TotallyOz

I have enjoyed this season so far and was disappointed at a few of those who were booted out. There are still some very talented guys and girls in there. Just wondering who you think the hottest of the guys is? http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season6/

Trannies. TVs. Drag Queens. Divas. Ladyboys. They are all men that gender bend and can look and act like ladies, but not all are the same. Straight culture often lumps all of these fine femmes together, - often calling us “chicks with dicks” but the truth is they could not be more different if they tried. Drag Queens, for example are generally well aware that they are really men deep down. Sure, they have a feminine side, but many will still want you to suck their cocks. True transsexuals are a different thing entirely. Sometimes called “trannies”, transsexuals honestly believe that deep down inside that they are women. The fact that they have a cock is simply an inconvenience. That said, they should never be confused with hermaphrodites – who have both cocks and pussies. Unless she’s had an operation a transsexual only has two holes for her boyfriends to play with. Transsexuals have been around since the dawn of time. Yet, they have almost always been shunned. The entire practice of trying to live your life as a member of another gender has almost always been considered taboo. Most western cultures, in fact, have had many religious or legal edicts against transsexuals acting out their most primal desires. Even in popular culture transsexuals are often demonized. Consider the movies Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs – both of which feature transsexuals as women hating psychopathic killers. The thing is that transsexuals desperately need to live out their lives as women. Men who feel like girls inside have a very high rate of depression and suicide when they force themselves to act like one of the guys. It is important to understand that being a transsexual is not simply a sexual fetish. Yes, many transsexuals want to do the nasty with cute boys. But, more importantly they want to live out the social roles of women in society. They want to be perceived by the world in general as women. Think about it, most women don’t spend the majority of their time having sex. Neither do transsexuals. They simply want to relate the way women do – which as our fag hags will be more than happy to tell us is very different than the way men relate to the world. What’s fascinating in American culture is how many “straight” men seem to be attracted to or even fetishize transsexual girls. Consider how both Eddie Murphy and Hugh Grant have been busted with trannie prostitutes. Some, but far from all, transsexuals decide eventually to have their cock and balls removed and have an artificial pussy installed. This is a very expensive and complex procedure and is clearly not right for every transsexual girl out there. Before you can become eligible for the operation a transsexual must live life as a woman 24 hours a day, seven days a week for at least a year. Then they must undergo rigorous psychiatric tests, to determine how female they really are deep down inside. Only if the trannie is able to live full time as a woman and is able to pass all of the tests is she allowed to go under the knife. While many members of the transsexual community have complained that the screening process is too difficult, it does seem to be effective. In surveys of post operative transsexuals, only about one percent regret the procedure – which is more than most of us can say about our one night stands! Still, this does mean that the majority of transsexuals never get the operation. Some don’t have it done because they can’t afford it. Others are denied the knife by the medical community. Those that don’t get the operation often take female hormones instead. This causes them to grow breasts and makes it impossible for them to get an erection – not that they want a hard on in the first place! Transsexuals have an interesting relationship to the gay community. More often than not they are included in the community. Yet, a man who feels like he is a woman inside will identify himself as heterosexual when he is having sex with another man. (S)he does not consider himself gay. A better term – and one accepted in the transgendered community – is that both gays and transsexuals are “queer” – meaning that they are separate and far more fun than vanilla breeders. One of the more obvious differences between a transsexual and a drag queen is the way they dress. A drag queen is often dresses to provoke and shock or make fun of outlandish female clothing. Transsexuals, on the other hand, because they want to feel like a real woman, often wear more conservative female attire in order to fit in as well as possible with the female community. Transsexuals are much more common than many people may think. Some medical communities, for example, estimate that at least one in 10,000 people born male feel deep down inside that they are really a babe. The good news is that in the past few decades’ transsexuals have become more and more accepted in society. Most western nations now allow transsexuals to be considered women under the eyes of the law after they have had their sexual reassignment surgery. In fact, in some European countries, the government will even help pay for your sex change operation! Madam Ovary aka TotallyOz cc 2007 Drag.com

