W_L

Great story, confronting your past is the best way to move forward, but the revelations and openness is not easy. I thought the story was deeply moving; here, was Caleb, a gentle soul with a rough upbringing, tormented by the demons of pas sins. The story plays out like a Greek tragedy, probably in the vein of the Orestian trilogy. Seriously, write sequel.

Detail sets your story apart in a great way. You have constructed a meaningful love story and coming of age tale. Seeking a path in life and disassociating with people are problems embedded by our social framework at the earliest ages with the highest ramifications to a person's ability to make choices as your tale reveals. I am not sure if love can find its way through the ravages of time and experience, but you're continuation of this tale means that I can have hope, which is much more prized than just knowledge of success or failure.

Intriguing story with heart and constant surprises. I feel like the story is a great exploration into the mind of a man trapped inside his own closet, conceived through fear of unknowns, which needed to be confronted to gain peace. I also thought the choice for the infidelity curse that plagued the gay Irish was great symmetry without having to go into a social moral statement, instead reducing it down to personal values. You did a great job offering "choice" on a personal level that confronts many gay men with their greatest fears without rash judgment on their choices.

Well, I know there is a problem with the anthology, but I want to create a thread for discussion. My entry is basically 5 shorts concerning Death, both how we reach the point of death and what we carry into it. There's a mythological component to the story that works as the basis of my meta-verse's concept of death. (Yes, as a Writer, I do try to link some of my stories together into a loose meta-verse sort of like DC or Marvel superheroes). My premise for this entry into the anthology was the concept of the 5 Stages of Loss in Psychology, you can look at this site for my basis http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/the-5-stages-of-loss-and-grief/ 1. Denial and Isolation 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance Each of my shorts revolves around one of these choices that people use to approach loss or in this case the "ultimate loss", Death. Also, Death in my story is not as inhuman or unfeeling as most writer made him out to be or as a type of grim reaper-esque persona. Finally, in the last segment of my story, you get a glance into a bigger story that I have been developing about certain characters and story lines, including a variation of a famous fantasy language that I will use along with some others from the same writer (Sort of my nod to its use). Please find the link of the story here Hope you guys enjoy and discuss, even denounce if you think I am being too pretentious, like "Six Feet Under".

Checklist: 1. GA anthology stories downloaded Can't do it, hope there's wi-fi at the hotel 2. Alternative reading for long train ride, The Lost Bank- Check 3. Clothing appropriate for DC in the summer (I am not going nude, it'd make a bigger scene than the protesters in front of the Capitol and White House)- Check, Cargo shorts and shirts 4. Music for the ride- Check, just downloaded the new album by The Maine and The Fray + my other favorite bands 5. An emergency escape plan to get out of DC in case this is a set-up by some ultra-conservative gay conversion Church group- Check Optional 1. Protection- Enough said 2. Toys- Nah, keeping them at home...Don't get your mind in the gutter guys, I mean my teddy bear Well that's it

Much better, I only comment on stuff that give me inspiration on writing something about. I think of nature as probability game, like you don't usually see owls in the day time, but they do show up, which is kind of freaky, but it happens. They are just breaking their patterns and needing to adjust to stuff like noise pollution. A law to me is kind of like a theory, you know it is the likely result of how things will follow in succession based on experience, but sometimes it doesn't. Like oranges should be orange, because most oranges are orange. So I set up my hypothesis that Oranges are Orange and it becomes a law. However, Oranges can be yellow sometimes due to how they are formed, which means that while a majority of the time the law is accurate, there will always be a chance that the law is not accurate. I think of it as uncertainty within the realm of probable outcomes. How about you, you old Limey, what's up with your side of the Pond?

I'm the reverse, never been carded in my life. At 18, I looked 25 with a nice five O'Clock shadow. It was cool, until I hit 21, then I started realizing, I look way too old for my age. When I went to a bar like last night for a few drinks with friends, it's usually middle aged single women, who come flocking over to get my AJL (Age, Job, and Location) and I don't even go to dive bars, sheesh!

Does anyone here still play with handhelds? I mean Smartphones seem to have taken over that market, so what is the difference between the new Handhelds and a Droid phone with games?

Shit, Shoulda gone to your parties All I remember was Beer Pong, Kings, Beer Pong, Hooka, and then it gets messy. I remember when CP (Campus Police) tried to break a few parties up that I was at, including one particular party that was held in my dorm/apartment, which was kind of funny and crazy. We had one guy, who had been written up twice already (Both times intoxicated and disturbing the peace, once in just his underwear ), our campus had a three strike policy and he'd get probation, so we had to hide him from Campus police, when they were taking all our Student ID's down (They never actually report anything, unless you were really trashed and stuff, it was just to scare off freshman.). Well, the two strikes guy got spooked and escaped out of the window, lucky we were on the second floor and facing some grass. The CP's didn't see him jump out and no one thought he'd go that far. Then, when Campus police left, the party started up again in another hour and he came back, lol! Now that's a total Bro

