2006 General Reports

[Johan]

Varig cancelled most of their flights today. I believe all their domestic flights were stopped and some International flights. I believe Boeing and a few other suppliers won court orders to reposses some planes as well a couple of days ago. I am not saying this will be the final end of them but it does not overly promising. Be careful if you are about to buy tickets with them.

Bubba Boy is partially correct to advise not to buy tickets from Varig. I am one of those unfortunate souls who happened to purchased not one but TWO tix from Varig a few months ago for trips in July and August. Now, I am stuck with these unusable tix and seems unlikely that other carriers may honor Varig's tix. So, now, I am in a catch 22 if I should wait for more news to come in or buy new tix for Brasil.

Bubba Boy is incorrect that Boeing won court orders to repo the planes. Nothing to do with Boeing. Varig leases 80% of their aircrafts from leasing companies, all major banks in the midwest. One particular bank I know is US Banc. So, as far as Boeing is concerned, they pocketed their money long time ago as Boeing sold the plane and received cash from the Banks and the Banks lease the planes to Varig. So, it is the banks and other creditors (fuel suppliers, governments, food suppliers, maintenance companies, employees and passengers who bought tix). Finally, if the "market" is a good indicator if Varig would recovery, it is NOT promising. Last week, Varig's IOU was traded 30 cents to the dollar in the market and as of yesterday, it traded 5 cents to the dollar indicating the market perspection that it has about 5% chance of getting back the money.

So, if you are like me, holding Varig tix, wait for one more week to see what's happening and prepare to purchase a new tix from another carriers. If you are yet to purchase tix, definitely DON'T purchase anything from Varig. This thing is going down.

[Bubba Boy]

Varig cancelled most of their flights today. I believe all their domestic flights were stopped and some International flights. I believe Boeing and a few other suppliers won court orders to reposses some planes as well a couple of days ago. I am not saying this will be the final end of them but it does not overly promising. Be careful if you are about to buy tickets with them.

[Sprite13]

Hello gents,

I'll be going to Brasil in July for 3 weeks, 1 week in Rio, 1 in the south in Santa Catarina and I'd have one more week during which I'd like to visit and try the Nordeste. Which city there would you recommend for 1 week of wild and crazy fun in the Nordeste? Also, where in the Nordeste in that period, is the weather better to allow beach play?

Valeu.

[George90]

Technically he is right!
There are many sight dedicated to this subject if you care to look!

I have visited some of those sites. I agree that Sparks is technically correct. There is no HIV antibody and the HIV tests look for the presence of certain specific proteins. Unfortunately, the presence of those proteins can be caused by other illnesses, foods, and medicines, leading to false positives.

Still, the level of detail in that stuff has little practical usefulness. If you are engaging in high risk behavior and you test positive, then you are HIV+

[Three I]

Understand this in order for a test to be accurate you must first isolate the antibody. The HIV antibody has never been isolated therefore the test is bogus, Junk science.

Technically he is right!
There are many sight dedicated to this subject if you care to look!

[Sal Dali]

You've got to be kidding. I hear this sort of foolishness from time to time, but there's no place for it on this board. We've got to be smarter than that to adequately protect ourselves.

SD (MD)

HIV is a government created condition. There is no such thing as HIV it is a bogus test. There are std's and full blown aids but this hiv is bad science.

[BH Bound]

Yeah, the original poster is not me, I've wrapped up every time...because I'm not an idiot. I don't know whether to beleive it or not, but for me, there are so many places in the world and even in South America that are cheaper, and now, safer than Brazil, so why not explore more and get out of my comfort zone? I'm more of the cautious type, so this asshole forced me out of my comfort zone and I'll be hitting up Colombia for the first time .

[Ee2002]

Gladiator is right, this should not change anything for us.You should be covered up when being with ALL GDPs and assume that they all might have something.I saw this thread on the other site by the original poster, I doubt BH Bound is part of a conspiracy for posting a thread like this from another site.The original poster was criticised and even replied to the criticisms.Whether its true or false its a good wake up call for those that do or consider fucking a GDP bareback.Trust me there are plenty of GDP's in Rio who will do this either for extra pay, or they prefer without and dont care,or like their sex partner and feel confortable with him,or are trying to get pregnant or are just straight loco or drunk.

I wouldn't worry too much about that thread because there is nothing we could do about it.Although there are plenty of holes in that story, there are probably numerous guys out there doing the same thing(i have met a few,but not with HIV).The only thing you could do is take your own precautions and get tested every once in a while or if your that alarmed by it give up the life all together.Mongering is a high risk hobby but someones gotta do it, Be Safe guys.

[Gladiator]

I agree with George: every sentence of that post smells of BS and it is clear that the idiot who wrote it has never mongered in Rio.

