TotallyOz

Apparently the rewards for reading 10 Million miles are great. They included having a plane named after him, never having to wait in line again, upgrades to everywhere he goes and more. I am at the 1M mile mark and that took 7 years. I can't imagine 10M. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14097038

From USA Today: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/story/2011/07/Pills-prevent-HIV-infection-studies-find/49339540/1 ATLANTA (AP) – Two new studies found that daily pills prevented infection with the AIDS virus in heterosexual men and women in Africa, bringing new hope for someday offering a medical shield against HIV infection. "This is good news. This is a good day for HIV prevention," said Dr. Lynn Paxton of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who has coordinated the agency's research into HIV prevention. Earlier this year, another study found the same pills did not prevent the AIDS virus among women in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa. But researchers now say that study may have been flawed based on the success of the two studies announced Wednesday. The first of the new studies, run by the CDC, involved more than 1,200 men and women in Botswana. About half got a daily pill, Truvada, an HIV treatment made by Gilead Sciences Inc. The other half got a fake pill. An analysis of people who were believed to be regularly taking the pills found four of those on Truvada became infected with HIV, compared with 19 on the dummy pill. That means the real drug lowered the risk of infection by roughly 78%, researchers said. The second study was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and run by the University of Washington. It involved more than 4,700 heterosexual couples in Kenya and Uganda. In each couple, one partner had HIV and the other did not. The uninfected were given either daily placebos, Truvada pills, or another Gilead treatment, Viread. The study found 13 HIV infections among those on Truvada, 18 in those on Viread, and 47 of those on dummy pills. So the medications reduced the risk of HIV infection by 62% to 73%, the researchers said. An independent review panel on Sunday said the benefit was clear-cut and stopped giving placebos, instead offering the preventive pills. Essentially, they deemed it unethical to withhold the medications from people who had been on placebo, said Dr. Jared Baeten, the University of Washington researcher who co-chaired the study. "Our results provide clear evidence that this works in heterosexuals," he said. In both studies, participants also were offered counseling and free condoms, which may help explain the relatively low overall infection rate. The studies were to be announced at an AIDS conference in Rome next week. But following the recommendation of the review panel to the University of Washington study, both the CDC and the Washington team made hasty decisions to release the results. These are the third and fourth widely reported studies of AIDS prevention medications. The first was announced last year. It was a study of Truvada in gay men in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand and the United States (San Francisco and Boston). The drug lowered the chances of infection by 44%, and by 73% or more among men who took their pills most faithfully. Experts celebrated. The CDC gave advice to doctors on prescribing Truvada along with other prevention services for gay men, based on those encouraging results. But momentum seemed to stall in April, when an interim analysis of the study of 3,900 women in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa did not show a benefit from taking Truvada. Scientists are still piecing together why that study pointed to failure and the two latest indicate success. One theory is that the women in the earlier study did not take the medication as often as they should have, Paxton said. Gilead Sciences of Foster City, California, is a major producer of AIDS drugs. On Tuesday, United Nations health officials announced the company had agreed to allow some of its drugs to be made by generic manufacturers, potentially increasing their availability in poor countries.

Summer's are usually quiet. I am always open to ideas to make things more lively.

I agree with Seattlebottom that to report it is the right thing to do. However, I learned a long time ago, it is better to mind my own business. Why put yourself at risk for this? Sure, it can be done anonymous but if they found it, you would help to blame. You never know what crazy people will do.

The married guys always suck the best cock!

I have been happily reading daily of the problems with News Corps problems in Great Britain. He just announced that he will drop his bid for BSKYB. He is also being summoned before Parliament. Should he not appear, he may be bidding goodbye to all his News International holdings in GB. As I have never understood the draw to Fox News, I am hoping that the fallout will continue over to the USA. It started with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, said that US laws may also have been violated. He also said he wanted an investigation into whether or not 911 Victim Families phones were hacked. I have been able to find no credible references to this at all but just saying that will cause outrage and perhaps a groundswell in the USA that will send this pig back to the Outback!

The ultra-modern, best of the best, spickity span high-tech Shanghai-Beijing Bullet train is now once again mired in controversy. Within only two weeks of service, the fast rail has already been marred by numerous glitches. On Tuesday, a power failure stranded 30 trains and hundreds of passengers for over two hours. This is the second time a power malfunction has occurred to the bullet trains in just three days. http://shanghaiist.com/2011/07/13/shanghai-beijing_fast_train_undergo.php

This is the best thing I have read on the Internet in ages! Thank you!

I think he is very talented and we will see more of him in the years to come!

Dammit! Why didn't I think of that?

Shocked I tell you! Shocked at your prediction. However, most of your predictions become true (except Ocean 1). But, you seem to have a good in with all the bar news. Have you considered writing for the Nicky's Gay Pattaya? Between the two of you, you would have a monopoly on gossip in Sunee. And, if you sat at a certain corner bar VIP table, the monopoly would be bigger than News Corp! You are the Rupert Murdoch of Thailand. I just hope you are not wire taping all the gays in Thailand for your juicy tidbits.

