TotallyOz

I agree with you there. When I started to loose weight, most of my friends were giving me advice on drugs to take or surgeries to do. I decided to do it the natural way. Work hard and eat right. It was not the easy way out. Although I do think it was the best way for me to do this. I have heard many say that HIV is not so bad as there are medications that will help you live a full life. That simply isn't true in every case. It is true in some that if you eat well, exercise and take your meds that the virus may go undetected for many many years. I am friends with long term survivors who have been HIV for 20 years. I am also friends with guys who get it and did within a few. A lot of our woes in this country over life and living long lives does really have to do with what we put into our bodies both in the mouth and in exercise. The healthier we live, the longer we live. Naturally, that is not true in all cases but it is in most. Thanks for a very well thought out post.

I found it interesting that the news coverage of this in the USA was very minimal. However, watching overseas channels, it was fully covered and took up large parts of news programs. Perhaps, that is one of the differences between America and the rest of the world. The world saw this as the passing of one of the great artists of all time. America was more interested in one of our Senators who wanted bathroom sex.

I have always looked at the election time as a great opportunity to have fun with the boys I like. I often rent a boat in Pattaya. It is 3 stories tall and will easily fit 50 of my favorite boys. We get booze and beer and some food. The fish we catch is cooked by the lady on board. We fish, swim, drink and have fun. The boat costs 150 for the day. I do tip the staff. I also bring lots of booze. I tell my boys to invite all their friends. We have a blast. The bars are only closed for a day or two and that is a great opportunity to have some real fun and get to know some of the boys better. IMHO

I think I have made clear my stance on personal choices and that does include smoking weed, drug use, assisted suicide, and barebacking. I have never really steered far from this. I recently met a guy who is HIV and has anal warts. He is having unsafe sex with others and does not disclose either to them. He asserts that anyone having sex should be aware of these things and the risks involved. I do agree with him. However, there is no way I would even intentionally make someone else sick. I do draw a line and I do think that as a HIV negative individual I need to have full knowledge of the things I do and the risks involved in those decisions. I don’t expect someone to tell me the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. However, I would also not expect to be lied to when important decisions are made. My friend says he talks about his status as being HIV negative and STD free. I was just floored when I heard this. I know it happens and I know it happens often but I can’t understand why. I had a boyfriend who was HIV positive for 5 years while we were living together. He never had unsafe sex with anyone. He was at the West Side Club in NYC often and loved sex but his attitude was that he would never want someone to suffer the things he suffered. For me, he was also safe and our 5 years together and I was still negative when the relationship ended. Why would someone knowingly pass on a sickness or disease to someone else? Is there something in the makeup or mind that I am missing? Is there so little compassion left for humanity that one not only wants other to suffer but makes sure that it happens? I have met many escorts who work even if they have the flu or a contageous disease. I never see an escort if I am not up to par with my health as I would not want to give the flue or a cough to someone else. I know that as the owner of a bareback site, that the issues always come up about me promoting barebacking. I promote knowledge and the more people are aimed with knowledge the better the decisions they make. It may sound like a cop out for making money but I started bareback.com because of all my friends on other dating sites who wanted to bareback and wanted others to do it with that were knowledgeable of the risks. I could go on and on but I ask the questions above. What am I missing? Also, please feel free to take shots at my stance on any issues above. Just because I am a moderator on the boards does not limit others from a lively debate. I do not get angry or upset that someone disagrees with me. Otherwise, I would be angry day and night. Those who have met me know I am pretty fucking mellow. And, that is even when I am not in Amsterdam. Oz

I was shocked as well. But, I did what I needed to do. I am not really sure if I should share but i will as I have trouble keeping secrets. I have lost a lot of weight and I have some pudge around my waiste that does not go away. I went to see a famous plastic surgeon. I had references from him from many good friends. I went to visit him at his office in Barra and got the cost of everything and all the details. He said it was going to cost 10k USD which is pretty high for Brazil but he is good. The problem I had is that I would need 3 weeks recovery time there and then not be able to really exercise for 2 months. I have an athletic even later this year that I have been training for and I really want to do it as I have worked hard for it. 2 months off is not possible right now. So, I may be back there in Dec and do this over my Xmas holiday. That is a good time to be in Brazil anyway. I wonder if sex is considered exercise after a tummy tuck? I really don't think so and I didn't ask questions I didn't want answers for.

Any pics to share? You know I am not into twinks anymore so I promise not to get a crush. hehe

LOL. I was a gaiety regular when I was 27 years old. I supported at least 3 PR boys from Stella's weekly. Those were good times. The Thai economy is suffering as they don't seem to be able to get a grip on their monetary currency. That or our USD just fucking sucks over and over and over again.

