Lucky

It was almost exactly 22 years ago that @Coopertook over as moderator for the Gaiety reviews. Previously @NY Observer had written them. Cooper was soon joined by @foxy in writing the weekly reviews, detailing who was new and who stood out...or up! It was nice in that if you missed some time at the Gaiety you could at least read about it. (@ValleyDwellerNorth announced Cooper's appointment as moderator on April 2d, 2003. That's my source.)

My library finally made Our Evenings available to me. I got it yesterday and finished it today. I definitely enjoyed it, both the story about the Burmese American lead, Dave Win, and also the background insights, mostly of London. The nytimes.com really liked it: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/books/review/our-evenings-alan-hollinghurst.html (Possible paywall) As did The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/sep/25/our-evenings-by-alan-hollinghurst-review-his-finest-novel-yet (No paywall)

What I wonder is why we keep getting threads like this. Nothing comes of them, except we learn what we knew from the start. Different people have different opinions. The hole is a man's most private part.For him to reveal it is exciting, at least to me. As long as it is not covered in hair.

I am going to bump @samhexum 's thread! From the nytimes.com: The wholesale price of eggs has dropped sharply since the beginning of March after soaring for months, but it may take a few weeks for grocery shoppers to see the decline. Wholesale egg prices, which are what retailers pay to procure eggs, have fallen to a national average of just over $4 for a dozen large white eggs, down from a peak of more than $8 at the end of February, according to data from the Agriculture Department released last week. But because eggs typically have a four-week shelf life, it may be the end of March before retail prices start to drop, said Jeremy Horpedahl, an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas. Some stores, he added, may not lower prices until their current inventory sells out. Economists said the decline in wholesale prices, which are still above long-term averages, was very likely fueled by a combination of factors: bird flu’s coming under control, weaker consumer demand, ramped-up supply and producer pricing decisions. The Agriculture Department noted that there had been no significant outbreaks of avian flu in March, and economists say any new outbreaks could push up prices again. The virus has forced egg producers to cull tens of millions of hens since late last year. In February, the retail price of eggs rose 10.4 percent from the previous month, continuing a monthslong climb, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released last week. Economists noted that prices might not come down evenly across the country. Areas with competing grocery stores might see egg prices fall more quickly, Mr. Horpedahl said, while those dominated by a single chain — with the power to keep prices high for longer — may not. Retail prices may also depend on grocery chains’ strategies, with some opting to keep prices lower to entice customers into stores. “They can pass the savings of wholesale prices onto us entirely, or not at all, or somewhere in between,” said David Anderson, a professor of economics and business at Centre College in Danville, Ky. High demand for eggs leading up to Easter may keep prices elevated through then, he said. An outbreak of bird flu in 2022, along with increasing fuel, feed and packaging costs linked to the coronavirus pandemic, pushed wholesale egg prices up to nearly $5 a dozen at their peak. Although the spike in egg prices was smaller than the recent surge, overall inflation was higher, piling pressure onto household budgets. Egg producers have blamed the spread of avian flu for tighter supplies. United Egg Producers, the industry’s trade association, noted that the industry had lost more than 40 million egg-laying hens in 2024 and 31 million in just the first two months of this year as the virus accelerated. Mr. Anderson said the bird flu had hit supply in “dramatic ways.” But at the same time, he added, “the industry may see the bird flu epidemic as a cover for additional price hikes that aren’t necessarily needed.” “Part of it is they’re really dealing with a crisis,” he said. “Part of it might be, ‘Do we have some cover to keep our prices artificially high?’” The Justice Department is in the early stages of an antitrust investigation looking into whether major egg producers have shared information about pricing and supply that contributed to a spike in prices. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups had previously called for federal regulators to investigate the industry’s pricing practices. Danielle Kaye is a business reporter and a 2024 David Carr Fellow, a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Danielle Kaye

+1

I did live in New York for 4 years, and the amount of walking I had to do eventually caught up with me. Worse were the infinite stairs in the subway, which was often very, very deep underground with only really rare escalators or working elevators. The latter usually stunk to high heaven. My knees were in constant pain. But I loved walking in Manhattan, particularly Central Park. I loved not having a car and its expense. I loved the wide variety of just about anything. New Yorkers were not rude, just involved. But, mostly, I l loved the theater. Even the one called the Gaiety! And I loved going out with my friends.

