TotallyOz

At the meeting yesterday a shareholder questioned the profitability of Starbucks’ marriage equality stance by bringing up a boycott being levied against the coffee company by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a group adamantly opposed to equal marriage rights. The shareholder referred to NOM’s boycott, and said: “In the first full quarter after this boycott was announced, our sales and our earrings—shall we say politely—were a bit disappointing.” CEO Howard Schultz replied that “not every decision is an economic decision,” and went on to suggest that if shareholders thought their return was not strong enough in the face of opposition for supporting such issues, they could sell their shares. Mr Schultz said: “If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38% you got last year, it’s a free country. You can sell your shares of Starbucks and buy shares in another company.” http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/03/22/starbucks-ceo-defends-equal-marriage-backing-and-tells-unhappy-shareholder-to-sell-stock/

This is an excellent question and it is one I don't know the answer to. I have NEVER understood the need for anyone to have more than one handle on a board. I have been running message boards for over 20 years and it is still one thing I don't understand.

Yes, it is the term for short time for sex that is paid. You can even ask a waiter in a regular bar and they understand the word and often are willing to go with you. Sex is very liberal in Brazil and the Club 117 Sauna is next door to a Catholic school. They don't have hang ups about sex or prostitution here. Prostitution is legal as long as between 2 people and a pimp is not involved.

Songkran alcohol ban mulled in a move to reduce deaths during holiday The Alcoholic Beverage Control Committee will on Monday consider whether to issue a ban on the sale of alcohol during the Songkran holiday period, Songkran Pakchokdee, director of the Anti-Alcohol Organisations Network, told The Nation. A ban, aimed at reducing deaths from road accidents over the period, will be proposed by Dr Saman Futrakul, director of the Disease Control Department's Office of Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Consumption Control Committee. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Roads-in-Thailand-the-sixth-most-dangerous-30202575.html There is also a great chart on this page. check it out. Makes you wonder about driving during certain holidays and I have known at least 5 Thai boys personally killed in motorcycle accidents.

Well, the word is sauna but there are many places to gather in the sauna. Most clients will wait in a bar area. There are chairs and waiters and food, etc. It is like sitting at Dick's Cafe watching the boys go by but they are all in towels. Most of the saunas also have dark rooms, saunas, showers, etc. Tonight, inside the sauna, there is a big drag show on the stage with gogo boys, etc. It is really hard to describe except that you will feel comfortable in a towel or in street clothes. Last night, there was also a drag show and there were about 10 TS that came in in full attire. They were part of the late night group as after 9PM, they have shows and dancing. It is a sauna but it is also a place to sit and chill. Many order food while they are there and drink lots of booze all night and not even go with the boys. Some will come only for a quick programma. and, you will find everything in between. Does this make sense?

I have enjoyed him a few times. He is quite the personality. Actually, when my overnight guy Marco was coming to the place, he said, "hey, I want you to meet my friend" and he pointed to Diogo. LOL I told him I knew Diogo already. I think he is quiet the popular boy. He is really an amazing programma. I was not going to go with him as he is not the young twinky type I like but he sat down next to me and we chatted and his body is rock hard and he convinced me he would be good. He was excellent and as you said, a real special guy! He is someone I'll go with again as I really had a fantastic time with him!

