TotallyOz

I have read such mixed reviews of Dan Brown's latest book Inferno. Some love it and other hate it. But, I am a big fan and I felt I owed it to him to read it. I am half way through and so far I really love the story and the writing. Have others read this book yet? What are your thoughts?

Nothing makes me angrier than a cell phone in the theater or the movie house. I got there to get away from the world and be engulfed into what I am watching. With my ADHD, it is hard not to notice all those noises and lights. I have gotten into more than one argument about this inside the movie house. I have not experienced this in a play and I think I might just be even more pissed after getting dressed up and spending more money. There is a certain level of respect that should be expected. That said, the manager should have kicked her ass out at intermission.

Businesses & Organizations 1 Gay Information Centre (Gaytic) | Spuistraat 44 | 203 30 14 61 | http://www.gaytic.nl/ Just as its name would imply, this is where you can come to for all your gay information in Amsterdam, including up to the minute info on parties and fun events as well as general tourist information and more serious issues. They also have a store with magazines and (adult) toys. You can also order their kit online that includes all the gay info you'll ever need for Amsterdam, plus a free gift! 2 Pink Point | Westermarkt (corner Raadhuistraat and Keizersgracht) | 20 428 10 70 | http://www.pinkpoint.org Pink Point is another LGBT information center; it's a pop-up kiosk, though, not a building. It has info, souvenir-tchotchke type items for sale, and a super friendly staff who can help you with anything you need. 3 Amsterdam Gay Zone | Spuistraat 21 | 20 625 8797 | Watch the video and you get the idea: it's part sex shop, part cinema, part cruising bar, and all gay. They have twink parties and other theme nights. 4 Oosterpark Nighttime is the right time for cruising in Oosterpark, and it's good if you like more exotic men. But it can get a bit sketchy as it's not well lit, so be careful or go with a pal. And yes, that dude on a bike is cruising you while he's cruising around. We swear, the locals do EVERYTHING on bikes. 5 Nieuwe Meer Unlike the other cruising spots on our list, this one is always jumping especially in summer, when there is a naturist area. Visit during the day for the safest times, and don't mind the cows they were put there to discourage cruising, but it has stopped exactly no one. 6 Vondelpark The park as a whole is a nice spot to relax, but at night the Rozentuin (Rose Garden) is full of flowers waiting to be plucked, if you catch our drift.