By Sam Joseph (The Athletic) March 18, 2025Updated 4:05 am PDT Australia’s first openly gay male footballer Josh Cavallo says he receives multiple death threats on a daily basis and described the sport as being a “very toxic place” for those who have come out. Cavallo publicly came out as gay in October 2021, becoming the only openly gay male top-flight professional player at the time, something that he describes as “the best move and decision I’ve ever made.” The 25-year-old Adelaide United defender said that he still regularly receives negativity and threats, three and a half years after first discussing his sexuality publicly. “There’s multiple, multiple, multiple death threats that come my way daily still and it’s quite sad to see,” he told FIFPRO’s Footballers Unfiltered podcast. Cavallo received messages of support from multiple people in the sport after he came out in 2021, including the then Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, currently on loan at Aston Villa. However, he has encountered homophobia too, and in January 2022 was forced to call out homophobic abuse directed towards him during an A-League game. “In the world of football, being an openly gay player is a very toxic place,” he said. “It’s something that not everyone would be able to handle and go through. I still think we’re a very, very long way from there being acceptance in this space. “So, these are factors that people will consider in their coming out and they might not be out now, but coming out brings all this attention, it brings all this pressure, brings all this negativity that will affect their game in the long run.” Cavallo also said that he would find it “difficult” to encourage other professional footballers to be public with their sexuality due to the “mountain of downsides” it comes with. He credited his support network with helping him deal with the abuse he receives. “I have a very strong support network,” he said. “I have my good days, I have my bad days but I’m free. I go to bed, I put my head on the pillow and I’m happy. I’m Josh Cavallo, I’m the footballer, I’m also the gay footballer and I’m super proud to say that.” ‘I got really good at lying. I’m trying to undo that. It’s hard to live a double life’ – Josh Cavallo on being an LGBT+ footballer Josh Cavallo opens up on the positive reception he's had since coming out and the pain of keeping the secret for so long

By Michael Paulson March 15, 2025 The hottest play on Broadway was written more than 400 years ago. Demand to see Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal face off in Shakespeare’s “Othello” is so strong that many center orchestra seats are selling for $921, helping the show break box office records. During its first week of previews, its average ticket price was $361.90, more than double that at the next highest-average-price show (“The Outsiders,” at $155.02). And last week “Othello” grossed $2.8 million, more than any nonmusical has ever made in a single week on Broadway. The huge numbers, for a show that has not yet been reviewed and that was selling briskly long before anyone had seen it, come at a time when the prices for the most sought-after pop concerts and sporting events are also quite high. And theater prices — at least for the most sought-after shows — are no exception. At its peak, “Hamilton” charged $998 for the very best seats during holiday weeks, and at one point a revival of “Hello, Dolly!” charged $998 for front row seats, which allowed fans of Bette Midler the possibility of being brushed by her glove as she strolled along a passerelle. Image Washington, seen leaving after a performance, is both highly acclaimed and enormously popular.Credit...Amir Hamja for The New York Times But “Othello” is distinguished by the large number of seats being sold at the highest prices, which is driving up its average ticket price. At many upcoming performances, the show is asking $921 for the first 14 rows in the center orchestra, and for much of the first two rows in the front mezzanine. The show, like others, uses variable pricing — prices are higher for the most-desired seats at the most-desired times. Early in previews, the top price was $897, and there are some future performances at which the top price is $721. The show reported a lowest regular ticket price of $197 last week, and at every performance there are some partial view seats made available via an online lottery for $49. With many movie stars and television stars appearing on New York stages this season, a number of shows have been charging high prices for their best tickets. A production of “Romeo + Juliet,” starring Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler, sold well throughout its 20-week run, which ended just eight days before “Othello” began. (Yes, it’s been a good season for Shakespeare.) During most weeks the top ticket price for “Romeo + Juliet” was $574.50, but it sold some seats for $974.50 during the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s weeks, and it charged $1,478.50 for some seats during its final week. But its average ticket price was substantially lower than that for “Othello,” peaking at $225.07 during its final week, and often much lower. Another starry spring play on Broadway, “Good Night, and Good Luck,” with George Clooney in his first professional stage appearance in nearly four decades, is asking $799 for the best seats at some performances, while a revival of “Glengarry Glen Ross” has some tickets on offer for $724.50. And prices for those shows could rise if demand spikes. Off Broadway, a one-man “Vanya” starring Andrew Scott is charging up to $449, while the Brooklyn Academy of Music is seeking up to $435 to see a revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” starring Paul Mescal. Washington is highly acclaimed and enormously popular. He has won two Academy Awards, for “Glory” and “Training Day,” and a Tony Award, for “Fences”; in 2020 he was named by New York Times film critics as the greatest actor of the 21st century so far. “Othello” is his sixth starring role on Broadway, where he is now one of a tiny handful of performers who reliably sell strongly. But “Othello” sales are next-level, seeming to reflect the appeal of the combination of two well-known actors with a well-known title, and also a “Taylor Swift effect,” meaning that consumers are getting used to paying top dollar for live entertainment. “Shows like ‘Othello,’ that are limited-run star vehicles, do so much to build the brand of Broadway, and they are a unique part of the ecosystem,” said Deeksha Gaur, the executive director of TDF, a nonprofit that tries to make theater more accessible and that oversees the TKTS discount theater booths. “At the same time, obviously, it’s important for us as an industry to think about making sure people are aware of all the price points available to audiences — there is a huge range of shows available to audiences, and we’re not hearing that.” Image Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays Iago, the villain, signs autographs outside the theater.Credit...Amir Hamja for The New York Times Gaur pointed out that, during the week ending March 9, 10 of the 26 shows running on Broadway had an average ticket price under $100 (the average price for all shows combined was $120), and she said that 21 of the 26 shows had at least one performance for sale at the TKTS booths, where last-minute tickets are sold for up to 50 percent off. It’s possible, of course, that prices for “Othello” could fall. If reviews, or word-of-mouth, are not great, that could lead to a reduction in prices for remaining ticket inventory at the box office, and could also diminish demand on the resale market. But thus far, “Othello” has been taking in more at the box office than any other show on Broadway, outgrossing “Wicked,” “Hamilton” and “The Lion King,” even though those shows are playing in larger theaters and selling more seats. “Othello,” like every Broadway show these days, cost a lot to stage, which is how producers tend to explain high ticket prices. The show, which opens on March 23 at the Ethel Barrymore Theater, was capitalized for up to $9 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. And, like most plays featuring movie stars, who tend to have limited time available for stage work, it has a short run: It is scheduled to last just 15 weeks. That makes recoupment, and profitability, challenging. The lead producer, Brian Moreland, declined to comment on the show’s pricing. But the subject is clearly a sensitive one — after the New York Post entertainment critic Johnny Oleksinski wrote a column referring to the “Othello” prices as “obscene” and based on “greed,” the production declined to accommodate his request for free press seats, which the production, following industry standards, had previously offered to him along with other journalists. nytimes.com