NIrishGuy, The saunas in both Sao Paulo and Rio, I leave my money in and no issue there. They are always near the front desk and guarded. However, everyone does a bit differently as do I from time to time. Sometimes if I want a sauna or a shower, I'll get into a towel and roam around for the evening. I do this more in Porto Alegre than the other places as the sauna there has a great steam room and very healthy for me. I also do this in Club 117 quite a bit. When I do have a towel on, the guy will usually go to the locker area with me after the programma and wait for his money. In most places, I'll keep my clothes on and after the programma, I'll pay him in the room. I see this done often but for the most part, most of the clients are in towels. I never know if I am going to stay in one place or go to the next place and prefer to keep my clothes on. Once the programma is over, I then pay the boys. But, I think most clients pay from the locker room area. In Meio Mundo which has been my favorite this trip, they don't have as good of facilities as the other saunas and I can't think of one time I have been in a towel in the "gathering" rooms of the club. I usually keep my clothes on there. I have also known the owner for many years and he always sits at the table with me and chats for a while. Last night, his BF and he joined us for an hour. I had considered going into business with him many years back and didn't. However, it would be been a great deal for me as he now runs the most successful sauna in Rio. As for the condoms and lube, they are given to you if you want them when you book a room. You can take as much as you want, but you pay for them in most places. I have not seen a bill for them at Meio Mundo but I know the owner also gives me free access at times so I don't pay close attention to the bill there. Last night, my bill was 280R. But, that was my entrance 40R, my overnight guys entrance as he does not work at this sauna another 40R and 2 different rooms at different times and about 15 drinks for the boys. We were there for about 4-5 hours and I drank a lot and all the boys drank a lot as well. Drinks are from 6-10R and at one point there were about 10 of us at the table. So, the price adds up. For condom and lube, I also carry my own from time to time. That is OK as well. I like Eros lube and they don't have that in the saunas. They have the little packets of some lube. So, I'll take my own in a little bag as when I shower, I also like to have my own shampoo and body wash. I have never had a problem in any sauna in Brazil with the boys. For them to work at the sauna, they must be 18 or over and they have an ID on file with the club. Thus, when you take boys from there, they have a way to get in contact with them should an incident ever occur. Lastly, the one place in Salvador that I didn't want to leave my pants was very odd. It was not a sauna. It was a whorehouse. They told me this up front. If there had been other clients there or more boys, I would have been OK leaving my shorts inside. But, I just got an odd feel about the place and I have tons of friends who love Salvador but never venture to that place. It was not in a nice area and I didn't feel secure with my things in the locker. That is not normally the case in the saunas. I hope this answers any questions. If more, please ask and I'll try to tell you my experience here.

I have not done much the past few days expect go to the saunas and hang out with friends. Not much to report until today. My friend tomcal and I met another friend IHPGUY for lunch. We went to The Siqeura Grill which is one of the por kilo places. The food was excellent and the price was decent as well. It is right off the beach and on the same street at Point 202. Ihpguy then took me on a tour of the city which was fascinating. We saw the Quartel Geral do Corpo de Bombeiros. The Fire Brigade of the State of Rio de Janeiro is where the firemen train and it also houses their museum. The museum was open air and quite interesting. Across the street from this was the Praça da República or the Republic Park. This is an area famous for their large rodents (not rats but huge) and also for their gay hookers. The guys sit in the benches and wait for you to approach them. There were tons of them in the park and we chatted with several of them. They gave a price of 30R for a programma and they said they could do everything. There were several that were very cute. If you speak the language, it will be much easier for you. My friend does speak fluent Portuguese and was willing to chat and interpret things for me which is a big help. I wasn't interested in taking anyone from there but it was great to see working boys outside of the saunas and that they are very easy to approach. We then walked to the "hanging gardens" area and then passed by the new Museum and the famous Cathedral in Centro Candelária Church. All in all, it was an amazing day and ihpguy was a fabulous guide and so kind to give me great information about the city and the area. He really is filled with great tidbits of info on EVERYTHING Rio and it was so much fun to learn more about a city I love! Once at the Sauna, Muio Mundo, I knew that Friday night was busy there but I was waiting for my overnight guy Marco and was not going to do with anyone. Until, one guy who I thought was adorable sat down with me and we had an enlightening conversation about how much he loved me. So, I took him and 2 other guys up for a 4 way. It was delightful and fun and each guy took turns with the other guys and me. Great sex from all of them. (Yes Firecat, I took a photo) I was finished for the night until a nice Italian looking guy sat down and started to massage me. He said he was a great massagista and great at sex. I said OK and took him up to the room for the massage. He was great with the massage but then he turned it into a full blown sexcapes. Fantastic and I would recommend him to anyone who wants a "masculine" man. My date Marco showed up and we chatted for a while before he drove me and tomcal back to our area. A fun night with good friends and sexy boys. You can't ask for much more than that!