The top U.S. military officer, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, doesn't plan to apologize for telling a newspaper that homosexuality is immoral, his senior staff told CNN on Tuesday. Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Chicago Tribune on Monday that he supports the "don't ask, don't tell" policy banning openly gay people from serving in the U.S. armed forces. The general also compared homosexuality to adultery -- behavior that is prosecuted in the military, he said. "My upbringing is such that I believe that there are certain things, certain types of conduct that are immoral," Pace told the Tribune. "I believe that military members who sleep with other military members' wives are immoral in their conduct." Pace also told the paper, "I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral, and that we should not condone immoral acts. "So the 'don't ask, don't tell' [policy] allows an individual to serve the country ... if we know about immoral acts, regardless of committed by who, then we have a responsibility. "I do not believe that the armed forces are well served by saying through our policies that it's OK to be immoral in any way, not just with regards to homosexual acts," the Joint Chiefs chairman said. "So from that standpoint, saying that gays should serve openly in the military to me says that we, by policy, would be condoning what I believe is immoral activity," he added. Advocacy group: Pace should apologize The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a nonprofit group that represents military personnel affected by the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, demanded Tuesday that Pace apologize for his remarks. "Gen. Pace's comments are outrageous, insensitive and disrespectful to the 65,000 lesbian and gay troops now serving in our armed forces," said C. Dixon Osburn, the group's executive director. "Our men and women in uniform make tremendous sacrifices for our country, and deserve Gen. Pace's praise, not his condemnation." The statement added, "It is inappropriate for the chairman to condemn those who serve our country because of his own personal bias. He should immediately apologize for his remarks." Asked if Pace would apologize, his senior staff members said the general stands by his statements as an expression of his personal opinion, and he has no intention of apologizing. President Clinton signed the "don't ask, don't tell" policy into law in 1994. The military has supported the policy, citing its belief that homosexuality is detrimental to good order and discipline in the armed forces. CNN's Barbara Starr contributed to this report. http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/13/gays.military/index.html

Your apology is accepted. Thank you! Well, I think the full title was New Sheriff? Mayor? PT Barnum? So, no, he is not an agency informant anymore than he is the mayor of London or the head of the Ringling Brothers Circus. But, I can see how you would jump to that conclusion if you were only reading the one word. My apologies to you if I was not clear enough for you. I'll try to make things clearer next time. Yes, Really! But, instead of rehashing the original post, let me change it: I hear the red carpet should be rolled out for the grand dame of Pattaya. The one who brings the most informative news to those of us who dwell outside of the LOS and want to know about the latest bars and goings on in those seedy places in Pattaya. Here is hoping his return brings him great fun and excitement and wonderful stories from afar. BTW Dick: Just in case I offended him in my original post, I've sent an e-mail to apologize for any misunderstanding. I offer to same to you. You contributions to the gay boards in Thailand is much appreciated and we hope that you continue to help us to improve here.

We must have been reading different posts. Which thread did I condemn or demean another poster? Michael is a great writer for the Village Voice and I have admired him for years. Cindy is also a writer.

I spend great amounts of time overseas. I love Brazil as well. On my first trip there, the hotel I stayed at made a copy of the passport for me and told me to carry it with me at all times. I have done the same for all countries I visit. I have the hotel make a copy of the passport and visa and always keep that in my wallet. I have never thought to have it laminated but that is a good idea. Most hotels will copy things for you and you should keep your passport in the safe. I have lost a passport in a foreign land and it is not an easy process to recover. I also suggest that if you have a computer, make a copy of your passport and Visa and keep it on your computer. I find this is what I have done in recent years. If I do lose my wallet copy, I then just print out another copy on a printer.

I have been told there is no legal standing to these marriages. I have also heard that the Canadian consulate will marry 2 men and that is legal for Canadians. Not sure if that helps with laws in Thailand or not but they will perform the ceremony for a Canadian citizen.

I hear there is a new Sheriff in town. No not the one from Bangkok. The one with a British accent and talks fast and writes even faster. Tall sophisticated guy with more stories than Muhammad Ali. I heard he was related to Cindy Adams and Michael Musto. But, I am not sure. Never got confirmation on that one. This is this what I heard let me be the first to tell you!

