choices and interests for a group like ours. (If this fails, we can walk around the capital in peaceful protest like the several hundred lobbyists and demonstrators do daily. )