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Most of What You Think You Know About Grammar Is Wrong And ending sentences with a preposition is nothing worth worrying about Smithsonian Magazine You’ve probably heard the old story about the pedant who dared to tinker with Winston Churchill’s writing because the great man had ended a sentence with a preposition. Churchill’s scribbled response: “This is the sort of English up with which I will not put.” It’s a great story, but it’s a myth. And so is that so-called grammar rule about ending sentences with prepositions. If that previous sentence bugs you, by the way, you’ve bought into another myth. No, there’s nothing wrong with starting a sentence with a conjunction, either. But perhaps the biggest grammar myth of all is the infamous taboo against splitting an infinitive, as in “to boldly go.” The truth is that you can’t split an infinitive: Since “to” isn’t part of the infinitive, there’s nothing to split. Great writers—including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Donne and Wordsworth—have been inserting adverbs between “to” and infinitives since the 1200s. Where did these phony rules originate, and why do they persist? For some of them, we can blame misguided Latinists who tried to impose the rules of their favorite language on English. Anglican bishop Robert Lowth popularized the prohibition against ending a sentence with a preposition in his 1762 book, A Short Introduction to English Grammar; while Henry Alford, a dean of Canterbury Cathedral, was principally responsible for the infinitive taboo, with his publication of A Plea for the Queen’s English in 1864. In Latin, sentences don’t end in prepositions, and an infinitive is one word that can’t be divided. But in a Germanic language like English, as linguists have pointed out, it’s perfectly normal to end a sentence with a preposition and has been since Anglo-Saxon times. And in English, an infinitive is also one word. The “to” is merely a prepositional marker. That’s why it’s so natural to let English adverbs fall where they may, sometimes between “to” and a verb. We can’t blame Latinists, however, for the false prohibition against beginning a sentence with a conjunction, since the Romans did it too (Et tu, Brute?). The linguist Arnold Zwicky has speculated that well-meaning English teachers may have come up with this one to break students of incessantly starting every sentence with “and.” The truth is that conjunctions are legitimately used to join words, phrases, clauses, sentences—and even paragraphs. Perhaps these “rules” persist because they are so easy to remember, and the “errors” are so easy to spot. Ironically, this is a case where the clueless guy who’s never heard of a preposition or a conjunction or an infinitive is more likely to be right. As bloggers at Grammarphobia.com and former New York Times editors, we’ve seen otherwise reasonable, highly educated people turn their writing upside down to sidestep imaginary errors. There’s a simple test that usually exposes a phony rule of grammar: If it makes your English stilted and unnatural, it’s probably a fraud. We can’t end this without mentioning Raymond Chandler’s response when a copy editor at the Atlantic Monthly decided to “fix” his hard-boiled prose: “When I split an infinitive, God damn it, I split it so it will remain split.” Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/most-of-what-you-think-you-know-about-grammar-is-wrong-4047445/#sQT8DH5Dr1PUoqfF.99

I was wondering if any of you guys know of some areas to meet escorts on the street? I know that near LeBoy it is possible, and also at the gay beach stands, but are there any other places where hookers hang out looking for trade in Rio? Thanks! James

I always knew Grammar was wrong about some things and Grammpa also. Best regards, RA1

For anyone still invested in Ryan Murphys Glee, tonight was the series Finale, and Mr Shuster, Sue Sylvester, and all the New Directions from all the seasons hung up their caps and gowns and said Goodbye. It was kinda sad although the show had lost foot over the last few years, but I still enjoyed their interpretations of pop culture hits and old standards... They tried to tie it all up in the 2 hr finale episode, but it seemed a bit Rushed to me, and quite melancholy, although as the show jumped ahead 5 years, only good things happened for EVERYONE... Ba-Bye GLEE

I really enjoyed the show. I did not watch it as often in the last 2 years or so but I loved the fact that it was still on TV. I think it, and other shows that portrayed gay characters, had a great deal to do with changing the mindset of our country and begin a trend that reversed discrimination. The journey is far from over. But, Ryan Murphy did a great thing for the gay community and the show was truly wonderful. I loved every crush and kiss.

Some or most visitors to Brazil prefer to visit the many rent boi saunas in order to make a "hook up" with a hustler. On the other hand, just in case you are an internet type person who prefers to hire from web ads, rather than in a sauna or elsewhere, here is a Brazil web site that might be to some liking: http://www.garotolandia.com.br/ Unless you speak and understand Portuguese, you will most likely have a problem contracting with the guys advertising on that site. Some guys speak English or have a friend who can help with the communication, but most do not. Therefore, it can be frustrating to try meeting a garoto from a web address even though some people prefer that method. At the least, you can always call the garoto and try to communicate. If your preference is to meet from an internet ad, this is an alternative. By the way, there are lots of alternative ways to meeting guys in Brazil. The saunas are the easiest but are not the main meeting places.

There are the hustler bars (one main one), certain cines, shopping malls, certain streets and parks. You just have to know where they are. You learn this "after a while."