I flew into JFK yesterday to be met by a VERY long line waiting for taxi's. The guys that work the airport even changed prices and it was 30 a head to go to Manhattann and they were putting 2 or 3 in each car. Even with that, the line was a few hours to wait. I called a taxi service to pick me up to get out of this mess. Aparently, the drivers are on a slow down or strike. Here is an article I read on it today. If you are flying into the city be prepared. http://www.workers.org/2007/editorials/taxi-0913/

I have always been humbled and amazed when I hear his voice. I remember the first time I saw him, I had chills. He was a true legend. He will be missed!

In one day, Apple showed off its new line of toys. The new stuff looks great and I'm excited to get my hands on the new Nano. They lowered the price of the IPhone 200. I can honestly say it is the best gadget I've ever owned. Now it is a reasonable price.

The annual festival is getting closer and closer. Is there going to be anyone on here that is headed up there? If you have never been, it is one of the most amazing weekends, you will ever have! http://www.bbcm.org

Towny, Thank you for all the updates on the events. You do seem to get around. Are you into circuit parties all over? Going to Black and Blue this year?

I leave NYC for a few years and return to go to one of my favorite dance clubs in Queens and low and behold it is now a tittie club? What the fuck happened? Some great nights were had there. Did the place move? Is there anything left in Queens or did everything move to NYC. A tittie bar?

Unfortunately, I agree with you on this. This is not the way it should be but I do believe that the ground work is being laid for change. I also see the attitude of those who were fearful of gays for many years changing. Slowly. But, changing.

After 8 nights in Rio, I had business to attend to in NYC and headed back up North. I had a great time in Rio and perhaps more than anything discovered many things about myself. First and foremost, it is not the Brazilians that need to learn English; it is I who need to learn Portuguese. It is not going to be an easy thing to do, but if I and going to spend more and more time here over the years, it is necessary. On this trip, my friend that stays with me night and day was not here and I was a little left in the dark as the language barrier is difficult to overcome. I know that it will not be easy, but it is something I am going to work at. Second, traveling so many times in the past and spending the majority of times at the saunas really did limit my ability to connect with the real Brazil. On this trip, I got out more on my own and discovered the wondrous world of Rio. I ran along the beaches in Sao Conrado and the ones in Ipanema and Copacabana. I spent time just hanging out at the beaches and the malls. I met lots of interested people in both places and learned that I am connecting outside a sauna. Perhaps the best part of this time away from the saunas was at the gym. Some of the hottest guys and gals are there daily. They don’t get the bodies totally naturally, most have to work at it and most of them do. I really enjoyed getting to know the locals at my hotel gym as they were the ones in the condos around the area and the hotel owes the land but the gym is separate from it and guests can use it for free. I met many a great guys in this place and had a lot of fun. The hotel I have stayed at for years is really too expensive for me at this point in time. The USD really sucks and what used to be a bargain really is not anymore. I use the hotel for sleep and I take one of their cars daily to a sauna. I will eat one meal there each day and sometimes not even that. For my 8-night stay, the hotel cost was $2,600 USD. That is just not something I can do on a long-term scale and then eat out and shop and spend money on the guys. The price is high and I have finally decided not to stay there on my next visit and I will look for a more reasonable priced location and hotel. The saunas fluctuate from day to day and week to week. Some days were amazing and some days were just OK. I always found what I was looking for and I now have more patience than I did before. I have also learned to say no to the drinks, the food, and all the other things the guys ask for. If it is someone I know, that is different than just someone who wants to chat. I was able to see a very middle class family o this trip and the guy really wants a long-term relationship. It is not something I have thought of for a long time but being with him a little almost every day was really refreshing. To have him treat me to a movie and dinner was a nice feeling. He was not out for the cash in my pockets but wants something even more valuable, my heart. I am not sure he will be able to break down that wall but he wants to keep in touch via e-mail till my next trip. His family was wonderful to spend time with and it was great to see an openly gay Brazilian guy with his family and the family so accepting of him and his date. A typical roll in the hay at the saunas still costs 50R. That is a normal price to pay and then tip is at your discression. I met guys who tip nothing and guys who go overboard. I’ll let you decide which category I fit into. I spent some time in Botofogo and enjoyed the area. I also spend some time in the poor area behind my hotel. It took a bit of adventure to roam around and the longer I was there the more I tended to roam. The more I roamed, the more I learned. The more I learned the more I realize I need to know.

I really do suggest you get Danilo to come to Rio with you. He will do it for the same rate, plus the hotel and food. He is well worth the extra effort. There was another lad in Rio named Eduardo and some of the guys at gaytravelbrazil.com may be able to get in touch with him. He was fun as well. The gyms are everywhere. My beach in Sao Conrado has a place at the end that the muscle guys used to work out. But, there are gyms everywhere. I suggest you ask you hotel about that. The Atlantico is clean and good and inexpensive. Plus, it is only 2 blocks from Pointe 202 and by your screen name, it sounds like you may have fun there!

