TotallyOz

I hear it pronounced with an L but the most I see in writing is with an R. If there were going to be a article in a magazine and I spelled it falang, for example, would most understand this? Would it be considered incorrect?

I really don't understand this at all. It seems to me that a country would want to put its best foot forward when someone first enters the Kingdom. The airport in Thailand is a joke. It shows the world what BS they are going to experience everyday in LOS. Why is there no one intelligent enough, or not bribed enough, to step in and get things right at this major International hub?

I have been there a few times on recent visits and always had a good time. The eye candy is pretty amazing IMHO. I also found several of the waiters at Telephone and Balcony very sexy. Do these guys regularly go off with customers?

The Rainbow bar is now opening in the city. Anyone there to give an update when they go?

The Hawaii Senate on Friday overwhelmingly approved civil unions for same-sex couples, a major step toward the proposal becoming law. The state Senate voted 19-6 for the bill, which now goes to the state House of Representatives, where a nearly identical measure passed last year before it was vetoed by then-Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican. But this year, Democrats who control the state Legislature said they want to quickly approve the bill and send it to new Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has said he supports civil unions. If the House and Abercrombie approve the measure, Hawaii would become the sixth state to grant some of the rights of marriage to same-sex couples without authorizing marriage itself. A civil unions bill also passed the Illinois Legislature last month. Five states and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage. "Let's get beyond this. Let's realize what the spirit of aloha is all about, which means including people no matter their color, no matter their gender, no matter their lifestyle," said Sen. Malama Solomon, D-Hilo-Honokaa. The civil unions measure was the first bill to get final approval by the state Senate in this year's legislative session. Supporters of civil unions wore rainbow-colored lei and cheered the vote, saying it was a victory for equal rights. "It's time. I'm almost in tears," said Dan Abrahamsson of Honolulu, who was at the Capitol with his partner. "We are a minority, and it's very important that the Legislature protect our human rights and our civil rights." Reaction from opponents was muted, with many acknowledging it seemed inevitable the bill would pass. They said civil unions erode the traditional family structure of one man and one woman. "We're trying to re-engineer what the family looks like, and I don't believe the state has the authority to make those calls," said Mike McGuire of Ewa Beach, who watched the vote with his 8-year-old son. People on both sides said civil unions could be a step toward legalizing same-sex marriage, possibly through a future court challenge. Hawaii's version of civil unions gives committed gay couples the same state rights as marriage. "This will force same-sex marriage on the people of Hawaii who have consistently shown their opposition," said Sen. Mike Gabbard, D-Kalaeloa-Makakilo, who was a leader in passing Hawaii's first-in-the-nation "defense of marriage" constitutional amendment a decade ago. Religious groups strongly fought civil unions over the last two years, organizing thousands of their members at rallies and threatening election defeat for lawmakers who supported the unions. But after only one incumbent state legislator who backed civil unions lost re-election in November, visible opposition diminished. The Senate gallery was about half full during Friday's vote. Hawaii nearly legalized gay marriages more than a decade ago. A Hawaii Supreme Court decision would have allowed the practice, but 70 percent of voters approved the constitutional amendment in 1998 allowing the Legislature to reserve marriage for opposite-sex couples. http://www.necn.com/01/28/11/Hawaii-Senate-takes-up-civil-unions/landing_politics.html?&blockID=3&apID=f5113e510f0242afbf949136441b624a