Thanks Lookin for your kind offer! I would take any assistance for such a noble cause!! I would love to have his number as he really stood head and shoulders above the many guys I have seen at Thermas Sauna. One more story to relate that helped me get what I wanted at Thermas. I would divide the guys there into two groups: some who roam around solo in the hallways and are more aggressive at initiating contact with clients and some others who gather in groups with other working boys (usually on the floor with the pool and bar) talking amongst themselves. I find it much more difficult obviously to break the ice with the latter group. So, once I was there and spent some time with a guy who was a bit more aggressive in approaching me and who spoke great English. He was hot but I was still left wanting something more. I asked him if he could identify the two or three guys with the biggest cocks working that night. He said he would do it for 20 euros (always a price). In the end, he spoke to one of the guys who was busy talking to other rentboys and someone I had not seen him talk to any other clients. It turned out the second guy spoke hardly any English and was new (he said) to the situation. The guy who spoke English explained everything I wanted to the new guy in Portuguese. The new guy was Brazilian and had one of the hugest cocks I have ever seen and fulfilled all my needs for the night. Afterwards, I saw that he also had to pay a kickback from what I paid him to the guy who had arranged it all!! I just thought it was funny how my poor language skills caused me to need an interpreter, the fact that some guys are more extroverted provides them a role to approach and do some match-making with less forward guys, and everyone gets their cut!! Free-market economics at its purest form. I realize I may sound like I have a one-track mind with larger cocks. But, that is my primary reason for taking part in the world of rentboys. One can find sex anywhere but I am willing to pay to sample really extraordinary pieces of meat!!

Thanks for this interesting post but I am at least slightly confused. What are the "main" meeting places? It is easy to assume the saunas are the main meeting places for "hired sex". I could also easily assume that "other" places might be the main meeting places for "free" sex. Please alleviate my confusion. Best regards, RA1

First time post but have always appreciated the contributions of others here. Very generous to share such personal experiences. I have regularly traveled to Barcelona over the years and have always enjoyed visits to Sauna Thermas. Have always found a large selection of men (one noticeable change is that once most claimed Brazilian background but it has become much more diverse...Eastern Europeans, Moroccans, Africans but very few Spaniards!). In all cases but one, I have found the guys to be friendly, willing to kiss (very important to me), and relative generous with time. My one bad experience is a guy who demanded double the agreed-upon rate once we finished and tried to block the door. But, I responded aggressively and threatened to talk to management and he backed off. The funny thing is I returned on another day on the same trip and he was there. He approached me and asked if I wanted to get together again (the answer was most definitely not!). Again, this was a uncommon situation I think as I have found the guys to be friendly and reasonable on all other visits. I wanted to bring up one favorite from a trip a couple of years ago (saw him twice) and wonder if anyone else ever met him. He went by Alex (not a memorable name) but he was from Guatemala (a background much more uncommon). He had an unbelievable build and cock (I am a bottom) but he was extremely kind/polite/almost shy and so passionate behind the closed door (would kiss forever and would throw me over on the small bed and rim me without me even requesting it...though I certainly didn't complain). I am visiting Barcelona again in May and hope he is there (though he wasn't when I last visited). He had given me his number (which I unfortunately lost) and I have never seen him on gay romeo or elsewhere. I would love to hear from anyone who ever met him. Very special guy. My reason for the post is that I will also be visiting Valencia on this trip for the first time. I seem to have read in a few places that there is a smaller sauna there with rentboys but can't find much information on it. Can anyone confirm its existence (still open?) and what it is like/ worth visiting? This may have been the wrong thread to post the question but I will see if I get any replies. Again, can't express how much I have appreciated the posts of others!!

Of course you are making sense. I am currently on my 123rd trip to Brazil. My trips last anywhere from ten days to one month each time I visit here. I have visited Brazil saunas more times than I can remember. Additionally, I have seen many saunas come and go during the years of my visits. In view of the foregoing facts, I think that my opinion concerning Brazil and the saunas and the garotos (male hustlers) is exceedingly valid. Bottom line, to answer your question, you will not have any problem, whatsoever, snagging countless incredibly handsome garotos. If it matters to you, as it matters to many who visit here, engaging a Brazilian garoto is tantamount to engaging a part-time boyfriend. As the expression goes, in Brazil, when you hire a garoto for an hour or longer, most of the time you get the "boyfriend experience" and often the one-time engagement turns into a friendship. This is probably why so many gays get "hooked" on Brazil after they visit here. There is no other place in the world like it. I have been to many places in the world - nothing compares to Brazil. Try it, you'll like it.

Yes, publishing all the info. would be useful and appreciated.

Thank you Axiom for the report. You say that "I have lots of good contact info. regarding tours, hotels, restaurants, etc. If you would like this, I'll post for all" and I for one would welcome you publishing all that information here. It may well prove useful for some people now and perhaps for many more people in the future.