marcanthony

LOL.... only in Brazil. Wait, no I take that back... only wherever in the world Oz happens to be.

Great summary! I have luckily escaped those particular scenarios, but I have had (twice) a plane ticket that I sent to an escort for a travel date go unused because the escort never boarded the flight. In both those instances I had booked a travel date with an escort that I had not yet met previously (thinking with the wrong head). So that got me to thinking that another great topic to write about is "how to make a travel date go smoothly"... the do's and don'ts, recommendations of how to get a ticket to the escort, who to invite, where to go, how to plan activities, how often to expect sex during the course of a given day, etc etc Another thought.

From what I hear, they grow weed in greenhouses there... maybe even rent free!

There once was a landowner who wasn't sure what to do with his land, so he decided to build a huge greenhouse on his land for plants and other such things. He wasn't sure how to make this profitable since he knew really nothing about growing things, so he figured out this really cool business model where he would offer his greenhouse for free for plant lovers everywhere to come bring their plants in and look at other people's plants. He was sure that agricultural/floral advertisers would put ads up in his greenhouse if he could show them how many plant lovers visited his greenhouse everyday. And lo and behold, it worked! People from all over the area brought lots of beautiful plants to put in this free greenhouse, and would spend time there cultivating the plants and learning about other types of plants. It became a very busy and popular place, and advertisers were eager to put up their ads there. Everyone was happy, but as always, people had opinions about how the greenhouse should be run and how their plants should be cared for. However, the owner told them that he owned the greenhouse; he was not charging them rent for their plants; and if they didn't like the place, they should get the hell out. Things would get worse from time to time. The plant lovers would quarrel about space, conditions, plant care, and sometimes it got personal. The owner got tired of this nonsense, and one day, without warning, he closed his greenhouse. None of the plant lovers, even those who were not involved in any of the goings on, could enjoy any plants, let alone even their own. People missed their plants, and talking to others about agriculture and such, but it was closed. Some plant lovers who always thought they were positive contributing citizens, aggravated by how they felt their contributions were valued, decided that they would not return to this greenhouse, even when it did open. They couldn't understand how the greenhouse owner, though the owner of the real estate, couldn't understand that the value of the place was community grown. So they looked for a different greenhouse to house their next batch of plants, and gardened happily there. Eventually the original greenhouse opened again, and quickly bustled again. But over time, similar issues developed, and once again, just as had happened before, the greenhouse closed abruptly one day, and the occupants were shocked. Those in the new, smaller greenhouse on the other hill peered over and wondered why those occupants of the original greenhouse were surprised.

Thanks for the update, Biz. It's actually been a while that I was in Prague, so I appreciate the news about some of the changes. Lately I've been spending almost all of my recreational time in Montreal, having invested in both real estate and relationships there. However, there is absolutely no doubt that I will return there sometime soon. Czech (+Slovakia/Bratislava) and Russian boys in their early 20's are some of the most beautiful creatures on earth.

My story about Alterosas is a sadder story about what might have been... but it is incredibly vivid in my memory bank. I went there (with you, in fact, Oz) and we told the car from the Intercontinental to pick us up again in 2 hours. We stayed and I actually found no one that appealed to me, so I just sat and enjoyed a few drinks and the conversation. Then after two hours, our car returned and we all went outside to take it back to the city. As I turned for a last look at the sauna, I saw a small group of boys who had just come there to work, and one of them was an absolutely incredibly stunning blond twink that still sticks in my mind to this day. And off we drove.

Biz: You articulated more precisely what I was trying to convey in my typical vague "gestalt" way. But as you say... it has to flow both ways for it to last (well at least the parties have to perceive that it is). And I agree that there is little place in gay life for us to be toooo judgmental with each other and how we choose to look for and find happiness. We are battling enough of that from other sources. And Bi... I've read enough of your posts to know that your Benjamin comment was "off the cuff" so to speak. I completely agree that VERY often, $$ is a significant part of the equation... just not always the entire story.

They are with them (us... though I am not 50 yet and my BF(s) are older than 19... a little, LOL) for love. It's just defining what exactly they are in love with that gets complicated. And in all seriousness... obviously unless you are really delusional it has something to do with the lifestyle, but it also has something to do with the way you make them feel. Everyone likes to be cherished and valued. And by the way, that flows both ways on the power curve...

"What I noticed this time was more twink type boys than I had met on previous trips. I was happy with this." Are you trying to get me to hop a plane to Brazil???? Glad to know you are having a good time. Great memories from that place.

