Leo

In my forthcoming novel The Rice Queen Spy I pay homage to a British Caucasian homosexual who spent his whole life having sexual encounters only with Asian men. In essence No Caucasians need apply was his motto. A rice queen is a Caucasian or a black gay man who is either partially or completely devoted to Asian men. It is something of a slangy term as is the term potato queen which signifies an Asian man fond of white men. I have even heard Asian men who were partial to black men called sweet potato queens or yam queens. Dont blame me. This is all part of the argot of gay life. Gay terminology and slang have always been a lively and rapidly evolving feature of the gay sub-culture.

Up until the middle of the nineteen eighties, before there was a national crackdown, rice queens were going to the Philippines in large numbers. For quite some decades now Thailand has been the preferred location for rice queens. Sex junkets to Thailand have been organized not only for gay men but for large numbers of straight men who are after female sex partners. Often sex partners who are too young. Many gay Caucasians have moved permanently to Thailand because of the availability of sexual encounters with Thais.

After the Second World War Japan was a haven for rice queens. Then when the economy improved markedly there was a falling off of the availability of Japanese men for rice queens. Also in those early post-war years there was still a great reverence for the elderly; thats why so many older Western gays felt so at home there. The young peoples compassionate attitude toward seniors became somewhat of a casualty to the youth culture, Westernization and now globalization.

That leads to one conclusion. Many gay men became or were labeled rice queens because they went to Asian countries where the economies and poverty forced some of the men into the sex trade. The Caucasian gays went to those poor Asian countries because there was an availability and abundance of sex partners. Not all Caucasian-Asian gay sex is financial, but a considerable portion of it is.

But for a rice queen, why an Asian man? Numerous reasons are given: Asian men are less hairy, have smoother, silkier skin; many are smaller and less intimidating and threatening than white men; they are better, more accommodating lovers; they are often willing to play a less than dominant role, be more subservient to their Caucasian partners; ascetically they are more attractive; if they do ask for money often it is for food purchases and to support their families because they are so badly in need of financial assistance; the gay Asian men often look much younger than they actually are; theres less b.s. with Asian men, and on and on.

Some of it may be rationalization. Sex and sexual motivation is a often a labyrinth and a maze of contradictions and obfuscations. It often boils down to a simple It feels good to me.

In my most recent novel, The Daemon in Our Dreams, I dealt with the rice queen phenomenon, but in a somewhat tangential fashion, and in my first novel, the terrorist thriller Nine Lives Too Many, I dealt with it not at all. However in The Rice Queen Spy it is, in many ways, the central theme of the book. It is what makes the hero tick, the motivating force in his life. If you read the book, youll see the truth to the statement: there would be no Philip Croft (the hero) were it not for his rice queen persona. (For a full discussion of my novels, please visit my website at www.senneffhouse.com.)

The full-blooded rice queen makes no apologies for being a rice queen; on the contrary he is proud of it and boasts about it. Lifelong loving relationships have been formed between gay Caucasian and Asian men.

Often what the rice queen encounters in Asia is the young man who is masquerading as gay for economic reasons. One gay stripper club in Bangkok had over thirty straight men who were entertaining and dating gay customers. Their jobs involved a great deal of acting and role playing. There is even an informal school for hustlers to learn what to say and how to act and perform. One thing they learn to do is to roll their tummies in what some people think is a provocative manner. The rice queen often may wish to sort out the hustlers from those men who are genuinely gay. The percentage or ratio of gays in the populations of Western countries and Asian countries is probably just about the same.

From the nineteen eighties on in some of the Asian countries where there was a great deal of commercial sex and the commingling of Westerners with the indigenous population there has been a serious epidemic of HIV/AIDS. The spread of the disease has been acute among gay hustlers and their families. This consequence of sexual activity was completely unexpected and devastating.

Since the first rice queen spotted his first love object, this syndrome has been growing and enticing outsiders with questions as to the meaning of it all. The explanation is really simple. It is the desire and need for one human being to find love, compassion, friendship, kinship and sexual gratification from another human being. Love makes the world go round, and, in the end love will conquer all. The real rice queen is a lover, plain and simple.

John (Jack) Rooney is the author of the terrorist thriller Nine Lives Too Many featuring his series detective Denny Delaney and the arch-terrorist Felix the Cat. His latest novel is the suspense novel The Daemon in Our Dreams which is a blend of the naturalistic and the supernatural. His work schedule includes a new Denny Delaney effort and a novel about a sea journey from Buenos Aires to Santiago around Cape Horn.

