TotallyOz

I hear news reports all the time that the recession (I think Depression) is ending and on an upturn. I have not seen it yet. Now this: WASHINGTON (Reuters) — The unemployment rate hit 10.2% in October, surpassing 10% for the first time since 1983. The Labor Department also said Friday that employers cut a deeper-than-expected 190,000 jobs in October. It revised job losses for August and September to show 91,000 fewer jobs lost than previously reported. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected payrolls to drop 175,000 and the jobless rate to edge up to 9.9% from 9.8% in September. The labor market is being watched for signs whether the economic recovery that started in the third quarter can be sustained without government support. The economy grew at a 3.5% annualized rate in the July-September period, probably ending the most painful U.S. recession in 70 years. Payrolls have declined for 22 consecutive months now, throwing 7.3 million people out of work since December 2007, when the recession started. Counting those who have settled for part-time jobs or stopped looking for work, the unemployment rate would be 17.5%, the highest on records dating from 1994. However, the pace of layoffs has slowed sharply from early this year, when nearly three-quarters of a million jobs were lost in January. In October, job losses were across almost all sectors, with education and health services and professional and business services bucking the trend. Manufacturing employment fell 61,000 last month, while construction industries payrolls dropped 62,000. The service-providing sector cut 61,000 workers in October and goods-producing industries slashed 129,000 positions. Education and health services added 45,000 jobs, while government employment was flat.

I am personally salivating waiting for the Quad Core with 16G of Ram to be on the market in November and check the site daily to see if shipping yet. Currently, they have upgraded all their IMac line and the 27 incher looks fantastic. Anyone have one yet?

1944: Weapons-grade plutonium, for the very heart of the Fat Man atomic bomb used to obliterate Nagasaki, Japan, is first produced at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in south-central Washington state. Twenty-seven years later, in 1971, the Atomic Energy Commission detonates the largest U.S. hydrogen bomb, during underground testing in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The development of weapons-grade plutonium was one of the most tightly guarded secrets of the Manhattan Project. Allied planners feared Nazi Germany was on the verge of producing an atomic bomb of its own. That turned out not to be true, but planners had given top priority to the development of an effective nuclear weapon. Two variants were produced in time to be used against Japan: a uranium bomb, christened Little Boy, which was dropped on Hiroshima, and the plutonium bomb, Fat Man, used on Nagasaki. The early work on developing a plutonium-based bomb was not done at Hanford, but at various sites around the country, including the University of Chicago and the University of California at Berkeley. The Hanford plant, located along the Columbia River, was established in 1943, at the height of World War II. The B Reactor became the world’s first full-scale plutonium-production reactor in the world. The plutonium produced there was used in the first-ever atomic bomb test, at Trinity, in July 1945. Security at Hanford was so tight that less than 1 percent of the workers realized they were engaged in the development of a nuclear weapon. When the Cold War replaced the hot one in the latter half of the 1940s, Hanford continued expanding until it included nine nuclear reactors and five plutonium-processing complexes. The plant produced the vast majority of the plutonium used in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, which eventually reached 60,000 weapons. One of those weapons was expended in an underground test beneath Amchitka Island in the Aleutian chain on Nov. 6, 1971. The hydrogen bomb was the largest ever detonated by the United States: Even buried at a depth of 6,000 feet, it still registered a shock of magnitude 7. The political fallout, however, was even worse. The test was no secret, and opposition to it had been building for weeks. Environmentalists and peace groups, along with a majority of U.S. senators, were beseeching President Richard Nixon to call off the test, arguing that the potential environmental damage — including earthquakes and tidal waves — outweighed whatever the military hoped to achieve by detonating the device. Opposition was not limited to the United States. The Japanese protested, fearing the test could cause a tsunami that might swamp the Japanese mainland. The Canadians, neighbors on the other side of the Pacific, indulged in a wave of anti-Americanism rarely seen north of the border. U.S. consulates were stoned, and several American companies had to shut down their Canadian operations. The Nixon administration defended the test, codenamed Cannikan, saying it was necessary to ensure a U.S. shield against a potential Chinese nuclear attack. That cut no ice with a number of scientists, however, who argued that technology had already rendered this type of system obsolete. After a legal challenge was thrown out, the test went ahead as scheduled. In the end, no earthquakes or tsunamis ensued. Subsequent investigations have turned up little or no nuclear contamination. What was gleaned from the test is known, presumably, only to those who had a stake in its being conducted. In practical terms, however, the Amchitka bomb only stiffened the opposition, helping to hasten the end of nuclear testing. And maybe that’s the silver lining in the nuclear cloud. http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/11/1106nuclear-weapons/

