TampaYankee

Sounds like my cup of tea. Hope I can catch the marathon reruns.

Thought I would bump this up for newer contributors.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070216/wl_nm/brazil_carnival_dc repeated below: RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's raucous Carnival celebrations kicked off in Rio de Janeiro on Friday with tens of thousands dancing and singing in the streets, defying a recent surge of gun violence in the city's slums. Carnival's samba-dancing King Momo -- the Lord of Misrule -- and his shimmying Queen and Princess were handed a giant symbolic key to the city in a sun-lit park as a band played Rio's boisterous anthem "the Marvelous City." "The city has its problems but now we're full of hope, and we salute all those who come to visit us for the world's biggest Carnival," Mayor Cesar Maia said, urging revelers not to let the violence spoil their annual party. King Momo, known the rest of the year as Alex de Oliveira, an architect, called on his loyal Carnival subjects to "play a lot and forget about our woes." The main parades start on Sunday but neighborhood groups known as "blocos" began the party on a beachside avenue and in city streets across Rio on Friday afternoon. Rio has some 300 blocos and its most traditional, founded in 1918 with the name "Cordao do Bola Preta," is expected to lead 150,000 people into the downtown area early on Saturday. This year's festivities are being held under the shadow of gunfights and turf battles that have killed dozens of people in recent weeks and exposed Rio's dark side. A national security force has been sent to Rio to fight drug traffickers that control its teeming slums, or favelas. At least 15 people have been killed in the past week in clashes. The crackdown intensified in the days leading up to Carnival, with police occupying some of the favelas. CARNIVAL LEADER MURDERED A well-known leader of the Salgueiro samba school and his wife were slain execution-style after leaving a Carnival rehearsal on Tuesday. Public outrage came to a head this week after a 6-year-old boy was killed, dragged through the city under a speeding vehicle by carjackers. "People won't pass up the chance to celebrate, but they will take lots of precautions," said Teresa Sofia, 42, a psychologist. "I'm tired of seeing people armed with guns in street parades." The security plan for Carnival calls for 1,000 police officers and 750 city guards to patrol the Sambadrome, where the top samba schools parade over Sunday and Monday nights in a globally televised spectacle. Police units will also deploy around the favelas, whose residents ironically are the heart and soul of Carnival. The 13 top samba schools take center stage for about one hour each over the two nights, with themes this year that range from Norwegian cod fish to South African culture. They feature about 5,000 performers each, including dancers, drummers and beauty queens. Officials say about 700,000 tourists will visit for Carnival, up 2 percent from 2006, but Rio's hotels say they expect a drop in occupancy rates to 85 percent from 93 percent last year, partly because of crime fears. "The violence issue is a notorious problem. You don't need to be a genius to see it," said Alfredo Lopes, president of the association that represents Rio hotels. "There is a lack of manpower, lack of equipment, lack of management." (Additional reporting by Andrei Khalip and Pedro Fonseca)

>Here's a new shot of his butt. > >http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/02_0...ffe_468x577.jpg > > Ummm.... can you ask him to lean a bit more forward please. :9 I know, I can be such a slut. }(

Thanks for the warning. I never download unknown .exe's.... well almost never. Been burned before. I steer clear of any site that asks me to download an executable so I can view something. Always figure that what I will view is my Pc's demise.

CTDick, I'd love nothing better than to give you dirt on this sauna. Alas, I and it looks like many others don't have an experience portfolio of that depth. ;( Maybe one day I will make it South of the Border. Have your tried those GayTravelBrzail.com people?

Thanks rendie, and the same to you too.

>I'm not sure the Romans knew how to make people look good on >a coin. This one makes Marc Antony look crazed. And, he >doesn't look that different from Cleopatra. I know Marc Ant(h)ony. Marc Ant(h)ony is a friend of mine. Marc Ant(h)ony may be a bit crazed but he doesn't look anything like Cleopatra. That's Firecat. :+

[em]Found Floating in Cyberspace...[/em] Sex Behind a Bar In their favorite gay bar, an elderly gay man in a VERY long term relationship leans over and asks his partner, "Do you remember the first time we had sex together over fifty years ago? We went behind this very tavern, where you leaned against the back fence and I did you." "Yes," his partner replies, "I remember it well." "OK," he says, "How about taking a stroll around there again and we can do it again for old time's sake?" "Oh Charlie, you horny old fart, that sounds like a good idea!" An off-duty bartender sitting in the next booth heard their conversation and, having a chuckle to himself, he thinks to himself, I've got to see these two old guys having sex against a fence. I'll just keep an eye on them so there's no trouble." So he follows them. The elderly couple walks haltingly along, leaning on each other for support aided by walking sticks. Finally, they get to the back of the tavern and make their way to the fence. The partner drops his pants and the gay man unzips As his partner leans against the fence, the old man moves in. Then suddenly they erupt into the most furious sex that the policeman has ever seen. This goes on for about ten minutes while both are making loud noises and moaning and screaming. Finally, they both collapse, panting on the ground. The bartender is amazed. He thinks he has learned something about life and old age that he didn't know. After about half an hour of lying on the ground recovering, the elderly twosome struggle to their feet and put their clothes back on. The bartender is still watching and thinks to himself, this is truly amazing, I've got to ask them what their secret is. So, as the men, he says to them, "Excuse me, but that was something else. You must've had a fantastic sex life together. Is there some sort of secret to this?" Shaking, the old man is barely able to reply, "Fifty years ago that wasn't an electric fence. " :7

is pretty much complete. >The thing I find most upsetting about this entire Anna Nicole >Smith nonsense is the amount of time the media is spending on >her death. It is, in my opinion, a sad commentary on our >contemporary society... Yes sad indeed. She was a part of the comtemporary scene and as such deserved mention on the News outlets. But certainly no more than Jean Kirkpatrick recieved. I mention Ms Kirkpatrick's coverage as an upper limit. In no way am I equating their importance only their notariety, for much different reasons. 24 hour Cable News is now 24 hour Electronic Tabloid TV. It has been for a while (since OJ) but this week was a cross between a coming out party and a public christening.