I have not done much the past few days expect go to the saunas and hang out with friends. Not much to report until today. My friend tomcal and I met another friend IHPGUY for lunch. We went to The Siqeura Grill which is one of the por kilo places. The food was excellent and the price was decent as well. It is right off the beach and on the same street at Point 202. Ihpguy then took me on a tour of the city which was fascinating. We saw the Quartel Geral do Corpo de Bombeiros. The Fire Brigade of the State of Rio de Janeiro is where the firemen train and it also houses their museum. The museum was open air and quite interesting. Across the street from this was the Praça da República or the Republic Park. This is an area famous for their large rodents (not rats but huge) and also for their gay hookers. The guys sit in the benches and wait for you to approach them. There were tons of them in the park and we chatted with several of them. They gave a price of 30R for a programma and they said they could do everything. There were several that were very cute. If you speak the language, it will be much easier for you. My friend does speak fluent Portuguese and was willing to chat and interpret things for me which is a big help. I wasn't interested in taking anyone from there but it was great to see working boys outside of the saunas and that they are very easy to approach. We then walked to the "hanging gardens" area and then passed by the new Museum and the famous Cathedral in Centro Candelária Church. All in all, it was an amazing day and ihpguy was a fabulous guide and so kind to give me great information about the city and the area. He really is filled with great tidbits of info on EVERYTHING Rio and it was so much fun to learn more about a city I love! Once at the Sauna, Muio Mundo, I knew that Friday night was busy there but I was waiting for my overnight guy Marco and was not going to do with anyone. Until, one guy who I thought was adorable sat down with me and we had an enlightening conversation about how much he loved me. So, I took him and 2 other guys up for a 4 way. It was delightful and fun and each guy took turns with the other guys and me. Great sex from all of them. I was finished for the night until a nice Italian looking guy sat down and started to massage me. He said he was a great massagista and great at sex. I said OK and took him up to the room for the massage. He was great with the massage but then he turned it into a full blown sexcapes. Fantastic and I would recommend him to anyone who wants a "masculine" man. My date Marco showed up and we chatted for a while before he drove me and tomcal back to our area. A fun night with good friends and sexy boys. You can't ask for much more than that!

Loved the photos Devint. Keep them coming. It really does bring back so many memories for me. I like both of these places for people watching. The food can be hit or miss depending on the night and the cook but not bad food. There are so many sexy guys that sit and walk by this area. It is pretty incredible and if you have never been here, give it a try for an evening as I am sure there will be tons of cute boys that walk by!

Great discussion gentlemen. Thank you. You have peaked my interest and I've ordered the Bix book from Amazon.

Holy Shit. You too? I was offered 500 USD to suck this old guy off in the sauna. I was also offered 900 USD to fist him. He said my hands were divine inspirations! I did both. Lucky for me, I now have enough money to hire a boy here for myself. About me: older bear, slightly whale like. I guess beauty does come in different shapes and sizes?

Businesses/Organizations 1 Circolo di Cultura Omosessuale Mario Mieli | via Efeso 2/a | 06 5413985 | http://www.mariomieli.org Rome's main gay center is named in honor of Mario Mieli, arguably the most vocal advocate of gay rights, who took his own life in 1983. The Circolo does have a political bent, but its website gives you a unique look into the Italian culture through the lens of homosexuality. 2 Gay Help Line | 800 713 713 | http://www.gayhelpline.it If you're looking at this guide, it's a pretty good bet that you don't need counsel on coming out or struggling with your sexuality. But the Gay Help Line can indeed help you with a variety of services in Rome, including reporting homophobia or legal advice. Hopefully you won't need their number, but it's good to have in any case. 3 Ice Cream Bears | via S. Giovanni in Laterano 120 | 06 97997028 | http://www.myspace.com/icecreambears As gay culture has continued to grow in Rome, you knew that sooner or later you'd have a gay gelato shop. As the name implies, this one is run by two adorable bears, and features artisanal gelato as well as all the low-down on all the bear-friendly happenings in the Eternal City. 4 Quiiky | via della Consulta 52 | 06 45595886 | http://www.quiiky.com Quiiky is a travel agency that specializes in gay travel, so whether you're looking for a full gay tour package or simply want to buy your train ticket to Florence, hit them up and they'll be happy to help.

