TotallyOz

Straycat, I have not broken out my camera yet. I plan to today as I want to go to an old cemetary for some photos. But, I will work on it.

>> Is flamboyant the right word? >> > >Ummmm.... yeah. :* j/k Well, Firecat calls me High End. I think it has to do with an ass to die for. But you TY? Flamboyant? I am shocked. I am stunned! Did my boa give me away?

Gambling is a sin. It is not something that should be allowed in a civilized country. I think you should be ashamed. I'll tell you what, I am heading to Vegas for a "business" triip. Why don't you send me that money and I'll make sure it is redistributed to the right places. JK Wow! Congrats. Being a mild gambler myself (maximum 100US a day when I am on land and 200US when I am at sea), I have always wondered what it would be like to actually win big. I am glad you now know! I hope you have a hell of a time. Just remember my moto in life, ---Life is here, life is now. Life is soooo short... and sex is just too delicious! Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne and Strawberries in one hand, Diet Coke and Godiva Chocolate in the other, a personal bottle of Eros, A BOX OF TROJAN MAGNUMS, and a good Cuban cigar in the your pockets (ALL partially used), a wallet ALMOST empty of currency but noticeably used from the rainbow colors of THE SEVERAL bills THAT REMAIN from a multitude of countries and cards charged to the max from the joys of life, body thoroughly used up, OLD AS TIME ITSELF, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO - what a ride!--- Oz