Bet Chick-fil-A wishes this month would end. Over the past few weeks, the restaurant chain's deep ties to the anti-gay movement have been exposed and uncovered by a number of activists, most notably Jeremy Hooper at Good As You. Whether it's Focus on the Family, the National Organization for Marriage, the Pennsylvania Family Institute, or Exodus International, Chick-fil-A ties run deep. Of course, the President of Chick-fil-A wants gay people to share no hard feelings. The restaurant will gladly feed homosexuals gobs of chicken sandwiches, after all. But when it comes to marriage, Chick-fil-A believes strongly that same-sex couples just don't deserve equal rights. As we wrote about a few weeks ago, Chick-fil-A's charitable arm, the WinShape Foundation, has been particularly active in the fight against marriage equality. They've hosted conferences with some of the leading opponents of gay marriage in this country. A higher up at WinShape has even praised the efforts of anti-gay activist David Blankenhorn for working against marriage equality, and for articulating a solid reason why American culture should reject same-sex couples. Now comes some email correspondence that Good As You has shared on their blog, where the WinShape Foundation's Retreat Center -- a center run by the charitable arm of Chick-fil-A -- admits that they have a severe distaste for LGBT people. The email correspondence goes a little something like this. Someone writes WinShape an easy question about whether their retreat center is open to LGBT people. WinShape's response: "WinShape Retreat defines marriage from the Biblical standard as being between one man and one woman. Groups/Individuals are welcome who offer wholesome, educational conferences and programs that are compatible with Biblical values and WinShape's purpose," WinShape wrote back. Kind of some corporate speak, right? So the activist wrote back: can you just give a clear-cut answer? And WinShape confirmed: "We do not accept homosexual couples because of the statement in our contract." And so it goes like this: Chick-fil-A is a restaurant where franchises frequently donate to anti-gay organizations like the Pennsylvania Family Institute, Focus on the Family and others. The restaurant's charitable arm, WinShape, holds conferences for opponents of gay marriage and praises their work. And this charitable arm's Retreat program puts a blanket ban on gay couples using their facilities, because they "do not accept homosexual couples." Yet the President of Chick-fil-A still says that all people, including LGBT people, are treated with respect by the restaurant? Huh, what a funny definition of respect. Meanwhile, check this story out. So the Human Rights Campaign's NOMExposed project tried to submit an equality-minded video to the Ruth Institute's "Reel Love Video Challenge." The Ruth Institute is an affiliate of the National Organization for Marriage, and they're running a contest where folks can submit videos talking about what love means. The video below was originally accepted, but then promptly booted out of the project once the Ruth Institute became aware that it actually championed equality for same-sex couples. Here's the kicker: the Ruth Institute's "Reel Love Video Challenge" has a tie-in to Chick-fil-A's WinShape Foundation. Wouldn't it be nice to hear why the Ruth Institute and the WinShape Foundation find the below video so offensive? After all, what is love if it isn't equal? http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/yes_chick-fil-a_says_we_explicitly_do_not_like_same-sex_couples

I know of several who went last night to the party and said it was Fantastic! Keep up the great work. Give us a bit of notice next time so we can all plan to go. I heard the place was packed with boys and with customers. Excellent!

I have not heard of this movie before. Thank you for the heads up. I'll have to wait till I get to the states as ITunes doesn't have the balls to carry many gay themed movies.

A Ugandan gay-rights activist was beaten to death yesterday, three weeks after he won a court case against a local newspaper that published the names and addresses of campaigners in the East African nation. David Kato, 46, was attacked at his home “by unknown people and beaten, leading to his death,” Denis Wamala, a gay-rights activist, said in a phone interview today from Kampala, the capital. “He has been receiving death threats for his gay stand.” Amnesty International, the London-based advocacy group, called the murder “shocking” and urged the Ugandan government to ensure an impartial investigation into the killing. Ugandan police will address a media briefing on Kato’s death later, Vincent Ssekatte, the deputy police spokesman, said by phone. On Jan. 3, Kato won a court case against the Kampala-based Rolling Stone newspaper preventing the further publication of names and addresses of gay activists in the country, afrik.com reported. An earlier story published in October had called for gays in the country to be hanged. The newspaper isn’t linked to the New York-based magazine of the same name. Ugandan lawmaker David Bahati presented a private member’s bill in October 2009 that sought the death penalty and life imprisonment for gay people in Uganda. The proposed law has yet to be debated in parliament. Ethics and Integrity Minister James Nsaba Buturo said in December 2009 that homosexuality is considered “repugnant to the Ugandan culture.” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-27/ugandan-gay-rights-activist-is-killed-by-unknown-attackers.html

The clear difference is that the article you listed was 6 months ago. Z was stating what he knew about on his last visit. I opened this thread on what I had viewed on my last visit. Are there really any bars in Pattaya that are without legal issues? This bar did have issues in the past as did many bars in The Plaza. I wonder how many bars in Boyztown would have issues if they were targets as often as the Plaza? Or, how about the bars in Bangkok? I went to the bar last night. I did not see one boy that was under 18 in the place. Not one inside or out. I was there for 30 minutes. I took 2 guys from there for a visit to my room. One was 21 and the other was 25. My memory is pretty recent as they left my place hours ago and not 6 months ago.

Simple? You sound like that nutty friend of yours. It is not just simple to bring a load down. I was in the bar a few days ago and it was nice. They do need more boys. But, I get tired of hearing man boys, man boys. I get tired of hearing, Get rid of the ladyboys and femboys. There is room for them all in a bar. I like masculine boys as well. But, I never have a problem seeing fem boys and ladyboys. I just don't get it when customers are so set against any boys being in a bar. It just does not make sense. IMHO Eros, I hope your special day was great!

This week's episode was very sweet and well done.

