SolaceSoul

It is.

Le Sigh. Any standard book on copyright law will tell you this, as well as any lawyer worth a shit. But since this is the interwebz, and you clearly can’t concede that you’re wrong (or more bluntly, just not as informed on this topic as you’d like everyone to believe), here’s a few leads for you culled from Google: “Online photos and graphics are protected by copyright law, just like any other original work. The photographer owns the copyright in the images from the moment she creates them, unless she is working for hire with an agency or other employer. In that case, the agency or employer owns the copyright. “It’s online, so it’s free, right?” In a word – NO. Online images are protected by copyright as much as a picture hanging in an art gallery is. Photographers can now use companies like TinEye® and PicScout™to track use of online photos and determine whether someone is using their works without a license. If you are found to be using an unlicensed image on your website or in print, copyright law allows the owner to sue for monetary damages, possibly including astronomical statutory damages (if the work was registered with the U.S. Copyright Office within the appropriate statutory time frame). http://dunnerlaw.com/using-online-images-without-violating-copyright/ Fair Use Doctrine in Blogging: https://alj.artrepreneur.com/fair-blogging-bloggers-copyrighted-images/amp/ But I’m done with you here. If you want to continue to professionally ill-advise others, it’s your funeral.

But this is where you fail, and fail miserably, U.S. copyright law does not distinguish between a “professional” copyright owner and an amateur one. Any owner of an original creative work has the right to control the copying and distribution of the work (hence, the term copyright). You seem to be mixing up your intellectual property. Trademark and service mark are based on “use in commerce”. Copyright is not. A copyright violation is still a copyright violation. Now, if are you arguing that a professional or a corporate violator would most likely face more fines than an amateur, then of course! That’s deep pockets. But the roads are lined with plenty of small-dollar cases of poor amateurs having to settle copyright infringement cases (in photographic images, sound recordings, visual art, speeches), some even losing their shirts over it. If you were an IP attorney and you were advising your blogging / forum clients to accept unauthorized copyrighted images on their blogs and websites, simply because they are “small potatoes”, or “not corporate”, and alleging that they could do this free of exposure, then you’d be at minimum sanctioned, and at worst, disbarred. Now, is copyright law changing, both in the US and worldwide? Yes, but not rapidly enough to keep up with the digital times. That still does not negate the fact that the existing law is the law. And as the law stands, posting a copyrighted image on a blog or a forum on the internet is NOT considered “fair use” and amounts to unauthorized distribution, which can rise to an infringement claim. But go off, and keep telling your fans here what they want to hear.

Currently, 117 has the bigger and the better selection of muscle guys / bodybuilders / physique competitor types. However, 202 has a smaller selection of these, and some of those don’t go to 117 (I don’t know the reasons, even though I’ve asked). Many of the garotos at 117 you will not ever see at 202. If this is exclusively your type, I would avoid Meio Mundo or Lions (if they’re still open). Those are muscle-free zones.

Copyright is the right to copy — or distribute. It’s not just the right to sell or make money from the work. I’m not going to hijack this thread, but if you’re cursorily even in this field, you’re aware that the overwhelming majority of these copyright infringement claims and cases are settled before they even make it to court. However, you really might want to brush up on the latest cases involving photographic work on social media, particularly Sinclair v. Ziff Davis McGucken v. Newsweek, from just last year.

What you’re saying here is factually and legally incorrect. This is NOT “fair use” and it is valid U.S. copyright law.. Please stop speaking on and misleading readers about this issue. If you were advising clients with this advice as a licensed attorney, you would most likely face sanctions from the bar. Posting any copyrighted image, even if the image was already readily available on a public website or search engine, is not protected under the “fair use” exception of U.S, copyright law. The infringer could wind up with heavy fines or in some cases, jail time.

It’s going to really hurt for the citizens, due to the inflation (even though salaries are going to be increased). It may not affect tourists as much, depending on what the exchange rate is set for the USD / CAD / EUR. On my last trips, it was a steady 25 pesos per 1 USD. If I’m still getting around that, but things like restaurant meals almost double, then yes, that’s a sucky deal in comparison. I suspect the Cuban government and the underground market will make it something that doesn’t drive the [non-US] tourist market away. Also, for the purposes of this particular forum, costs for jineteros would be affected if universal Cuban salaries / pensions and inflation rise. As it becomes more costly to put food on the table, and Cubs pays its citizens more, and products cost more, expect hustler prices to go up, not down. Whether quality rises as well is the big question. https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article247526715.html

The Twitter bio for Taurus Cruising Bar (@TaurusBar) states that it is an interactive sex bar.

Yes.