Being a bit of a history buff, I had a great time at Carnival last night and decided to go back this year. But, I really wanted to know about the entire event this year. As I had some time on the plane trip here, I put together an information piece that others may enjoy. I hope this helps some to understand more about Carnival and its history in Brazil and its place in the gay rights movement in Brazil. Oz The Origins of Carnival Carnival has to be the oldest known public festival in the whole world, with some scholars suggesting it emerged as early as 10,000 BC, from the seasonal farming rituals of ancient peoples, annually greeting the return of the Spring Solstice, with rituals involving lots of singing and dancing. The ancient civilizations of the Nile Delta were celebrating spring with fertility rituals in honor of the first harvests, in 6,000 BC. Later on, around 4,000 BC, the annual festivals held in honor of the goddess Isis and the bull-god Apis (Egypt), Ishtar (Babylon), Astarte (Syria) already exhibited evidence of carnival behavior, and the same can be said in relation to the festivities for the goddess Herta (Erce, Erta, Berta:- Germanic, Erde; Latin, Terra (Earth), the Teutonic equivalent of the female deities above. Herta was celebrated in the Winter Solstice, an aspect of the goddess comparable to the Roman Saturn/Greek Cronos, also celebrated at that time of the year, and also in the Spring Equinox: Hretmonath, the month of March, was Herta’s sacred month. In Ancient Rome, Saturnalia, a festival taking place around the Winter Solstice (December 17), held by the first time around 497 BCE, was one of the recognizable precursors for what we know today as Carnival. The festival was expanded and reorganized in 217 BCE, and held between December 17 to 23. During this time, Romans exchanges gifts of copper, silver and gold coins, candles, and sweets: “All men shall be equal, slave and free, rich and poor, one with another (…). Anger, resentments and threats are contrary to the law”. During the opening days of the festival, cars reminding the shape of boats (carrum navalis) cruised the streets of Rome, carrying naked men and women. The carrum navalis are considered one of the possibilities for the origins of the word carnavalis/carnival. Restrictions were relaxed during the holyday and the social order inverted. Even gambling was allowed in public. A Lord of Misrule was chosen, slaves were treated as equals, excused from work for the duration of the celebrations, allowed to use dice, even permitted to wear their master’s clothing (is this the birth of Carnival costumes?), and waited on at meal time, a reminiscence of the long gone Saturn Golden Age: “during My week the serious is barred and no business allowed. Drinking, noise, games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of frenzied hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water – such are the functions over which I preside” (Lucian, Saturnalia). The God Saturn was identified with the Greek Cronos, receiving sacrifices according to Greek rituals, his head uncovered. Following the sacrificial offers, there was a public banquet, with celebrants constantly shouting “Yo, Saturnalia!” In 273 C.E., Roman Emperor Aurelianus, who had become an ardent worshiper of the Syrian sun god Baal, decreed that December 25th should be observed as Natalis Solis Invicti, “the birthday of the unconquerable sun”. Later on, in the 4th Century C.E., Pope Julius I came about with a brilliant idea to obfuscate the so important pagan festivals held in December: he decreed that Jesus Christ was born in December 25, a date that, from now on, should be celebrated by all Christians. By superimposing the Birth of Christ with the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Natalis Solis Invicti, the Church intended to empty the pagan celebrations, an objective eventually achieved in the centuries ahead. The Bacchanalia festivals, held annually in Rome and other cities of the Roman Empire, were a celebration honoring Bacchus, the god of wine and intoxication (Dionysius, in Greece). The Bacchanalia were introduced in Rome around 200 BCE, consisting of orgies where everything was allowed. In its original format, the Bacchanalia were held in secret, strictly a women’s celebration taking place on three days in the year, around March 16 and 17, but with the passing of time men were also allowed to participate in these rites. The infamous festival, with its well known sexual and criminal character (all sorts of crimes and political conspiracies were supposed to be planned during the festivities) got so out of hand, that it was forbidden by the Roman Senate in 186 BCE. In spite of the severe punishment related to the realization of the Bacchanalia, the festival continued to take place yearly, in the south of Italy, for a long time after it was forbidden. Currently we know that both, Saturnalia and Bacchanalia, its principal elements and intentions, served as early models for the carnival festivities held all over the world today. From the Italian Peninsula, the Bacchanalia managed to survive by traveling abroad, installing itself in other parts of Europe who became part of the Roman Empire, mixing and matching with local spring fertility festivals, persisting well in to Christian times, reaching their peaks in the 14th and 15th Centuries. Deeply rooted in pagan customs and traditions, it was virtually impossible for the Catholic Church to successfully forbid the festivities, so as it was common policy of the Church, the papacy decided to join in, as a way to control its most offensive manifestations (like the medieval Feast of Fools: this festival included blasphemous impersonations of church officials and a mockery of the Mass). The Catholic Church managed to dominate most of the carnival activities, in Europe, who eventually became tied to Lent. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, always takes place after Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, the last day of the carnival season), a reminder to all Catholics of the need to repent of the “sins of the flesh” committed during CARNE-VALE (from carnem levare, Latin for “farewell to meat”, meat here alluding also to the abuses of the human flesh and not only to the consumption of red meat), by observing the period of Lent, in which, during the forty days preceding Easter, no red meat, pork, chicken or eggs should be consumed. Having said that, this is the second possible origin for the word Carnival. Today Carnival is celebrated all over Europe, particularly in Latin Europe: Italy (Venice, Foiano, Putignano, Sciacca, Verona, Viareggio), France (Bailleul-Mont-des-Cats, Dunquerque, Granville, Nice, Pau), Portugal (Funchal, Loulé, Torres Vedras, Estoril, Cascais, Batalha, Nazaré, Ovar, Figueira da Foz, Estarreja, Canas de Senhorim, Bragança, Island of Madeira) and Spain (Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santhiago de Compostela, Sitges, Villanova í La Geltrú). Elsewhere in the European continent, carnival can be found annually in Switzerland (Basel), Belgium (Binche), Germany (Bremen, Mainz, Munich, Cologne), Austria (Sillian, Ebensee am Traunsee, Bad Schoenau, Villach, Tirol), Croatia (Rijeka), Hungary (Mohács), Bulgaria (Sofia, Pernick and United Kindgdom (called Pancake Day, a festival held annually in several cities). The Use of Masks in Carnival The earliest accounts of the use of masks in European culture can be found during the Dyonisius festival, in Ancient Greece. Masks were an important element in Greek Theatre, introduced to represent pre-historic archetypes of the collective unconscious: through the mask, these archetypes are allowed to take form and shape, emerging to human consciousness. Historically, masks were used in public festivities all over Italy but particularly in Venice, though nobody knows exactly when its presence became a routine. What is known is that, in 1268, an ordinance was passed in Venice, regulating the use of masks, evidence alone of its widespread use. Elsewhere in Europe, the use of masks during the carnival festivities was common, since many of the participants, particularly noblemen and women, didn’t want to be recognized as participants, for obvious reasons! Masks were skillfully made of papier- maché, and its use became so widespread that masks makers reached artisans status as early as the 15th Century. During the Middle Ages, popular street Carnival had become part of European folk culture. Carnival festivals were held in different times of the year, not only before Lent, and were a time when disguised street bands would emerge, hitting the streets using elaborate masks, where one could perform, sing politically incorrect songs, perform plays and participate in open air drama. Some historians claim that Carnival flourished like nowhere else in France, where it was aggressively used as an escape valve against the harsh realities of a difficult life, permeated by wars, feudal oppression and plagues. The French took Carnival to the next level when, in February 1580 the festival was used to masquerade a peasant revolt in a French town called Romans, turning in to a violent massive protest against the tax system and the high cost of food. The rebels were masked but that didn’t keep them from being killed by the disguised merchants, who discovered the plot shortly before it hit the streets. The festivities ended in bloody chaos, mixed with widespread panic, all at the sound of music!... Carnival was brought to the Americas by colonizers, and can be found in virtually all countries of the New World, from Canada (Quebec, Montreal), to the United States (Boston, San Diego, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, New Orleans), Central America and the Caribbean (virtually all countries observe Carnival), to South America, particularly Brazil, where we can find the most famous carnivals in the world. The first Carnival ever to take place in Brazil was organized, in 1641, by Governor Salvador Benevides, of Rio de Janeiro, in honor of King D. João IV, restorer of the Portuguese throne. The festivities were held for a whole week, from Easter Sunday on: there were street parades, combats, blocks of “sujos” and masquerades. Another important Carnival took place in 1786, coinciding with the festivities in commemoration of the royal wedding of D. João and Princess Carlota Joaquina. As a popular manifestation, Carnival is known to have arrived in Brazil in the 17th Century, brought by Portuguese colonizers from the Azores and Madeira Islands. It was then called Entrudo (from the Latin introitus = the beginning, the opening, in this case, the opening of the Lent period of mortification), a very violent and unsettling version of Carnival: during these festivities, it was common practice among the poor people, the majority of participants at the time, to throw garbage, fruits, eggs, dirty water etc., in whomever adventured to walk in the streets. Some of these attacks had undesirable consequences, even with the death of participants. By the 18th Century, the Entrudo took place in the majority of Brazilian cities, but its violence was the reason of an Imperial order, forbidding its realization, in 1853. The beginning of the 19th Century saw the Portuguese Crown being forced to transfer to Rio de Janeiro, due to the threat of the Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon announced the annexation of Portugal to the French Empire, so the Portuguese King, D. João VI, decided to move as fast as he could, bringing his court and royal protocol to Brazil, avoiding the humiliation of power transferring to the invader. En vogue among all royal houses of Europe was the French etiquette and customs, so it wouldn’t be long before masquerade balls were organized by the local elites. The first masquerade ball was held in Hotel Itália (Rio de Janeiro), in January 22, 1840. Tickets were sold for 2,000 réis and included complete dinner. After that, the organization of mask balls became a routine, the only possible option for the middle and upper classes who wanted to participate in the Carnival. The poor people continued participating in the Entrudos, in spite of its prohibition (never firmly enforced). In any case, the Entrudos became much more civilized, less violent, a real opportunity for the poor, the slaves and disenfranchised to have fun. In 1846, the use of drums were introduced in the entrudos by a Portuguese known as Zé Pereira (José Paredes), a common custom in Portugal. After that, the use of musical instruments became a norm during these streets festivities, the current samba schools being the historic consequence of this brilliant idea of an obscure Portuguese immigrant. These first samba schools embryos, later called “cordões”, (cords) were formed by groups of blacks and poor whites, who also ended up incorporating the European use of costumes and masks during Carnival. Another group organized by poor people eager to participate in the Carnival annual festivities, was the “rancho” (ranch). Both, cords and ranch, disappeared during the 1920’s, with the advent of the samba schools, trade mark of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival. With the inauguration of color tv in Brazil, in 1970, the samba schools gain tremendous exposure, becoming evident, for the local government, that they should be used to attract tourism to the city. Today, not only the samba schools are tv broadcasted during Carnival, but also the huge carnivals of Salvador, Recife and Olinda. Carnival and the Gay Movement During Carnival, in most states capitals, gays have their own events, though they are never exclusive since in Brazil gays usually mingle with the rest of society. It is a strange country: according to Brazilian gay activists, Brazil is the country registering most violence against gays in the whole world, yet it is also the only country in the planet where a transvestite became a national male sexual symbol! It happened in the early 80’s. His/her name was Roberta Close, and the Playboy edition where he/she posed nude sold out in less than two days! Anthropologist and gay activist Luiz Mott, founder of the most militant gay group in the country, the Grupo Gay da Bahia, witnessed twice in favor of Brazilian gays applying for political asylum in the US (both cases were decided in favor of the petitioners). According to Mott “Brazil is, unfortunately, the world champion in assassinations of gays, lesbians and transvestites. Every three days the news reveals the murdering of a homosexual, victim of homophobia, victim of a violent crime. Brazil is a very contradictory country, for at the same time it exports transvestites to Europe, applauds the intense gay presence during Carnival festivities, on a daily bases it discriminates, humiliates and kills gays.” Mott succeeded in convincing the Federal Council of Medicine to remove homosexualism from the list of recognized diseases, in 1985. Still, Carnival is a privileged time for homosexuals, a time where they can exhibit their talents and artistic tendencies (the most famous Carnival costume designers, and also most participants of costume contests are gays). In the past few years, it is unquestionable that the very homosexual presence in the country’s everyday life was made more evident, and this happened in part due to Carnival and its process of creation, a field of work where gays play a very important part. In the last few years, more and more gay Carnival events are inaugurated, particularly in the states capitals. Florianópolis has the Concurso Pop Gay, Brasília launched, in 2004, the Bloco Galera do Arara, Bahia launched Bloco Amuleto, and Filhos da Candinha, a samba school from Porto Alegre announced that this year’s theme is homosexualism, in an attempt to help the struggle against gay discrimination. Olinda also has plans, a “beijaço”, a public intervention where gays will kiss their partners, after manifesting against the indifference of the authorities when it comes to violence against gays. Rio de Janeiro inaugurated last year its first gay samba school, named very appropriately, Unidos do Arco-Íris (the rainbow unity) and the famous ball Gala Gay is featured in magazine covers every year. In São Paulo, the samba school Mocidade Alegre already portrays, yearly, a gay sector, now famous for its creativity and genuine carnival spirit. There is no doubt that Carnival can be a very important vehicle, when used by the still incipient gay movement in Brazil, in the quest for the country’s recognition of their rights to a normal existence, without the daily threat against their lives. Taken for granted in many countries in the world, this revendication is still a very distant dream in the Brazil of today. cc MaleEscortReview.com