One of my favorite shows returns with an interesting theme. REDEMPTION http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/video/?pid=JbCBGf809Y9XIzcGqnEYUPDD4npTYZe5&nrd=1

Did anyone other than me watch their reality show? I think it lasted one season. The family is REALLY Fucked up! So much so, I felt sorry for them.

Personally, I think he could do better. I have seen him with cuter boys in Rio and don't understand this choice. I guess love if blind.

LOL Well, you are full of questions aren't you? Well, I'll try to answer for you. There is a bar that is across from Krazy Pub that use to be called Madam Lek (I think). Those are the only 2 that I know of. If there are others, please share.

Yes, I loved that as well. I wasn't really impressed with the speech. I thought he could have pushed his agenda a bit but he seem to make a more politically calculated speech. Why does the Tea Party get a response?

I am lagging behind in the movies I need to see. I have waited for some to come to Pattaya but I guess I'll have to get more of them on DVD before the awards show.

LOL. The boys use the term. It means it is a more "hands on" approach inside the bar. Make sense now?

lonley. I really loved reading that story. Thank you for sharing this!

The level of music depends on one customer. When he walks in and the entire time he is the music level is great and you can hear someone next to you. When he leaves, it goes up again. TIT

The Academy Award nominations are out and there are several movies I have not seen. In years past, we have put up a list on MER and let people vote. We will do the same this year when I have edited the list or I find a copy that is easy to cut and paste for a ballot. Who do you think got screwed by the Academy?

OK. I'd like to say that this story is not about me. But as Lucky was here for a visit, he will know I am full of shit. So, I'll fess up now. My ex became my ex because he lied to me. Not once, or twice but many times over the years. We were together for 7 years. I'll admit that no one else seems to keep my attention the way he did and still does. He was that one guy that always made me happy the moment I saw him and I stayed happy the entire time I was with me. The lies were all about stupid shit. I am just a smart cookie and I can put 2 and 2 together. I often confronted him when I knew the answer to my question but he would still lie about it eve though I knew for sure it was a lie. He had no reason to lie. I am very easy going and don't care what a BF does as long as drug and lies are not involved. We have now been broken up for several months. I still see him about 2 times a month and I love the time I spend with me. He is ready to come and live with me any time I ask. But, for me, I have stopped short of that as I know I can't trust him. Could you forgive someone if they lied to you? Is there anything they would be able to do to convince you that they will try to make things right?

I feel in love with books as a child. The Wizard of Oz took me to another world. The Hobbitt was the book that deprived me of sleep for nights upon end until I finished it. Gone with the Wind and Huck Finn were read under the covers of my bed with a flashlight so my family would not catch me up so late. My favorites involved adventure: Robin Hood, King Arthur, Captain Horatio Hornblower, etc. I am embarrased to say The Hardy Boys and the Nancy Drew Mysteries were some of my favorites as were comic books of any genre. When I ran out of legends, I read Edgar Allen Poe and Sherlock Homes. I feel in love with Keats and Shelly at an early age. But, I always took the time to read Stephen King and John Grisham. I seem to be able to read those in a few hours and books like The Hunchback of Notre Dame took me days. My first read of a little story about Romeo and Juliet took me a week but I found I had to read it over and over again. I had 4 bookcases in my room as a child. I took special care of the books and I made sure that all were kept in pristine shape. I still have a passion for reading but haven't bought a book in a while. My Kindle and IPad provide most of the entertainment for me while on a plane, watching the sunset or just relaxing by the pool. While these devices are great, nothing really beats my bookcases as a child. What were your favorite books as a child, and why?

I have wanted to test a colonic detox spa ever since Jack from Oud's cafe told me he has spent some time in one. I have not made any appointments at a place in fear of not liking the treatment. When I found a place in Pattaya that offers one day or 1/2 day or just one session colonics, I gave them a try. The place is located in the Fairtex Center at the beginning of 2nd Road. Fairtex is an amazing gym with Muay Thai training, swimming pool, etc. The sauna is called Rasayana and it is very clean and well maintained. The staff is great and the lady that worked with me on my colonic was profession and helpful. The room was nice and they have a full menu of spa treatments other than colonics. They also have a whole foods cafe that looks very nice and I'm going to give it a try sometime this week. The colonic cost 2650 baht. I have attached a photo of the colonic table. The 1 hour session was well worth a test to see if this is something one might want to try. I will not say I enjoyed it but I can't say it was bad either. 179/201 Moo 5, North Pattaya Rd. Naklua, Banglamung,Chonburi 20150 Tel : 038-253894-5 , Fax : 038-253898 E-mail : E-mail : rasayana@fairtex-pattaya.com http://www.rasayanaretreat.com/