TownsendPLocke

Conway while I am no great fan of greedy union bosses making a buck off of anothers labor I have always believed that happy workers treated well(and sometimes that means beating the Unions at the benefits table)wil have no reason to look for Union representation. But our US based"free market"economy does not believe in guaranteing that labor is respected and that certain standards(other than a laughable minimum wage-and even that is hated by free market republicans)so the Unions have been given this opportunity to step in and profit. But of course this profit is short lived.As the plants and companies close or are allowed to move off shore the jobs evaporate and the union fees decline.But the Union bosses are as stupid and greedy as the empolyers and the legislators that have allowed the jobs to disapear. Moving jobs back to our shores-and I am talking about manufacturing jobs not service/professional jobs-has to be priority number one IMO.The bailouts congress is handing out with wild abandon are a perfect opportunity to require the folks taking the "loans"to bring the jobs back to our shores.

But it is sooooooo dificult to find affordable(not cheap-just priced within reason)well made goods from the US and EU. We need to get this country(and I am being "America First" here folks-sorry)back to where they are actually making more than they buy.I really strive to buy US made goods(and yes-I do drive an American made car)but sometime the greed factor of US based manufacturers is just too much. Let's take shoes as an example.Up to a decade ago there were many US based shoe manufacturers.Now you will find a handfull.And of that handfull 2 make something other than sneakers(there might be a few more-but in my limited search that is what I have found)One prices its goods pretty well,but it has a very limited stock.The other has great looking shoes but at prices 3-5 times what comparable foreign made shoes sell for. So my choices are ugly shoes,expensive shoes,or foreign made shoes-and with my fat feet that rules out EU made shoes which leaves us with Chinese made shoes. Are you looking to keep your dollars at home to support your team?How is that going for you?

I did look into the Hiefer.org organization-as that is a charity my boss approves of. It seems to be a "teach a man to fish"type charity=which while good and honorable is not going to do anything to fill the bellies of folks that are hungry today.And teaching folks to farm?Well I think that will work in some third world countries-but this year we have folks at home(here in the USA)that are going to be hungry this season. So I am giving(cash-they need that more than your cans of creamed corn ) to the local food bank as well as to Heifer.org . I also will be giving regular gifts and cash as well-have to keep the economy moving

The part of my family that were present at these meals adore me.They just do not have any interest in the things that I treasure in this world(and I am not even talking about playing with hot guys like you Anton .I do have family members that I am not close to at all.

And not in a good way Last weekend my 1 hour flight turned into a 4 hour flight. I am now running at 85 percent delayed flights for the year-and over half of these are over three hour delays. I like flying,I adore traveling.But you know-with the airlines cutting routes and services,nikcle and diming even those of us with FF status-it just is not any fun at all anymore. The Airlines main business is getting me from point A to point B in a reasonable amount of time.That is what I am paying for.I might get from point A to B but they are certainly not getting me there in a reasonable amount of time. I would ask any of you who share my frustration to join(or at least check out) http://www.flyersrights.com/ we need to call for some action from the airlines.Join me in telling the airlines ENOUGH!

He has taken over the Drakes on SMB in WeHo. Grand opening is this weekend.I was invited to a party Thursday night for the opening-but am having to be in Las Vegas for work-I do hope one of my Fellow MERmen will attend in my place and give us the full report. http://www.xbiz.com/news/video/102202

I tried booking two different gay hotels in two different cities for two different dates.One is the Blue Moon Resort in Las Vegas the other is Camp Palm Springs Only reason I would stay in one of these places is because I am attending events held at these properties. Both hotels had outrageously high rates for the events -ok I am not happy about that but I can live with it. Both required minimum stays(2 nights).I just did not want to stay in these places let alone be blackmailed into staying two nights so I refused. BTW-up to that point I had been dealing directly with the properties. Just for giggles I tried Orbitz and Travelocity-sure enough both properties were avail(at the high rate-but available)for single night bookings via these third party booking engines. I have been less than pleased with this in the past-but c'mon. So I booked myself into four star(both of the gay places are 2 star at best)chain lodgings-one is the same price(but includes a really nice b'fast buffet for two) the other is $120 less per night than the gay place wanted for the same date. Of course when these folks go out of business(and they will-it is a short life span)the owners will whine the "community did not support us"

LA is installing new pay station parking meters.The ones downtown will run till 8 pm 6 days a week and the ones in popular areas(Hollywood,Third street,Melrose)Will run till 8 pm Monday through Wed,and till MIDNIGHT!on weekends. Most have two hour time limits and range in price from $2-$6 an hour I wonder how much the two companies that manange 80% of the parking lots in LA sliiped into the city bastards(and bitches) pockets to get this passed?

where are you located? How heavy do you want to get into this? What type of Master are you looking for? And shoudn't it be Sub' training sessions?

I just came back from a weekend visiting family.I do this between Thanksgiving and Christmas to relieve some stress-and for a cheaper trip. We had one dinner and one lunch together=in restuarants and I was so bored the entire time it was painful. I have nothing in common with these folks besides blood.We share no interests at all.I try to find mutual ground but these folks do not read,go to movies,or watch anything but the most common TV programs,nor do they have any idea of what is going on in the world. Conversation for them involves gossiping about people I have no idea about,or taking trips down memory lane visiting folks I do not care about-nor remember. And of course the cure to all boredom for them is a trip to the mall.No why the fuck would I want to go shopping in some Pudunk mall when I visit the retail centers of the world?I tried to talk some of them into going to see Milk or Frost/Nixon-no dice I do try to steer the conversation towards travel,movies,books,what is going on in my world-but that usually gets a"that is nice honey"and we are back to talking about Tammy and Don Hurlawulitzers latest break up Torture I assure you, I know it is just once a year-and I do want to be in my families life,I just wish it were more pleasent.