Well, it is not ready yet and it will not be started for a few years if ever. However, I did see the concept that I would love to do this week in Rio. A new sauna here called Carcalaclus at 329-331 Mem da Sa in Lapa. Phone: 2232 8966 Some guys from Italy spent a fortune to make this amazing sauna with marble floors, greek statues, open air, roomy, a shower show that would fit 10 guys and a host of other amenities. The place was simply incredible. I have not seen anything done so well in Thailand or any other place I have visited. It is a sauna so there are huge differences in the offerings there than at a gogo bar but the concept would be incredible. Ah, the dream of opening a great gogo bar in Thailand and loosing all my money that I put into it. But, what a fun venture it would be.

I could not think of anyone better myself. Perfect example.

Sherman Yellen Fear and Self Loathing in Idaho Posted August 30, 2007 | 10:13 PM (EST) When I was a young man I knew a renowned art historian, born a Jew, whose loathing for his co-religionists knew no boundaries. It was the nineteen fifties and this distinguished and successful man -- whom I do not name out of consideration for his living children -- devoted much of his time to living in a pretend WASP world. The Holocaust and the long history of persecution that Jews had suffered had not opened his heart to his own people, it had caused him to shut off any feeling for them. Through a connection to then President Eisenhower, he even managed to purchase an apartment in an elegant "restricted" Fifth Avenue apartment building. He married his young gentile Smith College graduate assistant, and for all his success, deeply resented that his religion kept him from a place on the board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art which was then off limits to Jews. When a famed Jewish art collector and philanthropist died, and left his remarkable art collection to the state of Israel with the proviso that this "expert" deliver the dedication speech, the art historian kept postponing the trip until he was forced to go by his young wife. As he descended the airplane steps into the Holy Land, he fell forward and dropped dead. He was buried in Israel where he will lie for eternity. A sad, true, and dare I say it, funny story. We all know such people. Their self loathing is often explainable, the effects of a hostile culture upon them in their youth -- explainable but never justifiable, and comically tragic. We have such an example of the high ranking self-loather on the Supreme Court. Justice Clarence Thomas whose rise in the world was aided by progressive jurists establishing anti-segregation laws, was appointed by Bush the elder to smuggle an unacceptable reactionary into the court under cover of his color. This undistinguished jurist, married to a Caucasian, and beholden to the far right, has possibly done more to halt the progress of African Americans than any other sitting Judge. I say possibly only because it is harder to look into the hearts and minds of a Roberts, or Alito, our recent Bush Junior appointees. You need a canary and a miner's lamp to gaze into that noxious heart of darkness and stay alive. And now we have another champion self-loather in Senator Larry Craig. An abusive anti-gay culture has created this misshapen monster of a man - one who fought against the rights of homosexuals in the Senate while allowing his own gay proclivities to express themselves behind toilet doors. It is more than an act of hypocrisy; it is an American tragedy. The self hatred has tragic consequences; not only for the Larry Craigs of the world and their families, but for those he viciously attacked in his "Defense of Marriage" proposals. The fear and loathing in Idaho is truly fear and self-loathing. And with any luck and a lot more compassion there will be less of this in my sons' world and in my grand-daughter's generation.

A 24-year-old man was sentenced to death by the Pattaya Court yesterday for the murder of two Russian women on Jomtien beach in February. Anuchit Lamlert got the maximum punishment after the court decided not to cut his sentence on grounds the defendant confessed only because of the weight of evidence against him. The court said Anuchit's lengthy criminal record showed he had sought to benefit himself through brutal and lawless acts, with no regard for social peace and the country's tourism image. The reading of the verdict was attended by Anuchit's parents and siblings, family members of his victims and representatives of the Russian Consulate. Anuchit, who at first appeared calm, broke into tears and hugged his parents upon hearing his sentence. "Don't worry, everything is justly deserved," he was heard telling them. Tatiana Tsimfer, 30, and Liubov Svirkova, 25, arrived in Thailand with a Russian tour party on February 16 and were shot dead by Anuchit as they sat in deckchairs on a Jomtien beach just before dawn on February 24. Police later arrested Anuchit and seized a 9mm pistol and a red-and-black motorcycle used in the attack. Anuchit confessed to police that he murdered the women after they resisted his attempt to rob them. The Nation PATTAYA http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/04...al_30047649.php

Elections are now being held on Xmas eve. This means no alcohol and bars closed. Plan any trip there accordingly. http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1979