He was born and educated in Springfield, Massachusetts (Classical High School and American International College). He wrote book reviews and feature articles for the Springfield newspapers.

After receiving his M.A. in Arts and Science from Columbia University, he worked for the Cunard Cruise Lines as a business correspondent at 25 Broadway, went on to serve in the U.S. Army as a military policeman in the Times Square detachment, in civies in AWOL apprehension, and in Vienna, Austria. At various times he was an advertising manager, a real estate broker, and an expeditor in a magneto factory. He still write travel articles including humorous travel guide stories

I went to bed last night at 2am because my anti virus software started to scan my system and since this takes up a lot of resources I figured that when I woke up the next day that everything would be done. Boy, was I wrong. I've been using computers for a very long time, a lot of years. I do Spyware scans, Adware scans and virus scans every day because I am running Windows as my main operating system. I need to seriously think about getting a Mac instead.

Every day now this maintenance routine takes longer to complete. I don't have some enormous hard drive, I only have about 160 gigs total but 40 gigs are free and 20 gig is for another operating system so in reality I only have to scan maybe 100 gigs. I saw a 1,000 gig hard drive at the computer store and I have given some serious though to getting one but if it takes almost an entire day to scan 100 gig just think how long it would take if I had a 1,000 gig hard drive.

I have a lot of Windows programs installed on my machine but most of them are also available in a Macintosh version. I could get one of those new Mini Mac's and still have part of the drive running Windows. I would have the bigger part of the drive running Mac OS though. The only reason I don't switch everything over to Linux is because the GUI runs a lot slower than Windows does. But in reality Windows was Bill Gates stolen Mac OS. Mac OS was the first of its kind, an operating system with a GUI that ran a lot easier than doing everything at command line like Do and Unix.

Some Day in the near future all applications will be web based not just things like word processor, spreadsheets and desktop publishing b ut hopefully things like Dreamweaver. When this happens in the near future then whether you are using Windows or Mac OS everything will run. Switching over will almost be completely painless.. I foresee this happening by the year 2010 but to have to go through another 3 years of scanning daily for Spyware, Adware, viruses and trojans is something I cannot grasp.

Macintosh still has some of the same threats that windows has but on a much lighter scale. For every 120 Windows threats the Mac maybe has 1. The Mac has always handled memory a lot better than PC's and the Mac is the preferred system for anybody that works in design using graphics. PDF documents will run on Windows and Mac's. Without web based word processors then you would need to take all your doc files and convert them to a Mac format but now with Web applications I don't think this will be a heavy concern.

Using a computer is something that most people do just a couple hours a day at most but no more since it takes so damn long for my computer to check for viruses. It used to take maybe an hour or two at most but it never has ever taken 20 hours before. Hell, I could have major surgery done in a lot less time then it takes my computer nowadays to check for viruses. When you compound this with having to check for Adware, Spyware, and trojans we are talking about a major time investment if you are using a computer that has Windows on it.

Jeffrey A. Solochek grew up in WhiteFish Bay, Wisconsin but now resides in Coastal Georgia. Mr. Solochek has a great sense of humor and he writes on a broad range of subjects which stem from his life experiences and his observations. Mr. Solochek also is an established trend watcher and this adds to his many writings. All his writings contains No BS, No hype, No Fluff Plus everything he writes always contains a blend of his unique wit and humor.

Wooden railing is the first choice for any owner or the builder as the elegance and the style that you get from wooden railings is nothing compared to other materials. Some time the light reflection from all sources disturbs you. Wood does not reflect light as much as steel does, a kind of sereneness, and tranquility that you get from use of wood, you cannot get from any other material.

Advantages Of Wood Railings

There are many advantages of wooden railings particularly indoor railings.
1. The elegance of wood is unmatched by anything else.
2. Contrary to popular belief, wood railings are maintenance free, particularly those used indoors. A nice polishing, a coat of lacquer while installing, is all that is required, and no further maintenance is required.
3. Another advantage of wood is that it massive in construction and will last for several decades if not centuries.
4. With its wide top, children (and some times grown ups too!) enjoy the wood railing sliding down the railing for coming down instead of coming down by steps. Oh what fun!