Restaurants 1 Al Base Ristorante | Via Cavour, 274 | 06 474 0659 | http://www.labaseristorante.it/ Al Base is a gay-friendly restaurant near the Colosseum on the lively via Cavour. The draw here is the hours - no-stop dining well into the wee hours, both of which are a bit of an anomaly for Rome. Its fun interior and wide selection of good food packs them in no matter the time. 2 Ristorante Primo al Pigneto | Via del Pigneto, 46 | 06 701 3827 | http://www.primoalpigneto.it Primo is where you want to go when you are tired of the badly-lit mom-and-pop places in the city center. The discreet staff waits on you hand and foot, serving up delicious meals at a price. Great wine list. 3 Taverna Edoardo II | Vicolo Margana 14 | 06-69942419 | no website This is hands-down the gayest restaurant in Rome, with something to look at no matter where your eyes land from the gay-themed kitsch on the walls to the clientele at the tables. Sometimes on the weekend there is live entertainment, mostly equally kitschy and gay. 4 Trattoria Monti | Via San Vito, 13/a | (064) 466-573 | no website Handsome brothers in the front room, and mama in the back making dinner, Trattoria Monti is indeed the quintessential Italian hole in the wall you dream about for years afterward. Make sure to reserve, as it only has a few tables. 5 Ai Tre Scalini | Via Panisperna 251 | (396) 489-7495 | http://www.aitrescalini.org/ This is an old-school wine bar with excellent food that has been feeding and boozing Romans since the late 19th century. If you're anywhere near approaching a fan of good wine, this is your place. Book ahead, as it can get packed. 6 Da Tonino | Via del Governo Vecchio 18 | no phone | no website With its communal tables and convivial atmosphere, this is not the place to go for an intimate meal but anything off its small menu is a home run. Go with friends if you're shy, or alone if you want to make friends. 7 Piperno | Monte de Cenci 9 | (396) 688-6629 | http://www.ristorantepiperno.com/ The Jewish ghetto is home to Piperno, an upscale restaurant serving Roman classics with a (mostly kosher) twist. This is a classic Saturday night splurge meal. 8 Trattoria Maccheroni | Piazza delle Coppelle 44 | (396) 683-7895 | http://www.ristorantemaccheroni.com/ This trattoria is a cute, well-decorated old-school joint that serves the classics alongside its signature maccheroni. This is the kind of place where you go in a stranger and leave as family.

Sauna/Massage Note that Rome saunas require an ARCIGAY membership card, which you can purchase at any sauna. It requires photo ID and costs roughly $12. 1 Terme di Roma | via Persio 4 | 06 7184378 This sauna is all-gay only Sundays through Wednesdays, so mind your calendar. It's a bit far out of the city center, but you get a different mix of men here, and is good for an actual sauna or Turkish bath, but there is not much in the way of sex-friendly facilities. 2 Mediterraneo Sauna | via Pasquale Villari 3 | 06 77205934 | http://www.saunamediterraneo.it CURRENTLY UNDERGOING RENOVATIONS. Mediterraneo is a bear-friendly sauna and the non-bears who love them come in droves. It is enormous, and features dark rooms, a video room, massage, and a smoking lounge. It's kept immaculate and is arguably the most popular sauna in Rome. 3 Europa Multi Club | via Aureliana 40 | 06 4823650 | http://www.gaysaune.it (doesn't work) Gays of all ages frequent EMC, which is probably the prettiest sauna in Rome, and also very clean. It includes a gym and a bar as well as two Jacuzzis and a pool, but little in the way of spaces for sex. However, you can always find yourself a pretty thing to take with you somewhere else. 4 Apollion Sauna | via Mecenate 59A | 06-4825389 | http://www.apollionsauna.com Recently renovated, Apollion is small but does the job. An older clientele goes here, but the younger ones also flit about, attracted to the sugar daddy crowd. There are private cabins, a video room, and a pool and sauna.