Same-sex marriage critic in court on lewdness charge in Oklahoma The lawyer for a former Baptist church leader who had spoken out against homosexuality said Thursday the minister has a constitutional right to solicit sex from an undercover policeman. The Reverend Lonnie W. Latham had supported a resolution calling on gays and lesbians to reject their ''sinful, destructive lifestyle'' before his January 3, 2006, arrest outside the Habana Inn in Oklahoma City. Authorities say he asked the undercover policeman to come up to his hotel for oral sex. For the full story go to: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid42264.asp

>Say it ain't so Oz. You, a first-generation iPhone guy? Yep. That is me. I can't wait! I am sure there will be some problems but Apple has always done right by me so it is worth the risk. Plus, I just love gadgets.

Here is a great story but hit the link for photos to see some of this guys pics. They are really great to see. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...ess=364x1378921

By SIMON ROMERO Published: February 25, 2007 CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 24 — Venezuela’s arms spending has climbed to more than $4 billion in the past two years, transforming the nation into Latin America’s largest weapons buyer and placing it ahead of other major purchasers in international arms markets like Pakistan and Iran. Venezuelan military and government officials here say the arms acquisitions, which include dozens of fighter jets and attack helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, are needed to circumvent a ban by the United States on sales of American weapons to the country. They also argue that Venezuela must strengthen its defenses to counter potential military aggression from the United States. “The United States has tried to paralyze our air power,” Gen. Alberto Muller Rojas, a member of President Hugo Chávez’s general staff, said in an interview, citing a recent effort by the Bush administration to prevent Venezuela from acquiring replacement parts for American F-16s bought in the 1980s. “We are feeling threatened and like any sovereign nation we are taking steps to strengthen our territorial defense,” he said. This retooling of Venezuela’s military strategy, which includes creation of a large civilian reserve force and military assistance to regional allies like Bolivia, has been part of a steadily deteriorating political relationship with the United States. The Bush administration has repeatedly denied that it has any plans to attack Venezuela, one of the largest sources of imported oil in the United States. But distrust of such statements persists here after the administration tacitly supported a coup that briefly removed Mr. Chávez from office in 2002. Venezuela’s escalation of arms spending, up 12.5 percent in 2006, has brought harsh criticism from the Bush administration, which says the buildup is a potentially destabilizing problem in South America and is far more than what would be needed for domestic defense alone. The spending has also touched off a fierce debate domestically about whether the country needs to be spending billions of dollars on imported weapons when poverty and a surging homicide rate remain glaring problems. Meanwhile, concern has increased among Venezuela’s neighbors that its arms purchases could upend regional power balances or lead to a new illicit trade in arms across Venezuela’s porous borders. José Sarney, the former Brazilian president and a leading senator, caused a stir this week when he was quoted in the Brazilian newspaper O Globo as describing Venezuela’s form of government as “military populism” and “a return to the 1950s,” when Venezuela was governed by the army strongman Marcos Pérez Jiménez. “Venezuela is buying arms that are not a threat to the United States but which unbalance forces within the continent,” Mr. Sarney said. “We cannot let Venezuela become a military power.” Still, officials in the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil have been hesitant to publicly criticize Venezuela’s arms purchases. The issue remains delicate after the Brazilian company Embraer lost a deal to sell military aircraft to Venezuela because the planes included American technology. After turning unsuccessfully to Brazil and Spain for military aircraft, Venezuela has become one of the largest customers of Russia’s arms industry. Since 2005, Venezuela has signed contracts with Russia for 24 Sukhoi fighter jets, 50 transport and attack helicopters, and 100,000 assault rifles. Venezuela also has plans to open Latin America’s first Kalashnikov factory, to produce the Russian-designed rifles in the city of Maracay. A report in January by the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency pegged Venezuela’s arms purchases in the past two years at $4.3 billion, ahead of Pakistan’s $3 billion and Iran’s $1.7 billion in that period. In a statement before the House Intelligence Committee, Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, called attention to Mr. Chávez’s “agenda to neutralize U.S. influence throughout the hemisphere,” contrasting Mr. Chávez with the “reformist left” exemplified by President Michelle Bachelet of Chile. Beyond Russia, Venezuela is also considering a venture with Iran, its closest ally outside Latin America, to build a remotely piloted patrol aircraft. Gen. Raúl Isaías Baduel, the Venezuelan defense minister, recently told reporters that the project to build 20 of the aircraft could be used to bolster border surveillance and combat environmental destruction in Venezuela. Venezuela is also strengthening military ties with Cuba, sending officers and soldiers there for training. Supporters of the arms buildup contend that under Mr. Chávez, who has been in power for eight years, Venezuela has spent proportionately less on its military in relation to the size of its economy than the United States or than other South American countries like Chile and Colombia. In 2004, the last year for which comparative data were immediately available and before Venezuela’s arms buildup intensified, overall defense spending by Venezuela, including arms contracts, was about $1.3 billion and accounted for about 1.4 percent of gross domestic product, compared with 4 percent in the United States and 3.8 percent in Colombia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which tracks military spending. Doubts persist as to how powerful Venezuela’s armed forces have become in a regional context, even as they acquire new arms. Military experts here say pilots in the air force still need training to start flying their new Russian fighters. And in terms of troop strength, Venezuela’s 34,000-soldier active-duty army still lags behind the armies of Argentina and Brazil, with about 41,400 and 200,000 members respectively, according to GlobalSecurity.org, a Web site that compiles data on military topics. Pro-Chávez analysts also say the president is less adventurous in relation to military policy outside Venezuela than predecessors like Luis Herrera Campíns, who supported Argentina in the Falklands War in 1982 to detract attention from a decline in oil revenue and climbing inflation. But critics of the arms purchases say they are being made with little participation from or discussion with the National Assembly, which recently allowed Mr. Chávez to govern by decree for 18 months. Ricardo Sucre, a political scientist at the Central University of Venezuela, said that the lack of transparency of the weapons contracts had heightened concern that Mr. Chávez could be arming parts of the army, the new civilian reserve and partisans like the Frente Francisco de Miranda, a pro-Chávez political group, that would be loyal to him in the event of fractures within the armed forces. General Muller Rojas, the president’s military adviser, said concern about the arms purchases was overblown, pointing to reports that Venezuela was considering an acquisition of nine diesel-powered submarines from Russia for about $3 billion. He said the navy had “aspirations” for more submarines, but that no “concrete plan” for such a large contract had been developed. “We simply have an interest in maintaining peace and stability,” General Muller Rojas said, describing the Caribbean as a crucial to its military influence. “We have no intent of using the Venezuelan armed forces to repress human rights.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/world/am...=rssnyt&emc=rss