Choice Of Wood For Railings

Wooden stock rails, balusters and newel can be made in Burma teak, Cherry, Maple, Red Oak, White Oak, Walnut, Mahogany, Poplar, Beech, Yellow Pine, Ash or Cedar. Many manufacturers can give you the top rail design that you desire or dream. Manufacturers use CAD systems, CNC machinery, and hand artistry, to give you any rail profile, baluster turnings or newel post. Care Of Wood In General, Railing In Particular

Wood when properly treated and cared for requires no maintenance. The major enemy of wood is the life forms capable of living and thriving on wood. The microscopic life starts first and then it is like a jungle, where the food chain starts. Therefore if you treat wood with chemicals to stop the growth of micro-organisms and keep water away from it, the possibility of wood rot gets much less. Regular cleaning, annual polishing, waxing when the wood railing looks dull is all that is required for caring the wood articles and railing in general. Out-door railings may require painting to keep them looking new.

Adam Peters is a freelance author who contributes adding articles to a deck and porch railings website http://www.deck-porch-railings.com. Reach further articles on wood railing plans and designs.

As with any purchase, you would want to get your money's worth. This is also true when you pick your underwear. In buying boxer shorts, you should be aware of the items that are available and their prices. It would also be a good idea to know what discounts you can get on these items so that you can save money. If you wish to see a wide variety of boxer shorts that are cheaper than those you can find in retail stores, it is a good idea to either go directly to the manufacturers or take advantage of sales offered by stores.

Discounted items

Manufacturers may have some stocks of boxer shorts that they can no longer produce because of various reasons (i.e., the fabric they used for a particular stock may no longer be available). These manufacturers need to get rid of such inventory and will be willing to sell these boxer shorts to you at a manufacturer?s price or even lower. The same goes for retailers; they may have a surplus stock that they need to get rid off. If this is the case, then you may be able to buy your boxer shorts at factory prices.

Return policy on discounted items

Unfortunately, once you have bought boxer shorts, you may not be able to return them. This is because some stores exclude these items in their return policies. This means that you will have to choose wisely. Do not get caught up in the very low prices of these items. You may end up spending more money to replace your cheap boxer shorts with ones that you are more satisfied with.

There are a lot of discounts that you can take advantage of when buying boxer shorts. These stocks are usually supply overruns that manufacturers and retailers are more than willing to get rid of. However, as with any clothing purchase, you must also be able to pick out quality items since you may end up spending more for a new and better product.

Boxers provides detailed information on Boxers, Boxer Briefs, Boxer Shorts, Silk Boxers and more. Boxers is affiliated with Military Shoulder Patches.

Tibetan Goji Juice is finally gaining in popularity and it is about time. Thanks to the clinical trials being done in China, Japan, Mongolia and Switzerland, we are getting the much needed information (that the ancients knew) on this wonderful berry.

The most famous story in regards to Goji Juice (also known as Lycium Barbarum) and its benefits, come from China where according to their records, Li Chung Yun, a renowned Chinese scholar and herbalist, was born in 1677. According to the London Times, May 8th 1933, reported that professor Yun had died at the age of 256.

We may never have known about this remarkable man except for the fact that he became a professor to teach people about herbs and longevity. Those who were close to him stated that he looked like he was about fifty years old when he died (with all his teeth, no gray or white hair and a healthy ruddy complexion).

Professor Yun apparently ate on a daily basis, Lycium soup and herbs. He was reported to be a vegetarian and ate very little meat in his life time.

It is possible that there have been many more individuals that have lived exceptionally long lives but due to the isolated areas they lived, we may never really know.

With modern technology we can now analyze the make up and components and health benefits of goji berries (also known as wolfberries).

Here are some facts about this marvelous fruit:

-They contain 19 amino acids including the 8 essential amino acids.
-They have 21 trace minerals including zinc, calcium, germanium, selenium and phosphorus
-B vitamins
-Has more Beta-carotene than carrots (which converts to vitamin A) and has a complete spectrum of antioxidants.
-Has vitamin E which is almost unheard of in fruits
-Has 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than oranges
-It contains the anti-inflammatory agent beta-sitosterol which lowers cholesterol and takes care of sexual health
-They have essential fatty acids such as omega 6 and linoleic acid that regulate hormones
-Has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties

Tibetan Goji Juice has been traditionally used to alleviate the following conditions:

-To strengthen the heart and alleviate heart palpitations
-fights insomnia and forgetfulness
- contains polysaccharides which control the pituitary glands that produce HGH (human growth hormone) which is a powerful anti-aging hormone
- Can be used by pregnant women to alleviate morning sickness.
- Has in clinical trials shown a partial reversal in sexual dysfunction in seniors
- Used to boost the function of the immune system
- Has some anti-cancer properties and has been successfully used to treat hepatitis-B
- Has been used successfully for weight loss
- Helps the body detox, cleans the blood and build the immune system.