You have given me a lot of things to think about in terms of philosophical arguments and concerns over the nature of “Natural Laws”. I am not sure if this is the best answer, but it is a probable answer to a question that is uncertain. What is “natural law”? There are several ways to interpret the concept and I’ve seen several different perspectives trying to frame the idea. First, some people assume natural laws mean absolute rules, based on certain facts of nature, i.e. there is always going to be darkness at night and light in the daytime hours due to how the earth revolves on its axis. However, what if I tell you that it can be as dark as night in the day and as light as the day at night; such a thing would be impossible, assuming natural laws carries a meaning of absolute values. However, lunar and solar eclipses have proven that this can occur, which makes the assumption a fallacy based on “common” sense or experience. However, you could say that the day and night example proves nothing as there are other absolutes like death, which is certain and absolute, proving the existence of natural laws. That’s a nuclear argument that death is the ultimate law, but what if I were to say that death is not absolutely certain or that it is not the end of an individual. Beyond getting into Polemic arguments on afterlives and faiths, since it is even simpler than those big ideas, do you know if you will die? If yes, how do you know? Your answer probably is based on experience, watching friends and family going through the process of death. However, it does not mean you will die, simply it means that death exist. In essence, the concept that Natural Law is an absolute rule cannot hold substance as the value of absolutes would require reflective reference to experiences of others. Then, what is a Natural law? I would surmise that a natural law is based on the empirical values of the highest certainty or in essence a probabilistic outcome that would often occur with small variations due to variables within any system. Usually, the day would be brighter than the night; the night would usually be darker than the day. Death would happen in all observable instances, but it does not mean that death is certain in all instances, if the observer is not present to view the death (Quantum states argument). To apply this concept, I will go back to what started my thoughts into this entry: Supply and Demand. Some viewed this as a law that a contraction in supply would reduce quantity of demand or an expansion in demand would raise the quantity of supply. This "law" is not certain as inefficient outcomes occur all the time within nature and especially in business. Concepts such as information, benefit-opportunity, and shared resources would create dissonance between efficient and inefficient outcomes. For example, if you had birds hunting in the same tree for larvae of insects, do the insects know that they need to reproduce more to keep up their reproductive supply and quantity for the birds? Do the birds knows that they should not over exhaust the “limited” supply of insect larvae, which would harm their future food supplies? Neither has this information and in some cases, the birds will over feed and insects do not reproduce at a sufficient level, thus it would harm both groups in the end. However, I want to point out that this does not disprove Supply and Demand law existing in nature based on probable outcomes. In fact, as the population of insects decrease, the birds will not be able to feed from the same tree as there is not enough supply to meet their demand. Thus, many would fly off and rebuild their nests in a better location with more insect larvae. The insects in the original tree would be left with fewer birds eating their young and could re-grow their population to higher levels needed for their function, until the cycle repeats itself again. In essence, the inefficient outcome might be arrived, but probabilistic outcomes would hold that both insects and birds would need to change their patterns of growth and consumption over time to reach a “natural” outcome, or in other words the likely outcome of shifts in population growth and demand. Also, while I applaud the nature of using price on the Y axis to display the interest of demand, this is not the true nature of Demand. I understand where financial people and economists come to perceive that Demand = Price, but the true nature of demand is based on “perceived value”, not price. Perceived value is a complex arrangement of motivators such as need, utility, and benefit to the individual. Price is easier to quantify than these concepts, which are left open in the realm of the psychological expressions of behavior. As with my example of birds, I doubt they would understand what price value is in terms of demand. My argument against using linear price theory is founded on certain Austrian economic school concepts, which try to differentiate the motivators in demand rather than evaluate based on a static monetary figure to the position of demand. I would think that demand is not a static curve always expanding quantity desired as prices fall, but it is in essence a dynamic curve or even a multi-variable figure that fluctuates. For a real world example, look at the real estate markets, while prices might be falling to record lows, homebuyer demand is not making a huge surge or even flat lining in certain spots. Benefit from a home is just not present as prices remain in decline and utility is not satisfied as mortgages remain difficult to receive despite lower prices. Price is not the absolute deterministic element in demand. With all that said, I hope that I have not overstepped my bounds and have given some of our readers an insight, even if you disagree with my concepts. I think probability is the essential missing piece in the argument supporting a highly probable "natural law" with systems empirical derived value through observation.

I was browsing Billboard to see what was hot in today's music just out of curiosity as I haven't gone on that site in ages and I want to prove my astrological chart wrong that I can enjoy popular things. To be honest, I don't follow many popular bands anymore outside my small circle of pop, punk, and rock groups, but I saw Linkin Park had a #1 rock song, so I thought why not, they're usually good. Oh I love it!

Shhh....Not in front of Lil' Q I'm sure we're all going to have fun. I might try to catch the open senate hearing on JP Morgan, if it is still going on, not sure how to see that though or if I need to bring my passport.

Guys, can we get a head count on who is going to DC definitely this weekend? I know by Default Q is going to be there. I' ve scheduled time off, but don't know who else?

StarCraft players have our own language, it's sort of like WoW guys, except our language is better, because we don't rely on Blizzard's charity (Actually if you watch the StarCraft tourneys, we operate in spite of Blizzard bizarre neglect of us StarCraft players, who make them the most money outside of their MMO) Maybe, Blizzard is ashamed of us, because we're not ultra cool level 100 Blood Elves

Howdy "Cow"-boy!