These guys are the best. Great place to stay. Great comfort. Great atmosphere. Gay owned and operated. TotallyOz approved! http://pjs-place.com/

Here are some suggestions for hotels in the Pattaya area. Just an FYI: http://www.asian-accent.com/ http://www.ehotelbooking.com/thailand/patt...illas/index.htm http://www.thebondipattaya.com/ http://www.poseidon-pattaya.com/?en http://www.ambiance-pattaya.com/ http://www.flamingohotelthailand.com/ http://www.howards-pattaya.net/ http://www.caferoyale-pattaya.com/ http://www.rabbitresort.com/ http://www.gaythailand.com/index.php?file=accom_listing

Dick, I have been told by many friends that the saunas are great fun there but it all depends on when you go, the time of day, the day of the week, the month, etc. It cam be very hit or miss. My best friends from Germany always told me their best finds were in these saunas and they would find the boys that were not the Rio pros but the really sweet looking for a few bucks for the movie with a date kind of guys, but they would spend a month or two there each trip. If you are short on time and want the most bang for the bucks, you may want to take a boy down there with you and plan some extracurricular activities on the side.

Maybe we could have a >political version of American Idol where the candidates debate >for a period of time (to get longer each week as the >contestants are winnowed down) and everyone calls in to >vote..... I love that idea. I wonder if they would let a Jennifer Hudson slip through?

