So, some of you may have noticed that I haven't been around on Virb much. The main reason for this is that due to work, I haven't had much time. Between the months of August and Jan, we're pretty busy with football games, christmas parties and the upcoming New Years party.

It's a lot of cooking and very tiring.

The rest of my time I've actually spent visiting doctors lately. I've been told that I have a bulging disk in my lower back. It's not ruptured. And apparently, I'm not going to need surgery. But is is painful, and between the pain and the meds I'm often not up to doing much of anything. Don' t worry, I'm doing at home physical therapy and hopefully over time it will heal and I won't end up needing surgery.

So... Other than that, I do have to admit that I have been spending my time on another network. While I love the feel, look, and community of Virb; there's not really a lot of Gamers on here. Of course, I'm fine with this. Virb is an art and music community and I love that. But at the same time I am a gamer and a game writer.

So, since it's launch I've been a member of GAX Online. I also know that there are some members of the gaming community here on Virb. A few of the groups prove that, so I wanted to let them know about the site as well.

The following is a copy of an article about GAX that is intended to appear on Amish Otaku. However, my editor is currently out of commission while he waits for his appointment to get his wisdom teeth removed... OUCH!

So, while I wait for him to get better, I figured I'd share with the rest of you.

"By now, our readers have realized that I'm a big fan of video games. (That and cooking are almost all I ever mention on here.) However, I'm going to guess that you didn't know that I'm a big fan of podcasts and somewhat of a web 2.o [read social networks] nut. Therefore, it should be no surprise that when the hosts of one of my favorite gaming podcasts mentioned that they were experimenting with the creation of a social network for gamers that my interest would be piqued and I would have to sign up.

So, what's so great about this particular social network that I'm actually bothering to write about it? Well, to be fair... I think I answered that above. GAX is a social network for gamers. Not only is it for gamers, it's being set up and designed by people who love gaming just as much as the people they're hoping to attract to the site. This isn't a huge commercial franchise. It's a labor of love.

Oh... Come on now, don't look at me like that. I'm not foolhardy enough to think that if they do make the site profitable, that they won't be happy. After all, these things cost a lot to set up and maintain. And, they're a lot of work. If they can spin some profit out of it later on, they deserve to.

So... Who are these so-called "lovers of gaming" that I'm talking about? Well, if you listen to the Massively Online Gamer podcast, then you already know that it would be the show's hosts: Gary Gannon and Ryan Verniere - the two gentlemen who pontificate almost weekly on.... well... usually on games... but more often on whatever comes to mind. Although, if you know this, you also likely already know about GAX and have been to visit it at least once.

For those of you who don't listen to Massively Online Gamer - and I suggest you do, it's good for a nice hard laugh during the drive to work, though likely not safe for work - here's a general rundown on this creation of theirs:

First off... Let me say that GAX is not just the work of these two guys. It's their baby, but they're not the only ones hard at work on it. If you check the front page, you'll see an audio post by a gentleman named William. He's put a LOT of hard work into the site. As has another individual named Scott as well as all the GAX beta testers. Like I said. A labor of love.

That said, it's pretty easy to figure out what GAX is about. It's a social network dedicated to bringing gamers together. However - once you get inside -, it's not just about the gaming. It's about all things that gamers could possibly enjoy. There are groups dedicated to a number of things from the development of the site to TV shows and movies to - admittedly one of my favorite groups - cooking. Anyone can create these groups, and you can join as many as you like and therefore are free to meet as many people as you like and make friends. Hell, I've even started a group dedicated to DIYers.

Also, everyone gets a blog, and everyone's posts are featured on the front page for some duration of time. Keep in mind, that your blog is yours to do with as you wish. You don't have to write amazing posts about games every day if you don't feel like it. In fact, you don't have to use it at all, if you're not the blogging type. However, you should keep in mind that the admins of GAX request strongly that you refrain from posting anything that might get the site into trouble. ie: No hard-core pr0n please.

So you're thinking: "There are groups and blogs. What else?"

Well, there are various other features. Some are simple, like the daily Girls of GAX blog post, or the current GAX Game of the Year Awards. Others are more complicated and still being ironed out. (Did I mention they're still in open beta?) One of the biggest of these is a system that they're hammering out to help promote the podcasts of other members. There are at least a couple of members on the site with their own shows. There are Kami and the group from CoMutiny;, Brent from Virgin Worlds and Winterblink and Urban Mongral from Warp Drive Active to name a few. (I'm also going to take a moment here to say that if you've never listened to any of these, go find them and give them a try.)

This biggest feature of the site, however, is it's community. GAX is barely out of the starting gates and already boasts over 800 members - gamers one and all. That's over 800 people that you as a gamer can share one of your favorite hobbies with. It's also 800 people that you will find at least some share other interests with you as well. And at this rate, I'm seeing it as pretty likely that the site might even hit 1000 members before New Years. (I'm personally rooting for Christmas. The 1000-member mark would be a nice present to the site and the community itself for the holidays.)

So, for those of you who are interested. Please feel free to check the site out at http://www.gaxonline.com

The site is now open to join.

Oh, yes, and once you're there: Feel free to look me up. Just look for Q."

Gamers, please do drop by. It really is a great community so far and from what I see it's going to continue to grow and turn into something exciting.

And for the rest of you, Merry Christmas. Enjoy your holiday and don't eat yourself into oblivion.