There’s a scene near the end of Superman I where Superman, unable to rescue Lois in time, gets Super-angry. He flies up into space and around the Earth so fast it spins backward, reversing time so that he can do it all again and save her in time.

Later in Superman II he winks at Lois Lane, making her forget Clark Kent is Superman, he gave up his super-powers for her, and boned her in a silver 80’s science-fiction Shagging Bed Jor-El just happened to give his son.

And I’m sorry, Will, Superman Returns is the fifth movie in the franchise. There was a third in which Richard Pryor replaces Margot Kidder, and a forth featuring a half naked blonde dude with super-powered Lee Press-On nails.

Because simply being a victim makes you aware of every intricacy of the greater situation at hand, right?

I feel for the victims of the Dawson Shootings, I really do; Which means I’ll refrain from responding to their e-mail address they’ve set-up as part of their crusade to get the PCs to keep the gun registry. My main problem with their side of the debate is the lack of expertise, as being shot does not make you an expert on gun control. If anything, it gives you a bias that will prevent some of the harsh logic of my side of the fence from registering in your traumatised mind. Hey, I don’t mind or blame you for that bias, either, but I also don’t think it’s suitable or fair to inflict that bias on the rest of Canada.

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Gears of War is gorgeous and has a great, frenetic pacing. The co-operative campaign is easily the best I’ve played since Halo 1. I can think of nothing more satisfying than burying a chainsaw bayonet into someone. Except maybe calling down an orbital strike on their face.

Rainbow Six: Vegas is also pretty, but developed on the engine the GoW guys invented. It has smooth controls and good AI on your teammates, but the online multiplayer sells this one. I’ve only played an hour of the campaign, but with Tyler and a few new friends on X-Box Live I’ve killed off 15+ hours over the last two days hunting pesky terrorists. I will likely ramble for pages in the near future about the fun I’m having with this game.

I’m enjoying both equally for similar reasons, and if you acquire an X-Box 360: you owe it to yourself to try these titles out. They’re great examples of what we’re going to get from these next-generation consoles.

2 1/4 lb. All-Beef patties.
4 slices of processed cheese.
Deep-fried bacon.
A Scotch Egg.
BBQ Sauce.
A ladel of mayonnaise.
And not one fucking vegetable.

All served on a deep-fried biscuit bun.

It’s the End Times packed into the McDonald’s most heinous creation…

It’s the McRapture!

Discussing the PS3 Launch got me thinking, is it possible to love a film/TV series/video game too much? Well, yes, obviously, but where does one cross the line of having invested too much of oneself into a fictional universe? Me, I would never sleep on a city street for movie tickets or a game system. I’d get in line a few hours early, but that just requires bringing a book or friend for conversation, not food and water (or possibly a catheter). What does one gain by having a system before anyone else, or seeing the movie that early? If Tyler were to tellme he had a PS3, I’d say, “Awesome, I’ll have to see what it’s like next time I stop by.” If he added that he slept two nights in the cold rain for it, I’d add, “You’re fucking batshit. Don’t expect sympathy if you’re sick.” Years of ridicule would ensue, where any time Tyler called one of us pathetic, we’d remind him he risked pneu-fucking-monia for a PS3. I arranged a deal with a sock-boy at a store to get my PS2 (2< --That's a 2) and had to make an extra trip to the store. No lines, no camping, no extra money. That was as much as I was willing to do.

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Oh yeah, the Playstation 3 comes out today. I think I can see the line to the EB from my window. That’s awesome, isn’t it? Camping overnight is the cold, pouring rain for a super-expensive game system that’s got, what? Four games on release?

I’m happy with my X-Box 360. I’ll end up with a PS3 one day, but I’m not risking my health for it.

If you’ll excuse me, I gotta go get in line early for “Casino Royale” tickets.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics tries to simplify neonatal care.

This is one of those issues I have a bit of a time offering my specific opinion on. I’m going to try, though. My own strange practical yet sentimental mind I think I inherited from my dad makes outright declarations on issues like this effectively impossible for me. For the sake of education, I’ll often debate the other side of whatever opinion whomever I’m talking to stands by, whether I agree or not. Just to keep things lively and make sure every base is covered.

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It’s on X-Box Live now.

I downloaded it.

It has much potential.

So, the inexperienced security officer behind me sends one of her guards to an alarm, and for the third time in an hour describes is as nothing more than an alarm in a 2000 square-foot space that has between 10 and 30 different alarmed doors and points, not inlcuding panic buttons. One of the other guards, offering constructive criticism, suggests she just read the description off the computer so the dispatched guard knows where to go from the start. I agree, not vocally, I’m trying to collapse into my own world of fans and cooling towers.

She fucking loses it.

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From the hip, just snippets of what I thought of all the systems we’ve toyed with over the years. Almost in chronological order, but not quite:

• Shadowrun: Where I got my start. Teddy left the First Edition book around in the late 80’s and I read it and fell in love. It blends the best elements of cyberpunk novels like “Neuromancer” by William Gibson with D&D-like spells and dragons. A wonderful combination of gritty, magical and the latest edition (4th) makes the mechanics almost playable. I think this one still holds the record for longest-running single character story.
• Cyberpunk: For the more “Blade Runner” style of settings; Or when you wanted cyborgs, acidic air and guns without spells. Warroom Junior enjoyed this setting immensely in our formative years, and it was my first use of a mechanic that I’ve come to appreciate (similar to d20 but without character levels).
• MechWarrior/BattleTech: So along comes Tyler and introduces us to BattleTech. The RPG systems have yet to really mesh, especially the disjointed 3rd edition rules; But the tabletop game, despite some serious technical liberties, is great fun. Much cheaper than Games Workshop, too. I think we spent more time playing this than Shadowrun, but each session we made new characters for months and months.

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