TotallyOz

Abbott Laboratories, one of the three pharmaceutical giants whose drugs face compulsory licensing in Thailand, has backed off from its threats, saying it wants to continue selling its HIV/Aids drugs here. Previously, the firm planned to withhold sale of a heat-stable form of Aluvia, its HIV/Aids drug, as punishment for Thailand's compulsory licensing policy. Representatives of Abbott made the company's stance known yesterday while meeting with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) secretary-general Siriwat Tiptaradol. The FDA also met with representatives from Sanofi-Aventis yesterday. Abbott's new offer was made on condition that Thailand would not impose compulsory licensing on Aluvia and that the price of the drug, at 3,488.20 baht per person per month, or about 34,000 baht (US$1,000) per person per year, would not come down any further. Dr Siriwat said the FDA would forward Abbott's offer to Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla. Abbott's Aluvia price will be compared with the prices quoted by India's generic drug maker, Matrix Laboratories, which produces a generic version of Aluvia at 24,324 baht (US$695) per person per year (or 2,027 baht per person per month). Matrix made the offer to Thailand and 66 other countries which have agreed to purchase the generic drug, together with the US-based Clinton Foundation. On the two-hour negotiations with Sanofi-Aventis which holds the patent for the heart disease drug Plavix, Dr Siriwat said the drug giant proposed a one-year project to give patients greater access to the medicine. During the one-year period, the firm would make available 3.4 million tablets of Plavix to 34,000 patients. The scheme would automatically reduce Plavix's price from 90 baht to about 27 baht per tablet. The FDA will forward Sanofi-Aventis' offer to the health minister, said Dr Siriwat. He added that his committee will invite the pharmaceutical firms to discuss prices again on June 1. Meanwhile, Vichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the Public Health Ministry's panel on compulsory licensing, said that if the Public Health Ministry chose to buy drugs at prices higher than offered by other sources, it must be able to give the public a good reason to justify its decision. ''If we buy the drug [the generic version of Aluvia] from India at US$695 per person per year, next time, we might get the drug at a lower price, probably as low as US$500. If we buy it from the US firm at US$1,000 now, we might have to continue buying it at US$1,000 forever.'' http://bangkokpost.com/News/15May2007_news03.php

An interesting discussion over at the other two sites about this one. I thought of responding to each but decided to do it here. WowPow linked to one above. This is the one from Baht-Stop: http://www.baht-stop.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1929 I wrote this after the 3rd post with someone accusing the Village Idiot of going to adolescent bars on a nightly basis. The Village Idiot is a lot of things and his name certainly gives a lot away. But, he is not one of those in the younger boy bars gawking at the shows every night. He actually detests them and stays away from them. Most of his friends love the shows but you do not judge a book by where it sits on the shelf but what is inside the cover. The Idiot much prefers older bulky men as opposed to the younger thin lads. What his friends do or enjoy is not a personal reflection on him. If that were the case, I think many in Pattaya would be friendless. This post wasn’t really about porn on the gay sites as the Idiot likes porn. He is just a little pissy with me and wants to take digs at me or my site at every opportunity he can. It is called an agenda. Hide it under a bushel but if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and has web feet, it is usually a duck. As far as gay men only liking sex, I think that is absurd. I don’t know of any gay man who doesn’t like sex but it is not the only thing they have on their mind. I think straight men also like sex but it is not the only thing on their mind. Perhaps, in a city like Pattaya, sex may be so in your face that it is all one thinks about but Pattaya is an anomaly and not the rest of the world. Many men in Pattaya think about sex more than every 2 minutes. It is hard not to. The beach, the malls, the streets, the bars, the clubs all have beautiful guys roaming and smiling and looking for a customer. I have seen the videos that the Idiot talks about taking advantage of Thais. I have never liked them and only bought one and that was to see a friend who was on the cover of the video. The quality sucked and I didn’t buy anymore of them. But, if you think that links to legitimate porn companies and those videos have anything in common, you are again wrong. The Idiot said, “I guess the money to be made is outside of Thailand and it is the boys/men of Thailand who are to be exploited, abused and lied to by the purveyors of filth and garbage.” Perhaps someone can explain this to me. I have yet to see how links to porn sites have anything to do with boys/men in Thailand being exploited. Perhaps he is carrying on different conversations and trying to merge them all together? Porn is a part of gay culture. Just go to any circuit party and see who the stars are. They are the porn stars. Many events cater around them. Porn and escorting are very similar. They are both ways for younger gay men to make cash. There are some companies that exploit both but mostly, they are businesses trying to make money. As I have known more escorts in my day than I have known money boys in Thailand, I will say that the vast majority of the escorts and porn stars did not and do feel exploited. They used their bodies and their appeal to make cash at times when they needed it. If this were not the case, the bars in Pattaya would be empty. There is little difference in my mind in someone taking a boy from a bar and paying him for his service and a company paying a boy for photos or videos. Is there really a moral difference? Is one more exploitive than the other? An average bar boy goes off with someone double, triple or even more his age. Often double, triple or more his weight. An average porn guy has sex with a guy who is of comparable looks. There is usually a guy there with a camera or video. Is either scenario worst than the other? Before the critics jump in, I see nothing wrong with either scenario as long as both are adults and understand what is going on. Perhaps the Idiot is just referring to a few guys who say they took the video, were paid for it and signed waivers for them but did not know they would actually be used. Well, I can’t really answer that question, as I am not sure why they agreed to be videotaped having sex in the first place if they did not know what was going on. If the Idiot is just happy that the baht-stop is there without any commercial means, I will agree with him. That is great. I applaud them. Kudos to them! As we all know, it is a lot of work that goes into managing a message board and I am very happy they are so good and willing to do this for free. As for me, I don't mind a few links on sites that you get access for for free. It iis part of life and the way to actuallly make ends meet. We did not bombard the site with ads and links and we do feel they are well placed and not too intrusive. On Sawatdee, Buck said why pay for something you can get for free? I agree. Don't. The links here go to video sales and to live video cams. If you can get either for free, go for it. If I can get a Whoppper from Burger King for free, I'd do that too. As for LMTU, I appreciate him pointing out to others we have porn. He surely knows how to get people going doesn't he?