I was in Soi Twilight the night before the election. All the lady bars on the Japanese Soi were closed. Twilight bars were open for business. I asked if we could get whiskey, they said of course. I assume this is the difference between 100 baht drinks in many lady bars and 300 baht drinks in the gay ones?

Well, Z, that is Top Secret. We could tell you, but then we would have to kill you!

Bob, your statement conjured up images of Folsom Street Festival!

Thank goodness the truth can be told. I know you have known this all along but us peasants have been waiting for news of the bar. It has been making me avoid sleep for days now. Jeeze, thank you so much for the news. Question: what is your prediction on the success of the bar? Do you think they will have a good crew that is new or try to get the old ones to return?

That is good. I thought they had a lady manager?

Close to the famous Night Bazaar and recommended by the Lonely Planet, is a unique place to stay if you are heading to Chiangmai. It offers economical room rates from Bt 250 - Bt 600 a night for fan rooms, and air-conditioned rooms with hot and cold showers, Fronting the guesthouse is a restaurant that serves international dishes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Other facilities include internet and tour counter... http://souvenir-guesthouse.com Address : 26 Kampaengdin Rd. Soi 3 T.Changklan Muang Chiang Mai 50100

Seven Suns is your resting place and starting point for all your Chiang Mai interests. Seven Suns is a hotel / guesthouse / restaurant with western accommodation and Asian influence. Seven Suns is an enterprise of the Mekong Education and Training Company, a Thai registered company with Thai and Australian shareholders. We provide clean secure rooms configured to your needs (single / twin or double) and our restaurant serves a selection of Thai and Western menu items from early morning until late at night. Our Mission Statement is "to provide continuous high quality services and accommodation at our guesthouse, support our staff to be their best and seek opportunities to empower those not as fortunate as ourselves to obtain a better life'. We believe: That we provide our guests with a clean and secure environment supported with the services of excellent and friendly staff That the success of our business is attained through quality services to our guests That we provide good quality, reasonably priced food produced in a clean kitchen and served in the comfort of our restaurant That we provide comfortable accommodation to our guests in our twelve rooms That we conduct our business in an ethical manner respecting local and international laws, regulations, customs and culture That our profits should be shared among our owners, staff and when possible provide charitable contributions back to the community in which we live That the values, ideas, culture and lifestyle of all people should be respected where those beliefs in turn allow individuals to respect others and do no harm. Seven Suns is located within walking distance to the city's night life, including restaurants, the night bazaar, local markets, Thapae Gate and the Old City Moat. The popular Saturday and Sunday night walking markets are very close by. We can help you get further out - go trekking, ride the elephants, wash the elephants at the camp, take a dip white-water rafting, look for arts and crafts, see community business projects, or simply just relax and enjoy a good meal and have a beer with some new friends. Seven Suns is your Chiang Mai Oasis and home away from home. We aim to provide an environment that caters to customers from diverse backgrounds. This means we welcome people who are open minded, curious, adventurous, or just want to relax. We welcome clients from various non Government and international organizations, from business backgrounds, from arts and music and basically anyone who wants to have a good time in Chiang Mai and learn a little while they are here. If you want to just relax, go trekking, go on a private tour, go out clubbing or to visit various bars and restaurants, learn massage or cooking, learn about the work of various organizations, learn Thai or whatever you want to do during your stay with us, we will endeavour to assist in any way possible. What makes us a little bit different from other guesthouses in Chiang Mai?? Our Staff – First and foremost we believe that the business is made by the staff. We employ some of the most amazing people you will meet during your stay in Thailand, they are all honest, fun, and able to help you out with pretty much anything if you ask. We have two teams who fill a morning and afternoon shift and a night reception manager to see you 'home' safely. The most common comment you will see about Seven Suns is about the great staff! Come meet them and you will see why they have earned their reputation. Our clocks – our reception area provides clocks to help you understand world time, but with a twist, guess you just have to come visit us to see what we mean by this!! We have had a Feng Shui expert advise of ways to make your stay with us more comfortable. For more information about Feng Shui please . The most obscure and maybe noticeable aspect of our Feng Shui symbolism is the rocks on the bathroom floors. These are to draw the negative energy held in the bathroom towards the floor, where it is unlikely to affect you!! We also promote environmental protection. We actively recycle all materials that we can, we separate our rubbish into wet (used vegetable peelings, food scraps, etc) and provide these to local pig farmers and dry (plastic wrappers, napkins, cigarette butts). Our plastics, aluminium, paper and glass bottles are collected regularly by the most wonderful old man, who walks here with his little cart to take away our valuable 'waste'!! Our rubbish is really only the things we cannot recycle, which in Thailand includes tetra packs and tin cans! Our room cleaning policy exists to keep your stay clean, but also reduce the environmental impact of soapy discharge and water consumption. To help us we hope that you understand we will launder sheets and towels every second day, if you prefer an alternate schedule, please advise our staff. We try to use less electricity by using power saver light bulbs and only turning things on when needed! Help us in this way, but turning off the air-con when you leave the room, if it is really hot, tell us about what time you come back and we will turn your air on 15 minutes before you get back! For more information on our ecological footprint We respect our customers' privacy and lifestyles. We have neat, clean rooms, good food, friendly staff, a quiet relaxed ambiance and quality assistance in your tours and stay with us. Contact Us Information Seven Suns 155 Ratchamanka Road T. Prasingh, A. Muang Chiang Mai Thailand 50200 Tel: +66 (0) 53 814 325, (0) 53 814 430 Fax: +66 (0) 53 814 276 e-mail: bookings@sevensuns.net Web: http://www.sevensuns.net