This is not just a black American queen traveling group problem. This is an American traveling group problem. It’s definitely an “Ugly American” problem that deserves to be called out across the board — not just singling out black travelers, or black queens, or blacks, or queens. Too many Americans act like entitled, loud, selfish, boorish centers of the universe whenever they travel — and they tend to get much worse when they travel in groups like them. I have noticed it from Americans of all colors — and yes, it’s embarrassing to be an American abroad when this happens. Why you single out the black ones or the black queens could be because you notice them more, while letting the non-black ones off the hook for the very same or similar boorish behavior. I’m not going to go as far as to call you a bigot like some did above, but your choice of language and how you identified the offenders could have used some more thought before you posted it. You had a very great point to make that, unfortunately, will be forever lost in an inexplicable interest in describing the offenders the way you did.

https://www.towleroad.com/2020/12/circuit-party-rio/?fbclid=IwAR10Pks5EyoHJ6dxBC5mj9mnMkoMEkW3_xiX-QoxJyqlQbakKpkdHwL6oEQ

And a hit dog hollers? It’s not about the actual impropriety or violation of law, but the semblance of it that prompts investigation. So, sexual or nude photos of models that *look* under 18 would easily prompt a check to see if there is proof of legal age. You see, like it or not there’s this U.S. federal law, requiring any webmaster or content provider of adult content to maintain proof of age of any model or subject in a photo of prurient nature. And it’s “holier”. One L. A moron is as a moron does.

If one is selling early 80s Madonna paraphernalia, it’s a brilliant name. For a site plagued with posters that think it’s cute to post pornographic photos of young men that look like they could be underage (which could prompt investigatory measures), and other copyrighted photographic images (which could prompt costly legal filings), no, it’s NOT “brilliant”. It’s actually quite the opposite of that. Regarding your comments about competitors or haters making DMCA copyright violation claims, some content owners are very protective of their intellectual property rights — and some make good money protecting them by filing suit against offenders and making settlements. One site (x-art), with a great lawyer, collectively made $10 million in settlement claims by aggressively going after individuals who post their copyrighted images without permission. So, I agree with you on this one point: why would a site webmaster / forum owner allow its members to post such content at all, knowing that the owner, not the poster, will be the one who has to pay for the offense? You’ve been here long enough to know that some posters are just not very smart. Is their moronism worth bankrupting (and/or possibly a federal investigation of) a site owner?

This would be better suited for the LATAM board. I rarely, if ever, view this particular forum. Someone directed me to this post. So I’ll answer your question. The curfew is now 7pm everyday. It was changed sometime in December. The U.S. State Department should give you updates on any curfew changes if you sign up for their SMART Traveler Program, if you’re a US Citizen or resident. All business, including stores, bars and restaurants are shut down for customers at 7, and they stop serving at 6. You can be transitioning to your hike or hotel until 9 pm without getting arrested (yes, they are serious). So you needs to plan accordingly. Uber Eats stil delivers for some restaurants until a little after 9. Uber stops picking up customers after 9 pm. There are some authorized drivers who have passes on their windshields and are allowed to pick passengers up to take them home, to hotels or to airports. If you’re staying at a hotel, they should be able to help you with this. if you want a dare to come over or leave after 9 pm, you’re going to need a hookup with one of those drivers, if the guy doesn’t have one already. Or else it’ll have to be an overnight until 6 am, when curfew lifts. I can’t help you with the adult theatre Cine Lido. Not my cup of tea, and I don’t even think they’re open anyway. But if they are, like everything else, they would have to be shut by 7pm or risk going to Dominican jail.

It’s not even a river. It’s more like a creek. It’s on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, about 30 minute drive. I don’t remember the name. Maybe you can ask Freddy to be direct with you. I said above that it’s similar to going to a picnic or a barbecue in the States. Would you just show up to one of those, uninvited, without a familiar guest? It’s the same with “the river”. Almost everyone who goes there knows each other from the area neighborhood, and probably won’t take too kindly to tourists treating their day of relaxation as a zoo or safari project. If you do choose to go, you’d be wise to be accompanied by a guide who can vouch for you, introduce you, and show you around. Especially since you’ve already stated your more prurient intentions.

“The river” is a nice getaway day trip outside of Santo Domingo where you’ll see many locals having more rural, down home time, and there will be some attractive Dominicans there — similar to a picnic or barbecue in the park in the States. It would be a nice, pleasant enjoyable getaway... with an outside possibility of meeting some available guys. However, Freddy has always had a very active imagination, and likes to use it on new, less suspecting clients — to put it mildly. There is a lot of sunlight between your description of “the river” and the reality of it.

“The evangelical pastor-turned-politician is scheduled to leave office Jan. 1 after losing a reelection bid to his predecessor, Eduardo Paes.” ”Crivella, an ally of President Jair Bolsonaro...” Good riddance to bad rubbish, as they say!