Some of us like a little privacy for our intimate acts.

I hope not!

The subway is free if you are over 65!

The article says that many people actually drink poppers! Yuck!

Le Meridien in Bangkok. Great location, nice rooms, visitors welcome, super buffet breakfast. Very gay friendly.

I've already forgotten which media today has an article on what happens to most who move abroad. Loneliness! It seems essential that you at least speak the local language.

He's on the phone!

What about clients who chew gum and talk on the phone the entire time? That's ok, isn't it? After all, it's their massage.

Boy, have you got a surprise when you finally visit Vegas!

I cashed in my bond...my I-bond

Wow! @samhexum got to bump the thread that he just posted! Usually he has to wait a bit. Poor Wendy. Sam will be bumping this thread for years to come.

Yes, that was a locked topic.

But I'd be so far away from you!

Yes, I know that everyone here is not a US resident, so this thread is not for them. But I read today that Rosie O'Donnell has moved to Ireland and Elaine DeGeneris has moved to England. Of course, I wondered why. It gets too darn cold in those places. Recently I was reading the Uruguay thread and it seemed like a nice place to live, except then @TrutthBtold said they didn't have the best medical care that old folks need. So, maybe there is something wrong with every place. I love Bangkok...in early January. Otherwise it is too hot ad humid. Plus, I don't speak Thai. I could go to Rio but I don't speak Portuguese. Do I have to move to an English-speaking country? Not that I am moving anyway, but I do love to fantasize about it. If I had to pick only one place, it would be Manhattan. And that's in the US! But I don't have the money for that. Say, does this forum have a GoFundMe section? 😊

I usually don't set any desires forth with a massage, except in answer to a direct question. I like to see where the masseur will go without any expression of desire from me.

I have never heard of the OP, but he was last on three hours ago, Doesn't that mean he won't read anything addressed to him in those three hours?