They have designed the accommodation for the discerning traveler who expects to find more than a basic place to stay. There have taken a traditional Thai style house and created a modern villa with conveniences that today’s travelers expect. You will find this place very comfortable and relaxing but with a subtle elegance that allows you to appreciate Thai customs and design. You may also select from the new, breathtaking deluxe Thai Villas. Our rates include free airport pickup. Ala carte breakfast is also available upon request. You can also experience our wildly popular Sabaidee Santitham restaurant, a unique and extraordinary eatery that is certain to please your palate. http://www.santitham.com/ Santitham Guest House 61 Santitham Road Chang Phuak Muang (District) Chiang Mai 50300 Thailand Thailand Phone Thailand Mobile

The Lotus Hotel is located in the Heart of Chiang Mai, capital of the North of Thailand, the Rose of the North, renowned as being a Shangri-La. The Hotel has been designed to give you that warm, at home feeling. Each room has its own distinct character, beautifully decorated with English colonial antiques. All rooms are fitted with quiet air conditioning with temperature control, color television with a video channel, radio cassette deck, telephone, refrigerator, and your own built-in safe. Top quality linens and bathroom amenities are also provided. Our English-speaking staff have been trained to cater for your every whim, with that personal touch to ensure First Class service. Some of the services offered are ticketing, car and motorcycle rentals, sight-seeing both in and out of the city, or trekking through the mountains. For your entertainment you will find on the premises and in the vicinity bars, restaurants, and mini-marts. You can relax all day on the terrace cafe, surrounded by flowers, enjoying drinks and snacks, or light meals. In the evening a full meal service is provided at the Garden Bar and hotel front entrance. PLEASE NOTE. There is another Lotus Hotel in Chiang Mai, The Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel, (not a Gay Hotel) which can cause some confusion. http://lotus-hotel.com/ The Lotus Hotel is located at: 2/25 Viangbua Road, Tambol Chang-Puak, Amphur Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50300 Telephone: (053) 215-376, (053) 215-462 Fax: (053) 221-340 E-mail: Contact Us If calling from outside Thailand Telephone: +66 53 215376, +66 53 215462 Fax: +66 53 215376 (When answered ask to operate Fax.

Soho Bar is one of Chiang Mai's most sophisticated gay-friendly venues. You can socialise here in pleasant convivial surroundings, in either the street-side bar or in the tastefully-decorated and more relaxed interior lounge bar. Music is played at a volume which doesn't intrude on conversation, but can be cranked up when the crowd gets going. The bar sits on the prime location of Huay Kaew Road, almost directly opposite the Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Complex. A popular venue with Chiang Mai's expatriates, Soho is a friendly and fun bar perfect for meeting new friends or simply sitting back and indulging in fine conversation and wine. Coffee Bar open from 12 noon (coffee, smoothies, wine, wine coolers and beer) and full service bar from 6 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. http://www.sohochiangmai.com 20/3 Huay Kaew Rd. Chiang Mai 50300 E-Mail: sohocm@hotmail.com Tel: +66 53 404175, +66 85 029 8485

Joe McElderry, who won X Factor in 2009 and came out as gay last year was tonight crowned the winner of ITV’s Popstar To Operastar after a performance enjoyed by the judges and telephone voters alike. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/07/10/gay-singer-joe-mcelderry-wins-popstar-to-operastar/

Is Nong that lady manager with no personality? It is my understanding that all the staff will stay. When the German guy died, he left the buildings to his boyfriends. The staff stayed on. Now that they are moving on, I am sure the staff will stay the same. When the German guy died, the place has gone down a bit. I am sure with new owners, they will make it even better than ever. I also hear the rates may go up a bit. It is my understanding that the new owner is a Thai man. Someone else in the know may know more than me.

Yeah, there was a couple that tried to name the business Salt and Pepper and get Mr. Z's customers. It didn't work. I thought it was in such poor taste, I never went into the place.

A good friend of mine recently posted a trip report on another site. I suggest you check it out and also check out the Europe forum there. http://www.maleescortreview.com/forum/index.php?/topic/7003-prague-in-may/