My favorite destination spot is getting a bit heated up due to the former Prime minister taking a role in a neighboring country. I have spent time in the capital of Cambodia and love it there. I hope this does not flare up more! From Voice of America: Tensions between Southeast Asian neighbors Thailand and Cambodia are high after Cambodia's leader appointed a fugitive former Thai prime minister as an advisor. Both countries have withdrawn their ambassadors and claim interference in their internal affairs. Regional political analysts say relations between Bangkok and Phnom Penh are the worst they have been in several years. On Friday, Cambodia withdrew its ambassador to Thailand, in retaliation for Bangkok's withdrawal of its ambassador the day before. Thailand's action came after the Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed fugitive Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls the appointment interference in its domestic affairs and a failure to respect its judicial system. Thani Thonthongpakdi is a Foreign Ministry spokesman. He says Thai-Cambodia relations have been tested for over a year, and tensions are rising. "We believe that we had to send a strong signal to Cambodia regarding their recent action. I think that the extant to which our bilateral relations will be affected, we will have to see what the reaction on the Cambodian side is," he said. Thailand says it is now reviewing all its existing agreements and cooperation projects with Cambodia. Thani says the government will most likely postpone or reduce projects if Mr. Thaksin's appointment goes ahead. Koy Kuong, a spokesman for Cambodia's Foreign Ministry, says despite Thailand's objections, the government will go ahead with Mr. Thaksin's appointment. He says the Thai government is interfering in Cambodia's internal affairs by objecting to the appointment. "The government of Cambodia has no intention to worsen the relationship between the two countries because of the appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to the government. So, it is the Thai side which views [it] in [a] different way," he said. Koy Kuong says Cambodia views the charges against the former prime minister as politically motivated. Mr. Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 military coup and fled Thailand last year to avoid a jail term for corruption. The former leader is still popular in Thailand's countryside and among the poor because of his social welfare projects. The argument adds to growing tensions over a disputed border area where sporadic fighting has broken out. Puangtong Pawakapan is a professor of politics at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. She says Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin Shinawatra is pay-back against the Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for disputing the listing of a temple along the border as a world heritage site. The temple is in Cambodia, but Thailand controls land around it. "I don't think Hun Sen invited Thaksin to be his advisor because he really needs Thaksin's advice no economic issues … I think it's [a] political issue and it's emotional retaliation of Hun Sen on the Abhisit government," said Pawakapan. The Thailand's ambassador was last withdrawn in 2003 when rioters burned down the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh after a Thai actress questioned Cambodian sovereignty over the border temple. Despite the withdrawal of ambassadors, both Thailand and Cambodia say normal business and travel relations will not be affected. http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-11-06-voa11.cfm

Love him or hate him, you have to admit that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has had a helluva decade. Consider that, under his helm, Apple defined the portable music player market with the iPod, has shaken up the mobile industry with the iPhone, rocked the retail music business with iTunes, and re-invented the computing business with OS X in a way that the PC business--with less than 10 percent of market share--is no longer the bread-and-butter of the company. Add to that the brilliant marketing behind Apple and the loyal, almost cult-like following of Apple's fans, and it's no wonder that Fortune Magazine today named him the CEO of the decade. The opening lines of a story written by Fortune editor-at-large Adam Lashinsky (which also includes a nice video segment) explain it nicely: How's this for a gripping corporate story line: Youthful founder gets booted from his company in the 1980s, returns in the 1990s, and in the following decade survives two brushes with death, one securities-law scandal, an also-ran product lineup, and his own often unpleasant demeanor to become the dominant personality in four distinct industries, a billionaire many times over, and CEO of the most valuable company in Silicon Valley. Sound too far-fetched to be true? Perhaps. Yet it happens to be the real-life story of Steve Jobs and his outsize impact on everything he touches. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10391900-37.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

I have always found the people in NYC interesting in elections. For such a liberal city, it elected Rudy 2 times. Now this election. I like the guy myself but wonder what New Yorker's think of him?

I have changed this to 60 minutes per your requests. Personally, I don't think a good idea as if you need to edit a post, 20 minutes should be OK but I'll all think 60 is fair, 60 it is. We will see how it goes down the road.

What exactly is GHB and what does it do to the body? What are the side effects? Is this a party drug?

(CNN) -- Andrew Lloyd Webber, the award-winning composer and producer of more than a dozen musicals including "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Cats," has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, a spokeswoman said Sunday. "The condition is in its very early stages. Andrew is now undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back at work before the end of the year," the spokeswoman said in a written statement from the London-based public relations firm Brown Lloyd James. They released no further details. In April, the Sunday Times of London included Lloyd Webber, 61, on its annual Rich list, which ranks the wealthiest people in Britain. Lloyd Webber, who lives in Kensington, was the highest-ranking entertainer on the list. He tied for 52nd place, with about $1.1 billion. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/25/lloyd.webber.cancer/index.html

Sexy bartender! So, I'll be in LA for a bit. What will I have to do to see some hot porn stars on stage?

Links now open in new window! For new links posted. If you are sending a message to someone on forum, simply find their name by doing a search, then view the profile. Once done, then hit Send message and it will open a window to send. Does that help?