Clubs/Discos 1 K Men's Club | via Amato Amati 6/8 | 06 21701268 | http://www.ksexclub.it This is a no-frills cruising and sex club, so don't expect the red carpet. There are playrooms, private cabins, a video room, and lots of men (but not a lot of boys). Wednesdays and Sundays are the Naked Party. 2 Splash Roma | via degli Argonauti 20 | http://www.splashroma.it This Saturday night gay party at Saponeria Club has go-go boys, drag and costume performances, guest Djs, and a crowd that is friendly and ready to party. Get on their mailing list for non-Saturday events, such as outdoor, daytime pool parties in the summer. All kinds of gays are here, from twinks to bears. 3 Glamda | First & last Fridays: Circolo degli Artisti, via Casilina Vecchia | third Saturdays: Lanificio 159, via di Pietralata 159/a | 392 0929671 | http://www.glamda.com Glamda moves around, so you have to follow the party depending on the night. At Circolo degli Artisti the crowd takes advantage of the outdoor area, and it's chatty and cruisey. Lanificio is more of an indoor space, and much more club-like as a whole. 4 Hangar Disco Bar | via in Selci 69 | 06 48813971 | http://www.hangaronline.it Hangar boasts being the first gay pub in Rome, and we have no reason to doubt them. It's run by an American and his Italian partner. There are hardcore film nights, strip show nights, go-go boys every night, a pretty scene-y bathroom, and an actual dark room in the back. 5 Gate | via Tuscolana 380 | 06 7840335 | http://www.gateroma.it Despite the smooth boy photos on their website, this is a bear-friendly bar with a ton of cruising going on. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you must be naked, no exceptions. Sundays underwear is permitted. Wednesdays feature clothing (!), and there's free entrance. 6 Muccassassina | via di Portonaccio 212 | http://www.muccassassina.com This Friday night party at Qube, a huge, multi-level club, has a different theme every week, and the crowd gets really into it so check the website for this week's theme so you know what to expect. Otherwise, though, it's arguably Rome's biggest gay party, with everything that encompasses. They also have special events on off nights, so check for those as well. 7 Amigdala | via Libetta 13 | 392 0929671 | http://www.amigdala.biz GOA hosts this night every second Saturday of the month, with guest DJs being the stars of the show, so you're going to find gay fans of the music rather than just fans of being gay. It's a bit of an alternative scene, with plenty of Mary Jane in the air and a dreadlock here and there. 8 Gloss | via di Monte Testaccio 40/44 | http://www.gloss.it Although Alibi is a gay club in its own right, Gloss is every Thursday and Sunday, and usually when everyone goes. (Fridays and Saturdays are just regular gay nights.) Here you'll find drag shows, DJ-fueled dance frenzies, theme nights, and other silly shenanigans. 9 Gay Village | via delle Tre Fontane | Gianluca: 349 6941054 | http://www.gayvillage.it Gay Village is open only in the summer, and even then, open only from Thursday to Sunday. But it is akin to an actual village a massive outdoor space where bars and clubs from around Rome set up outposts and all the gays come to party. Note, however, that the hetero crowd does mix and mingle here, so don't go hitting on everyone you see. 10 Il Diavolo Dentro | Largo Itri 23 | http://www.ildiavolodentro.com Translated to The Devil Inside, this sex club is all about sinning, with mostly naked-themed parties, a sex swing, private cabins, and a dark room. The crowd skews a bit older, but includes the young ones who adore them. Major cruising opportunities. 11 Bunker Club | Via Placido Zurla 68 | 320-2603298 | http://www.bunkerclubroma.com This heavy-duty cruising club has Gang Bang nights, hot DJ sets, go-go boys, a dark room, and you can even smoke inside in marked areas. It's only on Saturdays and doesn't open until 11pm, but goes until the wee hours of the morning. 12 Frutta e Verdura | Via Aanta Passera 27 | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frutta-e-Verdura-After-Hour/100116850047134 Open from 4:30am to 1pm, this is where everybody goes when the other clubs close down. There are two dark rooms, glory holes, cruising lounges, private cabins, and a DJ to keep things humming along. 13 Gender Klub | via Faleria 9 | 06 7049 7638 | http://www.genderclub.it Literally anything goes at Gender Klub, a fetish club for every possible gender and sexual orientation. Check their schedule for trans nights, live sex shows, and more. There are also dark rooms and a sexy box for group sex.