Day 2: I got a call from my sauna boy from 117 today in Rio. He really really really wanted to come to Sao Paulo to see me. I said ok and flew him into Sao Paulo in the early afternoon. He got to my hotel and we were able to play around before we went out to eat. Went to the same saunas today and went to the park. The parks name is Autarama. It was busier tonight than yesterday. I also notice its gets more busy late at night. We were there till 12:30am. Do not go to the park alone. Do not go without a car. Do be very careful. It is a dangerous place but it is also lots of fun. With Danilo as our guide and protector, we were fine. When I asked a few of the guys at the park why they go there, some said they hate the discos, others said they did not want to be seen in a gay area and others just said it was a way to meet other gay guys. Everyone parks their car and sits on them. It reminded me of a drive in theatre. On one end of the park there is a row of two for the hustlers. They were all jerking off and showing their goods. Afterwards, we went to Soho Dance Club. It was nice and the music was great. We got in for 5R and sodas were 4R, Red Bull's were 10R and whiskey was 13R. There is a dark room upstairs that cost 3R. The place was busy but we were told Friday nighht is the best night to go and Saturday is great as well. I am now in my room with Danilo, the tour guide, my muscle boy husband, my boyfriend from 117. Two of them just showered and are calling my name. So, until tomorrow! Oz