I tested this with your configuration and it worked for me. I suggest that you clear you log out of the site, clear your cache and see if this solves the problem. If not, please let me know.

Tomcal, I like you and am willing to help you with your alibi. I'll go down with you and you can tell him I need help with my Portuguese from 5 to 10 each night and maybe he can assist me? Just trying to be helpful here.

Welcome! You are right, they can't sing too well, but they are cute!

Hey, we don't beg for money. We have ads and memberships. The ads vanish with a paid membership. We have to make ends meet someway and I prefer not to ask for donations. I just find that bad taste. Yes, go to Reviews and Name Search. I'll ask the programmers about the first 2. To send a message click on any escorts profile and there is an icon at the top to send a message. I think that is an admin thing. I'll ask the programmers to do this. Good idea. Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOhf3OvRXKg

Well, I am not Lucky but your post made me laugh over and over!

OK guys. Last call before a TY and I make a decision this weekend!

Some very interesting insights on your post. Thanks. I'm glad you don't hold grudges too long. I don't either. I have even tried to make up with Daddy over the years but he doesn't like me too much I guess. You not holding grudges is the best thing on earth for a healthy well being. However, the 3way idea you posted in another thread is a no go at this point. That is going too far in the make up department.

Thank you for bringing this up. I have met so many people that I love to talk to, travel with and spend time with that are on the forums. I first met Hooboy years ago and he was my travel buddy for a while until his death. I have not met someone that can keep up with me or vice versa since, but I keep looking. What I loved about Hoo was that he would venture to Thailand, Brazil, Canada, Amsterdam or anywhere fun led him. I have tried to emulate this over the past few years and I meet up with great guys who love the above mentioned places but very few who like them all as I do. My motto in life has always been: ---Life is here, life is now. Life is soooo short... and sex is just to delicious! Life should NOT be a journey to the grave wit the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne and Strawberries in one hand, Diet Coke and Godiva Chocolate in the other, a personal bottle of Eros, A BOX OF TROJAN MAGNUMS, and a good Cuban cigar in the your pockets (ALL partially used), a wallet ALMOST empty of currency but noticeably used from the rainbow colors of THE SEVERAL bills THAT REMAIN from a multitude of countries and cards charged to the max from the joys of life, body thoroughly used up, OLD AS TIME ITSELF, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO - what a ride!--- I'll be in LA for a few months and hope to meet up with many of you out there. Then off to Brazil and then to Thailand again.

We all know that Rio can be dangerous and it is important to take advise from those of us who love going there and spending time there. I wonder how this story will affect the perception for the Olympics? I doubt none at all. But, I do hope the city has plans to keep things safe during the festivities. From CNN: Some 2,000 police officers patrolled the streets of Rio de Janeiro Sunday after a bloody confrontation between rival drug gangs and authorities that killed 14 over the weekend, including two police officers. Two suspected drug traffickers were killed and four were arrested in Sunday's operations by Rio de Janeiro's military police, the official news agency Agencia Brasil reported. But the atmosphere in general appeared calm in the slum known Morro dos Macacos in northern Rio, where the day before crossfire between two gangs left 12 dead, including two police officers who died when their helicopter was shot out of the sky. Residents had also set eight buses on fire during the clashes in an attempt to divert the attention of police. "This was truly one of the worst incidents of this type," one local resident told CNN en Español, who declined to give his name for fear of his safety. "It was like a scene from a real war. It was like the world would end, lots of bullets, lots of noise." The violence comes two weeks after Rio, Brazil's second largest city, celebrated winning the 2016 Olympic Games. The slain officers, Ednei Canavarro and Marcos Stader were buried Sunday, Agencia Brasil reported. Rio's secretary of public security, Jose Mariano Beltrame, said the helicopter was likely brought down by .30- and .50-caliber machine gunfire, the news agency said. Four other police officers onboard were injured. Beltrame on Sunday said that despite the city's crime, there is no reason for people to doubt the government's ability to host the Olympics. "What I say to the (International Olympic Committee) and the public is this: we have historic problems. But we also have projects and proposals. We have security policies both to fight and to pacify," he said. Last year, a wave of violence in Rio led to protests in December by a group called Rio de Paz. The group said 9,000 people had been slain since January 2007. Many of the deaths were caused by clashes among drug traffickers fighting for territory in Rio's slums and poor neighborhoods, said the group's president, Antonio Carlos Costa. http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/10/18/brazil.drug.violence/index.html

I had him in a few 3ways and he did what was expected. One one one, he was just not for me. But, had my favorite boy who had like a 10 incher fuck him a few times and it was hot to watch.

That is called insanity. You can't let your personal stresses affect your business decisions. It is not smart and poor judgment. It must be more to the story than that.

The guy in the first photo on the right, I have been with a few times. Bad first time. Bad second. And, bad third. I guess I never learn. But, he is very sexy and his best side is now showing. His ass is simply yummy!