I’m just paying it forward. An expat in the DR from the USA recently opened up a very nice gay hustler bar in Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo. It’s named after him and it’s called Marlowe’s. He owns it and works there along with his regular staff of Dominicanos. His goal is to make it a higher-end version of the old Bar Friends hustler bar. He even has space in the back for clients to play with the “bugarrones”. It’s actually a nice set up, a very modern bar, and hopefully, it will survive the pandemic and more crowds (clients AND hustlers) will start frequenting. It has a ways to go to be the frequented hustler bar with the variety of bugarrones and sankies that would show up to the old Bar Friends and Jay Dee’s. But it’s a start, and with regular patrons and a regular flow of visitors, it should get there. IG page: marlowesbar FB page: Marlowe’s Bar Google Maps: Marlowe’s Address: Calle Arzobispo Nouel 53, Santo Domingo 10210, Dominican Republic

All Brazilian cities have cancelled the normal Carnaval during February 2021, and some have already rescheduled their Carnaval celebrations for July, while Rio considers it. https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-entertainment/it-is-official-carnival-2021-in-sao-paulo-and-salvador-to-occur-from-july-8th-to-11th/

No. Everything isn’t about you. These are private Facebook groups where (majority straight) black men discuss their travel — a number of them are straight whoremongers and sex tourists that travel for women, the way many men in a group like this one are sex tourists for men. The black gay men that are in these groups don’t really discuss their sexcapades.

He’s been going to Brazil several times a year for many years, and is well-known among garotos, clients and sauna employees as a nice, personable, generous guy who doesn’t exactly spend his time counting pennies, lives the good life, and likes a lot of good sex. Did I just crack some secret code for you?

Of course, a winning personality does wonders. However....

Google is all sorts of free today. It must be having a big sale! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/americas/brazil-coronavirus-cases.amp.html

If you do decide to go, whether alone or with a travel companion, but especially alone under your circumstances, I would recommend a gay tour guide. Fernando Bingre is the best one in the Bahia. He’s all over social media under that name and Bahia Tour Guide or Gay Tour Guide. He has plenty of international tourist clients from all over the world.

I’ve been regularly going to Salvador and the Bahia state for over a decade and it’s absolutely one of my favorite places in the world. I love the people, the history, the food, the culture, the music, the dialect, and yes, the men — and I’m a bit protective of it all. I’ve seen good and bad visitors come and go. I’ve seen people have wondrous experiences and I’ve watched tourists “get got”. From my perspective, I will address your concerns: Safety: No, it’s NOT “safe”, and also, yes it IS “safe”, depending on where you go, who you are, and who you’re with. The touristy area of Barra around the beaches (Porto da Barra and Farol da Barra) and the streets which face it are the safest in the day and relatively safe at night along the beach boardwalk. If you like to put your life on the line, you can try cruising at night around the lighthouse or the small Christ statue, where rough trade and malandros are just waiting with knives for horny gringo turistas. Also, the world-famous UNESCO site the Pelourinho district is nice to visit, but not adviseable to do at night alone if you’re new and stick out like a sore thumb (in recent years, it was being heavily patrolled by police to make it safer for tourists but lately, due to the economy, that’s backed off and the crime and drugs seemed to have taken over once more). So again, use caution — even someone who “fits in” shouldn’t be dumb enough to walk around those dark alleys at night. Areas like Rio Vermelho and Pituba are considered more upscale but may be out of the way for other areas of interest. Remember, there are lots of pockets of favelas all over Salvador, including on the outskirts of Barra, Ondina, Rio Vermelho and Pituba, and while most people are good and honest and frankly, unconcerned about you, there are plenty of poor, desperate people (especially young men) looking to prey on an out-of-place, non-Portuguese-speaking gringo tourist — especially one who is alone and without the benefit of locals. Crime and violence is higher in the Northeast of Brazil, where Salvador is. You can keep your chances of being a statistic down by staying in well-lit, well-traveled tourist areas in the daytime (where you’re a lot more likely to find English speakers), having a local guide for everything else, and sticking to Uber or cabs. If you look Caucasian or Asian, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb in Salvador. Of course, if you open your mouth, it’ll remove all doubt. This won’t matter much in well-traveled touristy areas, but can be a cause for concern elsewhere, which is why traipsing around Salvador alone under these circumstances is not such a good idea. Saunas: They’re not 117 in Rio or Lagoa in São Paulo. Perhaps they are more comparable to 202, but not on its busiest nights. Salvador is of a slower pace. The atmosphere is more laid-back, and the garotos de programa there are fewer and in most cases, more average to slimmer builds (with some exceptions). As mentioned many times before, 90% of the inhabitants of the city are black or mixed with black, so you’ll find a multitude of shades, but not much “white” (branco) there — if that’s what you seek, you should go to Porto Alegre in Rio Grande do Sul. The prices ARE already cheaper in Salvador and in the entire Northeast, so don’t be a dickcheese asshole and try to talk them down too much. The exchange rate would currently make 100 reais around only $17 USD. If you’re haggling over that at a sauna for a sexual encounter with a living, breathing human being, then you are seriously psychologically damaged and ethically compromised. Be prepared to take cabs or Ubers to and from the saunas.