(Bangkok) A Buddhist temple in central Thailand that serves as a refuge for people dying of AIDS opened a free clinic Friday to dispense anti-retroviral drugs that slow the advance of the disease, the project's organizers said. Since 1992, thousands of Thais in the final stages of AIDS have travelled to Wat Phrabatnampo in Lopburi, 110 kilometres north of Bangkok, to live out their last days. The new project _ the Wat Phrabatnampo-Centre of Hope _ will provide support and treatment to relatively healthy people with AIDS, according to a statement by the temple's Dramaraksa Foundation, the Lopburi provincial government and the California-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Anti-retroviral drugs that can inhibit the disease and keep patients alive will be part of the free treatment, the organizers' statement said. At the end of 2005, between 330,000 and 920,000 of Thailand's 65 million population were living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, according to the latest available figures from the United Nations. ``The number of HIV patients has continued to rise and increase rapidly, and many people are in need of ARV (anti-retroviral) medicines and better treatment and care services,'' Dr. Wichai Thaitaworn, director of the Dramaraksa Foundation, was quoted saying. ``We therefore must expand our services for HIV/AIDS patients and serve their needs more effectively.'' A Thai government health scheme provides virtually free anti-retroviral drugs for most people with AIDS, but the Centre of Hope project will also help cover the cost of other medicines, Wichai said in an interview. The centre is expected to have one doctor, one nurse and one pharmacist, he said. Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, praised Thailand as a leader in the worldwide fight against AIDS, and said he hoped the Lopburi project _ the foundation's first in Thailand _ would be the first of many. ``It is my heartfelt wish that in addition to providing quality ART and care services, these centres also contribute to a greater understanding of HIV/AIDS and help reduce the stigma that many of those living with the disease have encountered,'' he was quoted saying. AHF describes itself as the largest HIV/AIDS healthcare and prevention and education provider in the United States, operating more than 40 free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. http://365gay.com/Newscon07/08/083107thai.htm

Done. However, you are now a curious member. I think we only have one Olympian Member. I have a goal now.

I'm still having a great time down here in Rio. On Saturday I went to 117 and found a very hot guy that I had seen the day before. If he played his cards right, he would have been my new BF. I had a few friends from NYC in town and they are both Brazilian so we spent the afternoon shopping and then at 117 and then at Corijuniha's. There were a great deal of boys there and it was the same as before. 117 was also packed with hot guys. Today I went to the club for boys Carcallaclus at 329-331 Mem da Sa in Lapa. Phone: 2232 8966. Wow. The place was amazing. The owners put a fortune into the place. It could not have been better decorated. The main salon is huge with a large screen TV playing videos. It can easily turn into a disco at night and I spoke to the owner for a while. A very nice man. The place is spotless. Very clean. The dressing room is nice and safe and the lockers are bigger than the other places. They have over 50 short time rooms, a large salon, steam room, dry heat room, movie room and I don't know what else. The place is huge. It is the best done sauna I have seen in Brazil. The rooms were nice and clean and well-decorated. I really enjoyed the time I spent there. There were boys for every taste. But, it is so large, you may not see them all in one place so you must get off your ass and wander around. The one I choose was a sexy 20 year old who spoke perfect english and said the sauna was close to his school and his home. He was a great short time guy. I then headed to 117. There I met a guy that I hired a few years back. He was the bf of the owner of one of the saunas and was not available. He was a bartender back then and my boy and I had to sneak to get him to our hotel. He met us after work and drove behind us on the cycle. He is now working and I had a programma with him. I then had one with a muscle boy that I had admired a few days ago. The rain has been horrible here and the weather sucks. I did make it to the hippie fair today and my favorite artist was there and I bought 3 of her paintings. He did not have the detail that some of her earlier work did but she said he has a 7 month old daughter and doesn't have the time to spend on the real artwork I have purchased in the past. However, she did remember both Firefcat and Kevin6969. She said to say hi to them. The hippie fair is a must if you are in Rio on a Sunday. My throat is much better now as I have been on antibiotics for 2 days. In my programmas today, I did no kissing as I would not want someone else to get sick. The weather here has sucked since I have been here but the boys are just as hot as ever. It is amazing how sexy the boys are. Still, I have to say, the hottest guys are at Barra Shopping and the gyms. I have been to a few gyms with friends and the really hot guys are all there working hard. The bodies are not accidental, they work for them. The gyms here are full of the hottest men on earth and the mall is the same. I had a great time at Barra Shopping each day I go and Fashion Rio. Well, that pretty much sums up my first week here. I had a great time and know that Rio is still one of the most amazing places on earth. I do need to learn their language and that is something I will work hard on in the coming months. I have already ordered the Rosetta Stone for the language.

It could be yours. They parade them around in the saunas daily. I took a friend from NYC who has never been to a sauna before with me yesterday. He was utterly shocked. Said he had never seen anything like this in his life. Amazed and happy. Sitting there watching all the guys slide it out from underneath their towel rock hard to let you know they have what you want. It is a fun place.