Glad you guys enjoyed the article! I appreciate the comments very much., >And all this time I thought your name was Madame bOyvary. Well, TY what ever do you mean?

Yes, they have a good site and is one of the sites I visit on a very regular basis. I have always wanted to go to Cuba and FloridaRob almost had me talked into it once but I didn't make it. It has really been a dream to go there and hope to be able to make the journey one day.

Cuba’s National Assembly of Popular Power has agreed to discuss making sex-reassignment surgery free of cost to all “transexuales” on the island who request it. The entire public health care system in Cuba is free of charge. Mariela Castro Espín, director of the National Center of Sexual Education (CENESEX), has led the move to make sex-reassignment available to Cubans free to all who seek it. Mariela Castro, a leader in her own right, is the daughter of renowned revolutionary leader Vilma Espín and acting Cuban President Raúl Castro. The newsletter Diversidad (Diversity) reported: “The measure would complement the present Identity Law that already acknowledges the right of citizens to change name and sexual identity. This places Cuba at the vanguard of the legislations that acknowledge the rights of transvestites, transsexuals and transgender in Latin America.” It places Cuba at the vanguard of legislations in North America, as well. Sex-reassignment is priced out of reach for many transsexual men and women in the U.S. And health care in general is a pricey privilege denied tens of millions in the heartland of imperialism. The publication reported that Cuba’s parliament will also discuss legislative recognition of same-sex unions. For an in-depth historical materialist look at the trajectory of the Cuban Revolution since 1959 on same-sex love and gender variance, read the Lavender & Red series at: www.workers.org. Look for the lavender and red logo. —Leslie Feinberg http://www.workers.org/2007/world/sex-change-0301/

The Stonewall Riots – also known as the Stonewall Rebellion – was perhaps the most important event ever to happen to the drag community. This was a series of events where all of our dragulous sisters stood up proud, supported each other and kicked some serious ass in defense of their rights to defend the liberty for then entire gay and lesbian community. In other words – sisters were doing it for themselves! In today’s world, gay bars and clubs are simply an accepted part of the gay community. Every city has taverns and discos that proudly sport rainbow flags and we take our rights to meet and mate for granted. But, it wasn’t always this easy. Up until the Stonewall Riots in the summer of 1969 police officers regularly raided gay bars – often locking up every single customer on “morals” charges. You didn’t even have to be blowing some stud in the bathroom – simply being in a gay bar was enough to get you thrown in the hoosegow. That year New York City Mayor John Lindsay was in a heated contest for re-election. In order to shore up the law and order vote he decided to “clean up” the city’s bars. So, in the early morning hour of June 28, he ordered the police to raid The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. The bar was packed with patrons that night, because the day earlier had been Judy Garland’s funeral – which had brought tens of thousands of gays from across America to New York City. A large percentage of the patrons were reportedly in drag – some were transgendered, others were diva and the rest were notorious queens. When the police entered the Stonewall Inn they began by prodding the customers with their nightsticks. This would turn out to be a fatal error. Refusing to be muscled out of the bar a transgendered drag queen, Sylvia Rivera freaked the fuck out and threw a beer bottle at the police. The cops then tried to attack her and the gay boys, lesbians and drag queens went nuts. They swarmed the cops, took their nightsticks and started beating up the homophobic NYPD Blue. The crowd then moved into the street and the police ran into the bar to hide and find safety while waiting for backup. At first, members of the crowd tried to set the bar on fire to burn the police alive. When they couldn’t get the building to burn, they instead broke off a parking meter and used it as a battering ram to get inside. In other words the queens were pissed as hell and not going to take it anymore! As this was going on gays, lesbians and drag queens from other bars in the neighborhood heard what was going on and came to the scene to help their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters with the fight. The police also called in backup – but not nearly enough. Within an hour there were 400 cops fighting with more than 2,000 angry gays, lesbians, divas, drag queens and transgendered people. Next the police called in their Tactical Control Force – otherwise known as a SWAT Team – but the rioters were quickly able to beat the elite police force into submission. By now Stonewall had become the site of an out and out melee that was quickly turning into a full scale riot. The police could not believe that they were being beaten into a pulp by a group of queers and drag queens. In the morning the scene quieted down and the police though it was all over. They were wrong. The next night the crowd returned again and started rioting one more time. Again the police were sent in to quell the rioters but again they lost. Although thousands of people were rioting, only 13 people were arrested – and many cops were sent to the hospital. After a third day of rioting the city decided to change its tactics and vowed to never raid gay bars again – the queers had won. This event is considered the opening of the modern gay rights movement. Later that month the Gay Liberation Front was formed to make sure that the police left our sisters alone. The following summer, on the anniversary of the riots, the Gay Liberation Front organized a march from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park. This was the first Gay Pride parade in New York City – and the queers have marched every year at the same time ever since. Unfortunately the riots did not help the Stonewall Inn itself. While it is probably the most famous gay landmark in the world, it remained closed during much of the 1970s and 1980s. In the late 1990s it reopened, but was then closed again a few years later when they lost their lease. New owners have purchased the building and plan to reopen the Stonewall Inn in 2007. No one knows exactly what it will be like – although the New York Observer has reported that it is expected to be “gorgeous.” We bet it will also be fagtastic, fagulous, fabulous, divalicious, dragtastic and utterly completely tabu-fabu! Maybe one day we’ll meet you there! Madame Ovary aka TotallyOz cc Drag.com 2007