I agree.... she's great. And then when you factor in that she is over 60 years old and prancing around the stage like a teen.... you just get even more amazed.

It really is a tragedy when any of these things happen. In an instant, a wonderful joyous moment turns into unspeakable grief. As someone who rang in the New Year in the middle of such a club, though, it's not hard to understand how something like that can happen. First, it's packed to the hilt. The club I was at was so packed that it took the last person (me) one and a half hours after closing to get through coat check. Second, there's booze everywhere. That is a problem both in that it's flammable and also that it makes many people not give a shit about safety. Finally it's loud and dark... so it's hard to see a problem happening until it really is a big problem. I don't know the answer... because I am big fan of these clubs, and I don't necessarily want them to change. But somehow there do need to be more doors on all of these places.

Bonne Annee! Here's to a great 2009 for everyone!

Wrong city in Canada... or I would be there!!!!!

JOYEUX NOEL and Happy Boxing Day! From Montreal,Quebec, Canada

The flirt 4 free guys are real. The business model is that they chat with a chat room for free, and then people who want to see more can take them into private where you pay a very high fee (like higher than you would pay for most boys in real time). I think it's like $6 a minute, but I can't remember for sure. The boy keeps a percentage of that, and the rest goes to the house. There's a studio in Toronto and several in Eastern Europe and I believe others in South America. There's even the capability of the boys to broadcast from their homes, and most of the ones from the US are doing this. The set up in the less economically advanced countries is close to horrific, where the boy keeps only about 1/6 of what is billed because part goes to the main franchiser, and a large part goes to the local house in that country. In some of those countries, they keep a percentage of the boys' tips too (but not in Canada and US). The chat rooms are monitored, so you can't blatantly set up a date online, but if you are clever, you certainly can make things happen. I know most of what I know above from some of these "offline" meetings. I met a very cute Canadian boy online a few years ago and had him out to Vegas and NYC and he was fantastic and we had a great time. I also befriended as cute a boy as I have ever seen from St. Petersburg in Russia, and when I visited he served as my "live in" tour guide and that was awesome both in terms of how good a guide he was and how great my nights became!

I am sure this is commonly the case but when talking about the sex trade market, the author calls the buyer a "he" and the prostitute a "she." It got me wondering... what percentage of sex workers are male?

KyTop: This Thanksgiving I am thankful for all the good times we have spent together chasing boys up North... and for your good company whilst doing the same. Please take care of your health... and hoepfully in 2009 you can resume your Thailand tradition and make some side trips to Montreal as well.

Oz: Please be careful over there.

Twinklover: I took a walk down memory land when you posted the rentboy.com ads because I saw the part about The Stud party in SF. Not that I have ever been there, but it conjured up memories of us picking you up at Le Stud in Montreal and then dancing the night away at Unity. fun times. We'll definitely need to do that again. As for this comment: "When you meet an awesome boy, be like our resident (Olympian?) member MarcAnthony. If people are half as good to their boys as he is, the boys will be very happy. :-)" ... I just do for them (and with/to them,,, haha) what's in my heart. I don't think I have a patent on that... you do the same, and I know all the guys that we know mutually love you to death.

Thanks, lookin. That brought back memories. A few years ago I met a boy just as cute as this one on F4F, also from St. Petersburg. He was also shy... said he was straight but gay-friendly. I was heading to Russia later that summer, so I convinced him to be my tour guide when I went to St. Petersburg. He was a great tour guide, and by the 3rd day, he was spending the night too. Life can be so much fun.

Lookin Never mind the screen size controversy.... who is this and where do I find him?

Be prepared. It's a delightful show that's just (for lack of a better word) bizarre. Nothing like making a serial killer the glamorized protagonist. It's pretty interesting stuff.

Sorry you had a bad experience last year, Lucky. It's usually a good time, but I agree with you that last year was not up to usual standards. In fact (being one not to take drugs either), I left at 4 AM... which is actually 8 hours or so before the thing ends!!! It's interesting that you made the comment about "not young" because actually I really think there's a pretty even mix of young and not so young (mainly because many of the young cannot afford the price tag). In fact, being a twink lover myself, I have pretty much resorted to bringing a couple with me to the event because otherwise they are few and far between. This year, it's going to be at the Convention Center rather than the Olympic Stadium. That usually means the inside is more easily maneuverable, but getting in takes a long time. Anyway... for me... the best part of Black and Blue is the excitement throughout the city during the weekend leading up to it. The event itself, though fun, is not the main event for me.

Yes. I will be there

They are competing with Black and Blue.... (main event is Oct 12) So needless to say, I don't think I'll be there.