>Does this show make anyone else as crazy as it does me? I lost interest after episode 2. Lost and a few other Lost wannabes raise soaps to a new level. I hate shows that require you not miss a minute to understand the rationale for what is happening in the next minute or episode or month or year. This show raised it not only by jumping in time back and forth interminably and now to the sides -- all seventeen. Not for me. Neither is 24 for me. It is just the type of show genre I love -- suspense, intrigue, espionage, revenge,... But it turned out to be a gross exhibition of loosers loosing it with grand consistency -- a steady diet of contrived frustration where, continually, the bone remains just out of reach or lost so quickly after being obtained. I came to realize this when I saw several shows back to back -- which was pretty much how I was introduced to it. I dont care much for contrived continual frustation. Not as entertainment anyway. I'll take Rome or Enemy of the State over either of them any day. However, there seem to be many who love both shows so call me an outlyer I guess. :7

Interesting how much interest this garnered here and over at Atkol.

>Since I’m not allowed to have a “party” at my condo , >please come and enjoy a “Chinese New Year Service” (it's the >Year of the Pig) ;-) Ummmmm.... pig...... very good smoked. :9

The head looks definitely 'shopped' in this photo.

Congratuations KYTOP. Always nice when your team wins.

Try as you may, my comment was neither directed to you nor about you. I'm sorry if that offends but that isn't intended either.

>Perhaps it should be clarified that I didn't coin the phrase >" asshole bottom fishing client" as you keep using >it in the "you" context as if I said it. People >like to blow things out of proportion here ... > Maybe so... like my response. Scott, I didn't refer to you or imply with respect to you at all. I was responding to twinklover's posted comment. If he was using your earlier comments or views without quotes, I don't know. I assume not. I'm not sure I read all earlier posts. My focus is: Who should be taken seriously as 'insulting'. No more, no less. FWIW

> I also get what you probably mean by >"demeaning". Some asshole bottomfishing client emals >or speaks to you and proposes fees and activities as if you >were a street hustler. I agree that's classless and insulting >to you. I disagree and I think most thoughtful individuals would unless they want to play the victim. Based on your premise: Some asshole bottom fishing client emals or speaks to you... That 'some asshole bottom fishing client' is classless is a tautology. One equals one. No math required. I do not get insulted by street trash or anyone else I do not respect, no matter what they say. To be insulted to is imbue weight to their remarks. I limit that to people I respect or to people I extend the presumption of respect. That would not be 'some asshole bottom fishing client'. His remarks amount to no more than trash blowing in the wind. If that is grounds for feeling insulted then it's going to be a long insulting life.

Oz, Best to leave the chain saw at home when performing delicate surgery. :+ I know how that happens. I almost did the same last night. I was one click away when I realized something was amiss.

>I am not even sure that monogamy is possible for me. Take it from me as an observer over some time. It wasn't standard or even offered as an option on your make in that model year. :+

>It IS, truly so difficult here, to be a gentlemen... Au contraire monsieur. It is only necessary to avoid the bait and refrain from tossing turds at others. Self-discipline they call it. And if the rare occasion calls for it, the best rebuke is the sharp subtle slice delivered in even-tempered manner that garners the notice of the recipient only after the parties have separated and the recipient feels the warm flow of crimson dripping down his underbelly, staining his shirt. All very gentlemanly and lethal if done right. It's all in the subtlety and sparing use. That is not an invitation to take another run at anyone. You seem to have exercised your response reflex plenty for now. When an exchange of posts between two individuals become fixated on the indviduals themselves in place of a wider topic, it seems more effective and liberating, not to mention good taste, to take the thrust and parry to email or private messages where truly frank exchanges may be undertaken.

>Gee, last I checked looking up precedent and writing briefs >didn't involve you spending time naked in bed with someone or >even practicing IN your briefs ... I fail to see the logic of this rationale regarding negotations.

I know Alex well. He's a great guy, wonderful attitude, and the equipment is very real. }( General comment: Escorts may negotiate or not... clients may negotiate or not. What I find silly is basing the rationale on personal apsects like "it is insulting". This is business transaction -- no more, no less -- even if fantasy overlays it for some. It is a basic 'time and materials' contract, not an adoption or expression of love and devotion. At least it shouldnt be. One charges what he thinks he can get, given the tangibles and intangibles that are of concern; and one pays what he thinks necessary to get the product that satisfies his requirements. FWIW

>I just submitted a no-show review before going to the forums. > It is my first review on this site but I have submitted >dozens of reviews on the old Hoo site. By definitions above, >I guess this review is unpostable. Dick, Thanks for the contributions. Very much appreciated. As you have read, our policy on no shows has been undergoing evolution in the past several days. You definitely have a track record and your no show will be 'postable'. However, I have not yet established the mechanism for archiving the no shows. I am reluctant to embed them in the regular review database. However, that is the easiest way to record them. Since we have to live with this for the future I want to give it a little thought before we pour concrete. Thanks again. TY

Tide, You are way over your quotient for vitriol. It only distracts from your arguments and is of no interest except possibly for the principals. Please reign it in. Thanks. TY