TotallyOz

I think the best thing I ever spent money on was a motorcycle for the boyfriend. It was something that he really wanted and has taken great care of. The worst thing I spent money on was a VIP telephone number on my 2nd trip to Thailand. It was at MBK and I walked out after buying it and hit myself on the head and said, "what the fuck were you thinking?" What about others? What are some of the best things or worst things you have spent money on in LOS?

California just became the 2nd state in the USA to allow same sex marriage with the Supreme Court for California overturning a ban passed in 2000. At least 2 states in the USA are moving in the right direction. In Thailand, I have heard many guys talk about a wedding ceremony for same sex couples. What does this entail? Also, are there any legal protections for partners?

It was a great ruling. Fantastic for all. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/15/same.sex....iage/index.html

The following article appears today in the Bangkok Post Business News (front page). FOREIGN PROPERTY OWNERSHIP Government considers longer leasehold terms PARISTA YUTHAMANOP & KANANA KATHARANGSIPORN The government is considering allowing greater foreign ownership in property firms and extending leasehold periods beyond 30 years to stimulate the business, according to Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee. The amendment would stimulate market segments that have been hit by sluggish demand, he said yesterday. ''This has been discussed quite seriously over the past two to three months. We need to think about the percentage of shareholding and leasing access compared with the number of years. The crisis that we have had in the past two years led us to think and look at a new paradigm,'' he said at an investor forum held by Euromoney. Dr Surapong said the government would consider new rules on leasing more on par with the region. The government has also abandoned a controversial proposed change to the Foreign Business Act, which tightened the definition of foreign ownership to promote foreign direct investment, he added. Longlom Bunnag, the chairman of the real estate agency Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand), said property related to tourism and recreation was expected to benefit the most from any changes because of high demand. ''Existing laws allow foreigners to secure 50-year leaseholds in Bangkok's red zone, which is the commercial area such as on Sathon Road. ... I think Phuket, Samui and Pattaya may be in the government's sights for changes in regulations to benefit villas, resorts and long-stay travellers,'' he said. Mr Longlom said the idea could improve Thailand's competitiveness, since many countries now offered longer leaseholds _ for instance, 50 years in China and Hong Kong and 99 years in Singapore. ''Thailand has the shortest eligible period for lease contracts.'' Issara Boonyoung, vice-president of Housing Business Association, disagreed with the idea of allowing foreigners to freely conduct transactions related to exchange of properties because it could restrict housing access for Thais. ''Thai people have lower purchasing power than foreigners. If the government allows foreigners to sell or buy freely, there will be no land left for Thais,'' he said. Foreign ownership should have conditions and limitations, he said. For example, the government should continue protecting land for agricultural purposes due to its low prices, otherwise the country may lose most of its land to foreigners. Regarding the increase in the foreign quota in condominiums from 49%, the government should limit the size of land plots to prevent developers from using legal loopholes to register townhouses as condo units, Mr Issara said. However, Assoc Prof Manop Bhongsadadt of Chulalongkorn University said the issue was ''very sensitive'' and unlikely to survive the three readings required in Parliament to change the law. It would be easier to extend leasehold periods from the current 30 years to 90 years as in the UK, he said. ''It will turn illegal transactions as in Phuket and Samui into legal transactions. The government is likely to collect more taxes.'' Mr Issara also agreed that extended leaseholds would create transparency and prevent the use of nominees. However, he said longer leaseholds and higher foreign quotas in condominiums should be allowed only in specific areas.

The owner of the Mosaik has expanded to homes from his Day/Night venture. On his site, it is called New Project. http://mosaikpattaya.com/

I have a friend in New York who is want to go to a sleep diagnostic center. I told him I thought there were some in Thailand as I had seen a sign for one at one of the hospitals. Do you know if Bangkok Pattaya has a sleep center? Or, the big good hospital in Bangkok?

I am looking forward to the next tour. Are you? http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/768011

Townie, you sure do get around.

Watching the results online is very interesting. NC was called the instant the polls closed. Indiana is still not called as I write this. Looks like things continue as is for bit.

Thank you for that link and the info. Here is what the end of the article said. How to help For information about Burma and Cyclone Nargis or to donate to relief efforts, contact one of these organizations: -- Burmese American Democratic Alliance: badasf.org -- Burmese American Women's Alliance: bawalliance.org -- Foundation for the People of Burma: foundationburma.org -- U.S. Campaign for Burma: uscampaignforburma.org -- Doctors Without Borders: doctorswithoutborders.org -- UNICEF: unicef.org -- CARE: care.org -- Church World Service: churchworldservice.org -- American Red Cross: redcross.org (The Red Cross has an international response fund through which people can designate donations for the Burma cyclone.) We here at MaleEscortReview have donated 1,000 USD to the Red Cross for this specific fund. This area of the world has a special place in my heart and I know many guys from Burma and my first bf in Thailand was actually from there.

You are very through. We are thrilled to have posters like you here and look forward to many discussions on a wide variety of issues.

I visited this country less than a few months back. The people are wonderful and sweet. The regime that has controlled the country has ruled with an iron fist for years but the people remain amazing. The disaster has risen to at least 22,000 deaths with over 40,000 still missing. It is devastating. I also do not see the outpour of assistance from the international community. I was also disappointed to hear First Lady Laura Bush condemn the junta for not being prepared for this. I guess she forgot all about New Orleans and the debacle that occurred in our own country. I have not found a way to send assistance there yet. If anyone knows of humanitarian organizations that are working with the country, please let me know. I know that Thailand has send over aid and am sure that others will as well.