1 Coming Out Pub | via S. Giovanni in Laterano 8 | 06 7009871 | http://www.comingout.it The Coming Out is a gay bistro-cafe and cocktail lounge that is popular with the baby gays and lesbians, but it's easily the most famous gay bar in Rome, so everybody passes through eventually. Its big draw is the outdoor terrace, perfect for cruising as well as a front-row seat to Colosseum views. 2 Circolo Degli Artisti | via Casilina Vecchia 42 | 06 7030 5684 | http://www.circoloartisti.it Part bar, part club, part lounge, part performance space, there's something different on every night at Circolo degli Artisti. Its live-and-let-live vibe is more than gay-friendly, and its Glamda event on first and last Fridays of the month are a huge gay draw (see clubs for more information). 3 Caffe Oppio | Via delle Terme di Tito, 72 | 06 474 5262 | http://www.oppiocaffe.it Just up the hill from Coming Out is this fun, gay-friendly hangout that's open until late each night. In the morning it's a traditional Italian bar, with pastries and coffee; then at happy hour there's a free buffet, and at night it's more like a traditional bar with a full drinks menu. Big with the younger crowd. 4 My bar | via S. Giovanni in Laterano 12 | 06 7004425 | http://www.anfiteatro-mybar.com (doesn't work) My bar is next to Coming Out, right near the Colosseum. It too has a large outdoor terrace in front, so the two bars tend to mix and mingle for a giant gay gathering after about 9pm. 5 Rome VideoBook Bar | via di Borgo Pio 192/193 | 06 68309523 | http://www.lilibri.it/rvb1/chi-siamo/ This is an actual bookstore, video store, and cafe/bar combination whose staff is very gay-friendly. At night it becomes a piano bar, which as we all know draws gays like moths to a flame. 6 Skyline Bar | via Pontremoli 36 | 06 7009431 | http://www.skylineclub.it Monday is naked night at Skyline, so (don't) dress accordingly; the rest of the week you can cruise to your heart's content, and take a tasty young Roman twink into one of the private cabins. 7 Zest | Via Filippo Turati, 171 | 06 444841 | http://www.radissonblu.com/eshotel-rome/dining/zest While not a gay bar, it is fabulous and a great place to have a sophisticated drink or snack before heading to Termini train station. It's on the roof of the Radisson Blu Hotel, and features a sleek pool and a very scene-y outdoor bar area. You never know who you'll see half-naked going for a swim. 8 Garbo | Vicolo di Santa Margherita 1a | 06 5812766 | http://garbobar.blogspot.com The Travestere neighborhood is home to this cute little gay cocktail bar, which serves food as well as drinks, and welcomes locals and tourists alike into the gayborhood. The happy hour, from 7-9:30pm, is popular, so get there a bit ahead of time to grab a seat.

Hotels 1 2nd Floor | via San Giovanni in Laterano 10 | 06 96049256 | http://www.2floor.it This gay-run hotel on the same street as a string of gay bars is about as gay-friendly as you can get. Some of the tastefully appointed rooms have terraces, all have wifi, and you can even bring small pets. And it's across the street from the Colosseum. Fabulous! 2 B-COOL Rome | via Famagosta 4
| 06 45504533 | http://www.b-cool.eu They fly the rainbow flag proudly, but B-COOL's interior is a study in black, white, silver and grey, with comfy beds, branded organic toiletries and breakfast served in a sunny room. It's located in the chic neighborhood north of the Vatican, which is a little quieter than the chaotic city center. 3 Hotel Derby | via Vigna Pozzi 7 | 06 5136978 | http://www.hotelderby.it This three-star, gay-friendly hotel in the gorgeous Garbatella neighborhood has only 37 rooms, each with a homey feel and some with balconies. There's wifi and laundry service, and there's a park nearby with the famous Appia Antica path running through it. 4 The Beehive Hotel | Via Marghera 8 | 06 4470 4553 | http://www.the-beehive.com The budget-friendly yet stylish Beehive is run by an American couple, so you won't have to worry about the language barrier. It's close to the train station, but has its own quiet, oasis feel to it you'll want a Sweet which is in another part of the building and autonomous, or a Honey private guestroom, as opposed to the Hive hostel-style accommodations. 6 Casa Howard | Via Sistina 149 | 06 6992 4555 | http://www.casahoward.com With two nearby locations, this B&B is nothing less than exquisite and so discreet, you'll feel like you've rented a friend's luxury apartment. If you have any reason to splurge but don't want the bustle and nosiness of a large hotel, this is your choice. 7 Twentyone Hotel | Via Cola di Rienzo, 23 | 06 3260 9607 | http://www.twentyonerome.com Another boutique hotel with a cseek black-and-white color scheme, Twentyone is in Prati, a chichi neighborhood that's near Piazza del Popolo. It's a four-star so it's not the cheapest you'll ever find, but its standard of service and personal touches in the rooms more than make up for it. 8 Residenza Lunetta | Via Della Stelletta 5 | 06 42016891 | http://www.residenzalunetta.com Lunetta is a collection of six vacation apartments, with various styles and numbers of bedrooms to accommodate a friend or travel companion. And it's smack in the middle of the city center, so you can walk to all the sights as well as find transportation easily. 9 Domus Valeria | Via del Babuino 96 | http://www.domusvaleria.it This B&B near Piazza di Spagna has wifi and a roof garden what more could you need? OK, what about the fact that it's gay run, is stunningly furnished, and there's excellent shopping in every direction?