Often times this means that you are logged in to one area of the site but not to the other. I suggest that you log in on main homepage, then log out. That will log you out of the forum. Then, log back in again and you should be fine. Sorry for the iniconvenience. We are hoping to upgrade the forums this month.

My dear Four Aces. I once dated a girl from this city. It does not surprise me at all. They still have prayers over the loudspeaker in the public schools and ministers come to the school for most occasions to pray with faculty and staff. She was a virgin when we dated. She still is until she is married. Perhaps all that angst, is building up in the community. I firmly believe that escorts relieve stress and pressure. Should we send a brigade down there to assist the teachers in a de-stressing session? I do believe that good sex or pephaps a good good bong would take care of much of the world's problems. I do not joke with this. I really do believe this totally. Oz

Since being back in the states in a small town for a few months visiting with relatives and dating a very much older man, I have had many of my perspectives changed. First, I came out when I was in my late 20’s and it was a very easy process for me. I think there are many that went before me that made my Coming Out easier for me. I hope that my generation has made it even easier for younger gays to Come Out. From what I see and what I read, it is easier now and continues to be easier. When I was young, I had several guys who were gay and we were sex buddies. They were very active in sexual actively with me all through our teenage years and early college days. I moved away and went away to school on the East Coast. Most stayed near their home. When I returned to visit with family, EVERY one of them are now married and have children and live a straight life. I did not want to bring up history with them but I have always been very curious if it was just a phase or if it was more. I got my answer when I went to a local diner where several of my openly gay friends were there and invited me. Low and behold, those who are now married were there with the group as well. They all had pretty much the same story. They are married; they go to church and can’t live an openly gay life. They spend a week or two or many weekends a year in NYC, LA, or Vegas and try to get their gay desires out of their system so they can go back to their family. While I do understand this, I guess it also makes me a bit sad. I am so happy that I made the decision to live an openly gay life and to stop the lies I had told for years. I know of others on this board that have made the same life change. Yesterday, I hooked up with a guy from my gym. He was looking like a Greek god. He was so hot. He was about 35 years old, solid muscles, very handsome and model looks. We chatted in the locker room and then played a bit in the steam room. We exchanged numbers and I was looking forward to seeing him again. When I left the gym, I saw him taking his wife and 3 children from the pool area. My jaw dropped. He smiled as if I should have known and it was nothing to him. I smiled and my heart sank. Which life is easier? Why are decisions so easy for some and impossible for others? Will time change this? Are the younger generations going down the same route or are they left with more choices?

