TotallyOz

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.

I have read a few stories about the changes of the Thailand Elite Membership Card. One of the major perks of the card is a 5 year visa. I have also been viewing their website and it is getting ready for some new changes. I have found all the privilages there but missing is ANY information on Visas. I do wonder what that means if anything? Also, I would be curious to know how this affects others who have purchased the cards. I have one friend who purchased the card last year and has been very happy with it. But, he purchased it for the reasons other than the visa.

One of my favorite Lady Boy bars in on Soi 6. There is currently a crackdown going on. Here is the article from the newspaper. http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_03_05_50_3.htm

Finally a full blackberry with keyboard and it has a 2.0 megapixel camera with it. http://www.blackberrycurve.com

I hope this is not the case. If it is, my sympathies to his family.

A good service. The boy is sexy as well. 15m pounds? OMG No way to hold off a few months?

I love the openess of the Thai culture. The fact that the ad is a gay ad is a true testament of how open things are in that country.

I have been trying to practice up on my Portuguese to talk to the boys down there. I found this nice program that offers news and voice translations via News. It is very cool and helpful and offers many language options. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/home...ewsbrowser.html

Thanks for the heads up on the bypass page. We are looking into that. Glad the site is faster for you now. Yeah!

Perhaps the ladyboys are there for the BF's of the farangs. I know my boys were never interested in the guys on stage but always wanted to go to the bar with the sexy ladyboys. I think a good mix of boys and ladyboys is the best way to do it. Everyone should be able to get a little of what they want. I think a perfect example of this is Jimm Jimmy James. They always have a good mix. When Lucky 7 was at its peak, that was always a fun place as well. I also do enjoy seeing the ladyboys on stage and it does not bother me at all. I think it adds to the uniquness of Thailand and the bars there.

The glitch in registration seems to have been fixed. If you notice any other issues, please let us know. Oz

>In the last analysis, nothing else matters. I agree. One of my former BF's in Thailand was useless in bed. But, he won my heart over and that was less important than the great things he brought to my experience there.

Personally, I think hiring escorts is the best thing in the world for those that are stressed out by their high power jobs. It is easy and relaxing. Why some are so hell bent on wanting to cause a client to not have that release as they should is way beyone me. I remember many years ago when the Republican convention was in Philly. I was running a NY escort service at the time. That weeked we sent more boys to Philly than Elton John has eye glasses. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/04/27/dc.madam/index.html

Well, I guess I meant the experience was great. I loved the kissing and the oral. The actual fucking was a bit bland and he just laid there. That being said, I really did have a dream come true so it was worth it in my opinion.

>"It's incredibly bold and far more courageous than >anything I could have done," said Amaechi, who spent five >seasons in the NBA. "I commend him." I agree. Very courageous. It is acts like these that lead the way for others to be so open and visible.

I remember several years ago meeting one of the Bel Ami stars in NYC. He was not an escort and had tons of hot guys hitting on him. However, I wanted a taste of the sweet life and we chatted. His fee for an hour would be 1000. I dove in and took him up on it. I had a great time with him but the sex really sucked. He was sexy and did fulfill a dream but I would have been much better off with a rubber doll from Christopher Street.

We are now using the new servers and hosting company. So far, I can see the speed of the site has increased and that is good news. There are still some glitches to be worked out and the programmers are doing those things. I know that members trying to register are having some issues and we are trying to resolve these concerns. If you find any difficulty in other areas, please let us know. Thanks for your support! Oz

On August 28, 2002, Bernie Ellis’s farm was raided by the Tennessee Marijuana Eradication Task Force, a force that included both state and federal law enforcement officers. During the ten hours the Task Force was on Bernie’s farm, two helicopters and ten ground troops combed his land, searched his home and out-buildings and confiscated farm supplies, files from his work as a public health consultant and his computer. The Task Force found a small amount of cannabis in Bernie’s home, 20-25 plants that were four to six feet tall and a number of small “clones” (under 12 inches tall) – all ready to harvest. To their surprise, they also found a proposal solicited by the New Mexico Governor’s Office for Bernie to help that state establish and operate a state-operated medical cannabis production facility. From the outset, Bernie cooperated with the Task Force officers and answered their questions about why he was growing cannabis. At the time of the raid, Bernie was using cannabis himself for pain associated with degenerative joint disease and pain and sleep disturbance associated with fibromyalgia. He was also providing free cannabis to four very sick people – three of whom were dead within months of the raid. Bernie admitted that he had been providing free cannabis to sick and dying people for many years, beginning when he helped establish the Tennessee AIDS Program for the Tennessee Department of Health in the late 1980s. At the conclusion of the raid, the Task Force leaders chose not to arrest Bernie. They assured him that he would be able to retrieve his computer within a matter of days so that his work as a public health epidemiologist would not be disrupted. He was also told that the Task Force had found enough plants to place him within the existing guidelines for federal prosecution. Neither of those statements turned out to be true. The Charges For the three months following the raid, Bernie was not charged with any crime. However, in November, 2002, Bernie was informed by his first attorney (a local lawyer recommended by one of the cancer patients that Bernie was helping) that the federal government had asked for the case because of the large reported plant count, which by that time both the government and Bernie’s first attorney knew to be inflated -- but information they did not share with Bernie. He was informed that the federal government intended to charge him with manufacturing 100 or more cannabis plants – a charge that brought with it a mandatory minimum five year sentence. He was also informed that the federal government planned to file a separate “civil asset forfeiture” case against him in order to confiscate his 187 acre farm, a farm that had been Bernie’s home for almost four decades. http://saveberniesfarm.com/case/index.html http://saveberniesfarm.com/

I think it is dependant of how badly you don't want him working again. If you really want him to stay away from the bars, you make it worth his while. I think 20-30k a month is very generous and is enough to keep them away from the bars. But, only you know the boy and what you are looking for. You also have to consider how much family he has, what his obligations to them are, how much he drinks, is he in school, does he have a job, etc. When you factor everything in only you can decide what amount is OK to give. IMHO

Thanks. I don't mind if you check back in 6 months. I may be up and I may be down. I haven't really been worried about the weigt as much as the fat percentages. But, I do believe in a doctor checkup every 6 months so I guess I don't mind a Smiles one as well. I agree that running is the best thing in the world. It is a killer on the knees but the pounding on the pavement, pounds the pounds aways as well. When at the camp, they tried to get us on the road to running and that mantra stuck with me. I fought it there but the more weight that came off the more I enjoyed it. I can't imagine running 5 months ago as I was carrying so much extra poundage, but now, it is easier and even enjoyable. The one thing I miss now is swimming. I am not at a place where that is conducive. I look forward to being back at a hotel in Thailand with a pool. But, not for a long time as I have the business part of my agenda to work on. Cheers!