Well, I do think that the day has finally come that will set the course for what will happen in the coming months for who will be the next nominee. If Hillary wins both states, I think it will be a lock for her and if Obama wins both, I think there is no way Clinton can say she deserves the nomination. If polls are right, the most likely scenario is that it will be a split decision with Indiana going to Hillary and NC going to Barrack. I am just hoping for a miracle and both contests are won by the same person. Odds are not good. But, I love Vegas and spent a bit of time playing poker in LA last weekend and won 94.00. I am on a winning streak (unless you count the Craig's List encounters) and I am predicting that Hillary will win both tonight. Hope is a good thing.

Finally, after several seasons, it was bound to happen and I was thrilled with the way it was presented on TV. Saul, the handsome loving uncle of the clan came out to his gay nephew. This show has presented openly gay characters with all the flaws and fabulousness that gay life has in a very realistic way for a long time. I was happy to finally see Saul come out. I also loved the response from the nephew. Saul said, "How can I be gay at my age?" to which the younger guy said, "I don't know. I haven't figured out how to be gay at my age." It was a loving scene and my hats off to the show and the writers for portraying these characters to well and down to earth and without all the typical gay stereotypes.

(George Town, Grand Cayman) A gay couple from Massachusetts was detained by police after kissing on the dance floor of a popular club on Grand Cayman. Aaron Chandler, 23, and his boyfriend, both from on Amherst, Massachusetts, were holidaying with the boyfriend's sister and brother–in–law on the Caribbean island. The four had gone to the Royal Palms and joined about a dozen other couples who were dancing. At one point Chandler kissed his boyfriend. A patron approached the men and berated them. "He asked us not to do that," Chandler told the Cay Compass newspaper. "He said, 'you shouldn’t be doing this here'. The couple ignored the protest and kept dancing. Chandler, who is a member of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, then planted another kiss on his boyfriend. "I do display affection when I’m with my boyfriend, publicly," Chandler told the paper. "It’s never anything most people would consider obscene however; usually it’s in the form of holding hands or a quick kiss." An off-duty police officer intervened after the second kiss. "He told me he did not want me to show public displays of affection," Chandler said. "He said it was against the law for two people of the same sex." As the four Americans were preparing to leave the club Chandler kissed his boyfriend again. At that point "The officer grabbed my wrist and told me he was placing me under arrest," Chandler told the Compass. A second police officer arrived at the scene and the two men were taken to the George Town police station. After several hours in a holding room they were released without any charges laid. Chandler said that police attempted to get them to promise not to kiss again in public while on the island. For the full article see: http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/05/050508cay.htm As for me, I know one place I will NOT be visiting anytime soon.

We have decided to advertise more in gay print media. We have our first ad out for Cybersocket for the June Gay Pride issue. We are hoping to expand this to other magazines. Here is the ad just in case some of you want to see it in advance. We will use other ads for other magazines and try switching things around a bit. The wonderful Stef Lacoste allowed us the use of his image for this ad and we felt it was appropriate to start the ad with his pic as he was the first one to allow us to use his image on this site back when we first started years ago. Thanks Stef. Cybersocket is a fun magazine filled with gay websites and Internet information. We are also looking for other gay magazines to advertise in that would benefit us. Any suggestions out there? What are some of the magazines that others read and view that are geared toward gay men that allow adult websites to advertise in them?

Luckily for me, I can deal with top only. Now, I have to figure out how to get that state in my schedule.

I am glad to see your first post. Welcome. I can tell that your response was in no way a promotion of the site and seems very fair and balanced. I like the site. I think they have done a good job with it and wish them much luck and success. However, they are not a new site. They have been around a bit. But, I am glad you found them and look forward to seeing more postings from you on other topics. Welcome.

The boyfriend is getting ready to go back to weekend school to get his degree. It costs about 1k baht a semester for him and that includes books. Next year will be his last and then it is off to college. He is 23 and has made up 4 years of high school in the last 2. There are many others that do these schools all over the country. I think most of them start in May. If not registered, it is still possible for others to register but they may have to pay a bit of a "fee" to the teacher to get them enrolled late. I do not think there is a better way to do something good for a Thai guy than to send them to school if that is what they want to do. Many of them do but they are not given the opportunity.

OK. Who knows what the deal is with the pool party? Anyone been there before? Going this year? What are the dates? times? Is this a weekend thing or one night?

I saw Street Kings tonight. It was not great and pretty fucking predictable. I have always like Keanu Reeves since he did the gay movie My Own Private Idaho. I loved the scene in that movie with him and River Phoenix. Plus, the director of that movie is one of my all time favorites.

Had a great time with the guys on the boards and with a few hotties. There were fewer working boys there than I hoped for but Brandon did a great job at entertaining everyone. Thanks for letting me know about this Townie!

I haven't heard of this movie. Is it on DVD or in the theatre? The last one I saw at the movie that I really liked was 21. I loved the plot and Kevin Spacey has always been a hottie. On DVD, I enjoyed Juno as I missed it when it was on at the theatre and really did enjoy it on DVD.

Well, Pennsylvania gave her yet another glimmer of hope.

The USD sucks in Thailand and the exchange rate on my last trip was really disappointing. My recent trip to Brazil was no better. The USD sucks just about everywhere or so I thought. CNN did a nice survey of some places where the dollar is still strong. 2 places I want to visit this year are on the list. Vietnam and Argentina http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/pf/080...neymag/?cnn=yes