PWIT gives some great suggestions. Research is key. My first hire was at the Gaiety. I met this guy and did not know privates even existed. When he invited me back to his room, I figured out it was cash based. Stupid boy from Deep South didn't know when he first sat by me that he wasn't hitting on me but my wallet. But, I figured it out quick. I went to his room, sucked his cock and that was it. 200 later, I was happy as a lark as I did not know this was even possible. I cannot tell you the number of guys I hired from the Gaiety over the years and mostly it was just oral. One night a friend from the Gaiety took me to Stella's around the corner and it was full of my type of boys. Dark, Latin, sexy. And, they did much more than just oral. I sat in the back on bar stool that eventually had my name written on it. I don't think a week went by that I wasn't there for at least 5 nights. I had some bad times but mostly good ones. When Hooboy started his site, it made things much easier for me. Now we have a plethora of reviewers that we can rely on. Hooboy’s legacy of reviews and information lives on and because of that, it makes your task of finding someone who will give you a great first encounter much easier.

>To hold spellbound; captivate: The magic show enthralled the >audience. >To enslave. Thank you for the definition and the illustrations. I read Green Eggs and Ham when I was a kid but the illustrations made me understand it much better. To enslave: humm. Brings back fond memories of an escort in NYC who liked to be enslaved and tied up. As far as your illustrations, you and I should not travel together. Similar tastes often get into heated discussions. haha. I never had problems traveling with Marc Anthony as our eyes often wandered in the same direction and he would not shy about making the first approach. I learned SEE HIM and SPEAK FAST from him. It has served me well over the years in the gogo bars in Thailand. I can now walk into a bar and if I see the boy on stage I want to spend time with I just look at him and off he goes. I have friends that sit there for hours thinking and contemplating and wondering. Not me. I have even seen boys on stage before I sat down and told the mamasan to bring him over for a drink. I digress. Great photos. Looks like your dance card is busy. Please let us know about your engagements. Esp. the boy with the painted body. He has been in my dreams for a few months.

Very few men offer such nice things and you do this on regular occassions. You have offered to take others around and show them the town and help in many ways. Thank you for always being an Ambassador to Pattaya and to those wanting to visit there.

I actually like Bloomberg as well. At one point I liked John McCain but as the days have gone by he has been catering more and more to the right of his party. I like Clinton as she has balls of steel. However, my real preference is Gore. He won once and he has grown in popularity. I think a Gore/Clinton campaign would be hot. My heart still belongs to Kucinich. For me he is the cats meow. He just doesn't roar as loud as the other lions in the race. I was in NYC when Rudy was there and I will say, crime was down and he did clean up the city. I would not be heart broken if he were at the top of his party's ticket. Lastly, I saw Drew Barrymore on TV and she is now an Ambassador for World Food Fund and I just can't seem to not go see any movie she is in no matter how stupid or corny I know it is going to be. She would get my vote just based on I can't seem to get enough of her.

I was happy to help him out with his legal trust fund a few years back. I hope it went to good use. I also hope his wife kicks ass this year.

Thanks. That is the correct address. I have a friend who has e-mailed them on their site for a while with no response. Does anyone else get responses from their e-mail system?

No sure how it was exposed as it is clearly visible for all to see. It is not a blip. We just added a banner management area to the site and will be adding in more things in that area in the coming months. One nice thing we added that I like is on each profile, it shows the last 50 to view that profile. Just an easy way to view other profiles. There are several things on the To Do list that we have for the programmers and are excited about adding them to the site. We also hired a new group of programmers to improve the speed of the site and optomize it. All of this cost money and the banner ads will help us to cover these expenses. We also have plans for the future to add a pay area to the site. No one has to pay for the forums, viewig profiles, blogs, photo galleries or other areas. However, we will add many full featured videos to an area that is for paid only as they will cost us when someone views them. The things you now see for free are remaining free.

>On this >site I would like to make positive comments on some new >escorts I've been enthralled with Enthralled is a big word for me. I am a simple man. Instead of just using that word, can you illustrate with some photos for me?

A friend of mine from Ireland was there last night and only in Pattaya for 2 days and said he had never experienced anything like that before. He had no idea what was going on but left the area and decided to head on to Chiang Mai early. I'm sure the papers will cover this event. If so, please keep those of us in other lands up to date. Thanks for the info GB.