1 Club Church | Kerkstraat 52 | 20 421 0392 | http://www.clubchurch.nl/ You definitely want to check the calendar of Club Church almost every night is a theme night, and they're strict on the dress (or undress) codes. You don't want to show up for naked night only to find that it's an oil party! On naked nights, the coat check room will keep your stuff and give you a bag for your money and whatever you want to keep with you. 2 Club Fuxxx | Warmoesstraat 96 | 20 624 3807 | http://www.clubfuxxx.com/ It's a dance club, cruising club, and flat-out sex club, all in one. So in addition to a dance floor and full bar, they also have a fully equipped dark room with sex swing, cabins and the rest. Check their calendar for their theme nights, including leather, fisting, orgies, and more. 3 Jimmy Woo: F*cking Pop Queers | Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 18 | https://www.facebook.com/pages/FCKING-POP-QUEERS/129356387078067 | http://www.ultrasexi.com/ This is an irregular party (currently the second Saturday of the month) at Jimmy Woo's, and it's more creative and social-minded than your usual gay scene. With dress codes like PUSSY RIOT & RUSSIAN NOUVEAU RICHE! it brings out a hip, young LGBT crowd that are just as into art and politics as they are dancing the night away. They also have a presence at various festivals. 4 Club NYX | Reguliersdwarsstraat 42 | http://www.clubnyx.nl NYX is a straight-friendly gay club that brings a young, fun crowd. There is dancing and drinking on each of the three full levels, which use the bonesof this former carriage house to full effect. Open only Friday-Saturday from 11pm. 5 Club Roque | Amstel 178 | 20 421 0900 | http://www.clubroque.nl/ A young, mixed LGBT crowd haunts this place, which is mostly a bar but has a small dance floor that gets packed with grinding bodies. There's free entrance all night on Wednesdays and Thursdays; on the weekends it's free 'til midnight (and opens at 11pm all nights). Saunas 1 Thermos Sauna | Raamstraat 33 | 20-6239158 | www.thermos.nl This is really the top gay sauna in Amsterdam, but when it has everything you need, why go anywhere else? Thermos has a bar, store, salon, sauna, showers, a dark room, cabins, a rooftop terrace, and fun happy hour parties. Oh, and men. Lots and lots of men. 2 Sauna Damrak | Damrak 54-1HG | 20 622 6012 | http://www.saunadamrak.com/ One of the oldest gay saunas in town, this doesn't have so much of a hot and heavy scene; it is a gay sauna, yes, but the only nod to naughtiness is the availability of private saunas. Otherwise it's a straight-up sauna, just gay. It's open until 9pm on weekdays and midnight on the weekends. Restaurants 1 Saturnino | Reguliersdwarsstraat 5 | 20 639 0102 | http://www.saturnino.nl/ Yes, the first resto on our list is Italian, but it's also our top pick for thos ewho like to look at sweet things while they eat. Probably the gayest resaurant in Amsterdam and it also serves great food to boot! 2 Downtown | Reguliersdwarsstraat 31 | http://www.lunchroomdowntown.nl/ (down) No adult drinks here, but it is a great place for a daytime meal among the gays. Grab a set outside in the summer for a bit of sun. 3 Bo Cinq | Prinsengracht 494 | 20-622 06 82 | http://www.bocinq.nl/ This is a chic little place for fabulous gays and the straights who eat with them. It looks more like a lounge than a restaurant, but make no mistake you'll be raving about the food. 4 Walem | Keizersgracht 449 | (020) 6253544 | http://www.walem.nl/index_en.html With a bar along one side and seating on the other, Walem is just as good a place for a drink as for its absolutely delicious food. It's open until 8 during the week and until 10 on the weekends, so plan accordingly. 5 Garlic Queen | Reguliersdwarsstraat 27 | 20 422 6426 | As far as gay eateries go, you can't go wrong on Reguliersdwarsstraat although with a name like Garlic Queen, you can be sure to be in a gayborhood vibe. And as the name would suggest, there are lots of queens on the walls (and at the tables), and lots of garlic in the food, so you probably don't want to go right from here to the cruising clubs. 6 Bouchon du Centre | Falckstraat 3 | 020 - 330 11 28 | http://www.bouchonducentreamsterdam.com/bouchon.html This is a cute, bright, gay-friendly daytime eatery that has down-home Lyonnais dishes served on red-checkered tablecloths. Get the pate, it's fantastic. 7 De Belhamel | Brouwersgracht 60 | 20 622 1095 | http://www.belhamel.nl/index.php?lang=en This may just be our top pick it's gay-friendly, it serves amazing food, and it is right on the canal with outdoor seating in the summer for maximum people watching. And they have a mix of cuisines that includes Dutch food! 8 Looks | Binnen Bantammerstraat 5 | 020 320 0949 | http://www.restaurantlooks.nl/ It may look small from the outside, but with a large, multi-level space like this, you're always assured a seat. Their menu changes constantly as fresh ingredients come into season, so stop by whenever you're in town for the gay-friendly mixed crowd and the yummy food.