My goodness how you hold a grudge. JK. As I have said before, the 2 restaurants you hated, I love. Rio Senarium and Marius are two of my favorites. Although, you are right with Danilo: he does know how to pick a good place to eat. Do you remember the Italian restaurant we ate at in Sao Paulo. We ate there again. This time he owner came over and chatted with us for 40 minutes as he was friends with Danilo. The chat was lovely and the food was excellent. He even invited me to his place to see his apartment. I had my boy from the Internet and my new husband from LaGoa and Danilo. Danilo order for us and only ordered one salad and one plate. That was plenty for all of us. The cost was 125R for 4. Not bad for a really nice meal. But, not Thai prices as well. I will also say that I had the chicken sandwich at LaGoa yesterday. It was excellent! It was not as tasty as the piece of meat I had at 3am from LaGoa but it was good. In your honor, I am going to take a group of boys from 117 to Rio Senarium for dinner one night. We will toast Firecat and his lack of food at the restaurant. hehe If I use your name at the front door, will I get in faster? On a side note to you and Marc Anthony: When we were at Alterosas, we met a very nice gentleman from the USA. He was rather large and African American. He was so nice to us and helpful. At LaGoa yesterday, I saw him again. He sat with me most of the afternoon and gave me some good advice. He even helped me arrange my new marriage. He said to say hi to the guys he met there last year. He also remembered me as he said my eyeglasses stuck out in his mind. He said he had never seen a man wear diamond-studded glasses like that before. Is flamboyant the right word? My new husband thinks I am his bitch. When I left Thailand I had Marium do my nails. I feel asleep and my boyfriends had her paint them pink. When I woke up I just laughed and kept them on. When he saw them yesterday and they matched my new pink Motorola phone, he said, "you are my bitch now." Do pink toenails and a pink phone automatically make someone a bottom? I hate discrimination. I loved the bottom part. hehe