Ben is not banned here. He is always welcome to post. To my knowledge he is not banned at the other site either. Perhaps he doesn't post as he is worried that others will not stick to the topic of that thread but go back to the drama of before. I don't know. I do know the he is smart enough to think over things and when he is ready to post, he will. I have seen few escorts who can take the heat as much as he and Scott have over the years but they do a great job at moving forward. My question is not where is BN. My question is where is Sanjaya? Are they together? I have not seen him on any shows lately. I worry about him.

Clinton supports Thai patent-busting New York (BangkokPost.com compiled from agency reports) "No company will ever die because of the high price premium for Aids drugs in middle-income countries," said former US president Bill Clinton, with Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla at his side. "But patients may." _____________________________________________________ Full story: Former US President Bill Clinton, standing next to Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla, has endorsed recent decisions by Thailand and Brazil to break patents held by American pharmaceutical companies. Mr Clinton said prices charged by drug companies are "exorbitant," despite claims by the companies they are reasonable. "No company will ever die because of the high price premium for Aids drugs in middle-income countries," he said - "but patients may." "I believe in intellectual property ... but that need not prevent us from getting essential life-saving medicines to those who need them in low- and middle-income countries alike." Mr Clinton unveiled a deal with two Indian drugs firms to cheaply produce HIV/Aids drugs for 66 countries. Mr Clinton said seven million people in those countries were in need of treatment for HIV/Aids, but could not afford it. The Clinton Foundation's agreement will cut the cost of what are known as second line anti-retrovirals by 25-50%. "Our announcement today responds directly to these challenges and sets the foundation not only for treatment for many more people but treatment that is more equitable, more affordable and more effective," he said. Second line drugs are used when cheaper and earlier forms of treatment fail. Mr Clinton says the prices of second-line treatments negotiated by his foundation will fall on average by 25 per cent in low-income countries and 50 per cent in middle-income countries. His foundation has also negotiated a deal allowing the one-pill-a-day, first-line treatment to be made available for less than $US1 a day for developing countries, a 45 per cent saving on the current price in Africa. "This drug represents the best chance that science has to offer," he said. United States trade officials last week put Thailand on a watch list for countries inadequately safeguarding the intellectual property rights of American companies, noting the overriding of drug patents. Tido von Shoen-Angerer, who leads the campaign by Doctors Without Borders for access to medicines, said he was unsure whether the recent developments would encourage developing countries to exercise their rights under international trade rules more freely to make or import generic drugs. “There’s a strong chilling effect from the U.S. action,” he said. Drug company officials yesterday strongly defended their policies of charging better-off developing countries more for Aids drugs than they did for poor countries, as well as the role of patents, which give inventor companies a monopoly on the sale of a drug, in stimulating the development of new drugs. Jennifer Smoter, a spokeswoman for Abbott, said patents were needed “to ensure innovation in the future” but declined to respond to Mr. Clinton’s comment that “Abbott has been almost alone in its hard-line position here over what I consider to be a life and death matter.” http://bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=118628