1 Cuckoonest | Nieuwezijds Kolk 6 | 20 627 1752 | https://www.facebook.com/cuckoosnest.nl Nice little bar upstairs, crazy sex playground downstairs. So grab a drink and a condom from the bar and head down for some fun. Come here early evening for the best/most action. 2 Dirty Dicks | Warmoesstraat 86 | no number | http://www.dirtydicksamsterdam.com/ The word that is most often used to describe Dirty Dicks is "sleazy," so it's not for everyone but if you like some dirty action, then you've found your spot. Plenty of dark room action, glory holes, cabins and on the last Thursday of every month, Golden Showers. 3 Cafe Lellebel | Utrechtsestraat 4 | 20 427 5139 | http://www.lellebel.nl This drag bar is where you want to go when you do NOT want to have a wild and crazy time in a bar. Mixed gays and lesbians with a healthy dollop of transgender patrons, it's a fun place that has Karaoke on Tuesdays, and at least one drag show a night. 4 Taboo | Reguliersdwarsstraat 45 | 207 75 39 63 | http://www.taboobar.nl This bar has not one, but two happy hours! There's one from 6-7pm and another for an hour after midnight. But despite its name, there's nothing (or at least not much) untoward going on here just a friendly staff and fun gay locals. 5 Eagle | Warmoesstraat 90 | no number | http://www.theeagleamsterdam.com This gay cruising bar has a large leather daddy element, and a small dark room downstairs with a smoking area and a couple of cabins. 6 The Web | Sint Jacobsstraat 6 | 20 623 6758 | http://www.thewebamsterdam.com Like many of the cruising bars in Amsterdam, it's all bar upsteairs, and all sex down below. The cruising area is not our favorite, but it does have some good early evening action in their darkroom, cabins and on the sex sling. 7 Reality | Reguliersdwarsstraat 129 | 20 639 3012 | http://www.barreality.freehomepage.com Come to Reality if you like dark meat this Caribbean-style bar brings the gays whose skin is every color of the coffee rainbow who groove to tropical music from a rvolving cast of DJs. Some casual cruising, but this is not a sex bar. 8 Café t Mandje | Zeedijk 63 | 20 622 5375 | http://www.cafetmandje.nl Although there can be a homo/het mixed crowd here, it's mostly gay and could not be more welcoming and homey if it tried. A wonderful place for a drink and a chat, this is our top hangout spot. No screaming over unz-unz DJ music; only classic rock from the juke. 9 Prik | Spuistraat 109 | 203 20 00 02 | http://www.prikamsterdam.nl Despite its provocative name, Prik is actually a pretty laid-back place. It's a gay bar, yes, but it's not a meat market scene. You can even grab a snack with your drink, and the DJ's music is low enough that you won't have to scream to be heard. 10 Spijker Bar | Kerkstraat 4 | 20 341 7366 | http://www.spijkerbar.nl/ While at first glance this might seem like a locals-only dive bar with its pool table and televisions, it's once you notice that one of the screens is showing gay porn that you realize you're in the right place. Come here earlier in the evening if you want to chill, or later, when the music starts taking over, for more of a traditional (non-cruising) bar scene (although there is a dark room upstairs). 11 Queens Head | Zeedijk 20 | 204 20 24 75 | http://www.queenshead.nl Part elegant, part campy, and all fun, Queens Head is a great joint for the gays. Sometimes there's drag, sometimes there's bingo (!), sometimes there's just a DJ keeping the crowd mellow. You may see people heading downstairs, but it's no dark room; check out that canal view! 12 Montmartre | Halvemaansteeg 17 | 20 620 76 22 | http://www.cafemontmartre.nl Get here early (happy hour from 6-8pm) to grab a spot, because this tiny place is heaving later on. If you like your gay scene fabulous, bitchy and deliciously young, then get to Montmartre. 13 Café Rouge | Amstel 60 | 204 20 98 81 | http://www.caferouge.nl There is a mixed homo/het clientele at this very, very red bar, but it's always friendly and you never know who you'll hook up with. Fun music, fun crowd, fun times especially on the weekend. 14 Bar Argos | Warmoesstraat 95 | 20 622 6595 | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Argos/138135499583195 Gay leather bar fans, your attention please! This is your spot. So check your coat, buy your drink, and head down to the basement where all manner of naughtiness abounds, including a dark room, sex sling, glory holes, cabins, and all the rest.

1 Amsterdam American Hotel (Hampshire Eden) | Leidsekade 97 | http://www.edenamsterdamamericanhotel.com/en/ This large hotel, built in the 1920s and now a city landmark, has Art Deco design but all the modern amenities including free wifi. 2 NH Carlton Amsterdam | Vijzelstraat 4 | 20 622 2266 | http://www.nh-hotels.com/nh/en/hotels/the-netherlands/amsterdam/nh-carlton-amsterdam.html When you step outside the NH Carlton you are in the gayborhood, so if you want all the bar action without the hassle of transport, this is the place for you. Also, it's an NH so it has all the top-flight amenities you expect. 3 Amistad hotel | Kerkstraat 42 | 20 624 8074 | http://www.amistad.nl/ The Amistad has long been welcoming gays to Amsterdam, and like the NH is located in the gayborhood. But if the last time you were there it seemed a little run down, give it another shot they just renovated. Great breakfast too. 4 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Amsterdam Centraal Station | Oosterdoksstraat 4 | 20 530 0800 | http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/netherlands/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-amsterdam-centraal-station-AMSCSDI/index.html This DoubleTree is awesome! Every room has an iMac and free wifi, their minibar is free, you get a paper in the morning, and it's also right near the train station. Definitely one of our top picks. 5 Hotel The Exchange | Damrak 50 | 20 523 0080 | http://www.hoteltheexchange.com/en An interesting twist each room in this hotel was designed by a student of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute, so you'll never get the same room twice! Note that the rooms are ranked by a star system, based on size and the view, and they charge you extra if you ask for a specific room. Free wifi, but no air conditioning (they give you a fan). 6 Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Centre | Nieuwezijds Kolk 19 | 20 530 1818 | http://www.inntelhotelsamsterdamcentre.nl/ This big hotel is beautiful and has every amenity, but the thing we like best is that for an extra fee, you can check out as late as 6pm perfect for those off-hour train or plane ride. Note the entire hotel is no-smoking. 7 ITC Hotel | Prinsengracht 1051 | 20 623 1711 | http://www.itc-hotel.com/ The ITC is a small boutique hotel in one of those gorgeous canal homes that you keep taking pictures of. Their ground floor lounge has a wall of windows facing the canal, perfect for breakfast or just hanging out. 8 Hotel the Golden Bear | Kerkstraat 37 | 20 624 4785 | http://www.goldenbear.nl/index_en.html Can you guess which kind of gay man especially loves this hotel? In addition to bears, the Golden Bear has been welcoming gays and lesbians openly since just after WWII. Note that not every room has a bathroom, so make sure to specify when you reserve. Also, no reception at night (you get a key). 9 Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam | Damrak 1-5 | 20 623 4255 | http://www.parkplaza.com/amsterdam-hotel-nl-1012lg/netamst This big hotel Is directly across from Centraal Station, perfect for a quick dip into Amsterdam. Book a room in their new, sexy Urban Wing, and book some time to do some laps in their newly renovated swimming pool.