There is a story passed down over the ages of the Tang Dynasty 800 AD, where a well was dug near a wall that had the wolfberry vines growing over it. Over time the berries falling in the well water was being consumed by Buddhist Monks and passing pilgrims. It was noted that the monks living well into their 80s, still had a youthfulness about them. They had all their hair, (no graying) and all their teeth intact. Word spread about the monks and wonderful berries and vines were being cut down and replanted in other regions so others may enjoy the health benefits.

Himalayan goji berries and Chinese goji berries are equally effective when it comes to health but there is a difference in taste. The Chinese berries are smaller and a little bitter tasting. The Himalayan berries are larger, plumper and sweeter tasting.

Either way, this marvelous little fruit with its health and anti-aging benefits, along with exercise, more of a vegetarian diet including fresh herbs, lots of water and fresh air, might very well be your fountain of youth!

Willie is a freelance writer and researcher whose own health problems prompted her to take responsibility for gaining as much information on health as possible and to share that knowledge with others. She is co-owner of http://www.cleanbodydetox.com a site that focuses on health and detox through ionic foot baths.

LCD Arms

LCD Arms has revolutionized the world of monitor mounts through decades of research and testing, flawlessly combining sleek design and cutting-edge ergonomic innovation to conserve precious desk space and improve performance.

The basic LCD Arm consists of an arm of varying length, sometimes mounted to a pole, always mountable to a desk or wall. This arm has a VESA adapter plate at one end, designed to hold all VESA monitors (the vast majority of all monitors are VESA-compliant). Depending on the make and model, some arms will include mounts for a mouse and keyboard, or for multiple monitors. All of the mounts provide an impressive range of motion from a remarkably small footprint on your desk or floor.

Why Ergonomics?

For as long as most of us can remember, technology has been advancing at a stunning pace, and the results have been tangible: We have put men on the moon, can fit entire databases of music into our back pocket and have devices in our cars that make it so we never have to ask for directions again.

Unfortunately, the price of progress is often paid with bleary eyes, aching backs and carpal tunnel syndrome by those who interact with our technological devices.

Enter the concept of ergonomics - the adaptation of machine to man. Ergonomic products are designed to enhance the interface between technology and the human form. Ergonomics is the science of identifying the physical points of stress, and then minimize or eliminate that stress through superior design.

Why LCD Arms? Space Management

Monitor arms as a whole find their greatest value in space management. From classrooms to dental offices, from the stock market to a home office, space is at a premium and the effective management of that space is essential. An LCD arm or pole mount provides the full use of a monitor at the most comfortable viewing angle while virtually eliminating the monitors footprint on the desk. The arm itself folds down to occupy a space as small as 3 inches wide in some cases.

Versatility

A typical LCD Arm consists of up to three joints, each one boasting a full 360-degrees of rotation. The arm can be adjusted up and down, left and right, and front and back, with additional articulation and rotation available at the joint between monitor and arm. Equally versatile, the FLEXmount system provides six mounting options, including desktop and grommet clamp, thru-desk bolt, and wall mounting.

Ease of Use

Most monitor arms use numerous clamps, bolts and knobs for adjustment, leaving the user in constant danger of monitor drooping, a condition caused by chronically loose joints. LCD Arms monitor arms, however, employ an elegantly simple system powered by a pressurized spring that floats the monitor above the desktop. Repositioning is literally as simple as the touch of a single finger, no doohickeys to tighten or training needed.

Multiple Applications

LCD Arms touts the most extensive and comprehensive collection of monitor arms solutions on the planet. Their award-winning EVO line includes adapters that will hold laptops and tablet PCs along with monitor arms. And keep your eye out for the Cricket, an adjustable portable laptop stand that folds up to fit into a bag or pocket, available sometime in Fall of 07.

Healthcare professionals love LCD Arms because of the intuitive use, maximum flexibility, and durability. Its incredibly handy for a dentist to be able to simply pull a monitor from the wall to the chair to show her patient their x-rays, and effective use of space is crucial in hospital environments.

Apple users, dont feel left out. LCD Arms iLift and CinemaLift designs constitute the only lines of monitor arms specifically designed for Apple iMac and Cinema Displays.

If you haven't read about your work situation here yet, contact one of LCD Arms' vendors. They'll work with you to customize a solution for your home, office, or school.

Basically, whoever you are, wherever your computer is, your work (or the work of those you manage) will benefit from the strategic employment of an LCD Arms monitor. And if you're still not sure that an LCD monitor arm is best for your situation, give one a try. You won't ever switch back. I promise.