I have had many friends go to the Thailand Detoxification clinics. Every single person that went had a great experience. They lost weight, felt healthier and were very impressed with the program. I am considering one of them for a week over the summer. I think I have decided on Spa Saumi but there are tons to choose from. Just do a google search for detox and Thailand and you will find tons of places. Has anyone seen these places outside of Thailand? Brazil maybe? How about Mexico? http://www.spasamui.com/

When I saw the IPhone at the Mac Conference I was really excited to see what they were doing. Yes, I'll be one of the first ones in line to get one and test it. I know the price is high but the device looks amazing and I can't wait to try it out. I have not had an wireless plan in years and always use the SIM Pay as you plans. But, I may have to sign up with Cingular just to try this one. Apple to advertise iPhone during Oscars By Jim Dalrymple Apple will use the Academy Awards show on Sunday to feature a new teaser advertisement focused on the iPhone, Macworld has learned. The new ad was described as being made for the Oscars, although no further details on the content of ad were available. The 79th Academy Awards telecast airs on ABC this Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern. Last year, 38.9 million people watched the Oscars ceremony on ABC. Apple’s “1984” advertisement — shown nationally during the 1984 Super Bowl — introduced the Macintosh and remains one of the best-rated advertisements in history, in polls taken many times since then. The company has more recently focused its advertising on comparisons between Macs and PCs, using actors Justin Long (as the Mac) and John Hodgman (as the PC). Apple introduced the iPhone at Macworld Expo in January. While not yet released, the $499 smartphone has caused waves in the wireless market as analysts expect the demand for the touchscreen device to be very high. http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/02/23/ip....php?lsrc=mwrss

Anyone see the movie American Gun? It has just been offered on Itunes for Download and it has a great cast. Donald Sutherland Forest Whitaker Marcia Gay Harden Chris Marquette

The last election, I had friends who were very supportive of Dennis Kucinich. They were in NYC and a group of artist, models, escorts, etc. They were the most passionate group I had met about any candidate. They even stripped and made a photo with Kucinich bumper stickers on their backs. I sent it off to a few thousand people and they said that it spread from there. I understood their passion when I watched the guy speak. Perhaps more than most candidates, I do feel that he is honest and a straight talker. I am not sure he is a viable candidate. However, watch the link below and you will see why so many are drawn to him.

>If anything, this adminsitration will probably be remembered >best for assembling the Roberts Supreme Court, which has the >potential to be the most influential in the area of detainee >rights this century. I agree with you. I think the Court's makeup will have the most lasting effect on generations to come. But, I also think that the legacy of the Court will reflect poorly on the history of Bush. I said years ago that the last election was really about who is going to get to appoint the new justices to the Court. Unfortunately, most Americans do not see this as important enough to cast the right ballot.