KT, why is this do you think? I found the same is true in most Southern cities in the USA but in larger areas like NY and LA, it is VERY segregated.

Google does the same thing in the USA to avoid paying more US taxes. They have set up a corporate structure in which money is paid to companies overseas and the end result is less US taxes. Any company that does this is doing it by taking advantage of existing loopholes. That is not the companies fault. And, I doubt this will change as the ones that have invested in the companies success are usually the ones making the decision (lawmakers).

I love my Skinny Vanilla Latte. The cost is high though both in the USA and in Thailand. When I saw my first Starbucks in Pattaya, I didn't think they would succeed as they were so much more expensive than other places but they did. I remember years back, I went there every morning to use the Internet when I lived in the Mosaik and the Internet sucked in my apartment. The cost for the net was really high as well but it was worth it for me.

I found this online today and thought it was a good policy. It was expensive but it seems to cover about everything. Anyone ever had it, heard of it or know about it? Geo Blue Travel Insurance www.geobluetravelinsurance.com/

I took my young cousin to Burger King today after a baseball game and they had a Turkey Burger. I didn't even know it was on the menu.

LOL I did read the horrible reviews from the "critics" however, the entire theater was laughing through this comedy. True, it will not win awards but for a comedy, it was fun.

This movie has more stars that I see when I look up to the sky. And, IMHO, they deliver. The movie was funny and witty and kept me laughing. It is a comedy and I really enjoyed all the humor. Has this made it to LOS yet? Others seen it?

OK Adam, tell me, what is the secret to being a bottom?

LOL Tom, surely you are not one to fall in love and then out so fast you can't remember. LOL As someone who has seen you take 7 or 8 guys a night, I doubt I would remember them either. I think it all gets blurry after 3.

No, these programs are on my computer but they are activated through the cloud and when you stop paying, they stop working. (I think)

My Favorite Escort Experience with was a PR escort I met at Stella's in NYC. He was adorable and a yummy ass. I had a Brazilian BF at the time and we lived in Westchester so I hired this 18 year old for fun and an overnight. It was a great experience and we ended up fucking all night long. That was over 15 years ago and we are still friends. He is still a voyeur and loves sending me naked photos of himself after all these years. LOL He did get me in a lot of trouble with the BF as the rule was only one time but I just kept seeing him over and over again but not for pay as we were now friends. One night, Thanksgiving, he had dinner with us and spent the night along with a few other boys. Everyone was exhausted and full from dinner. It was 4 of the hottest guys you can imagine and me. Well, we all ended up in bed together and fucking. The PR had told me he always wanted to get double fucked. So, I shared that with the group and they did double fuck him. In fact he was double fucked by everyone and I have never came so much in one night. The hotness of him getting pounded over and over was amazing. His beautiful bubble butt PR ass must have hurt for days and he gave me dreams to jack off to for years.