Jimmy is a technogeek with SewellDirect.com and a connoisseur of all things A/V. Feel free to check out Sewell Direct's complete line of LCD monitor arms, including the award-winning EVO LCD Arm

If youre interested in getting involved with affiliate marketing you want to find the best affiliate marketing program available. The best affiliate marketing program may be a poker room website. A poker room will pay you commissions for referring players who gamble on its website. The commission is based on the rake, which is the portion of each pot that the house keeps. Therefore you can earn a commission every time one of your referrals plays. This commission is generous and is paid to you on a regular basis.

The best affiliate marketing program is free to join and will provide you with all of the help you need to get started and be successful. It will give you banner ads that you can place on your website to attract players. It will also give you text ads to place in your e-mails. All of these ads contain a link that takes your referrals right to the poker room and you get credit for everyone you send.

The best affiliate marketing program also makes sure that it retains the players you send it by offering bonuses, special prizes, and other incentives to keep them happy. You can also expect great customer service for both players and affiliates. You cant go wrong by signing up with the best affiliate marketing program. There is no financial risk involved and most of the work is actually done for you. There is no easier way to make money on the Internet so why not give it a try.

Professional SEO. He helps a number of online gambling sites like:

Poker
Poker Affiliate Program
Poker Affiliate

Unless you've been living in a cave, under a rock, or on the Dark Side of the Moon you know that on Friday June 29th Apple's new iPhone finally hit store shelves. Thousands of Apple and mobile phone fans waited in hundreds of lines for hours just for the privledge of dropping $499-$599 on the shiny new mobile phone/internet device/widescreen iPod. Analysts and tech geeks hailed the iPhone's arrival as a momentus event in the cell phone industry. I'm here to tell you that history will show the iPhone's release as one of the single biggest events in the history of independent filmmaking.

What, exactly, does the iPhone--a mobile phone/internet device/widescren iPod--have to do with indie filmmaking? Well, a lot. The movie download market must prepare for a great new phase as we look forward to more and more great devices capable of playing our content.

For independent content to survive and thrive, it must move to new delivery devices like Apple TV, iPod and now the iPhone. Support for these new devices will lead to growth in the audience for indie content. Many "mainstream" consumers will not view indie films at screenings, festivals or DVD. The films are too hard to find, often barried in video rental store shelves or playing in small art house theaters. This has been the case for the past few decades. Once every five years there is a breakout hit--a Clerks or Blair Witch--that gives the indie community something to rally around. The independent movie press declare, "We've arrived. This is the 'Year of the Indie'". Just as quickly as these hits arise, the excitement dies down and the great content made in the aftermath gets lost in the shuffle.

Now, for what may truely be the first time, consumers will have in their hands a great portable media device. You may argue that the iPod with video or the PSP have existed for a few years. But, these are devices that most people do not *have* to carry at all times. These are "luxury" devices that we carry when we want to. Cell phones are vastly different. Most Americans now carry their cell phone at all times--to the gym, on the bus, walking through the mall, at the ball game. We always have our phones with us. Now that Apple has delivered "the best iPod ever built" (Apple's words) and snuck it inside a phone, we now have a captive audience that will always have viewing capability.

This is, or has the potential to be, huge. Just look no farther than the iPhone's home screen. Right there on that gorgious 3.5" screen is a direct link to everyone's favorite dancing-cats-meet-dancing-teenagers clip sharing site, YouTube. Think about that. Apple put YouTube directly on the home screen of their revolutionary new device. Now, this could be entirely motivated by a new advertisting or search revenue deal Apple has struck with Google. But even if it is, the fact that YouTube is on the home screen of the iPhone can not be ignored.

Apple believes in mobile entertainment. They created the iPod so that we all could enjoy all our music at any time or place. Now, we are closer than ever to that dream for video. The iPhone's 3.5" screen has a resolution higher than many computer monitors. It displays MPEG4 H.264 video beautifully--better than any portable device ever has. These quality features combined with the simple fact that people will actually have the device with them, lead to great market opportunities.

Of course, the iPhone is, for now, a niche device. It's high price tag mean that it won't be found in the hands of many teens or college students in the near future. But just as with all technology, the price will drop over time. The iPhone will also force other handset makers and cell providers to design better devices. Devices that compete with the iPhone. When this happens, consumers win.

HungryFlix.com is ready to help independent producers, filmmakers and musicians in this new distribution world. We believe that this new class of mobile devices will open the doors to great indie content. It is time to get onboard. There are hundreds of thousands of movie and music fans out there with new devices that are hungry for great content.

http://www.hungryflix.com

Brian Andrews is an independent filmmaker and producer and CEO of http://www.HungryFlix.com, an online film distributor focused on new media.