LAGOA R. Borges Lagoa, 287 Vila Mariana Lagoa is the King of saunas in Sao Paulo. When you walk in, there are 2 separate ways to enter. To the left is for the boys, they pay less to get in but they do pay. To the right is for the clients. The lockers seem safe to keep you valuables in but I often keep them on me anyway. Past the lockers you pass a TV room with many hot studs sitting wanking off. Past that, there is a hallway that leads to the main dining and sitting area. You can order food and drinks and it is all charged to your locker number. Be careful not to give this out to all the boys or you will find you have treated many to lunch and dinner. In this room, they have a stage. I have seen Karoke and singing and shows of all sorts. You also have a bird's eye view of the showers as it is a glassed in area and the guys go in to show you their goods. And, my oh my, what goods they have! LaGoa has a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. I have never seen anyone in the pool as it seems to be cold but the Jacuzzi is often full. In the same area are some private showers that you can shower more privately. Notice I say more privately. Not totally private. There is a movie theatre room that is dark and fun. They have a place for massage and for haircuts. The facility is well done and overall a great experience. I took my tour guide. The entrance fee was 25R each and we both had a suite and drinks and a sandwich. We spent a total of 160R for the afternoon. But, we also bought a few boys drinks and 2 lunch. They also put the condom and lube you take from them for a suite added to your bin. Lagoa is excellent and a fun place to get to see some of the hottest sauna boys in Brazil. We went on a Wednesday and was told that it was a good day. It was a twink delight for me as I have never seen that many twinks at LaGoa.