Emotions have been running high at screenings of the historical drama "Emperor." The Japanese American coproduction, which opens Friday, revolves around the dilemma Gen. Douglas MacArthur faced as he tried to restore order in post-World War II Japan: Should the country's divine leader, Emperor Hirohito, stand trial and face certain death on war crimes charges? When the producers screened "Emperor" recently in Japan, producer Gary Foster said, many men were in tears as they left the theater. "It was almost a cathartic moment," he said. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-emperor-20130307,0,1871867.story I want to see this and hope it will be playing when I am back in USA. Has anyone heard anything about this?

Emotions have been running high at screenings of the historical drama "Emperor." The Japanese American coproduction, which opens Friday, revolves around the dilemma Gen. Douglas MacArthur faced as he tried to restore order in post-World War II Japan: Should the country's divine leader, Emperor Hirohito, stand trial and face certain death on war crimes charges? When the producers screened "Emperor" recently in Japan, producer Gary Foster said, many men were in tears as they left the theater. "It was almost a cathartic moment," he said. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-emperor-20130307,0,1871867.story I want to see this and hope it will be playing when I am back in USA. Has anyone heard anything about this?

Yes, in previous years for IHC you needed 5 different stays at any Intercontinental branded hotel and 50 nights total. This year you had to stay at least 20 nights in Intercontinental Hotels plus the 50 nights and in at least 3 different Intercons. The difference is big and many didn't make the requirement. I did make Royal Platinum this year but the cost of the program is getting too expensive to be worth it IMHO. I do get upgraded to 1 bedroom suites, free minibars, and tons of privileges but it is getting to the point where the money I spend with them just isn't worth it. I like Delta's new program with Sheraton / Starwoods. If you are Platinum with Delta, they give you the same perks as Platinum with Starwoods Hotels. Nice.

This is a real PITA. You are right, things are getting harder and harder. But, there are ways to use them if you plan in advance or you have a lot of points. A friend just paid 180,000 points on AA to fly to Brazil. IMHO, insane. I normally use them to upgrade from a coach fare to Business Class but that is not cheap and the point of these programs is supposed to be fly for free from time to time. It is harder and harder to do as you suggest.

Parisrio2000, I respect your thoughts and opinions. I just do not believe they are based on reality. So sorry. But, as I love sauna boys, I hope that they are able to get 4000 a night from some clients. I just won't be one of them. Having been to Rio at least 20 times in the last 10 years and often times for months at a time, I have never experienced the things you do. However, each of us are different and our interactions with guys are different. I have been known to do stupid things from time to time including spending 1k USD on a guy in Sao Paulo for an overnight simply because I thought he was the most stunning creature on earth and I believed he would not go for less. I was wrong. He was playing the game. That was OK with me. I have seen him on this trip and his rate was 80R for a short time or 150 for overnight. And, as a former pimp in NYC, I can tell you that his beauty is beyond comparison and had he been in NYC, I would be able to make him rich. But, he is not. He is in Brazil. It is different. The rates are not the same. For those of you that read this thread and think Tomcal is off in his rates, I'll tell you that he is accurate. Believe Tomcal and I or someone else, Your choice. But, please don't believe the rates Paris is quoting as I think he is being played by a professional. That said, I have been played in the past as well and most likely will be again. When you find the perfect guy that meets all your criteria, you tend to forget about the money. LOL I did. I will again. But, I always do it with open eyes knowing I am getting screwed.

No, he only goes by Marco. He does not work in the saunas often to my knowledge. I have known him for 10 years. I don't think he would mind me putting his photo up as I have paid him for photo shoots in the past. He is still boyish but not a young twink anymore. He is one of the sweetest guys I know. I went with him out to dinner and around the city tonight and had a blast. I am not sure if it is the same guy you are thinking of but if so, he is a sweetie. Sorry I missed you in Thailand. Next time? Some clients take their clothes off and wear towels. Some just wear street clothes. It all depends on what you want to do. I wear my clothes in as I don't like leaving my wallet anywhere my ass isn't on top of it. LOL Thanks but I am just trying to keep up with Tomcal and I have failed in that regard.