The students who come to Harvard graduate and striptease instructor Busakorn Vorameth are mostly educated, upper-middle-class career women between the ages of 20 to 50, who have found that erotic dancing helps reduce stress levels. For foreigners visiting Bangkok, it is hard to avoid a tour of at least one of the capital's many night entertainment strips, such Patpong, Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy, where the chief attraction is scantily-clad women go-go dancing. The Thai "stripper" has therefore become ingrained in Bangkok's somewhat notorious international image. However, that image is a foreign one to many Thais. Thai society, at least at the middle and upper strata, is deemed quite conservative, and sexually suggestive dancing is definitely frowned upon. "Thai society is extreme. One side is very conservative while another side is very open," said Busakorn Vorameth, 36, owner and chief instructor of Rumpuree Dance Studio, located on the fifth floor of the upmarket Amarin Plaza, in central Bangkok. "I believe that conservative people want to express their emotions as well but they can't," said Busakorn, who graduated with a Masters Degree in design management from Harvard University in the United States. Busakorn, who works as an architect during the day, decided to open the Rumpuree Dance Studio less than a year ago to share her passion for dancing with others at night. Six months ago she began offering classes in erotic dancing and striptease, which she had taken classes in for fun while working as an architect in New York. "At first I didn't dare to open a striptease class because I was not sure if Thai people could accept it," said Busakorn. "It could have drawn criticism." Instead, her classes drew a lot of media attention and plenty of interested customers, mostly educated, upper-middle-class career women between the ages of 20 to 50 who have found that erotic dancing helps them reduce their stress levels. "I'm learning striptease because I love dancing," said Kewalin Sukapiboon, 33, a nurse at a leading private hospital. "It is fun, like I am playing a role. In daily life, I never do that, so my stress is released. I feel relaxed. Besides, this kind of dancing is a good exercise because it uses a lot of muscles." During the first half hour, Busakorn relaxes her students with soft music and dim lights in the room while teaching them to stretch their muscles. Then the music is turned up in tempo, and she starts teaching her pupils how to make sexy dance steps and enticing movements in front of the mirror. There was plenty of laughter as these career ladies watched themselves in the mirror. "The striptease I am learning is not like what saucy nightclub entertainers are doing," said Reiko Sakamoto, 36, a manager at the Senju Metal Trading Company. "They do something a bit similar with the expressing of sexiness but it's not the same." In Busakorn's opinion, women are sexy when they feel relaxed. "Sexiness is always from inside. Nobody can pretend to be sexy. Especially, in such a plastic world today, it is hard to get back to the nature," she opined. "This is why this dancing is different from others. Striptease isn't only about learning a pattern of body movement but emotional expression which is sexually explicit," she said. "This is the principle of the striptease. To get people to feel free to express themselves," she said. Busakorn insisted, "Striptease is an art, not just a dirty dance to arouse man's sexual desire. Striptease makes a dancer feel more comfortable to their bodies and also has psychological benefit. Many women are not self-confident, feeling uncomfortable to express their feeling, but inside they really want to do so. Striptease makes them think that to release their emotion is not a bad thing." Busakorn's striptease philosophy, unfortunately, may be lost on the thousands of go-go girls engaged in erotic dancing in Bangkok for a living, rather than as a hobby. Busakorn said she understood that these women were dancing for money, and probably couldn't afford her classes at 300 baht (8.50 dollars) an hour, but she refuses to call what they do art. "I don't think Thailand has a real striptease, even at Patpong. I don't see girls in Patpong dancing, they just move their bodies a bit," she said. http://bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=118609 Chalermkwan Jiramonai, dpa

The website address I have for this place is now gone. I think they let it expire. Does anyone else have a new one?

The Kentucky Derby weekend has always been a special weekend for me. Going back 30 years, my family took a trip to the Derby. It really was something special to see. The excitement in the air and could be felt and I remember the Goosebumps on my arms as the race began. Back then, I was just a tot and I had a beautiful horse named Trigger. No, not the one from the Long Ranger but as you see, growing up on a farm we watched all the western TV shows and movies. After the races I really thought Trigger and I would one day be in the race and win. I didn’t really realize that Trigger was WAY too old and I was WAY too young. (BTW: I keep a picture of Trigger with me on most trips and returning once from overseas customs stopped me and asked me who the cute YOUNG blond boy was and why I had a picture of him. I smiled and said it was me when I was 10 and that is Trigger. Thanks for thinking I am cute." They let me pass.) But, ever since that day, I have watched with anticipation the Derby. I have been lucky enough to see races at all the Triple Crown tracks. I was reminded of how special this time was when I overheard a little boy in the grocery store today telling his friend not to call during the running as his family will not answer the phone. I have long since lost my desire to race but I still love riding. http://www.churchilldowns.com/