Anyway, even in the hypothetical case that it was true: who cares? It wouldn’t really reveal anything that we aren’t aware of, would it? We all know that in Rio, like everywhere else, there are girls with STD’s (including HIV); we all know that some mongers (not many, fortunately) bareback some girls; we all know that some of those barebackers occasionally get STD’s (including HIV) and, in turn, pass them on – it is part of Rio’s (and any other city’s) sex dynamic, it’s always been like that and it always will, it’s not a big deal.

[George90]

It wasn't BH who did that. BH reposted a story from another forum.

However, I have difficulty believing the story and feel it is a plant from a feminist to scare us into not mongering anymore. It looks like BH fell for it (unless he himself is part of the conspiracy).

Anyone who has been to Brazil and had any type of sex there, never mind P4P, should be able to see clues that the story was written by some without mongering experience.

The first major clue is the length of time spent in Brazil. Visas are needed for Americans to travel to Brazil and the MAXIMUM stay is 3 months at a time, and 6 months total within a year. Therefore, this person, whom I am assuming is American because he owns a business in the US which requires at least US residency, cannot spend 4 months at a time in Brazil and certainly cannot spend a total of 8 months out of a year in Brazil.

The second clue is the statement that he also paid whatever the woman wanted. (WTF????) (If that is not a feminist wish, what is?!?!?!) How many of us never bargain with a GDP? How may threads have there been extolling men to not pay high prices?

Has anyone ever met a GDP in Rio who even ASKED for $R1,000 for a night?? This is a ridiculously high price that no GDP would charge. Even "stunners" would max out at $R350! This writer has no clue about GDP prices in Brazil.

I don't believe a real monger would stay months in Rio and have sex with 100 women. A real monger would choose 4-6 women he liked the most and have marathon sex with only them, sometimes 2 or 3 at the same time. He would live in an apartment with them. No monger wants the hassle of looking for new women every night for months on end.

Safe sex through condom use is vigorously promoted by the Brazilian government. It has succeeded in reducing HIV transmission by huge amounts in the past 10 years, moreso than any other country. GDPs in particular, and Brazilian women generally, simply won't have casual unprotected sex with anyone. The claim of unprotected sex with ALL 200 women is pure crock!

After writing this, I think that post should be reported to the administrator for spreading dangerous lies.

[Track Star]

Yes Brazil would definitely not be a place you would "stumpfen" girls without a condom. These girls are high usage. They see a lot of guys. Some of them are bound and guaranteed to have HIV.

I did the same stupid shit BH did when I was still in college when visitnig Panama back in the 87 and was scared for a long time before I got tested and found out that I was negative.

After that kind of fear I would not screw any hooker in this day and age without a condom. Wearing a condom is a requirement every time as much as you brush and floss you teeth every day.

I know some guys thinks condoms suck...I like em you last longer and gotta fuck harder!!!

My cents worth.

Track Star

[Three I]

Found this on another forum...the WSG. This idiot just gave me another reason I can't go back to Rio. Here's this tool's little banter. I hope he dies slow for all the lives he ruined.

I'm sorry to say that my life is ruined forever. I spent 8 months of the last year in Rio. (4 months, then back to the US to check up on my business, then another 4 months in and I just got back a 2 months ago). I contracted HIV in Rio, and I'm not sure if it was on my first trip or my second trip, but I know it was in Rio. I had unprotected sex with almost all of the women I was with (I always paid whatever the women wanted....even up to 1000 reais for a night for a stunner), and it's hard to tell who I contracted it from, since I was with a different woman almost every day. I probably had sex with between 150 and 200 women all unprotected. I don't know when I contracted it. It could have been my last fuck in Rio or my first. All I'm saying, is that please don't make the same mistake I did, and wear a condom. Honestly, I will probably return to Rio and continue having sex with women while I still can. Reflecting back on my life, I think I went crazy in Rio because it was my first time there, and was never really good with women. I fell in love with a different woman every other day. I can't beleive a woman would agree to have unprotected sex with someone knowing that they have the HIV. Please, don't be an idiot like I was and wear a condom.

PS. I was debating whether or not to post this on the forums, since I've never really posted or been a member. I just read from time to time. I decided that after numerous tests, and being sure, that it was my responsibility to let the community know that I may have added to many girls being infected and to tell you to remember to practice safe sex.

Brother sorry to hear that and God bless you brother.
I have been to Brazil but I didn't see any girls theres!

[BH Bound]

Found this on another forum...the WSG. This idiot just gave me another reason I can't go back to Rio. Here's this tool's little banter. I hope he dies slow for all the lives he ruined.