Is there something down here in the Guarana Antarctica that turns a top into a bottom? Seriously? Anyone know?

Well, to cap off day 1, I met with Danilo, my tour guide. He is a gem. I'll be doing a review for him but let me just say he is incredible and a true asset to anyone visiting here. We went to FNAC store for a bit of shopping and then to his place for lunch. We went to Lagoa and it was very slow. We got there fairly early at 4PM and not many were there. However, I found the one boy I knew I had to have. Danilo negotiated for me and all was fine. The guy was gay and 19 and a nice dick and a sexy face. He had a little patch of hair on his tummy that I liked and we discussed what he would do. He said he would do everything but only sucked dick with a condom. I wanted the guy and went with him. There was no oral or anal in the session but his kisses were to die for. His tongue reached my tonsils a few times and his mouth covered my body. He was aggressive and fun. He held me down, plowed into my neck and left a mark or two. We both came and of I went downstairs to meet back up with Danilo. I had met a 19 year old there last year that I fell for. I took him almost every night in Sao Paulo and I would have married him if he didn't already have a girlfriend. He came in, sat by me and gave me all the attention and affection I wanted. I told him I had already went upstairs and could not go again. He said it was no problem that he would just hang with me. He never took his clothes off in the Sauna. I will say that I have never seen so many twinks at LaGoa. I was impressed. Danilo found someone he liked and played a bit and we were both ready for dinner. I asked my muscle boy if he wanted to spend the next 4 days with me. He agreed. He went back to the hotel and I registered him for my guest. While Danilo and I were in my room earlier he was showing me a Brazilian website. I found a guy I really wanted to meet and so Danilo called him for me. He wanted to go to dinner with us. So, the four of us headed off to dinner. Danilo picked a nice place and we all ate together. It was good food and good companionship. Afterwards,, we went to the cruising park for gays. It was wild. Tons of money boys and just free sex. I saw several bj and full fucking going on. I enjoyed watching. I also met a guy I liked and gave him 20R to shoot a load for me. He did. My new Nike's are now broken in. I'll share more about the park later as I am going back on Saturday to see it when it is more crowded. I am now back in my room. I had a great day. My muscle boy in the Jacuzzi with bubbles overflowing. I am going to shower and go to bed with him What is Thailand again? I forget. Oz

My first night was quiet and peaceful. After a long flight to get here, I went to my hotel had dinner and a late night snack. I had met a guy from LaGoa last year that I really liked. He was 19 at the time and a muscle boy. His body was hard as a rock and he was very good to me on my last trip. He told me to call him when I came back to Sao Paulo. I really didn't think he would remember me but he did. He showed up at my room and we had a very fun 2-3 hours. He gave me a much-needed bath and a massage. We went to the bedroom and I had my first Brazilian orgasm in 9 months. He was just the one that I wanted to shoot a load on my chest. We chatted for a bit and he asked if I wanted him to stay the night. I told him no that I needed to unpack and sleep. He left and we agreed to meet the next day. When I woke up today, I want to my favorite Empadaria da Vovo. I had a chocolate one and a banana one. That with 2 diet cokes really hit the spot. When I thought the time was appropriate, I called my tour guide from the last trip. He was awake and said he wanted to come see me immediately. OK, I said. He is on the way to meet me. I have 2 sauna's on the agenda for today. LaGoa and Fragata. Any suggestions for tomorrow? Any good days that I need to be sure to go to specific ones? I'll report back in tonight! Enjoy your day! I hope I enjoy mine.