From the nytimes.com: Most men, as many as 70 percent, say they reach orgasm quicker than they’d like. But there is an inverse problem that can set in with age: lasting too long. For some men, reaching climax can take 30 minutes or more. Sex that lasts this long can be uncomfortable, painful and distressing for men and their partners. Delayed orgasm, as the condition is known, is more commonly associated with women — and for good reason, given the persistent orgasm gap in heterosexual relationships. But up to 10 percent of men over the age of 40 struggle with it, too. In extreme cases, some men can never reach climax, a disorder called anorgasmia. Orgasm disorders are not well studied or understood, and the little research that does exist tends to focus on premature ejaculation, defined as unintentionally reaching orgasm within two minutes according to the American Urological Association. But sexual health experts increasingly recognize delayed orgasm as a “huge problem,” said Dr. Rachel Rubin, a urologist and sex medicine specialist in Maryland. While there are no interventions approved by the Food and Drug Administration, there are some treatment options, including off-label medications, sex therapy and stimulating devices, as well as lifestyle and behavior changes. How orgasms work Orgasms are basically a massive reflex, kind of like a “giant sneeze,” Dr. Rubin said. Just one requiring a “perfect genital-brain connection.” The process starts with visual, mental or physical sexual stimulation, triggering the brain to release dopamine, which increases excitement. After sufficient stimulation, the brain releases a surge of pleasure-inducing chemicals, like oxytocin, creating the sensation we think of as an orgasm. For most men, ejaculation occurs at the same time, “but they are separate processes,” said Dr. Alan Shindel, a urologist based in San Francisco. While orgasm mostly happens in the brain, ejaculation is a series of involuntary muscle contractions. Complications affecting the genitals, pelvic floor muscles, spinal cord and brain can make orgasms premature, delayed, muted or even painful, Dr. Rubin said. Given the complexity involved, she said, “it’s actually amazing that more things don’t go wrong.” Causes of delayed orgasm in men Many physical, neurological or psychological conditions can contribute to delayed orgasm. Here are some of the most widespread causes. Medications The most common triggers of delayed orgasm are medications and other drugs, including alcohol, said Dr. Landon Trost, a urologist based in Utah. The guidelines from the urological association list 45 different drugs associated with delayed orgasm. The class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors is among the most frequent culprits. These drugs increase serotonin, a chemical that inhibits the neural pathways involved in orgasm, thus raising the threshold required to climax. (For this reason, S.S.R.I.’s are a common off-label treatment for men who ejaculate too quickly.) Opiates, alcohol, antipsychotics and blood pressure medications, like beta blockers, can also make orgasm difficult by dampening the nervous system’s response to sexual stimulation. Neurological Issues Many neurological conditions — including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, strokes and brain injuries — impair the neural pathways between the brain and genitals, which can result in dulled pleasure, delayed orgasm or painful ejaculation. Diabetes is another big neurological contributor that often leads to nerve damage. “It’s not just toes and fingers” that are affected, Dr. Shindel said. “The penis is an extremity, too.” Spinal injuries are another common cause of delayed orgasm, added Dr. Irwin Goldstein, a urologist based in San Diego. These can include something as simple as a slipped disk. Partner-Related Concerns Another common trigger is the pain or discomfort men may be causing to their partners, which often results in delayed or lack of orgasm for both. Roughly 75 percent women experience pain during intercourse at some point in their lives, some of which is caused by vaginal dryness and irritation, symptoms that can greatly increase at the onset of menopause. The condition is easily treatable with options like local vaginal estrogen, Dr. Rubin said, but often goes undiagnosed and undertreated. It is “extremely important” for clinicians treating men for delayed orgasm to “ask about their partners,” Dr. Rubin said. Differences in libido, preferred types of sex acts and performance expectations can also make it difficult for an orgasm to occur. Psychological Factors Mood disorders — like depression, anxiety and stress — are other common contributors to delayed orgasm. In one self-reported survey, 41 percent of men with moderate to severe delayed orgasm said anxiety and stress during sex was a main reason they were unable to reach climax. Depression in particular can blunt the brain’s ability to process pleasure, making orgasm difficult or muted. Treatments for delayed orgasm Before treatment, men and their doctors should discuss when the problem started, Dr. Trost said. A sudden onset of delayed orgasm may have a clear trigger (new medications, relationship-related stress or sleep disturbances, for example) and can often be easily reversed. Cases brought on more gradually by age-related conditions and chronic illness may be trickier to treat. Cases of permanent inability to reach orgasm — caused by the lack of certain dopamine receptors or traumatic brain or spinal injuries — are the most difficult to treat. There are no F.D.A.-approved treatments for delayed orgasm, but clinicians do have a few tools at their disposal. Medications Several dopamine-promoting drugs — like bupropion, buspirone and cabergoline — have helped counter delayed orgasm for men in some small, randomized control trials. Sex Therapy Sex therapy and counseling are always a good idea for any man with a sexual dysfunction, Dr. Shindel said. Therapy should ideally involve partners, he added, since sexual disorders “are never just one person’s problem.” Stimulation Devices Sometimes “a little more stimulation” can help men reach orgasm more easily, Dr. Rubin said. Sex toys, like vibration devices for the genitals, perineum, prostate or anus, can be helpful to heighten stimulation enough to reach orgasm, she said. These options don’t work for everybody though, said Dr. Shindel, who hopes for new treatments soon. Just as Viagra transformed erectile dysfunction, he said, the same could someday happen for delayed orgasm. “We’re still looking for an orgasm pill,” he said. David Dodge is a freelance writer focusing on health, wellness and L.G.B.T.Q. issues.