I will be going to London in July and was looking for some info on bars which would be of interest to the crowd on this site-and very little info is listed on the mainstreaam gay sites Is the Quebec still in business? How about KU-do they still have dancers? Brompton street is still around-but do they still have dancers? Are there any areas/bookstores/saunas where working boys hang out? Thanks in advance for replies containing current info.

I was at The Grove in LA yesterday and I sure noticed the decline in business.No trouble finding parking and the shoppers were much fewer than on normal weekends-let alone holiday weekends. The avaerage price for my gift has gone down from $60 to $45 including shipping.The retailers are only selling if they are discounting so almost all are discounting. So---are you cutting back this Holiday season?

A while ago I wrote some rather negative comments about Numbers in WeHo and I just wanted folks to know that the owners have realy worked hard to build their business and is one of the few bars left in North America where working boys ply their trade. There are special nights Thursday through Sunday(sunday is a Drag night for those that like that sort of thing )where well drinks are $5 most of the night and appatizers are half price at the bar from 5-8 pm. There are nights which have some really cute boys walking aound in swim suits and underwear So guys-please if you are in the area stop by and check it out.

Hey Stud, Did you mean to say that you will be attending this year?

IMO-THE HOTTEST PARTY OF THE YEAR! http://www.dirtysecretparty.com/ There will NOT be a husltlaball Las Vegas this year-this is a much smaller party and the tickets will sell out very fast. This was so much fun last year-and this year promises to be better. Early days I know-but many of you come from out of town so I thought I would post this now. I will keep y'all updated as we grow closer. NOTE-This year the CES is on a weekend(in the past it has been a midweek event)and room rates are a little crazy for this weekend Rates are staring to come down as folks/companies are bailing on CES because of the economy. My advice-book something now that is fully cancelable and check for new rates every week or so. I am in three different hotels that weekend-nothing new about that

Finally got to attend Hustle last night.A friend and I got there around six-we left around 11 If that gives you any indication who much fun it was! During the night there were 7 different "hosts"walking around and socializing with us-all were either in underwear or speedo's We Joined Brandon Bakers Table for dinner-although we had taken advantage of the 1/2 price bar menu for snaks earlier. We all had a great time and my eyes were tired after looking at so many cuties! Well worth your time!I will be it again next week!

Quite simple. The yes on 8 folks ran a stronger(not better) campaign. While we played nice they played dirty.They ads played to the strong fears and prejudice held by even some of the "I have some gay friends"and the"not that there is anything wrong with that"crowd. And If any of you saw the ads running on foreign language stations you would understand just how dirty these folks played. We are a long way towards this goal IMO.And to be honest I think we should be aiming our gay dollars at our friends,rejecting the status quo instead of aspiring to it,celebrating our difference instead of looking to be a "me too"minority. More Fabulousness is what is needed.Visability is key.Those closet cases that are terrified of their big secret being discovered-well your Mom has known since you were 12 and your Dad always kinda suspected-so get over your self. This defeat now sets up tons of court cases.Let minds better than those of Joe and Marge sixpack decide on this. __________________

This guy was an American treasure-he will be greatly missed http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...3985&live=1

Saturday nights have a new event-one that should be of great interest to MERmen! Hustle!All the dancing boys are available!(for companionship only of course) http://partywithbrandon.blogspot.com/2008/...-saturdays.html Of coure this happens on the two weeknds I will be out of town -but I will check it out when I get back

I listened to a coffee clatch meeting on NPR last night(only radio news I listen to)and there was one woman who spoke up and said she was worried that if Barrack Obama won the election the blacks would decide it was "payback time"and get out of control.She recalled a time(with fondness in her voice)that Blacks would step off the sidewalk If a White needed to pass.She was concerned she would be forced off of the street by Blacks if Barrack Obama won. Now this might seem comical to most of us-but she was dead serious and the concern in her voice was audible. Just amazing to me that this sort of thinking exist today.But I am somewhat insulated against this sort of blatent race baiting/fear mongering.I was raised with this crap and can see it for what it is-fear of the "other"voiced with the insecurity of losing the Status Quo.

Well that was a lot of fun!And YES-I ddi go on all of the rides with the boys! http://partywithbrandon.blogspot.com/2008/...-halloween.html

Robyn Byrd will be hosting the Red Carpet along with Angel Benton. This looks like it will be a great party http://www.hustlaball.com/ I hope some of you East Coasters attending give us a nice report!

Well that is a bit extreme! According to the site above there will NOT be an Erotic Expo in Los Angeles this year Says they could not find a venue-I think they did not look very hard

At the Universal Studios Holloween Horror Night! I will be there-hope some of you can join us! http://partywithbrandon.blogspot.com/2008/...ror-nights.html

Very well put By Mr.Davids(who i am lucky enough to call friend)and this really is indicitive of how this whole "battle"has been played out.The folks who actually own the Hustlaball name have been more than generous and supportive of the parties in Berlin.The Parties in Berlin(Tom and Sacha)have returned this generousity with threats,snide remarks,and general ill will. It is very strange-as has been Mr. Weises actions and attitude towards people whom once considered him a friend and collegue.Tom and Sachas constant bad mouthing of the pricnciples and his former coworkers at Rentboy.com has made them(Tom and Sacha)look very foolish. I would hope that Male Escort Review at one point would become more active/interactive with rentboy.com=there is a synergy here which would lead to the strengthening of this site and with much more visibility than it now enjoys.I really see it as a winning proposition for both parties.