I will be in Rio for the 5 days of Carnival. I would love to meet up with you. Send me an e-mail to: maleescortreview@gmail.com and I'll send you my Rio and Sao Paulo Phone numbers.

After a 9-month absence from Brazil, I finally hit the ground here once again. My adventure started off when I was met by the driver from my hotel. He had a sign with my name on it. He recognized me before I saw him. "I remember you,” he said. "You are man who goes LaGoa everyday." Well, I wasn't sure whether to be impressed with his memory or my reputation as the guy who goes to the same sauna every day. In either case, I told him that I just wanted to sleep tonight. No LaGoa. As Scarlet once said, "Tomorrow is another day." FYI: Firecat: I did have my Spagetti Bolognese. It was fabulous! MarcAnthony: I also ordered in another treat. If he is any good, I will share him with you via Webcam.

>Ya I can be a little slow at >times but you just filled in all the blanks or at least most >of them Oz. Thanks bunches! > >Hugs, >Greg Greg, You are so very welcome. However, I don't think you are slow at all. I think it was you that first posted my connection to CrazyCalm over at escort speak. I also believe this was REALLY fast after our launch and at the same time as the Rentboy convention in Vegas. You are many things Greg. But, slow is not one of them. You are too fast for me. You are also very sexy and witty. I enjoy your posts. But, I never would have thought slow. If you want to know slow, drive down south in Georgia. Not in Atlanta but in one of the smaller cities. That is slow. I kind of like that life occassionally. Hugs, Oz

>It's obvious to anybody with a solid knowledge of business >what daddy is doing to the site. Oz mentioned he feels daddy >is doing a good job maintaining the site, I completely >disagree. Actually what I said was: "Daddy has done a good job with posting new reviews. He has done a good job at letting Barry, Cooper and DeeJ monitor the site." I don't think I said that he is doing a good job at maintaining the site. I have said from the beginning that the site is being changed for a purpose. The little subtle things that happen often go unnoticed by many but they are not in the best benefit of the site. This should be so obvious to all. You will never hear me publicly express what I really think is happening behind the scenes of M4M or with the estate issues as I have given my word to keep quiet on many of them. I just dole out some information that is public knowledge and leave it to others to deciide what they think.

I am met more than a few guys off of Flirt4Free in person. I had a great time with him. I have one friend who met his lover off of Flirt4Free. They were together for almost one year. I enjoy the flirting and I will occassionally take a guy into a private room.

>The reason for the difficulty in registration is that they are >afraid that you might be me or 4Aces. I know with several of >my screennames it took over a month to get them activated. Well, I guess that could be the reason. However, they have great moderators there that monitor everything very well. Do you really think that this was the reason? From a business perspective, would it not make more sense that if you want to purchase something that increasing the value of the commodity will cause you to pay more for it? There are so many theories about why certain decisions are made but if you follow the money trail, you will often be more enlightened.

>...the funeral ceremony was great, but I could have done >without the Zionist speaker. Does anyone thnk that Martin or >Coretta would support the Zionist occupation of Palestine? >Nonetheless, it was nice for the nation to pay her the Tribute >of being eulogized by 4 Presidents (and a future one) despite >the fact that none of these shared her commitment to >non-violence or social justice... Curiosity killed the cat. Which future one were you referring to?

>The fact >that we are still talking about him and the impact he had on >each one of us, is testimony to the man. You hit the nail on the head!

>marc, when I joined M4M, I hadn't intended for it to become a >part of my routine, but it did. There are many that feel that same way. I started out as a viewer without posting in the forum boards. I was a reviewer many times over but never felt the need to post. I met a few fellow M4M'ers and started to get into posting. I was then addicted. I find it refreshing to have a cup of coffee in the morning and check out my list of daily sites. M4M was one of them for a few years. I still don't know how it was so addictive but it was.