I'm sorry to say that my life is ruined forever. I spent 8 months of the last year in Rio. (4 months, then back to the US to check up on my business, then another 4 months in and I just got back a 2 months ago). I contracted HIV in Rio, and I'm not sure if it was on my first trip or my second trip, but I know it was in Rio. I had unprotected sex with almost all of the women I was with (I always paid whatever the women wanted....even up to 1000 reais for a night for a stunner), and it's hard to tell who I contracted it from, since I was with a different woman almost every day. I probably had sex with between 150 and 200 women all unprotected. I don't know when I contracted it. It could have been my last fuck in Rio or my first. All I'm saying, is that please don't make the same mistake I did, and wear a condom. Honestly, I will probably return to Rio and continue having sex with women while I still can. Reflecting back on my life, I think I went crazy in Rio because it was my first time there, and was never really good with women. I fell in love with a different woman every other day. I can't beleive a woman would agree to have unprotected sex with someone knowing that they have the HIV. Please, don't be an idiot like I was and wear a condom.

PS. I was debating whether or not to post this on the forums, since I've never really posted or been a member. I just read from time to time. I decided that after numerous tests, and being sure, that it was my responsibility to let the community know that I may have added to many girls being infected and to tell you to remember to practice safe sex.

[Gilgamesh]

I don't post much, and most of my experiences are in TJ (AB) I was wondering about the best times of year to come and visit. I'm trying to "branch" out and see what other places have to offer for my next vacation.

Thanks

[Java Man]

from BBC news today

"Brazil court agrees to Varig sale
Debt-ridden Brazilian airline Varig could be saved after a bankruptcy court judge agreed "in principle" to sell it to a group of the carrier's employees.

But the workers, who offered $449m (£244m) for the beleaguered firm, have been given until Wednesday to clarify how they would finance the deal.

The consortium was the only bidder for Varig, and its offer was well below the minimum price of $860m.

Some analysts have said it is unlikely the workers have the financial backing.

'Do everything possible'

The proposal by the NV Participations, representing the TGV (Trabalhadores do Grupo Varig) employees' association, involves paying $124.5m in cash and issuing debentures - a form of unsecured bond - to cover the rest of the cost.

Judge Roberto Ayoub said that another auction was a possibility if the workers did not come up with the money .

"The judiciary will do everything possible to save this company and any other company in a similar situation," he said.

The struggling carrier's domestic and international assets, including 52 aircraft, are at stake.

But the new owner would not have to assume any of the airline's estimated $3.5bn debt.

Competition

Varig has been under bankruptcy protection for a year.

It was the top airline in Brazil until 2004, but was then overtaken by TAM and later by Gol.

The airline has suffered financial problems for years because of rising costs and growing low-cost competition.

It now has just 16.7% of the domestic market, but remains the leading Brazilian carrier internationally, with a 66.4% share.

Last year it cut 13% of its 12,000-strong workforce in an effort to stave off bankruptcy.

Since 1945, Varig has been majority-owned by the non-profit Ruben Berta Foundation."

From Reuters june 9:

"US court orders Varig to return jets to Boeing

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A New York State Supreme Court on Friday ordered troubled Brazilian airline Varig (VAGV4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) to turn over a number of aircraft to various plaintiffs including Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research)

An injunction called for Varig, which declared bankruptcy a year ago, to stop operating the aircraft on Monday and to return them to the plaintiffs by June 16. The injunction also called for Varig's nonoperating aircraft to be returned to owners by July 1.

A Boeing spokesman said late Friday that it had 10 airplanes at the airline but the court order listed seven planes. Earlier Brazilian news reports put the airplane total at seven.

Founded in 1927, Varig -- short for Viacao Aerea Rio-Grandense - has long been one of Brazil's best-known companies globally. But it has been struggling for years, racking up debt and losing market share to more cost-efficient rivals like TAM and Gol.

On Thursday an employee group, known by its Portuguese acronym TGV, was the lone bidder at a public auction, offering $449 million for Varig. But the bid was well below the minimum price of $860 million stipulated by the court overseeing the auction, raising doubts about whether it would be approved.

Brazilian Judge Luiz Roberto Ayoub had said he would decide on Friday whether to authorize the sale of Varig, which has been operating under bankruptcy protection for the last year.

But he decided to postpone the ruling until Monday after receiving a new bid from a little known investment fund called the Multilong Corporation, which offered $800 million for the troubled carrier. A company official could not immediately be reached for comment.

An earlier round of bidding failed to produce an offer that met the court's minimum price of $860 million, triggering the second auction process without a minimum bid requirement.

A decade ago, Varig controlled nearly 50 percent of Brazil's aviation market. Today its market share has dwindled to 16.5 percent.

In addition to Boeing, Varig's creditors include General Electric Co. (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and several state-owned entities, such as giant oil firm Petrobras (PBR.N: Quote, Profile, Research)(PETR4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) and the government's airport authority Infraero."