Gay Istanbul – Tiptoe Through The Tulips When it comes to gay travel, Muslim countries probably are not at the top of the list for most of us. And while it's true that some Muslim countries are not very gay-friendly, that's not true for all of them. Turkey, in fact, is much more gay-positive than you would expect, which is probably why Istanbul has recently been rated one of the top gay tourist destinations in the world – and certainly the top one in the Arab world. If you've ever had a fantasy about doing or getting done by a hot Middle Eastern dude, Turkey is the safest and sanest place to do it. You'll be surrounded by history, be able to chill out in warm weather, and get your gay on! And the best city in all of Turkey for a gaycation is the ancient city of Istanbul, where Europe and Asia collide in a secular nation with a large and active Muslim population. You'll experience a vast mix of cultures as you explore the heart of the Ottoman Empire. It's a truly exotic experience that you'll never forget – and you know you want to sample a different flavor of man meat. So, my turgid twinks, tight little bottoms and terrific tops, let's take a journey to Istanbul, where you'll want to go down and get your hoe down. Gay Culture In Istanbul If you've ever had a fetish for straight boys, Istanbul is going to be your dream vacation. It is full of very, very straight-acting bi guys. In fact, the guys are so straight-acting they consider themselves straight. That's because in Turkish culture, tops are not considered gay men and there is no social stigma to being a top. So they don't hide in the closet. and actively seek out bottoms with no shame at all. Your only problem might be that if you travel with your fag hag, the guy cruising you at the bar might end up wanting to do both of you! Most of the tops are very, very masculine and aggressive, and will have no problem hitting on you at all if you seem even the slightest bit gay. Because of this, the bottoms compete with each other to be as flamboyant as possible to attract the hot Middle Eastern studs. This has also led to the creation of the largest drag culture in the Middle East, and you have not lived until you've taken the time to check out an Istanbul drag show. You won't find any of the homophobia common in the rest of the Muslim world in Istanbul. Quite the opposite. If you bottom, you may find yourself more in demand than you've ever been in any city you've visited. The Gayborhood Of course, you don't want to just trust it to luck that you'll get cruised by a “straight” guy in Istanbul. You'll want to up your chances by going where the gays go. So head over to Taxsim, the main Istanbul gayborhood, where you'll find tons of gay bars, clubs and saunas where you can play with the boys night after night. Istanbul Saunas Saunas are a huge part of Istanbul culture. But, you have to be careful. The large majority of saunas are not cruising areas, and in fact are not even gay. They are called Hamams and are a part of daily Turkish life. If fact, you should check out these traditional Turkish saunas, where you will be offered a “scrub” which will exfoliate your entire body, followed by a “rub” which is a full body massage – although sadly lacking a happy ending. For a traditional gay sauna sexperience, stick to the gayborhood and make sure there is a rainbow flag sticker on the door of the place before you go in, just so you don't end up doing something inappropriate and embarrassing. Istanbul Rent Boys You'll be delighted to know that in Istanbul, prostitution is completely and totally legal. And, you'll find rent boys working nearly every gay bar and club in the city. It's also fairly easy to find Istanbul rent boys online. Be sure, however, to ask if they are “aktif,” which would mean they only top and never bottom, so you don't get disappointed when you get them back to your hotel room. Being Safe In Istanbul The one downside to Istanbul is that because it is a poor country, there is a fairly high minor crime rate. It is advised that you don't ask people on the streets directions, because there is a good chance they will steer you into a side street where people are waiting to mug you. Instead, either travel around by taxi, or hire one of the many professional guides offered by every hotel. You should also be aware that it is common in Istanbul to negotiate the price of the cab fare before you get into the taxi. If you don't, they may try to rip you off by charging you much more than they should for your trip. Let's Do Straight Boys In Istanbul! I'm up for Middle Eastern men who are straight but not narrow! So, why not join me in Istanbul, and get it on? cc boytoy.com 2013

Well, the SCOTUS has to be watching this and realizing that a bad judgement will make them look like the old school judges they actually are. I do think these recent cases will play out well for us. But, don't you think the vote has already taken place and decisions are being written?

Hey, I have an idea, post your photo here and lets us help guide you!

I'd love to see them myself. Thanks for the heads up.

I love TripAdvisor and I use it before every trip. I never look at reviews from people with less than 5 reviews and I weigh heavily those with 50 or more in different cities and I also weight those with more hotel reviews as more relevant than restaurants. I also tend to read those that are thoroughly reviewed and that the same poster has just thoroughly reviewed other hotels. I have not been disappointed when I do a little research. I am surprised in FH's data on the rate increase correlating with a rise in the reviews. I guess I should not be surprised but I am. Have given both negative and positive reviews, I will say the negative ones I always email the hotel and give them personal input. The point of the review sites is also to give hotels input on how it can better its services IMHO and the reviews do that if honest and as a priority member at most of the hotels I stay, I am always open to share my opinions with the hotels. I recently spent a week with a manager at several Crown Plaza hotels and he was impressing upon me the value of TripAdvisor and I asked him about the fake reviews and he said it was policy if a hotel was found out to have done this the GM would be fired.

Yes, some will want their own playground and no desire to make money. That is OK. But, if they are trying to get other people's money, they need to service the customers.

I had to get another license for MS Office and it was cheaper to get the Cloud subscription. I needed to upgrade to the newest Adobe Creative Suite and they have announced they would no longer be making CD's for sale and all sales would be on the cloud. Is everything going to the "Cloud"?

Close. But, not quite.