>God bless Hooboy. For his sake, shouldn't this just all be >shut down already? Please put it out of its misery.[/i] With this I totally disagree. I loved the man and he did a great deal for many people including me. To shut down his site would be a disgrace. I think it should stay and it should continue. I have said all along that I think it should have continued under the direction of his lover. But, as Hooboy did not leave a will and the estate is in litigation to resolve ownership issues, there is a limited amount of leeway in which the site can continue. Daddy has done a good job with posting new reviews. He has done a good job at letting Barry, Cooper and DeeJ monitor the site. There is no need to shut the site down. It has much more to offer many. There will be many people who try to do successful review sites. Rentboy has attempted and failed at this. Men4RentNow has tried. Many more will try. It is all the people that keep attempting to create something so successful as M4M that is Hooboys' real tribute. Still today, I don't know how he did it. He was an amazing man. He left an amazing legacy. His site should continue and not be shut down.

>The hooboy message center has become an increasingly more >friendly place where I feel valid discussions can now go on >between both clients and escorts. It is becoming more friendly only because it bans people who post against what the admin wants others to hear. Many are also having a hard time to get screennames as many requests are just ignored. While this isn't relevant to the people currently posting, it does not open up the discussions to others with varying views. I do feel that many of the discussions there are valuable and needed. I have never stated differently. I hope that you continue to post here and there. There is room for more than one site about male escorts and there is room for more forum boards on the subject. >The fact that we can all go on there and be civil and have a >decent conversation is a great thing and I hope it continues. >I also hope that this board can be a great place as well and >not become a hate spewing place of malicious gossip and people >bashing. I don't think anyone involved in this site wants a hate spewing place of malicious gossip and people bashing. None of the moderators here want that. We have all stated that we want a place where information can be shared and legitimate discussions can be had. We are still new so there are few of those things being discussed. It will happen!! Thank you for providing decent conversation.

>Marc, I feel sorry for that you need a gay forum to feel >"valued". >Please stop your crying. Life is too short. If you do no like >the other >site, just avoid it. No need to badmouth it. People place value on many things. Some place value on a name they create. Others just create new ones with no meaning. Some place value on monetary possessions while others throw away money like there is no tomorrow. When anyone puts a great deal of time and effort into anything, they should feel that it has some value. I have read Marc's reviews and postings over the years. He did a great service to M4M and it was a valuable contribution. If you are unable to see that, perhaps you have a different agenda. BTW: He is not crying. I have met him on more than one occasion and he is not the type to cry over this posting. He may cry for joy when I get to Brazil and tell him more about a certain sauna boy. But, it is for him to decide if those tears are worth it.

Reading your story brought back such intense memories. I thought I was the only one who had experienced that. Now I know that there are others that have had the same experience. I will seek them out. I will try to find the common connection. One thing that I did experience that you did not was that they asked me to write down all the names of escort related screen names that I knew so they could suspend those accounts. Did that happen to you as well? If not, I have to wonder why I was singled out. Anyway, thank you for sharing the experience. It means more to me than you will ever know! I think I will have a peaceful nights sleep for the first time in ages.

I just spent over 2 hours on the phone with supervisors. I was told repeatedly that there was no block. After much discussion and telling them to send an e-mail to me from their AOL account, they agreed that there was an issue. I have been told that they will get back to me in the next 48 hours. As soon as I hear from them, I will let you know. Thanks for the support! Oz

Well, I have also been an AOL member since the beginning and never any issue. However, what I found out was that they block urls. If an escort sends you an e-mail and it has one of their banned urls in it, you will NOT receive it. You will not know it was sent. You will not ever be aware that he tried to contact you. While I get stuff from my family just fine, that is not true when urls are inside the e-mail. The sad thing is that you will never know what you have missed.