Thailand has been in the press of late with its decision to bypass patents on drugs for HIV. Now, Brazil is doing the same thing for the first time. It is bypassing the law to offer Efavirenz to its people. Here is the CNN article. BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took steps Friday to let Brazil buy or produce an inexpensive generic version of an AIDS drug made by Merck & Co. despite the U.S. drug company's patent. Lula da Silva issued a "compulsory license" that would bypass Merck's patent on the AIDS drug efavirenz, a day after the Brazilian government rejected Merck's offer to sell the drug at a 30 percent discount, or $1.10 per pill, down from $1.57. The country was seeking to purchase the drug at 65 cents a pill, the same price Thailand pays. It was the first time Brazil has bypassed a patent, but Lula da Silva said Brazil would consider doing so again on any drug sold at unfair prices. "Between our business and our health, we are going to take care of our health," he said after signing the decree. "We're profoundly disappointed with Brazil's decision to expropriate our intellectual property. They are sending a chilling signal," said Jeffery Sturchio, Merck's vice president for corporate responsibility, in a telephone interview. "We are considering our course of action but that will take some time." A compulsory license is a legal mechanism that allows a country to manufacture or buy generic versions of patented drugs while paying the patent holder only a small royalty. Brazilian law and rules established under the World Trade Organization allow for compulsory licenses in a health emergency or if the pharmaceutical industry uses abusive pricing. After Thailand moved to override patents on three anti-AIDS drugs, including those made by Abbott Laboratories and Merck, the United States placed Thailand on a list of copyright violators. In Thailand's capital of Bangkok, AIDS activists rallied outside the U.S. Embassy on Thursday to protest the decision, calling the Thai government's move to slash the cost of pricey U.S.-made AIDS drugs a "lifesaver." The president of the U.S.-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Michael Weinstein, called Brazil's action a "victory," saying in a statement, "We salute the courage of countries such as Brazil, Thailand and Mexico who are fighting to ensure drug access for AIDS patients the world over. "Drug companies will go down in defeat every time they place themselves in the way of justice for AIDS patients," he said. But the U.S.-Brazil Business Council said the decision was a "major step backward" in intellectual property law and warned it could harm development. "Brazil is working to attract investment in innovative industries ... and this move will likely cause investments to go elsewhere," the council said in a statement. Brazil had threatened several times to bypass drug patents, but the country had always reached a last-minute agreement with drug manufacturers. Brazil provides free AIDS drugs to anyone who needs them and manufactures generic versions of several drugs that were in production before Brazil enacted an intellectual property law in 1997 to join the WTO. But as newer drugs have emerged, costs ballooned and health officials warned that without deep discounts, they would be forced to issue compulsory licenses. Efavirenz is used by 75,000 of the 180,000 Brazilians who receive free AIDS drugs from the government. The drug currently costs about the government about $580 per patient per year. The Health Ministry says that a generic version of efavirenz would save the government some $240 million between now and 2012, when Merck's patent expires. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americas/05/...s.ap/index.html

One of the first things you learn at drag queen bingo is that if you can't take being picked on, you keep your mouth shut. Yes, this is bingo, the game of blue-haired grandmas and church-basement fundraisers, but a drag queen is a drag queen, and if in between N-36 and I-18 your table is being rowdy, she'll be rowdy right back. "Straight guys, calm down, this isn't Bennigan's," sassed Ginger, a short blonde in a black dress slit up to the waist, on a recent Wednesday night. My friends and I were at Lips, a Manhattan restaurant that turns into a bingo parlor midweek with drag queens — those over-the-top, tell-it-like-it-is men dressed as women — plucking balls from the bingo cage. Ginger took turns calling numbers with Yvonne, the establishment's owner, who in a short straight wig and long velvet jacket, had a Louise Brooks vibe — a sharp contrast to the beehive hairdos and animal-print outfits of Lips' other waitresses, who looked to have come straight from the set of a John Waters movie. Ginger and Yvonne's cutting back-and-forth of mostly unprintable comments about Clay Aiken, Michael Jackson, and Weight Watchers spared neither each other nor the bingo players. When the first winner went to the front of the room to get her card verified and forgot to bring her card, Ginger shot out: "Good thing she's cute. She's not that smart." Bingo and drag queens. Where, you might understandably ask, did this ever come from? Seattle, as it turns out. In the early 1990s, as director of development for the Chicken Soup Brigade, a support organization for people with AIDS, Judy Werle was charged with dreaming up fundraising events. "I checked out places where people gathered and spent money, because I figured if you had that, you could redirect the money to a good cause," says Werle. That logic led her to bingo halls. "They were totally full of obsessed people," she says. "But it was also extremely boring. So we decided to liven it up in the way that only gay men can." To see full article go here: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,85...=rss-topstories By BARBARA KIVIAT

Posted: May 3, 2007 - 2:07 pm ET (Washington) The House of Representatives passed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act Thursday, just hours after the White House said aides would recommend President Bush veto the measure. The House voted 237 to 180. A parallel bill is working its way through the Senate. The Shepard Act, also called the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would allow the Department of Justice to assist local authorities in investigating and prosecuting cases in which violence occurs against people based on their sexuality. For full article: http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/05/050307hatevote.htm

I have experienced the opposite. It is faster for me. Anyone else have slow speed issues?

What is your current carrier?

I have not used her for Thailand as I use my own airline and pay full fare. But, I did use her once on another flight and was very happy with it. She not only does flights to Thailand but everywhere. Give her a call if you are heading somewhere exotic or erotic and I bet you will be happy with that.