So I went to Cafeastrology.com and tried it out. It hit me right now on the mark, sadly. Look at the quotes: I actually do feel that way right now about my life and job. Heck, I'd love to be free being able to live my life as I want to and doing what I "feel". Like right now, if not for obligations, I'm feeling like flying South America and traveling down the amazon or going back to school and learning molecular biology. That was just an attribute according to the chart, my core is very sensitive and I know it, but I hate being looked at as some sappy guy, who cries every time I watch the Notebook or Titanic. I hate sentiment, not due to its concept, but I don't like opening my shell to show the world my juicy crab meat.

The zergs shall rush another day

Quick, someone send me some thors and Odins, for nukes, to back up my zerglings and roaches (hehe, perfect compliment for nukers )

Somewhere between the mock up spaceship, the android David, and the gut puncher coming out of someone's belly; I just said been there and done that. I really tried to like this movie, it has everything the Alien franchise movies had, a good story, a decent cast more or less, and superb sci-fi themes. Problem is that the movie has been done over and over again for so many decades and I have seen enough incarnations to really stop "believing" as the movie holds as its central tenet. I won't give away too many spoilers, but simply put, I guessed every plot twist that was going to happen before it happened. I even guessed that the Aliens would come out. I've seen enough of the old Alien movies to understand the horror movie dynamics. The new elements about faith, not in simply God in our system of belief but the "creator" being out there concept, is so Contact-esque, I hope Carl Sagan is not spinning in his grave. They even have a Doctor Holloway in the movie, which is less a nod to Sagan's epic and more a farce, when you factor how unbelievably stupid the doctor was. As for the scenes, it is definitely no Avatar, though I get they were trying to evoke the same idea. Basically, The good thing about the movie, the soundtrack. If there was something this prequel to Alien had was the music score to back it up. However, good music will not save a half assed effort. If this was 1979 and I was watching the movies themes and story elements for the first time, I'd say "Hey that was the best movie of the century, it had everything Science fiction should have and opened up even more questions about our existence and our creations like robots." Flash forward to 2012, I was born in 1987, seen all the Alien movies several times and loved them as I grew up, "I've seen all this before and I can't say I am impressed." My score out of 5 is a resounding: 2.5 of 5

You're older than my dog, in dog years to human year's conversion, which is pretty old Happy Birthday Old Bob!

Well anyone a: Scorpio, Pisces I'm your perfect match according to them

My condolences, I can send my zergs in to your choke point to help alleviate the pain. I promise at least a hundred waves of them

I'm a moody Crab! Cancer, but I am not a girly man, puffs face up "Hurrumph!" I am really sentimental and love tearjerkers films, love sad movies. I'm not overly sensitive, but I am moody, so who knows. Anyone want to date a Caring Cancer?

I respectfully ask that if this topic goes into the Soapbox, please delete this post immediately, as I get the feeling a can of worms might get opened with the answers. What if the guy/girl you are cheating with is gay, but had tried to be the "good" family man? That is something many the prior generation within the GLBT community is facing today; I can be free to be gay and live my life as I want to, but they are forced to choose between responsibility and what their hearts and biological chemistry truly wants and needs. In such a relationship, are you really the home-wrecker or are you the guy's savior? I love watching movies where a supposedly straight guy is introduced to gay guy, who awakens him to his natural instincts. Is the gay guy a home wrecker, because he unlocked a door the "supposed" straight guy never looked into or was afraid to? I would say no. I have very little interest in older guys, unless they have George Clooney aging ability However, I wouldn't condemn anyone for having an extra-marital affair if they truly don't have any love in that marriage and it is more a show for society to see than an actual real emotional bond between spouses. If you hold a relationship together just based on responsibility, it is not the same as one formed by love. If responsibility is more important to the gay guy than his male partner, i.e. he has to think about kids and work, then it is his choice to give up on love for responsibility. You can step out of that closet, but the consequences of it is on you. I think this issue is more than mere morality, but at its core is a question of whether responsibility or love is truly more important to human pairings.

Depends on my mood, the story, and the idea in my head. Inspiration comes from life, so if I see something and imagine scenarios based off it, then I'd probably get into the story a lot faster. For me, I can write anywhere from 2K a day to 15K a day, if I am working on top of writing. If I have weekends or a long vacation, 50K is my max per day, but it takes a huge deal of energy and inspiration to write that much. Science fiction stories take me the most time to write, historical fiction a little less, and fantasy I have found to be my easiest. In terms of getting inspired, I use an old trick I learned a long time ago: the Random Word game Basically, write down the first words that come to your mind like this: Aliens Pipes Streaks Music Asshole Well that list might inspire me immediately with some things, but I take it one step further. When I read back each word, I get more thoughts in my head: Aliens--->Movies, gut punchers, cute ewoks..... Pipes---->Organs, pot, old urban legends about the babysitter... If you want to get inspiration for length, it is good to draw on the subject and think around it to what comes to your mind and what it relates in your mind.